BY MEAGHAN CARABELLO SMALL BUSINESSES DRIVE BIG CHANGE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES Small businesses are the lifeblood of the community according to Kari McDowell Schroeder, president and owner of McDowell Engineering in the rural mountain community of Eagle, Colorado. She should know. As a woman-owned small business owner and working parent to two young children, Schroeder represents a demographic that is often underrepresented in local government and committees for many of our local mountain communities— or anywhere. Colorado/Wyoming Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). This award honors outstanding achievements in transportation, but that is only the start of her importance to business in Eagle. “Kari has stepped up for many years and has demonstrated her interest in the town, as she could be seen regularly at the Town’s Planning Commission or the Board of Trustees meetings; only interested parties attend these meetings,” said Mary Ann Morrison, Eagle Chamber of Commerce Administrator. “Kari has further shown her commitment to the Town’s business community having recently purchased an office in the historic downtown Eagle.” Kari McDowell Schroeder Schroeder has more than 23 years of engineering experience, specializing in multimodal transportation for mountain communities. She was recently named Transportation Professional of the Year by the Local government Small business 1 24 Business in Colorado Magazine 2021 Best Places Report, 2019 LEFT TO RIGHT: СЕМЕН САЛИВАНЧУК; OLEZZEO (ALL ADOBE STOCK)
Business in Colorado 2021 Business in Colorado: Page 24
