Summit County President
“It’s a place to have fun and build memories...and I get to bring that sense of fun to my work every day.”
Chris Lankhorst began his career working in sales back home in Michigan. But his goal was always to move out west. Once he got a taste of the mountains and lifestyle, he knew that Colorado was where he was meant to be.
In Chris’ own words: ‘Colorado is where I belong. It’s a place to have fun and build memories with your family and friends.’
Chris started out as a sales assistant and worked his way up, joining Slifer Smith & Frampton in 2008 as a branch broker. Today, Chris still brings that same sense of fun and discovery to his work as Slifer Smith & Frampton’s Market President of Summit County.
Why is it important to you to work for a locally focused real estate company?
When you work for a local company, it keeps you directly connected to your local community. For me, it’s about supporting the businesses and the people who are my neighbors.
With the big-box franchise competitors, they could be anywhere in America. But here, I can pick up the phone anytime. Talk directly to our founders. Learn about the history and the connectivity that they’ve created here in our community. That connection matters.
What’s your favorite Colorado spot?
My happy place is definitely Arapahoe Basin. A-Basin is a very pure skier’s mountain. It’s the only place where I hold a season pass. It’s where my kids learned to ski — and where I got choked up seeing them go down their first black diamond! Our family goes there every Sunday afternoon.
Of course, there’s the great skiing, the cool bar, and the nice retail shop. But it’s about so much more. It’s the Colorado views and the Colorado people themselves. We know everyone getting on the lifts with us. It’s such a fun community. Everyone there is so like-minded. It really connects me to all the reasons I came to Colorado — and why I stayed.
Is there a local cause that is important to you?
Domus Pacis. That’s Latin for ‘house of peace’. It’s a local charity that supports cancer patients and their families. Domus Pacis reaches out and finds people in the community who own resort homes and are willing to donate the use of them. Then DP puts together vacation packages so these families can get away to the mountains, experience peace, and create joyful memories.
These are people who got dealt a bad hand in life. So to see what they go through — it really hits you. It’s unbelievably powerful.
Chris' Colorado Calling
Family
Fun
Legacy
