Willie Samuelson: CMC is a Guiding Light

Chances are Willie Samuelson’s life would be much different had it not been for Colorado Mountain College.

Willie, a longtime facilities employee at CMC Steamboat Springs, started at the college in 1983 as a student in the Electrical Technology program; he was later hired as the first night custodian for the campus. But after five months Willie left to play music and started working as an apprentice electrician in Steamboat Springs.

But CMC came calling again.

“After getting laid off, because of projects being shut down, I came back to work at the Steamboat campus as a part-time employee with facilities,” Willie recalls.

In 1987, he moved to Nashville and although he played music full time, Willie couldn’t help but miss Steamboat Springs. So, he moved back to the resort town again working part-time in CMC facilities.

“In May of 1993 my wife, at that time, told me she was pregnant and soon after that… the college was opening another full-time maintenance position,” says Willie, who remarried in 2016.

He started full time in July 1993. Staff cited his electrical background as a big reason for the promotion – skills Willie learned at CMC.

Colorado Mountain College continues to be guiding spirit for another member of the Samuelson family. Willie’s son, Eric, is now working toward his bachelor’s degree in business and works part time for IT. He received his associate degree in ski and snowboard business in 2014.

“CMC has made it possible for me to live in a wonderful resort town, raise my son in a great environment, and get him a college degree,” Willie says.