Education Foundation of the Summit welcomes Nick Brannon to the board of directors. Nick brings a new perspective to the board with his background as a remodeling entrepreneur and experience in the healthcare industry.

Nick moved to Summit almost two years ago, after having explored many other options. He liked Summit because people care about each other. “Maybe it’s because they see each other as a scarce and valuable resource. In places like Denver, Houston, or Chicago you don’t see that, and I think it affects the culture,” he said.

Summit is close enough to Denver that Nick’s remodeling business, Elevation Home Improvement, can scale and benefit from the larger marketplace. He likes to tell people he lives here because “in the same day I can work for twelve hours and ski for two. It’s worked out better than I could have dreamed.”

Following his Passion

Nick started out remodeling as a hobby. He continued his hobby throughout college and during his work with Siemens selling medical imaging (ultrasound) equipment. His grandfather, William Brannon, who holds a patent for a switch in some of the first night vision goggles, was a big influence. Nick and his grandfather worked on many projects together, during Nick’s childhood. William died in 2015. Nick inherited his grandfather’s tools and ultimately used them to build what is now Elevation Home Improvement. 

One reason Nick loves his work so much are the emotional rewards. “The joy I see on someone’s face when they open the door and walk into what used to exist only in their imagination makes me feel like Santa Claus,” he said.

Nick Joins EFS

His good friends Karen-Jo and Philip Dolamore recommended that he get involved with the community throughEFS. Both of the Dolamores currently serve as board members— Karen Jo is the secretary. They introduced Nick to Bonnie Ward, EFS vice chairperson, whose passion and excitement about the foundation drew him in.

Nick has benefited from a great education at University of Houston’s Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship with teachers that provided individual attention and challenges that sparked creativity. He learned the importance of critical thinking and problem solving. He’s passionate about helping Summit County students have some of the same great experiences he had.

If a student were to ask Nick how he uses critical thinking today, he would tell them that his life is built around identifying opportunities and solving complex problems. In his work, for example, he tries to give clients exactly what they want while operating within financial, structural, governmental and logistical constraints . Sometimes client’s ideas don’t comply with code, so finding solutions that can achieve client vision and meet code require critical thinking.

He also feels strongly that exposure to accounting and finance helps students with anything they do from buying a car to starting their own business, to, most importantly, achieving financial freedom and living life to the fullest.

“The free market only works when people understand what opportunities are available to them and what the consequences are of their choices,” Nick said. “The game is only fair if everyone knows how to play. I believe public education has a responsibility to make sure everyone knows how to play.”

Posted in EFS Blog Posts