Meet Dave Grossman: A visionary for recreation in Colorado’s Grand Valley
bmarkert@gjfreepress.com
Submitted photo |
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Originally from Durango, Dave Grossman never predicted he’d set down roots in Grand Junction. Now, after 11 years in the valley, he’s become a key organizer of the Grand Junction Off-Road, which is a world-renowned mountain biking event planned for May 29-31.
“We madly fell in love with the town,” Grossman said.
ABOUT GROSSMAN
According to Grossman, his family moved to Grand Junction more than a decade ago due to his wife Stephanie’s medical school residency. And they never left.
Before landing in Grand Junction, Grossman lived primarily in Durango and Denver. He graduated from Colorado College in 1994 with a degree in biology and Spanish. After a summer internship in Alaska, he moved back to Durango where he worked at a fly fishing shop.
Grossman’s career has spanned action sports, video editing and production. He’s also worked as the program director for Grand Junction’s community radio station, KAFM 88.1, and he hosted his own radio show for five years. He additionally assisted with Grand Junction Parks and Recreation’s after-school program.
Then in 2012, Grossman — along with a group of other passionate individuals — founded Grand Valley Trails Alliance. The organization formed to link many Grand Valley user groups invested in public lands and trails. Those groups are diverse as well, spanning motorcycles, hiking, horse back riding and off-road driving. Around the same time, Grossman connected with Epic Rides’ president, Todd Sadow, while attending a mountain bike race in Prescott, Ariz. From that relationship grew Mesa County’s first Grand Junction Off-Road in 2013. Since then, the event has been hosted in downtown Grand Junction annually.
“It’s been growing each year,” Grossman said. “It’s a great platform for the Grand Valley and Grand Junction especially. It’s been an exciting and amazing challenge bringing all the pieces together.”
‘HE IS A VISIONARY’
Over the years Grossman has focused on what Colorado’s Grand Valley could become — a destination for nature lovers and athletes.
“The Off-Road is about helping Grand Junction shine,” Grossman said. “But, for me it has also transitioned into a vision for what the Grand Valley can look like in the next 20 years.”
Elisa Jones, a Grand Junction resident and friend, recognized Grossman for his forward thinking.
“He is a visionary,” she said. “He is one of the most hopeful people I have met; and he sees the Grand Valley not for what it is, but what it can be.”
When Grossman isn’t working, he can be found with his kids and wife, riding or hiking the local trails. He also owns 18 chickens and two dogs.
“What most people don’t know is he is a stay-at-home dad and has built a life so he can be that parent for his family,” Jones said. “I think that’s the most admirable quality about him.”
To learn more about the Grand Junction Off-Road, visit http://www.epicrides.com. To learn more about the Grand Valley Trails Alliance, visit http://www.gvtrails.com.
Caitlin Row, Free Press editor, contributed to this article.
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