Fifteen years ago, Scott Creevy marched into his Boulder Great Harvest bakery with a spray can of paint and wrote "Be Loose and Have Fun" across a wall. He was inspired by a "No Shirt, No shoes, No Problem" newsletter written by Great Harvest founder and friend, Pete Wakeman. Scott was intent to remind himself and his employees that life can be all too serious and work should be fun and serve our lives, not the reverse. His employees watched with wide eyes, but this kind of action was not a complete surprise from their boss. Scott does nothing half-way. He leads with his heart and his passion, and it's served him well.
I had my first phone conversation with Scott in 1989
; he was a Great Harvest icon and I was a rookie at Great Harvest's home office. I was slightly intimidated by his direct and serious manner. The first time I actually met him face to face was at an informal Great Harvest convention in Isla de Mujeres, Mexico. How could I have thought this man with the twinkle in his eye, quick smile, and wry sense of humor was intimidating? Scott is truly a kid at heart. If he's serious, it's about caring for the people in his life -- his family, his friends, his employees and his customers.
Scott and Sally Creevy opened their Great Harvest Bread store in Boulder, CO in 1983. They were pioneers in a company in its infancy. Great Harvest was a perfect fit for this couple. Scott is fiercely independent and happy to make decisions. They wanted to be their own bosses, with flexibility to spend time with their kids and enjoy their lives. As one of the first 10 stores in the system, the slate was wide open for defining what a Great Harvest bakery could be. The bread of course was the core, but over the years Scott and Sally built the epitome of the neighborhood bakery, a culture in which they raised their two girls and connected with the people of Boulder. Their 20-year newspaper ad says it all, "Yes, we make great whole grain breads but this is why you love it."
The Boulder Great Harvest, true to the freedom spirit, does things its own way and has been a leader in many innovations. Scott appeared in a local video blog. A monitor above their sandwich counter runs a slide show including bakery shots, rafting and Grand Canyon hiking trips. One of the first stores to go full bore with sandwiches, Scott and Sally added a friendly touch. Sandwich customers are on the honor system for paying. Giving generously to others has tied right into their philosophy. They were one of the first stores to spontaneously have a charity bake day for the firemen's families of 9-11. They would have helped anyway but it was personal. Scott's nephew escaped from one of the trade towers and told them he would never forget the faces of those firemen entering the building.
Scott is an avid skier and hiker. He and bakery owner friends, Bill 
Dial and Barry Sparks, have hiked the Grand Canyon for a number of years. In the winter, he plays basketball to keep in shape. Coming on 30 years in the business, the only telling sign Scott and Sally have aged is the fact their girls are grown and on their own. If a lifestyle can truly keep you young and sharp, these two have found the secret.
Have any of you been in the Creevy's Great Harvest in Boulder, CO? Any stories to share?
Update: The Creevy's sold the Boulder Great Harvest in 2012. The new owners, Kevin and Chanel, are continuing to product wonderful bread and serve customers, while adding their own vision and new ideas to the solid foundation.
