THE BUSINESS T IMES News AUGUST 6-19, 2020
VOLUME 27, ISSUE 15
Better by design
THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS NEWS SINCE 1994
In this issue
THEBUSINESSTIMES.COM
Trends 2 Contributors Opinion 2 n Western Slope firm furnishes services to sell products. Business Briefs See page 2 4 Business People Almanac
n Triple threat
Food producers and related businesses face a triple threat in a spring freeze, coronavirus pandemic and worsening drought.
n Survey says
The latest survey results reflect the mixed effects of the coronavirus pandemic on Mesa County businesses.
n Caring effort
Construction is under way on a Grand Junction clinic to increase access to primary care services in the Grand Valley.
n Cleaning up
Norma West, left, senior director of finance at HopeWest, and Christy Whitney, CEO of the organization, work with Taryn Andrey, a designer at ProSpace Interiors, on furnishing the Bacon Center for Living Your Best in Grand Junction.
5
Safe is the key word for a company offering a range of asbestos testing and removal services across Colorado.
n Picking up
15
Real estate activity has picked up in Mesa County as low interest rates and pent-up demand drive sales.
n Star efforts
17
A program awards Mesa County businesses for their efforts to keep employees and customers safe in a pandemic.
n Departments
Almanac Business Briefs Business People Contributors News Opinion Trends
26 24 26 17-21 2-14 22-23 15-16
Photo courtesy ProSpace Interiors
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for food: Trends Thought Businesses adapt a triple threat Contributorsto on Western Slope Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac Phil Castle
The Business Times
Maria Jorgensen, left, and Taryn Andrey, are among four designers and space planners on staff at ProSpace Interiors. They’ve helped customers plan spaces and select furnishings for a wide variety of projects.
Better by design
West Slope firm furnishes customers products and services
D
ave Huerkamp attributes the success of ProSpace Interiors to a number of factors, among them the selection of quality furnishings, professional installations and a commitment to customer service. But if he were to pick out just one factor, it would be the design services the Western Colorado Dave Huerkamp company also furnishes. “It’s all about the talents of the great designers I’ve got on my staff,” says Huerkamp, who oversees sales and marketing at ProSpace. “I like to say we’re better by design.” ProSpace employs four space planners and designers — one at the company’s facility in Delta, two at a showroom in downtown Grand Junction and another who works remotely on the Front Range. That’s a large number for a small firm, Huerkamp says. But it’s made an outsized difference.
Last year — the 50th for a company launched in 1969 — was one of the best years for ProSpace, he says. His expectations for 2020 are no less great despite the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. ProSpace has long served what Huerkamp describes as a core area in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah. But the company handles projects across Colorado, a growing number of them on the Front Range. ProSpace has expanded in another way in the markets it serves. The firm sells furnishings not only for offices, but also health care, educational and other settings. “We don’t wait for business to come to us. We go out and find business,” he says. In the Grand Valley, ProSpace has provided furnishings for St. Mary’s Medical Center, Community Hospital and Mind Springs facilities. That includes the West Springs psychiatric hospital and newly opened Women’s Recovery Center. See DESIGN page 10
STORY AND PHOTO BY PHIL CASTLE
Western Colorado food producers and businesses face a triple threat in a spring freeze, coronavirus pandemic and worsening drought. But growers, restaurateurs and others have managed to weather both the weather and an outbreak by adapting to changing conditions and diversifying their operations. “I’m seeing that all across the Kate Greenberg board and across the state,” said Kate Greenberg, Colorado commissioner of agriculture. Greenberg was among the participants in a virtual panel discussion about the ag industry recovery hosted by Colorado Proud, a program of the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The panel also included Bruce Talbott, manager of Talbott Bruce Talbott Farms in Palisade; Josh Niernberg, executive chef and restaurateur in Grand Junction; and Kelli Hepler, president of the Colorado Agritourism Association. Talbott said an April freeze damaged a peach crop that accounts for about 65 percent of the production of his family’s farming and processing operation. Niernberg said the pandemic Josh Niernberg and related restrictions have limited operations and sales at the restaurants he operates, including Bin 707 Foodbar. Hepler said the pandemic similarly affected agritourism in Western Colorado, including lodging operations and farm tours. The Palisade Peach Festival and Colorado Mountain Winefest were canceled for 2020. Greenberg said a third threat has Kelli Hepler emerged in worsening drought. She said she’s leading a state task force to assess the effects of drought in 40 Colorado counties afflicted by severe and extreme conditions, including Mesa County. See FOOD page 14
Latest chamber survey results reflect mixed effects of pandemic Phil Castle
The Business Times
The next 30 to 60 days could prove telling in indicating how Mesa County businesses fare in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. “I think we’re kind of on the cusp,” said Diane Schwenke, president and chief executive officer of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. Loan programs could be ending and taxes are due. Diane Schwenke
While restrictions on business operations continue, so does the pandemic. Depending on what happens, the outcome could be encouraging for local businesses or portend additional challenges, Schwenke said. The latest results of a chamber survey of local business owners and managers tracking the effects of the pandemic similarly offers a mix of good and bad news, she said. Fully 86 percent of those responding to a survey conducted between July 22 and 29 said their
businesses have experienced income losses related to the pandemic. “Everybody’s feeling the pain,” she said. Still, about 53 percent of those who responded reported their businesses still retained at least 12 months of operating reserves. Of those who reported taking out loans through the Payroll Protection Program, 57 percent expect to receive forgiveness in repaying half to all of their loans. See PANDEMIC page 8
August 6-19, 2020
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well-rounded perspective to new Mesa County role Phil Castle
as well as New England and Canada. Whidden said people who work in information technology aren’t just “geeks,” Frank Whidden brings what he but offer an important perspective because considers a well-rounded perspective to his they’re familiar with nearly every aspect of new job as Mesa County administrator. operations and how work gets done. They Whidden worked also tend to think about new and potentially in information better ways of doing things in asking and technology and holds answering “what if ” questions. “They know a master’s degree in how to effect change in an organization.” computer information Whidden expects to bring that same systems. But he also approach to his duties as administrator. A groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the onset of construction holds a doctoral Whidden said it’s of hisa SCL role Health to help primary care in Grand Junction. Located 2566 Pattersonmake Road,and then degree in clinic applied countyat commissioners the clinic is expected photo Phil Castle) management and to open mid-2021. (Business implement Times decisions. Thebycommissioners decision making and Frank Whidden in turn represent the residents of the worked for more than county and express their will, he said. “We 20 years as a minister. Whidden has work for the people.” worked for large and small organizations Whidden said he also considers himself in both the private and public sectors. a liaison between the commissioners and Whidden expects to draw on all of his county staff, and one of the priorities is to experiences in helping Mesa County make sure employees feel valued. Whidden Phil Castle commissioners make and carry out decisions. said he hopesTimes not only to improve morale, The Business Valuing staff and making the county but also take steps that will make Mesa an employer of choice is among the County an organization for which people Construction is under way on a Grand Junction clinic intended priorities, Whidden said. So is planning want to work. to increase access to primary health care services and decrease the that results in sustainable funding and Meanwhile, Whidden expects the use of emergency rooms. balanced budgets on a long-term basis. county to continue policies and initiatives “The right care in the right place makes for more effective Meanwhile, Mesa County will that support local business and economic care,” said Bryan Johnson, president of St. Mary’s Medical Center continue to pursue efforts that promote a development. There are additional steps in Grand Junction. friendly business environment and that can be taken to make it easier for local SCL Health, the organization that operates St. Mary’s, plans to Bryan Johnson economic development, Whidden said. businesses to sell products and services to open a new primary care clinic in mid-2021 and eventually employ Whidden officially began working as the county, he added. 28 health care providers there. SCL Health opened a primary care county administrator at the beginning of Mesa County will keep working with clinic earlier this year in leased space near St. Mary’s, but will the year. He succeeds Tom Fisher, who was other government entities, organizations relocate the practice when the new facility opens. hired as county manager in Summit and institutions on fostering an environment Located at 2566 Patterson Road, the new clinic will initially County, Utah. that supports existing businesses and occupy about 10,000 square foot. But an additional 10,000 square Whidden joined Mesa County in attracts new businesses, he said. feet of space will be available for subsequent expansion. The project August 2011 as information technology Whidden said there could be a is expected to cost $4.5 million. director. In April 2014, he became deputy opportunities to encourage the additional Dale Beede, the broker of Straight Up Real Estate in Grand county administrator for resource development of businesses that provide Junction, is developing the property. PNCi Construction serves as management in a staffing reorganization services to the agricultural industry as well Frank DeSantis general contractor. that eliminated four director positions. as promote Mesa County as a distribution “Nearly 100 percent of this complex is being built and sourced Before joining Mesa County, center for the region. locally,” said Frank DeSantis, president of PNCi Construction. “We Whidden worked for a company providing The important thing is to consider are proud to be able to keep this project with local workers and information technology services to issues from a well-rounded perspective, tradesmen. It’s a big benefit to our local economy.” colleges and universities. In that role, he Whidden said. “We won’t be myopic as we Lee Syphus, vice president of medical group operations for managed IT systems and services for look at things.” SCL Health in Western Colorado, said the clinic will meet local institutions in Alabama, Arizona, Illinois ✦ health care needs in increasing access to primary care services. Syphus said the results of a community health needs assessment conducted in Mesa County identified the inability to schedule appointments at doctor’s offices as soon as needed as the top barrier Lee Syphus to getting care. “We see what as a call to action.” Moreover, about a quarter of emergency room visits involve cases that could be handled in a primary care clinic, he said. Johnson said the clinic will fill gaps in care without using emergency rooms and what he said is the most expensive setting in which to provide services. Dr. Elizabeth Buisker, medical director of the St. Mary’s Medical Group, said a more proactive approach works better. “When my job is done well, we keep people out of the hospital.” In addition to providing health care benefits, the new clinic Robin Brown and other facilities like it offer other benefits, said Robin Brown, executive director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership. Health care facilities help in recruiting and retaining businesses in Mesa County, Brown said. “This is another example of that investment.” F The Business Times
Construction begins on primary care clinic
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A crew from Regional Asbestos Mitigation Services completes an asbestos removal project. With operations in Grand Junction as well as Aurora and Colorado Springs, the firm provides a range of testing and abatement services across the state. (Photo courtesy Regional Asbestos Mitigation Services)
Asbestos removal firm cleaning up with efforts Phil Castle
The Business Times
Asbestos removal follows strict procedures that can require sealing off an area with plastic sheeting, filtering the air and equipping crews with protective suits and respirators. Shaun Witkamp said the effort looks like a scene from “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” — the one in which a containment team invades the family home. “It’s a crazy process. But it’s a good process Shaun Witkamp and it’s a safe process,” said Witkamp, founder of Regional Asbestos Mitigation Services. Safe is the key word, Witkamp said, in protecting crews that remove asbestos and, of course, the homeowners, businesses and government agencies that contract with his company. A meticulous approach and clear communications with customers also have helped, he said, in growing a business that operates offices in Grand Junction, Aurora and Colorado Springs and provides services across Colorado and Wyoming. Witkamp launched Regional Asbestos about eight years ago. He said he was looking for an “economy proof” business less susceptible to ups and downs. The company provides a range of asbestos testing and abatement services to residential, commercial and government markets. Witkamp said that can range from inspections and hazard assessments to small and large abatement projects.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
For more information about Regional Asbestos Mitigation Services, call 242-0016 or visit https://regionalasbestos.com. Asbestos was hailed at one time as the “miracle mineral” for its use in a variety of building materials, Witkamp said. That includes everything from ceiling tiles, cements and drywall texture to flooring, insulation and joint compounds. Risks occur when asbestos breaks down into microscopically small fibers that can become airborne and inhaled or ingested, he said. Then the mineral causes cancer, chronic lung conditions and other illnesses. While asbestos was banned in the United States in the late 1980s, homes and buildings constructed before then could have been built with materials containing asbestos, he said. Asbestos often is discovered in cleaning up after a fire, flood or sewage backup, Witkamp said. The other common situation occurs with demolitions, renovations or remodeling. People who suspect they’ve uncovered asbestos should call in inspectors to test materials and assess hazards, he said. If asbestos is found, it must be properly mitigated or removed to safeguard health. Colorado imposes some of the most stringent rules of any state in regulating asbestos mitigation. But Witkamp said he considers that a good thing. In fact, Regional Asbestos takes requirements a step further. “We’ve taken it above and beyond and being even more safe.” See ASBESTOS page 12
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Training designed to prepare for COVID surge Fruita Fall Fest, Pork and Hops both canceled
Phil Castle
The Business Times
St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction has conducted a training program to prepare for a potential surge in COVID-19 infections. It’s a program one official believes could be expanded to assist other hospitals in the region respond to the coronavirus and other outbreaks. “It’s my vision, and I’m very passionate about this,” said Erin Minnerath, infection prevention manager at St. Mary’s. The medical center received a $50,000 federal grant awarded through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for the training. St. Mary’s is among the Colorado hospitals designated as special pathogens assessment facilities that can safely receive and isolate patients believed to have contracted hazardous infectious diseases. Minnerath said the grant funded training to quickly expand what’s called the High-risk Infection Team and its response to treating patients with infectious diseases. Members of the team are trained how to properly don and doff personal protective equipment and set up rooms to safely isolate those patients. Members of the team have trained nurses and other health care providers from various departments to perform the procedures. That in turn expands the capacity of the hospital to identify, isolate
Health care professionals practice donning personal protective equipment as part of training at St Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction. The training is intended to enable the hospital to respond to a potential surge in COVID-19 cases as well as other hazardous infections. (Photo courtesy St. Mary’s Medical Center) and treat patients with COVID-19. Minnerath said she’s applied for additional funding to further expand the training to include other hospitals and health care facilities in the region. She said she envisions a collaborative effort that
could prepare for outbreaks. While people don’t like to think about the potential for deadly outbreaks, she said it’s essential to prepare for them nonetheless. F
The 2020 Fruita Fall Festival has been canceled, the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce announced. The City of Grand Junction announced the annual Porks and Hops barbecue and music festival also has been canceled. The Fruita chamber board of directors voted to cancel the Fruita Fall Festival after determining it wasn’t possible to comply with state and county health regulations designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The chamber stated in a news release the organization is reaching out to vendors and event sponsors to handle refunds and payment allocations. The chamber encouraged people to shop locally and also support the Fruita Farmers Market. The City of Grand Junction similarly announced it was canceling the Porks and Hops Festival to comply with regulations intended to eliminate the risk associated with large crowds gathering in a single location. F
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Continued from page 2 The Payroll Protection Program offers forgiveness on the portion of loans used for payrolls if staffing levels as measured by the number of full-time equivalent positions at the time of application remained the same as of June 30. Otherwise, the money must be repaid. Schwenke said business owners and managers have encountered uncertainty in the loan process, which could make them wary in seeking additional financial assistance. Business owners and managers responding to the chamber survey also reported mixed results in enforcing a statewide order directing people to wear face coverings in public indoor spaces to slow the spread of COVID-19. While 60 percent of those who responded to the survey indicated they haven’t experienced any effects, 5 percent reported that customers make it difficult to enforce the mask order. Still, 76 percent said customers comply or simply need reminding to wear masks. Schwenke said she’s concerned that 19 percent of those who responded to the survey indicated they’re not enforcing the order. That puts businesses at risk for losing liability insurance or becoming a target for litigation. “There’s some real potential consequences.” The chamber joined with Mesa County Public Health to implement what’s called the Variance Protection Program. The program recognizes businesses for implementing public health recommendations intended to slow the spread of the pandemic. That includes policies and procedures dealing with mask use, social distancing, facility capacity, cleaning protocols and monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms. Businesses that earn a five-star rating receive window cling stickers and are included on an online list. Schwenke said the program will help businesses attract customers in ensuring them their operations are as safe as possible. “We hope it’s a more positive approach.” The outlook for the pandemic and its effects on local businesses remains uncertain, though, Schwenke said. What many believed would be a decline in COVID-19 cases as fall approached hasn’t materialized. According to Mesa County Public Health, 286 positive cases of COVID-19 cases had been reported in the county as of Aug. 3. Two deaths related to the disease have been reported. Schwenke said she’s hopeful the resurgence of the pandemic that’s occurred in other areas won’t occur in Mesa County and prompt more stringent business restrictions or even closures. In the meantime, Schwenke said she’s grateful for the business owners and managers who take time to participate in surveys and help the chamber track the effects of the pandemic. That’s useful information, she said, as the chamber works with government agencies and officials to both respond to the pandemic and advocate on behalf of local businesses. F
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Design
Continued from page 2 ProSpace Interiors also worked with HopeWest in furnishing the Bacon Center for Living Your Best in Grand Junction. Christy Whitney, president and chief executive officer of HopeWest, praises the efforts of the design team. “Their creativity and resourcefulness helped us keep within our budget and carry through with the physically designed space renovation,” Whitney says. “The final result was truly amazing and pulled the whole space together.” At Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, ProSpace has worked on a series of renovation and new construction projects there for nearly a decade. That includes the renovation of Houston Hall, the Tomlinson Library and health sciences building as well as the construction of an engineering building and hotel. Suzanne Ellinwood, purchasing manager for CMU, says ProSpace not only supplies furniture that withstands the rigors of an academic environment, but also provides design and space planning as well as professional installation. “Dave’s team consistently has delivered responsive follow through on every aspect of a project, starting with furniture recommendation, design and space planning,
The Business Times
august 6-19, 2020
FOR YOUR INFORMATION ProSpace Interiors operates locations at 634 Main St. in Grand Junction and 50 Heinz St. in Delta. For more information, call 242-7575 or log on to www.prospace.biz. monitoring delivery progress with their manufacturers to ensure receipt of product on time at the agreed upon delivery dates,” Ellinwood says. Kate Avery, an interior designer and space planners with ProSpace, worked as lead designer on many of the CMU projects. Maria Jorgensen, another interior designer and space planner at ProSpace, was involved with yet another project at CMU to create an arena for practices and competitions for the electronic sports team. Constructed as part of the renovation of Rotary Hall, the arena accommodates gaming stations for the team as well as seating for casual gamers and spectators. Avery and Taryn Andrey, another interior designer and space planner at ProSpace, say they work off floor plans or measure the space to develop two-dimensional plans. They also create three-dimensional computer renderings that show what completed projects will look like. They say they also work with customers on selecting
the brands and models of furniture as well as fabrics and colors that coordinate with the paint, carpeting and finishes in the space. Arthur Mendez works for ProSpace as a space planner and product specifier. He’s also certified as an office ergonomics evaluator. Huerkamp says the designers draw on their experience in helping clients select the right products and materials for specific settings and uses. ProSpace employs its own staff of professionals to install furniture and clean the location, Huerkamp says. “We really cover everything from start to finish. And we vacuum our way out of the building.” It’s part of a commitment to service that customers value, he says. “We really deliver on it.” Looking ahead, Huerkamp says he’s optimistic about the continued growth of ProSpace as it expands into different geographic areas and market sectors. While quality furniture, professional installations and customer service will continue to drive growth. so will the design services the company offers, he says. “We’re better by design.” F
Couple purchases heating company
A Grand Junction couple has assumed ownership of the United States-based operations of a portable heating solutions company. Dominic Jones, the new chief executive officer of Certek Heat Machine, and Felicia Jones, the chief financial officer, purchased the company from Felicia’s parents. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the change is scheduled for Aug. 6. Founded 15 years ago in Canada, Certek Heating Solutions operates multiple branches across North America in providing alternatives to conventional heating methods for customers in the energy and construction industries. Felicia Jones has worked at the family run company since she was a teen-ager. She traveled to the U.S. to train staff, where she met her future husband and business partner, Dominic Jones. She moved to Grand Junction when they got married. Dominic Jones progressed at Certek from field worker to operations manager. After a short hiatus, he returned as a director and now owner and CEO. He said the Grand Junction facility has experienced growth thanks to a team of highly skilled workers, streamlined operations and new markets for niche services. During the coronavirus pandemic, Certek pivoted. Instead of supporting energy clients in the extraction process, the company began working with clients to transport product that’s already been extracted. Certek has been approved to participate in the Colorado Rural Jump-Start program offering tax incentives for creating jobs. The company plans to open a new manufacturing division that will produce Kodiak heating units. Expansion plans include both capital investment and hiring new employees at the Grand Junction facility over the next three years. F
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Deadline to join solar co-op extended to Sept. 1 The deadline for business and home owners to join a cooperative installing solar systems in Mesa County has been extended to Sept. 1. The Mesa County Solar Co-op has more than 100 members. Membership is free and open to anyone in the county interested in installing solar systems. Atlasta Solar Center in Grand Junction was selected through an open bidding process to install systems for the co-op. Atlasta Solar provides individual proposals to members, but offers pricing based on bulk purchases. “Even during a global pandemic, 100 homes and business owners have seized the opportunity to take a look at how much solar could save them,” said Darin Carei, principal owner of Atlasta Solar. Mike Adcock, owner of Adcock Concrete, said he expects the solar system installed on the roof of his Grand
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
For more information about the Mesa County Solar Co-op, visit the website located at https://coops.solarunitedneighbors.org/ coops/mesa-county-solar-co-op. Junction business will save more than $4,000 this year alone. Wendy Metzger, owner of the Grand Valley Greens, said she’s going to have a system installed at the aquaponic farm in Loma because of the financial benefits. “My biggest expensive is my utility costs, and solar is going to bring that down much, much lower than it is right now. And my return on investment is going to be fairly quick.” Solar United Neighbors, a nonprofit organization that
represents solar owners and supporters, launched the Mesa County Solar Co-op in partnership with the Western Colorado Alliance for Community Action. Alpine Bank and the Western Colorado Community Foundation provided financial support. Bryce Carter, Colorado program director for Solar United Neighbors, said the co-op offers many benefits. “We’re proud the local business generated by the co-op will help to boost our local economy as it recovers from the effects of the pandemic by helping financial bottom lines while keeping energy dollars local.” Carter said he hopes more business and home owners take advantage of those benefits. “We felt pushing the deadline back to September 1 gives more families and businesses the chance to further explore this opportunity to learn what going solar means for them.” F
Asbestos
Continued from page 5 If regulations call for a certain thickness of plastic sheeting with 12-inch overlaps, Regional Asbestos might use even thicker sheeting with 14-inch overlaps, Witkamp said. Depending on what’s involved in the project, crews set up not only a work area, but also separate chambers for equipment, showers and changing. Asbestos abatement also can require the use of what are called negative air machines that draw air through filters to remove particles, Witkamp said. Workers wear protective equipment that includes special suits, gloves and respirators. Abatement projects are inspected after completion and the air tested for the presence of particles. Witkamp said his crews strive to come in below not only minimum levels, but also readable levels. Maintaining communication with customers constitutes another priority throughout the process, he said. Project managers send reports to customers on what was completed that day and what’s planned for the next day. Asbestos abatement can become the worst part of remodeling, but Witkamp said his company tries to make the experience better. Since Witkamp started Regional Asbestos in 2012, the company has grown from a staff of three to 20 with nine employees in Grand Junction. Sales have increased 20 percent to 30 percent a year, gains bolstered in large part by work in the Grand Junction area, he said. “We’ve had a very successful business in the Grand Valley.” Witkamp expects the trend to continue — along with the processes through which his company goes to remove asbestos. F
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Food
august 6-19, 2020
Continued from page 2 Talbott said he hates freezes. But the timing of the freeze and pandemic was fortunate in at least one way in that it wasn’t difficult to implement social distancing measures for a much smaller crew. “If there’s a year to sit it out, this might be it.” Talbott said a diversified operation has helped in responding to the freeze with additional markets and income streams. Talbott Farms also grows wine grapes and other fruit as well as produces ciders. The problem, he said, is that insurance doesn’t cover what the peach crop is worth. Moreover, it takes work to regain lost markets for peaches and rebuild the crews that work on the farm. Niernberg said he’s had to change operations at Bin 707 Foodbar and other restaurants he operates in the aftermath of closures and restrictions imposed because of the pandemic. He reduced hours at Bin 707 Foodbar to dinner service five nights a week while also emphasizing takeout. He opened a walk-up window at Tacoparty. He also turned an adjacent operation called Dinnerparty into Bin Burger. While sales have dropped, Niernberg said he’s been successful in achieving one of his goals in keeping staff employed. Hepler said agricultural businesses are accustomed to dealing with freezes and droughts, but less so with the changing circumstances brought on by a pandemic. “It’s the stress of not knowing what’s next.” Businesses involved in agricultural tourism have continued to market their operations in the midst of a pandemic through virtual tours, virtual wine tastings and even a virtual marinara sauce making presentation, she said. “They’re getting real creative.” It’s a matter of converting online marketing into sales, she said. It’s important for businesses that have customers onsite to know and follow the guidelines for social distancing, she said. That’s easy for some agricultural operations, but less so for others Moving forward, the panelists said it’s important for food producers and business to maintain relationships. Niernberg says he strives to work with local producers to identify what’s available and how to get that on his menus. Hepler said businesses in the agricultural tourism industry should reach out to their customers and ask them what they need. Talbott said producers also must remain nimble. “The game changes week by week.” F
FOR YOUR INFORMATION For more information about the Colorado Proud program promoting agricultural products in the state, visit the website at https://www.colorado.gov/ agmarkets/colorado-proud.
News Trends Contributors Real estate picking up Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac
August 6-19, 2020
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INDICATORS AT A GLANCE
n Business filings t New business filings in Colorado, 33,848 in the first quarter, down 5.6% from the first quarter of 2018.
Low interest rates and pent-up demand bolster Mesa County activity
t Consumer Confidence Index 92.6 in July, down 5.7 s Leeds Business Confidence Index for Colorado, 44.3 for the third quarter, up 14.6. s National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index 100.6 for June, up 6.2
Real estate activity has picked up in Mesa County as low interest rates, pent-up demand and a busy summer season drive increased sales. “The market is showing its strength. It’s still a really good, healthy real estate market,” said Robert Bray, chief executive officer of Bray Real Estate in Grand Junction. Annette Miller, senior vice president of Heritage Title Co., said the recent increase Robert Bray makes up for some of the decrease earlier this year, when the coronavirus pandemic nearly brought activity to a halt. Still, one of the lowest inventories of residential properties in decades has limited what could be even more sales, Bray and Miller said. For July, 604 real estate transactions worth a total of $194 million were reported in Mesa County, Miller said. Compared to the same month last year, transactions rose 8.6 percent Annette Miller and the dollar volume increased 3.7 percent. Seven large transactions worth a combined $21.2 million bolstered dollar volume, she said. That included the sale of a Federal Express facility near the Grand Junction Regional Airport for $7.5 million, a Walgreens building in Fruita for more than $5.8 million and the building housing the Office Depot in Grand Junction for $2.92 million. Through the first seven months of 2020, 2,967 transactions worth a total of $910 million were reported, Miller said. Compared to the same span in 2019, transactions were 4.8 percent lower and dollar volume 3.4 percent lower. According to Bray Real Estate, 395 residential transactions were reported in July, up 4.8 percent from the same month last year. Through the first seven months of 2020, 2,142 residential transactions worth a total of more than $644 million were reported.
n Confidence
n Foreclosures t Foreclosure filings in Mesa County, 4 in July, down from 32 in July 2019.
t Foreclosure sales in Mesa County, 2 in July, down from 9 in July 2019.
n Indexes
s Conference Board Employment Trends Index, 49.05 for June, up 3.78. s Conference Board Leading Economic Index 102 for June, up 2% s Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index for the manufacturing sector, 54.2% for July, up 1.6%.
n Lodging
t Lodging tax collections in Grand Junction, $70,296 for June, down 63.3% from June 2019.
n Real estate
s Real estate transactions in Mesa County, 604 in July, up 8.6% from July 2019. s Dollar volume of real estate transactions in Mesa County, $194 million in July, up 3.7% from July 2019.
n Sales
t Sales and use tax collections in Grand Junction, $4.4 million for June, down 9.3% from May 2019. s Sales and use tax collections in Mesa County, $3.4 million for June, up 4.8% from June 2019.
n Unemployment
s Colorado — 10.5% for June, up 0.3. s Mesa County — 10.0% for June, up 0.9. t United States — 11.1% for June, down 2.2.
Phil Castle
The Business Times
Compared to the same span in 2019, transactions decreased 4 percent. Dollar volume increased 2.3 percent as the medium sales price of homes rose 10 percent to $275,000. Bray and Miller said if the local real estate market were depicted in a movie, low interest rates on mortgages would be the hero. But low residential inventories would be the villain. Bray said interest rates have dipped to as low as 2.5 percent on some 15-year mortgages and remain under 3 percent on some 30-year mortgages. Pent-up demand also has bolstered activity during what’s already one of the busiest seasons for the market, Bray and Miller said. In addition, more people are relocating to the Grand Valley. But there are fewer homes on the market to buy. At of the end of July, there were 447 active residential listings in Mesa County, Bray said. That’s down nearly 44 percent from the same time last year and the lowest level in at least 13 years, if not much longer, he said. “It presents a challenge.” Homeowners remain reluctant to list their properties without first contracting to purchase different homes. Those relocating to the area buy homes without adding to the inventory. And the supply of newly constructed homes continues to lag behind demand, he said. Looking ahead, Bray and Miller said they expect real estate activity to continue to increase. “I think we’re going to see a good summer,” Miller said. The outlook for the remainder for the year depends on whether a resurgence of the pandemic forces businesses to close again, Miller said. That’s not to mention the potential effects of the presidential election in November. In the meantime, property foreclosure activity continues to decrease. Through the first seven months of 2020, 73 foreclosure filings and 21 foreclosure sales were reported in Mesa County, Miller said. Compared to the same span in 2019, filings declined 44.7 percent and sales dropped 70 percent. The 25 resales of foreclosed properties during the first seven months of 2020 constituted less than 1 percent of all transactions. That’s well below the 10 percent threshold Miller considers indicative of a healthy real estate market. F
Consumer Confidence Index retreats A measure of consumer confidence has retreated on less upbeat expectations for business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index fell 5.7 points to 92.6 in July. A component of the index tracking assessments of current conditions increased. But a component tracking the short-term outlook decreased. Lynn Franco, senior director of economic Lynn Franco indicators at the Conference Board, attributed the decline in part to the resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic in California, Florida, Texas and other states. “Looking ahead, consumers have grown less optimistic about the short-term outlook for the economy and labor market and remain subdued about their financial prospects,” Franco said. “Such uncertainty about the short-term future does not bode well for the recovery, nor for consumer spending.” The Conference Board, a business membership and research group, bases the index on the results of monthly household surveys. Economists monitor the index because consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity. More optimistic assessments of current business and labor
conditions pushed up the present situation component of the index 7.5 points to 94.2. The proportion of consumers responding to the surveys upon which the July index was based who called business conditions “good” held steady at 17.3 percent. But the share of those who said conditions were “bad” decreased 3.4 points to 39.1 percent. The proportion of consumers who said jobs were “plentiful” rose eight-tenths of a point to 21.3 percent. The share of those who said jobs were “hard to get” fell 3.3 points to 20 percent. A less upbeat outlook pulled down the expectations components of the index 14.6 points to 91.5. The share of consumers who said they expect business conditions to improve over the next six months fell 10.8 points to 31.6 percent. The proportion of those who said they expect worsening conditions rose 4.1 points to 19.3 percent. The share of consumers who said they expect more jobs to become available in coming months fell 7.8 points to 30.6 percent. The proportion of those who said they anticipate fewer jobs rose 5.9 points to 20.3 percent. The share of consumers who said they expect their incomes to increase remained unchanged at 15.1 percent. Those who said they anticipated decreasing incomes rose nine-tenths of a point to 15 percent. F
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The Business Times
august 6-19, 2020
Leading index rises, but still reflects weak outlook A monthly index forecasting economic conditions in the United States continues to rebound as more businesses reopen, but still reflects a weak outlook in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index (LEI) advanced 2 percent to 102 in June. The index has climbed 5.2 percent Ataman Ozyildirim over the past two months after falling a total of 13.6 percent in April and March “The June increase in the LEI reflects improvements brought about by the incremental reopening of the economy with labor market conditions and stock prices in particular contributing positively,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, senior
director of economic research at the Conference Board. Overall, though, the index still points to a weak economic outlook, Ozyildirim said. “Together with a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases across much of the nation, the LEI suggests that the U.S. economy will remain in recession territory in the near term.” The LEI fell 8.4 percent during the first half of 2020 after slipping two-tenths of a percent during the second half of 2019. For comparison, gross domestic product retreated at an annual rate of 32.9 percent in the second quarter of 2020. For June, seven of 10 indicators of the LEI advanced, including average weekly manufacturing hours, building permits, interest rate spread, new orders for capital goods, a new orders index and stock prices. A decline in average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance also bolstered the index. Consumer expectations for business
conditions, a leading credit index and new orders for consumer goods retreated. The Coincident Economic Index, a measure of current conditions, rose 2.5 percent to 96.7. The index has decreased 9.8 percent over the past six months. For June, industrial production, nonfarm payrolls and personal income increased. Sales decreased. The Lagging Economic Index, a measure of past performance, fell 2.5 percent to 110.8. The index has dropped six-tenths of a percent over the past three months. For June, the cost of services and inventories increased. Commercial and industrial financing, consumer debt and labor costs decreased. An increase in the average duration of unemployment also pulled down the index. The average prime rate charged by banks held steady. F
Trends Contributors Opinion star efforts Awarding Business Briefs Business People Almanac
August 6-19, 2020
The Business Times
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COMING ATTRACTIONS
n The Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction has scheduled presentations on startups, planning and bookkeeping. A two-part webinar on how to start a business is set for 9 to 10:30 a.m. Aug. 13 and 14. The next session of a business startup workshop is set for 1 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at the center, 2591 Legacy Way. The webinar and workshop will cover the business planning process, financing and other topics. Admission is $55, which includes admission to Fast Trac classes. The next Leading Edge business planning course is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays Aug. 19 to Nov. 4. The course will cover a range of topics related to starting and running businesses. Participants will write a business plan and test their models for financial viability. Tuition is $275 for one person and an additional $100 for a partner or employee. The next bookkeeping boot camp is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 10 at the center. Participants will learn how to set up and track accounting records and what balance sheets, cash flow projections and income statements can tell them about their businesses. Admission is $75, which includes lunch. For more information about upcoming events, services and programs offered at the Business Incubator Center, call 243-5242 or visit the website at www.gjincubator.org. n The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a free webinar on retaining employees and keeping them safe in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The webinar is set for 10 a.m. Aug. 12. Registration will be open through 8 a.m. the day of the webinar on the chamber website at www.gjchamber.org. For additional information, call 242-3214 or visit www.gjchamber.org. n The annual State of the Valley presentation is set for noon Aug. 18. The Zoom event will feature officials from Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade who will provide updates to the business community and answer questions. To register or obtain more information, visit the website at www.gjchamber.org.
Program recognizes businesses for COVID safety measures
Mesa County continues to experience success in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Thanks to the commitment of the business community and residents, we’ve been able to safely reopen businesses and begin our economic recovery. We recognize the sacrifices have been many and want to acknowledge the work it took for us to get this far. To highlight the great work our local businesses have done to ensure employee and customer safety, we’re pleased to introduce the Variance Protection Program. A collaborative effort between Mesa County Public Health and the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Jeff Kuhr Commerce, the five-star rating system recognizes businesses implementing public health recommendations related to COVID-19. The program grew out of a realization some residents could be wary of entering public spaces given the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Many of these consumers could have underlying health conditions or other risk factors. They want to know what precautions facilities take to ensure their safety. Many businesses do an excellent job of protecting their customers, and we want to highlight their work. We also want to provide resources for residents to know the places implementing these safety practices as intended and taking precautions to protect the community. Since the program launched, 26 businesses have received five-star ratings. The list grows rapidly. Businesses interested in joining the program begin by submitting a business safety plan to Mesa County Public Health. Information about the process is available online
at https://health.mesacounty.us. A Mesa County Public Health representative visits establishments and audits their procedures as they relate to COVID-19. The representative scores the establishment on a series of items required in the public health order and outlined in the reopening plan. To achieve a five-star rating, establishments must demonstrate they’ve implemented policies and procedures in five areas: mask use, social distancing marking, facility capacity, cleaning protocols and active monitoring of symptoms Not only does the rating program provide information for consumers, the program also offers a great marketing tool. Businesses receive window cling stickers issued by the Grand Junction chamber to promote their operations as recipients of five-star ratings. In addition, advertising will feature the establishments that have earned the designation. A list of businesses that have earned five-star ratings is available at https://health.mesacounty.us. The list will be updated and serve as an expanding resource for those working to ensure safety at their establishments. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges. Adjusting business procedures to adapt and respond to this new environment is no easy feat. Mesa County Public Health commends the efforts of the business community and looks forward to a continued partnership in reopening our community and economy. Jeff Kuhr is executive director of Mesa County Public Health. Connect with the health department through social media on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MesaCountyPublicHealth and Twitter @WeAreHealthyMC. F
SBA profiles: Small businesses in U.S. big employers
Small businesses employ nearly half the work force in Colorado and the United States, according to the latest profiles prepared to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy. According to statistics reported in the 2020 small business profile for Colorado, the nearly 654,000 small businesses in the state constitute 99.5 percent of all businesses and employ 48.1 percent of the private work force. Nationwide, 31.7 million small businesses employ 47.1 percent of the work force. The SBA defines small
businesses as those with fewer than 500 employees. Small businesses created 33,618 net new jobs in Colorado in 2019 and 1.8 million nationally. The SBA Office of Advocacy assembles government economic data to provide statistical snapshots of small business activity in all 50 states as well as five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. To view the small business profiles, visit the SBA Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advocacy. F
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The Business Times
august 6-19, 2020
Empower your team through the art of delegation There’s a distinct difference between business owners who create jobs for themselves and those who truly lead their companies. In the first scenario, owners take on daily tasks that could easily be handled by fellow management and team members — tasks taking precious time that could be spent as the visionary, innovator and leader of the company. If this is your reality, what is it costing you, your team and your customers? In all likelihood, the cost is significantly higher than you might realize. When you’ve merely created a job for yourself, you have less time to be the effective leader of your company and less time for your life. After all, personal freedom is likely one of the reasons you started a business in the first place. Marcus In addition, your team doesn’t Straub have a powerful example to follow — someone who leads with clarity in the direction of greater happiness and success — because you’re too busy fighting fires. Your customers don’t receive the best you and your team have to offer because of the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness. All of this can be overcome through the process of effective delegation. Delegation is the art of realizing you can’t do it all. You don’t have to do it all. And your way of doing something isn’t always the most effective approach. Once you realize and accept these facts and there are members of your team capable and willing to do more, you can begin to let go of tasks and projects consuming your time to truly lead. The bottom line is your company won’t live up to its potential until you, as leader, empower yourself and your
Your company won’t live up to its potential until you, as leader, empower yourself and your team through the art of delegation. team through the art of delegation. The art of delegation frequently escapes business owners and managers. This, in turn, leads to the unpleasant experiences of stress and feeling overwhelmed that take much of the fun out of owning and running a business. A lack of effective delegation also inhibits the growth and development of team members and, therefore, the business itself. The primary objection I hear from my business clients is, “They won’t do it the way I do.” That’s correct given they’re not you. But this need not be an obstacle. In fact, once I help clients get over this mental block, they come to see the tremendous power that comes with effective delegation. Another concern business owners and managers express is those to which they delegate won’t complete tasks or projects correctly. This can be overcome through the development of effective communication and listening. When the person delegating conveys clearly and specifically what needs done, the person receiving the task or project truly listens and both parties confirm their understanding, effective delegation becomes the norm. Take a step back from your daily tasks and look at your situation openly and honestly. Spend some time writing out all the tasks you handle to gain perspective of your self-created reality. This greater awareness on
your part will position you to take action to create a better situation for yourself and your team members. A powerful step would be to engage the assistance of a qualified coach or consultant. Doing so will help you gain perspective; shorten your learning curve; and get you and your team on the path of effective high-level delegation, superior results and a greater return on investment that much sooner. Once you begin delegating, you’ll see and experience the benefits rather quickly. Less stress in you and your team members feels good and improves overall job satisfaction. Dramatically lower error rates improve ROI. Team members develop competencies and skills and become more valuable in the smooth and efficient operation of your business. A crucial step in the direction of greater happiness and success in business is learning to let go and delegate effectively so everyone involved is empowered to do more and be more. As you become a more effective delegator, the positive results will be increasingly obvious. You’ll free yourself to lead, your team will grow more confident and capable and your customers will embrace the excellence of your company. Marcus Straub owns Life is Great Coaching in Grand Junction. His personalized coaching and consulting services help individuals, business owners, executives and companies build teams, organizations and lives filled with happiness and success. Straub is winner of the International Coach of the Year Award and author of “Is It Fun Being You?” He’s available for free consultations regarding coaching, speaking and trainings. Reach Straub at 208-3150, marcus@lifeisgreatcoaching.com or through the website located at www.lifeisgreatcoaching.com. F
August 6-19, 2020
The Business Times
What’s your value proposition? What sets your business apart from all the similar businesses out there? Do you have a unique value proposition? Put yourself in the places of your clients, prospects or referral sources. What do you think they consider to be your value proposition? Have you ever asked them what they view as your company’s best or most valuable advantages? What did they say? Did you take their input and use it? If you haven’t asked, then why? What’s a value proposition? Perhaps the best way to explain the concept is through a Janet few examples. If you provide a service, the value could Arrowood be harder to define. But quantifying something you do better than similar companies will set you apart. If you operate a staffing company, providing a 30-day money back guarantee might be an option. Or guaranteeing to provide certain hard-to-find employees within a short time frame could be of great value. Maybe you’ve won industry awards or peer recognition. Those set you apart as well. If you provide goods, you need a value proposition that’s both interesting and quantifiable. If you operate a restaurant, perhaps you offer a selection of menu items guaranteed to reach the table within 15 minutes of placing an order or the food is discounted or free. Maybe you’ve maintained top ratings from the county health department for food safety or been named for the past 10 years as the best in some category by a recognized rating agency. Maybe you offer a return or exchange policy more liberal than competitors. Think about companies that have distinguished themselves from the competition. Uber makes it easy to request a ride, easy to pay and easy for the driver to find your location and destination. Other ride-hailing services offer their own value propositions.
There’s one thing value propositions have in common, though. They don’t say anything about other companies. They give customers the means and opportunity to reach the desired conclusions. Running down the competition is not a value proposition. In fact, it’s often better to convey your company’s value and strengths without even acknowledging competitors. Telling customers, prospects and referral sources what the other person does wrong or poorly won’t make people think more highly of you and your company or value more your services or goods. This is particularly true in the bid and proposal process. If you have a truly unique value proposition, you can turn the competition into referral sources. How? By serving a niche you clearly articulate and supporting competitors in their pursuit of market segments on which you don’t focus. A willingness to support others in your field — whether through mentoring, referrals or references — could be a large part of your value proposition. This approach would certainly make you unique. Here are three tips to help develop your value proposition: n Write a headline. n Use no more than three sentences to describe what sets you apart — what’s quantitative and simple for current and potential clients and referral sources to understand and explain to others. n Test out your value proposition on current clients, referral sources, centers of influence and your advisory board. Remember, your company slogan isn’t your value proposition — although it might make a good starting point to write a headline for your proposition. Janet Arrowood is founder and managing director of the Write Source, a Grand Junction-based firm that offers a range of services, including grant and proposal writing, instruction and technical writing. Reach her at janet.arrowood@thewritesourceinc.com. For more information, visit www.TheWriteSourceInc.com. F
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News, views and advice you can use
Subscribe today to the journal that means business in the Grand Valley (970) 424-5133
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The Business Times
august 6-19, 2020
Where do we go from here? It depends
I wrote in a my last column in this publication about a coming downturn and the end of the economic expansion. I suspected nearly a year ago a downturn was coming. I just couldn’t pinpoint a likely cause. I never would have guessed in a million years a downturn would be caused by a pandemic or the extent of the damage the outbreak would cause. Now another question arises: Where do we go from here? I initially believed the United States had been able to avoid a pandemic for a century. But I conducted some research and discovered there was a short-lived pandemic in 1957 and 1958 related to the Asian flu. The pandemic was shortlived and the economic effects limited because a Sid Squirrell vaccine was developed within six months. That takes me back to the original question: Where do we go from here? The answer hinges on how long it takes to develop a vaccine. Even if a vaccine is developed quickly this year or next, the coronavirus pandemic has inflicted major effects on the economy and society that will stick with us for generations. Consider, for example, office space. We’ll either need less space because companies have discovered employees remain productive working remotely, more space to accommodate social distancing or the same amount because the outcome will end up somewhere in the middle. I suspect there’ll be an uptick in productivity with a combination of remote and office work, whichever makes the most sense for each particular situation. Employees who feel sick enough to know they shouldn’t go to the office for fear of infecting others, but not sick enough to skip work, will power through at home. I also foresee companies relocating their offices in the suburbs to reduce rental costs and move closer to employee homes. The outlook for retail could be far different. The pandemic probably accelerated the emphasis on home delivery. Plus, closures created a hardship from which many retail businesses will find difficult to recover. I expect to see more store closures as well as consolidations
of remaining retailers so we’ll end up with one or two players in each category. This will leave excess retail space available on the market, which will take several years to absorb. Big box centers and malls could be converted to apartments, distribution centers or storage. Restaurants definitely have their work cut out for them after being closed for months. That’s not to mention the restrictions under which they now operate — or the threat of more closures if the pandemic worsens. That being said, I’m surprised and impressed at the resilience restaurants have displayed. These folks know no other way than scrabbling and hard work. The expansion of chain restaurants has been put on hold, and that probably won’t change until a vaccine is available. Fast food restaurants with drive-thru service are doing well, though, so the outlook for the industry depends on the type of restaurant. These are strange times and some things might never be the same again. As the saying goes: This too shall pass. But probably not overnight. There’ll be winners and losers through no fault of their own. Where do we go from here? Will the recovery be like with the letter V with a sharp drop and rapid rebound? Will the recovery be more like a U with an extended bottom then rise? Or will it be a W with two dips caused by a resurgence in the pandemic and additional closures? Worse, will the recovery resemble an L with a sharp drop followed by an extended flat line? Perhaps the recovery will be more like a swoosh with a sharp drop and then a slow recovery over many years. Or maybe the recovery will look like a reversed square root symbol in which the economy drops sharply, rises temporarily because of government stimulus and then flattens due to job losses and an ongoing pandemic. Whichever shape recovery takes, we will come out of it. But we’ll forever be touched the coronavirus pandemic. How we deal with it will determine how we remember it. Sid Squirrell, a Certified Commercial Investment Member, is a broker associate with Bray Commercial in Grand Junction. For more information, call 241-2909 or visit www.braycommercial.com. F
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august 6-19, 2020
Sports nutrition products: First, do no harm Ready to up your game? Would you like to bike longer, run faster, be more flexible or improve your strength? Do you lack the energy to work out every day? Does it feel like it takes longer to recover after a rigorous workout? Do you golf nine holes and ride a cart when you used to walk 18? Have you considered using energy enhancers, muscle builders, hydration drinks and recovery products? Do you gain weight when you use what are sold as sports nutrition products? Are you confused about what to look for? Many conventional sports nutrition products, especially the most popular retail brands, contain artificial flavors, sweeteners and preservatives. Moreover, conventional sports products could Patti Reece be untested or contain ingredients that are unproven. Rather than testing products in clinical tests or with world-class athletes, many companies choose to introduce new products without scientific confirmation. The Committee on Nutrition and Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness recently stated: “Frequent or excessive intake of (high) caloric sports drinks can substantially increase the risk for overweight or obesity in children and adolescents.” These and other health concerns should prompt you to think carefully about the brand you choose. You should look for a brand that’s safe; free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives; and widely used by Olympians and other world-class athletes. Olympians are held to higher standards than most athletes. They’re subject to drug testing protocol 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. If their tests come back positive for the use of a prohibited substance, they’re banned
from competition. So look for a company and brand with a proven track record with not only Olympians, but also other professional athletes. You spend a lot of time and effort to get fit and healthy, why choose a brand sold in a discount or grocery store? Look for a brand that offers a fitness line with lower calories for most people and an endurance line for those competing in ultra events. These athletes require more calories than the average fitness buff. The four products you need to enhance your workouts are an energy product, hydration product, muscle builder and recovery product. The energy product should be used before and during your workouts. It should provide fast and lasting clean energy. Look for such ingredients as guayusa — an Amazonian superfood coveted for its energy, antioxidants and polyphenol content — as well as green coffee beans, natural green tea extract, L-tyrosine, L-theanine, B vitamins and vitamin D. The hydration drink should include all six electrolytes whether you choose higher-calorie or no-calorie products. You should consume this product before, during and after your workouts. A drink made with coconut water powder is preferred. Make sure there are no artificial ingredients. Staying hydrated is critical for your health. Keeping hydrated helps the heart pump blood more easily through vessels to the muscles. Hydration also helps muscles work more efficiently. “If you’re well hydrated, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard,” said John Batson, a sports medicine physician with Lowcountry Spine & Sport in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and an American Heart Association volunteer. It’s also a important to keep tabs on your hydration if you’re traveling, Batson said. “You might sweat differently if you’re in a different climate.”
Dehydration can be a serious condition that can lead to problems ranging from swollen feet or a headache to such life-threatening illnesses as heat stroke. Hydration is not just important during physical activity. Sitting in the sun on a hot or humid day, even if you’re not exercising, can also cause your body to need more fluids. People who have a heart condition, are older than 50 or overweight could require extra precautions. The next step in a solid sports nutrition regimen is the muscle-building phase. A good muscle builder should contain leucine, a branch chain amino acid that helps you preserve and build lean muscle. Look for a product that uses a cold filtration process to help preserve the bio actives. A good product will be clinically proven to naturally activate the body’s recovery process. The build product should be taken no more than 20 minutes after the workout and again two hours later for maximum results. Last, but not least, consider taking a recovery product that relieves pain caused by overexertion. A good product contains tart cherry extract for pain and helps with sleep quality. Find a product that also includes a pain relief blend of boswellia and safflower extracts. If you’re exercising less frequently because of poor results, soreness or lack of energy, try a good sports nutrition regimen. You’ll be glad you did. Patti Reece owns Shaklee For the Health of It in Grand Junction. She’s used an educational-based approach to help thousands of people create healthier lives both physically and financially. She specializes in online business training. She’s available for free consultations. Reach her at 260-4839, patti@pattireece.com or www.PattiReece.com. F
Contributors Opinion Bold predictions for 2015 for That’s right, I’m calling A new yearofBusiness affords As a matter facts: Briefs more like not-so-bold repeats an “open” revolution ... Some useful, some not a new opportunity Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES
PAGE age 22
Call me a collector. Not of priceless artwork, tragically. Or even, for that matter, of baseball cards or beer cans. Rather, I collect facts. Some of them useful. Some not. And some so arcane few others appreciate their value. It’s an occupational hazard, I suspect. A byproduct of working in printanjournalism forfor more thanstart 40 years. A new year almost always brings opportunity a fresh and editors have to learn certain facts to do their jobs. renewed ambition toNewspaper do things better. Associated Presstoliterally wrote the bookbetter on the subject In business, thatThe usually boils down providing customers products in compiling a style and what’s essentially a long and services faster and at lower cost thanmanual competitors. Part of the process mustlist of facts editors and reporters are supposed to use in writing include listening to customers to determine what they actually need and then for newspapers outlets. meeting that need. After all, it does and littleother goodmedia to offer the latest and greatest if While a lot of facts become anachronistic, editors nobody actually wants what you’re selling. seldom forget any. Consequently, ourGrand brainsJunction becomeArea full of Just like the businesses that belong to the group, the them, nearly tostarts the point of new bursting balloons filled Chamber of Commerce invariably out the year like withwater a reassessment of with too much water. the services and resources it provides and how well they match with members Phil Castle if editorsofcan’t use put all thoseoffacts to good needs. Jeff Franklin, the Even new chairman the chamber board directors, use on the job, then by God the curmudgeonly ones personifies this approach in describing what he considers his role for the like coming myself pull to them out from time to time if we could assert ourIt’s a year: listen members, determine their as needs and thensomehow meet those needs. intellectual superiority. Right.asWhile I’ve long fantasized becoming role with which FranklinYeah. is familiar market president of Bank about of Colorado. a “Jeopardy” champion, least smart enough to realize the unlikelihood The process will takeI’m on at a more structured approach in what the chamber of that occurrence. plans as the resumption of a program aptly called Listening to Business. Under the For now, though, hereparticipate are a few of favorite facts, kind of like my version program, business owners in my in-depth interviews to identify barriers to of rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens. growth and other problems they encounter. n For starters, let’s get some things straight, shall we?club. It’s Canada goose, The new year offers a good time to join the proverbial not Canadian goose. It’s Smokey Bear, not Smokey the Bear. And those big As an advertiser or reader, what do you need from the Business Times? shaggy animals that used to roam the plains are bison, not buffalo. By the way, While business journals traditionally gather and report the relevant news to it’s sneakcommunication peek, not peak.isn’t It’s necessarily free rein, not reign. And youThat’s whet an appetite,true notas readers, a one-way street. especially wet one. Web sites and e-mail make the dialogue more convenient than ever. n Books, movies and other have titles. They’re nottoentitled to of a Good publications don’t existworks in a vacuum. They respond the needs darned thing. And I'll have words with anyone who suggests they are. Speaking advertisers and readers. They provide what’s needed. of titles, thosedothat So what youappear need? before names are capitalized. Titles that come after names aren’t. For example: Phil Castle, editorhelp of the Business Times. about Is there additional news It’s coverage that would keep you informed Although I’ll happily answer to illustrious potentate. local business developments? Are there features that would be interesting or n Every time I read orwould hear something’s “totally destroyed,” useful? Is there advice that make your jobs a little easier? I wince. Then I wantIt’s to equally throttle important the offending writer. either destroyed or it’stonot. It’s to ask whatSomething’s you don’t need. With limited time certainlycontent not destroyed to any greater degreetowith the it, addition an and adverb. produce and limited space in which publish would of time spaceThe be same thing holds true for other binary conditions. She’s not completely blind any better devoted to something else? moreWhat’s than she’s partially pregnant. good? What isn’t? What’s needed? What isn’t? ILet suppose I could go And on.Comment And on. But a good editor knowsTimes less is us know. Send uson. an e-mail. online on the Business Web more. my case, actually, a lot more. site at In www.thebusinesstimes.com. You could even write an old-fashioned letter to I acknowledge myYour list — and the both entirepositive subjectand of this column — doesn’t the editor if you’d like. feedback, negative, is valued and havebe much directly to do with business management. Neither do I address any will carefully considered. of the serious challenges owners face at an staffs, unfortunately Good publications arebusiness the result of notand onlymanagers the efforts of their but also increasing pace these days. But as a matter of facts, we could all use some collaborative efforts involving advertisers and readers. diversions. Like any other good business, we want to listen to our customers, find out what they need and then meet those needs. Phil It’s Castle is editor the Business Reach him at phil@thebusinesstimes.com a new year. of Please help us Times. to do so. or 424-5133. ✦ F
THE BUSINESS TIMES
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Publisher/Owner: Craig R. Hall
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Subscribe or submit press releases online at www.thebusinesstimes.com The Grand Valley Business Times, a subsidiary of Hall Media Group LLC, is published twice monthly and distributed throughout Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Advertising rates and deadlines are available upon request. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor, staff or advertisers. Copyright © 2015 — AllCopyright rights reserved. © 2020 — All rights reserved.
No, not like see in Portland, It’s that timetheofones yearyou when Seattle, Minneapolis and other major United resolutions and prognostications abound. States cities. Besides, those revolutions aren’t My favorite saying applied to New Year’s really open, they’re becoming more and more resolutions is in saying they’re basically a closed day. What else would youweek call bunch by of the promises to break the first orders for police standIdown, of January. Andtowhile won’t instructions predict a for citizens justpretty give the violent rioters whole lot, Itocan much accurately what andthat for without community leaders nail athey fewwant things question to shut down reporting as the violence will make thelive news. You will see these are actually occurs? pretty, well, predictable: I’d call that a closed ■ Prediction one: off revolution. in There will beAdd some Facebook (and most sort of weather event, big-time social media) natural disaster or fact checking and heinous occurrence censorship, dangerous where someone will congresspeople be interviewedlike and say Jerry Nadler calling the following: “I’veit a myth 100 percent neverand seen anything Democrat like that insupport my for the violenceIt’s while lifetime.” as if this Craig Hall Hall Craig ignoring of life person isloss a required and property and the attendee at every news criminal of the main stream media reportingbehavior event. While I understand most for only showing one side the story, and people’s perspective canof indeed be limited you have the perfect description of what an by, or contained within, their own personal open revolution enrollment experiences, it is is not. too Still, muchopen to ask to in the revolution is going well since arrests are consult some historical perspective before few, there’s required so perpetrators saying suchnoa bail thing? Yes, this response can walk hours and charges are more rare applywithin to some events. But when it comes than Bill Barr actually being given 20 seconds to weather and natural disasters, I’m pretty to answer a Democrat diatriberepeating disguiseditself. as a sure this is simply history question. Same as it has for millions and millions of I’m alsoimportant, not talkingthe about themade open it! years. More planet acts get were folks certain “Karened” for one Whatthat didn’t species. How’s thing or perspective? another. Nor am I saying violence that for should be met with violence (although ■ Prediction two: When it comes to a part sees this that as the onlybetween solution crimeoforme something occurs because howrequired wars areattendee won) oratthat humans, that’s the other all we need more parades news reporting events isand the actual personpeaceful who protests get the message outnicest we’re says this:to“They we’re just the sick of the — did even though we’re people, andtyranny in no way I see something peaceful and sick of the tyranny. These like this coming.” Exactly. No one does actions well anditgood and most of are the all time when comes to can be important partsacquaintances. of an open revolution. neighbors and People should Quick side note to “Karen” outtime theretoon be surprised at what goes on from masks. see many, many folkstowns not wearing time in Itheir neighborhoods, and awith mask, wearing wearing people theymasks know wrong becauseorpeople are and then notfor wearing andthat thenthey wearing good. And the times shouldn’t them — all in But that’srepeat what be shocked —two likeminutes. with politicians, happens the mask — is not a store offenderswhen and terrorists where’s thepolicy but rather athat government edict. Because for interview says, “This doesn’t surprise every bar, restaurant and business that me in store, the least.” has the right to demand ■ Prediction three: customers Somethingwear gooda mask, there are just as many, if the not more, will happen economically, and which won’t.will Andtake THAT is why government credit for it.businesses The most have people like Gov. Jared Polis more than recent example is gas prices, where people willing abuse theircredit powerthe mandating ask me to why I won’t president for masks they don’t have toissuffer the low gassoprices. My answer simple: consequences of their business decisions. Government never makes the price of And itgo matters mask-wearing is something downnot andifsimply takes credit some politically correct decision, whether for good news. Gas pricing is subject to you government should decide manythink global factors. Now there are how a business should run or think, or if prefer government answers to addressingyou some of the liberal method government to them to keep pricesusing stable for Americans, make act like you The end in result but ourfolks government hasthink. none of them of using government theplace same: place. The only thingsforce it hasis in in the
august15-28, 6-19, 2015 2020 JANUARY
People elsewhere. Don’t thinkAnother so? Get long rungoalways hurt consumers. into at the three-times-wrapped-aroundfact line is that unemployment reaches a certain the-building Chick-fil-A and And see how level based on the economy. while the business is there. I’d be willing to betisit’s government might brag the number low, the same than with likely masks.the People will go did where it’s more government it’s a choice,tonot a mandate. And being a smart something cause that number low business owner will know to do. when — and not in a good way. what Conversely, Thatpicks bringsup, meit’s to because my revolution. Just business the people open. That’s And I meanwho everything. who need toit. buy widgets were not Churches, schools, businesses, governments buying widgets because the economy was and anythingdue elsetounder the(or sun.unnatural, Our contracting natural economy hascaused) tanked over 30 percent due government reasons, decided we to the actions of Republican andgovernment Democrat better buy some widgets. The leaders’ and bureaucrats’ decisions. And just had nothing to do with this. so you it hasn’t done one damned ■ know, Prediction four: In keeping with thing stop a virus spreading ALL the thingstothe government does, I(as predict viruses do) whether it’s 14 days slow it to government will manipulate thetonumbers or upwards of 150 to stopisit.getting The only make the claim thedays economy thing see from that loadto of betterAmericans because ofshould how hard it is working bull is it hasn’tAmericans.” worked fromNow day helpdroppings all of us “working one everyday Americans are suffering. you and might say, “Craig, you always say this is the United States of America. Tell aboutThis President Obama because you don’t people what’s going on, give them the truth like him.” You’re right in a sense. I don’t of the situation them do what know the man,and butlet what I know of they him do and best: defeat any enemylike foreign or domestic — his thinking, I don’t it or him one iota. whether it’s ago Democrat, criminal or thelike next Before you off, however, I didn’t virus to rollBush in from Platitudes aren’t President andChina. his bailouts, stimulus leadership. Keeping lawlessness and riots to and his abandoning the free market to save inner cities while And only Itaking the free market. don’taction knowbecause him the houses of the our government elected bettersdoes, are threatened either. What and the isn’t safe.the Shuttering the onlykeeping thing it Americans can do, is hurt economy. economy destroying country’s heritage, Unless it is does nothingthis or put criminals in history and small businesses piece by piece. jail instead of partnering with them, nothing Closing schools isdoes childwill abuse. And shuttering the government help. Always look our of worship is the a declaration of war at ithouses this way, whatever government says on who seek peace, andlaw it it isthose doing, whatever the tranquility name of the freedom. is passing, or whatever the name or goal of Yet here we itare, with all of to these the bureaucracy is presenting the things closed, illegal in many cases.toThe people, even expect the polar opposite occur. vast majority of this country I guess what I’m sayingisishanging that by aperhaps thread. it’s Andtime whattoare getour outleaders of ourdoing? own Fighting overThere’s how much money they don’t perspective. plenty of history have givehistorical away. Extending bookstoand researchmandates out there to that do more harm than good, give begin to understand that all ofbutthis has them power. Reporting cases found happened before. And total it will again, instead active and hospitalizations whetherofthe topiccases is people or government. or whichever report helps them The bestdaily recommendation is tomost find politically. I could on,whole but it boils down some books or trygothat Google to is this: You aren’t being told the truth. thing. There’s a lot of information on the Here’s the America I grew in. Riots Great Depression. The truth is up it wasn’t and quickly. got No evenrevolutions a good onewere untilput thedown government one told anyone what to do, only involved. There’selse also plenty of and research the crazies used government try to the do it. on the medieval warm periodtowhen The adults this country act like planet was in much warmer would than today with adults and to work, and dowell a whole lotgoless peopletake (anda hit warmer whatever it took keep before man was to here at America all). Andrunning, yep, protect and benefit the kids and the most people have been killing other surprised vulnerable andhistory treat those affected. people since was first written. It’s past some time we ignoredwill the help penalties Maybe research stop and started heroic Americans who all of thesebeing trends. Otherwise, we’ll berise to meet we’ve a challenge. one in government saying never No seen anything like it in is gonna it for us.inOpen the way. country up. our lives.doAnd not a good Craig Craig Hall Hall is is owner owner and and publisher publisher of of the the Business Times. Reach Reach him him at at 424-5133 424-5133 Business Times. or or publisher@thebusinesstimes. publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦
The Business Times
August 6-19, 2020
It’s time to end the war on small businesses
Even as Americans recently celebrated their declaration of independence and the war that freed them from the tyrannical rule of England, another war rages on in the United States. The war on small businesses hasn’t been officially declared, but the evidence of aggression is on full display. After an amazing economic comeback over the last three years, small businesses were beginning to flourish. But that was before two shots fired across the bow engaged small businesses in a fight for their very existence. The first blow to small businesses was by an unseen invader. COVID-19, now a common term in our lexicon, became a part of American lives. Many states implemented draconian efforts to slow the spread of the deadly virus. Governors issued executive orders declaring big box stores, grocery chains, liquor stores and even pot shops as essential. Remaining businesses were Phyllis classified as non-essential and their employees cast away Hunsinger as non-essential workers. Across the United States, small businesses were closed for weeks. They’re still restricted in how they’re allowed to operate. Small business owners operate on limited budgets. They don’t have the reserves to keep employees on the payroll if the business closes. Closing any business, even for a relatively short period, is devastating. But for a small business, it often results in the demise of that venture. The second blow to small business was the social unrest by groups of individuals bent on shredding the fabric of our nation. In some large city neighborhoods, the destruction of small businesses by breaking windows, defacing buildings and stealing merchandise by out of control, non-resident mobs was devastating. Many of these small business owners had their life savings in their businesses. They were left with the destruction of their properties. Some business owners will never reopen. Other business owners will make the costly decision to relocate. According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, small businesses create two-thirds of net new jobs and drive innovation and competitiveness while generating 44 percent of all economic activity. Small businesses play a collectively big role in the economy and must be protected from governmental overreach whether in response to a pandemic or other significant events. Pay attention to political issues in 2020. Some people fail to understand the role small businesses play in the well-being of the economy. These same people desire additional taxation and regulation to implement large government programs. Whenever taxation and regulation become excessively burdensome, small businesses go out of business. Does this sound like killing the proverbial goose that laid the golden egg? When government arbitrarily declares businesses must close in the name of protecting citizens from COVID-19 while at the same time fails to protect life, liberty and property, it’s blatantly obvious government doesn’t have the answers. Whenever the rule of law is diminished and civil authority is complicit with riotous lawbreakers and whenever producers face onerous taxes and regulations, society in general and the economy in particular suffers. Speak up and be counted before it’s too late. Protect 44 percent of the economy. Stop the war on small businesses. Phyllis Hunsinger is founder of the Freedom & Responsibility Education Enterprise Foundation in Grand Junction. The foundation provides resources to students and teachers in Western Colorado to promote an understanding of economics, financial literacy and free enterprise. For more information, visit www.free-dom.us.com. A former teacher, principal and superintendent, Hunsinger wrote “Down and Dirty: A ‘How To’ Math Book.” Reach Hunsinger by email at phyllis@free-dom.us.com. F
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n GRAND JUNCTION COMPANY RANKS AMONG TOP SOLAR SYSTEM INSTALLERS IN THE U.S.
Atlasta Solar Center in Grand Junction once again ranks among the top solar system installers in the United States in a list compiled for Solar Power World magazine. Atlasta Solar ranks 284th among the more than 400 companies on the 2020 Top Solar Contractors list. Atlasta Solar has made the list eight years in a row. Darin Carei, principal owner of Atlasta Solar, attributed the success of the company Darin Carei in part to the ongoing support of customers in Western Colorado. “We are grateful to have such a supportive and involved community, to which we attribute our successful ability to continue to operate during this time of business as unusual.” The list ranks contractors in the commercial, residential and utility markets for number of kilowatts of photovoltaic power installed during the previous year. “All contractors featured on the 2020 list reported strong 2019 installation numbers and are continuing to stand tall this year,” said Kelsey Misbrener, senior editor of Solar Power World. Contractors reported the best quarter ever for installations in the first quarter, but expected year-over-year decreases in the second quarter as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Atlasta Solar employs 27 workers who installed a total of nearly 1,478 kilowatts of solar power in 2019. Since its founding in 1979, the company has installed 8,173 kilowatts of solar power. Atlasta Solar operates offices at 1111 S. Seventh St. For more information, call 248-0057 or visit www.atlastasolar.com. n WEST STAR AVIATION ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Timothy Spihlman has joined West Star Aviation as chief financial officer. Spihlman oversees all aspects of the company’s finance functions, including accounting, financial planning, taxes and corporate strategy. He brings to his duties more than 25 years of financial and operational leadership experience in a variety of industries. He holds designation as a certified public accountant and a bachelor’s Tim Spihlman degree from Bradley University. “I’m excited to have Tim joining the West Star team. His extensive experience in corporate finance as well as his experience in several C-level positions make him the ideal candidate to help us achieve our long-term goals,” said Jim Rankin, chief executive officer. Spihlman said he expects to draw on his experiences in helping West Star staff continue to serve the aviation industry. “I am pleased to have the opportunity to join a company with such a strong history and customer centric approach.” West Star Aviation provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services at facilities at the Grand Junction Regional Airport and in Aspen and Denver as well as in Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. The company has been selected for seven consecutive years as the top MRO services provider in a survey conducted for Professional Pilot magazine. For more information, call (800) 922-2421 or visit www.weststaraviation.com.
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august 6-19, 2020
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A fast-growing home health care provider that operates out of the Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction has earned recognition for its efforts. The International Business Innovation Association presented MLS Senior Care with its Outstanding Client of the Year Award. The awards program showcases the efforts of clients of business incubator and entrepreneurship centers. “It’s amazing what one company can accomplish with the right tribe,” said Diana Conner, founder and owner of MLS Senior Care. Conner attributed the Diana Conner success of her firm to the center and its staff and programs as well as the employees of her company. Jon Maraschin, executive director of the Business Incubator Center, in turn praised Conner. “Diana is the epitome of a smart, savvy and caring business owner with a company that so positively impacts our community, her clients and her staff. Having MLS Senior Care in our community is truly a blessing. Diane and her team are simply amazing.” Conner launched MLS Senior Care in 2016 while she attended the Leading Edge business planning course offered at the center. She’s since grown the business to include 80 employees — 50 of them full time — who provide a total of more than 1,600 hours of services a week that include companionship, meal preparation and wellness checks. For more information about MLS Senior Care, log on to www.mlsseniorcare.com. For more information about the Business Incubator Center, call 243-5242 or visit the website at www.gjincubator.org.
n COLORADO BANKING INDUSTRY VETERAN ELECTED TO ALPINE BANK BOARD OF DIRECTORS Linda Childears, a veteran of the Colorado banking industry who’s served on a variety of boards, has been elected to the Alpine Bank board of directors. “With our recent addition of four Front Range Alpine Banks, we felt it important to find a board member who will make a valuable contribution to our organization. We believe Linda Childears will do just that,” said Bob Linda Childears Young, chairman of the board. Childears brings to her duties experience as chief executive officer of the Young Americans Bank, president of Equitable Bank and vice president of the First National Bank Corp. She also was a board member of the Colorado Bankers Association and Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. She’s served on a total of more than 30 local, state and national boards. She’s also president emeritus of the Daniels Fund. Childears said she’s honored to join the Alpine Bank board. “I’ve admired Alpine Bank and its leadership for a long time,” she said. “It combines two things I love: the banking business and a genuine relationship with the communities it serves.” Headquartered in Glenwood Springs, Alpine Bank operates 40 banking offices across the state. For more information, visit www.alpinebank.com. n APPLICATIONS SOUGHT FOR ANNUAL AWARDS RECOGNIZING BEST NONPROFIT PRACTICES Applications will be accepted through Aug. 14 for an annual awards programs recognizing nonprofit organizations that promote sustainable revenue. Eide Bailly, a regional accounting and business advisory firm with an office in Grand Junction, will present a $10,000 award in Colorado as well as Arizona, Minnesota and North Dakota. In addition to providing recognition, Eide Bailly conducts the program to Deb Nelson gather and share information about best practices. “We are proud to continue showing our commitment to the nonprofit community through the Eide Bailly Resourefullness Award. The innovative and creative ideas that are shared each year continue to inspire me,” said Deb Nelson, partner in charge of the nonprofit group at Eide Bailly. “Not only are nonprofits rising to financial challenges, but they continue to serve their communities more than ever in this uncertain time.” Submission forms and additional information about the Resourcefullness Awards program is available online at the website at www.eidebailly.com/resourcefullness. Eide Bailly offers a range of services. For more information, log on to www.eidebailly.com. F
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n GJEP BUSINESS MANAGER AWARDED FOR PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Mara Hardy, business development manager for the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, is among three winners of a new award recognizing their efforts to promote entrepreneurship. The Anchor Point Foundation awarded Hardy and the others with the Startup Champion Award as part of Techstars Startup Week West Slope Mara Hardy presentations. The winners each received a $10,000 grant to support activities that grow local entrepreneurial ecosystems. The Anchor Point Foundation supports non-profit organizations doing innovative work in their communities. Hardy joined GJEP in 2018. She brought to her duties experience in a succession of positions with the Colorado Water Conservation Board. She also worked with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and its leadership foundation and operated her own consulting company. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and master’s degree in urban and region planning from the University of Colorado. With GJEP, she’s focuses on the technology sector and works to both recruit new firms to Mesa County and help existing firms expand. She’s also been involved in organizing Techstars Startup Week West Slope. “We are so proud to have Mara on our team,” said Robin Brown, executive director of GJEP. “In two years, she has proven to be an immeasurable asset, spearheading efforts to mobilize the entrepreneurial ecosystem across Western Colorado and elevating the local tech industry by recruiting new business, like INFOCU5, to the Grand Valley.” n WESTERN COLORADO REAL ESTATE FIRM ANNOUNCES ADDITION AND DESIGNATION Britni Schneider has joined Bray Real Estate in Grand Junction as a broker associate. Bobby Boe, also a broker associate with the firm, has earned designation as an Accredited Land Consultant. “My focus is helping buyers and sellers get where they need and want to be by educating them about the local market and being available for them,” Britni Schneider Schneider said. The Realtor Land Institute awards the ALC designation to professionals who complete an educational program and demonstrate their performance in land sales. “Having the ALC designation gives me the knowledge I need to close deals and deliver professional service to my clients,” Boe said. For more information about Bray Bobby Boe Real Estate, call 242-3647 or visit the website located at www.brayandco.com.
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Sabrina Hoyt
Jennifer Wright
Paige Curtiss
n ACCOUNTING AND CONSULTING FIRM ANNOUNCES FIVE PROMOTIONS Dalby, Wendland & Co. has promoted five staff members to new positions with the Western Colorado accounting and consulting firm. Sabrina Hoyt was promoted to principal. A certified public accountant, she oversees the Grand Junction tax office. Hoyt has worked at Dalby, Wendland since 2006, providing tax return preparation and planning for Macy Fleming individuals as well as businesses in a variety of industries. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Jennifer Wright was promoted to tax manager, specializing in tax return preparation and planning. She joined the firm in 2011 after earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. She holds the Enrolled Agent designation Nicole Mattingley awarded by the Internal Revenue Service. Paige Curtiss was promoted to tax senior, assisting individuals and businesses with income tax preparation. A CPA, Curtis joined the firm in 2018. She holds a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Wyoming. Macy Fleming was promoted to audit senior, working with clients on audit testing and financial statements. She joined the firm in 2019. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Abilene Christian University in Texas. Nicole Mattingley also was promoted to audit senior. She joined the firm in 2019. She graduated from Western Colorado University with bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business and economics. Dalby, Wendland & Co. offers a range of accounting, auditing and consulting services with offices in Grand Junction as well as Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Montrose, Rifle and Telluride. For more information, call 243-1921 or visit www.DalbyCPA.com. F
august 6-19, 2020
Aug. 6 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking group, noon Aug. 6 and 13. Reservations required. 858-3894 Aug. 7 n Young Professionals Network of Mesa County after hours event, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Monumental Beer Works, 2575 U.S. Highway 6 & 50, Grand Junction. Members attend for free, guests pay $5. Reservations required. www.ypnmc.org Aug. 10 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Business Builders networking group, noon Aug. 10 and 17. 858-3894 Aug. 11 n Colorado Department of Agriculture free virtual workshop for producers and food and beverage artisans on growing their businesses, noon. Registration required. www.coloradoproud.org Aug. 12 n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce free webinar on retaining employees and keeping them safe in the midst of a pandemic, 10 a.m. www.gjchamber.org Aug. 13 n Two-part webinar on how to start a business, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Aug. 13 and 14. Admission $55. 243-5242 or www.gjincubator.org n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce business after hours event, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Imondi Wake Zone, 1583 Cipolla Road. Admission free. Special prices available to participants for wakeboarding. www.fruitachamber.org Aug. 18 n Annual State of the Valley virtual presentation featuring officials from Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade as well as Mesa County, noon. Registration required. www.gjchamber.org. n Free presentation for people considering careers in real estate, 5:30 p.m., Weichert Realtors-Heiden Homes Realty, 735 Rood Ave., Grand Junction. Call for reservations. 245-7777 Aug. 19 n Western Colorado Human Resource Association monthly meeting and presentation on total rewards and the employee value proposition, 11:30 a.m., Bookcliff Country Club, 2730 G Road, Grand Junction. Admission for guests $25 in person, $10 for virtual attendance. www.wchra.org n Palisade Chamber of Commerce business after hours and downtown business crawl, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Check in at the chamber office, 305 S. Main St., Suite 102. Admission $6 in advance, $8 at the event. 464-7458 n Leading Edge business planning course, 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays Aug. 19 to Nov. 4, Business Incubator Center, 2591 Legacy Way, Grand Junction. Tuition $275 per person, $100 for a partner or employee. www.gjincubator.org F
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