About

Sometimes we need a shift in life. Three residents who made a career change will discuss making the transition to a new profession and the joys - and pitfalls - that came with those new roles. Storytellers include: Nancy Utter was a land-use planner for La Plata County for two years before becoming a consultant. Unhappiness with her career path led her to take a chance, follow her passion and go to medical school to pursue a degree in naturopathic medicine. After graduation, she returned to Durango, where she has been practicing for 20 years. Nicolas Cofman was a bush pilot in Africa before becoming a dentist. After surviving a plane crash in 2011, Cofman attended dental school in Phoenix while his wife and children stayed in Durango. After graduating, he moved back and got a job as a dentist at the practice in which he was a patient. Sean Jackson's career began in journalism on the Western Slope. While working for area newspapers, he also worked on and around full-sized trains. In 2005, he left his full-time journalism job to join the Durango train car shop as a rail car inspector and mechanic and has advanced to car shop foreman.