Kit Geary/Summit Daily News
As the seasons change, Summit County’s business scene continues to change as well.
Changes are expected at a popular Frisco arts spot, a Summit County nonprofit is teaming up with a hotel for a partnership that will benefit the Blue River Watershed, and a property management company is receiving national recognition for its work in the lodging industry.
We bring you the latest information on the business landscape at the Summit.
Former owner purchases Stay Sunny Frisco and takes ownership again
Stay Sunny Frisco is in the process of transitioning ownership after a recent acquisition.
The spot showcases artwork by former owner Ashley Weisel, as well as pieces and accessories by smaller creators.
Weisel opened Stay Sunny Frisco (originally known as Sunny Side Up Studio) in 2018 and recently posted on Facebook that she was selling the shop because she was moving overseas. Weisel said she would like to sell to someone who would keep the shop the way it is now, showcasing her own artwork and that of other artists, but would also like the new owner to add their own unique twist.
Summit County resident Ruth Campbell sold her formal wear, gift and souvenir store on Frisco Main Street a few years ago after running it for six years. When she saw Weisel’s post, Campbell decided to apply, even though she thought the chances of buying the store were slim.
Weisel responded with support, and Campbell immediately began thinking about what the future of the new space would look like.
As Weisel’s post suggested, Campbell intends to keep Stay Sunny largely intact, and just as Stay Sunny has undergone changes in terms of inventory under Weisel’s ownership, she said it will undergo similar changes under her ownership.
“I’ve come up with some new ideas that are consistent with what she’s done in the past and I’ll probably bring back some of (Weisel’s) older designs, because her art has changed over the years and people still come in and talk about her earlier work,” Campbell said.
Stay Sunny is located at 301 Main Street in Frisco and is open daily from 10am to 6pm.
Jeanne Bistranin retires from Summit Foundation
Summit Foundation Executive Director Jeanne Bistranin will retire effective January 31, 2025.
In his nearly 10 years in the role, Bistranin helped double the nonprofit’s total annual financial support to the community from $2.1 million in 2015 to more than $4 million by 2024, according to the Summit Foundation.
When Bystranin started with the nonprofit in 2015, it had provided $23 million to the community since its founding in 1984. This year, that figure has grown to $53 million. She has led many special initiatives, including the Bright Futures Fund, Mountain Scholars, Peak Health Alliance, Project Thrive, Theatre Vivo and Building Hope.
“It has been an honor for me to serve as executive director of the Summit Foundation and serve our community for nearly a decade,” Bystranin said in a statement. “As I reflect on the foundation’s 40th anniversary this year, I am humbled to realize the impact so many people have had on the foundation and our community.”
PAD and Blue River Watershed Group Partner
Silverthorne’s PAD and Blue River Watershed Group have partnered through the Kind Traveler program, and since the partnership began in November 2022, about $10,200 has been raised for the nonprofit organizations.
The Kind Traveler program is an initiative that empowers travelers to make a positive impact in their communities through their stays. Its broader mission is to promote responsible tourism and empower both travelers and hotels to support local and global communities.
When guests book a participating property, a portion of their stay will be donated to a local charity of the hotel’s choosing — in this case, PAD chose Blue River Watershed Group, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and protecting the Blue River watershed.
Every donation is tracked and its impact displayed on a digital dashboard created by Kind Traveler.
“This partnership exemplifies our dedication to responsible tourism and local impact, and it made sense for us as we are in the luxurious position of having the beautiful Blue River on our doorstep,” said Vanessa Lodgeson of Blue River Watershed Group. “Together we are committed to enhancing our local environment by supporting efforts like creating wetlands that protect wildlife and increase wildfire resilience.”
Breckenridge property management companies are recognized as some of the best in the country
Moving Mountains, a property management company with offices on North Main Street in Breckenridge, is ranked in the top 1 percent of vacation rental management companies nationwide.
The company was recognized with a Summer 2024 Market Leader Award from Compartment, a marketplace designed to change the way vacation rental owners find and select vacation rental management companies. Moving Mountains was selected from a field of 5,205 management companies.
The company was founded in Steamboat Springs in 1997 and manages 60 properties in Summit County and more than 220 rental homes across Colorado, and in 2021 set up shop in Breckenridge.
