We recently connected with Nick Leo and have shared our conversation below.

Nick, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I love being a business owner, and I don’t think that I could go back to working in another company that I am not an integral part of. My life has changed in every way being my own boss. I love the near unlimited freedoms that come with the territory, from scheduling to creativity!

This was not always the case though; when starting out thing can certainly be very unsure and insecure. I started my business in early 2019, with little more than a name and a few harebrained ideas about what to sell. I was still working at a local resort hotel as a banquet and line chef for a regular paycheck; unfulfilled and with no direction in my career. The perks and benefits were terrific, and the experience was invaluable. Though, I just could not be motivated. Another year passed, and the COVID shutdowns became a reality in the spring of 2020, the resorts closed and the staff was sent home indefinitely. After a long time of waiting, a phone call came from the management, I was officially laid-off. Now what? My business wasn’t making any money yet, and I still had bills to pay. I began talking with local restaurateurs and applying to entry level jobs; and every time the discussion came to schedules they would say something like “We need to know that you are committed to ‘generic ski rental shop’ and are available for holidays, weekends, ect.” and when faced with this question, I was not. It was so obvious to me that I did not care to work in another unfulfilling regular job. I wanted to commit to Wilderness Bound Provisions.

It was a wake up call, because I still needed an income, not to mention health insurance. I decided on a service to focus on and a path to my clientele. I wasn’t going back to what I knew didn’t work for me. I began doing doing loads of research, practice gigs and speaking with others in my new community of personal chefs. Soon after, I was confident in my ability to not only support myself, but grow!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I always enjoyed not only the food I would create, but the way it would make those around me feel; and soon after, the memories that would follow. I grew up in Austin Texas and come from a family of four brothers, and my mother is admittedly a terrible cook. A tattered burned potholder hanging near the stove read “Burnt is Beautiful”. But with the pantry stocked and the fringe full, cast irons on the stove and a chair to stand on, I began experimenting. I loved to try new things while using my stubbornness to perfect techniques and recipes I would read about in stained old cookbooks and glossy magazines. It was an outlet for me creatively and mentally. From a very young age I knew that I loved this about cooking.

I went to a local college outside of Syracuse, New York and obtained a formal degree in Culinary Management. This alone however didn’t mean too much, and the region I was in at the time wasn’t particular know for its culinary fortitude. After working in several local and chain restaurants I was presented an opportunity to move out west to Colorado. I began planning immediately. After a short stint in the Denver area, I was sure that I needed to move to the resort towns of the mountains for an opportunity in the hotels and notable restaurants therein. I was soon living in Breckenridge, Colorado, as an experienced line chef and completely inexperienced skier. I would improve dramatically at both.

I worked at the resort, putting out banquet after banquet if I wasn’t the only line cook that day. Often I was learning about new ingredients and techniques from the staggering amount of seasonal employees; and a few great chefs that I worked for. These chefs allowed me a great deal of freedom within a framework to develop my own style and flavors; so much so that I was soon writing recipes and even had input on menus from time to time. At the same time I grew to understand the clientele, and their needs and patterns.

When I began Wilderness Bound Provisions, I was armed with the experience and knowledge to fulfill a market for luxury personal chef in the backdrop of one of the most active vacation rental markets in the world. Luxury homes with designer kitchens overlooking breathtaking views, with different groups occupying each week. Only I didn’t know how to get in front of my clients. It took several years of building networks and trust in my community to become a business with a great reputation and repeat clients.

After committing to my business full time I found a need to give back to both the community and the environment. I adopted a set or core values and a mission that reflects this in all of the work that Wilderness Bound Provisions does. I started with contributing a percentage of all revenue to Protect Our Winters, a local nonprofit that fights for conservation and climate awareness in our local and federal governments. Soon, I saw a need to contribute to a more short term and noticeable need, Feeding Colorado; an association of food banks across Colorado. This need became apparent to me after realizing that even though I use locally sourced foods, organics, and meats and seafood from ethical sources, there was still a tremendous waste in this luxury market. I couldn’t abide this knowing that I have the means to contribute more. Our Food is Bound to the Wilderness.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I could tell that I needed a change from my career cooking for other businesses; in the back-of-the-house, out of sight. Intense heat, lifestyle and hours with little to show for it. Sure, I had experience and a roof over my head, But those around me, as well as myself could tell that I was burning out. I didn’t have a back up plan either. I had been on this path my whole life, and was now feeling so unsatisfied and mediocre. I had recently gone back to school at a local college in Colorado, trying something new. It wasn’t for me either though, and after I finished I knew that some how, I needed to find my inspiration again for cooking.

After I was laid off from the hotel, I knew I had an opportunity to make some necessary changes in what I prioritized. Putting all of my efforts into building Wilderness Bound Provisions has been the most satisfying changes of my life. I am now able to live life more fully, and take on new challenges; both personal and professional.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I was born with a vision deficiency that is non correctable. Because of this, I am unable to obtain a drivers license. This has proven to be an ongoing change in my life, Often to the detriment of time. I counted in college the amount of hours that I would commute on public transportation, and it was very apparent that I spent more time on a bus to get my degree than I did in any classroom. I was determined to not let this affect the outcome of my life. I made many sacrifices to time being with loved ones or even just the comfort of warmth, to get to and from school or work. This had also had an ongoing affect my opportunities for employment, and mobility in my career. However, being my own boss allows me to make decisions based on my own needs so that I may excel to my full potential.

I am thankful for where I live in today. While vast and striking in scale, it is smaller than many in terms of population, but still mostly self sustaining in terms of community. Most of the income comes from tourism but there is a lot of pride in the people that live here. The local government provides resources to individuals across different needs, such as a wonderful transit system; and the community is always looking to help each other where they can.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wildernessboundprovisions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildernessboundprovisions
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063139996076
• Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wilderness+Bound+Provisions/@39.4495671,-106.5376608,10z/data=!4m18!1m9!3m8!1s0x876af7c1eb1fb2bb:0x6b1276053c5995e1!2sWilderness+Bound+Provisions!8m2!3d39.449502!4d-106.2080362!9m1!1b1!16s%2Fg%2F11pq25h1k3!3m7!1s0x876af7c1eb1fb2bb:0x6b1276053c5995e1!8m2!3d39.449502!4d-106.2080362!9m1!1b1!16s%2Fg%2F11pq25h1k3?entry=ttu