Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) articles from January 2006

Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) archives from January 2006

Weingarten Realty Investors buys Uintah Gardens in Colorado Springs.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Weingarten Realty Investors has purchased the Uintah Gardens Shopping Center for $14.3 million.The center at 1750 W. Uintah St. is expected to receive about $1 million in improvements beginning this...

Spanish speakers bring diversity to workplace in El Paso County.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley The U.S. Department of Labor's 2000 Census reported that more than 28,000 El Paso County residents were from Spanish-speaking households.Today, those numbers are probably 20 to 25 percent higher, thanks to an influx of...

2005 Economy in Colorado Springs saw more ups than downs.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Colorado Springs' economic development efforts saw their fair share of both victory and defeat in 2005, as news of added military troops came amid word of layoffs and businesses leaving the city.The Colorado Springs...

2005 Retail gains in Colorado Springs outpace losses.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Retail development continued to grow in 2005, and announcements for several large developments and national chains targeting Colorado Springs made news. Wal-MartWal-Mart continued its domination of the retail market...

Buying power makes Hispanics key market.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Research shows that Hispanic buying power equaled $580 billion in 2004, making the demographic a difficult one for businesses to ignore. In 2005, the buying power of the U.S. Hispanic market was larger than the gross...

Interview with Hal Ward: Vice president, general manager Lamar Outdoor Advertising.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Even if you've never met Hal Ward, you've certainly seen his company's work.Most of the billboards, bus stops and bench advertisements around the city are the work of Lamar Outdoor...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: January 6, 2005.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer It appears more consumers are turning to the Internet to service their credit card accounts.In the first quarter of 2005, the number of people who manage their credit card accounts online grew 28 percent, compared to...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: January 6, 2006.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Marylou Doehrman Thirty-four grants, funded by Colorado's new tobacco tax, which totals $8,688,269, have been awarded to state health care organizations and health departments to expand programs and establish programs for the...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: January 6, 2006.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley The COPT Real Estate Investment Trust has purchased two Interquest Office Park buildings containing 113,000 square feet. The single-story buildings are at 9950 and 9960 Federal Drive.George Swintz, vice president, said...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: December 6, 2006.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine The Pikes Peak Independent Business Alliance needs volunteers to contact members and plan events to promote local businesses. "We had a few setbacks in the last part of 2005," said Andy Gipe, president of the PPIBA....

2005 Bullish year for Springs employment.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley In the third quarter of 2005, Dr. Fred Crowley and Dr. Tom Zwirlein of the Southern Colorado Economic Forum estimated that almost 50,000 jobs in the Pikes Peak region were in the military or defense sector. Entering...

Juvenile diabetes foundation gala kickoff in Colorado Springs.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Diane Wengler The Broadmoor home of Barry and Cathy Nolan was decked out in holiday finery for the kickoff of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Gala, which will be March 18 at the Plaza of the Rockies. Lighted candelabras,...

Commentary: Art of financial seduction - New Age investing.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Allan Roth Now I don't want to brag, but, when it comes to investing, I've been around the block. I honestly felt I had looked at every version of every financial product out there. No way could I ever fall in love with some...

Having lunch, taking a tour of Marian House in Colorado Springs.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk Last week, Kurt Bartley, the executive director of Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs, invited me over for lunch at the soup kitchen. I think this is a tour many of you should go on to better understand what is...

Commentary: On hold, help wanted and year-round trees.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd I spent Monday morning at the office. I know it was technically a holiday, but I wanted to try to clean off my desk and start the New Year without being buried under the stack of papers that I had accumulated in 2005.And...

Colorado Springs Metro Interstate Expansion project completes Ellston Street bridge.
January 13, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Structural work on the Interstate 25 bridges over Ellston Street has been completed as part of the Colorado Springs Metro Interstate Expansion project.The bridges, built in 1959, have been widened to accommodate a...

Woodmen Rd. assessment complete; Colorado Springs seeks public comments.
January 13, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Woodmen Road Corridor Improvement Project's environmental assessment has been completed for the portion of the road between Interstate 25 and U.S. 24, and is available for public review and comment though Jan....

Grants available for artists, organizations from Colorado Council on the Arts.
January 13, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Applications are available from the Colorado Council on the Arts for the 2007 Grants to Artists and Organizations. The deadline to apply is March 1.The purpose of the program is to support arts and cultural...

Univ. of CO at Colorado Springs receives $4.6 million for homeland security.
January 13, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Network Information and Space Security Center at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will receive $4.6 million as part of the Defense Appropriations Bill. It is the fourth consecutive year the...

Pikes Peak Library District seeks papers for Pike symposium.
January 13, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Pikes Peak Library District is seeking papers for a symposium highlighting the life of Zebulon Montgomery Pike."Spare No Pains, Zebulon Pike and his 1806-1807 Expedition, A Bicentennial Symposium" will be held...

Owners of Roundabout Signs tap into consumer market for authentic international road signs.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Glimpsing the tell-tale round sign with the five diagonal slashes flash by at 160 mph while cruising along the speed-limitless German autobahn, Benjamin Kwitek was struck by the thought there might be a consumer...

CO's economic development corporations support 'dynamic modeling' tax system.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Colorado's 2006 legislative session began this week, and economic development proponents have one priority to win approval of legislation that would establish a pilot program to analyze the economic impact of bills...

Dept. of Defense's economic impact in Colorado extends beyond bases.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley With 42,000 military and civilian on-base employees, the Department of Defense's combined payroll in the Pikes Peak region has increased more than 25 percent annually between 2002 and 2006.The economic impact of...

Winter Games expected to boost Olympic sales.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine As athletes prepare for next month's Winter Games, the U.S. Olympic Committee retail store in Colorado Springs is preparing for the rush on all things Olympic.Store managers expect the rush to begin the middle of...

Interview with CEO of Colorado Springs-based La Plata Investments.
January 13, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report For more than 10 years, La Plata Investments has been the guiding force behind the master-planned communities of Briargate and Pine Creek.And late last year, La Plata, under the direction of CEO Scott Smith,...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: January 13, 2006.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer It's been a couple of years since someone from Colorado Springs has held a spot on the Colorado Bankers Association Board of Directors.But last week, the statewide association announced that Ed Sauer, president and...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: January 13, 2006.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Marylou Doehrman Business owners, CEOs, managers, human resource professionals, wellness coordinators, risk managers and anyone interested in promoting a healthy work force are invited to attend a workshop about incorporating and...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: January 13, 2006.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley The kick off of a new year provides a great opportunity to touch base with a few of the area's busiest brokers. The following updates provide insight into who's doing what so far in 2006.Orvis Cushman & Wakefield sets...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: January 13, 2006.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Local retailers rang up a very merry holiday season, outperforming national trends, thanks in large part to gift cards and last-minute shoppers.At The Citadel Mall, sales were up 2.5 percent compared to last year...

Commentary: There is hope for the young professional crowd.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Jon Severson Last Friday, the local daily paper in all its wisdom had the following front page headline, "El Paso County Losing Young Professionals." There also was a photo of a 22-year-old who is leaving Colorado Springs. The...

Commentary: Rising Stars and fun at work ... but not too much.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk In April, we will be honoring young business and community leaders at a special event. This is a remake of "40 under 40" a staple of business journals across the country. I think this is especially important as we...

Commentary: Don't bet the ranch based on Super Bowl winner.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd On Monday, the Dow Jones Industrials closed above 11,000 for the first time since June 2001.As might be expected, there was a lot of talk about breaking a so-called "psychological barrier." What I didn't notice, however,...

Pikes Peak Library District seeking submissions for displays.
January 13, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Pikes Peak Library District is seeking displays for 2006.Requests will be accepted from individuals and organizations for display at Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave., or East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd.To...

Colorado Premium Vodka earns silver medal.
January 13, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report For the second consecutive year, Colorado Premium Vodka has received a silver medal from The Beverage Testing Institute.The institute tested more than 90 vodkas from around the world.The parent company of Colorado...

Spacecon Specialty Contractors acquires Sprehe Interior.
January 13, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Spacecon Specialty Contractors LLC has completed its acquisition of Sprehe Interior Construction Inc.Spacecon, a subsidiary of Irex Corp., is a drywall and interiors contractor. The company has more than 400...

Marketing groups ignore women at their own peril.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine As women achieve greater income parity with men, earn more college degrees and are placed in more upper-level management positions, more marketing professionals are paying attention to the female voice when they plan...

Colorado Springs Media Briefs: January 20, 2006.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff 2006 CSPA media guide availableThe 2006 Colorado Springs Press Association Media Guide is available for purchase. The guide contains El Paso/Teller County area listings of newspapers, radio...

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center to upgrade facility.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center had good news for art lovers Thursday there will soon be a lot more of it to love.The FAC board of directors and management announced plans to add $28...

Commentary: Company gets $2 million in incentives to relocate.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk I am betting this isn't a headline you will see in your CSBJ any time soon. It was in the Des Moines Business Record.GCommerce received $2 million in incentives from the state of Iowa and the city of Des Moines to...

Greenwood Village-based Adelphia Communications suing cable TV startup.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer In an effort to keep Falcon Broadband from cutting in on the city's cable television market, Adelphia Communications has filed a federal lawsuit against the cable provider and the City of Colorado Springs.Adelphia, the...

Colorado Springs grocers jumping on the organic bandwagon.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Grocery stores and specialty shops are rushing to meet a growing market trend: the demand for organics. Organic food is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as food produced by farmers who "emphasize the use...

Broker spearheads unique industrial park in Colorado Springs.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley In an industrial market laden with more than 3 million square feet of large floor plate buildings, outdated laboratories, abandoned assembly plants and distribution centers, leasing brokers are forced to be...

Zebulon Pike's expedition bicentennial should boost regional economy.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine The 200th anniversary of Zebulon Pike's expedition in Colorado will bring new business opportunities and heritage tourists to Colorado Springs, as the region prepares to honor the exploits of the adventurer and Army...

Interview with Matt Barrett: New director of SBCD at Univ. of CO at Colorado Springs.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Meet Matt Barrett.He's not only one of the newest guys in town; he's also the new director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.Barrett,...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: January 20, 2006.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer The Internal Revenue Service plans to boost the number of audits it conducts next fiscal year.And if that's not enough to get your attention, the added audits are just one of the measures that are part of a renewed...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: January 20, 2006.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Marylou Doehrman The Colorado Health Institute released a study this month, "Profile of the Uninsured," which highlights the state's uninsured population through 2004. Based on the latest Census Bureau statistics, the report showed...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: January 20, 2006.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Car loans can now be stretched to 72 months. Furniture can be financed and delivered for zero percent interest for the first year or two. Why not get a 50-year or even a 60-year fixed rate mortgage? That's one of the...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: January 20, 2006.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine The Guinea Pigg, a store specializing in women's clothing and accessories, will open at 110 N. Tejon St. in April, moving from its 30-year location in Old Colorado City.The store is owned by Sy and Sue Bachman. "We...

Colorado Springs BioTech Briefs: January 20, 2006.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Marylou Doehrman Colorado Springs has great potential to become a hub for biotechnology because of companies already in the area and the work of University of Colorado at Colorado Springs professor Karen Newell, said Ian Askill,...

Commentary: Lack of economic incentives isn't going away.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk Ian Askill, the CEO of Aspire Biotech, gave a talk recently at a Peak Venture Group breakfast about biotechnology. One of the questions he asked was, "Does it have life in the Springs?"There are 21 or so biotech...

Commentary: Workplace doozies that are stranger than fiction.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd Day in and day out, the majority of happenings in offices around the world would probably fall into the category of reliably mundane. Aside from the occasional fires that have to be put out, business as usual is usually...

Colorado makes the grade in economic development practices.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Colorado's economic development practices have earned the state a B+ report card average, according to national rankings released yesterday.And, it appears the Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. is a...

Some U.S home buyers opting for real estate in Mexico.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Marylou Doehrman Way down here you need a reason to move lose your load, leave your mind behind Oooh, Mexico I guess I'll have to go now, talking about Mexico.Jimmy Buffett renewed his radio airtime in 1996 with James Taylor's...

Corporate Office Properties Trust buys Ford site from Intel.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Corporate Office Properties Trust has purchased an industrial facility at 9965 Federal Drive for $2.6 million. The 60,000-square-foot office/lab building, which was owned by Intel Corp, is on an 11-acre parcel. During...

Can we fill the top jobs of tomorrow?
January 27, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Looking for a career field destined for growth? If so, shine up that friendly retail sales or home health care demeanor, bone up on teaching skills and dust off any helpful customer service, home care and business...

Internet sales tax push could threaten e-tailers.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine With eBay sales increasing each year 36 percent last year alone state governments are seeking to cash in on the e-commerce bonanza. And e-tailers like Jim Reeder and Steve Plentka of Consider it Sold are going to...

Interview with new president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Colorado Springs.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Keeping cars in tiptop shape is something Alicia Jones deals with every day as the owner of Auto Clinic of the Rockies.And, as this year's president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: January 27, 2006.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Explosive growth in the number of clients it serves has forced Freedom Financial Services to move its operation into a larger space. President Roy Clennan said the financial planning services business has purchased a...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: January 27, 2006.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Marylou Doehrman The 23rd American Heart Association Heart Ball will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Broadmoor International Center. The event includes a gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions, and dancing...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: January 27, 2006.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Consumers will spend less in 2006, thanks to a slower housing market and rising energy costs, according to a study from the National Retail Federation.The nation's largest retail trade association predicts that...

Colorado lawmakers focusing on undocumented laborers.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer State lawmakers are aiming to choke the flow of illegal immigrants into Colorado, and employers are one of their targets.An estimated 11 million illegal immigrants are in the United States, and as many as 80,000 are in...

Nevada corridor development fosters cautious optimism.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Some local businesses are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Costco and Lowe's in a 700,000-square-foot urban redevelopment project, but others are cautious about the effects of the big-box retailers on their...

Midlife Mavericks drawn to Mexico as new haven.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Marylou Doehrman Jim Justus and Karen Blue are among those who have found a bit of paradise in Mexico. Justus, president of Olive Real Estate, is building his dream retirement home there. Blue, a writer and former Hewlett Packard...

BBB offers dispute resolution program.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff There's a disagreement. You're sure you are right; the other party is equally sure it is right. What can you do?The Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado has a program designed to help...

John Laing Homes voted America's Best Builder.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff John Laing Homes has been named one of three of "America's Best Builders" by Builder Magazine.The annual recognition, now in its 13th year, is given to homebuilders who demonstrate excellence...

Booz Allen Hamilton, Memorial Hospital recognized.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Booz Allen Hamilton and Memorial Hospital were honored during the Pikes Peak Coalition of Chamber's Diversity Awards Luncheon earlier this month.The awards recognize companies that have...

Pulitzer-winning author keynote at Cornerstone Arts.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The author of "The Metaphysical Club" will be this year's Cornerstone Arts Initiative keynote speaker at Colorado College.Louis Menand, whose book won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for history,...

Bureau of Land Management narrows oil shale research nominations.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Bureau of Land Management has announced the names of eight applicants whose proposals for oil shale research development and demonstration leases have been judged eligible for continued...

Business Marketing Association seeking nominations for Gold Key awards.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Colorado chapter of the Business Marketing Association is seeking nominations for the 2006 Gold Key awards, an annual event that recognizes business-to-business marketing...

STAR acquires RINK Magazine, conference, expo.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Serving the American Rinks (STAR) has acquired RINK Magazine and the North American RINK Conference and Expo.STAR is an association that provides education, training and resources to rink...

Experience Colorado Springs announces board members.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, the former Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, has selected its 2006 Board of Directors. The nine-member board will replace the...