Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) articles from March 2006

Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) archives from March 2006

KKCS in Colorado Springs earns national recognition.
March 3, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Radio station 104.5 KKCS's Mother of Pearl promotion has been named the best in the nation among medium-sized markets by the Country Radio Broadcasters.The promotion aired in May in advance of Mother's Day.Judging...

Four Colorado Springs Allstate agencies earn recognition.
March 3, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Four Colorado Springs agencies have been named among the top Allstate agencies in the nation in auto, property, commercial insurance and financial service sales.The Chris Song Agency received the National Conference...

Pikes Peak Community Action Agency receives grant.
March 3, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Pikes Peak Community Action Agency has received a $50,000 grant from the Daniels Fund to support its Save Up to Step Out (individual development account) program.The program encourages self-sufficiency and poverty...

Pikes Peak Advertising Federation American Advertising awards recognize best advertising work.
March 3, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff PRACO Public Relations Advertising Co. received the Best of Show award at the 39th Annual Pikes Peak Advertising Federation American Advertising awards for its STOP Family Violence campaign. The company received 47...

Colorado's 2005 exports set record.
March 3, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Colorado companies shipped $6.78 billion in manufactured, agricultural and mineral products to international markets during 2005, breaking the record of $6.65 billion set in 2004, according to statistics prepared by the...

CO chapter of Business Marketing Assn. seeking nominations for Gold Key awards.
March 3, 2006... Byline: CSBJ 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 communications.There are 47 categories, and...

Nominations for 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year awards being sought.
March 3, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Ernst & Young LLP is seeking nominations for its Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 awards.Last year, 10 entrepreneurs in seven categories from the Rocky Mountain region were selected from nearly 100 nominations. Awards are...

Office of Dispute Resolution announces grants program in Colorado.
March 3, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Office of Dispute Resolution is offering mini-grants for community conflict resolution and restorative justice services in Colorado.Community conflict resolution allows parties and communities to resolve disputes...

Cracking down on government fraud.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer When Ross Wright looked out for Uncle Sam's wallet, Uncle Sam looked out for him.In the late 1990s, Wright was an administrator at a residential treatment center for at-risk youth in Colorado Springs. When he discovered...

Study shows child care industry contributes $1.062 billion to the Colorado economy.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Child care is one of the top-10 fastest growing industries in the nation and contributes $1.062 billion to the Colorado economy. The industry pays $12.3 million in state taxes and provides $31.8 million in wages to...

Colorado doctors get perks to give more.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Marylou Doehrman The Colorado Clinical Guidelines Collaborative is offering doctors a financial incentive to improve health care delivery through uniform treatment guidelines for patients who smoke or have diabetes.The pilot...

Fourth new loft communtity to break ground in downtown Colorado Springs.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Dan Robertson of S&R Construction and broker Janelle Walston have successfully built and marketed three loft communities in downtown Colorado Springs. And they're preparing this month to break ground on a...

Interview with Diane Loschen: Marketing director for The Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs.
March 3, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff The mall it's an explosion of stimuli for the shopping senses. Window displays, sale ads, seasonal styles, neon signs, inviting kiosks and the food court all create a hub for the mega-industry of retail commerce.But the...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: March 3, 2006.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has scheduled public hearings next month to discuss Wal-Mart's application for federal deposit insurance.Wal-Mart is proposing to create the Wal-Mart Bank, an industrial loan company...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: March 3, 2006.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Marylou Doehrman Colorado's tobacco tax will help pay for programs that address health disparities in American Indians and blacks. More than $1.3 million has been designated for programs, such as diabetes prevention and...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs:.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley It's still early, but COPT Vice President of Investment and Leasing George Swintz says that within six months his company expects to break ground on a 90,000-square-foot spec office building in Patriot Park.Preliminary...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: March 3, 2006.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine A Colorado Springs running store has been named a top choice in four readers' polls by Runners World magazine. Colorado Running Co., 833 N. Tejon St., won for the mountain region in the categories of general...

Grand Junction-based Rocky Mountain Health Plans offers case for evidence-based care.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Marylou Doehrman Rocky Mountain Health Plans is ahead of the game when it comes to a pay-for-performance system for physicians. RMHP is in the third year of a pilot program involving 1,900 people with diabetes and their physicians....

Center in Colorada Springs spotlights the work of nonprofit groups.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Colorado Springs has experienced a 73-percent growth spurt in nonprofit agencies since 1996. The national average for the same period was 56 percent. More than 1,800 501c(3) organizations, including faith-based...

Money Matters to the Boys & Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer James Sullivan, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region, looks on as Megan Brunet of the Allstate Foundation congratulates 10-year-old Stoney Vandell for being part of the first class to...

Judge dismisses Adelphia's lawsuit against Falcon Broadband.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Adelphia to prevent Falcon Broadband from operating within Colorado Springs without a franchise agreement.That puts the city, which was also named in the suit, between a...

Commentary: Evaluating arts for economy's sake.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Sure, the arts enrich the city's cultural atmosphere and blow the dust of everyday life off men's souls to remind us about what's really important but the arts as an economic generator?Yup.That's what the city's...

Woodland Park finally getting hospital.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley After seven years of planning and fundraising, construction of the first new hospital to be built in Colorado in 30 years will begin within the next 60 days.The 42,500-square-foot facility will sit on 20 acres just...

Face time still beats out Web teleconferencing.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Nearly two-thirds of business travelers are taking fewer trips and almost eight in 10 say they are interested in alternatives to traveling, but meeting via technology isn't quite ready to replace face-to-face...

Interview with Paula Miller, new executive director of Pikes Peak Library District.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Pikes Peak Library District has embarked on a new chapter with Paula Miller taking over as the system's executive director.A native of Ohio, Miller is leaving the big-city life of...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: March 10, 2006.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Homeowners' insurers have settled nearly 70 percent of claims resulting from Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi, according to the Insurance Information Institute.The institute estimates that as of Jan. 24...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: March 10, 2006.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Peak Vista reopened its Fountain Health Clinic, located in the Lorraine Center, after renovating the facility to expand services.A federal grant from Department of Health and Human Services allowed Peak Vista to...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: March 10, 2006.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Two local development stories this week provide additional confirmation that Colorado Springs has found a permanent place on the national real estate radar.John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts LLC announced that it is...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: March 10, 2006.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Mike and Tammy Pinto plan to open a restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs this month.Bistro de Pinto, at 26 E. Kiowa, will be about 1,000 square feet, seat about 30 people and have about six employees. Tammy Pinto...

Headhunters filling new tech gaps, own pockets.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson When the phone on your desk rings, don't be surprised if there's a headhunter on the other end. As the number of chief executives increases, from 444,000 in 2004 to 500,000 this year, the number of corporate recruiters...

Woodland Park, Colorado Springs compete for medical staff.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Two groups recruiting medical personnel to staff new hospitals in Woodland Park and Colorado Springs are facing the challenge of competing against one another for a limited labor pool. Administrators at the Pikes...

Commentary: Some marketing ploys cross the line of good taste.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd I've got nothing against blatantly self-promoting one's business, but my hypocrisy does know some bounds and there are some marketing ploys that I do think cross the line of good taste.I also am loath to provide any type...

Commentary: Remedy for corruption is limited government.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Mark Hillman Those who clamor loudest against the taint of special interests and the undue influence of lobbyists and money within the halls of government would make lousy doctors. With stunning regularity, they ignore the disease...

Commentary: Washington trip: Colorado Springs is missing out on funding.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk For those of you who might not have kept track of the daily reports on www.csbj.com about the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce's Washington Legislative Action Mission, the information will continue to be...

2006 Colorado Springs Press Association Media Guide available.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The 2006 Colorado Springs Press Association Media Guide is available for purchase. The guide contains El Paso/Teller County area listings of newspapers, radio and television stations, as well...

Girl Scouts honor Women of Distinction.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Girls Scouts Wagon Wheel Council honored Patricia Cone (business), Elizabeth Youngquist (community) and Willie Straws (service) as the organization's 2006 Women of Distinction during the...

Ernst & Young seeking Colorado Springs region's entrepreneurs.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Ernst & Young LLP is seeking nominations for its Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 awards.Last year 10 entrepreneurs in seven categories from the Rocky Mountain region were selected from nearly...

Colorado Community College System among best in administering CTE funds.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Colorado Community College System's career and technical education administration and delivery have been recognized as the best in the nation for the fourth consecutive year.CCCS excelled...

Office of Dispute Resolution announces grants program.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Office of Dispute Resolution is offering mini-grants for community conflict resolution and restorative justice services in Colorado.Community conflict resolution allows parties and...

Manitou Springs Chamber names award winners.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau recognized the following business and individual during its annual awards dinner.Adam's Mountain Cafe was recognized as Business of...

Service Corps of Retired Executives, Commercial Credit Counseling Service ally.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Service Corps of Retired Executives and Commercial Credit Counseling Services Inc. have formed an alliance to foster small-business awareness about SCORE counseling and training and to...

Latino Chamber of Commerce in Pueblo honors outstanding members.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Latino Chamber of Commerce in Pueblo has announced the winners of its annual awards.Lenny Valdez of Allstate Insurance was recognized at Outstanding Board Member of the Year. Garbiso...

Doctors, insurers argue contracts.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine The medical community and health care insurance providers are on opposite sides of a battle over legislation that would standardize contracts between physicians managed care organizations in Colorado.The Colorado...

Retailers cross-training selves into empty niches.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine In an effort to create new markets, several national retailers are stepping into the service arena. Costco and Sam's Club began offering health insurance to small business owners and the self-employed at the...

Telemedicine extending the reach of health care.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Specialized audio and video equipment can reduce hospital and emergency room charges by 73 percent and Internet consultations can lower hospital costs and patient wait time. Both are part of a fledgling aspect of...

Niebur Golf and Thomas General Contractors create user flexibility.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Spurred by the construction of inpatient and critical care facilities by Memorial and Penrose-St. Francis hospitals, sites along North Powers Boulevard and Research Parkway will soon be home to dozens of medical...

Knowing is half the battle, especially for new hires.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Workplace assaults total 2 million each year. Employee theft costs $40 billion annually and causes 30 percent of business failures. Lawsuits for negligent hiring are on the rise and can cost a company millions. But...

Cobb in the business of providing peace of mind.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Unfortunately, it might take something bad to happen to really appreciate what Andy Cobb can do for you.Cobb, senior vice president of Van Gilder Insurance, helps a good many business owners rest easy knowing...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: March 17, 2006.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Board of Directors has approved increasing the deposit insurance coverage on certain retirement accounts at a bank or savings institution from $100,000 to $250,000. The...

Colorado Springs Health Care Briefs: March 17, 2006.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine The Pike's Peak chapter of the American Red Cross will receive a new emergency response vehicle as a result of the organization's successful response to more than 2,000 residents of Louisiana and Mississippi who were...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: March 17, 2006.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Yet another real estate investment group has staked its claim in the Pikes Peak region.Mount View Partners LLC has purchased six buildings on Mount View Lane, just off North Nevada Avenue, for $4.7 million. The company...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: March 17, 2006.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson The International Franchise Association has announced plans for "MinorityFran," an initiative to help member companies recruit additional minority franchisees into their systems. MinorityFran will build on...

Colorado Springs Technology Report: March 17, 2006.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Intelliden Inc. has been recognized as the global market leader in network configuration management applications, according to a market analysis report by IDC, a subsidiary of the International Data Group. The...

Strengthening businesses by conspiring in faith.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson In the wake of scandals that have pushed investors and the public to become increasingly cynical about corporate America, some business leaders are advocating bringing faith back into the workplace. "I don't believe...

Commentary: Going hunting for primary employers downtown.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk I often wish that I had moved to the Springs 10 years ago so that I would know the history behind some of the issues our community is facing and have a better understanding about why some things are the way they are...

Commentary: United Way annual fundraising sets record-again.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd The Pikes Peak United Way has done it again.This week the organization announced that it had raised a record amount of money, more than $5.5 million, during the 2005-06 campaign. United Way raised $5.2 million in...

SBA disaster loans surpass $6 billion.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved a record $6 billion in low-interest, taxpayer-backed disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses affected by last year's Gulf Coast hurricanes.More than...

Holland & Hart LLP wins legal marketing awards.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Holland & Hart LLP has received two "Your Honor Awards" from the Legal Marketing Association.The firm was awarded first place in the community relations category for its work with the Holland & Hart Foundation,...

Dress for Success celebrates SOS.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Dress for Success is asking women nationwide to donate one new or nearly new interview suit during the week of March 19-25 to help disadvantaged women enter the work force.This is the ninth year that the group has...

Leadership Pikes Peak offering opportunity to 'Experience the Springs'.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Leadership Pikes Peak accepting applications for its "Experience the Springs" class on April 26-27.The program provides a community snapshot and is tailored to new residents, new managers, those newly retired or...

SBA prime contractor: Delta Solutions and Strategies.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Delta Solutions and Strategies LLC has been selected as the 2006 Region VIII Prime Contractor of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.Region VIII includes Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, North...

Care & Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado receives four-star rating.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Care & Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado has received the highest rating, four stars, from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent evaluator of charities.Care & Share received 64.33 of 70 points for...

Security Service Federal Credit Union names board of directors.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Security Service Federal Credit Union has announced its 2006-07 board of directors. Members are: Max Giovannini, chairman; Bob Egger, first vice chairman; Bill Ballard, second vice chairman; Allen Snyder,...

Ernst & Young seeking region's entrepreneurs.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Ernst & Young LLP is seeking nominations for its Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 awards.Last year, 10 entrepreneurs in seven categories from the Rocky Mountain region were selected from nearly 100 nominations....

BBB of Southern Colorado names foundation trustees.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado has selected new members for its foundation board.They are: David D. O'Donnell, former chairman, CEO and president of Colorado Technical University; Diane C....

Office of Dispute Resolution announces grants program for Colorado.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Office of Dispute Resolution is offering mini-grants for community conflict resolution and restorative justice services in Colorado.Community conflict resolution allows parties and communities to resolve...

2006 Colorado Springs Press Assn. Media Guide available.
March 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The 2006 Colorado Springs Press Association Media Guide is available for purchase. The guide contains El Paso/Teller County area listings of newspapers, radio and television stations, as well as reporter and other...

Pandemic would 'shock' economy.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine If a severe flu pandemic hits the United States, federal officials estimate that 90 million people will become ill and 2 million will die. In economic terms, the estimates are equally dire: the real gross domestic...

Passion for work not an oxymoron.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson The average person can expect to change careers three to five times in his or her lifetime. And according to salary.com's 2005-06 employee job satisfaction and retention survey, 65 percent of employees plan to look for...

Colorado Springs-area employers expect robust Q2 hiring.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Colorado Springs-area employers are expecting to hire at a healthy pace during the second quarter of 2006.According to the most recent Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, 23 percent of local companies plan to hire...

Feng Shui: Environmental balance or good design?
March 24, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine From the halls of major hospitals to the board rooms of large corporations to small family-owned businesses, more companies are hiring feng shui experts to design their space. But it's not a one-size-fits-all...

Fine Arts Center to help attract more business to downtown Colorado Springs.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer If there's one thing downtown businesses love, it's one more attraction that will bring people into the heart of the city.The new downtown Fine Arts Center gallery and restaurant could be just the ticket.The Fine Arts...

Citigroup Smith Barney's Scott Pann is only certified financial advisor in state of Colorado.
March 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The name Smith Barney represents an army of 13,000 financial advisers and brokers across the country.Only 64 of them are certified to handle the largest of the company's high net worth, private wealth management...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: March 24, 2006.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Freddie Mac and the Mortgage Bankers Association are teaming up to persuade Fort Carson's Hispanic soldiers and their family members to consider a career in mortgage banking.The Freddie Mac and MBA coalition, called...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: March 24, 2006.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Rocky Mountain Cancer Center is the first community cancer center in Colorado to take advantage of technology that allows greater accuracy in treating prostate, liver, head, neck and lung cancers with radiation....

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: March 24, 2006.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley In an unexpected move, Winters Industrial Park LLC has purchased a 3.6-acre industrial parcel at the corner of Winters Drive and North Nevada Avenue.Just two months ago, development plans for the location were...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: March 24, 2006.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson After an upturn in February, consumer confidence dropped in March, reflecting the uncertainty American consumers have about future economic conditions, according to results of the RBC Consumer Attitudes and Spending by...

Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. program focuses on fostering local growth.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer The Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. is creating an enterprise development program to foster small- to medium-sized startup businesses.Exactly what the program will be called and when it will be up...

Colorado Festival of World Theatre sponsor reception held at new headquarters.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Diane Wengler Music from Colorado Springs Conservatory students Jana Lee Ross and David Siegel set the tone for the Colorado Festival of World Theatre sponsor reception Feb. 22 at the organization's new headquarters on south 21st...

Commentary: Politicians again try to show that they know best.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd Say goodbye to another tiny bit of personal liberty.Colorado is joining the ranks of 12 other states in legislating where smokers can and cannot light up.It appears that our elected officials don't think that business...

Commentary: Limited growth supporters have limited vision.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk Growth is inevitable. If we are not growing as a region and as a state, then we are stagnant. If we are stagnant, we are dying.What business would accept a 1 percent growth rate? I wouldn't have a job if the Colorado...

U.S. SBA seeking input about disaster response.
March 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The U.S. Small Business Administration has released a request for information soliciting input about how the private sector can best support the delivery of the SBA's Disaster Assistance program, within its...

KKCS named radio station of the year by Colorado Broadcasters Association.
March 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report KKCS 104.5 has been named Major Market Broadcast Station of the year by the Colorado Broadcasters Association. This is the first time since 1997 that the station has received the recognition.KKCS also earned five...

Volunteers needed for WalkAmerica event in Colorado Springs.
March 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The March of Dimes is seeking volunteers to help at its WalkAmerica event on April 29 at America the Beautiful Park.Two hundred volunteers are needed to perform a variety of tasks, including setup, participant...