Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) articles from April 2008

Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) archives from April 2008

'Emerald' community in El Paso County not limited to land of Oz.
April 4, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Just as the Emerald City in the "The Wizard of Oz" stood at the end of the Yellow Brick Road, Santa Fe Springs' developers Rodney Preisser and Ray O'Sullivan envision a water-rich, green community spanning 8,000 acres...

Colorado still leading cyberstate.
April 4, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Colorado was one of only four states to record a net loss of high-tech jobs during 2007, but the state's high concentration of technology workers makes it fertile ground for large company expansions, start-ups and...

Banks, credit unions go old school when computer networks go down.
April 4, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Computer glitches seem as ordinary as the common cold -- a part of life that cannot be cured, so they are simply dealt with. But what happens to business and service when computers crash at a bank or credit union when...

The world according to Ed in Colorado Springs, at least for one day this week.
April 4, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst As a journalist, you live for "hot tips." So imagine my delight when an anonymous informant passed along this incendiary news: Ed Anger is alive and well and living right here in Colorado Springs. Anger, for those...

Avoiding retirement nightmares key to senior investment strategies.
April 4, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Seniors who are worried about retirement should concentrate on setting up a diversified portfolio, making consistent investment decisions and managing withdrawals according to the market. Rita Janaky, CEO and founder...

Rafting: a river of cash for Colorado.
April 4, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson This year's greater-than-average mountain snowpack is expected to make for an awesome whitewater rafting season. Snowpack is about 145 percent of average for the tributaries that feed into the Arkansas River, the most...

Pattee guides clients in Colorado Springs through changing financial channels.
April 4, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Barbara Pattee and her husband moved from southern California to Colorado Springs not only for the natural beauty and climate, but to make sure their children got a quality education. "We did our research and found the...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: April 4, 2008.
April 4, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Certified Financial Planner Bernie Benyak, a tax manager at Stockman, Kast, Ryan and Co., likens investing strategies to buckets that need to be filled. Bucket one should be stocks, bonds and mutual funds -- things in...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: April 4, 2008.
April 4, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Colorado Access will administer the Colorado Child Health Plan Plus during the next fiscal year. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing chose the organization to provide both health and pharmacy...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: April 4, 2008.
April 4, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Roundup Foundation Inc. has purchased the office building at 2115-2125 E. La Salle St. from the City of Colorado Springs for $1.02 million. The two-story, 15,617-square-foot office building was built during 1986. Kent...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: April 4, 2008.
April 4, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Retailers beware: Consumers are spending a considerable amount of time researching products before they buy. Shoppers search both online and off-line for product information, buying guides, opinions and reviews of...

Federal Bureau of Reclamation to host meetings in Fountain, Colorado Springs about SDS debate.
April 4, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst The Federal Bureau of Reclamation will host public meetings in Fountain and Colorado Springs next week to solicit public input about the Southern Delivery System draft environmental impact statement Planned for more...

Colorado Springs Nonprofit Briefs: April 4, 2008.
April 4, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff County needs volunteers The El Paso County Board of Commissioners is seeking volunteers to serve on several of its boards. The deadline for applications is April 18. Vacancies exist on the Board of Adjustment, the...

Perhaps the beginning of trend toward growth in Colorado Springs through public/private partnerships.
April 4, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Earlier this week, the Springs City Council and the U.S. Olympic Committee signed off on a deal designed to keep USOC, the National Governing Bodies and the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for the next 25...

Commentary: Pearl Street vs. Tejon Street.
April 4, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk There has been some community discussion and CSBJ letters to the editor about the two-way Tejon concept, and arguments made that Tejon should be made into a blocked off street mall, a la the 16th Street Mall in Denver...

Magic of Two in Colorado Springs.
April 4, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff More than 350 people gathered at the Antlers Hilton Hotel on March 14 for Peak Education's "Magic of Two." The evening was a celebration of the organization's founders, Dr. H. Dalton Conner and Steven U. Mullens. The two...

Putting the monetary squeeze on 'never' events.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Major insurance companies are joining Medicare in trying to reduce deadly medical errors by refusing to pay for the procedures. "Never" events, which include procedures performed on the wrong patient or surgery...

Gas Ops building in Colorado Springs will set new standard.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Thrust outward like a powerful athletic arm, a cantilevered design feature bearing the five intertwined Olympic rings will soon be part of a high-tech exterior design that will transform a former municipal building...

Tatarstan PM seeking local business, trade opportunitiesin Colorado Springs.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Rob Larimer The prime minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, will be in Colorado Springs on April 11 to discuss business and trade opportunities with some of the city's business leaders. The country, located...

Commentary: Tough to apply the scientific method to irrational beliefs.
April 11, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Ours is a nation whose prosperity has many foundations. We're a capitalist democracy with universal, free public primary and secondary education. We have the best system of higher education in the world. We enjoy...

A model business template in Colorado Springs.
April 11, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Most businesses and nonprofit organizations require substantial investments of time and money before they can be called going concerns. And goals, whether modest or ambitious, often take years to achieve -- or are...

Interview with Dennis Bruens: Director of Penrose Cancer Center in Colorado Springs.
April 11, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Dennis Bruens started working in the health care industry by accident -- now, he's the director of the Penrose Cancer Center. Bruens, a native of Groningen, The Netherlands, went to work after college as a public...

Ramsey outlines debt-free plan in Colorado Springs for living the American dream.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Dave Ramsey likens becoming wealthy to making great barbecue. "You have to cook it for a long time," he says. "There's no such thing as quick, good microwave barbecue." Ramsey should know. By age 26 he had a $4 million...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: April 11, 2008.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Lack of health insurance kills one person every day in Colorado. That's the word from Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers. The state-specific report is based on a national study by the...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: April 11, 2008.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley A 26,500-square-foot Goodwill retail store has broken ground on 4.3 acres west of Kohl's department store, near the intersection of South Circle Drive and Janitell Road. The retail center will replace Goodwill's...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: April 11, 2008.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Online spending is expected to increase 17 percent this year, despite a sluggish economy. Retail sales online, excluding travel purchases, are expected to grow to $204 billion, compared to $174.5 billion during 2007....

Tax season: time for procrastination.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Many, many people are still ignoring the voice that's telling them it's time to do their taxes -- and they'll continue to do so for quite a while. "Typically what we find both with individuals and business owners is...

Colorado Springs Nonprofit Briefs: April 11, 2008.
April 11, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff SBA Gateway earns award The U.S. Small Business Administration's Business Gateway Initiative has been awarded the ACT/IAC Excellence.Gov Award for its Business.gov Web site. Business.gov is the official business link to...

D-11 battling ghosts of past school closures in Colorado Springs.
April 11, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst This week, the D-11 Board once again considered proposals from the administration to close or consolidate schools - and opposition to the proposals is sure to be fierce and prolonged. District 11 has not closed a...

Commentary: Let's not wait another 20 years to make something happen.
April 11, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff One of the most common development strategies employed by cities is that of revitalizing underdeveloped areas by anchoring major public facilities there. Convention centers, art museums and sports arenas/stadiums are...

Commentary: Neighborly Mountain Post, 30 years of recognition.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk What do Bill Tutt, Harry Hoth, Ryer Hitchcock, Bill Hybl, Harlan Ochs, former U.S. Rep. Joel Hefley, Tony Koren, Tom James, Marvin Boyd, Lou Mellini and Don Addy have in common? Besides being stalwart community...

Evening of Chocolate Decadence held in Colorado Springs.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Diane Wengler Delicious hors d'oeuvres were paired with wine and chocolate at the first annual Evening of Chocolate Decadence on March 28 at the Inn at Garden Plaza. The event was a benefit for the local chapter of eWomen's...

The business end of the economic stimulus package.
April 11, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Much ado has been made about the $152 billion Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 -- without much ado about the business aspect of the law. But CPAs, bankers and the IRS know the value of the temporary business tax...

Auto loans could be the next financing bubble.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Automobile financing could be the next subprime mortgage crisis. Underwriters used to finance cars and trucks for three years, but since the 1970s the length of the loans has crept up to four, five or six years. Now...

Democrats in Colorado expecting overflow crowds for state convention.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Rooms are reserved; restaurants put on notice; tours planned and the World Arena booked. But no one knows how many people are coming. Next month, Colorado Springs will host the Colorado Democratic State Assembly &...

Benefits of a slow economy.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Residential housing prices have dropped and residential lending has slowed, but it's actually a great time to consider a commercial mortgage. Low prime interest rates are one of the positives of an economic downturn,...

Drug recycling mandate in Colorado not being universally embraced.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Colorado could save more than $364,000 this year if a bill that would require pharmacists to "recycle" unused medication becomes law. The bill would expand a current law that makes donating unused medicine voluntary,...

Commentary: Do we really want politicians who haven't struck it rich?
April 18, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst When FDR's slacker son, Elliott Roosevelt, was mayor of Miami Beach during the 1960s, he was asked whether the mob ran the town. His often-quoted reply: "The mob doesn't run Miami Beach -- they just own it." You...

Recycled asphalt: the green roadway in the paving industry in Colorado.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Green thinking is paving its way onto city streets and county roads. It hasn't always been common practice, but these days more and more companies are seeing the benefits of using recycled materials to pave roads. In...

McWilliams continues to serve soldiers in Colorado.
April 18, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff After growing up an "Army brat," Terrance McWilliams made the Army his career. He was command sergeant major of Fort Carson for more than five years. During March 2003, he prepared troops -- to "go into harm's way" --...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: April 18, 2008.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Is your business growing? Need room to ramp up while retaining your capital? As commercial property values decrease and larger companies retrench into their core businesses, now might be the best time to expand. The...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: April 18, 2008.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine There is a significant blind spot hindering hospitals' efforts to protect data and patient identity. Security of Patient Data, commissioned by Kroll Fraud Solutions, reveals that the industry's focus on medical...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: April 18, 2008.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Two northeast Colorado Springs apartment complexes that were built during the 1980s have been purchased by a Washington state investor for $25.8 million. The sale of the 224-unit Epernay Apartments at 2915 Woodland...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: April 18, 2008.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Wild Wings 'n Things has closed its location at 12 S. Tejon St., but there are plans in place to find a new, larger space downtown. Michael Morris, president of Wild Wings 'n Things Franchises LLC, said he hopes to...

Colorado Springs Government Briefs: April 18, 2008.
April 18, 2008... Byline: CSBJ staff County nets national honors El Paso County has received an Act of Caring Award for volunteer programs helping children and fathers, and the Legacy Award for Excellence and Innovation for its Center on Fathering program...

Mexico trade, NAFTA highlight annual international luncheon in Colorado Springs.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Mexico is the second largest importer of Colorado products, purchasing $1 billion worth of goods annually. Eduardo Arnal, consul general of Mexico in Denver, will discuss the economic relationship between the trading...

Interview with Allison Janney: Four-time Emmy award-winner.
April 18, 2008... Byline: Diane Wengler Four-time Emmy award-winner Allison Janney inaugurated The Colorado Festival of World Theatre's 2008 "Conversations with... ." Series on April 6 at The Peppertree Restaurant. The dinner was part of a two-day...

Commentary: Doom and gloom for county?
April 18, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk Publisher's note: This column is not to be circulated to any Economic Development Corp. prospects. I think I need to update my resume and try to find a job somewhere else. The quality of life here is going to...

Commentary: Two-way Tejon Street won't solve downtown's most pressing problem.
April 18, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Like it or not, Tejon Street is two ways for its entire length -- a change that downtown merchants and the deep thinkers at the Downtown Partnership hope will lead to a more vibrant, more prosperous and more accessible...

U.S.-based C.B. Richard Ellis No. 1.
April 25, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff For the fifth year in a row, National Real Estate Investor magazine has ranked C.B. Richard Ellis No. 1 among the 25 largest U.S.-based commercial real estate brokerage firms. The ranking is based on the aggregate value...

Colorado Springs Nonprofit Briefs: April 25, 2008.
April 25, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff PPFC needs volunteers Pikes Peak Family Connections Inc., an organization whose goal is to prevent child abuse and neglect, needs volunteers to work with at-risk children. Volunteers are needed to work with children at...

Colorado Springs Government Briefs: April 25, 2008.
April 25, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Downtown excellence nods The Colorado Community Revitalization Association is accepting nominations for the 2008 Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence. Categories include best building improvement project, best new...

State of Colorado wants some of its money back.
April 25, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is conducting audits of state hospitals to recoup Medicaid money that was paid as the result of overcharges, fraud and unnecessary medical services, but hospitals...

Skate park planned in Colorado Springs.
April 25, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson What began as an idea to get the younger generation of skateboarders off the sidewalks and out of trouble could become a popular Colorado Springs tourist destination, attracting thousands of people to the city. The...

Colorado's most corrupt public officials: The Dougster is many things, but corrupt ain't one of them.
April 25, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst A group that might be kindly characterized as a "liberal watchdog," the Colorado Ethics Watch, has released a list of "Colorado's most corrupt public officials in 2008." And who do you suppose was at the top of the...

Financial planning trends toward fee-only services.
April 25, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Although the financial industry suffers during recessions and economic downturns, it manages to survive, reinvent itself and, sometimes, thrive. During this century, the industry has shifted from commission-based...

Martinez making most of unexpected foray into the construction industry in Colo. Springs.
April 25, 2008... Byline: CSBJ staff Barbara Martinez never expected to own a construction business. But now she's the owner of a construction company that specializes in government contracts and is studying to receive a B contractor's license. Martinez...

Insurance for directors, officers often a mystery.
April 25, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Directors and officers insurance is an enigma that many business people don't understand the need for or how it relates to business, said Dave Reitan, an account executive for Six & Geving Insurance. Some directors and...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: April 25, 2008.
April 25, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine All Penrose-St. Francis Health Services campuses will be tobacco-free starting Aug. 8, with no designated smoking areas available at any of its facilities. "We're committed to preserving the health and wellness of...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: April 25, 2008.
April 25, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley A 50,000-square-foot industrial and manufacturing building that houses the Minco Manufacturing operation has been purchased by GB2 855 Aeroplaza LLC for $2.2 million. Randy Dowis and Jim Spittler Jr. of NAI Highland...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: April 25, 2008.
April 25, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Shop.org says that technology used to track how consumers shop provides a variety of benefits, isn't harmful and isn't as widely opposed as critics claim. Shop.org, the digital division of the National Retail...

Maximizing human capital.
April 25, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn That condo in Vail you rent out half the year? Not your best asset. The modest stash you put away for retirement? Not your best asset. That 40-hour per week job? Now you're talking. It might come as a surprise, but...

Agriculture grants available.
April 25, 2008... Byline: CSBJ staff Agriculture grants available The Colorado Department of Agriculture is accepting grant applications from companies that research and develop new uses and markets for food and agricultural products that are grown, raised...

Medicaid changes could prove to be "Bad Medicine for Colorado".
April 25, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Colorado could lose 3,500 jobs and nearly $135 million in wages if the Medicaid cuts proposed by the Bush administration go into effect. And the loss of new business activity would equal $381 million, according to...

Colorado at center of 'global elite'.
April 25, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst The world is controlled by 6,000 people, a group of "global elite" whose connections to each other are more important than their connections to any nation or government. People as dissimilar as the pope, Bill...

Pikes Peak: Rock solid economic stability.
April 25, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Zebulon Pike, peering through his government-issued spyglass near present-day Las Animas, first saw what he described as "a distant blue cloud' on the horizon during November 1806. Several days later, he reached the...

Commentary: Time to address fire hazards.
April 25, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff As the tragic events in Ordway reminded us last week, wildfires are inevitable in Colorado. Until the 20th century, such fires were allowed to simply burn themselves out, whether in the mountains or on the prairie. But...

Commentary: All this green stuff, and I don't even mean money.
April 25, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk The polar ice caps are melting, the polar bear is going to be put on the threatened species list, our oceans are being over-fished, (no smoked salmon at your next cocktail party), the oil companies are recording...

Prime Minister of Tatarstan reception held in Colo. Springs.
April 25, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff It was an impressive sight as limousines pulled up to the Broadmoor West Residence for a reception honoring the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan on April 11. The reception was hosted by former gubernatorial...