Samantha Wood

Owner and Chief Tasting Officer

A self-proclaimed chocoholic, Samantha has an insatiable appetite for meeting new people, traveling to far off lands, and continually learning. She started this business, initially called Colorado Springs Food Tours, in May 2010 with her mom, Karen Kelley, after becoming disenchanted with her boring desk job. This leap of faith propelled her into figuring out the odds and ends of being an entrepreneur, becoming a voice for local businesses, and finding ways to give her guests the best customer service she could possibly provide. She’s traveled extensively throughout the United States, Western and Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia.

In May 2015, she received her MBA in Innovation Management from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and also holds a degree in Business Marketing and Professional Writing from the same school. Samantha was named the Leadership Pikes Peak Emerging Leader of the Year and a Colorado Springs Business Journal Rising Star in 2014.

Read Samantha’s interview with the Colorado Springs Business Journal

Samantha offers consulting to other aspiring and existing food tour owners. Please inquire to receive a list of topics and templates she can share to help make your business successful.

Jentre Watt

Operations Manager

Jentre is a Utah native who has followed her military husband around the country. She has fallen in love with food by visiting as many farmers markets as she can everywhere she visits. She was recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease so she is on a mission to find delicious gluten free food wherever she goes.

After graduating from Utah Valley University with a Public Relations and Communication Degree, Jentre has spent her time supporting small businesses with their social media marketing and client relations.

Working with Rocky Mountain Food Tours allows her to do two things that she loves, work for a company that she believes in and eat great food.

Roger Hadix

Tour Leader

Roger watched the food scene develop as he grew up here in Colorado Springs. Mom taught him how to prepare family favorites, and Dad showed him how to grill. Being a short order cook got him through college, and later he had the opportunity to travel and experience BBQ from Kansas City, delicious frozen custard in St. Louis, and blackened red fish in New Orleans. Thrilled with the possibilities of food, Roger threw himself into attempting new dishes of his own. Today, he is a published author and loves to share the history of Colorado Springs while feeling pride in how our city is attracting and fostering epicurean delights around every corner. Roger looks forward to exploring the downtown food scene with you!

Rochelle Reeder

Tour Leader / Partnership Development

Rochelle is a desert rat from Arizona with a penchant for seasons.  Her food journey started later in life when her husband informed her that Tostitos lime chips were not, in fact, a wholesome breakfast food.  She turned to Food Network and Alton Brown taught her about food in a language she understood.  Pretty soon her newfound love of food and the city she adores were married, and finding that next local eatery has become quite the hobby.

This wife, mother, friend and foodie believes that food is an equalizer designed to bring people together and looks forward to sharing her beautiful city with you over some good local fare.

Heather Larsen

Tour Leader

An avid globe-trotter from a military family, Heather has lived in, worked in, and eaten her way through much of the world, choosing to call Colorado Springs home. Her culinary interests were sparked by the cuisines she has had the opportunity to try and fall in love with from various cultures. A passionate historian and storyteller, Heather seeks to find the lesser known stories and tales that bring any destination to life in a more intimate manner than your history book. She is thrilled to be able to bring the cultural history and diverse food culture of Colorado Springs to life through its incredible local establishments so that you leave happy, satiated and better connected to our beautiful city.

Jason Gomez

Tour Leader

Jason has called Colorado Springs his home since 2018. Originally from Arizona, Jason lived in the heat for most of his life and earned his B.A. in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of Arizona. In college, he worked for a summer camp in the Springs and upon graduating, he landed a full time job with them and moved out in the dead of winter. To this day, he says, “This is the coldest place I’ve ever lived.” When he’s not  managing camps, he is a huge fan of all things entertainment: movies, shows, concerts, and a good meal with friends. He deeply enjoys culture and believes food helps people share their stories and unites us all.

Stevi Hollister

Tour Leader

Stevi has lived here since 1996 thanks to her dad getting stationed in the Springs. He retired two years later, and she has been here ever since. She has been fortunate to travel not only the U.S., but the world and sample local cuisine at every stop. She also loves sharing information about the city and meeting new people as she was a tour guide for 3 years while studying at UCCS. She is currently a Kindergarten teacher for an online school and loves being creative with her students. When she is not working, she enjoys playing and watching most sports, going to concerts, checking out new local spots, and spending time with her friends and family including her chocolate lab Cheyenne.

Peter Hall

Tour Leader

Peter comes to Colorado Springs from Anchorage Alaska, moving here in September of 2019. Beer and brewing has been a large part of his life for more than 15 years.  Even the move to Colorado was in part because of beer.  He has a very diverse work history, including working for the State of Alaska as a Legislative Assistant for about 8 years.  You could possibly say he has been professionally trained to talk with…EVERYONE.  He has been active with the professional and hobby brewing scene for many years, and looks forward to talking about beer with you!

Beth Lueders

Tour Leader

Beth is a small-town girl who loves living in Colorado Springs with its rich Wild West history and plentiful variety of cuisines. Raised in rural southeast Nebraska, Beth still chuckles over summer times in the family’s garden eating more of the sweet peas than she put in the bowl.

Beth’s career as a journalist, copywriter, author and speaker has taken her to nearly 20 countries. She also raises and shows rough collies (yay, Lassie!) earning several AKC championship titles with her girls. Beth also is a pet therapy volunteer with a local hospital system and Schriever Air Force Base.

Beth describes herself as a natural conversationalist and her friends swear she becomes best friends with people she meets in the checkout line. Beth is eager to meet you and share camaraderie over local history, art and standout foods.