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ABOUT OUR PEOPLE

About Our People

Crafting Natural Resources - by Hal Hagen, President Aquatic Alternatives

Understanding ways and means to craft natural water resources has always been a passion of mine. I have been fortunate enough to grow up in Colorado, alongside the Arkansas River, operating a trout hatchery. As a young adult I found myself watching the river flow, cascading over rugged terrain, then slowing down in other areas to form deep pools that created a diversity of aquatic habitats. It is always amazing to watch a natural river flow and realize that the power and complexity of the water has the ability to generate and sustain life. In 1992, I redesigned our trout hatchery to conduct research into ways of improving and maximizing the life processes in rivers, streams and lakes. Since then, I have dedicated my life's work to creating natural habitats for trout and healthy aquatic ecosystems, that allow trout and other fish to reproduce naturally and exist in harmony within the wild and with mankind.

I accomplish this by blurring the lines between natural and artificial systems relying on scientific methodologies and artistic interpretations of nature. I recognize the value of natural waters and devise ways to enhance them. What I do in my work is give the generative process a hand by finding ways to unleash the energy in moving water and turn it into fish. This can be accomplished in many ways ranging from restoring small mountain streams to developing multi-acre lakes with interactive stream systems. All are designed to create habitats where indigenous species of aquatic life can flourish.

Owner and President Hal A. Hagen

Hal Hagen has always been a naturalist. As a youth, he lived in Yellowstone National Park, Olympic National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park accompanying his father, Dr. Harold K. Hagen on fisheries research projects. In 1978, he graduated from Western State College with a major in Biological science and a minor in Geology.

In 1988, he founded Aquatic Alternatives® in Nathrop, Colorado, which creates ecosystems with the simplicity that comes from living in rhythm with nature. Hal through Aquatic Alternatives focuses his work on designing and building sustainable riparian and aquatic habitats with an emphasis on environmentally friendly solutions to the reclamation and improvement of aquatic ecosystems that will support wild, sustainable fisheries.

Hal's work includes the design, development and building of ponds and lakes, river and stream development and habitat improvement; aquatic forage management, the establishment and rehabilitation of trout habitats and wetland delineation's. His projects have ranged from 1/2 acre ponds to 7-1/2 acre lakes, up to 5 miles of stream improvement (per project) and numerous stream creation projects.

In addition, Hal handles all aspects of project coordination including government agencies for proper permitting, assistance in acquiring water adjudication and/or transferring water rights and conforming to the rules, regulations and time lines that are required by state agencies. Simultaneously we also coordinate our projects with survey and water engineering firms, water attorneys and hydrologists.

Hal has worked throughout Colorado, the Western United States, as well as in Peru and Chili. From 1983 to 1989 he served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Trout Growers Association. Over the years he has presented numerous papers at American Fishery Society and the Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited meetings, as well as, conferences of Environmental Conservation Engineers.

Marketing & Sales Jamie Utendorf-Hagen

Jamie Utendorf-Hagen has over 24 years experience in brand development, marketing, and purchasing in the wholesale and retail specialty coffee and foods segment. As vice president of several corporations she created over 1,000 private labeled branded products, and established fifteen different branded company identities. Jamie has presented several seminars in marketing and brand development throughout the world. Ms. Utendorf-Hagen held a Board of Directors position on the Specialty Coffee Association of America from 1998 to 2003 and last April was honored with The Specialty Coffee Association of America's "2004 Outstanding Contributions to the Association" award in Atlanta, Ga.

In February 2001, she founded her own consulting company Creative Concepts™(www.mugconcepts.com) working with clients such as Mexican Chiapas Shade Grown Coffee (a 25,000-grower cooperative sponsored by the Mexican government), LavAzza of Turin, Italy, Pango Mango and Clou Du Mont (Puerto Rico), Barnie's Coffee & Tea Company (Florida), Café Cuisine (Seattle), Arnold's Coffee Cafe (Kentucky), Bongo Billy's, Coldwell Banker - Bev Coggins Realty, Colorado Gems - Krivaneks Jewelry, South Main Downtown on the River Park, The Reserve at Cottonwood Creek, Reality Language (Colorado), KayPak Packaging (Minnesota) and French Market Desert Café (New Orleans).

In 2004 Creative Concepts introduced two new Inspired by Nature series of mugs, the Trout Series and the Mountain Wildflower Series. Creative Concepts'™ newest venture is to write a book entitled The Users Guide & Workbook to Building the Brand of Specialty and this series of articles for Hospitality News www.HospNews.com which are excerpts from the book.

All of the identities of Aquatic Alternatives have been designed and created by Jamie. With these abilities customized training programs showcasing Aquatic Alternatives work, proposals and or training methodologies are made available to all Aquatic Alternatives clients.

website design & copy writing Jamie Utendorf-Hagen, Creative Concepts www.mugconcepts.com

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