“Each of us must rededicate ourselves to serving the common good. We are a community. Our individual fates are linked; our futures intertwined; and if we act in that knowledge and in that spirit together, as the Bible says: “We can move mountains.”
– Jimmy Carter
Connections Create Community
There are people in every city who serve as connectors, helping communities grow and thrive. In Montrose, one of those connectors is Terri Leben, owner and head of hospitality at Welcome Western Colorado. Alongside Kim Bowden, she greets new homeowners and residents as they move into Delta, Montrose and Ouray counties.
Building Trust from the Get-Go
Welcome Western Colorado has a unique business model that benefits both newcomers and established local businesses. Terri greets new residents at their homes within two months of their move, offering packets full of gifts, coupons, and information about local businesses. These packets provide business owners a unique opportunity for advertising their local business by getting in front of Montrose’s newest residents with Terri’s vetting process and friendly face as indicators of trust. The company serves as an intermediary between people who need guidance in navigating things like new medical and dental providers, real estate agents, internet providers, and printing companies and local businesses who want to make a great first impression on their new neighbors.
“Because it requires more marketing efforts to get people to change their habits, it’s essential to target consumers who are not yet anyone’s customers—otherwise known as new movers,” said Terri.
Through Terri, businesses also get some insight into who new residents are and what services they might be looking for. With that information, companies can get creative with what they include in the welcome package to best serve the new residents.
“The key to success when working with a business like Welcome Western Colorado is to harness their low-cost, rich data to craft a personalized, strategic marketing campaign that maximizes your spend. When you nail down exactly who you’re targeting, you can develop messaging that cuts straight to your customers’ core challenges. Marketing with that level of precision isn’t just effective—it’s practically a no-brainer,” says Rachael DeRossi, Chief Strategy Officer of The Marketing Dept.
Since purchasing Welcome Western Colorado in 2013, the company has greeted over 2,500 families. “New homeowners can trust these businesses to offer exceptional service and great products,” said Terri.
Dedicated to the People of Montrose
Since 2013, Terri has been a warm and welcoming face, greeting new Montrose residents, but her involvement with the community doesn’t stop there. Since moving to Montrose in 2008, Terri has also served as the director of the Montrose Chamber of Commerce and founded Women’s Business Alliance of Colorado.
Terri is also involved in supporting The San Juan Cancer Center at Montrose Regional Health. In 2019, she took her passion for entertaining and launched a fundraiser for The San Juan Cancer Center at Montrose Regional Health called Boot Stomp Montrose – Stompin’ On Cancer! The event, which in past years has featured barbecue, barn dances, live music, and a live auction, has raised over a quarter of a million dollars to help local cancer patients.
“Sadly, I don’t know anyone who has not had a family member or friend face cancer,” said Terri. “The Montrose community is so blessed to have the San Juan Cancer Center here to care for our family and friends.”
Montrose residents can get the chance to see Terri work her connector magic and help raise money for The San Juan Cancer Center at the 2025 Boot Stomp Montrose – Stompin’ On Cancer! on June 6.
Image credit: Desiree Roberts Photography
