Blogs

The PGA TOUR, whose Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation golf tournament launched earlier this year with a special focus on helping Americans live healthier lives, will extend its commitment to health this fall by supporting Living at Your Peak in Vail.  Scheduled for September 13-15, Living at Your Peak is the nation’s only gathering designed to help health-conscious individuals and influencers discover how to live longer, better and impact the well-being of their world.

“When the PGA TOUR launched the Humana Challenge, we were thrilled to see such a prominent organization use its platform to help Americans live healthier lives,” said Jamie Stone, Living at Your Peak event champion and a board member of the Vail Symposium, a non-profit organization responsible for Living at Your Peak. “We are proud to partner with this organization to extend its commitment to health to the Vail valley.”

The Humana Challenge, a collaboration among the PGA TOUR, Clinton Foundation and Humana, uses its stature and visibility as a PGA TOUR tournament to challenge individuals to better understand their role in their own well-being and to take steps to improve and maintain their health. In addition to public education initiatives throughout the week, the tournament features healthy concession options and on-course well-being activities for tournament spectators. The second annual Humana Challenge will be held January 14-20, 2013.

“As a strong adjunct to our own health initiatives, Living at Your Peak closely aligns with the Humana Challenge’s mission and will help us achieve our goal to motivate people to live healthier lives,” said Tim Finchem, commissioner of the PGA TOUR. “The PGA TOUR is strongly committed to supporting initiatives that promote health and well-being, which is why we are proud to sponsor this event.”

Living at Your Peak is organized by the Vail Symposium, a grassroots, non-profit organization providing thought-provoking, diverse and affordable educational programs to the Vail Valley community. Event sponsors include Vail Valley Medical Center, HealthONE, the Town of Vail, The Steadman Clinic, Vail Summit Orthopaedics, Vail Resorts, PGA TOUR, Triumph Development, the Vail Daily, Vail Beaver Creek Magazine, Antlers at Vail, Vitality Center, Opedix, Udi’s Gluten Free Foods, The Biegler Foundation, Colorado Access, Wendy and Paul Raether, the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, Vail Luxury Magazine, The Denver Athletic Club and the Steadman Philippon Research Institute.

For more information about Living at Your Peak, please visit www.livingatyourpeak.org. To learn more about the Humana Challenge, please visit www.humanachallenge.com.

Anne and Josh are anything but the typical couple. The pair, who got engaged while watching Across the Universe in their pajamas on a rainy day in December 2010, selected a November 2011 wedding date high in the Rocky Mountains and included a variety of highly personal details in their wedding décor, attire, and traditions to enhance their guests’ experiences and create a memorable and significant event that was all their own. The Wild Basin Lodge in Allenspark, CO created the idyllic ceremony and reception setting for the couple, and the attention to detail in each and every decision made created a fairytale winter wedding for all to enjoy.

To enhance the wintery mountain setting at The Wild Basin Lodge, Anne and Josh selected deep red and purple décor for floral selections, bridal party attire, and reception linens. Local floral shop Boulder Blooms provided bouquets and centerpieces with red roses, purple floral accents, green pine, and pinecone details to coincide with the mountain wedding venue and bold color choices selected by the couple. The florist also provided romantic floating candle centerpieces with red and purple flowers highlighted in round vases, which looked gorgeous in The Wild Basin Lodge’s Copeland level reception room overlooking Copeland Mountain and the St. Vrain River. The bride looked stunning in her strapless David’s Bridal gown with a red beaded sash, and her two bridesmaids complimented the look with strapless deep purple floor length gowns. Anne also added a furry shrug to stay warm during outdoor photos on the property, which is located next to Rocky Mountain National Park, and for a classic winter touch. The groom stood out from the typical wedding day attire in a white tuxedo with red accents.

The couple planned several special moments for their intimate ceremony in front of The Wild Basin Lodge’s elegant fireplace. The groom’s father led the ceremony and added several personal touches to the non-denominational vows. Anne and Josh also integrated a beautiful idea into their ceremony: a box that resembled a romantic time capsule in which they added wine, love letters, and personal details. They nailed the box shut at the ceremony and plan on opening it on their 10^th anniversary to enjoy the wine and read their letters, then continuing the tradition every 10 years. Following the ceremony, wedding guests wrote warm wishes onto paper in the shape of leaves and tied them onto a handmade “tree” of branches for the couple’s guest book.

A Music Plus DJ Services provided music at the lively reception for the couple, and guests were touched by the first dance to Jason Mraz’s “Lucky”, the father daughter dance to The Temptations’ “My Girl”, and the mother son dance to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man”. Guests were wowed by the three-tiered wedding cake provided by Colorado Rose Cake Company. The amazing confection included square tiers with brown and white paisley frosting details and levels separated by stands with chocolate covered strawberries in-between cake tiers. Anne’s father gave a heartfelt and memorable speech during the toasts, and Sandi Pastore Photography captured many significant moments such as the toasts throughout the day.

When reflecting on their day, Anne and Josh are grateful for the wonderfully unique details that personified the vision they had for their dream wedding. Anne relayed some wonderful planning tips for Colorado couples, “Start early, don’t procrastinate, and do what you want, not what other people are telling you that you must do… Have fun and remember it is you and your significant other’s day, no one else’s.”

To view the full photo collection from Anne and Josh's big day,click here.

From shifts in the economy to advances in technology, the career choices of Americans have changed dramatically since the 1900s. Since the days when “farmer” was a popular occupation, to the present when 50 percent of the top 20 fastest growing jobs are in healthcare, career choices have certainly shifted over time. To illustrate the shift, Bryant & Stratton College, an institution that has been at the forefront of workplace education & training since the 1850s, recently released an infographic illustrating the History of Careers in America.

To view the infographic and learn more, please visit http://www.bryantstratton.edu/CareersInAmerica.aspx

Hi Everyone,

After much preparation and anticipation Nighthawk Ranch has held its first successful summer session and is now in the middle of its second successful summer session. What makes me call it successful? Well, the first session had all but one camper spot filled and had an overflowing amount of volunteers and (most importantly) the campers had a GREAT time.

The second session has one extra camper and even more volunteers to help out - and, yes, these campers are having an equally GREAT time.

After this second session ends (July 21), Nighthawk Ranch has one more session this year - its third session, which runs August 5 - August 11. We are almost at capacity, but we still have room for one or two more campers and one or two more volunteers. This 3rd session is for boys (10-18) who have (or have had) cancer. And, remember, this camp is free to kids and their families that qualify.

And we really need some male volunteers - so time to step up guys. Obviously this is for the kids, but if you speak to any of our volunteers you will know that the volunteers get the same amount of joy (if not more) from the experience than the kids.

Please check out my pictures page to see some pictures of past Nighthawk Ranch sessions, and if you would like more information on how to volunteer or how to fill out an application for a camper, please contact me -
Kim McGinnis/Nighthawk Ranch Coordinator or for more information, visit www.NighthawkRanchColorado.org

Till next time,

Kim

The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, is organizing three more meetings this fall in the “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers” series. The meetings are designed to contribute to a national momentum for new-business creation, which enables Baby Boomers to remain productively engaged and also facilitates national economic growth.

The events will be held for people 50 and older at Babson College in Wellesley, MA on September 14, Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Management in Chicago on October 11, and the University of Denver on November 15. To register and view preliminary agendas, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/entrepreneurship-meeting/overview. Sponsors of upcoming meetings include AARP, CPL, and a number of other organizations.

Each of the meetings will have presentations by three successful entrepreneurs. The meetings will also include two rounds of interactive breakout sessions on topics relating to new-business creation and how to become an entrepreneur, including: risks and rewards of being an entrepreneur, strategies for identifying and selecting potential business opportunities, developing a business plan or business concept statement, and exploring funding support.

The first meeting in the series was held March 27 in Kansas City, MO at the Kauffman Foundation, a focal point for entrepreneurship in America, and attracted 95 participants. The written evaluations indicated that the meeting was extremely successful: 87 percent of the participants reported that it increased their awareness and understanding of the benefits and opportunities provided by entrepreneurship, and 97 percent stated they were now more likely to create a new business.

This interest in entrepreneurship as a career after retirement is reflected in national research as well, with increasingly more people 55 and older creating their own businesses. In fact, according to Kauffman Foundation research, the relative percentage of entrepreneurs has increased by almost seven percent for people 55-64 from 1996-2011, the largest increase among all age groups; by contrast, the percentage dropped about five percent for people 20-44.

The minimum age level is 50, and qualified people can register now for one of the following meetings at http://www.ctrpl.org/entrepreneurship-meeting/overview: 

• September 14, 2012: Babson College, Wellesley, MA

Babson College has been selected for each of the last ten years as having the best post-secondary school program on entrepreneurship in the country.  Leonard Schlesinger, the President of Babson College, and Ralph Sorenson, past President of Babson College and founder of its Center on Entrepreneurship, will be the opening speakers.

• October 11, 2012: Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Management, Chicago, IL

Dr. Paul Magelli, Senior Director, Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and James Shein, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Kellogg School, will make the opening presentations.

• November 15, 2012: University of Denver, Denver, CO

The details for the Denver meeting are still being finalized, but will include Courtney Price, President of VentureQuest, and one other speaker.  Go to http://www.ctrpl.org/november-15-2012 for the latest information.

The number of participants will be limited to 125 on a first-come basis. The cost of $35 per person covers inclusion of a spouse, if desired, and a post-meeting workshop on the “how-tos” of creating a new business. Payment to the Center for Productive Longevity must be received by the first of the month in which the meeting is held to confirm participation.

CPL has also initiated a national competition, the Later-Life Story Contest, for people 55 and older. The competition has two categories: Entrepreneur Success Stories and Inspirational Later-Life Stories. A panel of three independent judges will select one winner from each category who will receive $1,000 and a specially designed trophy. CPL will post the best stories on its website (ctrpl.org) under “Success Stories.” The contest deadline is August 31, and winners will be announced on October 1, 2012.

To submit a story, visit www.ctrpl.org/laterlifestorycontest and complete a submission form. Entrants must be 55 and older, have a compelling story to share, and be willing to have it posted on the CPL website for viewing and for possible publication. Stories may also be sent to James Hooks at jhooks@ctrpl.org.

For more information on CPL, the meetings and how to submit entrepreneur success stories, visit www.ctrpl.org or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CTRPL.

Marathon legends, cycling champions, renowned researchers and the nation’s leading health and fitness experts will be among the presenters at Living at Your Peak (www.livingatyourpeak.org), the nation’s only gathering designed to help health-conscious individuals and influencers discover how to live longer, better and impact the wellbeing of their world. The Vail Symposium today announced the notable lineup of speakers for this inaugural event, to be held September 13-15, 2012, in Vail, Colo.

“Featuring one-on-one interactive sessions with recognized experts in an intimate setting, Living at Your Peak offers attendees the unique opportunity to share an exclusive, life-changing wellness experience,” said Jamie Stone, Living at Your Peak event champion and a board member of the Vail Symposium, a non-profit organization responsible for Living at Your Peak.

Tennis legend and health advocate Martina Navratilova will keynote the event. Jenna Wolfe, co-anchor of NBC News’ Sunday TODAY show, will emcee. Living at Your Peak’s renowned list of presenters includes experts in the areas of fitness, nutrition, cognitive health and well-being, preventive medicine, longevity and stress, sports fitness and personal health.

Fitness

• Josiah Middaugh, professional triathlete, seven-time XTERRA national champion, eight-time American snowshoe champion, certified strength and conditioning specialist.
• Ellen Miller, manager and coach of the U.S. women’s mountain running team, Mount Everest climber and adventure racer.
• Jeff Olson, RLT, champion skier, two-time Olympian, three-time national champion and Pan American Gold Medalist, co-founder and president of Well Nourished Worldwide, co-founder of the Metro Denver Health and Wellness Commission and the Zyozy Foundation.
• Uta Pippig, world-renowned marathoner, founder and president of Take The Magic Step, LLC and co-founder of the Take The Magic Step Foundation.

Nutrition

• Paul Anders, restaurateur, executive chef at Vail’s Sweet Basil restaurant.
• James Hill, PhD, executive director of the Anschutz Center for Health and Wellness, leading expert and author on nutrition.
• Kelly Liken, former Top Chef and Iron Chef America contestant, proprietor of Vail’s Kelly Liken Restaurant.
• Kevin Nelson, award-winning executive chef at Vail’s Terra Bistro restaurant.

Cognitive Health and Well-Being

• Cheryl Chessick, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado (CU) School of Medicine, director of women’s studies and treatment at the CU Depression Center.
• Jack D. Edinger, PhD, insomnia researcher and clinician, professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Sleep Medicine at National Jewish Health, adjunct professor at Duke University Medical Center.
• Clifford Saron, PhD, associate research scientist, Center for Mind and Brain and M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis.
• Matt Vogl, deputy director of the University of Colorado Depression Center

Preventive Medicine

• C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, director of the Women’s Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai, trailblazer and leader in preventive heart health.
• Monique Giroux, MD, co-founder of the Movement and Neuroperformance Center of Colorado, medical director of movement disorders for Swedish Medical Center.
• Scott Small, MD, professor of neurology, Columbia Neuroscience, nationally renowned expert on brain health.

Longevity and Stress

• Eli Puterman, PhD, postdoctoral scholar at the University of California – San Francisco, recognized expert on the physical impact of chronic stress.
• Jay Williams, PhD, acclaimed physiologist and medical nutritionist, clinical professor, author, researcher, health and wellness consultant.

Sports Fitness

• Peter Millett, MD, director of shoulder surgery at the Steadman Clinic.
• John F. Murray, PhD, licensed clinical and sport psychologist in Palm Beach, Fla., has been recognized for his work with NFL teams and professional athletes.
• Inigo San Millán PhD, director of the Human Performance Lab at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Health and Wellness Center.
• Coen Wijdicks, PhD, director and senior staff scientist in the Steadman Philippon Research Institute’s Department of BioMedical Engineering.

Personal Health

• Jeffrey L. Boone, MD, MS, consultant in cardiometabolic health, preventive cardiology and stress medicine in private practice in Denver, Colo.

To learn more about these presenters’ Living at Your Peak sessions, visit www.livingatyourpeak.org.

Living at Your Peak is organized by the Vail Symposium, a grassroots, non-profit organization providing thought-provoking, diverse and affordable educational programs to the Vail Valley community. Event sponsors include Vail Valley Medical Center, HealthONE, the Town of Vail, The Steadman Clinic, Vail Summit Orthopaedics, Vail Resorts, PGA TOUR, Triumph Development, the Vail Daily, Vail Beaver Creek Magazine, Antlers at Vail, Vitality Center, Opedix, Udi’s Gluten Free Foods, The Biegler Foundation, Colorado Access, Wendy and Paul Raether, the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, Vail Luxury Magazine, The Denver Athletic Club and the Steadman Philippon Research Institute.

For more information about Living at Your Peak, please visit www.livingatyourpeak.org.