Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) articles from November 2007

Colorado Springs Business Journal (CO) archives from November 2007

Cherokee Metropolitan District working to keep water on tap.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Few people in El Paso County have had to weather the shower of public scrutiny that has rained down upon the Cherokee Metropolitan District since 2002. The news might be improving though, as water conservation...

The digital TV transition, bye-bye analog.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Perhaps your dream for a flat screen digital television is about to come true. The giant, box TV you inherited from your grandmother that you thought would never die is now on the endangered-species list and soon will...

Coloradoans face difficult health care decisions.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Choosing among options for health insurance is often an emotional -- rather than practical -- decision. People look at plans that allow them to use the doctor they've gone to for years, the hospital nearest their...

A homeowner's perspective of Cherokee's challenges.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Ultimately it is the property owners in communities like Cimarron Hills, Claremont Ranch, the Ranch at Whispering Springs, Pronghorn Meadows and others who will decide the Cherokee Metropolitan District's future. Mary...

Q&A with founder of Colorado Springs-based Delta Solutions, Kelly L. Roth.(Company overview)
November 2, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Kelly L. Roth founded Delta Solutions & Strategies LLC in 2000 and the company has grown to more than 60 employees. Delta Solutions is a technical and management consulting company providing...

Commentary: So much for the myth about retirement -- go geezers!
November 2, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Riding up the Santa Fe Trail to the north boundary of the Air Force Academy on a recent sunny weekday afternoon, I expected to have the trail to myself. It was late October in the middle of the workday, so most of...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: November 2, 2007.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Tonn The nation's banking associations have said that Congress should place burdens on non-bank mortgage lenders to prevent another subprime lending crisis -- rather than impose greater restrictions on banks. The American...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: November 2, 2007.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine As Colorado's Commission on Health Care Reform continues to travel throughout the state discussing its proposals and preparing for a January deadline to report to the legislature, research shows that similar efforts...

Coorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: November 2, 2007.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley The 50,000-square-foot Toko America industrial building at 4755 Forge Road has been purchased by a local investor group, 4755 Forge Road LLC, for $2.4 million. Formally a single-tenant facility, the property will be...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: November 2, 2007.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson If you have a Verizon Wireless cell phone with Mobile Web 2.0, you now have added shopping capabilities. Boulder-based mShopper, a mobile shopping service, has teamed with Verizon Wireless to allow customers to compare...

Commentary: Blame for budget crisis clear: Gallagher and TABOR.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff When County Commissioner Sallie Clark, referring to the county's latest budget woes, said, "It's nobody's fault. It is what it is," she was dancing around the facts. The county's budget...

Colorado's state engineer sees Cherokee Metropolitan District as leader in water solutions.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Dick Wolfe, acting state engineer, has been involved with most of Cherokee Metropolitan District's water sufficiency applications. He views the district's challenges as based mostly on past management and legal counsel...

Cherokee not the only place facing serious water issues.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley During a recent Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs meeting about the Cherokee Metropolitan District, Colorado National Bank Vice President Chris Bryan took notes as General Manager Kip Petersen...

Colorado Business Committee for the Arts seeking business for the arts nominees.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Colorado Business Committee for the Arts is seeking nominees for its 21st Annual business for the Arts Awards. Winners will be selected in the following categories: Philanthropy -- honors...

U.S. Bank Corporate Trust ranked No. 1.
November 2, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff U.S. Bank Corporate Trust Services has been ranked the top municipal trustee in the United States for the first nine months of 2007, according to Thomson Financial. The ranking, which was...

Soaring home equity loans threaten U.S., local economy.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Americans are borrowing against the equity in their homes at a rate that threatens the economy. During the first quarter of 1991, only 3.9 percent of all home mortgages were used to take equity out of the home. That...

Commentary: City makes right choice in Culbreth-Graft as manager.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff We were glad to learn that City Council chose Penny Culbreth-Graft as our new city manager, replacing the recently retired Lorne Kramer. We particularly congratulate council on breaking the...

Commentary: It's about time that we eliminate 'the usual suspects'.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Mike Boyd On my first day of college, my sociology professor began class with the following statement: "Gentlemen, the sexual revolution is over -- you missed it." Kind of a harsh way for a bunch of 18-year-olds to begin their...

Commentary: Glendale builds a state-of-the-art rugby stadium.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Lon Matejczyk Rugby can build community and drive economic development. With all the sports in the news these days, one sport that is really coming of age is rugby. Gov. Bill Ritter deserves kudos from this old recovering rugby...

Is pure enriched oxygen the next bottled water?
November 9, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Competition is soaring in the vanity oxygen industry, as more companies offer portable oxygen devices and claim benefits ranging from altitude acclimation to stress reduction to increased alertness. Oxygen bars, which...

USA Cycling ready to pedal away from Colorado Springs.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley USA Cycling, following the lead of the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Basketball, has made it known that it would be receptive to an offer to leave Colorado Springs. And while the organization won't be leaving the...

Disability insurance: The coverage that most folks never think about.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Most Americans do not have disability insurance -- undeterred by data that proves otherwise, believing that a disabling illness or injury will not happen to them. Sixty-three percent of Americans do not have short-term...

Commentary: In case you haven't done it lately, thank God for El Pomar.
November 9, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Want some interesting reading? Take a look at the El Pomar Foundation's most recent annual report, which details every grant that the foundation made during 2006. El Pomar has been such a ubiquitous and important...

National Society of Colonial Dames in Colorado close to sealing plan to share McAllister House.
November 9, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst The El Pomar Foundation is negotiating to acquire the historic McAllister House from the National Society of Colonial Dames in Colorado. Built during 1873 at 423 N. Cascade Ave. by Maj. Henry McAllister, the first...

Q&A with Luke St. Onge, CEO of USA National Karate-Do Federation.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Luke St. Onge has been interim executive director and chief executive officer of the USA National Karate-Do Federation since February, secretary general of the International Racquetball...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: November 9, 2007.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Bankers associations in Colorado are eager to support legislation that encourages financial literacy and combats Colorado's foreclosure crisis. Don Childears, president and chief executive officer of Colorado Bankers...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: November 9, 2007.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Mental health concerns can affect businesses and their profits because of lost productivity and increased absenteeism. Mental Health America of the Pikes Peak Region is hosting a breakfast and workshop for business...

Colorado Business Committee for the Arts seeking business for the arts nominees.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Colorado Business Committee for the Arts is seeking nominees for its 21st Annual Business for the Arts Awards. Winners will be selected in the following categories: Philanthropy -- honors...

Colorado Staffing Association receives national merit award.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff The Colorado Staffing Association has received a Chapter Superior Merit award from the American Staffing Association. The designation recognizes state associations for their support of the...

Partners in Philanthropy selects award winners.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Partners in Philanthropy has recognized the following organizations and individuals for their volunteer and financial support of nonprofit organizations in Colorado Springs: Phil Kendall --...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: November 9, 2007.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Centre City Plaza at 455 E. Pikes Peak Ave. has been purchased by Bethesda Real Estate for $4.35 million. The sale, which closed Oct. 31, represents a new area of town for the nonprofit's investment focus. Bethesda has...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: November 9, 2007.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Colorado may soon see a new face in the smoothie market, with more than just the popular flavored ice drinks. Mark Thompson, president of Monument-based Pinnacle Business Authority, has purchased the rights to develop...

Cheyenne Mountain Resort earns 4 Diamonds.
November 9, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Cheyenne Mountain Resort has been awarded Four Diamonds for 2008 from AAA. This is the first time the resort has achieved this status. Improvements and additions to the resort's facilities,...

Business of education: A tale of two Colorado elementary schools.
November 16, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Most businesses are judged by objective outcomes. Does the service or product have a market? If so, are those services/products efficiently delivered, allowing the business to make a profit and continue as a going...

Colorado not facing State Children's Health Insurance Program crisis - yet.
November 16, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine While children in some states will immediately have no insurance coverage if President George W. Bush and Congress can't reach an agreement about the State Children's Health Insurance Program, Colorado's children...

Commentary: It's a halcyon time for the political consulting industry.
November 16, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst The economy may be drifting into recession, but at least one profession is experiencing an unparalleled boom: political consulting! If you have even the slightest expertise in politics, or economics, or polling, or...

Despite bountiful supply, not many flu shot takers in Colorado.
November 16, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine About 111 million workdays are lost each year because of the flu -- costing American businesses more than $7 billion in sick days and lost productivity. And this year, Colorado's mild fall weather has had an...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: November 16, 2007.
November 16, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Tonn The Vectra Bank Colorado Small Business Index registered 95 during October, up from a revised 93 in September, thanks to unanticipated national economic strength, according to Vectra Bank's corporate economist, Jeff...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: November 16, 2007.
November 16, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Employer-based health insurance coverage has declined for the sixth year in a row. The Economic Policy Institute reports that about 59 percent of Americans were covered by employer-based insurance last year, nearly...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: November 16, 2007.
November 16, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley JPM Prototype and Manufacturing is more than doubling the size of its operation. President David Jeffrey said the move from the firm's headquarters on Elkton Road to a 17,000-square-foot industrial building at 4745...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: November 16, 2007.
November 16, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Although malls will continue to be a popular destination for stores, it appears that more retailers are finding urban storefronts appealing. According to findings from the 2007 National Retail Federation Retail Real...

Flu vaccinations used to test emergency preparedness in El Paso County.
November 16, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment has not noticed a reduction in patients, but it only provides the flu vaccine to children who come in for regularly scheduled vaccinations. However, on Nov. 17,...

Commentary: We'll surely miss them when they are gone.
November 16, 2007... Byline: Colorado Springs Business Journal Staff Are you going away with no word of farewell Will there be not a trace for me to find Well I could have loved you better I didn't mean to be unkind Oh you must know it was the last thing on my...

Gold Camp Elementary facing challenge of maintaining gold standard.
November 16, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Gold Camp Elementary is the newest elementary school in District 12. Thanks to a voter-approved bond issue, which authorized the school's construction, Gold Camp opened its doors during 1997. The school campus...

Buena Vista Elementary battling declining enrollment, aging facilities.
November 16, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Buena Vista Elementary opened its doors during the fall of 1911, and The Gazette described the building in glowing terms: "The latest and most up-to-date addition to the already large school system of Colorado...

Doing business in China: Growing green by cultivating red.
November 23, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine The keys to operating a successful joint venture in China are knowledge and understanding, but neither is easy and neither is cheap -- and acquiring both can be frustrating, especially when the odds are likely that...

Fewer fliers in Colorado Springs, but is there a silver lining?
November 23, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Passenger numbers are increasing at airports nationwide and in Denver, but the same can't be said for Colorado Springs. Enplanement trends at Colorado Springs Airport for 2007 are "disappointing," according to the...

Teleconferencing growing, evolving.
November 23, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Despite frustrations such as long PIN numbers, waiting for participants to connect and differing time zones, teleconferencing continues to experience spectacular growth. "In the last four to five years the audio and...

Commentary: We've got a new verb, and a fine group of dames to be thankful for.
November 23, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Get ready for one of the more delicious moments in American politics: the creation of an elegant, double-barreled neologism, in this case a new verb which describes actions with which we are all familiar, and for...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: November 23, 2007.
November 23, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Tonn The Mission Trace shopping center might soon receive an additional face lift. Key Community Development New Markets LLC, a subsidiary of KeyCorp, was one of 61 recipients to be granted a $100 million allocation of new...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: November 23, 2007.
November 23, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine The Colorado Trust has pledged $1 million to the state's secondary schools to boost school-based health centers. The grant will be awarded to communities through the Colorado Department of Public Health and...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: November 23, 2007.
November 23, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Academy Point Service Center, a two-building, 77,000-square-foot office/flex property at 1030 and 1050 S. Academy Blvd., has been purchased by SVN Academy Point LLC for $5 million. The buildings are 84 percent leased...

Colorado Springs Retail Briefs: November 23, 2007.
November 23, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Retailers are bracing for higher returns this holiday season, some of which will be fraudulent. According to the National Retail Federation's second annual Return Fraud Survey, loss prevention executives anticipate...

Commentary: Armed with the holiday jewelry forecast, but not ready for battle.
November 23, 2007... Byline: Mike Boyd Now that the Thanksgiving holiday, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are upon us, it's probably not too early to start thinking about holiday gift giving. Sitting atop the stack of possible column ideas on my desk is the 2007...

Simple handshake foundation for Colorado Springs based co.'s Chinese partnership.
November 23, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Kevin Johnson, co-owner of Elope Inc. in Colorado Springs, has a partnership with a Chinese factory that makes the company's costume hats, sunglasses and other accessories. When Johnson initially considered China as...

Colorado-based Hollar Seeds' Chinese partnership fails, but company bullish on foreign markets.
November 23, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Larry Hollar, president of Hollar Seeds, recently ended a seven-year joint venture with a Chinese partner. Hollar said a lack of effective, timely communication led him to sell his share of the Chinese farm to his...

Colorado Springs Financial Briefs: November 30, 2007.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Compass index portends slowing economic growth The Compass Bank Colorado Business Leaders Confidence Index dipped from 55.6 to 47.9 for the fourth quarter of 2007. National economic performance, along with pessimism...

Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: November 30, 2007.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Amy Gillentine Healthy Colorado launches insurance education drive The Partnership for a Healthy Colorado has launched a Web site, www.healthypartnership.org, and a radio advertising campaign to highlight health care reform and...

Colorado Springs Real Estate Briefs: November 30, 2007.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Engineers, R&D operation getting new office space The Kidde Corp., like other national manufacturers that have moved production to Mexico or Asia, has consolidated its engineering and research and development operation...

The most popular, and most forgotten, holiday gift.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Gifts cards still rank as the most popular holiday gift, yet many are forgotten after the holiday season. And along with return fraud, retailers must deal with unused gift cards after the New Year. Consumer Reports...

Collaboration newest trend in Colorado Springs when severing relationships.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Collaborative divorce proceedings are making for some interesting bedfellows -- specially trained financial planners and attorneys who work with couples to divide property and resolve parenting, retirement and other...

Changes to IRS Form 990 will affect all nonprofits.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Tonn Because of proposed changes to the Internal Revenue Service's Form 990, nonprofit organizations across the nation are scrambling to update their reporting and disclosure methods, and some are wondering whether they'll...

Two-way Tejon Street windfall: A big empty promise by Colorado Springs city planners?
November 30, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst Far from pumping an additional $100,000 a day into the local economy, the city's decision to convert Tejon Street to two-way traffic could actually cause a decrease in revenue for downtown merchants. "Planners argue...

Base housing privatization creates mountain of opportunity for Pikes Peak region.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley The Pikes Peak region stands to benefit from more than just getting $254 million in new military housing construction and nearly $350 million in ongoing investment at Peterson Air Force Base and Schriever Air Force...

Commentary: Digital archives offer sterile view of the printed past.
November 30, 2007... Byline: John Hazlehurst "Might as well face it -- I'm addicted to... print!" It's a generational thing, I suspect. Those of us who came of age before 1980 are used to finding what we want in print. Whether we want to be informed,...

Goodwill Industries of Colo. Springs working to make job searches faster, easier.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Joan Johnson Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs has reinvented the job-board wheel, hoping to make employment searches quicker for those transitioning from welfare to work -- even if they have limited computer skills. "We...

Long-time Colorado Springs resident Zelna Joseph committed to building healthy communities.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Report Zelna Joseph has worked to prevent teen prostitution in the nation's capital, started an AIDS prevention outreach program in Russia and now is leading the effort to provide affordable health care to low-income...

Commentary: Learning to accept tattoos and piercings in the workplace.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Mike Boyd Generally when I get an e-mail from my buddy John A. Challenger at Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., I find myself unconsciously nodding in agreement with his insight and advice about whatever the topic happens to be....

Commentary: Young professional whiners.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Lon Matejczyk In Tuesday's CSBJ Daily e-mail, we reported about a survey released by the Economic Development Corp. done in conjunction with the Colorado Springs Young Professionals organization. It would appear that there is a...

Not everyone in Colorado Springs sold on military contracts.
November 30, 2007... Byline: Becky Hurley Not all companies are chomping at the bit to enter the military contracting or "MilCon" maze. Given the long hours of filling out forms, interpreting government requirements and compiling pounds of paperwork necessary...

Salvation Army receives grant for shelter The Salvation Army has received $100,000 from the Daniels Fund to support the R.J. Montgomery New Hope Center.
November 30, 2007... Salvation Army receives grant for shelter The Salvation Army has received $100,000 from the Daniels Fund to support the R.J. Montgomery New Hope Center. The center is the city's only 24/7 emergency shelter and operates solely on donations from...

Commentary: Two-way Tejon won't magically solve downtown problems.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Every few years, the idea of returning Tejon Street to its original two-way configuration returns to public debate. In the past, the debate has been short-lived and the outcome predictable, as those most affected by any...

SBA extends deadline for best entrepreneurs in Colorado.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Small Business Administration is looking for the best of the best of small business in Colorado for its 2008 Small Business Week Awards. The deadline for nominations has been extended through Dec. 14. There are 10...

Colorado Spring's fleet division among top 10 in nation.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Colorado Springs' fleet division has been ranked 10th Best Fleet in North America by Government Fleet Magazine. The ranking was attributed to the city's environmentally friendly and cost-effective fuel program. During...

Colorado-based Arc Thrift Stores announce award winner.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Arc Thrift Stores has announced the winner of its 2007 awards. Receiving the Lifetime Achievement award was Jim Colvin, who is only the third lifetime achievement award winner in the nearly 40 year history of Arc Thrift....

Pikes Peak Workforce Center chosen to help military spouses.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Pikes Peak Workforce Center has been chosen to participate in the Career Advancement Accounts program for military spouses. Participants receive career counseling, interest and aptitude testing, skills assessments,...

City of Colorado Springs seeking to fill board, commission openings.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff The City of Colorado Springs has two openings for at-large members on the Liquor and Beer Licensing Board and the City Investment Advisory Committee. Volunteers must be at least 18, live in Colorado Springs and have an...

Colorado Tech receives Military Affairs award.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff Colorado Technical University has received the 2007 Military Affairs Award of Excellence from The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. CTU's contributions to the military included 35 personal computers to the...

Colorado Dept. of Transportation has funding available for transit systems.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Colorado Department of Transportation is accepting applications for Federal Transit Administration Section 5304 money, which is dedicated to planning, research, special studies, training and similar activities...

AMEC acquires Boulder-based water resources specialty firm.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff AMEC, an international engineering and project management company with offices in Colorado Springs and Lakewood, has acquired Hydrosphere Resource Consultants Inc. Hydrosphere, founded in 1983, is a 27-person water...

Rocky Mountain Unit of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic seeking volunteers.
November 30, 2007... Byline: CSBJ Staff The Rocky Mountain Unit of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic is recruiting volunteers for its Colorado Springs satellite studio, located at the East Library. The organization's mission is to record textbooks for...