Andrea Taylor, Sky Ute Casino Resort Assistant General Manager in Training, welcomes guests to this year’s La Plata County Economic Alliance Summit. The theme for the regional business conference was Rehumanizing Work, in an effort to bring business leaders and entrepreneurs together in a post pandemic landscape following major shutdowns last year in Southwest Colorado and the subsequent struggles for local business leaders in and around La Plata County.

National Geographic photographer Cory Richards was the keynote speaker for the 2021 La Plata County Economic Alliance Summit held at the Sky Ute Casino Resort, Tuesday, Sept. 21. Richards’ presentation #LifeUnfiltered was a powerful and heartfelt narrative, which followed his personal struggles and realizations, which led him to the present. Stunning visual imagery laid the backdrop for the storytelling. Through recounting the ups and downs of his own life and career, Richards’ conveyed the importance of humility, compassion and an ultimate understanding of ourselves as vulnerable human beings. To see Cory Richards’ professional work visit: https://coryrichards.com/