Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) articles from May 2008

Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) archives from May 2008

Colorado Springs revitalization gets its legs.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley A coalition of business, civic and nonprofit leaders is moving ahead to redevelop and update the city's eclectic southern gateway. The area originally under discussion was a stretch of South Nevada Avenue between...

Legislation intended to clear up confusion about Colorado health care costs.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Allowing consumers more choice -- and making health care costs more transparent -- is the aim of a bill being considered by the General Assembly during the final days of the legislative session. The bill creates an...

Is Colorado Springs carrying too much debt?
May 2, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Value Line founder Arnold Bernhard once said that although corporate balance sheets might seem arcane, there are two things that analysts need to pay particular attention to: "Cash -- you can spend it. And debt --...

Commentary: The real reason behind declining newspaper circulation numbers.
May 2, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Many years ago, there was a man in Bathsheba who went to market. Among the throng he saw Death, dressed in black and as pale as the moon that grows thin. Death made a gesture, and the man fled, and rode his horse to...

Senior Open prime example of economic impact of golf.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson The 2008 U.S. Senior Open, scheduled for July 28 through August 3 at The Broadmoor, is drawing a number of local fans who love it for a number of different reasons. Some are looking forward to the networking...

Q&A with Stephanie Martin, assistant director of Memorial Health System's maternal-fetal medicine.
May 2, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff While Stephanie Martin is new to Colorado Springs, her background in obstetrics is both extensive and impressive. Martin is the assistant director at Memorial Health System's maternal-fetal medicine group, specializing...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: May 2, 2008.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn "We're watching history being made, and we're living it," said Hans F. Olsen, chief investment officer of private client services at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. "For those of you new to the financial world, you are getting...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: May 2, 2008.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine More than half of small businesses do not offer a company health care plan to employees, according to a survey conducted by online payroll service SurePayroll. Owners say that offering insurance is too expensive, the...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: May 2, 2008.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley A Denver investor is in the process of building a $9 million, three-building business flex and garage storage unit complex on 5.6 acres just south of Woodmen Road, near the intersection of Powers on Tutt boulevards and...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: May 2, 2008.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Triarc Companies Inc., the franchisor of the Arby's restaurant system, and Wendy's International Inc. have signed a definitive merger agreement, which has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies. The...

Compiling Colorado hospital information for comparison won't be easy.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine The General Assembly is considering a bill that would create an Internet-based guide which lists the average charges and reimbursements for 25 of the most common in patient procedures While some of the information is...

Economic Development Council of Colorado honors achievement.
May 2, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Economic Development Council of Colorado has recognized several individuals, businesses and communities for achievement in economic development. EDIE Awards were presented in the following categories: Company of the...

Commentary: BIDing on South Nevada seems like a fairly safe bet.
May 2, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff We welcome the proposed creation of a local business improvement district (BID) by businesses and property owners along South Nevada Avenue. Such entities, which levy a modest tax upon properties located within the...

Commmentary: A few thoughts and a few suggestions about e-mail.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk After my column last week about budget and revenue shortfalls in our county and this week's confirmation from Nicola Sapp, county finance director, of an $8.3 million shortfall, things got a bit draining. I am...

First things first: Cleaning up South Nevada in Colorado Springs.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley One of the biggest hurdles to redevelopment along South Nevada Avenue has been a handful of low-rent motels that are creating public safety concerns. "We've got to do something about the Cheyenne Motel, and based on...

Colorado Community Revitalization Assn. accepting downtown excellence nods.
May 2, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Colorado Community Revitalization Association is accepting nominations for the 2008 Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence. Categories include best building improvement project, best new construction, best public...

Online registration now open for Colorado's State Games of the West.
May 2, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Online registration for amateur athletes is now open at www.stategamesofthewest.org for the inaugural State Games of the West, July 24-27, in Colorado Springs. About 8,000 competitors of all ages and skill levels from 13...

SCORE adds section for young entrepreneurs to Web site.(Website overview)
May 2, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff SCORE has added a section targeted to young entrepreneurs to its Web site. The content area offers mentoring and resources to help high school, college-age and 20-something small business owners. Visitors to...

Colorado Technical University honored for community service.
May 2, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Colorado Technical University has received the Alpha Phi Alpha Ward of Honor for its "outstanding service to the community." The fraternity was founded in 1906 at Cornel University to promote brotherhood among black...

Colorado DOT accepting applications for expansion of rolling stock for transit programs.
May 2, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Colorado Department of Transportation is accepting applications for replacement or expansion of rolling stock for transit programs available through the Federal Transit Administration. CDOT has $2 million set aside...

U of Colorado at Colorado Springs nets community award.
May 2, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs College of Business has received the 2007 Community Enhancement Award from the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. The award recognizes people or organizations that...

Are tax credits key?
May 9, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine A $5,000 tax credit for health insurance is the cornerstone of Republican presidential candidate John McCain's health care plan. McCain wants to give families a $5,000 tax credit to purchase health insurance - any...

Risky business: non-revocable biometric data.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Psst. Your biometric data is showing. Millions of Americans have no control over their biometric data, which floats around in cyberspace and multiple databases. Although most people wouldn't dream of carrying around a...

Colorado Springs south commercial district gets a non-business partner.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley One of the transitioning South Nevada Avenue/South Tejon Street commercial district's newest -- and most promising -- neighbors is not a business. School District 12's Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy is building a...

Commentary: Springs' Mayor Bob was everything, and also everyman.
May 9, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst The end of an era. The passing of a titan. A remarkable man who shaped the history of the city, for good or for ill. All true, but none of it does justice to the man himself. I had the privilege of serving on city...

Q&A with John Morrisroe of Colorado Springs.
May 9, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff John Morrisroe is a busy man. He runs three companies in Colorado Springs (Gutter Helmet of Southern Colorado, Beauty Bath of the Rockies and Rocky Mountain Awnings), and is expanding into the Denver market. And despite...

Compass on Business posits good news for Colorado.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn "Colorado is a wealthy state," said Dr. Richard Wobbekind, director of the Business Research Division and associate dean for external relations at the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business. Colorado has the...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: May 9, 2008.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine The cost of long-term care in Colorado has increased 20 percent since 2004, compared to a nationwide increase of 17 percent. A Cost of Care Survey released by Genworth Financial Group finds that the cost of elder...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: May 9, 2008.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley At a time when national homebuilders have all but abandoned the Pikes Peak region's new home market, one local company is bucking the trend. Longtime housing and building executive Ron Covington has opened Ron...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: May 9, 2008.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Created by Denver area musician and entrepreneur Wen Boley, StickySheets LLC has moved into Suite 101 at 5426 N. Academy Blvd. StickySheets are large adhesive sheets that make it easy to remove pet hair from large...

Small firms hardest hit by energy costs.
May 9, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The small manufacturing and commercial sectors top the list of burdened industries on an energy cost per value of industry shipments and energy cost per sales basis. The Office of Advocacy of the Small Business...

Once mighty Colorado Springs Co. now simply a historic curiosity.
May 9, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Editor's note: This is the second in an occasional series of stories about unique businesses in the Pikes Peak region. The Colorado Springs Co., created by Gen. William Palmer during 1871, is the oldest...

Health insurance industry feeling bottom line pain.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine The first quarter of 2008 will be remembered by health plans as their worst financial performance in more than a decade. While the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index is down 10 percent for the quarter, the managed...

Citywide retail development plans in Colorado Springs make headway.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Vacant storefronts in underdeveloped retail areas soon will see new faces because of the city's recently established retail enhancement program. The program, created within the city's economic development division as...

Goodwill Annual Dinner held at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Diane Wengler The "Business of Giving" was celebrated by more than 650 people gathered at The Broadmoor Hotel on April 17 for the Goodwill Annual Dinner. Robert G. Baker Jr., Goodwill president/CEO, welcomed guests and spoke about...

Revocability key to secure use of biometrics.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Biometrics are inherently spoofable because key tokens are not linked to a particular individual. Stephan Engberg, founder and CEO of Priway, in Lyngby, Denmark, said it is crucial that revocable biometrics be used. He...

Commentary: Colorado Springs would be a lot different today if it hadn't been for Bob Isaac.
May 9, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff With the passing of former Mayor Bob Isaac, whose public funeral will be this morning at the City Auditorium, Colorado Springs has lost a man who did more to create today's Colorado Springs than anyone of his generation....

Commentary: It's time to create a culture of 'yes' in Colorado Springs.
May 9, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk The Colorado Springs Leadership Institute had a full-day retreat last Friday at the Penrose House. The theme was creating a culture of "yes." CSLI is made up of about 180 alumni who have a true passion for Colorado...

Transit grants available through Colorado Department of Transportation.
May 9, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Colorado Department of Transportation is accepting applications for replacement or expansion of rolling stock for transit programs available through the Federal Transit Administration. CDOT has $2 million set aside...

Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Assn. elects officers.
May 9, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Association has elected officers for 2008-09. Rick Brewer of G.A. Wright Marketing Inc. is president. Scott McKenzie of Direct Hit Marketing Inc. will serve as executive vice...

Crystal Apple Awards presented to Colorado teachers.
May 9, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Five teachers from School District 11 were honored as part of National Teacher Appreciation Day with 2008 Crystal Apple Awards. Recipients included Michael Butler, social studies, Sabin Middle School; Mary C. Gowing,...

Coldwell Banker Residential Broker nets award.
May 9, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Coldwell Banker Residential Broker has received the 2008 Cartus Real Estate Services Award from the Cartus Broker Network. The designation recognizes brokers who achieve the highest results for Top Block Service and meet...

El Paso County Board of Commissioners approves grant agreement.
May 9, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners has approved the annual Master Grant Agreement between Pikes Peak Workforce Center and the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment. The contract defines roles and...

Volunteer Center of the Pikes Peak Region honors volunteers.
May 9, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Volunteer Center of the Pikes Peak Region honored volunteers during its Volunteer Day luncheon on April 29. Winners included Fernando Soule, Adult Service Award; Brendan Conroy, Youth Service Award; Karen Fallahi,...

Colorado Gaming Association: Raising the stakes.
May 16, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst The Colorado Gaming Association has submitted a proposal to the secretary of state which would allow voters in Blackhawk, Central City and Cripple Creek to decide whether casinos could raise bet limits from $5 to...

Financing exports just got easier.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine The Colorado Springs Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Export Import Bank are joining forces to increase the volume of exports from the United States. The local office will be responsible for marketing and...

Brokers seeking the competitive edge in tough real estate market.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Christian Sterner knew he was on to something when the largest real estate company in Manhattan decided to use his company, WellcomeMat.com, as its primary Web hosting site. Launched during June 2006, the Boulder-based...

Brokers seeking the competitive edge in tough real estate market.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Christian Sterner knew he was on to something when the largest real estate company in Manhattan decided to use his company, WellcomeMat.com, as its primary Web hosting site. Launched during June 2006, the Boulder-based...

Commentary: Fixing the budget is easy, but nobody's willing to do it.
May 16, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst "A billion here, a billion there -- and pretty soon you're talking real money." That infamous remark, usually attributed to the late Sen. Everett Dirksen (R-Ill.) has long symbolized the spendthrift ways of...

Opening company's books grows profit, performance.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Revecca Tonn In a nation of individuals collectively squeamish about disclosing salaries or profit and loss statements, the concept of open-book management tends to raise eyebrows. But proponents of OBM say sharing P&L statements,...

Q&A with Bruce Gillooly, asst. VP for corp communications of Security Service Federal Credit Union.
May 16, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Bruce Gillooly knew he'd been overseas for too long when his son pointed to the Columbian flag and said, "Look, Daddy, that's our flag." Gillooly said he realized it was time to retire from the military and to teach his...

Colorado Financial Briefs: May 16, 2008.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn "We're seeing the first signs of spring in the thaw of credit since the crisis began in August," said Scott Anderson, senior economist for Wells Fargo Economics. "The April economic data showed a fair amount of...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: May 16, 2008.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine The number of small group plans decreased in Colorado during 2007, according to the Colorado Division of Insurance's annual small group activity report. While the report shows no significant increase or decrease in...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: May 16, 2008.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Plasmon's decision to move into the new Corporate Office Properties Trust's Hybrid II building off Federal Drive supports the need for continued commercial development -- even during a slower market, according to at...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: May 16, 2008.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Based on its 14-year success in markets such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Manhattan and Denver, Java Detour co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Michael Binnings now has his sites set on Colorado Springs. "We've...

Colorado Springs named Silver Level "Bicycle Friendly Community".
May 16, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The League of American Bicyclists has named Colorado Springs as a Silver Level "Bicycle Friendly Community." Recipients of the award have established records of commitment to education, engineering, enforcement,...

Colorado legislature steers clear of comprehensive health care reform.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Amy GIllentine The 2008 General Assembly was a disappointment -- at least as far as comprehensive health care reform is concerned. After the governor's blue ribbon commission on health care reform held meetings for most of 2007,...

Colorado General Assembly passes enough bills to satisfy health care industry.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine While comprehensive health care reform didn't occur during the 2008 General Assembly session, many health care professionals believe some good measures came out of the session. With more than 100 health care bills...

The shows are still going on, despite economic downturn.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson As the economy continues to sag and expendable revenue dries up, one might think that businesses would scale back on the number of their corporate lunches, dinners and special events. But that doesn't appear to be the...

Memorial Hospital Foundation Gala held.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Diane Wengler Trying to get into the Dr. Seuss theme, some of the guests to the Memorial Health System Foundation's Sixth Annual Gala wore Cat in the Hat hats, red striped gowns and green egg necklaces. More than 630 guests...

Commentary: Selling parks won't fix county's continuing budget problems.
May 16, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Years ago in Washington, the bureaucrats who ran the National Park Service devised a creative way to counter proposed budget cuts. Whenever Congress seemed poised to turn off the money spigot, agency managers would...

Commentary: 47,249 votes for Best in Springs Business ... but who's counting.
May 16, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk The best thing to happen to Springs Business... Doug Bruce goes to Denver. That is just one of the many remarks made on the voting ballots for the 2008 CSBJ readers' poll for the Best in Springs Business. That and we...

Casino opening coincides with contracting gaming industry.
May 16, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst In Cripple Creek, the bets are down, but the high rollers aren't rich, addicted gamblers -- they're casino owners, who despite sharply reduced industry revenue are anteing up millions to stay in the game. The...

Pikes Peak Family Connections Inc. needs volunteers.
May 16, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Pikes Peak Family Connections Inc., an organization whose goal is to prevent child abuse and neglect, needs volunteers to work with at-risk children. Volunteers are needed to work with children at KPC Kids' Place, a free...

Colorado Community Revitalization Association accepting nominations for Downtown Excellence awards.
May 16, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Colorado Community Revitalization Association is accepting nominations for the 2008 Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence. Categories include best building improvement project, best new construction, best public...

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo receives grant.
May 16, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Colorado Garden Show Inc. has awarded $336,270 in horticulture-related grants to projects throughout the state. In Colorado Springs, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo received $25,000 for its Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit,...

Credit Union Association of Colorado selects board officers.
May 16, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Credit Union Association of Colorado has selected board officers for 2008-09. Doug Ferraro, president/CEO of Bellco Credit Union in Denver, will serve as chairman. Mike Williams, president/CEO of Colorado Credit...

Online registration available for State Games of the West.
May 16, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Online registration for amateur athletes is now open at www.stategamesofthewest.org for the inaugural State Games of the West, July 24-27, in Colorado Springs. About 8,000 competitors of all ages and skill levels from 13...

Little car, big advertising idea.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson The smart car: It's fun. It's unique. It's economical -- and now it's a vehicle for advertising. Greg Halverson, western state business development manager for MobileSmartAds.com, offers the Mercedes Benz Smart Car...

Southern Deliverry System deal imminent for Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
May 23, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst It appears that Colorado Springs and Pueblo are close to reaching an agreement that will make the Southern Delivery System a reality. SDS would draw water from Pueblo Reservoir and transport it north via a...

Gimme shelter: Non-traditional users fill Colorado Springs buildings.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Movie theaters morph into churches and colleges. One-time industrial and office buildings give way to entertainment zones and indoor sports centers. A freestanding retail building once used for plumbing supplies now...

Commentary: Sometimes love-hate relationships really are about love and hate.
May 23, 2008... Byline: John Hazlehurst Symbiosis is usually defined as "an interaction between organisms in which at least one organism benefits." A common example of mutual symbiosis is the relationship between clownfish and sea anemones. The...

Charlie Lucy bridging the gap between military, civilian work force.
May 23, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff Charlie Lucy came to Colorado Springs as a cadet at the Air Force Academy. Now, after retiring from the military, he's using that experience to help companies grow and obtain government business. He was staff judge...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: May 23, 2008.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn It is a myth that social values make it difficult to actively manage money, said Lloyd Kurtz, senior portfolio manager at Nelson Capital Management, an investment advisory affiliate of Wells Fargo. Since May 1990, the...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: May 23, 2008.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Nursing teachers have the opportunity to qualify to have as much as $20,000 of their student loan debt forgiven through the Loan Incentive for Teachers of Nursing Program. A total of $250,000 in student loan...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: May 23, 2008.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley The Rustic Hills Showcase Shopping Center at 1330-1360 N. Academy Blvd. has been purchased by Madison Realty Investors of Littleton for $1.45 million. The 29,131-square-foot retail center was built during the 1980s and...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: May 23, 2007.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Joan Johnson Greccio Housing has designed a community celebration board game, "I Luv Colorado Springs" that will be available in the Pikes Peak region beginning in July. The "opoly"-style game will be sold at The Broadmoor, Poor...

Minimal invasion leads to maximum savings.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Amy Gillentine Since School District 11 began requiring employees covered by its health plan to use minimally invasive surgical procedures if they were eligible, the district has saved nearly $1 million. Laparoscopic procedures...

Colorado Community Revitalization Assn. accepting nominations for 2008 Governor's Award.
May 23, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Colorado Community Revitalization Association is accepting nominations for the 2008 Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence. Categories include best building improvement project, best new construction, best public...

Certificate of Deposit Acct. Registry Savings: one-stop shopping for multi-million $ FDIC insurance.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Rebecca Tonn If you're still depositing $100,000 into umpteen different banks to get Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage, then it's time to take advantage of the CDARS network. The Certificate of Deposit Account Registry...

When the spirit moves them: churches find unconventional homes.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Becky Hurley Some of the most common users of nontraditional space have been schools, human services and faith-based organizations. With about 700 churches and faith-based groups in the Pikes Peak region, the need for meeting and...

Commentary: The YouTube blessing, curse.
May 23, 2008... Byline: CSBJ Staff We're always interested in, and frequently amused by, the antics of political spinmeisters. It's been fun to note the evolution -- or devolution, if you prefer -- of campaign sloganeering in the age of YouTube. A couple...

Commentary: Losing a phone number, embracing midlife woes.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Lon Matejczyk My youngest daughter will be turning 16 months old in a few weeks and all because I lost the phone number of the vasectomy doctor. What a lucky loss. I am 45 going on 27 and will be around 62 years old when my...

Commentary: Even human targets sometimes end up on the wrong side of the law.
May 23, 2008... Byline: Mike Boyd The camera don't lie You're coming back down and you really don't mind You had a bad day You had a bad day -- Daniel Powter We'll make that two bad days. In a row. Back to back. It started last Friday. With an e-mail....