We occasionally like to highlight some interesting folks in the craft food and drinks scene in Colorado. If you know someone who belongs on our Characters of the Craft pages, let us know.

Steven Nolan

Woods Boss Brewing Company

Age: 34

Occupation: Packaging manager

What do you love about your job? When time allows for it, what I love about my job is the creative side that comes to breeding. Getting to design recipes and experiment with new products that are always hitting the market. I also love the craft beer community and getting to work side by side with one of my closest friends, not everyone is able to say that.

What is the hardest part of your job? Adapting to changes in the market and what the consumer is looking for.

What gets you out of bed in the morning? My family foremost. It’s all about my wife and daughter, but also the excitement of what each day will bring, whether good or bad.

What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? I love to spend time in Durango, great ski town with a killer vibe,

What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? Our go-to spot at the moment is Ester’s Pizza. Great food, awesome beer menu but mostly it’s a great spot to take our little toddler.

David Delcourt

Grown As* Foods & Seed Ranch Flavor Co.

Age: 39

Occupation/Title: Chief of flavor

What do you love about your job or what you’ve created? I know we can all relate to that moment when you make a fantastic drink or perfect meal for a group of friends, and a collective chorus of delight ripples around the room. That feeling of surprise in every bite is what we’ve endeavored to recreate in packaged form at GrownAs* Foods & Seed Ranch Flavor Co. Sharing a meal together is the universal language of community and respect, of happiness and joy. I have the lucky job of packaging that tasty grin into a box of mac & cheese or a bottle of sauce.

What truly gets you out of bed in the morning? Most of the time it’s my 7- and 11-year-old boys. However, from a motivational standpoint, it’s about changing the world by changing how it tastes. We strive to be masters of the science and art of flavor. I am plant based and our company is plant based, and regardless of where you land on the diet spectrum, I believe everyone can benefit from more flavor in their food.

What’s one thing about yourself that most people in your circle of friends/colleagues wouldn’t know? I often write little poems and two-sentence stories on the little napkins you get on airplanes and notepads from hotels. For instance: “I hear footsteps on the stairs. I live alone.”

What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? I’d have to say Salida. The drive to Salida is beautiful no matter where you’re coming from. Downtown is small and charming and there’s great food and drink that isn’t pretentious - like Soulcraft Brewing, Atomic Pizza, and Bunny and Clyde. The mountain biking, hiking, and river sports are phenomenal in the warmer months, while there’s plenty of winter options.

What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? Why? Watercourse Foods in Denver. All housemade food, great housemade cocktails and local brews (kombucha and non-alcohol, too).

Litch Polich

Breckenridge Distillery

Age: 56

Occupation: Breckenridge Distillery co-founder/director of strategic partnerships and activations

How long have you been doing it? 12 years

What do you love about your job? I love that my job changes from day to day. One day I may be working on a partnership with the Denver Broncos or working a tailgate party, and the next day I might be selling product into a new restaurant or 40-year-old liquor store. Variety is the spice of life, right? On top of that, I get to meet new people every day.

What is the hardest part of your job? I never know what I’m doing from day to day and I meet new people every day.

What gets you out of bed in the morning? Usually my dog, Queso, jumping on me.

What’s one of your favorite hobbies? Mountain biking and snowboarding are pretty even.

What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? Any of our amazing ski or bike destinations because they all offer different trails, people, restaurants and experiences. I’m partial to a staycation in Breckenridge but also enjoy Eagle and Fruita for mountain biking and Steamboat, Crested Butte, Aspen and Telluride among others for winter and summer activities. You can’t go wrong in this wonderful state!