GenXYZ 2015: Loren Martinez

The Leader

Loren Martinez

27 | Operations Manager
Little Man Ice Cream

Loren Martinez has put systems and practices into place that support the intense popularity of Little Man Ice Cream, which has seen sales increase by an average of 20 percent to 30 percent annually since it opened in 2008. Since Martinez took over management in 2011, both gross and net sales have tripled. Under his leadership, Little Man now has a wholesale and catering program in addition to the ice cream shop, making it more of a dessert company. By next year, Little Man expects to have three brick-and-mortar locations.

Biggest achievement

“Establishing our organizational culture – defining and setting an expectation of what is the culture at Little Man. How do managers interact with employees and employees interact with employees? How do we interact with customers and how do the customers view the company?”

Making an impact

“We’ve developed leadership in a way that is out of the ordinary. We’re a small ice cream shop, but we don’t act like a small ice cream shop. We have socially conscious employees and socially conscious practices.”

Role models

Parents and three older brothers.

Craig Westwood, band director at Wheat Ridge High School.

Paul Tamburello, founder of Little Man Ice Cream.

“I learn something from him every day. He enables me to be successful, and he allows me to fail.”

Best advice

“To have fun and realize what the definition of fun is to me. If I’m not having a good time, why am I not having a good time? I always have the power to change that. It’s not on someone else.”

Off-duty

Fishing, music, coaching high school bands.