Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) articles from January 2008

Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) archives from January 2008

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: January 4, 2008.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson It looks like a promising year for retailers in Colorado Springs and nearby shopping destinations. Downtown retailers will have the support of the Downtown Partnership, which has several new marketing ideas in store....

Commentary: My money's on Obama, Crank and the Rockies this year.
January 4, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows..." And who knows what will come to pass during 2008? Not me, but I'm ready with my annual predictions, proven to have a level of accuracy slightly...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: January 4, 2008.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Wells Fargo Senior Economist Dr. Eugenio J. Aleman said "consumers are hanging in strong with expectations," as shown by Wells Fargo's conference board's consumer confidence index, which posted a strong-enough comeback...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: January 4, 2008.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Three years after Medicare Part D prescription drug programs became part of the Medicare services, beneficiaries are becoming savvier about the program and its benefits. A survey conducted by United Health Group...

CyberMonday.com raises $300K for scholarships.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Shop.org's CyberMonday.com Web site raised more than $300,000 for the Ray M. Greenly Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund was established furing January 2006 to provide financial support to students pursuing careers...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: January 4, 2008.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley The G.B. Value Fund II has purchased The Willows at Printers Park apartments for $18.9 million. Gary Winegar, chief investment officer of Griffis Blessing, said that during the next few years the fund will focus on...

Health care reform to loom in 2008.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine What's the chance that 2008 will be the year the country -- and the state -- see comprehensive health care reform? Slim to none. While many were hopeful that 2007 would be the year that the federal government would...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: January 4, 2008.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley The 2008 federal budget contains promising news for the construction industry. Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, said that U.S. Census Bureau data shows that new home...

Commentary: Past and future -- magazine went belly-up and notes on 2008.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk So it is 2008 and a new year is upon us. The holiday business slow-down time, I find, is a good time to clean up files and e-mails. This year I threw out a lot of stuff. As I was tossing out a myriad of publications,...

With hurdles behind them, Manitou Springs' Cliff House at Pikes Peak owners move forward.
January 11, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley A $20 million infusion of capital is set to fuel major expansion and redevelopment for two historic hotels in Manitou Springs. But as supportive as west side officials have been of improvements to the Cliff House at...

Lots of legislative wishes for Colorado, limited amount of money.
January 11, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Health care, transportation and education top the agenda for this year's state legislative session, but any changes that lawmakers decide to make will likely be relatively benign, at least from the standpoint of the...

Colorado Springs-based BiggsKofford links up with Moss Adams.
January 11, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn After three years of being courted, BiggsKofford has joined the Moss Adams Network. Chris Blees, BiggsKofford's CEO, said he had a little help being pushed over the edge, though. The firm submitted a proposal to a...

Commentary: Doesn't make sense for the Dems not to embrace Obama.
January 11, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, it appeared that we were at a moment of transformation -- a change in our country and in our politics that would have been almost without precedent. Instead, we woke up...

For Colorado Springs, the path to cottages paved with good intentions.
January 11, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Four years ago, Helen Michelson died and gave three houses near Monument Valley Park to the City of Colorado Springs, but the bequest came with some unusual conditions. Michelson's will required that the city move...

Wells Fargo's regional president for southern Colo. thrives on the challenges of a changing industry.
January 11, 2008... Steve Helbing recently moved to Colorado Springs from El Paso, Texas, where he served as Wells Fargo's regional president and as a volunteer for numerous civic and business organizations. The 1980s in Texas were Helbing's formative years in...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: January 11, 2008.
January 11, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Long-term capital gains rate expected to increase Tad Goodenbour, tax partner with BKD, said the impending election will have a lot of speculative effect on the economy. "The general consensus is that taxes will go up...

Colorado Springs Health Care Briefs: January 11, 2008.
January 11, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine HSAs continue to expand, even as programs change Health savings accounts will continue to grow between 40 percent and 50 percent annually during the next five years. But that growth will be marked by rapid change and...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: January 11, 2008.
January 11, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley High-dollar acreage purchased near Colorado Crossing In a move characteristic of one of Colorado Springs' most proactive master developers, Sunshine Development has purchased the only remaining land parcel at the...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: January 11, 2008.
January 11, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Retail predictions for '08 Retailers are preparing for another year in the fast-paced shopping world. According to Susan Reda, executive editor of Stores magazine, the following are the top eight predictions for the...

2008: Banking, finance sectors hang on for a slow ride.
January 11, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn As you shake the tinsel and glitter from your sleeves, and stuff the last box of decorations into the attic, it's time to contemplate the condition of the economy during 2008. No need to panic about using a credit card...

LPP seeking nominees for community leader awards.
January 11, 2008... LPP seeking nominees for community leader awards Leadership Pikes Peak is seeking nominations for its community leadership awards. There are three categories: The Community Inspiration Leadership Award recognizes a LPP graduate who is an...

Commentary: Challenging economy means challenging negotiations.
January 11, 2008... Byline: Ann Snortland If you have children you'll appreciate the daily negotiations that occur at home. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. We all negotiate, whether we realize it or not. You negotiate with your boss for vacation time...

Commentary: Colorado's legislative agenda should be thoughtful, considerate and civil.
January 11, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Editorial "No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session." Gideon J. Tucker said that during 1866, and while Judge Tucker's epigram may somewhat overstate the dangers in store for...

Commentary: Folks don't look far for advice when contemplating job change.
January 11, 2008... Byline: Mike Boyd If finding a new job is at the top of your New Year's resolution list, chances are you've spent some time consulting with your spouse or significant other. That's the conclusion drawn from the results of a poll conducted...

Commentary: Where are the keys to my bulldozer?
January 11, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk We need to raze South Nevada Avenue from just south of the Lowell neighborhood to somewhere near the Wells Fargo building and McDonald's. Like many of you, there are weeks I travel out to The Broadmoor, The Penrose...

Colorado Springs-based LearningRx makes two lists.
January 11, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff LearningRx has been ranked No. 276 among the "Top 500 Franchises" and No. 19 among the "Top New Franchises" by Entrepreneur magazine. The company also was included among the fastest growing franchise systems by Franchise...

Colorado Springs-based Business.gov adds state, local search features.
January 11, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Business.gov has launched new search features and expanded content that make it easier for small business owners to find forms, licenses, permits and regulatory information from federal, state and local governments. In...

Business.gov adds state, local search features.
January 11, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Business.gov has launched new search features and expanded content that make it easier for small business owners to find forms, licenses, permits and regulatory information from federal, state and local governments. In...

Peak Vista Community Health Center selects 2008 board officers.
January 11, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Peak Vista Community Health Centers has selected its board officers for 2008. Steve Ingham of Academy Bank will serve as chairman. Sue Forester, a community volunteer, is past chairwoman, and George Guerrero of El Pomar...

Leadership Pikes Peak seeking nominees for community leader awards.
January 11, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Leadership Pikes Peak is seeking nominations for its community leadership awards. There are three categories: The Community Inspiration Leadership Award recognizes a LPP graduate who is an outstanding volunteer and leads...

Not enough nursing faculty in Colorado.
January 18, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine While most of the state's attention was focused on the commission charged with developing a plan to ensure that all residents have health care coverage, another task force was quietly working on recommendations to...

Ross Auction in Colorado Springs finds new owners for old stuff.
January 18, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Ross Auction is one of the city's oldest continually operated businesses. Founded by Jack Ross during 1921, the company has held weekly auctions for the last 87 years. Ross' current owners, Bill and Paula Neal,...

Landco, Southwestern team for growth in Colorado Springs.
January 18, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Few new commercial real estate companies can open their doors and, within four months, secure almost 1.5 million square feet in listings. But that's just what happened when brokers John Egan and Patrick Kerscher left...

Commentary: Sadly, you can't fix political problems without politicians.
January 18, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Got a slick little publication in the mail last week, courtesy of the University of Denver. Grandly titled "Foundation of a Great State -- The Future of Colorado's Constitution," it's the product of heavy liftin'...

Health insurance benefits becoming expensive perk.
January 18, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Health insurance plans are topping the priority list for younger Americans entering the work force, and that means bigger bills for employers who want to hire them. Steve Berkshire, a professor for Regis University's...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: January 18, 2008.
January 18, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff T. Rowe Price opened a second building on its Colorado Springs campus this week -- something that company representatives say doubles their capacity for growth here. The 145,000-square-foot, three-story building and...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: January 18, 2008.
January 18, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine CollegeInvest and the state have launched a program to encourage medical personnel to practice in underserved parts of Colorado. The Colorado Health Care Provider Loan Repayment program allows eligible health care...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: January 18, 2008.
January 18, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley A 52,470-square-foot office-industrial building at 4870 Centennial Blvd. has been purchased by San Diego-based Sovereign XMI LLC for $4.05 million. Andy Oyler of Grubb & Ellis Quantum Commercial represented the seller,...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: January 18, 2008.
January 18, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Security continues to be a top priority for retailers and multi-tenant landlords. IPC, the company that provides security for The Promenade Shops at Briargate, says there are several things retailers can do during a...

Commentary: Keep in touch with people who had an influence on your life.
January 18, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk As we age and keep up with our busy lives and family, it is too easy to forget people that made a difference in our early lives. My high school girlfriend's father, Harry Zeland, was like a second father to me in a...

State task force in Colorado wants to measure nurse performance.
January 18, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Measuring nursing performance in hospitals is something that isn't done in Colorado. But the Governor's Nurse Workforce and Patient Care Task Force recommended that hospital nurses be graded as part of the...

Historic Center latest gamble undertaken by Cripple Creek.
January 25, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst On a sunny Saturday afternoon, a steady stream of cars flowed down Tenderfoot Hill toward Cripple Creek. After 18 miles of sometimes testy driving on Highway 67, the twisting, two-lane road that links Cripple Creek...

The British are coming -- well, actually it's the Irish coming to Colorado Springs.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine A British Broadcasting Co. business reality show was filming in Colorado Springs this week -- a move that local entrepreneurs hope will put the city on the map with BBC viewers. Six companies from Northern Ireland --...

Health care Internet sites: Surfer beware.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Mark Twain warned that the public should "Beware of health books. A misprint could kill you." Now, the same can be said about the Internet, which is rife with health information that is false, misleading or biased....

No better muse for budding poet in Colorado Springs than Kickin' Dougie Bruce.
January 25, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst It appears that Colorado Springs will soon have its own poet laureate. Now that's a harmless, feel-good idea. After all, isn't it better to have our very own poet laureate than to have, say, our own nuclear arsenal?...

Niche attorneys see Web sites as essential part of business.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Much like any other business, attorneys are turning to the Internet to increase awareness, find clients and connect with other professionals. "I get about 45 percent of my business from the Internet," said Greg...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: January 25, 2008.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Consumer credit outstanding rose by $15.4 billion during November. Revolving credit, which includes credit cards, increased $8.8 billion and non-revolving credit rose $6.7 billion, driven by a strong rebound in auto...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: January 25, 2008.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine High doses of daily caffeine during pregnancy -- whether from coffee, tea, soda or hot chocolate -- cause an increased risk of miscarriage. A study conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research for the...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: January 25, 2008.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley The year kicked off with the first tenant signing up at the 30,000-square-foot Kissing Camels Office Park III building at 2955 Professional Place. Ted Link and Brian Norton represented Pikes Peak Physical Medicine in a...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: January 25, 2008.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Specialty retailer L.L. Bean has moved up the customer satisfaction ladder. The third annual National Retail Federation Foundation/American Express Customer Service Survey shows L.L. Bean jumping from third place...

Citizens Project to honor Lorne Kramer Former Colorado Springs City Manager ......
January 25, 2008... Citizens Project to honor Lorne Kramer Former Colorado Springs City Manager Lorne Kramer will receive the Citizens Project's Divine Award during the organization's fourth annual celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at The Warehouse, 25 W....

Commentary: Are we going to start breeding success or wallow in apathy?
January 25, 2008... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Last week, we noted with interest that Denver movers and shakers have come up with yet another ambitious proposal to improve their city. Pat Grant, the CEO of the National Western Stock Show,...

Citizens Project in Colorado Springs to honor Lorne Kramer.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Report Former Colorado Springs City Manager Lorne Kramer will receive the Citizens Project's Divine Award during the organization's fourth annual celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at...

Colorado Springs Press Assn. Media Guide available.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Report The Colorado Springs Press Association Media Guide is now available. The guide provides listings of newspapers, radio and television stations, reporters and other outlet contacts for El...

CSBJ Rising Stars alumni band together to help community.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk As your local business journal, it is one of our responsibilities to bring people together for the betterment of our community and to bring people together so people can do more business. I am glad to say our Rising...

Colorado Board of Health elects officers.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Report The Colorado Board of Health has selected officers for 2008. Jeanne T. McGinnis, a physician services administrator for Exempla Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, was re-elected to...

Pikes Peak Family Connections Inc. needs volunteers.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Report Pikes Peak Family Connections Inc. needs volunteers for all its programs. The organization's goal is to help prevent and treat child abuse and neglect. Volunteers are needed to work...

Leadership Pikes Peak seeking nominees for leadership awards.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Report Leadership Pikes Peak is seeking nominations for its community leadership awards. There are three categories: The Community Inspiration Leadership Award recognizes a LPP graduate who is...

Public comment sought for roadless rules in Colorado.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Report The U.S. Forest Service is preparing an environmental impact statement analyzing the protection and management of roadless areas on about 4 million acres of National Forest lands within...

Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs, Foundation selects officers.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Report Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs has elected Marta Erhard of CorVirtis as its 2008 board chairwoman. Jack Armstrong is chairman-elect. The Goodwill Foundation also has elected...

Hammers Construction staying on solid ground in Pikes Peak region.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Those in the construction industry are no strangers to the Pikes Peak region boom and bust cycles. Yet Hammers Construction Inc. keeps bulldozing along after 21 years in business and the construction of more than 256...

Green building registration keeps growing in Colorado.
January 25, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Green has become the favorite color of commercial real estate developers and lenders both interested in federal tax credits and accelerated depreciation. Sustainable development is seen as not only as desirable but...

Corporate Office Properties Trust: new power player in Pikes Peak region.
January 26, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Four years ago the Corporate Office Properties Trust, a Columbia, Md.-based real estate investment trust with a portfolio of more than $3 billion in commercial real estate, didn't own one acre of property in the Pikes...