It started with a town: Trinidad, Colorado. A former coal-mining boomtown. Spectacular scenery, elegant Victorian architecture, cobblestone streets, salt of the earth folks. The kind of town Americans have in mind when they think of Growing Up or Settling Down. The only thing missing from this bucolic scene: employment for the next generation. Old timers bemoaned the exodus of youth for jobs “Up North.”

The question for us became, “What can we do about it?” How could we put our gifts and experiences together to help bolster the economic development of this community we loved?

Raw materials to factor into the equation: Annie had a designer’s eye with years of background in product development. Mark ran his own woodshop designing and building custom furniture. Mark’s brother, Aaron, sported a newly minted MBA. How could we blend these into a mix that would provide employment opportunities for our community?

Annie hit it first. Somewhere in the back of her left brain she was seeing a picture frame. We built her one. She painted it. Ooooooh. She painted another. Aaaaaah. She painted another. We were in business. Well, almost. Some customers would be nice.

Eighteen years later we look back on those early days with wonder. That original handful of hand-painted picture frames has been for quite a ride. We’ve become one of southern Colorado’s largest employers. We’ve been voted Wall Décor Company of the Year, recognized with a Stevie (The American Business Awards) for Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program, been listed regularly among the fastest growing companies in our industry and secured a place on the Inc5000. Great fun.

But what really gets us charged up is seeing our original Dream come true. We’ve created opportunities for young people to find secure employment close to family and the town they've grown to love. We’ve helped transform the face of our town by renovating a landmark in the heart of Main Street where we opened a retail store and Café. We’ve helped create an anchor for downtown life by co-founding a summer repertory theatre, with a vision to transform another historic building as a performing arts center in the heart of downtown. And our touch has spread outward as we’ve begun digging water wells in Africa – 20 to date.

It’s the stuff that gives a business a soul. And it’s possible because of you.

Thank you for joining us in the adventure,

Annie and Mark Danielson