About Me

Hi, I am Ingrid Vanderploeg. I am a business owner, and a student at Colorado State University studying for a Master's degree in Communication and Media Management.

My background is in communication-related employment and entrepreneurship in hospitality and tourism. I worked for the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions as a project manager, developing websites and editing content for five years.

In 2006, I immigrated with my husband to the United States, to Denver, Colorado. Since then, we have owned several successful businesses in Ouray, Colorado. We owned an award-winning Bed and Breakfast for ten years, and since 2016, we have owned a 5-star TripAdvisor-rated restaurant and a vacation rental business.

HomeAway Award

One of my proudest achievements is that HomeAway awarded our Bed and Breakfast a spot in the USA's top 25 alternative accommodations of 2018. Venturing into business ownership while building a family made me who I am today: a resourceful, creative, and enthusiastic teambuilder with a passion for authentic communication and drive to keep learning every day. I possess bilingual fluency in both English and Dutch.

Education

In 2024, I enrolled in a Master's Program to freshen up my communication knowledge and develop hard skills, like creating this website in HTML5 and CSS in JTC 572: Corporate Web Design and Management, and taking other relevant courses like Strategic Digital Communication and Digital Media Writing and Production.

Professional Aspirations

I want to change trails, and would love to work for a company that helps people develop their physical or spiritual health and overall well-being. I firmly believe that self-improvement is crucial to fostering a better work environment and better world for all, including myself. As we strive for personal growth, we become leaders and colleagues who inspire through our actions and behavior, not just words.

Professional Ethics Statement

Interests

Next to trail running, photography is one of my many interests and hobbies. I enjoy taking pictures of the outdoors, like the one you see at the top of this page, or snapping beautiful presented plates of delicious food in our restaurant. In the portfolio section, you can view some of my favourite shots over the years. I also enjoy writing poetry, skiing, reading, sudoku puzzles, and practicing daily meditation.