Aspen Business Connect | Meet the People Behind the Business · @Jillian Livingston
Derron Cloud has a goal most people wouldn't expect from an insurance agent: he wants to rid the world of the GoFundMe page. You know the one — set up when someone falls ill or passes away and a family is left scrambling. As President, Owner and Agent of Derron Cloud State Farm in Basalt, he spends his days making sure the families of the Roaring Fork Valley never need one.
From the Smokies to the Rockies
Derron was born and raised in Pell City, Alabama, where he attended The Donoho School. His love of the mountains started early, on family trips to the Smoky Mountains. That pull took him to North Carolina for college, where he graduated from Western Carolina University's International Business School.
Finding home in the Roaring Fork Valley
Derron transferred to the valley from Nashville in 2006 and spent nine years as Food and Beverage Director at Aspen Glen. In 2015, he found his way into the insurance world — and he's been building his business here ever since.
What keeps him here is the life outside the office. Derron, his wife Mary and their dog Tuli take full advantage of everything Colorado offers: skiing, tennis, camping, mountain biking, dirt biking and snowmobiling.
Insurance, made simple and personal
At Derron Cloud State Farm, the mission is to make insurance simple and personal. Whether you're adding a new car, preparing for time away from home or reviewing your policies, Derron and his team answer questions, explain options clearly and help you feel confident in your protection.
He's a firm believer in the annual review. Meeting with your agent once a year is how you confirm you actually have the protection you think you have — and how you catch the gaps that can really cost you down the road.
"We can help families take care of these things so they can continue living if the unthinkable happens," he says.
A road worth the work
Changing careers mid-life is never easy. Changing careers and then becoming a business owner is even harder — but, Derron says, it can be one of the most rewarding things you can do.
"To have the life you want, you have to work at it," he says. He takes pride in taking care of his team, which in turn helps him take care of his family. Both, he notes, take work every single day.
The questions others avoid
What excites Derron most right now is helping people plan for the future. He's humbled to support clients through life's big events, and he's proud to be the one who asks the questions others might avoid. He'll walk you through the "what ifs," make sure you've set money aside and confirm you have the right coverage to safeguard what you've built.
That's what he wishes more people in the valley understood: planning isn't just about "getting insurance." It's about asking the hard questions and choosing coverage that truly protects your family and your future — especially when it comes to life, disability and retirement.
What's happening now
Derron is encouraging clients to do a quick check-in on their coverage and retirement goals. Life changes fast — income, health, family and plans — and he wants people to feel protected and prepared as things shift around them.
He's also fielding a lot of questions about wildfire preparedness and how insurance relates to it. If you run a real estate office or community group, Derron is happy to come present.
Rooted in community
Derron Cloud State Farm is a proud member of the Basalt High School Boosters, the Basalt Chamber of Commerce, the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, the Aspen Board of Realtors and Aspen Business Connect.
The team also supports many local nonprofits, including The Basalt Education Foundation, The Arts Center at Willits, Challenge Aspen, River Bridge Regional Center, Junior Achievement, YouthZone, Roaring Fork Leadership, Return to Dirt, Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment, Wind Walkers and Aspen Junior Hockey.
A good life in the valley
To Derron, a good life here means being able to actually live — time outside, strong connections with family and friends, and a sense of belonging in a place that feels slower and more human. It's being healthy enough to enjoy it, feeling secure day to day and having room to plan life around what matters most: experiences, community and the people you love.
Quick takes
- Favorite local restaurant: Too many to pick just one!
- Favorite place for coffee or a meeting: Grab a local coffee or treat and find a park.
- Favorite way to spend a day off: Going for a drive with Mary to see beautiful sights or something new.
- Favorite local events: Strawberry Days, JAS Aspen and Basalt music events.
- Best advice he's ever received: "We can only control what we can control; the rest is how we react to it."
- Who we should feature next: Bryan Welker.
Connect with Derron
- Phone: 970-927-0419
- Email: derron@coveredbycloud.com
- Office: 227 E Cody Lane, Unit 201, Basalt, CO 81621
- Website: coveredbycloud.com
- Instagram: @derron_cloud_state_farm
