Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) articles from December 2006

Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) archives from December 2006

Colorado Springs economist Dan Johnson talks about himself and his school.
December 1, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Dan Johnson wasn't always sure he wanted to pursue economics as a career. But a year of graduate studies in England cemented his decision and he hasn't looked back. When he isn't juggling...

Adams Bank acquires Colorado Springs-based Colorado Online Morgage.
December 1, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Adams Bank and Trust's parent company, ADBANC Inc., has completed the purchase of the Colorado Springs-based Colorado Online Mortgage. Colorado Online Mortgage was established by Christine Meacham in 1988 under the...

Group health insurance plan rates continue to rise.
December 1, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Employers of all sizes continue to see rising costs for group medical coverage account renewals, although the increases for the largest accounts are lower than for small and medium accounts, according to the 2006...

Metrostudy report offers positive signs for Colorado Springs house market.
December 1, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Economic consultants at Metrostudy, a national provider of market information to the housing industry, have released third quarter findings for the Colorado Springs area. In its November 2006 report, the researchers...

2006 Black Friday Weekend consumer spending up 18.6 percent.
December 1, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Last Friday, millions of consumers were found standing in lines with their wallets and purses in hand -- and this year men outspent women. According to the National Retail Federation's 2006 Black Friday Weekend Survey,...

Springs nonprofits, community leader honored Two Colorado Springs nonprofit organizations and Dr. Ted Lewis were named winners Wednesday at the 18th Annual Awards for Excellence at the Broadmoor Hotel International Center.
December 1, 2006... Springs nonprofits, community leader honored Two Colorado Springs nonprofit organizations and Dr. Ted Lewis were named winners Wednesday at the 18th Annual Awards for Excellence at the Broadmoor Hotel International Center. More than $80,000 of...

U.S. Rep. John Salazar to announce terms and conditions to expand a Colorado reservoir.
December 1, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst The posturing in the water war between Colorado Springs and Pueblo has been ratcheted up a notch, and the billion-dollar Southern Delivery System project appears to be farther from becoming a reality than it was...

More than 100 residents show up to sample a Colorado Springs athletic club and spa.
December 1, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley When Classic Cos. opened its Flying Horse athletic club and spa to members last month, more than 100 current and future residents showed up to sample the amenities. By mid-day, two of the five indoor and outdoor pools...

Outsourcing some human resource functions can save time and money.
December 1, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Small businesses face many hurdles -- hiring employees, managing salaries, budgets, health care plans and other benefits. But outsourcing some human resource functions can sometimes save money and time. Known as...

Commentary: Dissecting the dilemma of Colorado Springs' school District 11.
December 1, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst So we've scarcely finished with one election, and here we go again -- recall or don't recall? Like every other registered voter residing in School District 11, I got my ballot in the mail the other day, complete...

New York-based CareCore National to increase staff by 95 positions.
December 1, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Medical diagnostic imaging company CareCore National is expected to add about 95 primary jobs to its operation next year. The New York-based company also has a branch in South Carolina. When the company opened its...

Colorado Springs Economic Corp. expects to have added 2K more jobs in 2006.
December 1, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer The Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. is expecting to wrap up 2006 having added more than 2,000 primary jobs to the local economy. The number now stands at about 1,500, but Vice President of Marketing David...

Retailers focus on year-round giving.
December 8, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson The spirit of giving doesn't have to start and end with the holiday season. Consider the number of consumers who proudly wear Livestrong bracelets and the string of replicas that followed, and it's obvious that...

Commentary: Another lofty plan for the downtown area.
December 8, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst "The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads..." And right here in River City, the sugar-plum visioning process was in full swing last week. At Colorado...

Herrington taking the helm of Univ. of CO Center for Space studies.
December 8, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff John Herrington has had some unique experiences. He has visited the International Space Station and is the first American Indian to journey into space, logging more than 300 hours. Those unique experiences made him the...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: December 8, 2006.
December 8, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Ent Federal Credit Union is partnering with Automatic Data Processing and will begin processing business payrolls. The deal also enables Ent to offer tax compliance, time and labor management and human resource...

Colorado Springs Health Care Briefs: December 8, 2006.
December 8, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Coloradoans say that improving the health, education and well-being of children are the most important issues facing the federal and state government, according to a poll of registered voters commissioned by the...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: December 8, 2006.
December 8, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley The GMH Communities Trust has announced plans to expand its Fort Carson military housing privatization project. The $124 million project includes an additional three-year development period and more homes because of...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: December 8, 2006.
December 8, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Cyber Monday Internet traffic hit an all -time high on the Monday after Thanksgiving. According to industry tracker comScore Networks the Web sites had a 26 percent gain in sales, reaching $608 million, compared to the...

CO Limited Gaming Control Commission disciplines 11 casinos.
December 8, 2006... Gaming commission disciplines 11 casinos Last month, the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission approved disciplinary action against 11 casinos. The most significant action was taken against Century Casino in Central City, which was fined...

Climbing the ladder via the holiday office party.
December 8, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd It appears that holiday office parties aren't simply big-yawn events that you're required to attend or all out Animal House bashes that leave you hoping the next day that you didn't do anything half as stupid as some of...

Commentary: We can't wait until it is too late to save Peterson AFB.
December 8, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk Fort Carson's growth is on everyone's radar. By some estimates, an impact of 52,000 people during the next several years will put stress on our infrastructure, health care and other aspects of our community. But, let...

CO's gross domestic product growth among top 20.
December 8, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Colorado's gross domestic product growth rate is among the fastest in the nation. The state's GDP grew 4.3 percent during 2005, making it the 16th fastest growing GDP rate among the 50 states, according to the U.S....

UCCS to use grant to help military students.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will launch a scholarship and recruitment campaign this spring directed at members of the armed forces. The university has received $100,000...

Technology threatens bank teller jobs.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer It wasn't so long ago that if someone wanted to withdraw money from a bank account or transfer funds, there was but one option -- go to the bank and stand in line to see a teller. Consumer banking options widened in the...

Colorado Springs City Council's budget becoming more complex.
December 15, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst At City Council's Nov. 28 meeting, agenda item No. 20 drew little apparent interest. After a brief discussion, the item was approved on first reading. Item No. 20 was the 2007 city budget, a complex document which...

Affordable care, mental health top concerns.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Lack of access to dentists, mental health service and affordable health insurance top the list of issues facing El Paso County residents. The news comes from a report issued by the Colorado Health Foundation, which...

Commentary: Sometimes there aren't 'right' choices.
December 15, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst "No other national endeavor requires as much unshakable resolve as war. If the nation and the government lack that resolve, it is criminal to expect men in the field to carry it alone." Those sentences were written...

Additional patrols have downtown 'feeling' safer.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine The Downtown Partnership says the added police patrols it is paying for are making people feel safer, but homeless advocates say the money being spent should be used to find a permanent solution. The Business...

Patricia Peterson took long, winding path to philanthropy.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff From being a nurse at Stanford University to becoming a medical malpractice attorney, Patricia Peterson's career has taken many turns. And as the new president of the Memorial Health System...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: December 15, 2006.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Amid predatory lending allegations, Wells Fargo has launched an educational program for those seeking high-interest, subprime loans. The program, called Steps to Success, gives customers educational resources, direct...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: December 15, 2006.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine United Health Foundation and the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention have ranked Colorado 16th among states with the healthiest population. The state ranked 17th last year. Colorado's...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: December 15, 2006.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Four brokers have been recognized by the Realtor Commercial Industrial Society for outstanding work on the year's most complex and challenging retail, office and industrial commercial transactions. Randy Dowis of NAI...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: December 15, 2006.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Consumer spending this holiday season has risen 5 percent compared to last year. Christmas shoppers will spend an average of $607.01 for gifts, compared to $580.56 in 2005. According to BIGresearch, shoppers will...

Colorado Springs Technology Briefs: December 15, 2006.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Human resource departments are rapidly embracing technology systems to deliver services more efficiently and to improve the management of other programs, according to a study of major corporations in several...

Colorado Bar Association forms Military Law Committee.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Colorado Bar Association has formed a Military Law Committee that will serve as a resource for attorneys and members of the military community who are facing issues pertaining to all...

Juvenile Diabetes tree lighting held.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Diane Wengler Guests of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation were welcomed to the Penrose House on Dec. 7 by rooms beautifully decorated for the holidays. The occasion was the annual lighting of the trees and the presentation...

Commentary: No better time than the present to move to the center.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk My proposal to merge our business organizations under one umbrella organization has generated a bit of a buzz. It was obvious that combining the alphabet soup of EDC, COC, CVB, HBA, PPAR and the Downtown Partnership...

Woodland Park readying for revitalization.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley When commercial broker and developer Tim Leigh got the results of a 2005 hotel market study and put a pencil to a proposed 75-room Hampton Inn Suites in Woodland Park, the numbers looked good. But perhaps even more...

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs gets early Xmas gift.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley One of the largest real estate gifts in recent years has been received by the CU Foundation and will benefit the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. The 144,000-square-foot former TRW building on 12.4 acres at...

Plenty of holiday gifts available for the tech-savvy set.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine So you have a "techie" on your gift list and you don't know a gigabyte from Bluetooth. Colorado Springs tech experts are here to help, with suggestions for last-minute gifts which should please just about everyone's...

Commentary: Tom, it's high time to do the right thing.
December 22, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst I've always rather admired City Councilman Tom Gallagher. The first time I met him, back in the early 1990s, I was serving on council and Tom came before us one day with a complaint. He was struggling then -- living...

Adult daycare services not simply 'babysitting'.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Alix Dunn For caregivers of disabled or dependent adults, the juggling of work, life and guardianship can push even the strongest person into emotional overload. For dependent adults living at home, spending time alone can do the...

CEO Charles Emmer leading Ent Federal Credit Union to prominence in Colorado Springs and state.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Ent Federal Credit Union is the largest financial institution in the Pikes Peak region and the largest credit union in the state. As CEO and president, Charles Emmer has seen the financial...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: December 22, 2006.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Chase bank has launched an interactive TV commercial that allows watchers to use their remotes to extend the commercial's air time. For those of you that just can't get enough of banking and credit card pitches, this...

Colorado Springs Health Care Briefs: December 22, 2006.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Five local programs that help the disadvantaged have received contract renewals for 2007 from the El Paso County Board of Commissioners. Funding for the Department of Human Services programs was provided through...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: December 22, 2006.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley With major renovations completed at The Broadmoor Hotel, Oklahoma Publishing Co., has received approval from the Aspen City Council to proceed with plans to renovate the city's historic Jerome Hotel. The Jerome was one...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: December 22, 2006.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Store employees are dreaming about the phrase, and gift recipients will be searching their presents for the square piece of paper known as the gift receipt. The value of the gift receipt has increased as retailers have...

Daniels College of Business, corporate directors association in CO enter into partnership.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Daniels College of Business and the Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors are joining forces to promote the Daniels Voices of Experience event series, which...

400 attend opening of renovated Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Diane Wengler More than 400 people filled the West Wing of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center on Dec. 7 for a special First Thursday celebration. The occasion was the opening of the renovated El Pomar Corridor event space, Deco...

Commentary: Positive proof the UFCW has certainly lost its way.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd So much for peace on Earth and goodwill toward men. The United Food and Commercial Workers union, through WakeUpWalMart.com, has decided that this holiday season is the perfect time to take yet another cheap shot at the...

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to offer doctoral degree in education.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs has received approval from the U.C. Board of Regents to offer a doctorate in educational leadership, research and policy. The degree, the fourth...

Lehman Bros. regains top spot in Institutional Investor's Best Sales rankings.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Lehman Brothers has regained the top spot for 2006 in Institutional Investor's Best Sales rankings. To determine the best overall sales force, Institutional Investor surveyed investment...

Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority completes first major capital project.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority's first major capital project has been completed at the intersection of Austin Bluffs Parkway and Nevada Avenue. Construction of the $4.5 million...

Small business use of credit cards increases.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The number of small business loans outstanding under $100,000 increased 25 percent between June 2004 and June 2005, according to a report by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of...

El Paso County renews children's assistance contract.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The El Paso County Board of Commissioners has renewed the county's contract with Pikes Peak Family Connection for the KPC Kid's Place Respite Nursery. The $35,000 program provides respite...

Pikes Peak region receives state grant.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, in conjunction with the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, has received 2:1 matching grant of $15,000 from the Colorado Tourism Office. The...

Arc Thrift Stores selects new board members.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Arc Thrift Stores has elected five new members to its Board of Trustees. They are: Emanuel Anton, an attorney with Fairfield and Woods; John Beckman, retired; Debra Bergman, a vice president...

List your 2007 golf tournaments on SeniorFriendlyGolf.com now.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff It's not too early to post the date for your 2007 golf tournament on SeniorFriendlyGolf.com. Only the tournament name, date, location and point of contact with phone number and e-mail is...

Commentary: 2006 Politics and water.
December 29, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst The maneuvering began as the New Year dawned. Colorado Democrats prayed, not for rain, not for forgiveness, but that wildly popular Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper would deign to run for governor. None of the other...

2006 New hospitals, high costs, no nurses.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Health care -- its costs and its availability -- led the news in 2006, as the number of health savings accounts grew, groups explored universal health care and hospitals prepared for a possible pandemic or other...

CEO of Pikes Peak United Way, Jerry Smith, 1940-2006.
December 29, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst No one who knew Jerry Smith, who died while jogging in Cheyenne Canyon on Dec. 20, was surprised by the nature of his passing. As longtime friend and associate Kathleen Collins said on Wednesday, "Jerry was a doer...

Commentary: Looking into the crystal ball for next year.
December 29, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst Another year gone, and what do we have to show for it? An optimist would say that he/she has grown, learned and flourished; a pessimist might note that he/she is just that much closer to dusty death. But since none...

2006: Employment gains top economic efforts.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Colorado Springs' economic development efforts in 2006 can be summed up with a four-letter word -- jobs. The outlook for the Colorado Springs economy was bolstered this year by new and existing employers when they...

Rosalinda Montemayor Chaney building real ties at Realtor association.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff As chairwoman of the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors, Rosalinda Montemayor Chaney is connected to a lot of people. PPAR represents almost 4,000 real estate professionals who practice all...

2006: Financial services industry getting bigger.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer The one word that might best describe the financial services industry in Colorado Springs during 2006 is growth. Opening new locations, launching new products and tapping into new markets seemed to be on just about...

2006: Overall real estate market on solid ground.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley In 2006, the Pikes Peak region economy continued to benefit from a gradual increase of troops stationed at area military installations. As Fort Carson grew by almost 25 percent, some of the area's largest apartment...

2006: Habits changing, online sales set record.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Retail vacancy rates in downtown Colorado Springs increased during 2006, yet high gas prices kept people shopping locally. The malls gained a national chain and online sales reached a record high, making for a robust...

2006: Nanotechnology, flex fuel lead advances.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Nanotechnology and alternative energy sources fueled the Colorado technology environment in 2006. Alliances were formed with other cities to recruit high-tech companies, and an international partnership will create...

Call for proposals for senior services by El Paso, Park and Teller Counties.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Beginning Jan. 4, organizations that provide services to adults 60 and older in El Paso, Park and Teller counties can apply for funding through the Area Agency on Aging, a division of the...

Commentary: The 10 most unbelievable workplace stories of 2006.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd During last week's snowstorm, I was puttering around in the nearly empty CSBJ offices wondering how best to pen a few words to wrap up the year -- and to be quite honest, not being struck by an avalanche of ideas....

Commentary: New president, lots of other good things at Pikes Peak Community College.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk There are some institutions in town that do a better job than others at connecting to the business community. There also are some that have as much or more of an impact on our economic development as the institutions...

List your 2007 golf tournaments now.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff It's not too early to post the date for your 2007 golf tournament on SeniorFriendlyGolf.com. Only the tournament name, date, location and point of contact with phone number and e-mail is...

EPA takes steps to reduce burden on small business.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Environmental Protection Agency is reducing the paperwork burden faced by small businesses by reforming the Toxics Release Inventory rule, according to the Small Business Administration's...