NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP - APR/MAY 2022 EDITION by Colorado Media Group :: NORTH & The Digest

BUSINESS, REAL ESTATE & LIFESTYLE FOR NORTHERN COLORADO SPRINGS & EL PASO COUNTY

APRIL/MAY 2022

$4.95/USA

PEOPLE

A WARM, WELCOMING CONVERSATION WITH THE BROADMOOR PRESIDENT & CEO, MR. JACK DAMIOLI

BUSINESS DO YOU UNDERSTAND

YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY?

REAL ESTATE REGIONAL SPRING HOUSING

MEET DR. KASSAUNDRA JOHNSTON

UNDERSTANDING THE EYENEUROLOGICAL CONNECTION FOR PEDS, BRAIN INJURY AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

MARKET REMAINS BULLISH THROUGH 2022

BOOT BARN HALL APRIL/MAY CONCERT & EVENTS SCHEDULE Photography by: Gary Caskey NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 1

WCG has provided worldwide business consullng and tax preparaaon from our Colorado offices since 2007. How are we different? Easy! We take a consultaave and planning approach to our client relaaonships. We have the experience of a big CPA firm with over 40 tax and accounnng professionals but without the big firm stuffiness. Yuck. WCG will be your advocate by puung you in a posiion to make informed decisions. WCG protects the client fortress by not doing everything, but everything we do, we do very well. Stop by… have a coffee or a margarita with us!

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

Small airport. Big destinations. Fall in love with Colorado’s small airport. Where the lines, walks and waits are small. The stress level is low. There are new competitive prices, and everything is more convenient, comfortable and friendly. With five major airlines offering exciting direct and connecting flight options, you can get just about anywhere from here. FlyCOS.com

Five major airlines departing daily to great destinations with hundreds of connections NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 3

Hello Friends! Welcome to Springtime in the Rockies. In this edition of NORTH, we are pleased to introduce you to several extraordinary people from around our community. First, we meet Jack Damioli, President & CEO of the Broadmoor Resort. Mr. Damioli welcomes us all into the various realms of one of the world’s most luxurious vacation destinations, located right here in our hometown. The Broadmoor and adjoining assets are historical gems left to us by one of our community’s most celebrated entrepreneurial and philanthropic couples - Spencer and Julie Penrose. While we’re largely focused on our northern communities in El Paso County, as a connector of people, places, and things to do in northern Colorado Springs, NORTH is concerned with creating awareDirk R. Hobbs ness, interest, and engagement throughout our community. With so FOUNDER many new individuals and families moving into the Pikes Peak region in recent years, we thought it would be good to introduce our new neighbors, and while we’re at it, reintroduce us, to this spectacular destination through the eyes of this inspiring leader. We travel back up to Monument to meet our new friend Terri Hayes, the successful and highly energetic CEO of the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, who can tell you just about anything you need to know about this amazing historic town, and the burgeoning business climate taking shape. Next, we meet small business owner and retired armed service member, Terry Michaud, whose entrepreneurial spirit has help her create one of the most successful small business franchises on this side of town. Great story… Last month, we introduced you to Sues Hess, Executive Director of Reclaiming Hope. If you missed it, read that article first. This is one of those under-the-radar organizations that conducts essential mission work without a lot of fanfare. But for those who are touched by human trafficking, it means a chance to start over. In this edition, we start with a small section of Sues’ presentation that helps listeners become more aware of how significant the issue of sex trafficking is. I hope you’ll continue to read through this special series because despite all the good that is happening here in our community, this ailment of the human condition is also present in our city – as it is in nearly every town in America. Ours is a mindful and compassionate community. Our collective awareness can and will make a positive difference. Last thing: Our neighbors downtown have done a wonderful job spotlighting and growing support for the arts. This aspect of community makes our daily lives richer, more interesting. We are calling for local artists and artisans to make themselves known. We’d love to share your gifts and talents with others. Enjoy, Dirk R. Hobbs Founder, Executive Publisher | Colorado Media Group & NORTH

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

You Know All Those Things You’ve Been Putting Off Doing?

Yeah, You Should Do Them! Pikes Peak Harley-Davidson 5867 N Nevada Ave., COS, CO Just east of I-25 at Woodmen Road!

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 719.278.2300 | PPHD.com

STEVE ROLDAN

BRIAN BLEDSOE

SYDNEY JACKSON

CHRISTINA SANJUAN

LUKE VICTOR

FOUR YEARS AND COUNTING!

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

C ONTEN T S BUSINESS 10

TAX REDUCTION STRATEGIES

NORTH SPRINGS LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE: MISSION COFFEE ROASTERS

FIRST IMPRESSIONS WILL HURT YOUR BRAND

FEATURES 42

RECLAIMING HOPE: THE SOBERING REALITY OF SEX TRAFFICKING

NORTH SPRINGS LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE: BLO BLOW DRY BAR

UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE

COVER FEATURE | 36

SPOTLIGHT COS: MEET THE SPORTS CORP

PEOPLE: JACK DAMIOLI, PRESIDENT/CEO THE BROADMOOR

REAL ESTATE 32

SPRING HOUSING MARKET OUTLOOK

LIFESTYLE 66 68

COMMUNITY PROJECTS: CITY AUDITORIUM UPDATE LIVING OUTDOORS: LOCAL LEAVE NO TRACE

PEOPLE OF

NORTH 51

THOMAS’ STORY OF RECOVERY

NEXT GEN LEADERS: MEET SHREYA KRISHNAN

business festyle

NORTH NORTH 8

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 9

NORTH BUSINESS TAXES & FINANCES

Tax Reduction Strategies (Part 2) By Jason Watson, CPA One of our primary focuses at WCG, a Colorado Springs tax and accounting firm located in Flying Horse, is ensuring you are paying the least amount of taxes allowed by law. Shocker, I know. Some of our other primary focuses are helping you build wealth and leverage the most of your financial worlds for you and your family. However, these objectives are not isolated; they are very much related to each other and intertwined. In our last issue, we discussed some basic concepts. A quick recap- there is not a secret tax deduction club. No FOMO for you. Also, saving cash and saving taxes are different things, and most people like to save cash. Finally, you and your neighbor might like the same bourbon, but it doesn’t mean your tax worlds are the same. So, comparing tax bills can be misleading. As far as tax reduction strategies, we previously discussed selling stock losers to offset gains which is a common year-end strategy. No surprises with this one. We also presented borrowing against your unrealized stock gains at a cheap rate, investing it wisely and building wealth (all this using someone else’s cash). This strategy is not so common, yet it remains a strong one. Here are some more fun strategies for your tax-reduction pleasure.

Roth Conversions

Roth conversions are a bit of a layup in terms of tax reduction but it requires some patience. A Roth IRA as most readers know allows you to pay taxes today, but create a tax-free investment fund for the rest of your life. Consider that most investments double every 9-10 years, and with a Roth IRA this increase is tax-free.

RULE OF

Rule of 72 states that if your rate of return is 8%, you will double your investment in 9 years (72 divided by 8 is 9, even in Canada). Keep in mind that the stock market has returned just under 10% over the past 100 years which includes the crash of 1929.

WHO LOST MONEY IN 2008 AND 2009? Only those people who had or chose to sell! Interestingly enough, the paper losses for those who didn’t freak out and move to cash in the great recession were completely recouped a mere 18 months later. I digress… back to Roth IRA’s. You can also convert traditional IRA’s into Roth IRA’s. This creates a taxable event today but allows for tax-free growth. Conversions should be planned carefully, and are especially beneficial during low income years. “Jason, you are telling me to pay taxes today? How is that a tax reduction strategy?!” Good question young Jedi warrior. 10

You’ve heard me say it before, but I’ll say it again. Your job is to build wealth, and if you can save taxes along the way, then that is a nice cherry on your wealth building sundae. But what I haven’t mentioned yet is that saving taxes is a lifelong strategy. Therefore, be grumpy with me for a couple of decades as you pay taxes along the way but don’t forget to send that Christmas card as you sit back in your 70s with piles of taxfree cash. Better yet, send me that bourbon we talked about. Wait there’s more! We chatted about tax deferrals being little tax bombs that go off when you retire. What we didn’t do is pose this questionis it easier to pay taxes during your wage-earning years or during retirement? For some people, this might not matter. For others, especially small business owners, putting a little extra work into the day to eke out a few more bucks for the tax bill might keep your disposable cash elevated as you pay taxes. Then, during retirement, you live a tax-free relaxed life. Something to ponder, especially which bourbon Jason likes.

Donor Advised Fund

You donate significant assets such as cash or securities or both to a donor advised fund. You get an immediate tax deduction for the fair market value, but those assets are not immediately donated to any one charity. This allows for two wonderful things; first, playing on the matching principle mentioned in the last issue, you can make a massive donation during a uniquely high-income year and get the most tax gain for your donation buck. Second, you can then take your tax-deducted donation, and spread the intrinsic value over multiple years while enjoying the tax benefit now. Here is another consideration- let’s say your itemized deductions add up to $15,900 yet the standard deduction is $25,900 (for the 2022 tax year). A difference of $10,000. You could donate $10,000 each year with no additional tax benefit (Yes, the state still provides some) since you would be using the

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

standard deduction versus an itemized deduction ($25,900 vs. $15,900). Do this for 10 years and your $100,000 does not move the tax needle. Bummer! Conversely, you donate $100,000 to a donor advised fund, you get $90,000 at your marginal tax rate as cash in pocket ($90,000 x 24% is $21,600 in cash). You still get the itemized deduction bump of $10,000 to arrive at the standard deduction for 9 more years, your charity gets $10,000 each year as desired, and you are $21,600 richer. Real money, folks! Tax planning for $400 please, Aaron. Yes, it’s a daily double! (and Yes, I’m a Packer fan)

Summary

We are still scratching the surface on tax reduction strategies. In the next issue, if the editors continue to allow me, I will discuss discounted Roth IRA conversions, captive insurance, cost segregation for that real estate investment, among some other tax bullets.

Jason Watson CPA A Senior Partner for WCG, Inc. a progressive boutique tax and accounting firm located in Colorado Springs. You may contact him at 719-428-3261 or jason@wcginc.com.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 11

NORTH BUSINESS PROFILES

MISSION COFFEE ROASTERS: NOT JUST ANOTHER COFFEE SHOP Introducing Brett Bixler, Founder

Coffee places are everywhere. You can get a coffee for a buck at a drive though. What’s the point of going to a specialty coffee roaster and coffeehouse like Mission Coffee Roasters? Well as in most things in life, quality matters. Look at what you wear, what you eat, the ways you spend your time, your money. Freshness matters. Quality matters. 30 years in the coffee trade matters.

For Mission Coffee Roasters founder Brett Bixler, quality and intentionality are core to the business. In founding Mission, Bixler was highly influenced by his 5 years with Martin Diedrich, of Diedrich Coffee, now Kean Coffee in So. California. Martin’s philosophy of, if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. Despite his success, Martin was a simple man. Diedrich Coffee became one of the largest coffee companies in the U.S. trading on NASDAQ. Bixler worked with Martin during this growth on pre-IPO special projects. Bixler, a USC graduate and Best Business Plan Award winner, became a GM for one of Diedrich’s Orange County shops.

A Modern Coffeehouse with Intentional, Historical Ambiance “Lessons learned about coffee quality, serving people, and creating a place for community are the driving forces behind Mission Coffee Roasters. It’s a place to be alone in public if you choose. Or be part of something much bigger than yourself. You may sit next to a physicist, a physician, a teacher, a student. We have created and curated an environment where all feel welcome - where the barriers for interaction are lowered and you feel like you are a part of your community,” Bixler claims. Reclaimed redwood adds warmth to the tables and counters, once a water tower until 1943 in Arizona. The thick old planks form the foundation of the design inside Mission. There’s even a red, stainless Diedrich Coffee roaster in the house.

Mission’s larger position in the coffee trade is as a coffee roaster for churches, offices, fundraisers, home mail order coffee subscriptions, and grocery stores such as Whole Foods Markets. Mission also roasts for other coffee businesses, ministries, and shops on a contract basis. For people who want to start a coffee business in a low-key affordable way, we make it easy by offering business consultation, business plan review, coffee bar training, and supply flavored syrups, sauces, and other coffeehouse supplies to our coffee clients. Mission provides an outstanding co-working and meeting space with hot desks to rent, a semi-private conference table with whiteboard, and private conference room with whiteboards and 55” flatscreen for presentations or training. What Mission does best is providing the joy of fresh coffee within one to three days of the roaster to your home, business, or church. Come join us for a cup.

SOME UNUSUALLY INTERESTING FACTS Did you know, coffeehouses were once called “Penny Universities”? For the cost of a cup of coffee one could learn almost anything in a coffeehouse. Some coffeehouses have a legacy that touches nearly everyone in some way. One of the most famous is Lloyd’s in England. That cafe was favored by those involved in merchant marine trade. The investors and the seafarers frequented Lloyd’s and shared in the loss of ships to the sea or pirates leading to the idea of insurance that we have today.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 13

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

2022

MUST SEE SHOWS

APR 21- MAY 15

Thursday & Friday 7:30 pm Saturday 2:00 & 7:00 pm | Sunday 4:00 pm A longing to be loved dwells in all of us. This story follows a young Black girl’s coming of age in 1940s Ohio, in a beautiful staging of Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison’s classic novel.

Jo Bertini: Galleries of Contemporary Art

DEEP IN LAND MAY 4 - JUL 15, 2022 @GOCA ENT CENTER

Deep in Land is an exhibition featuring the paintings of renowned Australian artist Jo Bertini, with collaborative music, sound and video imagery of musician and composer Thomas Studer.

Image: “Breath of the Last Wild River”, 80x80”, oil & iridescent pigments on French polyester canvas, 2021. Courtesy of the artist.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

TICKETS.ENTCENTERFORTHEARTS.ORG EMAIL: TICKETS@UCCS.EDU PHONE: 719-255-8181

Poor First Impressions Will Hurt Your Brand Importance of Knowing How Your Staff Engages Customers When You’re not Looking Article by Dirk R. Hobbs, Marketing & Media Executive

Like everyone, when I go out to eat, drink, or shop, I’m met with a wide array of hospitality and attitudes by the staff of those respective businesses. Most experiences are very average and are largely inconsequential. And in the business world, it’s no different whether at a health care facility, calling on a bank, or retail company. The vast majority of our experiences are mundane, unmemorable, and what I call utilitarian in nature. Very transactional. The easy – and I will add, inaccurate response to these types of first impressions, is to just point to those greeting you, who are largely of the younger workforce and say, “it’s a generational thing.”. This belief is overreaching in its assumption and false. I submit, there’s a far more influential element at work if customers are met with a poor first impression: You, as the owner/leader have not set a clear performance standard for making that first and continuing impression. Assuming all things are equal, and the customer is not a complete jerk, or the employee is not down-right rude, let’s look closely at a few examples of what poor first impressions look like and how it damages your brand and brand promise. What we want is to create outstanding brand encounters even when we’re not looking as leaders. Because poor first impressions happen quite often unbeknown to leadership.

What it means: As an employee of Company A, they are the only experience this customer is going to have with your brand at that moment. They are the ambassador who has almost complete control of how this individual will perceive your brand, and they will carry it with them once the engagement is complete. It’s bigger than that one employee. They can ensure success by creating the best engagement possible. Their problems, their beliefs about how people should treat them – that is all secondary to their role as the brand ambassador. An employee’s first and last job is the customer experience: Friendly, smile, look them in the eye, speak clearly, welcome them, and accommodate their requests, answer questions, make suggestions when appropriate, and do so with enthusiasm and sincerity. As a leader or business owner, look for folks who have the capacity to put themselves aside long enough to do the job and recognize their role as the one who is responsible for maintaining the brand value at a very high level. Brands like Chick-fil-A (CFA) understand this. Are they perfect? No. But they’ve done a lot right. In 90% or more of customer encounters, you are met with someone who is not John or Sue the individual. Rather, they are John or Sue of Chick-fil-A – the brand and the experience. And for that moment, nothing else matters but that customer! As such, there is a particular brand

This is a truncated snapshot of a very substantial topic for businesses large and small. As Peter Drucker, famed marketing frontiersman claimed, “Everything that touches your customer is marketing.” I’ll add, from first to last contact and everything in between, no matter with whom the client comes in contact. For leaders and owners, this can be a relatively simple fix if you are as clear with your expectations of employees’ soft skills, as you are with their technical proficiency. If the truism of “culture starts with leadership” holds, then make sure your entire staff understands and subsequently portrays the kind of culture you want customers to experience. Otherwise, you’re placing your brand promise in the hands of people who can do irreparable damage. Failure to set the stage for one’s role in the organization: This is NOT about, I’m the boss and what I say goes. Not at all. If you’re that boss, good luck. Rather, when you hire a person for any role in your company, you’re hiring a representative of your brand. They will leave customers with an impression that sticks – good or otherwise. Easy enough so far, right? What owners/ leaders too often miss, is to ensure the candidate has a true understanding of what that means to you. Because what it means to them could be very different, and is frankly irrelevant. On your dime, you are correct to expect excellence from your staff.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

Q: Have you clearly defined what you expect each customer to experience at key touch points?

of engagement that is required if you’re going to work there. It’s a subtle difference, but different, nonetheless. So different that CFA outperforms nearly every brand in that segment of retail food service in customer experience and overall quality. And guess what? The front lines of that business are largely under the age of 25. So, it’s not “that generation” of workers. I don’t buy it. Clearly, this age group doesn’t have the years of experience, BUT, if they have someone who was willing to show them the right way to do business, they’ll listen and learn. And they are eager to learn how to do business the right way. Like our own children – they are looking for good role models to show them how it’s done right. Ghosting: This is far too common in business today. Just don’t reply. Now, if it’s that extended car warranty company that robo-calls you five times a week, then yes. Don’t answer…EVER! Robo calls and unprofessional sales people aside, this simply comes down to maturity and courtesy of your staff, regardless of their level in the organization, or their busyness. Vetting on behalf of the organization’s business goals is part of doing business and it needs to be done with courtesy and professionalism. Not responding is poor form. Reasonable people can accept “no”. But no response reflects poorly on your brand – regardless of where within the company it occurs. Just five completely separate people who have a similar experience with any part of your organization can do pretty significant damage to your brand and repeat business. Even if it is not a direct customer to business transaction. In fact, a great many B2B efforts are lost on folks who simply don’t have the courtesy to reply on behalf of their brand regardless of need or interest. It’s a prolific issue too many business owners see when they have staff that is ill-equipped to handle inquiries, whether a customer or another business. This is something of a cultural phenomenon, too. It’s a form of ‘cancel culture’ to just not reply or acknowledge someone. Examples: • Customer experience: Go into a business where you’re met with a front-line person who never makes eye contact, never smiles, is very self-absorbed, immature, and appears generally bothered by your presence, or appears to be more concerned with your perception of them, than the perception they are sending about the organization. • Customer take-away: Doesn’t seem like a fun place to work. Doesn’t seem to value anyone who chooses to call/come in here. Maybe I’ll go somewhere else next time. I don’t feel good after being here. I’m not even a number. I’ll share my experiences with others. • Some industry front line staff prone to this behavior include retail, health care, fast food, hospitality, attractions, bars/restaurants, country clubs • •

•

Customer experience: Contact a business to set up a meeting about your service. Never get call back or email reply. Message not relayed or ignored by an unqualified vetting process. Customer take-away: For a while, keep trying. Then after being ghosted a half-dozen times, let it go. They don’t even know what I had hoped to have a conversation about. Chances are, customers probably have a similar experience – “Don’t bother me unless you’re buying from or investing in me.” One-way-street. I’ll share my experiences. Some industry front line staff prone to this behavior include hospitality, automotive, retail, membership organizations, entertainment, banks, corporate and business marketing personnel, sales personnel, some small businesses

And we could go on with examples ad-nauseum, right? Part of this is our culture of “me” and “I”. But, as a business owner or leader, you have a responsibility to insist that your staff make an excellent first impression. They reflect your brand and everything that comes after they hand a customer off to the next level or see them out the door. They are NOT entitled to taint your hard work with poor first impressions, but can for lack of training and setting clear expectations. Dirk Hobbs is a senior level marketing consultant and media executive. He currently owns Colorado Media Group and NORTH. He can be reached at dhobbs@coloradomediagroup.com

What to do as a leader: Role play. Watch. Reinforce with examples of excellent encounters. Applaud your employees when they nail it, and redirect when they don’t. It’s your brand. Everyone is responsible for protecting it. This small investment of time will pale in comparison to the rewards you’ll reap if the rest of your brand promise is as strong as an excellent first impression.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 17

NORTH BUSINESS PROFILES

TERRY MICHAUD Blo Blow Dry Bar

By Pam Bales, Senior Writer; Photography by Gary Caskey

In a military town like Colorado Springs, veterans come in all shapes and sizes and service branches. Terry Michaud is a unique Air Force vet, retiring after 20 years of service in nursing, she is the owner of Blo Blow Dry Bar in north Colorado Springs. “I always connected with the beauty industry – not just to make people pretty – but to give women, in particular, the confidence to strike out and be successful,” explains Michaud. She embraces an Air Force motto in life and in her work “feel the fear but do it anyway.” This servant leader’s career has been a journey and at times a life of sacrifice for her family as well as for her country. She started cosmetology school, but after having her second child, she decided to switch to nursing. Over the years, her passion to serve others propelled her to move from a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to earning her BS in Nursing and then commissioning into the Air Force in January 1999. She became a Certified Emergency Nurse for 8 years and then a Nurse Anesthetist for the next 12 years. Michaud admits that being in the military was not always conducive to her family. As she was moving a lot in her Air Force career, she decided it would be best to have her two sons live in Florida with their dad. Both young men played football and would eventually go on to play for Syracuse University. Her daughter stayed with her. She was able to see her sons play football at Syracuse when she visited her mother and sister in Rochester, NY, where she was also originally raised. “Setting an example to be strong and independent for my children was always important to me,” says Michaud. “They knew I was always there for them –even if I couldn’t always be there physically.” She now has three grown children in three different states and one grandchild as well. After her retirement from the military, Terry knew two things for sure – she wanted to start her own business and she wanted to continue to serve others. Terry took a franchising 101 class through the Air Force. Out of 27 that sounded interesting, one really stood out and brought her back to her beauty roots -Blo Blow Dry Bar. This franchise was the original Dry Bar and creator of the “dry bar” category and has more than 140 stores in the United States and Canada. You may have heard the term dry bar, but what does that mean exactly? “No cuts or color, just wash blow, and go”” explains Michaud. Blo washes, blows out your hair and gets you set for the week (their goal for a blowout). “We are really a modern take on the “wash and set” -the weekly hair appointments our mothers and grandmothers did in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’S. When I got out of the military, I was so used to putting my hair up every day and didn’t have to put in any effort but then realized I didn’t want to have to “do” my hair every day, because it took too long and I didn’t get the results I wanted, so When I learned about the concept, I knew women would appreciate a Blo here in Colorado Springs. Michaud believes taking care of your looks, specifically your hair, is an important part of mental health. “When you look good, you feel good and confidant, you perform better,” she says. “We provide useful tips and accessories are also available to help keep that done look without washing your hair for a week.” Blo also offers make-up services for special occasions, proms, 18

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

“

When you look good, you feel good and confidant, you perform better”

parties, Bridal services, or just for a fresh look. Terry believes in servant leadership and illustrates it in her approach to the entire beauty industry. “The beauty industry, in general, has not been the friendliest for benefits or work environment for its workers. I want to change that in my own business.” Michaud collaborates with her employees to make sure they can follow their passion and still make a livable wage. A ROBS-Rollover for Business Start-up was the financing option of choice for using a portion of her retirement to fund the opening expenses of Blo, so as a C-corp, she was able to have her eligible employees enter into profit sharing plan in the business very quickly. She also structured a health and wellness plan to help them stay healthy and keep more money in their pocket. She also makes sure that she and her team have monthly time together to stay connected, educated and supported. She encourages her employees to look at their craft as that – a craft. “As a Nurse Anesthetist, attention-to-detail is a must and you really pay attention to facial expressions, so I tell my staff, what you do is so important! Make sure you “read” their faces, and body language. You are an artist, and your canvas is that client and their face will reflect your work, so be proud of your creativity and artistry.” Opening in COVID was one of the harder things Michaud had to do starting her new business. When things were just starting to open back up, she had heard about a study on Far-UVC lights that destroyed viruses in the air. As a nurse with a background in Infection Control for the AF, she did her own research and determined that this tool could really destroy the spread of airborne viruses, bacteria, and mold spores. She consulted with a few of her doctor colleagues who backed up the research and wrote her an endorsement letter supporting their use and had them installed in her bar as an extra layer of protection for her employees and guests. “Everyone was very grateful for the extra protection.” At such a times as this, her nursing background afforded Terry an additional source of confidence to open a business during a pandemic. “Safety is one of the basic needs that we’re taught in nursing school that is imperative to a patients’ wellness journey. And when that need is met the next level of need can be accomplished” So, with guest and staff safety a huge priority, it was without question, that Blo open with the research supported technology.” I wanted Blo to be a place where my guests knew they were safe in a time of unparalleled fear and in an environment that was normal where every place else wasn’t.” Dedicated to her community, Michaud started right away supporting other small, women -owned businesses by highlighting them monthly for her members only events at her bar. She also sponsors two charity events throughout the year, donating back to Sue’s Gift with a fundraiser at Blo for Ovarian Cancer Awareness month as well as, Dress for Success, an organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life, promoting a similar message of confidence as Blo, by donation a portion of blow out proceeds to their organization. Asked where she see herself in five years, Michaud said with all 10 of her chairs staffed and another Blo Blow Dry Bar closer to downtown. Being the savvy businessperson she is, Michaud’s franchise covers the entire Colorado Springs territory.

BLO BLOW DRY BAR | 12225 VOYAGER PKWY #14 | 719.445.0705 NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 19

NORTH BUSINESS - UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE

Life Insurance 101: The right coverage depends on your personal or business needs Amy Newland Agency LLC 3522 Hartsel Dr, Colorado Springs (719) 686-4216

One of the most common questions when purchasing life insurance is, “How much is enough?” A needs analysis is a starting point to answering this question. A needs analysis examines your specific financial and personal or business situation to help you determine the type and amount of life insurance that will best satisfy your needs. Consumers can select from a variety of life insurance policies and providers. Three common options are term life insurance, whole life insurance and universal life insurance. TERM LIFE INSURANCE can offer coverage for a specific term or length of time, such as 10, 20 or 30 years, and is often purchased to provide funds for short-term financial obligations such as a mortgage or a child’s tuition in the event the insured dies. A term policy typically contains no cash accumulation features. WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE generally provides coverage throughout a person’s life with level premium payments, as well as a level death benefit. Unlike term insurance, a whole life policy may gradually accumulate a cash value, which you may be able to borrow against while the policy is still active or cash if you choose to surrender the policy. Unpaid loans and any accrued interest may affect the death benefit. UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE offers more flexibility than whole life insurance. It allows policy owners to change premium payments, subject to certain limits, which may affect the cash value of the policy. The death benefit may also be increased, subject to continued insurability, or decreased. Determining the right amount of coverage requires a solid understanding of all your policy options as well as your financial needs and goals. A needs analysis seeks answers to questions like: What are my family’s immediate and future income needs? How much supplemental income will they need to meet expenses if I were to die tomorrow? How does life insurance fit in my business succession plan to ease financial concerns by helping both my family and my business partner? Your roles as a spouse, grandparent, stay-at-home parent or small business owner mean you have specific needs. If you have not purchased life insurance yet, consider sitting down with me to discuss your situation and options. If you already have a policy, discuss with your agent if it’s still appropriate for your present situation and any lifestyle changes that may be on the horizon.

About Amy

Visit www.amynewlandagency.com to find a Life Insurance Needs Calculator to determine individual life insurance coverage needs and to learn more about the entire portfolio of life insurance products offered by American Family Life Insurance Company.

Amy Newland Ward has been an agent for American Family Life Insurance Company since 2014. Her office is located at 3522 Hartsel Dr, Colorado Springs. Amy can be contacted at 719-686-4216 to learn more about the entire portfolio of life insurance products offered by American Family Life Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, Wis., 53783. Some products are not available in all states. 20

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

Suzanne Tulien Brand Clarity Expert Int’l Speaker, Trainer, Consultant, 3x Author

INDUSTRY: Organization Development/Internal Brand Dev. + Employee Engagement, Personal Brand Leadership Development CONTACT INFO: SUZANNE TULIEN, Suzanne@BrandAscension.com 719.660.2533, www.BrandAscension.com COMPANY OVERVIEW: Brand Ascension provides a turn-key, proprietary process for identifying and defining brand position for companies + employees, solo-professionals, and leaders who want to leverage their differentiators, create competitive advantage, and align their service delivery with their unique mission/purpose. This process is foundational to any business elevation, marketing, and growth initiatives. From the inside out, Brand DNA creates comprehensive organizational clarity, a roadmap for consistency, and internal engagement to live the brand. CORE SERVICES/PRODUCTS: • Brand Positioning Assessment Tools – a comprehensive set of self-assessment tools; Customer Service, Brand Behavior, Visual Brand, Branded Website, etc. • Internal Brand Development - Brand DNA Discovery Process & Implementation • Brand Awareness Events – Inculcation of Employees into the Brand DNA • Internal Brand Integration and On-Brand Employee Engagement • Brand Training/Consulting – [ workshops + webinars ] • Personal Brand Leadership Training/Coaching – Group & Private • Speaker Brand Coaching/Training – Groups & Private • Speaking/Training – Keynotes, Breakouts – [Speaker One-sheet] • Books: Brand DNA, Personal Brand Clarity, 6 Myths of Small Business Branding • Graphic Design/Brand Story/PR (Brand DNA graduate clients only) TARGET MARKETS: Internationally (English-speaking) • Business Brand DNA: Small to middle-market sized companies with 5 to 1,500 employees who are passionate about differentiation and living their ‘why/promise/mission’ through alignment of their employees, processes, + leadership strategy. • Personal Brand Presence/Leadership: Solo-professionals (real estate agents/brokers, consultants, coaches, authors, practitioners), and emerging leaders/managers and sales teams within organizations who want to step into their full potential through self-actualization. • Speaking/Training: Business Associations whose members are CXO decision makers (globally) and desire to deepen the connection with their own brand to their internal culture, external community, & their prospective markets. INTRODUCTION: Identify. Define. Align. Suzanne Tulien is a Brand Clarity Expert, specializing in identifying and defining distinctive brand positioning, through her proprietary process, to achieve extreme clarity on her clients’ unique differentiation, master consistencies to build trust, create ‘on-brand’ employee engagement, and gain market recognition from the inside out. She is author of 3 books, Brand DNA, Personal Brand Clarity, and The 6 Myths of Small Business Branding. She speaks, trains and consults internationally. Client Testimonials: http://brandascension.com/clients/ © Brand Ascension, LLC | www.BrandAscension.com

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 21

SPOTLIGHT COS: ORGANIZATIONS TO KNOW ABOUT

EVER WONDER WHY COLORADO SPRINGS IS CONSIDERED THE AMATEUR SPORTS CAPITAL OF THE WORLD? HERE’S ONE REASON: MEET THE SPORTS CORP Last month, we introduced you to Megan Leatham, Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation or (The Sports Corp), with offices located near the Broadmoor Resort. This month, we wanted to shed more light on this highly influential organization that promotes sporting events throughout the region and draw your attention to some of year’s amazing events.

stablished in 1978 to assist in the relocation of the U.S. Olympic Committee from New York City to Colorado Springs, having beat out Baton Rouge, LA, The Sports Corp has grown to become a driving force in for amateur and Olympic & Paralympic sport. The success of moving the USOC headquarters (now the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee or USOPC), to ENT Air Force Base and later to downtown Colorado Springs marked the beginning of positioning our home town as Olympic City, U.S.A. You can see this moniker on our monument sign on I-25 just south of Northgate Boulevard. Through event promotion and community development activities, The Sports Corp plays a critical role in bringing city and civic leaders together with some of the nation’s premier sporting organizations, including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and national and international sports organizations. Few other places in the world can boast such a prominent presence of the Olympic movement, national governing bodies (NGB), and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, as the Pikes Peak Region. And it is in great part due to the vision and work of The Sports Corp. In recent years, The Sports Corp has been instrumental in attracting numerous amateur, professional, collegiate, and prep athletics events to our community. In fact, the organization is actively involved in 42 events, all hosted here in Colorado Springs. The Sports Corp owns and partners with major marquee events including, The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, 22

4th of July Symphony on Your Porch, Rocky Mountain State Games, The Broadmoor Cycle to the Summit, Labor Day Lift Off, Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame and the Sports Corp Luncheon Series. The Sports Corp is a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to establishing a strong regional presence through positive economic development and contribution to the quality of life for citizens in the Pikes Peak Region.

STAY IN THE KNOW! Keep up with all the latest events and enjoy some of these world-class events, right here in your own home town! www.coloradospringssports.org Looking to get more involved as a possible sponsor? Look here: www.coloradospringssports.org/getinvolved

The Colorado Springs Sports Corporation (The Sports Corp) is proud to have supported and organized many of the major events in the Pikes Peak region in 2021. These events demonstrate The Sports Corp's commitment to Olympic City USA, organizing events that celebrate the sports legacy and traditions of our community.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

2022 COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR MAY 18

AUGUST 13

SPORTS CORP GOLF TOURNAMENT

THE BROADMOOR CYCLE TO THE SUMMIT

JUNE 24

SEPTEMBER 3-5

PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB- FAN

COLORADO SPRINGS LABOR DAY LIFT OFF

JUNE 26

SEPTEMBER TBD

PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB

COLLEGE HOCKEY FACE-OFF LUNCHEON

JULY 4

OCTOBER 25

4TH OF JULY SYMPHONY ON YOUR PORCH

COLORADO SPRINGS SPORTS HALL OF FAME

JULY 22-24 & 29-31 ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATE GAMES

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 23

Q Ua l i t Y. i n t eG R i t Y. e X P e R i e n C e . Centennial Radon Solutions provides Radon mitigation, Radon inspections, testing, and removal for all of Colorado Springs. Our company has over 16 years of experience in the radon removal industry. We are fully licensed and certified Radon experts that offer our Radon services to both residential and commercial properties in the area. Centennial Radon Solutions is a member of the NRSB, NEHA, AARST, and Better Business Bureau, and adhere to all EPA guidelines. a VeteRan owned BUsiness

Leading Radon Mitigation Team For Residential & CommeRCial

719.494.5461 | CentennialRadon.Com

ealestate

NORTH

We’re Your Gateway to the Northern Communities! Contact us for a “Discovery Tour” of the exciting new communities in the growing northern corridor of Colorado Springs and El Paso County…communities offering many different living environments and lifestyle options. We’ll include a tour of the exceptional Club at Flying Horse…and an orientation to the new Club at Flying Horse North.

R E A L T Y

Welcome to Colorado Springs and its Northern

Communities!

Palmer Divide / County Line Road Town of Palmer Lake

Town of Monument

Black Forest Road

105

Grandwood Ranch

Winsome Colorado

Hodgen Road

Sanctuary

Pointe

Baptist Road

Gate

Flying Horse North

Blvd

Black Forest Road

North

Meridian Road

Stagecoach Road

Forest Lakes

Flying Horse 83

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY

City of Colorado Springs

Briargate Blvd.

Woodmen Road

ood

gew Ran

Woodmen Road

24 ay Hig

Driv

Garden of the Gods Road Garden of the Gods & Visitor Center

Austin Bluff Parkway

Take a video tour at

NorthernCommunities.com 2748 North Gate Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80921 | info@flyinghorserealty.com | FHR - NORTH Magazine 4 page Ads.indd 1

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

(719) 886-4800 3/14/22 9:17 AM

The Flying Horse Realty Report NATIONAL

COLORADO

• Home Sizes Continue to Grow: Avg size of a new home is 6.3% bigger than lows set during the recession due to the pandemic, more desire to “spread out,” & more people living under one roof (NAHB) • No Home Price Correction Coming Soon: But housing affordability still better than in 2007 based on home prices, wages, and current mortgage rates (ATTOM Data) • “Experts” Disagree on 2022 Projected Price Growth: Corelogic predicts 3.8% while Zillow predicts 17.3%. With the uncertainties in the world, it’s anybody’s guess (Fortune and FHR) • Median Home Prices and Mortgage Rates Surged in February: Home prices surged to an all-time high just as mortgage rates surged to highest level in three years (Realtor.com) • Westward Ho! (and a Bit South): Between now and the year 2030, our Country’s primary population growth is forecast to be in the Mountain West, Texas, and the Southeast (Corelogic) • New Builds Picking up Market Share: When measured at the end of 2021, 34.1% of U.S. single-family homes on the market were new builds. A year prior, only 25.4% of homes for sale were new construction (Redfin)

R E A L T Y (719)886-4800 FHR - NORTH Magazine 4 page Ads.indd 2

• Statewide Colorado Real Estate Snapshot – Jan, 2021 Compared to Jan, 2022: Median Price up 16.9% (to $520,000), Average ‘Days On Market’ down 22.2% (to 35 days), Months Supply down 50% (to one month), Percent of List Price Received up 1.1% (to 101.2% (CAR) • Out-Of-Town Home Buyers Have More to Spend than Locals: In Denver, for example, it’s estimated that relocators have almost 15% more to spend in their housing budget than locals ($901,386 average to $785,171 average (Redfin) • Colorado Beats National Average for Home Appreciation Last Year: In Colorado, the average home gained $78,000 in equity growth in 2021. Nationally, that number was $56,700 (Corelogic) • REALTORS® Redefine What “Luxury” Means in Denver’s Hot Housing Market: Some Denver Metro-area real estate experts are reporting that $1 million is no longer the price point for a luxury home. To live in luxury in Denver, buyers should plan to pay between $1.5 to $2 million or more, and likely on the higher end of that range (bizjournals.com) • Affordable Housing in Colorado Becoming More Difficult to Find: In the last decade alone, the state has lost 300,000 “naturally occurring” housing units that people making $45,000 or less can afford without spending more than 30% of their income on housing (Colorado Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force)

LOCAL

• Local Real Estate Snapshot: Jan, 2022 Compared to Jan, 2021: Median Price up 16.9% (to $450,000), Average DOM down 26.3% (to 14 days), Months Supply down 20% (to 12 days), Percent of List Price Received down .1% (to 101.6% (CAR) • Colorado Springs Expected to See Strong Home Sales/Price Growth in 2022: Based on our healthy job market, attractive lifestyle, good schools, and affordability relative to other popular States/major cities. The Springs is projected to have the 14th best housing market out of the 100 most populous U.S. metro areas in 2022 (Realtor.com) • How Hot is the Colorado Springs Housing Market? Many listed homes get multiple offers and waived contingencies. “Hot Homes” have seen offers over 5% above listed price and have gone to pending sales status in a few days. Year over year, around 59% of listed properties in our area have sold above listed price. (Redfin) • Colorado Springs Rents Also Increased This Past Year: The annual cost to rent in 50+ unit apartments grew 16.8% in 2022 to $1,403 per unit. The local vacancy rate is around 5.41% (Doug Carter, CCIM) • Colorado Springs Living Costs Above National Average: A recent report placed living costs in the Springs 9% higher than the national average. While housing was the main reason for living cost increases…transportation and miscellaneous goods were also above the national average (Council for Community and Economic Affairs)

2748 North Gate Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80921 | info@flyinghorserealty.com

3/14/22 9:19 AM

R E A L T Y

We’re Your Gateway to the Northern Communities Flying Horse Flying Horse

Colorado living comes together in one magnificent vision at Flying Horse, a 1,600 acre master planned, golf course community where you’ll find elegant homes, expansive views, and exceptional District 20 schools.

Sanctuary Pointe

Located in a beautiful, wooded country setting near a regional trail system, residents still have quick access to many shopping, grocery, retail, and service outlets.

Forest Lakes

This new community features two beautiful lakes and expansive views of Colorado Springs and the front range. In addition to public and private trails, Forest Lakes offers 450 acres of open space for outdoor recreation.

Forest Lakes

Winsome Colorado

These 2.5 to 10-acre country estate lots are in an expansive setting offering common area trails and approximately 148 acres of open space. While convenient to services, Winsome is country living in a true Colorado environment.

Also serving Jackson Creek North, Grandwood Ranch, High Forest Ranch, Cathedral Pines, Waldon Preserve, The Farm, and other Northern Communities

Our Newest Golf Course Community Flying Horse North Flying Horse North

Wonderfully set within a 1,417 acre panorama of woods, meadows, and mountain views, this beautiful new residential development offers lifestyle options that include quiet, treed building sites - sunny golf course lots - and even a more open “prairie home” environment with unique opportunities for country living. Featuring one of the most beautiful and challenging woodlands golf courses in the State of Colorado, Members of the new Flying Horse North Club will also have full access to the existing facilities at the Club at Flying Horse, with its golf, tennis, swimming, fitness, spa, and grill/fine dining options located just minutes away.

Schedule your of these and other

New Northern Springs’

Communities FHR - NORTH Magazine 4 page Ads.indd 3

Call for an “INSIDERS BRIEFING and DISCOVERY TOUR” of FLYING HORSE NORTH and THE NORTHERN COMMUNITIES… …And Learn Why the Northern Corridor of El Paso County features Some of the Most Popular and Fastest Growing Neighborhoods in Colorado

(719)886-4800 2748 North Gate Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80921 | info@flyinghorserealty.com

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

3/14/22 9:20 AM

R E A L T Y

INSIDERS BRIEFING ON THE NORTHERN COMMUNITIES Sched ule Yo u r Pe rso n al Appo i n t m e n t

Bring your real estate questions;

Where are neighborhoods in my price range? What are some of the key differences in the communities? How can we help you with a new build? What does the future look like on this North end? Best ways to purchase a resale home in our current market? What is the latest on Flying Horse North?

(719)886-4800 FHR - NORTH Magazine 4 page Ads.indd 4

2748 North Gate Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80921 | info@flyinghorserealty.com

3/14/22 9:21 AM

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 29

American Premium

meticulously crafted details, it compels action and emotion.

The All-New Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer strike the optimum balance between classic and contemporary—devoted to both their legacies and their futures. After thoughtful refinement, they’re back as a combination of original style, modern comfort and convenience. These are premium SUVs built to exceed every expectation. Grand Wagoneer offers a wealth of features that deeply connect you to your vehicle. Artfully designed and simply intuitive, each piece of technology is an achievement in both style and performance. Everywhere you look, you’ll find something incredible. From classic materials and cuttingedge technology to inviting style and comfort, each interior element was designed to satisfy your senses.

Transform your drive with an advanced level of

preventative technology. Discover the kind of confidence that comes with active safety features, including available autonomous technology and innovative driving systems that help protect everyone on the journey.

Wagoneer Client Experience Truly exceptional vehicles bring truly exceptional benefits. The customer-first Wagoneer Certified Dealer Program is designed to go beyond simple VIP service. From purchase and delivery to maintenance and ownership perks, our certified Wagoneer Ambassadors will take care of every step in your journey. That’s our promise to you and your SUV.

Feel the power and exhilaration that come with outstanding utility and capability. Inspired by the original luxury 4x4 SUV, this is the next chapter in American premium adventure. From every angle, the All-New Grand Wagoneer exudes sophistication and inspiring style. Combining a timeless and confident design with

719.249.2040 | perkinsmotors.com

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

TECHNOLOGY State-of-the-art technology gives you and your passengers personalized control over the cabin. From a next-gen Uconnect® system to front and rear screens, there’s a wealth of standard and available technological innovation at your fingertips.

CAPABILITY In 1963, the original Wagoneer turned the unpaved path into a destination for family and friends. In 2021, the AllNew Wagoneer has returned, pairing its pioneering spirit with legendary available 4x4 capability.

EXTERIOR Wagoneer reinterprets the classic style of its predecessor through modern design. Crafted with simple lines and arches, the exterior was built to offer an authentic look that remains true to its original spirit.

INTERIOR Wagoneer is a full-size, three-row SUV that features available seating up to eight passengers and the Most Overall Passenger Volume in its Class* - Plus, a power folding third row and dynamic storage options give you outstanding flexibility for all your gear.

SAFETY & SECURITY Advanced safety and security features help you protect what matters most. Whether driving on open roads, busy highways or crowded city streets, Wagoneer uses intelligent technology to help keep everyone safe and secure.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 31

OUTLOOK FOR THE 2022 SPRING HOUSING MARKET STILL BULLISH By Marquesa Hobbs, Realtor CNE & MRP “We keep watching for it, but there are absolutely no signs of a slowdown anywhere in the data,” says Mike Simonson Altos Research Prudence dictates we should be looking for the other shoe to drop from what has been a steady and strong two and a half years for Sellers. We know the story: record low interest rates plus low inventory levels driving insatiable demand, but surely, we have caught up. Surely rising interest rates have slowed the market down, right? Not so fast. Three key realities continue to influence our market: •

Low Inventory

•

Homes Are Selling

•

Homes Are Selling Very Quickly

In February, active listings dropped again. Inventory is still lagging – nationally, Realtor.com estimates 5.8 million units. Locally here in El Paso County it is estimated to be around 437. But here is what is interesting: We are selling more homes than we have ever sold before. What they reference as “carry over” listings from the previous month, in Q3 and Q4 of 2021 ranged from 100 to 200 homes. In Q1 of 2022, carry overs have dropped to record lows. What does this mean? For Colorado real estate, it means if it goes on the market, it sells fast. If you are serious about purchasing a home during this upcoming spring season, you will want to be pre-approved, and prepared to make an offer that same day. It is still extremely competitive out there with so many home buyers in the market. What you see in the morning may be under contract by lunchtime.

For Buyers in Colorado, you are not just competing against the locals who are trading up and who have captured a lot of equity in recent years, you are also competing against newcomers to the region who have sold in areas of the country where home prices were double or more what they are here. Their buying power is strong with cash in hand, and the offer packages are loaded with extras for the sellers to consider. Editorial Director, Lance Lambert of Fortune Magazine goes as far as to say, “Industry insiders are throwing out their previous forecasts and replacing them with more bullish shortterm outlooks. Other experts echo the sentiment citing the 2022 spring housing marketing might go down as one of the most competitive on record.” TRUTHS ABOUT THE MARKET TODAY: 1.

Showing time: Beginning 2022, showings are outperforming pre-pandemic levels from the previous three years.

New listings: Realtor.com sees new listings outpacing 2021

More new sellers entered the market in Feb 2022 than this same time last year. Who are they? Millions of Millennials have reached the first-time buying age, and the demand is well beyond available homes. This keeps the pressure on home prices and this demand is not fading. It is increasing.

Seven forecasters all agree and show and average of 6% appreciation for 2022. Some as high at 11% when adjusted when the actual numbers come in later in the year.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

AND WHAT ABOUT MORTGAGE RATES? Home buyers who may be waiting for interest rates to come down again are not likely going to see them much lower than they are today (3.85% - end of Feb 2022). In fact, most experts believe we will see a steady climb from our current rate at the time of this article: 3.85% (end of February 22), inching up into the 4’s. There is a lot of uncertainty in the market on numerous fronts, not the least of which is the overall economy seeing near record inflation. If history has taught us anything about waiting to see if interest rates go further down than those “2s” we saw in 2020, it is that they were not going to go lower. It certainly was fun while it lasted, but since then, we have been on a steady upwards; albeit, slower than many anticipated. Still, here we are at 3.85%. Here is what that looks like for the mortgage payment:

Having an experienced, skilled negotiator for a realtor has never been more important. This is not the market to wing it on your own, or risk missing great opportunities.

A buyer of a median price home in 2022 is paying about $290 more per month than that same home a year ago. For a 30year fixed, that is about $32K more over the course of the loan. If you look at the contributing factors in this market (influx of new buyers/buyers looking to trade-up, and extremely low inventories), you are locked in place by surging pricing. SHOULD YOU BUY A HOME RIGHT NOW? Everyone must consider their situation carefully before making a home purchase decision. However, as it stands today, waiting can cost you. $89,441 is on the table for potential growth in household wealth over the next five years based solely on increased home equity if your purchase at $350K home in early 2022. Source – Home Price Expectation Survey-Q4 2021 Another way to look at it: A home selling at $350K today will sell for $439K in 2027 based on a comparable price appreciation that we are experiencing today. The case for waiting is just not in the current forecasting models.

About Marquesa • Top producing agent at ERA Shields for 2021 • MRP CNE Peak Producers, ERA Leader's Circle Please reach out with questions about the market, your home value, or for a tour of the new communities

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 33

Your Trusted Real Estate Partner for Life.

Luxury Black Forest & North Springs Communities · Home Buying · Home Selling · 2nd Home Investment Properties/1031 Exchanges · New Builds · Executive, Corporate & Military Relocation

Marquesa Hobbs

Realtor, CNE & MRP 719.238.0330 MHobbs@ERAShields.com

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 35

eople

NORTH 36

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

AMAZING

PEOPLE OF

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 37

NORTH COVER FEATURE

Jack Damioli

PRESIDENT/CEO THE BROADMOOR By Pam Bales, Senior Writer

alking into the historic and exquisite Penrose Suite, Jack Damioli might not be what one expects when he introduces himself as the President and CEO of the Forbes five-star, AAA five-diamond internationally renowned, 104-year-old Broadmoor Hotel and Resort. The tall, fit and unassuming gentleman exudes a quiet, authentic air of kindness and courtesy.

“

Make no mistake, though, Damioli is passionate about caring for The Broadmoor, its employees whom he refers to as family and, most of all, its guests. Friendly, warm and welcoming service is truly the hallmark of a Broadmoor experience, and it is the responsibility of every member of the team, according to Damioli. He describes his career in the hospitality industry he loves, as “more fortunate than most.” It’s not a coincidence that it is like the quote about Tiger Woods, “better than most.” Damioli got his start in the hospitality industry at a golf course…at the ripe age of ten.

There is a great honor in overseeing the stewardship of a 100+ year old institution.

It’s truly living history.”

“I’m from a very small town in Ohio,” explains Damioli. “I used to ride my bike to a nearby golf course and thought golf looked fun. I pestered Ben McMullin (the golf pro and co-owner) for months to let me work for him. I think I just wore him down eventually, so he let me shag balls for him – by hand. The most fun I had in that job is when I would go out with my outfielder’s mitt and try to catch the balls Mr. McMullin was hitting on the range. 38

I was hooked.” He learned to play golf from his mentor and went on to play in high school and college, always coming back to work at the golf course – over 12 years in total, during this period. DAMIOLI’S JOURNEY HAS ONE VERY CONSISTENT theme running through it, his dedication to excellence – whether it is a guest experience, his relationship with private family owners and boards, or inspiring that philosophy in his colleagues and staff. “I believe that independent, historic hotels, such as The Broadmoor, attract a different type of employee – and I’m no exception,” emphasizes Damioli. “These individuals are service-oriented, humble, hardworking and genuinely enjoy being around people. There is a great honor in overseeing the stewardship of a 100+ year old institution. It’s truly living history.” Damioli’s career path was going to be in the golf industry, because of his love of the sport. Starting at the famed Greenbrier located in White Sulphur Springs, WV, his first position was as the bag room supervisor. “Yes, here I was fresh out of college with a master’s degree, and I was thrilled. Employee housing was within walking distance of the golf club, and I had three courses to play after work. It was a great opportunity, and I could not have asked for more. It was the home of legendary golfer, Sam Snead, and I had my sights set on a career in golf,” laughs Damioli. As fall was giving way to winter in 1983, The Greenbrier General Manager approached Damioli to take a position at the front desk of the resort. That’s when he fell in love with the hospitality business and his career veered off the golf path. Damioli says he worked in every position they had at The Greenbrier until he ended up as General Manager and stayed at the resort for over 23 years of his career. The property was divested by its railroad owners, and he decided to make a move, finding another historic resort and golf club, The Gasparilla Inn & Club in Boca Grande, Florida. Damioli took on the challenge of restoring this 96-year-old resort on this tiny little island in Florida for the next seven years. “I had no intention of leaving that little slice of heaven,” says Damioli. “This opportunity really developed my entrepreneurial spirit, and I am still so proud of the team we put together to bring the resort back to life. The resort was situated on

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

this beautiful island that time forgot in every positive sense of the word. It was also gratifying to work with private ownership of the property and see their joy from our success.” But then, an old friend, Steve Bartolin, called with an invitation to visit The Broadmoor and catch up. “This is the strangest thing; our fathers had worked together in an Ohio factory for more than 42 years. We didn’t know each other growing up in Ohio, but did work together at The Greenbrier in the late 1980s when he was the GM and I was in conference services,” notes Damioli. Later, Damioli said he would call Bartolin weekly as he was rebirthing The Gasparilla Inn & Club and use him as a sounding board for ideas. The Gaylord family had recruited Bartolin 20+ years prior to Damioli’s coming to The Broadmoor. “I came to visit The Broadmoor in the summer of 2013 when Steve was the President and CEO under the Anschutz Family ownership,” Damioli explains. “As we were walking around the lake, we ran into Mr. Anschutz, I thought what a nice person, a true gentleman.” Later in the visit, Bartolin invited him to come by the office, and Mr. Anschutz was there, and the three of them had a wonderful chat. After their meeting, Steve invited him to lunch and asked if he would be interested in joining The Broadmoor family. Damioli said, “yes, absolutely,” without any hesitation. DAMIOLI BEGAN WITH THE BROADMOOR IN 2014 AS VICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE RESORT. And, in March of 2021, Damioli became the seventh President & CEO of the landmark hotel (since 1918), as his friend, and mentor, Bartolin moved into the chairperson role. Although the weather can be a bit cooler than Florida, Damioli says he and his wife love the beautiful hiking trails, where they hike several times a week. He still loves the game of golf and plays whenever he gets the chance. “Having always lived in small towns, I was a little concerned about moving to a big city,” Damioli comments with a smile. “When I got here, I was so amazed by the friendliness of Colorado Springs. It truly is the biggest small town I’ve ever experienced.” “The history of this property is so fascinating to me,” says Damioli. “There have only been three owners of The Broadmoor since Mr. Penrose built the original 250 room hotel, in the middle of nowhere in 1918. To me, the Gaylord Family, and now the Anschutz Family, have embodied the spirit that Spencer and Julie Penrose started by supporting and developing the entire Colorado Springs community, not just their resort.” To that end, Damioli is well-aware of a new generation of guests discovering The Broadmoor. “Our history and traditions are special, but we also want to be relevant and authentic in what we offer our guests,” he says. “Everyone enjoys luxury experiences and being pampered, but we’ve really pushed the boundaries of the traditional resort experience by offering a wide variety of unique adventures guests can enjoy…from Cloud Camp (a mountain top retreat), Emerald Valley Ranch (an upscale dude ranch) to our Fly Fishing Camp (5 miles of private fishing stream), as well as Seven Falls (a beautiful boxed-walled canyon park), the Soaring Adventure (two zip line courses) and the Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway (one of only two cog railroads in the U.S.).

DAMIOLI TAKES HIS ROLE OF MENTORING SERIOUSLY. “I believe we truly have the best team of people working at our resort, a true family,” emphasizes Damioli. “We always look for those individuals who are friendly, warm and welcoming and want to be of service and have a career in hospitality. In this process, it is our responsibility to make sure they have the right development for them to grow their career with us. Even before the workforce shortage we’ve experienced in our country, we’ve always encouraged motivated, caring individuals to get into our industry. There are Photography by: Gary Caskey so many amazing and diverse career paths in hospitality.” A true leader, Damioli says he makes it to “about 98%” of employee orientations to welcome the newest team members to the family. “It is an honor and privilege to be associated with The Broadmoor. They just don’t make resorts like this anymore,” says Damioli. “What truly keeps our guests coming back is our people. It’s not the chandelier that hangs in the main lobby or the spectacular art collection throughout the property – it is how our people take care of every single one of our guests each and every day.” Jack Damioli supports his industry and his community, serving on numerous boards. One of the most impactful programs close to his heart is The Broadmoor’s food rescue program. Working with the city, as well as local hotels and restaurants, the project really took off in 2019 and is going strong with food donated to the Colorado Springs Rescue Mission. The Broadmoor alone rescued more than 30,000 pounds of good, nutritious food to the mission since inception. Damioli is married to his wife Rachel, and they have two grown daughters who both live and work in Colorado.

In addition to overseeing this 5-star resort and golf course, NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 39

THE COLORADO GOLF HALL OF FAME IS RELOCATING THE BROADMOOR GOLF CLUB IN 2023. Since its founding in 1973, the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame has inducted 144 men and women whose accomplishments have had a profound impact on Colorado golf; and since opening in 2004, the clubhouse at the Riverdale Golf Courses in Brighton has served as home to the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame Museum. “We have great a relationship with Riverdale and appreciate the generosity of Adams County and General Manager Steve Bruening in providing the space for 17 years,” Hood says. “But we are running out of room there, and the opportunity to relocate to The Broadmoor is difficult to pass up.” The move will be the first of three major Hall-related events scheduled at the resort that year. The other two are the nonprofit organization’s annual fundraising tournament and its Golden Anniversary gala. “This process began as the board considered how to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary,” Colorado Golf Hall of Fame President Kevin Hood explains. “Given The Broadmoor’s impeccable reputation in golf and hospitality—plus the stellar job it did hosting the Century of Golf Gala in 2015 and the Hale Irwin Medal dinner two years ago— the choice was obvious.” Nor did it take long for Hall of Fame Vice President and banquet committee chair Mark Passey to get an enthusiastic response from The Broadmoor about hosting the 2023 events. During discussions with The Broadmoor President/CEO Jack Damioli and Director of Golf Russ Miller, “the conversation turned to the possibility of moving the Hall to The Broadmoor permanently,” Passey explains.

It’s hard to imagine a more perfect fit. The Colorado Golf Hall of Fame’s mission is to recognize excellence…past, present and future, and The Broadmoor has dedicated itself to delivering its guests exceptional service, uncompromising excellence and distinctive amenities since opening its doors—and Donald Ross-designed golf course—in 1918. That pedigree already beams from cherry- wood-framed glass cases in the stunning Heritage Hallway leading from the Broadmoor Golf Shop to its plush Golf Grille. Plans for the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame—which will occupy the highceilinged atrium of the main Golf Club Complex and the long east-west corridor entered from the northwest corner—call for a similarly refined presentation on an even grander scale. “The Colorado Golf Hall of Fame is honored by this partnership with The Broadmoor to provide a wonderful home for the museum,” Passey says. “It will allow us to chronicle the history of Colorado golf in a dynamic way, celebrate the achievements of those we’ve enshrined and inspire future generations of golfers.” “The Broadmoor is very proud of our long and rich golf history and believe that the Hall of Fame has found a fitting new home at our resort,” agrees Damioli. “We look forward to sharing the many individuals from Colorado who have impacted the game of golf, their unique stories and memorabilia for everyone to enjoy in the future.”

Hidden Gems • History is on display at The Broadmoor if you know where to look. The International Center sits on what used to be Polo Fields. And the maintenance facilities used to be the horse stables. • Have you been down Celebrity Corridor? It dates back decades with a particularly unique picture of the back of Jackie Gleason – you’ll recognize it!

• Have lunch at the Golf Club Grille and you may run into Colorado Springs’ own golf celebrity – Dow Finsterwald. The pro golfer served for 28 years as the PGA director of golf at The Broadmoor. He won 12 PGA Tour events, including the 1958 PGA ChampionNORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

ship in the first year it went to medal play. Dow made the Ryder Cup teams of 1957, ’59, ’61 and ’63; captained the 1977 Ryder Cup team among his many golf accomplishments. • Did you know The Broadmoor offers zip lines with rope bridges, rock climbing, mountain biking and of course the new rage – pickle ball? • Colorado residents receive a big thank you from The Broadmoor every January and February with discounted rates as low as $189 per night. • The Broadmoor hosts over 10-12 charity golf tournaments each year including the Colorado Springs Mayor’s Cup.

PEOPLE OF NORTH - VOLUNTEER EXCELLENCE

FAMILIES HELPING

FAMILIES By Rebecca Frith

“It doesn’t take much,” Ally’s mom offers as she adds olive oil to the pasta. Ally Frith and Abigail Sjobeck, members of the Colorado Springs chapter of the National Charity League (NCL), work side-by-side with their mothers, Rebecca and Tracy, to prepare a spaghetti dinner. Like most teenagers, the girls have busy schedules, and this time together with their moms on a Saturday afternoon is rare. The pairs enjoy this opportunity to chat about school, brush up on cooking skills, and work together to help other Colorado families. Each night volunteers like Ally and Abigail assist Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado in providing a warm, nutritious meal for its guests. The bright, beautifully decorated house is a home-away-from-home for up to 20 families of seriously ill or injured children receiving care at local medical facilities. Through generous local donations, the Ronald McDonald House is equipped with cozy sitting areas, teen spaces, laundry rooms, a playground, and a spacious kitchen and dining area where families can gather and share what the charity calls “Meals that Mend.” You may have donated to Ronald McDonald Charities in the past by dropping change in a drive-thru collection box or shopping for toys during the holidays. What you may not know is that there are many other ways to get involved. According to Communications Director, Captain Dan, most of the home’s operations are supported by volunteers from organizations like NCL, schools, and businesses as well as individuals within our community. Captain Dan shares that the message to guest families is, “We take care of the minutiae so you can focus on your child.” Adults and children 10 years and older can pitch in to help with cleaning, yard care, cooking, and other special projects. It is a fun way to spend time together, teach new skills, and care for families in our community. The charity also collects soda can pop tabs, which is another way that Ally and Abigail support its work. They both admit to seeing their moms gather tabs from cans at parties and sporting events. Every tab helps! Visit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado website for more information on how to get involved through donations, event support, and on-site help. As Ally and Abigail learned, volunteering is like cooking ingredients. It doesn’t take much to make a difference.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 41

NORTH SPECIAL FEATURE In recent months, NORTH has been working with several state and local agencies to better understand this evil that lingers just under the surface in our culture. This is not a far-away problem. Some form of it is present in nearly every community around the world. To put this in perspective, this industry’s annual blood money surpasses Amazon’s annual revenues on a global scale. Last edition, you met Sues Hess, from Reclaiming Hope. This is one of many people and groups working tirelessly to help victims of Human Trafficking. This month, we’ll get a little more into what is Human Trafficking and who is vulnerable. The following is a small section of Sues presentation that help listeners become more aware of how significant this issue is. More to come…

RECLAIMING HOPE By Sues Hess, Executive Director – Reclaiming Hope

rafficking is something that no one wants to have touch their lives. But it has been touching lives for centuries. It happens in every country, every day. Trafficking is now a $150 billion industry. You can sell a body over and over. Guns and drugs can only be sold once. Human trafficking involves commercial sex acts or labor/services that are induced through force, fraud, or coercion, regardless of whether transportation occurs. Because much is done in secret, true numbers aren’t known. It is estimated that there are well over 40 million enslaved worldwide today. That’s more than the entire population of California!

IS IT PRESENT IN EL PASO COUNTY? In 2020, our local Human Trafficking law enforcement Task Force, a multi-agency group, received over 300 tips. They initiated 180 investigations from those tips. It IS happening right here, where we live. One officer shared with us: “There are multiple sexual exploitation events in each high school each year (in El Paso County) that meet the definition of Human Trafficking.”

•

The average age, nationally, for a girl to be lured into sex trafficking for the first time is between 12 and 14, and 46 percent of them have met the person who’s approaching them.

•

Within 48 hours of being on the street, 1/3 of youth will be approached by a trafficker.

•

90% of all children trafficked inside the US are US citizens.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

Vulnerabilities • Between 70 and 90 percent of the victims have a history of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. • Children raised in foster care have a greater chance of becoming victims. • Children can be made vulnerable by the adults in their lives. If a child is loved, cared for, and taken care of, they are much less likely to get lured into sex trafficking.

Recruitment Tactics • 32% were trafficked by their intimate partner • 29% were trafficked by their own families • The rest: a job offer/ advertisement, someone posing as a benefactor, or false promises/fraud

WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? We strongly encourage you to contact Reclaiming Hope the get to know more about Hope Bags. These small, but significant contributions are often the first small steps on Victim’s long road to recovery. For them, it’s about dignity. And YOU can be a part of their recovery!

Reclaiming-Hope.org NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 43

50% OFF FOR

Students & Military For a limited time STUDENTS and MILITARY

receive 50% OFF at Buttermilk MONDAY - THURSDAY! (With valid Student ID or Military ID)

BOGO BURGERS & ENTREES BUY ONE BURGER

GET ONE FREE

BUY ONE ENTREE

GET ONE FREE

OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE Valid with digital or printed North Magazine coupon only. Valid after 4PM Monday-Friday. Not valid on holidays. Limit one discount per coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Expires 5/31/22

13141 PRO DRIVE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80921 | 719-309-9840 | BUTTERMILKEATERY.COM 44 BASS NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

O P E N D A I LY | 7: 0 0 A M - 8 : 0 0 P M | F U L L M E N U AVA I L A B L E A L L D AY

FREE SUNSET PATIO SESSIONS START MAY 4 DOORS OPEN 5:00PM | HAPPY HOUR 5:00 – 6:00PM | MUSIC 6:00 – 8:00PM

BOOTBARNHALL.COM 719-401-0600 13071 Bass Pro Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80921 @bootbarnhall

VIP MEMBERS GET

20% OFF

VIP.BOOTBARNHALL.COM

NEXT GENERATION LEADERS

Meet Shreya Krishnan Senior at Discovery Canyon Campus When you meet Shreya (pronounced Shrāy-a), you’re met with a gentle, playful spirit who immediately draws you in. She is confident, extremely polite, articulate. Her zest for life is simply effervescent. Born in Michigan, to mother Krithika and father, Prashant, the young family moved to Colorado Springs when Shreya was five. She entered Discovery Canyon Campus (DCC) as a Kindergartner and has been there throughout her schooling. She calls it her “home away from home” having spent 13 years, and countless additional hours for extracurricular activities. “My earliest memories in childhood are of my room in Michigan – it had clouds painted on the walls. We called it “clouds room”. Another would be me making videos of myself and creating commercials inspired by The Food Network. My first invention as a child was a must-have utensil called the “spoon-puter” (pronounced: put-er) – a portable spoon, so you never have to worry about not having a spoon in a restaurant or whenever else you may have a need for one,” Krishnan says with a giggle. ACADEMICS “One of the special things about DCC is the sense of community. The design makes for an easier transition from elementary to middle – middle to high school. As a student, you interact and get to know students in other grades for many years. You become closer to people you wouldn’t otherwise know. I thrived in that environment,” Shreya explains. Shreya points out another value she’s learned: “Taking risks is something you learn in IB (International Baccalaureate) school. It applies in academics, the arts, in life. You put yourself out there and take a chance. I’ve not gotten every part I wanted, but I’ve also soared because I employ this specific trait of taking a risk!” All my teachers throughout my schooling influenced me in a positive way. I specifically recall my second and fourth grade teachers seeing where I could excel and steered me in those directions. That is a theme throughout life at DCC.” Shreya uses sports as a form of relaxation and calming, specifically swimming. For a short time, she played competitive tennis, until a significant leg injury would keep her off the courts. While she misses the competitiveness of tennis, she now enjoys both activities for fun and socializing. MUSIC & THE PERFORMING ARTS Her biggest passion is music and the performing arts. Starting at age three, Shreya recalls dancing under her mother’s tute46

lage, then later joining the Colorado Springs Conservatory. “It’s a powerful outlet for me,” Shreya outlines. “I’ve learned classical [East] Indian dance and music, violin, guitar, piano, singing, and acting. In each of these areas, I find a unique solace. These artistic outlets have also brought discipline to my academic and personal life. I learned: If I’m ten-minutes early, I’m on time. But, if I’m on time, I’m late. This has spilled over into nearly every aspect of my life and is one of many lessons learned from the Conservatory.” She continues, “I would never have performed at Carnegie Hall on my own at 15, if taking risks and lessons from the Conservatory had not been a part of my training. Thousands of people from around the world auditioned with only 100 other performers being selected. And I made it! We were on Carnegie’s biggest stage that night in a packed house. We performed several different repertoire pieces in different languages, and in voices ranging from soprano to tenor, bass – male and female, all coming together. Amazing! It is such a different level of experience to hear that incredible sound that is specific to Carnegie Hall. It was humbling to sing on that stage where world-renown artists perform, and to learn about Andrew Carnegie.” When asked where does this all lead? She says with a big smile, “I would love to win a Grammy Award someday.” INTERACTING & LEADING IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD Shreya shares how she and her friend group are curious and accepting of all backgrounds, “That’s the great thing about the United States – it’s a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds. I love my cultural heritage, my Indian dresses, and sharing that with my friends. I enjoy explaining Diwali (Festival of Lights) and learning about other unique backgrounds. Each year, I perform an authentic Indian song in Indian dress at school, and people say how much they enjoy the performance. I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve never been made to feel different or excluded.” Shreya shares she and her contemporaries have developed an

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

open mind for navigating challenging topics of the day. “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It’s important to feel you have a safe place to talk about ideas and thoughts. We don’t always agree with one another. People have different perspectives and context for things. As a leader, you must be able to hear people through, use your own critical thinking, respect that they may not agree with you. Sometimes you can talk it through, and other times, you may need to have a seat and just listen or stick with your convictions and knowledge.”

STRIKING A BALANCE AND HAVING AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK

Shreya’s foundations are consistent and will follow her wherever she goes. She recognizes everything you want to do in life has a business apparatus that drives it to be successful or otherwise. Her passion for both the creative and strategic side of marketing is apparent. Shreya explains, “I love to understand market segmentation, as well as the creative reasons that make one idea better than another. Marketing is one area of business that fills both buckets: strategic and creative.”

“And I love to bake. I love the precision it takes to make things right! I also love to paint – especially silhouettes. But at the end of the day, I love to plan for the next day,” she laughs. “Organizing, color coding, detailing, scheduling.”

She directs credit for her interest in creative and strategic marketing to her mother, where as a youngster, she attended her mom’s professional meetings with “one ear open”. “I saw the way she led people toward creative solutions. From my younger perspective, I saw people responding to her positively, with respect. I admired that – it felt good,” Shreya reflects. “I want to be like her in that way. I love the detail and competitiveness required in business. I’m curious to learn how and why some organizations do better than others and what drives certain decisions,” she says. SERVICE, ANTIBULLYING & SUICIDE PREVENTION “Starting in elementary school, I worked with special needs kids, and we chose an Indian dance. I recall one girl who was confined to a wheelchair, so we worked around this to create a performance she could do from beginning to end. I remember her giving me a big hug. That experience triggered something in me,” Shreya shares. One topic that is far more accessible to young people now is mental health. The stigmas surrounding depression, high stress, being bullied socially, physically, or on social media, are topics students are willing to deal with openly. Shreya’s DECA team project was in conjunction with Mental Health Colorado where they raised $11,000 using the testimonials of area Olympians as a platform to openly discuss mental health. She also serves as National Youth Ambassador for the Tyler Clementi Foundation and her efforts led to the successful recruitment of one million upstanders nationally to stand up against bullying.

“My main therapy is piano. I love contemporary music of Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, Kelly Clarkson, and others. I enjoy writing songs but have gained a new appreciation for what it takes to do it successfully. It’s not easy,” she shares.

In conclusion, the former Olympic Torch bearer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games who represented the country in the Olympic Torch Relay in Ancient Olympia Greece, strives hard to embody the Olympic values of respect, excellence, and friendship in her daily life. Shreya summarizes a discussion had in a history class: “There are so many change agents for good out there. When we as young people work together and are passionate about what we want to do in life, we can make meaningful change in the world, so I’m very optimistic about what the future holds.” Shreya recounts two of many strong lessons from home: “Live in the moment and live to the fullest. And second, “Be fearlessly authentic!” Once you start living your authentic life – being our authentic self, you find happiness and stop trying to please or be like others. What matters is what kind of person you are: having a kind heart, having humility, and serving others.” Shreya has not selected her college yet but will choose a place that prepares her for the modern business world and political science, as well as one that fuels her passions for music and the arts. Later this year, she will return to Carnegie Hall. This is her fourth invitation to perform.

AWARD & HONORS •

Olympic Torch Bearer for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

•

President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award

•

2022 Coca-Cola Scholar

•

National Honor Society Scholarship Recipient

•

DECA Emerging Leader National Award

•

National and Regional Gold Medalist Royal Conservatory Music Exams

•

American Protégé International Voice Competition Second Place Winner

•

National Youth Ambassador of Tyler Clementi Foundation

•

Girls State and Girls Nation Colorado Senator

•

2020 Music Teacher National Association (MTNA) State Voice Competition Winner

•

2019 Rising Stars State Voice Competition Winner

•

National Anthem Singer at American Cemetery in Normandy, France; Arlington National Cemetery; and Pikes Peak Summit House at 14,115 ft

•

National and Southwest American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Honor Choir Singer, All State Honors Choir Singer

CLUBS/NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETIES •

2021-22 DECA Colorado State Publicity Director

•

DECA Chapter President

•

Tri-M Music Honor Society Vice President

•

National Honor Society Member

•

Future Business Leaders of America Club Member

CERTIFICATIONS/ SPECIAL SKILLS •

IB Career Pathways Program Student

•

Student of Utopia Arts Fellowship, Washington, D.C.; The Juilliard School Voice Enrichment Program; Interlochen Academy of the Arts, Michigan, Voice Program; The Metropolitan Opera Summer Program

•

GPA: 4.65

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 49

PEOPLE OF NORTH COMMUNITY LEADERS

Terri Hayes MPA, President & CEO

Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce July 4, 2011, Terri Hayes was the owner of 10 ‘til 2 Part-Time Staffing. She had finished riding the Monument 4th of July Parade as Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce’s (TLCC) volunteer Ambassador of the Year. Walking through the fair enjoying the small-town festival, she had no idea seven days later, she would be the Chamber’s Interim Executive Director. At the time, she was an ambassador for TLCC, for the Colorado Springs Chamber, as well as a Board Member for the So. Co. Women’s Chamber. But that’s where her experience running a chamber ended.

About Terri

BS in Business, Master of Public Administration, University of Maryland, Global Campus.

While serving as Interim, Terri decided to officially apply for the position. “I was not fulfilled running my business and was a little bored. However, I loved the entrepreneurial aspect of running a business, non-profits, and I had some experience in Chamber work. I saw it as one of those great opportunities that accidentally lands in your lap, even if at the time I didn’t recognize I needed it in my life,” Hayes said.

Being a part of community is important to Terri. She is involved with almost every aspect of northern El Paso County business, including in the Towns of Monument and Palmer Lake, the school district, non-profits, and other organizations.

As an owner, Terri became familiar with small businesses and their challenges. She spent time as Senior District Manager for Independent Capital Management, leading and training a team of 25. And she worked as a nationwide Corporate Trainer with Coram Healthcare.

“Being able to walk to shops and restaurants, seeing business owners at the local grocery store and getting honks hello when I walk my dog, is what being part of a community is all about. You can be sure I will do what I can to do what’s best for our local businesses,” Terri shares.

Add to this experience, two stints as a volunteer firefighter/ paramedic, commercial/hotel interior designer, and 15 years’ experience in non-profits - this combined eclectic experience and a good business mind made TLCC a natural fit. Originally from suburban Seattle, Terri has lived in several western states and in England before moving to Colorado in 2007. Tri-Lakes is not just her workplace, it’s her home. She lives in downtown Monument with rescue dog Sebastian. The Chamber is an advocate for business, helping businesses succeed and prosper through networking, internet exposure, advertising opportunities, education, one-on-one introductions, and referrals. Terri works to coordinate the resources and talents of local businesses and the community toward economic development and revitalization efforts. She serves on many local boards and committees, to keep on top of what is going on in the community.

Chamber Growth & Expansion

Under Terri’s leadership, the chamber has grown from 200 members to around 500 members. TLCC moved to a 3,500 sq ft downtown Monument location, which allowed growth of their visitor center in size and accessibility. Several years ago, she took over the running of the Tri-Lakes Economic Development Corporation. The Downtown Monument Merchants Association will soon be moving under Tri-Lakes Chamber, where that association can flourish.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

PEOPLE OF NORTH INSPIRATIONAL STORIES

Out of the Bottle And Back to Life THOMAS’ STORY OF RECOVERY Thomas felt overwhelmed his first night at Springs Rescue Mission — but IT WAS THE NIGHT HE STARTED HIS JOURNEY OF RECOVERY. “I wasn’t an experienced homeless person,” he said. “I didn’t know how to do this.” By the time Thomas was a teenager, he was living as an adult. He got a job in roofing and set out on his own, eventually marrying and moving from his home state of Iowa to Gloucester, Massachusetts. In Gloucester, Thomas began doing cocaine — causing irreparable harm to his marriage and his livelihood. When he did eventually give up drugs, he turned to whiskey as a substitute. Desperate for a new start, Thomas boarded a bus to Colorado Springs; but plans fell apart quickly and he quickly became homeless. Depression led him to drink more, and his heavy drinking kept him from working. For years, he hid from the world in a nearby homeless encampment. “I knew about SRM, but I stayed away,” he said. “I wanted to drink my beers, smoke my cigarettes and do my hustle.” When the encampment was busted up by the cops in 2017, Thomas finally turned to Springs Rescue Mission for help — eventually realizing there was a better life for him as a sober man. “I started going to meetings,” he said. “I wanted what they had. That’s when I made my mind up that I was getting out of here.” Thomas went to 12-step meetings and got sober for the first time in decades. But when the pandemic interrupted his work and social life, Thomas returned to the bottle for comfort. “I ended up in a hotel room with two half-gallons of whiskey,” he said. “It took me two or three months to slow down, but something stopped me.” Thomas returned to the Mission in late 2020. He got back into meetings and surrounded himself with an encouraging community. Transformation seemed possible again. “I knew this was a place I could get help.” he said. “So I put down the booze and got to work.” Thomas became a model guest, began working again and in 2021 completed SRM’s four-month program for addiction recovery and moved into permanent housing. He would someday like to work for the Mission — helping others like himself.

“

I JUST HAVE THIS FEELING THAT GOD HAS BIG THINGS FOR ME,” HE SAID. “I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE I HAVE A PURPOSE,” HE SAID. NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 51

NORTH ealth&wellness

Two Convenient Locations Monument 719.488.1101

Cordera 719.282.6666

Orthodontics | Pediatric Dentistry

Smile mysmilehq.com New Monument Location Coming Soon

Dr. Nielsen

Dr. Carubia

Dr. Erickson

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 53

Nothing is more important than staying connected to the people you love. Here at A Better Hearing Center, we’re proud to do this everyday for our patients, and we’re ready to do the same for you.

Better Hearing • • • •

Hearing Tests Hearing Aid Repair Tinnitus Management Custom Hearing Protection • Assistive Listening Devices • Ear Wax Management

Jim Stobaugh, HAD, HAS, NBC-HIS, BA

Monument, CO | Phone: 719-900-5599 | ABetterHearingCenter.com 54

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

NORTH SPECIAL HEALTH FEATURE

LIBERTY HEIGHTS SENIOR LIVING AT ITS FINEST

inding the right senior living community to fit your long-term needs is vital to a happy and comfortable future. This process can be both exciting and arduous at the same time. However, there are many resources to make this task less monumental. Whether you are seeking a new home for yourself or looking for a loved one, oftentimes the most difficult place to be is where to start. Assessing you or your loved one’s long-term goals, location in the city and proximity to family are all key components that will make your decision much easier. When it comes to care on the North side of Colorado Springs, Liberty Heights has you or your loved one covered. This unique model of senior living known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community or CCRC houses every level of care you or your loved one may ever need. Our campus has Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing and Rehab, and Longterm Care. We feature a robust and exciting Independent Living that offers spacious one and two bedroom luxury apartments with private balconys and two and three bedroom patio homes, many with fenced in yards and attached garages. Our Independent Living units all come with full size kitchens, in unit full size washer and dryers and cozy gas log fireplaces to snuggle up by on those cold winter nights. The patio homes come with an attached garage and an extra parking space all while being connected to the main building by climate controlled hallways. This unique design gives residents the ability to walk to the in-house restaurant, pool, and fitness center or participate in activities without ever having to step foot outside. The best part is that no matter what floor our residents live on, they are always on a ground level. The Assisted Living area of our community provides residents with a specialized care plan designed by our nurse that fits the individual need of the resident. No two people are alike, so would should the services they receive be that way? Our

spacious one and two bedroom units provide residents with the privacy that they deserve and the service they have come to expect. Housekeeping and laundry services are provided to all residents in assisted living along with a caring and dedicated staff to meet their needs. “When memories fade, it’s the moments that count” is our motto for our secured Memory Care community. Our award winning Embrace memory care program is an innovative approach to seniors living with Dementia. Working to build authentic interactions with residents, community staff take a hands on approach with each resident both individually and as a group. This groundbreaking program incorporates things such as essential oils, unique reading activities, daily exercise and community gardening to help increase the quality of our residents lives. The Skilled Nursing and Rehab area of our community works with on-site rehabilitation services to get you or your loved one back on your feet in no time. We offer Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy seven days a week, specifically tailored to meet the needs of the patient. We are proud to say that we are a Five Star Medicare rated community, so you know that you or your loved one are receiving the best care possible. Our campus offers breathtaking views of the front range mountains and the Air Force Academy no matter what style or size home you choose. Amenities included are meals, housekeeping service, 24 hour security staffed, emergency response systems in each unit, utilities and basic cable TV, transportation to doctor appointments, shopping, out to dinner excursions and activities and events. Schedule your tour today to see what Liberty Heights has to offer or just to find out what senior living is all about. (719)481 H-9494.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 55

NORTH SPECIAL HEALTH FEATURE

Elevating Eye Care Using ResearchBased Solutions Pine Creek Vision Optometrist Brings World-Class Training & Skills to Colorado Springs for Pediatrics & People with Special Needs Eye Health Kassaundra Johnston, OD, FAAO, completed her Doctor of Optometry degree in Houston, Texas at University of Houston College of Optometry (UHCO). Immediately following, she completed residency in Brain Injury Vision Rehab, which exposed her to a concentration of highneed patients, many of whom had a stroke, a traumatic brain injury, concussion, and neurodegenerative diseases including MS and Parkinson’s. Another section of her patients included patients with special needs, since there’s an overlap in how you examine brain injury patients, and those with special needs. And finally, pediatric patients requiring advanced eye diagnostics and care. This is not typical training or a common rotation for an optometrist. These patients require highly specialized, researched-based solutions that can help patients correct as much of their vision as possible. In this realm of care, Dr. Johnston sees patients with eye turn (strabismus amblyopia, maldevelopment of their vision, babies who had cataracts, and other more complex conditions. Motivated by a gap in the availability of eye care for the aforementioned population, Dr. Johnston became more involved by joining the faculty at UHCO. “I saw the need for specialized care, so this opportunity would allow me to join others in creating real-world solution for these various patients. I literally stopped my residency on a Friday and started as faculty on the next Monday. Under the Pediatrics department, I started and become director of the SNAPS clinic, (Special Needs Adult Pediatric Service). As the only credentialed optometrist, I served two major hospitals in Houston where I was brought in for weekly consults located in inpatient rehab for acute care, ranging from verbal to non-verbal, and a myriad of trauma and neurological issues that could adversely affect vision.” Dr. Johnston states. Typically, a patient would be set up for speech, physical, or occupational therapy and often, patients would be referred to us for a functional vision assessment – in effect, we were a part of the team. These ranged from standard 56

Background & PEDS Kassaundra Johnston, O.D., F.A.A.O Schreiner University in Kerrville, TX Magnum Cum Laude, Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry Doctor of Optometry - University of Houston, College of Optometry (UHCO) Residency in Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation at UHCO Clinical Assistant Professor and Attending at UHCO providing patient care and education in Specialty Pediatrics and Binocular Vision, Brain Injury Vision Assessment & Rehabilitation Service, and the Family Practice Service Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry Previous Director, UHCO SNAPS: Special Needs Adult and Pediatric Service Previous Director, UHCO Pediatrics and Binocular Vision Service Previous Director, UHCO Neurooptometric Rehabilitation Service Current Lecturer for C.E. programs Previous Course Master for Pediatrics II and Neuro-optometry

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

eye exams, then on to cater patients with specialized therapies with their eye problems if they were diagnosed. Like any other community its size, there is a need for specialists who can treat more complex optometric issues in El Paso County. As Dr. Johnston settles into Colorado Springs, she has begun a tour, meeting area physicians and with the health systems to become credentialed beginning early 2023.

“

For now, we’re focused on creating awareness around this higher standard of care for non-surgical eye care among those who have children, patients with special needs, and those who’ve experienced brain injury,” Johnston shares.

PART 1: EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT & PEDIATRIC EYE CARE Children born with blurry vision, do not know and cannot articulate that they have blurry vision. For them, that is their normal. And it should be noted here, not every infant with blurry vision has an advanced clinical need. Babies naturally have blurry vision, and it simply gets better on its own over time. Discernment and clinical support are key to determining whether there’s a need to intervene or not. If the natural blurry vision does not go away by the third year of life, there is quite a bit of research available regarding clarity of vision and childhood vision development in just everyday use of your body that gives us clues if something more substantial is occurring. “I usually tell parents, young children can complain about everything, except blurry vision. They’ll complain about their shirt being uncomfortable, their shoes being too tight, their food not tasting good, but seldom about blurry vision because they’ve not ever known clear vision. They simply have no other paradigm from which to compare their current vision to what it ought to be,” states Johnston. “Typically, how children end up here, is after they have failed a vision screening in elementary school or at the pediatrician’s office at five years old. That’s five years of them making their own accommodations to navigate their world. It’s not anyone’s fault. If you don’t know what to look for, these very subtle signs are easy to miss,” Johnston assures. She continues, “An extreme example would be if a patient has blurry vision, children may have a delay in walking because they are uncomfortable in their surroundings. They just don’t see the world as we do yet, so they feel less confident in standing up, in balancing because they can’t see the floor. Things as simple as grasping in the development stages, early on, before they start walking, how they grab things could be compromised. If a child can’t see the target, they might not actually develop that grasp, or that grab feature in development as early or as accurately.” Children will often make accommodations by moving closer to the object for example, to achieve better clarity, so it’s hard to tell at first. Johnston goes on, “I believe the general population has a

healthy understanding of how systemic diseases, i.e., Diabetes and high blood pressure, can affect the eye negatively. In more complex cases, within the special needs population, an eye exam may present a finding that is the first indicator of a diagnosing a whole syndrome. For example, patients may have optic nerve anomalies that can coincide to systemic issues. Sometimes when they have reduced vision, we find something wrong with the optic nerve, which can have a neuro or systemic association and can be a whole disease, not just an eye problem. I dealt with a lot of different brain abnormalities whether it’s something diagnosed before the vision test or vice versa. Most of them that had a brain issue would be referred to me because I have the neuro experience. Even if they’re infants, I still understand the neuro aspect of how that all plays a part in their vision development. Other patients come with cortical/cerebral visual impairment, or CVI. If any patient of any age born with anoxic brain injury due to umbilical cord, stroke en-utero, has stroke after - that lack of oxygen to the brain in the occipital lobe can cause poor vision development, unusual use of their vision, and color perception issues, etc., depending on the severity. I’ve seen anoxic brain injuries in adults too, should they have had an unfortunate situation, but it is more predominant kids. We also work with Teachers for the Visually Impaired (TVI). After an exam, I typically write up a report or better yet, the TVIs would attend the exam, which is ideal, because they would tell me what they’ve tried, and we proceed with several diagnostics together in real time. An example might be, putting in high contrast because we’re seeing that a

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 57

patient has low contrast. Or they’re not responding to a color vision test. This may indicate against doing color coding for education purposes: Don’t make red bad and green good; rather, do some shape form of something a triangle - it doesn’t have to be red and green. Working with the child’s therapy team is very helpful to figure out a game plan. Things as simple as what font size to recommend based on their level of vision.” Referrals can come from a variety of therapy locations: • Neurologist • Teachers for the visually impaired • Special needs teachers or those who have a development delay that makes them get set aside for reading help

way they’re positioned in the mother’s womb. With that contracture in growth – the eyes may be perfectly fine, but it’s good to make sure that eyes are not a component, and then you send them to PT to figure out the muscle aspect. In summary, Johnston shares, “Our goal is to be a collaborator with the child’s care team and make sure that they have the best opportunity to see things clearly for development and education. And if there are more substantial neurological issues or special needs, that we do our part to prevent or correct additional difficulties. Like most health issues, early intervention and treatment for childhood eye diseases is the ideal scenario. For our Pediatric patients, I want to make sure that they start their visual life off on the right step.”

• Pediatricians are wonderful at catching failed vision screenings or possibly an eye turn • Speech therapy (SLP), because they’re often working with near targets and if they can’t see the target or they’re not following the target appropriately, speech therapy is good to rule in or out • Physical therapy (PT) for head posture or head tilting - a good practice is to rule out eye problems as possible the causing the issue Johnston says, “A patient may compensate with an abnormal head posture (torticollis) to get rid of double vision or improve clarity. Often that causes contracture of the muscles, and they are sent to PT. But then they still tilt their head because that gets rid of their visual symptoms. An assessment of their binocular vision and possible prescription is useful explaining their head posture and assisting in possible treatment options to correct that posture.

PINECREEKVISION.COM | (719) 594-2020 9475 BRIAR VILLAGE POINT #200

Babies are often born with torticollis because of the 58

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

A message from Centura, your partner in health care. Know Your Calcium Score, Love Your Heart A calcium score heart scan helps identify calcified plaque levels in your heart arteries. Did you know? According to the American Heart Association, men over 40 and women over 45 years of age may have one or more risk factors for heart disease, even in good health. Family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes are all factors leading to a good reason to get a calcium score heart scan. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, leading to more fatalities each year from heart attacks and strokes than any other cause. Cardiac and vascular diseases can strike anyone; men and women of all ages, races, and economic classes. A calcium score heart scan helps identify calcified plaque levels in your heart arteries so that, if your score is elevated, you can make appropriate lifestyle and medication changes. These changes may reduce your chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke, possibly averting a life-threatening event. A calcium score heart scan detects calcified plaque in the heart (coronary) arteries by measuring the density of the calcium particles in the plaque along the coronary artery walls. A high level of plaque can potentially block the coronary arteries which carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Knowing your score can help your doctor determine the most appropriate treatment for slowing the progression of coronary artery plaque, also known as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The calcium score heart scan can easily and painlessly provide a clear view of a person’s cardiac risk because the measurement of calcified plaque allows physicians to identify possible coronary artery disease before any signs or symptoms show up. The high speed, low dose CT scanner looks inside a person’s heart on the walls of the arteries to check for buildup of calcium. Results of the test are provided to you and your physician to discuss future actions and care plans. Centura Health is currently offering calcium score heart screening—there is no preparation required, and no referral is needed.

To learn more or to schedule a calcium score heart scan at a location nearest you, visit centura.org

Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2022. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-719-776-5370 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-719-776-5370 (TTY: 711).

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 59 22496_Ad_PSF_Cardiology_NorthMagazine_final.indd 1

1/4/22 12:06 PM

festyle

NORTH 60

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 61

BEST PLACES TO STAY In North Colorado Springs

North Colorado Springs is bursting with economic vitality, welcoming new businesses, new residents and more visitors. Top-tier lodging plays a key role in this by offering hospitality to travelers and visitors. Check out our top lodging properties to recommend to friends, families and colleagues when they visit Olympic City USA.

ACADEMY HOTEL Just down the road from the Air Force Academy, you wont be late to the next sporting event! 8110 N Academy Blvd | (719) 598-5770

HILTON GARDEN INN - NORTH This Colorado Springs favorite is perfectly situated near some of the best attractions around! 1810 Briargate Pkwy | (719) 598-6866

GREAT WOLF LODGE Year-round adventure begins in the indoor waterpark, fun for everyone in your pack. Other amenities include a climbing wall, arcade, mini golf and 20,000 sq. ft. of event space. 9494 Federal Dr | (844) 553-9653

This is a paid sponsorship with Visit Colorado Springs.

SPL AS ZO N H E!

HAMPTON INN & SUITES - AIR FORCE ACADEMY - I25 NORTH Just minutes from the Air Force Academy and retail, this is the perfect blend of affordability and convenience. 1307 Republic Dr | (719) 598-6911

SPRINGHILL SUITES BY MARRIOTT COLORADO SPRINGS NORTH This all-suite hotel seamlessly blends modern design and comfortable functionality. 1320 Republic Dr | (719) 896-2320

RDARD AWAAW NING ING WINWINN THE

LODGE AT FLYING HORSE

The Lodge at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs holds the coveted AAA Four Diamond Hotel designation and is one of Colorado’s most desirable boutique resort hotel and meeting destinations. 1880 Weiskopf Pt | (719) 494-1222

DRURY INN & SUITES This hotel features flexible meeting space and free Wi-Fi to accommodate a wide variety of groups. 1170 Interquest Pkwy | (719) 599-4000

RESIDENCE INN COLORADO SPRINGS NORTH/AIR FORCE ACADEMY Rest well in pet-friendly suites with kitchens, ergonomic workspaces, and fireplaces in select rooms. 9805 Federal Dr | (719) 388-9300

Order your free Vacation Planner at VisitCOS.com/guide

Finding Solutions to Protect Your Investments & Your Family’s Future.

Amy Newland Agency LLC

3522 Hartsel Dr., Colorado Springs | 719.686.4216

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

Dentistry

Made Easy! LASTING RELATIONSHIPS • EXCELLENCE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY • COMFORT

←

Scan the QR code to learn more about our services! or Contact us at 719.268.9400 or visit pinecreekdental.com

“

At Pine Creek Dental we create a painless experience and help our patients feel comfortable. That’s my promise to you.” –Bill Thompson, DDS

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 65

LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY PROJECTS

CITY AUDITORIUM UPDATE APR/MAY 2022 By Chris Wineman, Principal, Semple Brown

smallest pipes are pencil-sized; the largest is more than 16 feet long. A three-manual console plays the organ, allowing a single player to control all of the pipes and sounds as a unit (Image 3).

We’re extremely fortunate in this work to have direct access to the people who have been involved in the rescue, installation and maintenance of the organ for the past thirty years. The Pikes Peak Area Theatre Organ Society (www.ppatos.com) has invested more than 5,000 person-hours in the restoration of the organ. Thanks to them, we know a lot more about the history and needs of the organ than we normally would.

In order to make sure that we are accurately documenting the space needed for the organ components, Semple Brown’s team of architects and designers has climbed ladders, opened hatches and squeezed ourselves into the chambers holding the pipes. Our acoustical consultants will be taking the needs of the organ into account as they advise us on the design of the new main theatre. There is every reason to expect that this organ will be much more at home in the new theatre, since the current City Auditorium is vastly larger than the Burns Opera House was.

ne of the things that makes the City Auditorium so unique is its Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ – both as a musical instrument and as an artifact of Colorado Springs history. Our team of architects and consultants is working to make sure that we understand the needs of this instrument and account for them in our renovation.

The Wurlitzer Unit Orchestra (as it was originally titled) was installed in the Burns Opera House in 1927 -fifteen years after that venue opened. At the time, theatre organs were in demand to accompany silent films – hence the name “unit orchestra,” since the theatre organ was capable of duplicating the sounds of a full orchestra by a single player. The timing of the installation unfortunately coincided with the advent of “talking pictures” which gradually rendered theatre organs obsolete. The Burns Opera House, located at 21-23 East Pikes Peak Avenue, had 1500 seats, and was renamed the Chief in 1933. When the Chief was condemned for demolition in 1973, the organ was carefully dismantled by members of the PPTOS, and then installed in the City Auditorium by 1979. The organ’s components include not only the pipes (Images 1 and 2) that are located behind the plaster proscenium arch, but also the blower fans that provide the air and are located in the basement, below the stage. This specific organ has just over 600 pipes, plus tuned percussion and special effects. These are located in four chambers, two on each side of the stage. The 66

IMAGE 1

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

IMAGE 2

IMAGE 3

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 67

LIFESTYLE LIVING OUTDOORS

LOCAL LEAVE NO TRACE How to Make an Impact by Not Leaving One

By Gillian Rossi, Leave No Trace State Advocate for Colorado

RESPECT WILDLIFE

Greetings from your local Leave No Trace state advocate! This article is for the dogs (and the humans they own). Most of the Leave No Trace Seven Principles relate to minimizing impacts caused by pets, and most importantly, how to keep pets safe while enjoying the outdoors. Principle 6, Respect Wildlife, sheds light on how to share outdoor spaces with the creatures who call them home. Our population, both human and dog, is growing rapidly in Colorado Springs while our natural areas stay the same size. Increased activity in parks and open spaces demands visitors to take responsibility for their actions and do their best to lower their impact while taking Fido for his morning walk. Actions as simple as keeping your dog on-leash and disposing of dog waste properly make a HUGE difference in the health and safety of these areas. Wildlife living in our natural spaces are used to avoiding busy trails and rely on people and pets staying ontrail to find solace. Off-leash pets can easily distress wildlife, causing them to forgo potential food sources, or in extreme instances, abandon their young. Off-leash dogs can also put other pets, and their owners, at risk. Garden of the Gods Park Ranger, David Absher, reported several incidents last summer involving park visitors, or their pets, suffering bites from aggressive off-leash dogs. Leashing your pet is a paw-some way (sorry) to avoid incidents and practice another Leave No Trace Principle 7, Be Considerate of Other Visitors. Colorado Springs offers a bevy of dog parks for owners who prefer to spend time with their pet off-leash. A couple of my favorite off-leash areas include dog parks at Fox Run Regional Park and Greenland Open Space. Dog parks provide a safe area for pets to roam and barriers that prevent dangerous pet/wildlife interactions.

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

RESOURCES https://lnt.org/sites/default/files/Recreating%20 Responsibly%20With%20Pets_0.pdf Leave No Trace information on “Enjoying the Outdoors Responsibly with Your Pet” https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/respect-wildlife/ Leave No Trace website with additional information about Principle 6.

Wildlife is a vital part of the various ecosystems that make Colorado Springs a phenomenal place to enjoy the outdoors. By practicing Leave No Trace, you play a role in keeping these areas healthy and sustainable for years to come.

Remember, you have the power to make an impact by not leaving one!

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 69

NORTH Advertiser Index APRIL/MAY 2022 – IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

Thank you to each and every advertiser listed herein. You are greatly appreciated and are why Colorado Springs is an amazing Community. Thank you! Air Force Sports Amy Ward Agency

facebook.com/ cmgnorth

Better Hearing Center Boot Barn Hall Brand Ascension Centura Health Centennial Radon City Auditorium COS Airport

instagram.com/ comediagroup

COS Sports Corp ENT Center Force Broadband Flying Horse Realty Harley Davidson Hybl Center

@CoMediaGroup

KKTV NEWS Legend Assisted Living National Charity League Perkins Motors Pine Creek Dental Pine Creek Vision Clinic Shops at Briargate

Linkedin.com/ ColoradoMediaGroup

Smile Dentistry Springs Rescue Tri Lakes Chamber of Commerce WCG Accounting

BUILDING COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIVITY VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. JOIN YOUR FAVORITE PLATFORM AND TELLS US THE KIND OF INFORMATION YOU’D LIKE TO SEE.

COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM

Do You Know A Next Generation

Leader? NOMINATE THEM! Each month, NORTH features an individual or team from one of our many schools in Districts 20 and 38. Nominees are vetted by our editorial team and selected base on merit that looks at the combined picture of academic achievement, athletic and/or the arts achievement, community service, significant contribution to society, special accomplishments and their overall, optimistic outlook on life. Simply send an email to info@ coloradomediagroup.com, attention EDITOR, and provide a brief description of why your nominee should be featured in NORTH. Our profiles to-date have inspired many to step forward and nominate their child or a child they know. We’d love to share their story and help generate some enthusiasm for young individuals and groups who are making significant strides forward as they enter the next phase of life. Nominees must be 12 years or older. Parents are welcome to remain present during the interview process.

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

Dirk R. Hobbs: dhobbs@coloradomediagroup.com

VP PARTNERSHIPS & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

John Lerohl: jlerohl@coloradomediagroup.com

ADVERTISING SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Cheryl Morford: cmorford@coloradomediagroup.com Aaron Lieber: alieber@coloradomediagroup.com

DESIGN & PRODUCTION EDITOR

Dirk R. Hobbs, Sheyenne Livingston

WEBSITE MANAGERS

Sterling McMannis & Angelina Pecoraro

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Sheyenne Livingston | Livingston Design Co.

SENIOR WRITER Pam Bales

APRIL/MAY WRITERS & CONTRIBUTERS

Marquesa Hobbs, Amy Newland Ward, Gillian Rossi, Sues Hess, Chris Wineman, Dirk Hobbs, MS, Pam Bales, Rebecca Frith, Suzanne Tulien, Amy Long, Brett Bixler, Wayne Pinegar, Greg Balman, Roger Hukle, and Jason Watson, CPA

NORTH PARTNERS

KKTV 11 NEWS Visit COS United States Air Force Academy Athletics Colorado Springs Sports Corporation Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Colorado Springs Airport

NORTH is published by and is the exclusive property of Colorado Media Group, LLC- A registered C-Corp in the state of Colorado. The NORTH Compass is property of Colorado Media Group, LLC and may not be used without consent.

P.O Box 13395 Voyager Parkway Ste 130 - PMB #746 | Colorado Springs, CO 80921 719-330-7448 | info@coloradomediagroup.com

Centura Sports Medicine Changing the way people heal, move and get back to doing what they love

At Centura Sports Medicine, our award-winning physicians, therapists, and athletic trainers are changing the way people heal, move and get back to doing what they love. Our breakthroughs are leading the way with treatment of sports-related injuries like concussion and innovative therapy programs that optimize sports performance. We understand the challenges of athletes at all levels, dedicating ourselves to total patient wellness every step of the way. Our collaborative team of subspecialists brings years of training, experience and research to each individual served. Centura Sports Medicine offers quick access and comprehensive care that can return people to doing what they love, safely and quickly.

Kevin Lesh, MD Sports Medicine

Lindsey Szymaszek, DO Sports Medicine

John Pak, MD Orthopedic Surgery

David Walden, MD Orthopedic Surgery

Conditions Treated • • • • • • •

Ankle fractures Ankle tendon injuries Biceps tendon injuries Chondromalacia (runner’s knee) Concussion Foot fracture Hand and finger tendon injuries

• • • • • • •

Hand fractures Hip impingement Hip labral tear Knee ligament injuries Meniscus tear Patellar tendonitis Rotator cuff tear

• • • • •

Ruptured Achilles tendon Shoulder dislocation Shoulder labral tear Tarsal tunnel syndrome Tennis elbow/tendinitis

Treatments • • • •

Blood flow restriction Cold laser Minimally invasive techniques such as PRP Trigger point dry needling

Book an Appointment: 719.776.4878 (HURT) Care Conveniently Provided at: William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center | 4925 N Nevada Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2021. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711).

NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP - APR/MAY 2022 EDITION

Articles inside

A Private Tour of the Broadmoor with Jack Damioli, President & CEO