Estes Park EDC Investor Spotlight: Diane Muno

The Estes Park Economic Development Corporations is proud to have Diane Muno serve on its Board of Directors. Originally from the Midwest, she worked in healthcare management for 15 years. During that time, she learned about what it takes to run a business. In 2006, Diane was looking for a transition to the next phase in her career and moved to Estes Park where she purchased The Spruce House. She is also the current owner of The White Orchid and The Christmas Shoppe.

Diane has been a part of the Estes Park Economic Development Corporation since its inception in 2013. Originally, Diane served as the President of Partners for Commerce (EVPC), an organization created to support businesses and economic diversity, sustainability and longevity.  EVPC established a committee to study the opportunity to launch a community EDC.  This evolved into the founding of the Estes Park Economic Development Corporation.

Diane plays an important role in the community, as she advocates for small businesses in her role on the EDC Board of Directors as well as the Estes Park Health’s Board of Directors. While she is passionate about sustaining the community and business, supporting her employees is her priority. She faces the common challenge of staffing shortages due to affordability and limited workforce housing in Estes Park. She also identifies the shortage of childcare as a concern for hiring employees with families. Because of this, Diane has become involved in community discussions to address these challenges.

She is proud to represent small business and advocate for changes and solutions that would provide businesses with opportunities to succeed. Diane feels that there needs to be a balance between meeting the needs of residents, visitors and businesses; maintaining Estes’ unique small-town feel is just as important as the need for businesses to generate enough sales tax for the community to thrive. Diane hopes to see the community evolve into a year-round economy by way of continued advocacy, economic diversification, business engagement, and support from the community and Town.