Csu broadsheet 120913

December 2013

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U e t a t S o d a r o l o C @

December 2013, Volume 1, Issue 3

Special Advertising Section created by Coloradoan Media Group Custom Publishing

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS IN THE BUSINESS OF STUDENT SUCCESS

Photo courtesy Tim O’Hara Photography

BY JULIE ESTLICK

A Colorado State University student gets up early to participate in a marketing class.

How early? It’s 2 a.m. in Hong Kong, where the student lives; his face and voice are beamed into the College of Business classroom some 7,000 miles away.

Connecting business globally in a personal way is one of the key lessons taught in Rockwell Hall West. The $17.5 million high-tech addition to historic Rockwell Hall on Laurel Street, completed in 2010 with major financial support from the students themselves, ushered in a new era for a school enjoying a national reputation for excellent faculty, outstanding students, and increasingly engaged alumni.

Every classroom in “New Rock” is wired into a central control room, a technological gem that can turn the grand 112-seat auditorium into an audience of 1,000 for speakers like Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs.

Team work spaces and an expanded Center for Career Management provide a home

base for more than 2,300 undergraduate students, several graduate programs, and classes for another 2,000 students pursuing a minor in business.

When recently retired Associate Dean John Olienyk arrived at CSU in the early 1980s to teach finance, business classes were spread across the 500-acre main campus. “The addition of Rockwell West allowed the students and faculty in the College of Business to be more accessible to each other and build a greater sense of community and shared purpose,” he said.

Emphasis on ethics Since the school’s inception in 1966, faculty have taught analysis of real-world problems with a focus on the common good. The College almost immediately developed a business ethics class jointly with the philosophy department, noted Don Dobler, the school’s first dean. “We were one of the first business schools in the country to emphasize ethical conduct

and I’m glad to see we still do,” said Dobler, who retired in 1986.

The MBA program was an early leader in distance learning, growing to serve 1,200 students worldwide in the Online Professional MBA Program. Netbook computers loaded with material and live Internet streaming have replaced taped lectures; DVDs are edited and sent within hours of class.

The College also offers the popular Executive MBA in Denver and the Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise MBA, based on the belief that entrepreneurial and innovative enterprises can be a powerful force to provide solutions to global challenges. The GSSE program focuses on the triple bottom line of economic, social and environmental performance.

Growing reputation Well-regarded faculty and high student achievement have fueled tremendous growth in the College’s reputation in the past 15 years. Professors serve on the editorial boards

of major publications, and CSU students have the highest pass-rate in the state for the Certified Public Accountant Exam, scoring well above the national average.

CSU placed just below the private University of Denver as the top business school in the state and ranks 40th nationally among public universities in the latest BusinessWeek rankings.

Top businesses have taken note. First National Bank, Hitachi and Google were among 500 companies recruiting on campus last year. A whopping 89 percent of the 2013 graduating class were offered jobs at an average starting salary of $44,508, according to Career Management Center Director Susan Schell.

“There is a collective commitment to progress amongst the faculty and staff of the CSU College of Business,” said Dean Ajay Menon. “We have capable people putting their talents to work to make a difference in the lives of others, particularly those less privileged.”

‘Learning doesn’t go in just one direction’

BY TOSHA JUPITER

Charisse Bowen spends her days watching ideas come to life.

As the managing director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship at Colorado State University’s College of Business, Bowen’s enthusiasm helps fuel Institute programming as she strives to inspire students, entrepreneurs, and community members to channel their own passions into life and work. Through the Institute, Bowen reaches across the University and outward across the nation and world as an ambassador for entrepreneurship and to help anyone with a good business idea find the tools and support to succeed.

“My role gives me a unique vantage point” from which to watch progress, Bowen said. “I work among the dreamers where ideas are raw and the energy is robust. I watch business ventures emerge and grow at CSU and then go on to thrive. The Fort

Collins community is an amazing support system for my work and the startups that the College of Business champions.”

As an incubator for new student businesses, the Institute for Entrepreneurship is in constant conversation with thinkers and doers beyond campus borders. Yet, the Institute is just one example of the efforts to connect the intellectual capital of the College with people and companies searching for fresh business ideas and solutions.

The College of Business currently houses eight Centers and Institutes – the Centers of Excellence. While each has a specialized mission, all build bridges from the world of academia to the community through accessible programming and engagement.

“By exploring the many resources offered through University channels, people are able to enhance their own lives while adding value to their communities

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE Beverage Business Institute Delivers management education and research with a focus on beverage operations, wholesaling, and distribution Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Enterprise Creates a connection between science and innovation in the marketplace at an operational level Center for Marketing and Social Issues Engages in groundbreaking research that addresses social issues through marketing principles and techniques Center for Professional Development and Business Research Provides professional expertise in research, consulting, training, and development to private and public sector organizations

Everitt Real Estate Center Produces and disseminates knowledge that addresses current and future real estate-related needs of Northern Colorado and the Front Range Institute for Entrepreneurship Focuses on training entrepreneurs to positively impact the world Supply Chain Management Forum Provides partners with the opportunity to interact with CSU supply chain faculty, outstanding supply chain students, and other company partners Tribal Technical Assistance Program Committed to assisting American Indian Tribal Governments by increasing their technical capabilities and expanding their workforces

Learning continued on page 3.

STUDY FINDS STATE CONTINUES TO FACE LONG-TERM BUDGET CHALLENGES

Learn Global.

Stay Local.

The Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University unveiled a comprehensive study looking at the long-term fiscal health of state government. The 2013 Colorado Sustainability Study examines the factors shaping the state’s general fund for the decades ahead. It also builds and expands upon the widely cited and award-winning study completed by the authors in 2011. For more information: coloradofutures. colostate.edu

a special visit day for Fort Collins area students

Saturday, December 14 | 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

University Welcome Center, Ammons Hall (no parking permit required)

CSU MAKES GI JOBS “MILITARY FRIENDLY” SCHOOLS LIST

A Colorado State University education can take you anywhere you want to go.

Join other local students and families to explore the internationally-recognized research university in your own backyard.

• Hear from Fort Collins natives and out-of-state students about why CSU was the right choice for them • Tour new and innovative campus facilities including academic buildings, residence halls and the Student Recreation Center • Enjoy a free lunch at the newly renovated Durrell Dining Center • Cheer on the Rams with discounted tickets to Saturday’s women’s basketball game

For the fifth year in a row, Colorado State University has been named a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs magazine, joining the top 15 percent of all colleges, universities, and trade schools. The list recognizes higher-education institutions that embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students, and ensure their success on campus.

RSVP and find more information at admissions.colostate.edu/stay-local.

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December 2013

Ethics, values showcased at student-run Business Day noted ties directly to the College’s core values.

“I want this to be a day where we highlight the positive impact business has on a local and national level, and create opportunities for the CSU community to learn more about business,” Fisher said.

Evolved over 35 years Business Day has evolved from a week-long event in 1979 featuring speakers sponsored by business groups and clubs.

Since then, it’s become a completely student-run all-day event meant for the entire campus and community, with attendance of more than 2,000 in 2013. While still businessfocused, featured speakers now have a more general appeal with the goal of attracting students of all majors.

“This event is for the students, by the students,” DSLC president Abigail Holmberg said. Fort Collins area residents are also welcome at the presentations.

As the event has grown, so has the caliber of speakers.

Steve Forbes, chairman of Forbes Media; former President Ronald Reagan; and Tim Leiweke, president of the Denver Nuggets, have all traveled to the CSU campus to speak.

“The speakers really are here to help students and answer their questions,” added DSLC member Hayley Hitchcock.

Ali Fisher and Abigail Holmberg are planning 2014’s Business Day with the theme of ‘Ethics and Values.’

BY NATALIE HANSEN

Ali Fisher recalls the impact one of last year’s Business Day speakers, six-time Everest summiteer Luis Benitez, had on her.

“His perseverance and courage was incredibly empowering; through his story, I have been inspired to give back and to make a difference,” she said.

Fisher is chairwoman for the 2014 Business Day and a member of the Colorado State University College of Business Dean’s Student Leadership Council. The theme for the April 10 event is “Ethics and Values,” which Fisher

New ideas for the future One major change the DSLC may incorporate this year is a ticket reservation system that would allow attendees to reserve their spot in a presentation up to a month prior to Business Day. Fisher said that the system will alleviate the need to arrive extremely early to get a seat in a general admission presentation.

With sponsorship from student government, they will also be bringing back the printed event program that was discontinued in 2007 when the Business College Council became the DSLC. Lessons from Business Day’s past have helped Fisher and current DSLC members plan for the 2014 event, finding promise for the future. Holmberg and Hitchcock agree that they would like to see Business Day continue to grow and potentially become more interactive for attendees.

“We want this to be something people look forward to,” Fisher said. “Every attendee can take away something valuable.”

To find out more about Business Day 2014 and how community members can participate, contact Fisher at alison.l.fisher10@ business.colostate.edu.

www.biz.colostate.edu/pdbr CPDBR@business.colostate.edu

Spring and Summer Certificate Programs

Chris Johnston

Ask a student: Triple major Johnston set to graduate this month

BY NATALIE HANSEN

With a triple major in corporate finance, real estate, and economics under his belt, Chris Johnston, a Wellington, Colo., native, is set to graduate with distinction this December from Colorado State University’s College of Business. Johnston works as a marketing intern for the Denver Broncos and served on the Dean’s Student Leadership Council and the University Fee Advisory Board.

Here, the successful undergrad reflects on his time at CSU and what the future holds.

Q: What made you choose CSU for your undergraduate studies?

A: My dad was a major influence. He is a two-time CSU alum with one degree in psychology and one in animal science. He had good things to say about his experiences here. The College of Business was a standout among schools in the area. I enjoy the school’s message — “Make a Difference” — as many people see business students as money-hungry and greedy capitalists. I agree with the College’s philosophy — that organizations and business professionals can bring about positive changes in the community and environment around them.

Q: How did you end up with a triple major?

A: Before starting at CSU, I knew I wanted to start my own business someday. It seemed the financial side of owning your own company would be the hardest to teach yourself, so I chose to pursue corporate finance. Real estate coincided nicely, but it was actually something I fought at first; my family is in real estate and I wanted to do something different. However, I now see the value of those types of investments. Economics was originally my minor, but by the 2013 spring semester I was only a few classes away from completing the major requirements, so I came back for an extra semester to finish.

Q: What professors and classes have had an impact on you during your time at CSU?

A: I have to highlight the real estate program, especially professors Eric Holsapple and Sriram Villupuram. The real estate program is really going some exciting places, and I’m glad I got to be a part of what they are doing.

Professor Chris Stein and his intro to finance class are what really spurred my interest in finance. As a DSLC member, our advisor Bill Shuster has made a major impact on me.

Q: What are your aspirations upon graduation?

A: My dream job would be a full time position with the Broncos, maybe writing contracts for them. Otherwise, I’d still like to open my own business someday. I may take a semester to study for the LSAT and GRE as well.

Choosing the College of Business at CSU was the best decision I could have made. My base here has provided me opportunities to spread my wings in Colorado or anywhere else.

Vice President of External Relations Tom Milligan Content Editor Kathy Phifer Division of External Relations Copy Editor Kate Jeracki

Contributing Writers/ College of Business Annie Burnham, Wade Corliss, Julie Estlick, Natalie Hansen, Tosha Jupiter, Bob Taber

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December 2013

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Ask an advisor: How to help a student choose a school or college Mike Jaramillo is Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Colorado State University College of Business. His office is responsible for both recruitment and retention of students in the College, which has 2,300 majors in six concentrations and 2,000 students from the other seven colleges on campus who are taking a business minor.

He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s from CSU, and has been with the University for 17 years. Jaramillo answers some of the most important questions for students and parents to consider when choosing a college or university.

Q: How important are grades and test scores in college admission decisions?

A: Minimum grade point averages and ACT or SAT scores are always required, but many other factors are also important. CSU, like many institutions of higher learning today, uses a holistic approach to determining if a student is qualified for admission.

We consider student leadership and Mike Jaramillo teamwork experiences in student council, clubs, band, athletics and other activities; extracurricular involvement; volunteerism; work experience; cultural competency skills; AP, IB and Honors level and college level coursework as part of the total student profile.

Q: Are on-campus visits really necessary?

A: Qualifying for admission is only half the equation.

You are potentially choosing an institution that will be a part of you and your family for the rest of your life.

Students should most definitely visit the campus they are considering, to understand the culture, traditions, and values of the school and to see how students, faculty and staff interact with each other.

Q: What should I ask when I come to campus?

A: Think of yourself as becoming an informed consumer. Schedule meetings with departmental as well as admission representatives to learn the various academic programs available. Ask questions about tutoring and mentoring programs, academic and career advising and support, retention and four-year graduation rates, financial aid and scholarships, student employment and extracurricular opportunities, internship and career placement rates. Never be afraid to ask a question.

Q: What is the best way for parents to help students choose a school?

Parents and family should guide the student through the selection process and help determine what questions are important, but the student must be an active participant. Students should be excited and energized about college as a whole, and if they are not engaged in the selection process, they are more likely to not have the commitment needed to be a successful college student.

The path to education doesn’t look the same for every student, either. I was the first person in my family to go to college, and my parents knew I should be there.

But if they had forced me to go right out of high school, I know I would have dropped out. Instead I went to work, and then I knew later I was ready to get serious about my education.

Learning continued from page 1.

and making a difference on a much grander scale,” said Ronald C. Hall, director for the Tribal Technical Assistance Program — a Center of Excellence at the College of Business for 20 years. “Learning doesn’t go in one direction. We learn just as much from community members as they ever learn from us.”

Peter Reeburgh, a 1996 CSU graduate and the owner and CEO of SummitCove.com — a vacation rental management company in Keystone Ski Resort — recently completed the Certificate in the Art of Services Marketing program through a College of Business Center of Excellence, the Center for Professional Development and Business Research.

Reeburgh’s undergraduate degree is in electrical engineering. As his property management company grew, to what is now 305 vacation properties under management, he realized the need to fine-tune his applied business skills — especially in the area of marketing.

“The Art of Services Marketing program is great for a startup or a company that has hit a plateau,” Reeburgh said. “Immediately, I was able to implement what I’d learned about guest experience and brand consistency.

The program encouraged me to go through our guest experience step-by-step to figure out how to make every little detail better.”

Reeburgh knows first-hand that applying lessons learned through professional development courses and continued education can make a great difference in individual business settings, but he also understands the implications on a larger scale.

“Our economic tax base is built largely on small businesses, so continued education is going to have a direct impact on growing the economy,” said Reeburgh. “It’s just great general information for any business owner, if they expect to be successful, to get further education in any sort of business class – marketing knowledge is going to improve their top line immediately.”

Learn about upcoming professional development opportunities and find out more about the College of Business Centers of Excellence at biz.colostate.edu/centers/Pages/default.aspx.

Business major Alexa Orr goes for her goals – and achieves them

BY NATALIE HANSEN

Alexa Orr has a simple strategy for reaching her goals – she decides what she wants, and she goes after it.

“I’m a planner and goal setter,” Orr said. “I might not reach every goal, but disappointment just makes me want to try again and again.”

Orr, a junior Business Administration major with a Media Studies minor, has already used her time at Colorado State University to surpass some of her goals: completing several internships in the entertainment arena, and publishing work in USA Today College.

A Breckenridge, Colo., native and transfer student from the University of Hawaii–Manoa, Orr doesn’t have a job.

With two internships, a position as brotherhood chair for business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, and a full course load, she’s too busy.

Intern Queen In addition to interning as a junior publicist at Yellowbright, a music-focused marketing firm in Fort Collins, Orr was recently picked to be a campus ambassador for Intern Queen, a website with information on internships. Her duties include writing articles and posting reviews of sample products to social media. Intern Queen also provides opportunities to write for USA Today College, an online section of the national newspaper. Orr pitched five ideas for articles to USA Today shortly after starting with Intern Queen.

The idea that was chosen was a collection of tips for surviving an entertainment internship – an area where Orr has substantial experience. Her work was eventually read by a national audience.

This summer, Orr completed a public relations and publicity internship with STARZ, a global media and entertainment company headquartered in Denver.

“I made a list of 40 companies I’d want to work for, and then narrowed that down to 15 to 20 in Colorado,” Orr said.

STARZ was on that list. She beat more than 80 other applicants for the position, although the majority of them were public relations majors.

Orr worked with the STARZ team in Denver as well in Beverly Hills and New York City on planning the Television Critic Awards and premiere parties for new shows.

“I learned something new every single day of that internship,” she said.

Career in entertainment Orr said her College of Business education and connections provided her with the means to chase her dreams of a career in entertainment.

“Professional Business Communication with Theresa Wernimont was a big help,” Orr said. “It wasn’t an easy class, but it taught me how to communicate effectively in the professional world.”

Orr is highly involved with Delta Sigma Pi, and said the organization has given her lifelong friendships and encouragement to strive for the best in her career. Outside of CSU, the owner of Yellowbright, Dawn Duncan, has gone above and beyond to become a mentor.

Orr just landed a winter break internship at Seventeen magazine, and hopes to use the experience as a stepping stone toward her goal of working for Cosmopolitan magazine.

Although she loves Colorado, Orr hopes to pursue her career in New York City upon graduation in a year and a half.

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‘We’re not that far apart’

Finance and Real Estate Summit builds relationships between Northern Colorado, Denver professionals The iconic blue and yellow building is unmistakably IKEA when glimpsed from I-25. The Swedish shopping SAVE THE DATE mecca has an Finance and Real immense worldEstate Summit wide following of Wednesday, do-it-yourselfers Feb. 19 and meatball lov7 a.m.-1 p.m. ers, and its U.S. Grand Hyatt Denver stores usually pop up in heavily populated urban areas – usually urban areas about the size of the entire state of Colorado. Thanks to Allen Ginsborg, IKEA came to Denver anyway.

Ginsborg, managing director and principal for Mountain States at NewMark Merrill, is an urban renewal expert. Through more than 30 years of real estate development experience with a focus on retail spaces, he’s amassed a 70-plus shopping center portfolio and invaluable insight into what retail development means for communities and the people who use the spaces. Ginsborg will be sharing his expertise as a panelist at the 2014 Finance and Real Estate Summit, hosted by the Colo-

rado State University College of Business.

“We’re excited to host our first Finance and Real Estate Summit in downtown Denver,” said Eric Holsapple, executive director of the Everitt Real Estate Center at the CSU College of Business. “This event allows us to bring together Northern Colorado’s and Denver’s thought leaders into one exciting networking, idea-inspiring space. Experts of Allen’s caliber will make it a day of super-charged discussion.”

The Finance and Real Estate Summit, a half-day lunch event set for Feb. 19 at the Grand Hyatt Denver, will feature a panel of experts from the fields of regional banking, natural resources, and urban renewal.

Colorado’s top CEOs will lead discussions about topics relevant to today’s economy and real estate markets.

“The reality is we’re not that far apart,” said Ginsborg. “Yet, Northern Colorado and Denver often miss the news of each other’s successes. We need to work together to attract new business and to be ahead of the trends. This summit will encourage the cross-pollination that is vital for new ideas.

I hope everyone who attends will connect with someone from a different part of the state who they didn’t know before.”

Register to attend the Finance and Real Estate Summit at: advancing.colostate.edu/FRESUMMIT

Celebrating innovation

Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge honors startups, new ventures and spirit of entrepreneurship If you sense new energy in the air, you might be feeling the excitement swirling around the first-ever Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge, a collaboration between the Institute for Entrepreneurship at the Colorado State University College of Business and Blue Ocean Enterprises. During the startup business pitch competition, set for Memorial Day weekend 2014, Fort Collins will welcome even more innovators and small business owners to a city already abuzz with entrepreneurial success.

“We are extremely proud of our community and look forward to sharing the stage with competitors right here in our backyard,” said Curt Richardson, founder and chairman, of Blue Ocean Enterprises and OtterBox, both headquartered in Fort Collins. “The Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge offers an opportunity for us to test the validity of ideas in the marketplace and participate in a process that will make competitors more prepared for the real world.”

The Challenge is the largest competition of its kind in Colorado. It’s also one of the premier business pitch competitions in

the country, thanks to a $250,000 grand prize for entrepreneurs and business owners who are ready to take their innovative ventures to a new level. There’s even a Collegiate track for Colorado college teams, who will compete for $20,000 and a spot in the main event on May 2.

Competitors will be selected by a panel of successful business owners and entrepreneurs. Each competitor receives 16 weeks of valuable business training to prepare their ideas to compete for the grand prize during the Challenge’s weekend-long celebration. Open to the public and featuring mini-events designed to showcase the thriving local business landscape, the Challenge will honor Fort Collins’ own entrepreneurial spirit.

“New business owners have an unstoppable energy – it’s contagious,” said Charisse Bowen, managing director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship at the Colorado State University College of Business. “Fort Collins embraces that energy by supporting startups and fresh ideas – it’s the perfect city to host this celebration of innovation and the entire community is invited.”

To learn how to compete, attend, volunteer, or become a Challenge sponsor, visit blueoceanchallenge.com. And follow the excitement on Twitter #CSUblueocean.

Three towns, three friends, one degree

BY ANNIE BURNHAM

Make a Difference.

For Joseph Garcia, Sean Hogan, and Matthew Hoppal, the motto Matthew Hoppal, left, Sean Hogan and Joseph Garcia on graduation of the Colorado day 2011.

State University College of Business served as a guide on their journey from student to professional.

Hoppal was born in Fort Collins and attending CSU was never a question. It was a perfect fit.

Garcia grew up in Pueblo, also supporting CSU. He knew that a business education would enable a multitude of career paths that aligned with his personal strengths.

Hogan grew up in Littleton and credits his mother with helping him choose CSU. He played ice hockey at EPIC in Fort Collins when he was a teenager, and when he was looking at colleges, she suggested a campus tour.

“Little did I know, just past the ice rink was an amazing community in which Colorado State University and the College of Business thrived,” Hogan recalled. “I was introduced to the College of Business on the campus tour and felt the energy immediately. Students seemed excited, professors’ office doors were open, and the classrooms were small.”

The three eventually crossed paths at the conclusion of freshman year when they joined the College of Business Dean’s Student Leadership Council. Hoppal, Garcia, and Hogan grew to embrace the College’s mantra of Make a Difference as their own.

Each quoted Dean Ajay Menon: “Success is never measured by the material wealth that you have or generate; instead look at success as the social consequence and the social context in which you have an impact. Every graduate of the College of Business is charged with one simple admonition: Make a difference. This is where true success will lie.”

“This is something I think about in my day-to-day activities and will carry with me forever,” Garcia said.

The three graduated in 2011. Garcia is now working in Denver as consultant for Hitachi Consulting, a job he learned about through Susan Athey, professor of Computer Information Systems at CSU. Hoppal and Hogan are both living in California working for JP Morgan. Hoppal is a credit analyst; Hogan works with highnet-worth individuals. Hogan landed his job three years ago through CSU alumna Mindy Ginsburg. He let Hoppal know when there was an open position.

These three successful Colorado students exemplify that relationships developed at the College of Business make a difference in the professional and personal path life takes.

December 2013

The social and economic impact of the beverage industries on Colorado

BY JIM FRANCIS

Unless you are among the thousands of individuals in Colorado who are employed in a business that has some type of beverage as one of its products, you probably haven’t given much thought to the economic, social, or cultural impact of the beverage-related industries. Those employed, either directly or indirectly, in one of these industries recognize how important beverages have become from an economic standpoint and how their products and services have literally changed some of our traditional business models and consumption patterns.

Anyone older than 35 probably viewed the idea of bottling water in individual servings as a business model more similar to the “pet rock” than to that of a sound, revenue-generating commercial endeavor.

The ubiquitous water bottle tucked into purses and backpacks or swinging from belts of health-conscious and well-hydrated consumers has also led to the creation of a whole new industry of reusable bottles.

Likewise, coffee shops have spread across the retail business landscape, growing from humble beginnings to massive corporate structures that have created an overwhelming economic presence. Many of the independently owned shops have evolved into coffee and wine bars and have slowly added more and more food items to accompany the beverages served – essentially flipping a traditional perspective of beverages being served as complements to food.

The American Beverage Association, which tracks the production and sales of non-alcoholic beverages, estimates that the economic impact of these products in Colorado was in excess of $6.1 billion in 2012. This includes juices, soft drinks, coffee, energy drinks, flavored water, and

all other beverages that do not contain any alcohol.

As for alcoholic beverages Colorado is first in the U.S. in the production of beer, so it is not surprising that the economic impact of the brewing industry is a staggering $14.8 billion. Add to this the $2.8 billion estimated by the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America and the total economic impact of alcoholic beverages in the state is approximately $17.6 billion. When considering all beverage-related businesses there is a total economic impact of nearly $24 billion.

This level of economic influence underscores the importance of these businesses to Colorado and is a substantive reflection of the lifestyles of the population of the state. The Beverage Business Institute is proud to be an important part of this healthy economic sector.

Jim Francis is the director of the Beverage Business Institute, a Center of Excellence within the CSU College of Business.

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Dec. 31, 2013

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