Interview with Sam Walker – Summary Quotes

Bishop, California March 27, 2025

By Aaron Wilcher, UCCE, Inyo-Mono office 

The full interview transcript is here. 

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🏢 On the Business Resource Center & Local Infrastructure

“Too many businesses here don’t have the tools to succeed. It doesn’t take a genius to walk down Main Street and see all the vacancies.”

“I bought into the mission [of the BRC] 100%. I’ve said it for years—too many businesses here don’t have the tools to succeed. It doesn’t take a genius to walk down Main Street and see all the vacancies.”  

“The one thing I had some expertise in was negotiating commercial leases. I was shocked at how little potential tenants—or landlords—know about leases around here.”

“Absentee landlords are a big part of the problem. They’re not committed to the community.”

🌾 On Blue Heron Farm, Philanthropy, and Mentorship

“Almost everything I’ve done in business started with relationships—talking to people, hearing something at coffee.”

“Rachel [Kolchin of Blue Heron Farm] checks all the boxes—hardworking, creative, full of ideas. I’ve been trying to mentor her.”

“Mentorship isn’t about income . . . . I have the benefit and the thing of having an amazing large network of friends and business relationships that I can call on for expertise.”

“My kids said, ‘Why buy a farm? It’s not a great business deal.’ I said, ‘It makes me happy.’ Gardening, farming, food, community.”

🧩 On Ecosystems, Revitalization, and Local Identity

“Retail’s not what it used to be. The question is—how do we get people off the highway and onto Main Street?”

“We need to make it a destination shopping area. Trees on Main Street. A rooftop restaurant. Walkability. Something worth stopping for.”

“You’ve got to have something unique. Something people talk about.”

“I’m a doer, not a planner. I’ve seen so many plans that never went anywhere. Whitney Alley. The Bypass. Employee housing.”

🤝 On Culture, Inclusion & Cross-Generational Energy

“There’s an amazing group of young people here, but it’s not coordinated . . . . We have talent here that people don't even realize. It’s just not moving in the same direction.”

“It’s the Bubbas and the New Arrivals. A 50/50 mix. Some of the good ol’ boys are resistant to change.”

“At Blue Heron, we’ve got young, healthy, sustainability-focused people—and the old cowboys. That’s not a bad mix.”

“You don’t push the good old boys aside. You invite them to the party. Ask, ‘What would you do to make this better?’ Once they give you an idea, they’re invested.”

💡 On Angel Investing, Accelerators, and Support Gaps

“Hopefully the Business Resource Center becomes a hub. There are smart people here with deep industry knowledge. Let’s bring them together.”

“We’ve got businesses with potential, but they’re invisible. No marketing, no outreach. I’m a guerrilla marketing guy.”

“Some people come for advice, but they don’t want advice—they want affirmation. That’s tough. Because sometimes, you need to pivot.”

🌄 On the Eastern Sierra’s Unique Potential

“What makes us unique? Go outside. Look around. We’ve got climbing, hiking, fishing, Mule Days, the Pacific Crest Trail. That’s who we are.”

“Why don’t we have rooftop restaurants with views of the mountains? Why aren’t we leaning into what we do best?”

“I wish I were 70 instead of 80—I’d put a team together tomorrow and go figure it out.”