FRCC retiree Kiel remains wedded to his work

By Dan MacArthur
North Forty News

Leonard Kiel may have left his job after 33 years, but he's hardly the retiring type.

That's why the serial entrepreneur is building yet another new career at the tender age of 50.

Actually, new is not exactly accurate. It's a gig he started as a teen and continued on the side during his long career maintaining and improving the Front Range Community College campus. But now he's putting his mobile music business on center stage.

Kiel will concentrate his energies as chief entertainment officer of Colorado Sound, acting as a disc jockey, announcer and all-around merry maker for weddings, parties, dances and other special events.

It's an abrupt change for Kiel, who misses his old colleagues. But he's at the same time looking forward to another challenge.

Business is in his blood. Seventh of eight children, Kiel's first undertaking was cutting lawns. He towed a mower all across town behind his 10-speed bike in a trailer bearing his slogan, "You grow it, I'll mow it."

He also proved to be a superior salesman, peddling enough newspaper subscriptions to win three trips to Disneyland.

Kiel attended Poudre High School and took classes at what was then the vocational/technical school operated by the three school districts in Larimer County. Kiel takes pride that as a student, he planted what is now the largest cottonwood on campus.

That tree took root and so did his career when he started working there in the summer of 1977. Kiel, over time, became a self-taught authority on all the campus' mechanical systems. He also was the go-to guy called in before dawn to clear snow and, in the middle of the night, to fix a busted furnace.

When Front Range took over, Kiel earned retirement credit for all his earlier years as keeper of the college and was mustered out in August.

Now he no longer has to separate his DJ job from his "day" job. "Essentially it was two full-time jobs," he said.

Kiel said he got into the mobile DJ business when such businesses were rare and the gear crude and bulky. His first gig was at Cache La Poudre Junior High School. From there his reputation grew, and he started getting lots of prom gigs. Then brides-to-be approached him about doing their weddings. Now their daughters are hiring him.

Weddings have a special appeal to Kiel, who has been married 24 years to a supremely understanding Ronna.

More than a DJ, he said that he increasingly serves as the master of ceremonies and the entertainer. In that role, he sets the tempo and keeps matters moving with mixers.

"It feels kind of powerful at times," said Kiel. "I'm the person who holds it together."

Kiel said his enthusiasm for his work never wanes because each wedding is different and there are always more of the challenges he so loves to make it a special event.

"Every wedding has a moment when the bride and groom don't know there is anybody else in the room," he said. "To this day I get choked up."