The LoCo HQ Team
Curt Bear
Founder
Connect with CurtCurt’s professional experience has always supported business owners. His 15-year business banking career connected him to local businesses looking to scale through financial resources. During that time, he was a part of a high-priced peer-group where he quickly learned the value of having 10 others collectively think through one’s work problems. Ten brains have 10x more ideas than just one, right? He sought to bring this model to the business owners who needed it the most, small businesses, at an affordable price.
That’s when LoCo Think Tank was born, as Curt attempted to leave banking to pursue his food-business dreams. Later, as Curt processed whether and how to scale his mobile food operation, Bear’s Backyard Grill, the collective feedback helped him see that his passion was growing LoCo Think Tank. LoCo’s mission, then and now, is to uplift business owners to create the business and life they’ve always imagined through the power of collaboration. We currently serve over 100 business owners and have nine highly-skilled experienced business facilitators and are growing in new locations!
That’s when LoCo Think Tank was born, as Curt attempted to leave banking to pursue his food-business dreams. Later, as Curt processed whether and how to scale his mobile food operation, Bear’s Backyard Grill, the collective feedback helped him see that his passion was growing LoCo Think Tank. LoCo’s mission, then and now, is to uplift business owners to create the business and life they’ve always imagined through the power of collaboration. We currently serve over 100 business owners and have nine highly-skilled experienced business facilitators and are growing in new locations!
Lauren Crawford
Chief of Staff
Connect with LaurenLauren Crawford serves as Chief of Staff at LoCo Think Tank, partnering with Founder Curt Bear to strengthen the member experience, support facilitators, and help grow LoCo's impact across Northern Colorado.
Before joining LoCo, Lauren spent more than a decade serving as a strategic partner to CEOs and executive leadership teams at Fortune 50 companies and high-growth organizations, including Verizon and Citigroup. As a Chief of Staff and executive coach, she helped leaders navigate growth, build high-performing teams, improve organizational culture, and execute complex strategic initiatives.
Today, Lauren combines that enterprise-level leadership experience with a passion for helping locally rooted businesses thrive. She believes the businesses that anchor our communities deserve the same strategic support and trusted counsel often reserved for the largest organizations.
At LoCo, Lauren focuses on creating exceptional experiences for members, strengthening facilitator success, expanding strategic partnerships, and helping business owners find the clarity, accountability, and community they need to lead with confidence.
In addition to her work with LoCo, Lauren is an executive coach who partners with CEOs, founders, and Chiefs of Staff to develop stronger leaders and healthier organizations. Her coaching combines practical business strategy with intentional leadership, helping clients create sustainable success without sacrificing what matters most.
Lauren believes thriving businesses create thriving communities. Her passion is helping leaders gain the clarity, confidence, and support they need to build organizations—and lives—they're proud of.
Before joining LoCo, Lauren spent more than a decade serving as a strategic partner to CEOs and executive leadership teams at Fortune 50 companies and high-growth organizations, including Verizon and Citigroup. As a Chief of Staff and executive coach, she helped leaders navigate growth, build high-performing teams, improve organizational culture, and execute complex strategic initiatives.
Today, Lauren combines that enterprise-level leadership experience with a passion for helping locally rooted businesses thrive. She believes the businesses that anchor our communities deserve the same strategic support and trusted counsel often reserved for the largest organizations.
At LoCo, Lauren focuses on creating exceptional experiences for members, strengthening facilitator success, expanding strategic partnerships, and helping business owners find the clarity, accountability, and community they need to lead with confidence.
In addition to her work with LoCo, Lauren is an executive coach who partners with CEOs, founders, and Chiefs of Staff to develop stronger leaders and healthier organizations. Her coaching combines practical business strategy with intentional leadership, helping clients create sustainable success without sacrificing what matters most.
Lauren believes thriving businesses create thriving communities. Her passion is helping leaders gain the clarity, confidence, and support they need to build organizations—and lives—they're proud of.
Jill Bear
Executive Administrative Assistant
Jill Bear is the Executive Administrative Assistant for LoCo Think Tank, in addition to being married to Curt since 2003. Jill works full time at US Career Institute, where she serves as the Dean of Faculty. Jill has her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Social Work from Colorado State University.
For LoCo Think Tank, Jill serves in an administrative role and is also part of the leadership team. She helps onboard new members, manages payments and reconciliations for our LoCo Facilitators, and handles many other "back office" tasks. Her attention to detail and love for people and community equip her well for the role, and she also (usually) enjoys tagging along with Curt at his many community engagements.
In her extra time, Jill enjoys reading all kinds of books, home and garden decor, camping and hiking in the wilderness, international travel, and quality time with family."
For LoCo Think Tank, Jill serves in an administrative role and is also part of the leadership team. She helps onboard new members, manages payments and reconciliations for our LoCo Facilitators, and handles many other "back office" tasks. Her attention to detail and love for people and community equip her well for the role, and she also (usually) enjoys tagging along with Curt at his many community engagements.
In her extra time, Jill enjoys reading all kinds of books, home and garden decor, camping and hiking in the wilderness, international travel, and quality time with family."
