Curt Bear is the Founder of LoCo Think Tank, and the Host of The LoCo Experience podcast, both based in Fort Collins; serving clients, listeners and the greater LoCommunity of Northern Colorado and beyond! Curt grew up in rural North Dakota and attended North Dakota State University where he earned degrees in Economics and Ag Economics. He started his career as a Credit and Management Trainee with Community First National Bank – based in Fargo but having recently acquired banks in Colorado.
Curt met his wife Jill within weeks of arriving in Fort Collins and had a 15-year career in banking – primarily small business lending – where startup loans were his favorite! Curt started LoCo Think Tank to help navigate a mid-life entrepreneurial spasm in 2014, operating Bear’s Backyard Grill and a financial advising practice with Thrivent Financial before going “full-time LoCo” in 2018.
Curt and Jill live in Old Town Fort Collins, will be married 20 years in May of 2023, and enjoy exploring Colorado together – often with high-school exchange students that they’ve hosted over the years.