Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) articles from November 2006

Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) archives from November 2006

Time Warner Telecom completes deal to acquire Xspedius Communications.
November 2, 2006... Byline: iColorado Springs Business Journal Staff Time Warner Telecom acquires Xspedius Time Warner Telecom has completed a deal to acquire Xspedius Communications, which has a sales office in Colorado Springs with 10 employees. The...

National Small Business Association seeks nominations for 2007 Small Business Advocate of the Year.
November 2, 2006... Byline: i The National Small Business Association is seeking nominations for its 2007 Small Business Advocate of the Year. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to small business advocacy, a proven history of voluntary efforts and...

Colorado-based Barnstorm acquires Diamond Graphic Source.
November 2, 2006... Byline: iColorado Springs Business Journal Staff Barnstorm acquires Diamond Graphic Source Barnstorm Creative has acquired Diamond Graphic Source of Florissant and will take over service of the company's existing client base. Barnstorm also...

Small Business Administration launches pilot program to provide financial assistance.
November 2, 2006... Byline: iColorado Springs Business Journal Staff SBA launches new markets lending initiative The U.S. Small Business Administration has launched a pilot program to provide financial assistance to small business in economically distressed...

Colorado casinos produce $69.7M in adjusted gross proceeds.
November 2, 2006... Byline: iColorado Springs Business Journal Staff Colorado casinos produced $69.7 million in adjusted gross proceeds (AGP) in September, a 1.5 percent increase from $68.7 million in AGP in August and a 9.6 percent increase from $63.6 million...

Colorado Department of Agriculture accepts grant applications for drought assistance.
November 2, 2006... Byline: iColorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Colorado Department of Agriculture is accepting grant applications through Nov. 17 for drought assistance in 24 eastern Colorado counties. Cattle and sheep producers in Baca, Bent,...

Colorado-based Peyton company to relocate to Laramie, Wyo.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine After months of plans, designs and research, a Peyton company achieved flight with a prototype airplane designed to attract a new class of aviators. Nexaer hopes to begin producing the planes, which will range in...

Colorado Springs Post Office apologizes for poor downtown service.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Post office officials have apologized for poor downtown service during the past few months and say a process is in place to correct delivery problems. "The service was not meeting customers' expectations. What they...

Colorado Springs retailers prepare for the holidays.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Holiday shoppers are taking their fingers to the mouse and preparing to hit the malls early this year. According to results of the 2006 eHoliday Mood Study, conducted by BizRate Research for Shopzilla and Shop.org, one...

Time Warner Telecom acquires Xspedius Time Warner Telecom has completed a deal to acquire Xspedius Communications, which has a sales office in Colorado Springs with 10 employees.
November 3, 2006... Time Warner Telecom acquires Xspedius Time Warner Telecom has completed a deal to acquire Xspedius Communications, which has a sales office in Colorado Springs with 10 employees. The acquisition is not expected to affect the number of local...

Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. honors local primary employers.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp., in cooperation with the Economic Vitality Group, presented its inaugural Excellence in Local Industry Awards on Nov. 2 to honor local primary...

Enjoy the moment, even when the roll is over.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd "Kid, you're on a roll. Enjoy it while it lasts, 'cause it never does." - Lou Mannheim talking to Bud Fox, from the movie "Wall Street." That snippet of dialogue popped into my mind last week as I was preparing to...

National Democratic tide flows in Colorado.
November 3, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst Only three days to go, and then, blessedly, it's election day. No more sleazy attack ads. No more syrupy brochures in the mail. No more pictures of the candidates and their cloyingly cute little families. It's over....

Antibiotic resistance bacteria is a serious problem in the nation's hospitals.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine It's the biggest threat facing health care in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's a problem that increases the severity of diseases, causes longer hospital stays and...

Colorado Springs transit services division manager commits to seeing public transportation grow.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff As the city's transit services division manager, Sherre Ritenour has seen Colorado Springs public transportation options grow. Since becoming director, Ritenour has helped create the Front...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: November 3, 2006.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer J.P. Morgan Chase chairman William Harrison has announced that he plans to retire from the nation's third-biggest bank at the end of the year, and he's expected to hand the post to CEO Jamie Dimon. Harrison, 63, will...

El Paso County Department of Health and Environment issues report about Pikes Peak's health status.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine The current health status of Pikes Peak region residents is the focus of a report issued by the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment. "Life, Death and Disease in El Paso County, Colorado: 2006 Report...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: November 3, 2006.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley As winter approaches, homeless families in the Pikes Peak region will have access to six new homes thanks to the generosity of a partnership between HomeAid Colorado, Partners in Housing and Beazer Homes of Colorado....

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: November 3, 2006.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Advertisers now want their online clicks accounted for. In reaction to advertiser questions, companies such as Google, Yahoo and LookSmart are working with industry groups to answer basic questions about how...

Companies become more concerned about the workers, environment and business ethics.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Wells Fargo, Nuveen Investments and Hewlett-Packard all make the list as socially responsible corporations -- meaning that the companies are concerned about workers, the environment and business ethics. But...

Colorado ranks second in the nation for its efforts to restrain abusive lawsuits.
November 3, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Colorado ranks second in the nation for its efforts to restrain abusive lawsuits, and while many say that's a benefit to everyone, advocates say it bodes even better for business. The rankings are part of a report from...

Commentary: Was this the nastiest political season?
November 10, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst On a balmy November day, Colorado voters went to the polls in record numbers, and, no doubt inspired by our crystalline Colorado sky, turned the state blue. Around noon, moseying up Tejon to get a snack at Poor...

Hyper-accurate mapping uses satellites, software.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Mapping technology used by NASA and the Department of Defense is now being used in Colorado Springs and Pueblo to determine watershed health and wildfire risk. Known as automated feature extraction, the technology...

Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce's new executive director not willing to settle for a subtle chamber.
November 10, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce was looking for someone with a fast-paced, big business background. They've found that someone in Bill Roach, the organization's new executive director. Roach is a former chairman of the...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: November 9, 2006.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Colorado's community banks getting more high-tech Community banks cater their lending services to local businesses. They're oftentimes privately owned and don't have the resources that the nation's giant, mega banks...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: November 10, 2006.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine The Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation has broken ground on its Centennial Health facility at 3480 Centennial Blvd. The 11,706 square-foot, single-story medical office building is being constructed by H.W....

National Small Business Assn. seeks nominations.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Nominations sought for Small Business Advocate The National Small Business Association is seeking nominations for its 2007 Small Business Advocate of the Year. Applicants must demonstrate a...

Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation honored in Colrado Springs.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Diane Wengler Three hundred people gathered at The Broadmoor International Center to recognize the accomplishments of Penrose-St. Francis hospital and to honor its supporters and donors. The 2006 Legacy of Caring dinner on Nov. 4...

Commentary: There's a right response to just about everything.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd Because it seems like it's never too early to start thinking about the holidays, an e-mail with the subject line "Avoid Food Fights This Holiday," caught my eye this week. The sender was Don Gabor, a communications...

Gift giving fees are in the cards.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Gift cards are becoming a popular holiday present for hard-to-shop-for friends and relatives, but many givers aren't aware of what they're getting into when they purchase the cards. Some say that the cards are an option...

Mixed-use centers gathering momentum in Colorado Springs.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley A growing number of contractors, architects and business owners are turning time-worn facades and obsolescent structures into attractive mixed-use centers in and around the city's core business district. The result,...

Gov.-elect well aware of his role in Colorado Springs.
November 10, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst Easily defeating Republican Bob Beauprez, former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter became Colorado's next governor on Tuesday. Just before the election, Ritter was in Colorado Springs, where he discussed his...

Colorado Springs Real Esate Briefs: July 28, 2006.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley So far, the greatest interest in the One City Centre sealed-bid sale has come from a handful of local investors, according to Jim Zorman of The London Real Estate Group. The advertised minimum bid is $3.8 million,...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: July 28, 2006.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson New devices are being installed in Safeway stores to make it easier for visually impaired shoppers to purchase items. Shoppers who struggle with reading the touchscreen on point of sale payment machines will now be...

Tourist attractions in Colorado think creatively in off season.
November 10, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson In the off season, business doesn't necessarily come to a standstill for tourist attraction owners. The Springs might be filled during the summer months with visitors from around the world, but with its more than 250...

Colorado Springs child development partnership elects board officers for 2006-07.
November 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Community Partnership for Child Development/Head Start has elected officers for the 2006-07 program year. Andy McCord of Kiowa Engineering Group will serve as chairman. Beth Brooks of Colorado College is...

Colorado BLM oil/gas lease sales net more than $10 million.
November 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Bureau of Land Management Colorado State Office sold 141 parcels of 150 offered during its quarterly oil and gas lease sale this month. Unofficially, the lease sale earned nearly $10.4 million in proceeds, of which...

Girl Scouts -- Wagon Wheel Council seeks nominations.
November 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Girl Scouts -- Wagon Wheel Council is accepting nominations for the annual Women of Distinction Awards, which recognize women in the Pikes Peak region who have made an outstanding commitment or contribution to their...

U.S. Small Business Admin. seeking nominations for small business awards.
November 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff The U.S. Small Business Administration is accepting nominations for its 2007 Colorado Small Business Week Awards. Winners will compete for national honors at ceremonies to be held in Washington, D.C., next spring. Award...

John Laing Homes ranked No.1 by Eliant.
November 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff John Laing Homes has been selected as the top-rated home builder in overall experience by Eliant, a consumer research company that caters to building industry. John Laing divisions placed first in seven of eight...

Univ. of Colorado at Colorado Springs to offer bachelor of innovation degrees.
November 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff The University of Colorado Board of Regents has approved a new family of degrees for students at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Initial offerings will include bachelors' of innovation degrees in business...

Leadership Pikes Peak hosting women's program.
November 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Leadership Pikes Peak is accepting applications for the Spring 2007 Women's Community Leadership Initiative. WCLI is a program that educates and empowers women of diverse backgrounds to develop a deeper awareness of...

Truck routes posted in Black Forest area.
November 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Trucks traveling through northern El Paso County have new signs and routes to follow in the Black Forest area. The posted routes include two north-south roadways, Colorado State Highway 83/Powers Boulevard and Meridian...

Colorado Springs Technology Briefs: November 17, 2006.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine Planned job losses rise, hiring slowdown is next Spending and hiring in the technology sector grew this year, but a third-quarter spike in tech-sector job cuts might indicate that a slowdown is under way. Planned job...

Colorado Springs failing high school to college transition.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Earning a college degree is worth more than ever, but that's still not necessarily good news for Colorado Springs' high school students. The city ranks low on the list for transitioning local students to college, but...

2008 Democratic National Convention impact could trickle-down to Colorado Springs.
November 17, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst After the surprising success of Democratic candidates in the Mountain West, there is renewed speculation that Denver will host the Democratic National Convention on August 25-28, 2008. As nationally syndicated...

Allstate opens four new Springs branches Allstate Insurance Co. has opened four new branches in Colorado Springs.
November 17, 2006... Allstate opens four new Springs branches Allstate Insurance Co. has opened four new branches in Colorado Springs. The T.J. Gries Agency is at 1827 Briargate Blvd.; the Jason Rudquist Agency is at 1602 N. Academy Blvd.; the Elizabeth Hedges...

Commentary: Local authors are examples of what's good about Colorado Springs.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Lon Matejczyk Despite some recent negative publicity and some crazy ballot initiatives that thankfully were rejected by the voters, let's not forget that we live in arguably the best city in the United States. We have two local...

Commentary: Accepting the reality that my bilingual days are over.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd It's been a while since I've gently prodded my cousins in the public relations industry, so I have to figure that they're either taking my advice to heart or they simply have taken me off their mailing lists. That is...

Health care takes leap of faith with Christians-only health plans.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine An alternative to health insurance for Christians might sound like a good idea, but health policy experts caution that the plans are unregulated and offer no guarantees of coverage. Three groups, Medi-Share,...

Office condos coming of age.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Purchasing an office condominium instead of leasing space is a growing trend in commercial real estate, but it remains only a tiny percentage of the overall market. A study conducted last year by Grubb & Ellis and PNC...

Enterprises hold key to the Colorado Spring's businesses.
November 17, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst In common with many cities, Colorado Springs owns a variety of "enterprises" -- entities that occupy a gray area between government and the private sector. Some enterprises provide services that are clearly within...

Commentary: Latest technology not always the best.
November 17, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst Wasn't it Edmund Burke, the great English conservative, who said, "If it is not necessary to change, then it is necessary not to change." I thought about that maxim while casting my ballot on Election Day at West...

Convenience stores 2.0: next step for grab and go.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson They are more than just places to stop and fill up your gas tank or grab a pack of smokes. And because vehicle-ridden travelers are seeking better choices than just a Slurpee or a packaged sandwich, convenience stores...

Colorado Springs businessman more than happy to spend time in the wine cellar.
November 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Wine is Alan Manley's business. A former restaurant owner, he now operates Colorado Cellar Consulting, a business that designs, builds and manages wine cellars for homes, bars and restaurants around the state....

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: November 17, 2006.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer The Sierra Club's mutual fund investment arm has launched an index that will track the 100 largest companies that have implemented environmental preservation measures. The Forward Progressive Large Cap 100 Index...

Colorado Springs Health Care Briefs: November 17, 2006.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine HHS asks health care organizations how IT affects genome testing information The Department of Health and Human Services is asking private- and public-sector health care organizations how information technology can...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: November 17, 2006.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Costco gives green light to University Village site Local companies behind the area's largest development projects are breathing a sigh of relief after voters rejected ballot issues 200 and 201 last week. Downtown's...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: November 17, 2006.
November 17, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Debit cards first choice as way to pay for gifts Once again debit/check cards will be the payment of choice this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation's 2006 Holiday Consumer Intentions and...

Allstate opens four new Colorado Springs branches.
November 17, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Allstate Insurance Co. has opened four new branches in Colorado Springs. The T.J. Gries Agency is at 1827 Briargate Blvd.; the Jason Rudquist Agency is at 1602 N. Academy Blvd.; the Elizabeth Hedges Agency is at 2750 S....

Travel agents adjusting to new role as information source.
November 24, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Video really didn't kill the radio star and online reservations haven't put travel agents out of business -- they've simply adapted from just issuing tickets and planning itineraries to being a one-stop source of...

Interview with president/owner of PLW Inc. in Colorado Springs.
November 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Whether he's flying cross-country in his Cessna Turbo 182, wheeling and dealing for water rights with local developers or planning new communities in eastern El Paso County, Rodney Preisser brings almost 40 years...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: November 24, 2006.
November 24, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer The IHOP Corp., best known for its International House of Pancakes chain of restaurants, has agreed to pay $11 million in taxes and interest to settle a dispute with the Internal Revenue Service concerning its federal...

Colorado Springs Health Care Briefs: November 24, 2006.
November 24, 2006... Byline: Amy Gillentine At its fall meeting, the AQA Alliance adopted 31 quality measures for practitioners in 25 surgical and medical specialties, bringing to 80 the number of AQA-adopted measures being widely incorporated in provider...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: November 24, 2006.
November 24, 2006... Byline: Becky Hurley Joe Grossi, marketing manager for Hammers Construction, said word that east Colorado Springs residential and commercial developers have secured state-certified water rights has been slow to make its way into the local...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: November 24, 2006.
November 24, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson Procrastination makes some historically busy holiday shopping days cash in lower than expected, because many people put off their purchases until just before Christmas. According to a report released by MasterCard...

Technology helping farmers' markets.
November 24, 2006... Technology helping farmers' markets The Colorado Farmers' Market Association has received a $57,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide wireless terminals at farmers' markets for the processing of food stamp transactions....

Annual Gingerbread and Jazz gala raises record $35,000 for the Child Nursery Centers.
November 24, 2006... Byline: Diane Wengler Costumed Gingerbread Men greeted more than 300 guests as they gathered Nov. 11 at the Historic Day Nursery for the annual Gingerbread and Jazz gala, which raised a record $35,000 for the Child Nursery Centers. Guests...

Majority of businesses opt for four-day weekend.
November 24, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd If you're reading this on Monday the 27th instead of Friday the 24th, you're definitely in the majority. A survey of 100 human resource executives conducted the week before Thanksgiving by Challenger, Gray & Christmas...

Technology helping Colorado Springs farmers' markets.
November 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Colorado Farmers' Market Association has received a $57,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide wireless terminals at farmers' markets for the processing of food stamp transactions. In...

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) offering e-mail counseling.
November 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Small business owners and budding entrepreneurs have another option for free and confidential business counseling. The Service Corps of Retired Executives is now offering assistance via e-mail. Access to the...

Colorado's Falcon School District recognized as energy leader.
November 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Falcon School District has been designated an Energy Star Leader by the Environmental Protection Agency. The district has been working to improve energy efficiency since 1997. Improvements have included the...

U.S. Small Business Administration improves federal contract opportunities.
November 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The U.S. Small Business Administration is taking several measures to help small businesses secure more federal government contracts. The centerpiece of the SBA's efforts is a new regulation requiring small...

Shipping rates going up.
November 24, 2006... Byline: Rob Larimer Business and personal shipping will get more expensive in 2007, and that's bad news for some small businesses. The nation's two major shippers, United Parcel Service and FedEx Corp., both publicly traded companies, have...

Holidays can be a jolly time for job seekers.
November 24, 2006... Byline: Joan Johnson As holiday shopping escalates, many retailers look for extra hands. And for job hunters, the season often is a great time to get a foot in the door or to start networking. There is definitely a myth that companies put...

Commentary: Unlike gov't, business not an easy target.
November 24, 2006... Byline: John Hazlehurst More than 20 years ago, Mayor Bob Isaac persuaded City Council to back a then-novel compensation plan for city employees called "comparable worth." Responding to complaints from female clerical/administrative...

Girl Scouts - Wagon Wheel Council seeks nominations.
November 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Girl Scouts - Wagon Wheel Council is accepting nominations for its annual Women of Distinction Awards, which recognize women in the Pikes Peak region who have made an outstanding commitment or contribution to...

Leadership Pikes Peak hosting women's program.
November 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Leadership Pikes Peak is accepting applications for the Spring 2007 Women's Community Leadership Initiative. WCLI is a program that educates and empowers women of diverse backgrounds to develop a deeper awareness...

Applicants sought for Colorado Web Awards.
November 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report The Colorado Association of Internet Professionals is accepting applications for the 2006 Colorado Web Awards. The competition is open to all organizations and individuals involved in designing, building,...

List your 2007 golf tournaments now.
November 24, 2006... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report It's not too early to post the date for your 2007 golf tournament on SeniorFriendlyGolf.com. Only the tournament name, date, location and point of contact with phone number and e-mail is required. Listings may be...

Colorado Springs Non-profit Briefs: November 24, 2006.
November 24, 2006... Byline: Mike Boyd Filling up the big red kettles The Salvation Army has set a goal of raising $500,000 during this year's Kettle Appeal in Colorado Springs. And while the first few days of collections saw totals fall short of the same...

Two Colorado Springs nonprofit organizations and doctor win 18th Annual Awards for Excellence.
November 30, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Two Colorado Springs nonprofit organizations and Dr. Ted Lewis were named winners Wednesday at the 18th Annual Awards for Excellence at the Broadmoor Hotel International Center. More than...

Colorado Springs casino revenues down from last month, but up from last year.
November 30, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Revenue at Colorado casinos in October fell from the previous month, but was up slightly compared to the same time a year ago. Gaming establishments statewide recorded $64.7 million in...

Public Relations Advertising Co. receives Silver Spike Award and Award of Excellence.
November 30, 2006... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal PRACO receives PRSA awards PRACO Public Relations Advertising Co. has received a Silver Spike Award and Award of Excellence from the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America...