As we reflect on Hispanic Heritage Month, the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council (NWMMSDC) celebrates history, but more so, the people whose legacies remind us what hard work, culture, and purpose are all about. One such story is Red Door Collaborative, one of our newest sponsors and certified MBEs, led by the dynamic husband-and-wife team, Chris and Jenny Telfer.
Theirs is a story of perseverance and family, one that is lived through a lifetime of devotion to storytelling and a celebration of their heritage.
Where the Story Begins
Chris’s story starts in the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado, an area of green fields and wide horizons. That’s where his abuelita, one of thirteen resilient siblings, worked tirelessly in the fields, digging up potatoes.
She was legally blind, but she could clearly see what mattered, people, love, and goodness. To Chris, she wasn’t just his grandmother; she was the family’s soul, the embodiment of familia and an immeasurable influence whose values would pass on for generations.
Building in Wyoming
When the family subsequently relocated to Wyoming, they were amongst one of the only Hispanic families in Cheyenne, WY, something that both presented pride and challenge. Chris’s grandfather opened a small garage, and his mother assisted him at work, handling customers, keeping books, and learning the car business.
It wasn’t just a garage; it was a community hub, where neighbors would stop by for help and for company, and where kindness won out over cost. “My grandpa gave a lot back to the community,” Chris explained. “Sometimes he’d repair cars for people who couldn’t pay.”
And so, from those early days, Chris learned that business isn’t just about transactions; it’s about service, relationship, and legacy. He was raised by his mother and father, both embodying the resilience and work ethic passed down through generations. His father, the first white man to marry into his all-Hispanic family, was welcomed with open arms. A Vietnam veteran and dedicated mailman, he shared the same strong sense of duty and helped support Chris’s mother through their property management ventures. Together, they modeled what it meant to work hard, stay grounded, and give back. Chris was already being taught how to wear many hats and how to hustle before he was old enough to lend a hand. He was taught how to see work not as labor, but as a blessing—a means of serving others and building something that lasts.
The Table That Held It All
At the center of his grandmother’s home was a table, not just any table, but one with the weight of stories, festivities, and laughter. She made sure everybody, however busy, was within it. Her vision for the family was simple yet powerful: to hold onto their heritage and to pursue education, the two pillars upon which she believed would propel them forward. She instilled the Hispanic/Latino tradition of “sobremesa,” the period of time at the table far beyond the end of the meal, when family bonds are solidified and memories are created.
For Chris, those were the formative moments. It’s where he gained insight about where he was from, the history of his family and how to be proud of his heritage.
Every celebration brought the house to life—mariachi music echoing through the rooms, cousins spinning and laughing, while grandparents watched with proud, contented smiles. “Our culture is all about balance,” Chris said. “You work hard at the week, but party harder when the time comes.”
A Story That Became a Calling
Years later, his found love of storytelling brought Chris to his calling and to Jenny. The two met while traveling, documenting the stories of people and places around the world. Their shared passion for storytelling, their heritage and connecting with others sparked something more than a partnership; it became a calling.
They began Red Door Collaborative, a creative marketing agency built on three humble but powerful ideas: passion, openness, and collaboration.
Red, they say, is for passion, for people, for culture, for stories.
Door is named after the time they spent in southern Spain and the Spanish virtues they learned when they were there. It represents the Spanish culture rich in family values and strong connections with the people who come through your door.
And Collaborative shows their dedication to the belief that diversity of culture and thought and experience leads to creativity. It’s in their values, and it’s in how they work with each other and with their clients.
Chris and Jenny have built more than just an organization with Red Door Collaborative; they’ve cultivated a community that honors diversity, fosters creativity, and unites people through the power of storytelling. “It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference,” says Chris Telfer, Managing Partner.
The Heart Behind the Story
For Jenny, storytelling was more than a creative pursuit, it was a way to honor the people who came before her. Her own roots trace back to her own abuelita, whose home in Colorado was filled with warmth, faith, and tradition.
“Though I grew up in another state, visiting her in Colorado was something I always looked forward to, especially for Christmas,” Jenny shared. “Though we weren’t practicing Catholics at home, we never missed a Sunday service when we’d visit. My favorite service to go to was midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Saint Nicholas Church was just a few miles from her house. We’d pile into her car, make our way on slick, icy roads, and cram into the pews just as the choir began to sing. She’d nudge me every time we had to stand or kneel and would let me light the candles in the back of the church after the service.”
Those memories became a compass for Jenny, reminding her that the most meaningful stories are the ones rooted in love, faith, and family. “Though she passed away a couple years before my kids were born, I’d like to think they know her through the stories I tell and the green chili recipe she passed on,” she said. “I feel her close whenever I make it and maybe that’s because I’m talking to her while I do, or maybe she’s nearby, making sure I get it just right. Either way, her legacy lives on through me.”
Partnership Rooted in Purpose
This year Red Door Collaborative became one of the most prominent new supporters of the NWMMSDC. They have been heavily involved in every one of the largest events, from paneling at the Business Conference, to sponsoring the Golf Tournament, to supporting us immensely at the Awards Ceremony. Their support is far more than a logo or face; it is a belief in what NWMMSDC stands for.
When asked why they had chosen to support the Council, Chris’s answer was simple: “I believe in taking something and leaving it better than you found it.”
He explained how when he first met with the NWMMSDC staff, he felt an immediate sense of shared values, the same energy and enthusiasm that he and Jenny feel for their own mission. “You know when people are enthusiastic about what they’re doing,” he indicated. “That’s what appealed to us. This is not just a business organization; it’s a group of people who support each other.
Chris and Jenny are dedicated to the mission of places that enable minority- and diverse-owned businesses, and to them, NWMMSDC is key to making that mission a reality. Their sponsorship, they say, is an act of giving back, of being able to help be part of a network that shares the very same values that they were raised on, humility, hard work, and giving back.
Looking Ahead: Opening More Doors
Red Door Collaborative is poised on the brink of new growth today. The company is expanding, intentionally and always with purpose. Chris and Jenny continue to count on the principles they learned as they grew up, through their mentorship, and through their network of supporters.
With a legacy of dedication and the belief that stories can transform the world, Red Door Collaborative is more than a marketing and creative agency. It’s an active extension of the values that brought it into being, a demonstration that business, when fueled by purpose, is legacy.
Through their efforts with NWMMSDC, Chris and Jenny remind us all about the importance of success that raises others up. They’ve thrown open not just their red door to present their own histories, but to invite others to enter, to a space where heritage, heart, and hard work chart the courses for the future.
A Shared Vision for the Future
We here at NWMMSDC are proud to be partners with firms such as Red Door Collaborative, a firm that treasures its heritage and is committed to diversity not as protocol, but as a strength. We view our own purpose echoed in their heritage: to empower, connect, and lift up diverse businesses.
Together, forward, we’re inspired by Chris and Jenny’s unwavering trust in the value of storytelling and philanthropy to serve our community. Together, we’ll continue to open doors, forge opportunities, build bridges, and celebrate the rich multicultural tapestry that defines our shared success.
Because when we uplift one another, we all rise.