PPB March 2016

That’s pretty impressive, but

Kaspari says none of his success

would have been possible with-

out the influence of his uncle

and mentor, Shad Thayer, owner

of Awards USA, where Kaspari

worked part-time in sales and

manufacturing while growing up

and during his college years.

Since his uncle’s company

focused more on the recognition

side of the business and sold few

promotional products, Kaspari

was confused one day at work

when he came across a Broncos-

branded sunglass clip that a cus-

tomer had ordered.

“I didn’t even know what it

was. My uncle told me that peo-

ple hang it on their visor to hold

their sunglasses. I’m thinking,

MOST COLLEGE STUDENTS barely manage their classwork between fra-

ternity parties, Starbucks runs and afternoon naps. Matt Kaspari, owner of

Kaspo Inc. (UPIC: Kaspo705) in Denver, Colorado, was no ordinary college stu-

dent. Between classes, two part-time jobs and a lot of community volunteering,

Kaspari still had energy to spare. So he decided to start his own promotional

marketing company. He was 20. Thirteen years later, the company has four

employees and a steady stable of clients.

MENTORS MEANT EVERYTHING TO MATT KASPARI; NOW, HE STRIVES TO EMPOWER THE

NEXT GENERATION.

By Julie Richie

HEART OF A

CHAMPION

Kaspari

(left) and his mentee,

Noah Jones

, then a sixth-grade

football player.

CLOSE

80 •

PPB

• MARCH 2016

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