Everyone was late all the time. Kelly Spitzer, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker, started showing houses in Durango and many of her potential clients would arrive up to 45 minutes late. “I was talking to people about that, and they said, oh that’s Durango,” explained Kelly. “I said no, that’s just rude. We all have busy lives, and I can’t just wait 45 minutes for people to show up.”
After hearing about similar experiences with contractors, Kelly decided to find a way to reward people who provided exceptional service. She started asking for positive reviews at the Women’s Idea Exchange, a monthly networking group she attends, and the idea gathered steam. She launched the project officially as “That’s Durango!” in September 2015.
Bethany Niccum, is the Director of Thriving at Thrive Chiropractic Studio and started the Women’s Idea Exchange with Courtney Harshberger five years ago. “What caught my eye about this project was that focusing on the positive and certain people’s awesomeness is the right way to handle any negative stereotypes,” Niccum shared. “Complaining has never accomplished anything and Kelly took the action to get a big floodlight to shine on those that go above and beyond. I wanted to participate because I love honoring people for the greatness that they are.”
Although Kelly had been ready to leave Durango at age 20, she came back with a more appreciative understanding of town’s qualities. Kelly moved to the state of Washington with her husband, Brian Percell, where they decided to start renovating houses. She became a REALTOR® to get the inside information on the best houses available. Brian worked in heating & air in WA, and then started his own full-service construction and heating & air conditioning company here, called Renew Heating & Homes. Seventeen years and three houses, later, Kelly and Brian came back to Durango in November 2014 to be closer to their families. “When I left,” Kelly shared, “It was the most challenging but most rewarding part of my life. I don’t think people who grow up here and never leave really understand what it’s like in the real world. Durango’s a very insulated and low crime city, and people just leave their cars and doors unlocked. In the town I was living in, my house was broken into, and if I left anything outside, it was stolen. Leaving and coming back after 17 years, I definitely have a better appreciation of Durango, but also a more well-rounded view of the world. I’m also aware that it isn’t like this everywhere.”
There were other things that were different. Kelly’s father lives in a condo complex that had its roof replaced three years ago. When the shingles started falling off, the managers called the same people each year. When Kelly asked why they returned to the same roofers who did a poor job, the response was familiar: “That’s Durango.” “No,” insisted Kelly. “People know how to roof. They can do it right the first time.”
Courtney Harshberger, who owns her own Farmers Insurance Agency, admits that she was one of the people excusing unprofessional behavior as a price for living in Durango. Harshberger has lived in Durango for 16 years and has been an insurance professional for 12 years. She also leads the Women’s Idea Exchange with Niccum. “I can’t even tell you how many times in the last 16 years that I have lived in this town that I have said ‘That’s Durango’ and not meant it in a good way,” confessed Harshberger. “We all are so lucky to live here and all have a great love for the area and all it has to offer. But Kelly has a great point there are so many wonderful people in this town who are really good at what they do—and love what they do—so why not turn that saying around and make it positive? It is funny now that she has launched the program that every time someone goes out of their way to help me I think to myself, I should tell Kelly about this, or even better tell the whole town!”
With “That’s Durango!” those who complete the work right the first time get exposure, as do those who submit the reviews. Reviews are publicized through the Facebook page and Kelly’s online and printed newsletters. Businesses, both those that review and are reviewed, are also offered the opportunity for even more exposure by providing branded items for Kelly’s monthly open houses. A database is also in the works. There is no fee to enter or give a review. “I’d love to see it grow,” shared Kelly. “I’d love for people to change their perception of that phrase, ‘That’s Durango.’ I don’t want it to be derogatory. I want it to be a positive phrase.”
Kelly Spitzer is hosting an open house this Sunday, Oct. 25, at 667 E. 5th Ave., from 12-2 pm.
Image credit to Kelly Spitzer
Author credit: Elizabeth Rinke writes for local organizations, businesses and publications such as Allison Ragsdale Photography, Community Connections, the Ore House Restaurant, Distributed Wind Energy Association, Durango Living Magazine, Durango Neighbors Magazine and more. She has been a writer for 10 years.
More about That’s Durango: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thatsdurango/