Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) articles from March 2007

Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) archives from March 2007

Are city election races in Colorado Springs already over?
March 2, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst According to the City Charter, municipal elections are held every two years on the first Tuesday in April. This year, the election is scheduled for April 3, but it will actually take place much earlier. That's...

Its all about the clicks.
March 2, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson While not likely to ever upend the dominance of Web search engines such as Google or Yahoo, affiliate marketing is carving out a solid niche in online retailing. Affiliate marketing involves revenue sharing between...

Commentary: Blog trolling just one of my many jobs.
March 2, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst All politics, all the time! At least, that's how it feels if, like me, you're a political junkie blundering through the blogosphere. It's as if you've wandered into a huge, geeky party where everyone is articulate,...

Owner of Colorado Springs-based Aspenheart Economics optimistic about growth of the economy.
March 2, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff After years of working as an economist for various organizations, Debbie Evercloud took a big step: starting her own business -- Aspenheart Economics. Evercloud works as a freelance writer and communicator about economic...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: March 2, 2007.
March 2, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez Vectra Bank Colorado and Amegy Bank of Texas have opened a regional energy banking office in Denver. Both banks are affiliates of Zions Bancorporation. The office will provide energy banking services such as...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: March 2, 2007.
March 2, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine A federal study shows that the U.S. government will contribute almost 50 percent of the nation's health-care costs within 10 years, 5 percent more than it is currently supplying, according to The Wall Street Journal....

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: March 2, 2007.
March 2, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley With five of its original 18 holes removed and relocated to a new parcel of land across Peaceful Valley Road, work at the Appletree Golf Course will eventually lengthen the links from 6,500 to 7,300 yards, said Jim...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: March 2, 2007.
March 2, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Yo Naturals is joining the healthy revolution by providing natural and organic vending machines. President and CEO Mark Trotter, a veteran of the vending machine business, opened the company last April. It started...

Keeping good records key to not sweating an audit.
March 2, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez Tax season is here and thus, so are the auditors. But it doesn't have to be a time of worry. In many cases, awareness is the key to preventing an audit. Avoiding red flags and keeping accurate records will help in...

Commentary: Investing -- common sense isn't so common.
March 2, 2007... Byline: Allan Roth Last fall, I had the honor of "doing lunch" with Jack Bogle, founder of Vanguard and pioneer of the index fund. As we walked by the full-sized bronze statue of Bogle on the Vanguard campus, I couldn't help but realize...

Conservation innovation grants available for projects in Colorado.
March 2, 2007... The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service has made available up to $800,000 for projects in Colorado through Conservation Innovation Grants in fiscal year 2007. Individual applications will be awarded up to...

UCCS Leadership Class in Colorado Springs is something to be proud of.
March 2, 2007... Byline: Lon Matejczyk This year, CSBJ is sponsoring a student in the Chancellors Leadership Class at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Last week, I had lunch with Amy Kirlin the director of the program and our student,...

Builders ready to break ground on Banning Lewis Ranch in Colorado Springs.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated," Mark Twain wrote upon hearing that his obituary was prematurely published in 1897 in the London Times, 13 years before he died. Likewise, speculation that new home...

Family Medical Leave Act tweaks being mulled.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine The Department of Labor is reviewing more than 15,500 responses to its call for comments about a 14-year-old law that affects 90 million American workers. Those comments could lead to changes in the Family Medical...

Commentary: Breaking politics down to commodities.
March 9, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Make a guess -- how many quasi-legitimate presidential candidates have surfaced so far? Don't bother to guess -- the list of those who actually show up in national polls is in the box in the far-right column. Nine...

Colorado co.'s point-of-sale changes bring more options to small retailers.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Shoppers spend an average of eight minutes in the checkout lane, and retailers are constantly searching for an efficient point-of-sale system to reduce the wait. POS is the combination of hardware and software that...

Col. Gneiser, of Colo. Springs, advises feds on future of space law and policy.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Col. Doug Gneiser is an Army Reservist with a unique specialty: he advises national leaders about the development of future space law and policy. Mobilized after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: March 9, 2007.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez The Internal Revenue Service is encouraging business taxpayers, associations and other interested parties to submit topics for resolution involving a controversy, a dispute or an unnecessary burden on taxpayers to...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: March 9, 2007.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Waste Management has proposed changes to the approved design and operation plan at the Colorado Springs Landfill Expansion, a municipal solid waste landfill that would allow the facility to accept easily crumbled...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: March 9, 2007.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Equastone has acquired four properties in the Interlocken Business Park in northwest Denver. The Interlocken portfolio is a 239,521-square-foot office and research and development complex. It is comprised of one...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: March 9, 2007.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Dunkin' Brands and Procter & Gamble have signed an agreement to launch Dunkin' Donuts coffee at retail outlets nationwide. P&G Coffee will be responsible for distributing Dunkin' Donuts packaged coffee to grocery...

Culture, diversity available in Colorado Springs, if you know where to look.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez Can Colorado Springs shed its ultra-conservative image and transform itself into a city known for its diversity, cultural awareness and economic opportunity? Given the proper vision and leadership, many community...

Commentary: Preparation key to making interview less anxious.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Tessa Nelson Whether you are trying to start your career or are looking for a career change, the most stressful part, for the majority of people, is the interview. The best way to overcome some of your interview fears is to...

Colorado's Colonial Columns Nursing Center receives Blue Ribbon award.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Colonial Columns Nursing Center has received a $10,000 award for winning the Blue Ribbon Program within the Mountain 2 District of Sava Senior Care. The award recognizes facilities that excel...

Commentary: Impact of Colorado College on Springs quite often overlooked.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Lon Matejczyk There has been a lot of discussion about diversity and inclusion in our community. In last weeks CSBJ there was an article by Glen Bruels in the Leadership Quarterly section that addressed some of our diversity...

BLM seeking Resource Advisory Council members in Colorado.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations to fill upcoming vacancies on three Resource Advisory Councils in Colorado. The councils provide advice and recommendations to BLM about...

Photo Stencil receives SMT Magazine's Vision Award.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Photo Stencil has received SMT Magazine's Vision Award for supply chain management in the Contract Services category. The award recognizes quality products, timely delivery and customer...

Postal Annex+ recognizes Colorado Springs franchisee.
March 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Chris and Doug Ware were selected as the Postal Annex+ franchisees of the year during the 47th Annual International Franchise Association Convention. The Wares opened their store in August...

Accolades nice, but Colorado Springs leaders focused on getting better.
March 16, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez Folks who live in Colorado Springs might be getting a bit light-headed as of late -- not because of the lack of oxygen at 6,000-plus feet but because of the abundance of statistical compliments that have come their...

Interview with Laszlo Palos, new marketing director of Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs.
March 16, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report A long-standing player in the downtown retail arena, Laszlo Palos primed his creative skills for more than a decade before making a recent career move. His 11-year stint as general manager of Terra Verde and...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: March 16, 2007.
March 16, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez The Internal Revenue Service has announced the 2006 Dirty Dozen, its annual tally of notorious tax scams, along with an alert to taxpayers to watch out for schemes that promise to reduce or eliminate taxes. "When it...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: March 16, 2007.
March 16, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine The costs of health care -- and quality information about hospital performance -- are difficult to obtain, and are often meaningless, according to a study from the National Center for Policy Analysis. The study says...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: March 16, 2007.
March 16, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley The product of a first-of-its-kind partnership between the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Dunn & Associates Inc., Broadmoor Palisades has opened three two-bedroom luxury apartment models at South...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: March 16, 2007.
March 16, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Eastman Kodak Co. has launched the Kodak Creative Network (creative.kodak.com), an online design and printing solution for the small office/home market. Kodak Creative Network provides the benefits of an experienced...

Colorado Springs Technology Briefs: March 16, 2007.
March 16, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez Colorado State University has created a new bachelor's degree in engineering education which will train engineers to be junior high and high school engineering and technology teachers. The program requires students...

Colorado Broadcaster's Association honors Clear Channel Radio talent.
March 16, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Colorado Broadcaster's Association has recognized several members of Clear Channel Radio with industry awards. Tom Bruss was named the Major Market Citizen of the Year. Bruss, an account executive at KDZA...

Increasing volume of new cases in Colorado's courts is burdening system's resources.
March 16, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine From minor traffic court appearances to multi-million dollar commercial judgments, Colorado's courts see more than 750,000 new cases every year -- a rate officials say is unsustainable. "The volume of cases in the...

Colorado Springs a sports capital without a major minor-league presence.
March 16, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst It's one of the city's favorite themes: Colorado Springs, Sports Capital! The Economic Development Corp. uses it to attract relocating companies, Experience Colorado Springs (formerly known as the Convention &...

Web sites oversimplify the marketing strategy.
March 16, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Marketing isn't simply pulling a rabbit out of a hat; it takes trained professionals and a well-thought-out, creative campaign -- and even then there's no guarantee that the effort will be successful. Researchers...

Commentary: Pinon Canyon a no-win for all involved.
March 16, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst If there was ever an issue guaranteed to twist right-thinking conservatives into convoluted knots, the Army's proposed Pinon Canyon expansion is it. Here's some background. Twenty years ago, the Army acquired...

Commentary: Colorado Springs Leadership Institute class of 2007 announced.
March 16, 2007... Byline: Lon Matejczyk These folks may not know each other very well right now, but trust me, they will after spending a week together April 30 through May 4 at the Center for Creative Leadership. The Colorado Springs Leadership Institute...

Colorado State University's College of Business among nation's best.
March 16, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Business Week magazine has ranked Colorado State University's College of Business as one of the top undergraduate business programs in the United States. The magazine surveyed 77,000 graduating seniors at 123...

U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Postal Service providing Net tool for entrepreneurs.
March 16, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Postal Service have unveiled an Internet tool designed to deliver business solutions to entrepreneurs. Delivering Success is an online video-on-demand resource...

Court Appointed Special Advocates in Colorado Springs seeks weekend volunteers.
March 16, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Court Appointed Special Advocates is seeking volunteers for the Supervised Exchange and Parenting Time (SEPT) program, which helps and supports families and children affected by abuse, neglect or domestic...

Bureau of Land Management seeking to fill vacancies on Resource Advisory Councils in Colo.
March 16, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations to fill upcoming vacancies on three Resource Advisory Councils in Colorado. The councils provide advice and recommendations to BLM about the use and management...

Patent No. 6,697,032 : Technology whose time has come.
March 23, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst More than 50 intellectual property patents are scheduled to be auctioned in Chicago on April 18. Among them is Patent No. 6,697,032 for "A display device having an integral docking station to facilitate the display...

Albertson's decides to eliminate preferred savings cards within its Rocky Mountain Division.
March 23, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Just think of it as one less gadget on your key chain. Taking a bold leap as part of a new marketing campaign, Albertson's has decided to eliminate preferred savings cards within its Rocky Mountain Division. Chris...

Commercial docket in El Paso County's Fourth Judicial District looks to fast-track civil cases.
March 23, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine The Pro Rodeo Cowboys Hall of Fame is facing a lawsuit by one of its members, alleging mismanagement by the board and staff in the wake of the director's conviction in criminal court. That case, which might spend...

Commentary: Forget buzzwords, we need leadership.
March 23, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Leaders, leaders, leaders -- they're coming out of our ears, or at least out of our mailboxes. Last week, as voters received their mail-in ballots for the upcoming City Council elections, most of us were the victims...

Powers Office Park in Colorado Springs adds to health care condo mix.
March 23, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley With two hospitals scheduled to open within a few miles of each other in northeast Colorado Springs, developers have identified a number of prime sites for medical offices and commercial campuses. But none may be more...

Interview with Dr. Tony Kinkel, president of Colorado's Pikes Peak Community College.
March 23, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff After being elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives at the age of 24, Dr. Tony Kinkel was destined to lead. He recently became the latest president at Pikes Peak Community College,...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: March 23, 2007.
March 23, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez Wells Fargo & Co. is offering online banking services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Wellsfargo.com is the only financial institution Web site that is certified by the National Federation of the...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: March 23, 2007.
March 23, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Fewer employers are offering health insurance to parents with modest incomes -- and the rate has fallen three times faster than offerings to parents who earn more money, according to a study by the Robert Wood...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: March 23, 2007.
March 23, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley A 133-acre vacant parcel on the southwest corner of Interquest Parkway and Federal Drive, owned by Nor'Wood Development and Corporate Offices Properties Trust, is already in the concept development process, said Steve...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: March 23, 2007.
March 23, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Taco Bell is joining the growing list of merchants who are using PayPass payment technology. MasterCard's PayPass is a contactless payment solution that enables consumers to process their own transactions on a PayPass...

Boss, Humes headline University of Colorado at Colorado Springs leadership event.
March 23, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs' Ninth Annual Leadership Conference, themed "Creating Win-Win Relationships," will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 12 at The Lodge. The featured speakers are...

C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program offers free registration.
March 23, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program will visit companies and perform free marrow donor registration. All the process involves is a consent form and four oral swabs....

Companies need defined strategy for managing their intellectual property.
March 23, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Companies often aren't aware just how much their intellectual property is worth, according to Jim Adams, chief technology officer of Taeus. "Most companies do not have a defined strategy for managing their...

Money Management Letter names top pension funds.
March 23, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Money Management Letter has selected the winners of its Sixth Annual Public Pension Fund Awards, which recognize plans, consultants, marketers and asset management firms that have made significant impacts on the...

Colorado Springs-based Memorial Health System: Because speed is what you need.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Memorial Health System has started a trend -- one that's picking up steam and changing hospital practices for cardiac care across the nation. The program, known as Cardiac Alert, has reduced the time that patients...

New name, new look, new feel in downtown Colorado Springs.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Mounds of dirt and unearthed steel utility vaults fill the front lawn of the 25-year-old Pikes Peak Center in downtown -- but not for long. In what has been a true public-private partnership, the Pikes Peak Center...

Boulder-based Mobile Marketing Assn. says mobile brings another medium to marketing mix.
March 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Interactive television uses mobile marketing communication. Viewers can text in their votes from their living room couches for shows such as "American Idol," "Deal or No Deal" and even "Larry King Live." But text...

Commentary: You thought stand-ups had tough crowds.
March 30, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst As Kermit the Frog used to say, "It's not easy being green." Substitute "a journalist" for green and that's a fair description of those who toil in the Fourth Estate. We're too liberal, too biased, too ignorant,...

Torreano expects growth in financial services.
March 30, 2007... As his company prepares to enter its next 125 years in Colorado Springs with fresh office space and room to grow on the ninth floor of the former Holly Sugar Building, Mike Torreano is prepared to double his staff during coming months. Still...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: March 30, 2007.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez 5Star Bank is moving its headquarters to Colorado Springs from Alexandria, Va. It's also trying to shed its image as just a "military" institution. The bank is part of Armed Forces Benefits Association, which was...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: March 30, 2007.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Breast cancer is the No. 1 killer of women between the ages of 40 and 49. Thanks to a grant from the Colorado Women's Cancer Control Initiative, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is able to screen low-income...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: March 30, 2007.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Developers of the Highpointe Conference Resort have selected a structurally simple architectural design. The 505-room, $185 million resort on about 21 acres near Denver International Airport was designed by the Klipp...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: March 30, 2007.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson After a long, cold winter, consumers are eager to shop this Easter, according to the National Retail Federation's 2007 Easter Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. This year, shoppers who plan to celebrate Easter...

Stockbrokers, financial advisers feeling heat of tax season deadline.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Lorna Gutierrez As April 17 draws closer, tax filers and accountants aren't the only ones feeling the heat -- stockbrokers and financial advisers are battling the deadline as well. "This is our busiest time of year," said Gail...

Colorado Springs attorney says pro bono not always glamorous, but necessary.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Tim Shutz says some of his most interesting legal cases have been ones that he volunteered for -- including a pro bono death row appeal for an Oklahoma inmate. So when the Colorado Springs attorney heard about the...

PRACO cleans up at Addy award.
March 30, 2007... PRACO cleans up at Addy awards PRACO Public Relations Advertising Co. has received 48 awards, including two Judges Choice Awards, from the Pikes Peak chapter of the American Advertising Federation. The company's winter ad campaign for the...

Commentary: Dallager not grounded by scandal.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Lon Matejczyk In Monday's CSBJ daily e-mail we reported that the Pikes Peak United Way had selected John "J.D." Dallager as its new CEO. I received some e-mail asking whether this was the same J.D. Dallager who was the...

Commentary: The top 10 things for the tax procrastinator to avoid.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Mike Boyd If you're like me and you still haven't found the time or the patience to file your federal income tax return, there are a few things to keep in mind when you do finally get around to crunching the numbers. The National...

High-dose radiation shows benefits for cancer patients.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine A high-dose radiation treatment for prostate cancer, available at Penrose Cancer Center, has proven to lower side effects, reduce time in the hospital and lower health care costs for patients. In a study conducted...

Forget everything you ever knew about hospital food in Colorado Springs hospitals.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Chicken with cherry citrus salsa with herb roasted new potatoes is the lunch special. No, it's not a special meeting for the city's power brokers -- a it's a typical lunch at both Colorado Springs hospitals. Plastic...

Memorial North is Colorado Springs' newest hospital.
March 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Memorial North is the latest addition to Memorial Health System. The campus, located on Briargate Blvd., is 224,000 square feet on 83 acres. Called a "boutique hospital" by Memorial North administrator Joy Powell, the...

Medical Pavilion at Briargate breaks ground in Colorado Springs.
March 30, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Located across from the new Memorial Hospital North, Healthcare Realty Trust's two-building, 170,000-square-foot office Medical Pavilion complex officially broke ground this month. The move represents the firm's entry...

Springs-based LearningRX makes 'Fast 55' list.
March 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff LearningRX is among the 55 fastest-growing franchise systems, according to Franchise Times. The Springs-based company ranked 48, with five-year average unit growth of 289 percent. In 2006, the company ranked 46. The...

Allstate Insurance Co. opens new shop in Springs.
March 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Allstate Insurance Co. has opened a new agency at 1255 Lake Plaza Drive. Lionel A. Batiste will be in charge of the agency. Jim Woolley has joined the company as a personal financial representative.

Nominees sought for exporting awards in Colorado.
March 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Applications are being accepted for the 2007 Governor's Award for Excellence in Exporting. The award honors Colorado companies that have made significant commitments to exporting. Businesses of any size or industry that...

Colorado Springs needs parks board volunteer.
March 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff The City's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Board has an opening for an at-large member. No experience in necessary, only an interest in the development and recreation resources in the community. Members...

Colorado Bureau of Land Management seeking Resource Advisory Council members.
March 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations to fill upcoming vacancies on three Resource Advisory Councils in Colorado. The councils provide advice and recommendations to BLM about the use and management of 8.4...

Colorado Springs seeking volunteers to guide city's growth.
March 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff The City of Colorado Springs needs volunteers to serve on the City Planning Commission. The commission holds monthly public hearings to review requests and make recommendations to City Council about annexations, master...

Springs-based PRACO cleans up at Addy awards.
March 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff PRACO Public Relations Advertising Co. has received 48 awards, including two Judges Choice Awards, from the Pikes Peak chapter of the American Advertising Federation. The company's winter ad campaign for the Colorado...