PAUL MENTER

March 7, 2008

Where did you grow up?
Cincinnati, Ohio. Born in Colorado but went to Cincinnati, because my father was a Lutheran Pastor.
As a child, what did your parents want to be when you grew up?
Dad thought I was going to be a basketball player, the next John Stockton, the Utah Jazz great. I played power forward.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A baseball pitcher…my favorite pitcher of all time is Tom Seaver.
What do you do for a living?
Aspen Community Foundation - Finance Director.
Describe your work style.
Disciplined, like to work with people, the inter-action. I like problem solving, not at the Foundation just to do the debits and credits. Want to be involved in the solutions.
If you were at a business lunch and you ordered a rare steak and they brought it to you well done, what would you do?
Eat it. My assumption is if its a business lunch you are there to focus on some subject. Sending it back would just detract from why you are there.
Biggest obstacle you have ever had to overcome in your career?
Clover Park Technical College. Worst two years of my life. It was a state college in Washington State. It was an institution in financial and political trouble when I arrived. Not fun.
List three words that describe your character.
I’m loyal, transparent, and ethical.
What are three positive character traits you wish you had?
I wish I had more patience. I call myself a slow learner – but a good leaner.
What do you do to keep mentally healthy?
Ski, bike, and play with my kids.
What is your favorite thing to do?
Read. I like history. Not into fiction for the most part, although one of my favorite authors is Tom Clancy.
What is the one thing you do best?
Communicate complicated issues. Had a lot of practice with elected decision-makers having worked for four cities in my career.
If you could change one thing about your life – what would it be?
I wish I had my right eye back. I still have my eye, but I don’t really see out it to well. I wear a lens over it, which gives me about 20-80 in that eye.
What inspires you other than money?
Solving community problems. Finding way to make things better for those you live with.
Best decision you ever made?
Moving to Aspen