Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicole Tschetter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Nicole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

One of my favorite sayings in life is, “People don’t grow where they are planted. They grow where they are loved.” In my case, I was extremely fortunate to grow up in a family where I had both a mom and dad who would (and still would) have moved the earth and stars for myself and my siblings. But, before I share how my parents have made tremendous impacts on my life and all the things they did right, there are two things I feel are important to share with those who are reading this article.

One— as I’ve gotten older, I have learned having my mom and dad as my biggest cheerleaders is an extreme privilege that I am fortunate to have. Two— I would also be remiss to also not point out that the term “parent” in today’s world can take on a lot of different forms and shapes outside of the “traditional” mom and dad sense. Those guardians and caretakers have earned their right to be called a “parent” just as much as anyone else.

This leads me all the way back to the quote I began with… people tend to grow in environments where they are loved, cherished, and uplifted. And good golly, do my parents give their 110% to cheering on myself and my siblings. Growing up my parents did a lot of things right. They also made mistakes along the way too. And that’s okay, after all, not everyone can be Beyoncé.

A pivotal memory that has stuck with me to this day is how my parents always made it a priority for our family to all eat dinner together during the weekdays. Good days, bad days, long days, days we loved each other, days we weren’t each other’s biggest fans, and all the cold Colorado days in between— we would always sit down to eat dinner together. From playing Brain Quest Trivia games when I was younger, to discussing politics, to our conspiracy theories about the hit TV show Criminal Minds, the dinner table was more than just a place for us to eat. It was the epicenter of the greatest and most memorable stories and discussions of my childhood. It didn’t matter if the dinner lasted an hour, or only ten minutes, dinner came to be known as quality family time.

Over the years it was a safe space I could always land at the end of each day regardless of what happened. It was a space I knew I would never be judged, or have my ideas shot down. It was a space I could dream, cry, laugh and learn alongside people who entertained my weird quirks and impromptu singing. It was a space I could be my most authentic self.

I know, I know… it sounds silly for me to highlight dinner as one of the things that my parents did right. But, that quality time together every evening was instrumental in my upbringing and who I am today. And, the funny thing is, when we all go back home we always migrate towards the dinner table and the stories begin to flow out.

I’m forever grateful for all of the dinners. Thanks mom and dad.

Nicole, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Once upon a time I was a news reporter. I loved the art of storytelling and the human connection aspect of the news world. But, throughout my time as a reporter my heart always leaned towards the magic of the non-profit world. It was a no brainer back in 2016 when I made the official switch from being a news reporter to being a communications enthusiast. Ever since then I have been using communications (in all its different forms) to help non-profits share their stories with the world- which I couldn’t love more! From crisis communication reports to feel-good feature stories, I’ve been able to elevate the voices of marginalized groups in my role at Denver Rescue Mission and most recently through my switch to the non-profit called Laradon. As the communications manager at Laradon, I oversee all of the communication elements for the entire non-profit. This includes public relations, marketing and social media strategy. For those who don’t know, Laradon helps to empower children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My role in communications is pivotal in helping to share our mission and *their* stories with the community at large (and, let me tell you they have the most REMARKABLE stories). My go to saying lately is, “it’s a beautiful day to help change lives.” And, it’s always just that at Laradon- a beautiful day to change lives through storytelling.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2021, I knew my time as the public relations manager was coming to an end at Denver Rescue Mission. I was incredibly passionate about the Mission, the people we served who were experiencing homelessness, and, not to mention, absolutely loved my coworkers. At the same time, I knew I was becoming complacent, comfortable, and wasn’t being challenged on a daily basis to grow. Continual growth in my life and my career have always been a top priority for me. I knew I needed to take the next step.

Change for me is NOT easy. It’s scary and uncomfortable. BUT, as they say some of the best things in life come when you step outside of your comfort zone.

I could not be more grateful for taking that leap of faith and switching things up by accepting the communications manager role at Laradon.

I feel like I am learning so many different things as a communications professional AND learning so many new things about myself.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My number one goal is to help change lives by elevating the voices of marginalized groups and by breaking down barriers to amplify their voices.

This goal is my purpose and why I do what I do every single day.

Contact Info:

• Website: Laradon.org
• Instagram: @colieradooo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Laradon.org
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tschetter-0845256a/