Meet the Management Team
It starts with a heart full of goodnesses to share.
Kori
Chief Goodness Officer WildPlum Grocer
D.J.
Director of Consumer Product Management
Jen
Goodness Curator WildPlum Grocer
Katie
Head Plum
Steamboat Springs
Dan
Eatery Goodness Maker
Jimmy
Goodness Innovator
Kevin
Grocer Goodness Maker
Kori
Chief
Goodness Officer
Kori brings guidance, organization and vision to all things WildPlum. Her experience serving in the United States Air Force and working as a defense contractor, sharpened her analytic skills which have come in handy as the owner of Ori’Zaba’s Scratch Mexican Grill and Melita’s Table.
Kori is passionate about healthy and great tasting food. Her interest in healthy food led her to pursue a Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from eCornell’s T. Collin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and she is a certified plant-based cooking professional through the Rouxbe Online Cooking School.
In her spare time, you can find Kori hitting the trail and hiking her favorite Colorado mountains. In the winter she enjoys fresh powder days and year round she can be found tinkering with all sorts of projects in her shop.
Bits & Bites
If you could share a WildPie pizza with one person (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
My husband. We have fun and enjoy spending time together.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
New Year’s Day. The year is starting out fresh and the holiday madness is over!
What is your favorite outdoor activity and why?
Hiking is probably my favorite. I like the quiet, the solitude, and enjoying the beauty of what’s around me.
D.J.
Director of Consumer Product Management
D.J., hailing from Butte Montana and currently living in Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada, heads up our Consumer Products Division. He has 17 years of experience working in marketing and advertising, business management, and market analysis. D.J. has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and a Master’s of Business Administration and approaches his work knowing that everything is a puzzle wanting to be solved.
In his off time, D.J. loves to travel or get out on a lake or on a river. He loves inviting people over to sit around the dinner table for a homemade meal, have some cocktails around a fire, or entertain a game night… sometimes all three in one evening!
Bits & Bites
If you could share a WildPie pizza with one person (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
I’d share it with the world. I genuinely love people and I love being able to share a good meal so I couldn’t choose just one person when I could choose everyone. I have an unbroken rule for these holiday dinners that I put on – when there’s food on the table, the door is always open. Everyone is welcome, each of us have a story to share, and no one should be hungry.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
I love all holidays because they’re a reason to put the daily grind to the side and surround yourself with those you love (often at my house for a big feast), however, my favorite holiday is probably St. Patrick’s Day. I love the cheerful and social interactions that come from this holiday – and being originally from Butte MT, green runs in my veins!
What is your favorite outdoor activity and why?
My all time favorite activity is getting a group of friends together for a day floating on a river. Tube or raft, there is just something about checking out of technology, society, and responsibilities for a few hours and just enjoying one another in the beauty that nature has provided.
Jen
Goodness Curator
Jen brings over thirty years of experience to WildPlum in the fields of marketing, product management, business development and sales management. She is the go-to source for all things creative and keeps the WildPlum staff organized, while adding a bit of zest and flair to all things Plum related.
When she’s not working, and it’s football season, you will find Jen cheering on her favorite NFL teams; she is an NFL fanatic and never misses a game! Jen keeps busy with her large family, she is one of nine children and has two teenagers of her own.
Bits & Bites
If you could share a WildPie pizza with one person (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
Audrey Hepburn. I’d love to share a casual lunch with her, hearing about her lifetime of travels, her time in Hollywood, and her late-in-life activism.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
I truly love Christmas. It’s the best time of year, indoors with loved ones, forcing the world to slow down just a little, and take stock in what matters in life.
What is your favorite outdoor activity and why?
In my younger days I was an avid skier, volleyball and soccer player, but the knees don’t tolerate that much anymore. Now I prefer a long walk – equally favorite methods include a dawn quiet walk alone, or with friends or family and lots of chatter along the way.
Katie
Head Plum
Katie grew up in the Chicago area and eventually found herself in Seattle in the construction management field with her husband, a professional chef. She fell in love with the fresh food movement as she discovered the bounty of goodness offered by various farmers markets in the Seattle area. In 2009, Katie and her husband did a house swap with a couple in Steamboat for a year, and you could say the rest is history! Katie fell in love with Steamboat, she and her husband sold their house in Seattle and permanently moved their life to the mountains.
Since moving to Steamboat, Katie has worked at the farmers market, milked cows, helped manage the family restaurant, Phenomenal Falafel and spent nine years as a produce manager and assistant manager at Natural Grocers. Katie brings vibrant energy and passion to WildPlum, stop by and say hi, she is always eager to help you plan your next fabulous meal!
Bits & Bites
If you could share a WildPie pizza with one person (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
I would love to share a pizza with my dad, I lost him at an early age and would give anything
just to sit and enjoy a pizza with him as an adult.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
My favorite holiday is Christmas. It was always a huge family gathering
when I was growing up, and I have wonderful memories of time spent with
the family.
What is your favorite outdoor activity and why?
My favorite outdoor activity is mushroom hunting. I love the hunt and being able to cook a delicious meal with food that I foraged in the
forest.
Dan
EATERY GOODNESS MAKER
Dan hails from Maryland and moved to Colorado in 2014 “on the flip of a coin” and hasn’t looked back since. He started his culinary career in the kitchen of Lils Sushi Bar and Grill in Crested Butte and found a mentor and true friend in his boss, Matt Smith. With no formal education in culinary arts, Dan has mastered the art of being a chef by working in a variety of kitchens. He loves to explore ingredient pairings and also takes joy in creating dishes that are true works of art.
Dan has lived in a variety of towns across Colorado but loves Steamboat the most because of the small town feel while also having city amenities. When he is not creating masterpieces in the kitchen, you can find Dan exploring the mountain trails on his dirt bike and camping in the summer.
Bits & Bites
If you could share a WildPie pizza with one person (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
I think I would have to pick Nicola Tesla. His work with technology would make for interesting conversation as well as an insight on what life was like in the turn of the century during the industrial revolution.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Thanksgiving. The only holiday that involves eating as much as possible and then eating just a little bit more than that.
What is your favorite outdoor activity and why?
I enjoy all manner of outdoor activities; some of my favorites include archery, fishing, camping, and dirt biking.
Jimmy
Goodness Innovator
Jimmy drives efficiency at WildPlum, you may find him working on simplifying complex processes or improving technology systems, always bringing innovation and expertise to the forefront of each issue. Jimmy has over 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, and technology and is completing his academic career with a Research Doctorate from Liberty University in Accounting and Business Management.
Jimmy is passionate about fitness and basketball and in his free time he brings his passion to youth teams as a coach and mentor. When not coaching, you can find Jimmy competing in CrossFit, Powerlifting and training in Muy Thai.
Bits & Bites
If you could share a WildPie pizza with one person (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
Albert Einstein – I have always been fascinated by his process of gaining knowledge, specifically his relentlessness in asking why. I want to understand his process so I could be more effective at it myself.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Halloween – I love the joy it brings to my son, his friends, my nieces, my nephews, and actively being a part of making it a fun night for them.
What is your favorite outdoor activity and why?
I truly enjoy every outdoor activity but my favorite is hiking in the fall when the leaves are starting to change and the temperature in Colorado is starting to drop. There is a smell and a feel that is energizing.
Kevin
Grocer Goodness Maker
Kevin was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado and has made his home in Steamboat Springs for six years. The world renowned skiing and outdoor lifestyle drew him to this area and he takes advantage of every outdoor opportunity, no matter what the season.
Kevin has been with WildPlum for four years, managing and expanding the grocery area. He is an expert on every product in the store, which makes him the perfect person to help with your meal planning and grocery needs. He is always on the hunt for new products that WildPlum customers will enjoy, let him know if you have any suggestions!
In his spare time, Kevin loves to do anything outdoors, that gets him out of the house. From skiing and camping to fly fishing and skateboarding, Kevin loves to be outside, enjoying everything Steamboat has to offer.
Bits & Bites
If you could share a WildPie pizza with one person (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
My dog Lucy. I’d be lucky if she saved me a slice. She’s a 12 year old labrador and would be drooling over our pizza.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because it’s a great excuse to eat all the food I want, plus it means that the ski season has begun.
What is your favorite outdoor activity and why?
Skiing by far. It’s the reason why I live in this town. I love winter and I love this mountain. Skiing isn’t just something to do on my days off, it’s a lifestyle and my greatest passion.