Employees purchase Ryan/ Sawyer Marketing from long-time owner Dan Ryan.
4
n Xcel Energy and Fruita at odds
Plans to replace power lines south of the Colorado River in Fruita have hit a snag.
5
n Novus Glass finds new home
The auto-glass specialist needed more space in order to provide more services.
6
n Trailblazers Pizza opens in Fruita Caleb Umberger and Brooklyn Reuwsaat bought the Fruita Pablo’s Pizza restaurant and rebranded it as Trailblazer Pizza Company.
8
n City of GJ Impact Fees alternatives
Council members Scott Beilfuss and Cody Kennedy brought up concerns about impact fees adding to the cost of single-family homes.
Perfecting
ABOVE
Legacy Furniture co-owner Hazen Hackett stands next to a dining table he made and now displays in the showroom of his business at 1048 Independent Ave., Unit A-106. Sitting in the middle is a charcuterie board he made. His dining tables cost about $4,000 for a small one, while an 8-foot or 9-foot table is likely to start at $8,000. Hackett said the wood alone is expensive for his projects, and he provided an extreme example: “We just did an estimate for a lady in Vail. She wanted a five-foot wide, 10-foot long, live-edged table. And my price on the wood was $22,000 for this slab of wood.” Photo by Tim Harty.
RIGHT
This live-edge coffee table is displayed in Legacy Furniture’s showroom along with several cutting boards on the window sill. Photo by Tim Harty.
Fancy furnishings
Legacy Furniture moved into its store in mid-December, giving it room to do more custom woodworking
Tim Harty The Business Times
Hazen Hackett smiled and chuckled before he answered the question about how much experience he had with woodworking before opening a business that does custom woodworking.
“None,” he said.
OK, no prior work experience, but certainly the 32-year-old former mechanic, welder and maintenance worker at least had taken a shop class in high school?
“Nope, nope,” he said. “I’d never done any woodworking of any kind.”
What he did do about three years ago was watch a video of someone making a wood cutting board, and he thought: “I gotta try it.”
Then, Hackett went about trying it and, soon after, created a business, Legacy Furniture, based out of his home. He began making cutting boards, dining tables, coffee tables, end tables, desk tops, vanity tops, bar tops, kitchen islands, doors, barn doors, wine racks, wall art – “pretty much anything flat,” he said – primarily out of hardwoods. Walnut is a favored variety.
Hackett made a few mistakes early on, as he said for one of his first projects he decided to try making a nine-foot dining table.
In hindsight, he admitted, “I definitely
should have started with something smaller. That made more sense. But I learned a lot.”
He got to the point where, with the help of fiancee and business co-owner Sheela Moore, he was doing enough projects that his 250-square-foot garage wasn’t big enough. Now, he has a small store in Independence Plaza, 1048 Independent Ave., Unit A-106, where he opened for business in mid-December.
“Our orders were filling up, and working from home we could only do one or two small projects at a time, space-wise,” he said. “And then we ran into the issue of people wanting to order tables. We have a lot more space now to work, so we can have four or five dining tables going at a time, if we had the orders, so we can definitely pump up production.”
The location is still relatively small, about 2,000 square feet, but much bigger than his garage, and it had the accommodations he needed most.
“We chose it because it had the workshop and not an overwhelming showroom,” he said.
The showroom is small, but it provides a sense of what Hackett can do, displaying a large dining-room table, a couple coffee tables and end tables, a few wine racks and charcuterie boards, a paper-towel holder, and a healthy selection of cutting boards.
His finished products are not cheap.
See WOOD on page 12
Made it their business
Employees purchase marketing agency from long-time owner Dan Ryan
Tim Harty The Business Times
The Jan. 1 sale of Ryan/ Sawyer Marketing to Julie Hober and Bridgett Gutierrez pushed former owner and business namesake Dan Ryan to the edge of retirement.
Before the 65-year-old Ryan fully commits to the plunge into the life of leisure, however, he’ll help his former employees for two months as they transition into the joys of business ownership.
Just getting to the day of the sale was about a three-year process, according to Ryan. That drew a laugh from Hober and Gutierrez, as Hober said Ryan talked about turning over the business to her from the time he hired her in 2012.
Likewise, Gutierrez joined Ryan/Sawyer Marketing in 2019 with Ryan telling her she can one day own the agency.
they actually use those names to bust scammers who call the office. Photo courtesy of Ryan/Sawyer Marketing.
“I feel like Dan kind of was like, ‘You guys are buying this business,’” Gutierrez said while Hober agreed and both grinned. “He’s definitely had a vision for a long time to find successors.”
Hober and Gutierrez can have their fun, but Ryan wanted to see the business he started on May 1, 1990, live on. He wanted the business to continue under the stewardship of capable owners. And he believes that’s exactly what Hober and Gutierrez are.
“Just the quality of workers that they are, that’s key,” he said. “I mean, it’s like this transition would not happen if not for the work of Julie and Bridgett, the time that they spent here, the experience that they have, the expertise that they bring to the table that I didn’t have.
“I was an old-school guy, and when things evolved and digital media, social media, the Internet, all that came along, they really stepped up and embraced new marketing technologies and allowed this company to move forward, which I wasn’t all that interested in. I was oldschool. I’m an analog guy, but it’s not an analog world.”
Ryan might not have been as tech savvy as his employees, but his understanding of marketing and people served the agency well throughout his nearly 35 years as owner.
Hober said Ryan has been a mentor and “a leader who leads by example and really showed us how to manage some of the difficult situations that arise and do it with confidence and no stress, which was, I think, the most impressive thing. In addition to just his absolute unicorn
WOW, THAT WENT FAST!
Trying to summarize his nearly 35 years as an owner of Ryan/Sawyer Marketing, which operated under several different names over the years, Dan Ryan first looked at the time that passed.
“I think for one thing, it’s hard to believe it’s been 35 years on the scene,” he said. ‘When you’re in the middle of it, you know, time goes pretty slow. But when you get through it, you look back and say, “Man, when did that happen?”
THAT’S A LOT OF WORK
Ryan then shared an anecdote about another measure of his tenure.
“I think the volume of work, the body of work is pretty astounding,” he said. “Interesting fact, every project we have, there’s a job sheet, and so there’s a job number. We started in 1990, I started with job number one, and I think today we’re at job number 23,000-and-something. That’s a lot of work in 35 years, 23,000-some projects that we’ve done.”
ability to be creative and be strategic and think strategically with all the clients and with the business and just have this innate understanding of what to do.”
Gutierrez had similar praise for Ryan, saying he masterfully let clients know, “This is exactly what you need for your business. Here, let’s bring it down to the nuts and bolts of what’s most important for
“And I think that is a a great quality to have instead of, you know, some people are very much like, ‘Oh, you can do all of this and this.’ They get really unfocused, and they try to do everything at once, and I think Dan’s really good at just really focusing on what’s most important for people, keeping it simple and making it clear. And so I’ve always enjoyed working with Dan for that reason.”
Lucky for Hober and Gutierrez, even after the twomonth transition passes, Ryan plans to be around at times.
“I’ve also got some relationships with clients I’m gonna continue to work with, specifically Intermountain Health,” he said. “I do video production for them, and I’m going to continue to do that work with them. I’ll be an employee of RSM. Those are the kinds of things that I like doing, I’m good at doing, and I can continue to do that, but not have the responsibility of owning and operating the business.
“And we don’t know how long that’s gonna go. You know, I may decide in six months, ‘OK, I’m done,’ and move on.
“But the priority right now is to help them transition, so that it’s seamless for them. It’s important for me that they succeed, so I’m gonna do what I can to help them succeed.”
The ascension to ownership extends beyond the goals Hober and Gutierrez had when they got into marketing. Now that the day is here, they say it’s exciting and “a little scary.”
“You just don’t wanna mess up a good thing, and so our hope is that we can build on it,” Hober said. “There’s a learning curve, of course, which we’re in the thick of figuring out how to do all the day-to-day things with managing a business. But yeah, it’s exciting, and you see the potential for the future, and that’s a wonderful thing.”
Ryan has a succinct and clear message to existing clients, vendors and partners about the new owners of Ryan/Sawyer Marketing: “Be assured that you are in great hands.”
NAME WILL REMAIN THE SAME
Asked about all of the name changes his agency has had over the years, Ryan recalled the following iterations, affected in large part by partnerships with Lee Whitney and Tom Sawyer: Ryan & Associates Advertising; Ryan & Whitney; Ryan/Sawyer/Whitney; RSW Part ners; and finally for the about the past 10 years, Ryan/Sawyer Marketing.
Point being, the name could just as well change now with Hober and Gutierrez as owners. But they aren’t inclined to mess with a good thing.
“As we tell our clients, rebranding is a really hard thing,” Hober said. “There’s a lot of effort that has to go into it. And while maybe some where down the road we do look at rebranding, right now we see no reason to change the name, change our offering. There’s no plan to deviate.
“It’s really just stay the course. Keep ev erything moving along smoothly as it’s been, keep offering the same high-quality work and service to our clients that we’ve been doing.”
See RSM on Page 6
Formerly Ryan/Sawyer Marketing employees, Bridgett Gutierrez, left, and Julie Hober became the marketing agency’s owners on Jan. 1 when they bought it from Dan Ryan, who founded the agency on May 1, 1990. They’re keeping the Ryan/Sawyer name, to which Gutierrez told Hober, “You can be Ryan, and I’ll be Sawyer.” The two said
Dan Ryan, shown at his office desk at Ryan/Sawyer Marketing on Jan. 8, founded the agency in 1990 and was the one constant in its ownership since then. That was until he sold the business to employees Julie Hober and Bridget Gutierrez on Jan. 1. He will serve as a part-time employee at the agency rather than go all in on retirement, about which he said, “I don’t know what exactly that looks like.”
Photo by Tim Harty.
Xcel Energy and Fruita at impasse over power lines
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
Plans to replace a 65-year-old stretch of power lines currently running through Kingsview subdivision on the south side of the Colorado River in Fruita have hit a snag. The City of Fruita has denied part of Xcel Energy’s application, specifically the proposal to run overhead power lines through Snooks Bottom public park.
Xcel Energy representatives said if the city wants the lines placed underground, Fruita would have to cover the estimated $9.7 to $11 million cost.
After filing an appeal, Xcel presented its case to the Fruita City Council on Jan. 8 during a regularly scheduled meeting. The appeal cited three main arguments: inconsistency with Fruita’s code; a violation of Colorado case law; and the high cost of installing underground lines.
Value, had to meet compatibility standards in their applications, including noise restrictions and additional landscaping.
“We have been consistent in our code in applying compatibility standards, not only with land use but also with conditional-use permits, as was required in this case,” he said.
Xcel’s
Case
Xcel area manager Brad McCloud said the utility had engaged in good faith efforts since 2021, including hosting two public meetings to discuss alternative options. McCloud noted the proposed alignment avoided the Kingsview subdivision as a concession, but he added, “You would still bear the cost of the $9.7 to $11 million extra burden, per current Public Utilities Commission policy.”
Jennifer Chester, Xcel’s senior manager for siting and land rights, highlighted that about 32 miles of alternatives had been considered, and public feedback primarily came from Kingsview Estates residents.
Part of Xcel Energy’s proposal to replace 65-year-old power lines, connecting the Fruita Substation and the Uintah Substation, includes a stretch of new, overhead power lines cutting through Snooks Bottom Open Space. The red line in this graphic represents the existing power line. The purple line is the proposed path of the new power lines. The green line is proposed access roads. Graphic courtesy of the City of Fruita.
Public Opposition
During public comment, local resident Daniel Emery, whose home overlooks the park, criticized Xcel’s approach.
“Frankly, Xcel is simply trying to put these power lines in as cheaply as they can,” Emery said. “Underground power lines are far safer and better. Even if the cost was the full $11 million, it wouldn’t even be a rounding error on their quarterly budget.”
Planning Department’s Perspective
Fruita City Planner Henry Hemphill detailed the planning department’s decision to deny the portion of the application affecting the park. He explained that no parks in Fruita currently have overhead power lines, and placing them in Snooks Bottom would be inconsistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, which emphasizes preserving parks, open spaces, and visual amenities.
Hemphill also pointed out other businesses, such as Dairy Queen and True
Chester also presented examples of overhead power lines coexisting with parks, trails and disc-golf courses in other parts of Colorado, emphasizing that undergrounding is about 10 times more expensive than overhead lines.
“The CSR zone allows for above-ground transmission lines, and the code defines compatibility as the ability to coexist with surrounding land uses,” Chester said.
Legal Considerations
Fruita City Attorney Mary Elizabeth Geiger clarified the appeal only involved the transmission lines in the Community Services Recreational zone district. She said if Xcel is dissatisfied with the council’s decision, the company could file a Rule 106 action in district court to challenge whether the decision was arbitrary or capricious.
Geiger said alternative alignments outside the CSR or Kingsview areas could be explored, but it will require a new application, likely triggering another land-use process.
Council’s Decision
Council members questioned the dollar amount in Xcel’s presentation, then asked for clarity on the likelihood taxpayers would end up paying for the underground lines. Council members ultimately decided they were only there to vote on whether the planning commission acted within its rights in the initial ruling to deny that portion of the application.
After deliberation, the council voted unanimously to deny the appeal, leaving Xcel Energy to revisit its plans or to pursue potential legal action. F
Novus Glass expands, son adds new services
Novus Glass needed more space to add a few new services to its repertoire, and it didn’t need to go far to get it.
In fact, Novus Glass owner Jay Haralson merely walked a few doors down in the same commercial building at 1048 Independent Ave. to find a new home, one that’s twice as large.
After residing in Unit A-106 for about six years, Novus Glass is now in Unit A-113, which actually is two units combined, hence a doubling of space to about 3,320 square feet.
Haralson said his auto glass replacement and repair shop relocated on Nov. 15 and now has two auto bays, two offices, two bathrooms, a breakroom and a larger room up front.
“We moved here just to expand, because my son (Saylor Haralson) does window tinting, ceramic coatings, detailing, and we needed the extra bay. He needed this space to start doing it.
“We have a machine to do auto wraps and stuff like that, too.” Saylor Haralson said people are figuring out Novus Glass has more to offer, saying, “It’s been pretty busy.”
Jay Haralson added it has to be Saylor doing the work. “I don’t have the patience for it, but he does,” Jay said.
Continued from page 4
Gutierrez then added, “There is value in the name, like 35 years of business in Grand Junction tied to the name Ryan, so your marketing goes a long way. That’s a legacy you don’t want to just throw away. If you’re gonna buy a business, why would you?”
Back to Hober: “Bridget’s absolutely right. That’s what you’re buying. Dan has been such a fixture in this community for so long that that’s not something you turn your back on and shouldn’t turn your back on.”
SOLD THE OLD HOMESTEAD
Part of being able to sell the business to Ryan/Sawyer Marketing employees Julie Hober and Bridgett Gutierrez was first selling the former building that housed Ryan/Sawyer Marketing at 652 White Ave. The business moved to its current home, 259 Grand Ave, Suite 100, in 2021.
Ryan said he owned the building through another company with his old partner, Lee Whitney.
“We had bought that building back in 2005, so we had a long time there,” Ryan said, “But as time went on, that building … really became kind of what I would call artificial overhead.”
It was too big, and technology factored into the need to sell the building, as Ryan explained, “We didn’t need the space. I mean, there was a time when we had 10, 12 people in the agency. With the advance of technology and everything, we’re down to four. We did the same amount of work with four people, outsourcing some of that, so we didn’t need that much space.”
NOW WHAT DO I DO?
Asked what he plans to do in retirement, Ryan took a couple seconds to think, then offered, “I don’t really know. I’ll be playing some golf, and I’ll spend time with my grandchildren and be spending time at our family cabin, which is up in the Meeker area. And do some traveling and just kinda — I don’t know exactly what that looks like.
CONTINUING EXCELLENCE
As a full-service advertising and marketing agency, Ryan/Sawyer Marketing provides a comprehensive range of services to help businesses grow, including:
• Brand strategy and development
• Creative design
• Digital marketing and SEO
• Web design and development
• Social media management
• Media buying
• Content creation
• Public relations
• Production
Schedule a free consultation by calling (970) 241-4773, emailing info@ ryansawyermarketing.com or visit ryansawyermarketing.com.
Novus Glass owner Jay Haralson, left, and his son Saylor Haralson work on a chip repair on a vehicle at the auto-glass specialist’s new location, 1048 Independent Ave., Unit A-113. Photo by Tim Harty.
Blazing a trail with pizza in familiar surroundings
Tim Harty The Business Times
Caleb Umberger is pretty sure diners will notice one thing in particular about the pizzas he and Brooklyn Reuwsaat will be serving at their new restaurant, Trailblazer Pizza Company.
“The crust, I’m very proud of it,” he said. “I know I keep saying that, but I am.” Umberger said every day the next day’s batch of dough gets made, so it’s fresh, never frozen. It’s hand-kneaded and hand-rolled. And Umberger says the difference is undeniable.
kept the name Pablo’s Pizza, which has cachet in the Grand Valley. And it’s a special place for them. They met at Pablo’s Pizza as employees five years ago.
But they wanted to blaze their own trail, hence the name Trailblazer Pizza Company.
“We honestly just think it kind of represents who we are, wanting to be entrepreneurs,” Umberger said. “We’re always busy and looking for more to accomplish.”
In addition to the name change and the beloved pizza dough, Umberger and Reuwsaat made changes to the menu, offering “new and unique options that you don’t really see around,” Umberger said. “We have really good salads. We’re really looking forward to launching our new beer and wine menu here in the next couple weeks. We’re going try to focus on solely local or Colorado brands. I’m going to try to keep it like Palisade for the wines, find local breweries, maybe some smaller guys to feature every month or so.”
They also updated the space, did some reorganizing to create about 10 more seats for diners, and they did a deep cleaning and put on fresh paint.
Then, they got a little crazy and added a TV, “so people can watch the games on Sunday,” Umberger said, adding, “We’re probably going to add a couple more. We’ve got some pretty good feedback so far.”
The feedback has been good about Trailblazer Pizza Company as a whole, and Umberger said he and Reuwsaat “really, really appreciate” the support they’ve received.
They also noticed new faces in the seats.
“Well, you can just tell in the way it cooks,” he said. “It’s crispy and clean, and you can tell effort was put into it.”
Effort has been put into a lot of things, including getting the financing to buy the former Pablo’s Pizza at 456 Kokopelli Blvd., Unit C, in Fruita. Getting a loan was difficult for a young couple – Umberger is 24 years old, and Reuwsaat is 22 – but they did it. Umberger said the restaurant was officially theirs as of Jan. 1, then they opened Jan. 3 and had a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 4.
The effort began last spring when they learned about the Pablo’s Pizza in Fruita being for sale.
“We’ve always wanted to get into the restaurant industry,” Umberger said. “We didn’t anticipate it being so soon, but we had contact with the owner of the Fruita Pablo’s, and so when we heard it was for sale, we jumped right on it.”
They’ve been working there as managers since June, waiting for everything to come together to finalize the sale. Then, on Dec. 22 they shut down Pablo’s Pizza to work on their rebranding and reopened on Jan. 3.
Umberger and Reuwsaat could have
“We’ve been getting a lot of people from Junction, too,” Umberger said. “That was a customer base we didn’t really have before, so it is really awesome to see people from Fruita and the other side
Caleb Umberger, left, and Brooklyn Reuwsaat bought the Fruita Pablo’s Pizza restaurant and rebranded it as Trailblazer Pizza Company.
Photo courtesy of Trailblazer Pizza.
One of the pizzas served at Trailblazer Pizza. Photo courtesy of Trailblazer Pizza.
Council workshop mulls alternatives to impact fees
Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
At the Grand Junction City Council workshop on Dec. 16, council members Scott Beilfuss and Cody Kennedy brought up concerns about impact fees adding to the cost of single-family homes. This led to discussion about what possible alternatives there are for the city.
Beilfuss said, “What I’m getting at is after conversations with the builders and developers about costs, everything is higher here because we are isolated. There’s a lot of pushback on the community’s fees. So, I’m not sure that 800 units a year is realistic. Whereas, I feel like our biggest economic challenge is single family-housing for the workforce.”
After Mayor Abram Herman asked for further explanation, Beilfuss responded, “If we’re not building a much-increased number of single-family affordable housing, we’re not drawing businesses here, we’re not drawing workers here, we’re not growing. … I think we have to be very careful with fees. I don’t know if there’s other places to look for money. We have so little from property taxes that I’m sure other cities have a lot more from that area, so that shifts everything to fees.”
Kennedy agreed with Beilfuss and said, “I also want to acknowledge the shortage of the housing that we have, without even talking about the growth, but just to provide additional options for people to buy or rent additional homes. It’s a supply-anddemand issue, and certainly as we increase fees I would anticipate that we would see a reduction in new houses coming online.”
Herman said, “That’s our policy question, we can pay for it in other ways. That’s what we did in 2019 with our tax increase for our first responders, because we hadn’t paid for that due to lack of impact fees. That’s what we did with our 60 million dollars in debt that we took on, because our impact fees haven’t paid for our infrastructure. Basically, every tax increase that we’ve had in recent years has been a result of growth not paying for itself. So, those are our options.”
Council member Anna Stout said, “The other thing that I think is tough to keep in mind when we’re having this conversation, because we have an acute crisis right now that we’re dealing with from a housing perspective. It is tough not to just look at what we’re going through right now and not cast our gaze 30 years down the road and make sure that we are also being a fiscally responsible community that’s able to continue having a high-quality community.”
Later Stout added, “We could get to this point where we make it so easy to build houses now, but we don’t look down the road and we have a ton of houses here that aren’t filled, because the community isn’t pleasant to live in anymore, because we haven’t ensured that we can pay for the community that we’re becoming.”
See FEES on Page 14
Council members
Kennedy brought adding to This led to alternatives at is after developers here because pushback on sure that Whereas, I feel challenge is single asked for responded, “If much-increased number we’re not drawing … I think fees. I don’t for money. taxes that I’m that area, and said, shortage without even to provide buy or supply-andincrease would see online.” our policy other ways. with our tax because lack of with our we took haven’t paid every tax recent years paying for said, “The to keep in conversation, right now housing just look at now and not road and a fiscally able to community.” could get to easy to build down the road that aren’t isn’t pleasant we haven’t community
Wood
Continued from page 2
A cutting board might be $250 to $300. A small dining room table probably will start at $4,000, and a large dining table is going to be at least $8,000.
If those prices sound high, Hackett counters they are not.
Many people don’t realize what wood costs nowadays, he said, nor do they realize how much work goes into something that may look simple, but there’s much more to it than meets the eye.
“It doesn’t seem intricate, but it really is,” he said. Toni Miller, whose previous jobs included 14 years as a
home remodeler, doesn’t need any convincing. She and her husband, Troy Miller, bought a kitchen island and matching bar top from Legacy Furniture as part of remodeling their home, and she was pleasantly surprised by the purchase price.
“Oh my god, it totally surprised me,” Toni said. “I’ve been doing remodels for eons, and the pricing was impressive and incredible for what they produce. … Understanding what building costs are, especially when it comes to unique, creative pieces, you can’t beat what he does.”
Legacy Furniture needs to feature Miller in its marketing, because she raved about the quality of the
This is one of a couple dozen cutting boards made at Legacy Furniture. Co-owner Hazen Hackett can add a wide variety of colors to his wood projects, such as the green in this cutting
woodworking and Hackett’s role as an adviser.
“He does incredible work, not just from a standpoint of materials – the materials were phenomenal – but also design ideas and color choices,” she said. “He came out and saw what we were doing in our remodel, and he was able to guide us as to what would work, so we weren’t left to our own selves. He doesn’t tell you necessarily what to do, but he guides you, so you make the appropriate decision.
“And then the work is absolutely stunning. Everybody that comes in and sees it says, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s a work of art.’ I’m like, ‘I know.’”
FIANCEE AND VISIONARY
Hazen Hackett started his business before he met Sheela Moore, who’s now his fiancee. Moore took an interest in Hackett’s fledgling business, and he said it’s the best thing that happened to Legacy Furniture.
“She encouraged it to actually be something,” he said. “I did like cutting boards and stuff, and I sold a couple. And then when I met her, she started moving stuff, you know, she kicked off the business.
“I just had an idea, and she had a vision.”
In addition to her work in the office – marketing, administrative work – Moore became a helpful hand in the workshop. She does some of the epoxy pours, especially on the cutting boards.
LEARNING ON THE JOB
Everything about woodworking was a learning experience for Hackett, and a few of the most important lessons were:
• Let the wood dry.
“I didn’t know how important moisture content of the wood was,” he said, but once he experienced warping and cupping, he got the message.
Now, he said, “When we order wood in, it needs to sit in here for about two months before I can touch it. Even if it is dry, it needs to acclimate to the shop space.”
• Order wood much thicker than the final product will be.
“I learned if you want a two-inch-thick table, you need to order a 3-inchthick slab to start with,” he said. “A third of it’s gonna end up being sawdust.”
• Epoxy is expensive.
“The epoxy, it’s $120 a gallon,” Hackett said, “so (Moore) learned to be a little careful with it. I’ve had molds leak.”
• Temperature matters when pouring epoxy.
“I didn’t know temperature was so important,” he said. “We had one flash here where the whole thing just cracked in half as it cured, because it got too hot and cooled off too fast, and it just shattered.”
EPOXY MAKES PERFECT
Most woodworkers want wood without any imperfections or as few imperfections as possible. Not Hackett. Give him the stuff everyone else wants to discard.
“We try to find wood with the most cracks and voids,” he said.
That’s because epoxy does wonders filling cracks and voids and producing a finished product that has color and character. “You can show its defects and highlight them rather than hiding them,” he said.
YOU REALLY SHOULDN’T DO THAT
Hackett is open to customer requests for wood projects, but not every idea is a good idea. “We can do countertops,” he said, “but I try to talk customers out of it.”
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Hackett considered five different names before settling on Legacy Furniture. Heirloom Furniture got strong consideration, too.
“I wanted something to say it’s a long-lasting investment, something you can leave for your kids,” he said.
WHAT’S NEXT?
As big as some of his dining tables are, Hackett wants to go bigger.
“We haven’t done a conference table,” he said. “I’d love to get to doing some conference tables for some companies. That would be the next big thing.”
Asked if making chairs are on his list, Hackett said he’d only tackle those as a hobby, something to challenge himself.
“I mean, it doesn’t seem intricate, but a tabletop’s intricate enough,” he said. “You know, with the epoxy and the woodworking, it’d be a $4,000 chair, which no one’s really interested in.”
Hazen Hackett, who co-owns Legacy Furniture with his fiancee Sheela Moore, sits on a couch surrounded by a coffee table and two end tables that he made. Photo by Tim Harty.
MORE ABOUT LEGACY FURNITURE
board. Photo by Tim Harty.
Fees
Continued from page 10
Carson Bise II, president of city-hired consulting firm TischlerBise, responded, “Dealing with affordability, you know, I think I’ve mentioned this in other meetings, we’re not working anywhere in the country where there isn’t a concern about housing affordability, right? And the impact these structures play into that. … And I know that we’ve also talked about if you waive fees, you need to make up the difference from other funding sources.”
The Business Times reviewed the impact-fee study. Page 5 of the draft impact-fee study says, “The City may adopt fees that are less than the amounts shown. However, a reduction in impact fee revenue will necessitate an increase in other revenues, a decrease in planned capital expenditures, and/or a decrease in levels of service.”
It also says, “By law impact fees can only be used for capital improvements, not operating or maintenance costs.”
The Business Times reached out to City Council member Dennis Simpson about what alternatives could be to raising the fees.
Simpson said, “We never look for decreasing expenditures without affecting services, and I think that is something we could look at.”
Simpson acknowledged the city could reduce regulations to lower capital-project costs, but he said recent additions, such as bicycle trails and wide sidewalks, have increased expenses.
When asked about the 10-year capital project budget, Simpson noted only one of the next five years is projected to have expenditures lower than revenue.
When asked why the city is budgeting more expenditures than it brings in on the capital plan, Simpson responded, “That was a big point during the budget discussions for me, and I basically got no answer, which was one of the reasons I voted no on the budget.”
Simpson noted the current budget was not done under new City Manager Mike Bennett.
Simpson acknowledged the city could reduce regulations to lower capital-project costs, but he said recent additions, such as bicycle trails and wide sidewalks, have increased expenses.
When asked how decisions are made regarding the design and cost of parks, his response highlighted that politics often play a significant role, typically with minimal pushback. However, Whitman Park redevelopment has sparked debate among council members over the funding involved.
The cost listed on the 10-year capital plan for the redesign and activation of Whitman Park is $5,025,000 over the next two years, including planning.
Nominee for Labor Secretary leaves everyone wondering: What’s next?
Last month we discussed pending U.S. Supreme Court cases that may affect employers. This month I address one specific nomination President-Elect Trump made for his incoming cabinet that should interest employers.
Dean Harris
Perhaps the most interesting move Trump made was to nominate Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as the new Secretary of Labor.
The Department of Labor (DOL) wields broad authority over employers, enforcing such laws as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). And while the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an agency independent of the DOL, under a Memorandum of Understanding, the DOL works closely with the NLRB to further goals they share.
Chavez-DeRemer served one term as a republican representative to Congress from Oregon and was narrowly defeated by a democratic challenger in November 2024. Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination for Secretary of Labor was met with some astonishment and suspicion across the political spectrum.
In its November 22, 2024, news release, the AFL-CIO noted Congresswoman ChavezDeRemer was one of only three Republicans to cosponsor the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (which would strengthen the rights of federal employees to unionize) and one of eight Republicans to cosponsor the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler further stated: “But Donald Trump is the presidentelect of the United States – not Rep. Chavez-DeRemer – and it remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as Secretary of Labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda.”
To the contrary, Sean O’Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, stated in an op-ed for Compact magazine: “Rep. Lori. Chavez-DeRemer is the exact type of champion for the American worker that Republicans should get behind if they are serious about becoming the working-class party.”
O’Brien was the first Teamsters president to speak at the Republican Convention in July 2024. And some pundits suggest Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination is the result of O’Brien whispering in Trump’s ear. However, the Teamsters as an organization are silent on ChavezDeRemer’s nomination.
So, what does Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination mean for employers? So far, Republicans in Congress have been quiet on this nomination. Business advocates have expressed some reservations.
I think the key issues are joint employment and the classification of independent contractors and employees. Even while supporting the PRO Act, Chavez-DeRemer expressed reservations on some measures in the act, specifically the Biden administration rule that would have made it easier for the DOL to find that subsidiaries and franchisees are liable for the wage and hour violations of parent companies
Chavez-DeRemer voted for Joint Resolution 98, which would have nullified the final rule issued by the National Labor Relations Board, titled Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status, and published on Oct. 27, 2023. That rule states an entity may be considered a joint employer of another employer’s employees if the two share or codetermine the employees’ essential terms and conditions of employment.
President Biden vetoed this resolution that would have returned the standard to the broader interpretation that required «substantial direct and immediate control» to establish joint employer status.
Historically, the joint employer and independent contractor versus employee standards have moved similarly. So, how will Chavez-DeRemer view standards on determining whether workers are independent contractors or employees?
The PRO Act would have applied the ABC test. This test allows employers to classify workers as independent contractors only if three elements are met. The employer must show that a worker:
1. Is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the performance of the work and in fact.
2. The worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business.
3. The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed.
The final rule established in 2024 disavowed the ABC test but rejected the previous rule that gave priority to the business’s control and the worker’s opportunity for profit or loss to show that an employer properly classified a worker as an independent contractor.
It is reasonable to project that Chavez-DeRemer will, in accordance with the new administration, support rules that narrow the joint employer rule and restrict when sub-entities are liable for the decisions of parent organizations. And it follows that Chavez-DeRemer will support rules that allow employers greater latitude in classifying workers and independent contractors as opposed to employees.
Of course, no one, including me, has a crystal ball. But employers probably can anticipate, if Chavez-DeRemer is confirmed as Secretary of Labor, relaxed standards on joint employment and worker classification while preparing for continued relaxed rules supporting employees’ right to unionize and collectively bargain.
The Employers Council makes available to its members resources on interpreting and applying changing labor and employment standards to their workplaces. And Employers Council consulting and enterprise-level members may speak directly with our human resources professionals and employment attorneys at any time for advice on making sound employment decisions.
Dean Harris is Western Slope area managing attorney for the Employers Council. The Employers Council counsels, represents and trains member employers in all phases of employment relationships. Contact Harris at dharris@employerscouncil.org or (970) 852-0190. F
Resolve to set goals, then be SMART about it
The New Year is here, and with it comes the overwhelming tradition of New Year’s resolutions. January 1st of EVERY year becomes that day when we write down our list of items that proclaim this will be the year that we change our lives for the better. Items may include weight loss, stopping a bad habit or saving money.
Paula Reece
Will your list look like last year’s list? For most of us, it is very similar. So, why are New Year’s resolutions unsuccessful? Simply put, it’s because there isn’t a plan to follow.
This year don’t call it a New Year’s resolution list. Let’s call your list – GOALS.
The reason why I encourage the change is this: Goals work.Goals mean action. Goals mean there is a plan. Most of us make a list for the grocery store or errands that need to be run or create an agenda for a meeting. These all have one thing in common: something that needs to be done and how we intend to do it.
Whether you realize it or not, you are setting mini goals each day, regardless of whether they are on paper or
a mental list in your mind.
When you begin to write your new goal list for 2025, begin with asking yourself some basic questions as to why you want to do this and how it will change your life if you achieve it.
The second step is to prioritize the items according to what is most important to you. Having a goal list of only a few items that you are serious about will make it easier to devote the time and attention needed to make you successful.
Take one item at a time. The next step is learn to take that item and turn it into a goal. Try using the SMART system when writing your goal.
For example, you may have written down that your number one goal is to lose weight.
Beginning with S, make your goal specific.
The M stands for measurable. You have to be able to measure your progress.
The A stands for attainable. Put your goals into smaller mini goals. Refer to the joke: “How do you eat an elephant? You eat it one bite at a time.”
The R stands for reasonable. This is where many people create unrealistic goals. Create a goal that you can actually see yourself completing.
The T stands for timely. Goals take time to achieve.
You need to know how much time you are willing to give to achieve your goal. Most importantly, give yourself a timeline of when you want to achieve it.
Another important piece to being successful with your New Year’s goal list is to be accountable. Decide each week (ahead of time) what you plan to do, then hold yourself accountable.
For instance, take two group exercises classes, attend a strength training class or exercise with a buddy. Tell someone who is close to you about your plan. Ask for their help in keeping you on track.
Setting goals that follow the SMART plan and holding yourself accountable will lead to success.
Planning and commitment are what makes the difference between achieving the goals you want to achieve to enhance your life or waiting until the next January and putting the same items back on your list.
Challenge yourself to write goals this year, not resolutions.
Paula and Dale Reece own Crossroads Fitness Centers in Grand Junction with a downtown location at 225 N. Fifth St. and north location at 2768 Compass Drive. For more information, call (970) 242-8746 or visit the website crossroadsfitness.com.
Phyllis Hunsinger
A New Year: Resolve to be Financially Empowered
“
New Year’s resolutions often are made at the end of one year and the beginning of the next. These resolutions are simply promises or goals to do something different. The process of identifying areas of our lives that would benefit from some change is a positive one.
Concern about the U.S. economy is front and center with the electorate. The election results verified the majority of Americans wanted more accountability and fiscal responsibility at the national level.
With the national debt at $36 trillion, according to the Truth in Accounting website and not including the total unfunded Social Security and Medicare promises, no wonder Americans are concerned about an unsustainable debt and the resulting inflation because of printing money to cover the debt.
Beginning with our Jan 8, 2025 edition, your favorite business and community newspaper goes WEEKLY!
Phyllis Hunsinger
The national debt may seem far removed from the lives of each citizen, but what about the debt within individual households? The latest data from the New York Fed’s Consumer Credit Panel reveals the debt held by individuals is $17.94 trillion and growing daily.
We’d love to tell YOUR story!
“The average American debt (per U.S. adult) is $66,772. Seventy-seven percent of American households have at least some types of debt,” according to the Ramsey Solutions website posted in September 2024.
For stories and announcements: stories@thebusinesstimes.com or 970-424-5133
How can the spiraling individual debt be reduced? Haleigh Wilson on June 14, 2024, on The Lantern Network wrote, “Budgeting Basics: Creating Your First Budget,” explaining the purpose of budgeting and the steps to basic budgeting. She emphasized budgeting is more than just a tool for managing your finances; it is a cornerstone of financial literacy that empowers you to take control of your money and make informed decisions.
Wilson identified advantages of the budgeting process. Budgeting fosters financial awareness by providing insights into your income, expenses and spending habits. A budget serves as a roadmap for achieving your financial goals and aspirations. If an individual has indebtedness, a budget helps to adequately allocate funds toward debt repayment. A key benefit from budgeting is emergency preparedness, which results in less stress and improved mental health.
For any New Year’s Resolution to be effective, taking the first step is critical. Creating a budget is no different. Haleigh Wilson on The Lantern Network identified the basics for budget creation:
• Determine your income: Start by calculating your total monthly income from all sources, including wages, salaries, freelance work and any additional sources of revenue.
• Track your expenses: Keep track of your monthly expenses by categorizing them into fixed expenses (such as rent/house payment, utilities, insurance) and variable expenses (such as groceries, entertainment and transportation).
• Allocate your funds toward different categories based on your priorities.
Contact Craig Hall at 970-778-8864 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com
Michael Knisley said, “A budget acts like a matchmaker. It introduces this end (your expenses) to that end (your income) and makes those ends meet.”
In his September 2024 article, “7 Reasons You Should Budget,” Knisley listed tips for making a budget work: Know the difference between luxuries and necessities; be aware that the little stuff can add up fast; exercise will power; and use cash rather than credit cards whenever you can.
■ Advertising contracted for must be specified as either Business Times Run of Press (BTROP) or Focus Special Section Advertising (Focus) on contract. Combined contracts are not allowed unless approved by the publisher although earned rates in the Focus sections may apply.
■ Submitted ads must be complete and print ready quality (300 dpi) otherwise design fess will apply if changes or adjustments by the publisher are required. All full color ads must be CMYK. It is recommended that black used in the ad (particularly in small type) be 100% black and not four color process black.
■ Photos must be a MINUMUM of 300 dpi and no smaller than 2” x 3”.
■ Photos and ad files accepted are .jpg, .pdf, .tif and .eps.
■ Basic design of advertisements is included in the contracted price and includes the initial design of ad proof as long as the materials provided by the advertiser meet specifications, otherwise, design fees of $25.00 per hour will apply—billed in 1/2-hour increments. Minor proof adjustments will be provided at no charge at the publisher’s discretion and major adjustments may be subject to the publisher’s $25.00 per hour rate.
■ Advertiser is responsible for getting all materials or completed advertisements to the Business Times in a timely fashion so as to meet deadlines. The deadline for finalized ads is 5pm on Thursday the week before publication; for ads that need to be built, materials must be in by 5pm Tuesday the week before publication. Advertisers will be provided an editorial/publication calendar with their contract to assist them in adhering to the deadline schedule. The Business Times will additionally alert advertisers for upcoming editions in a timely manner after the proceeding publication is printed and in distribution. The Business Times will not guarantee publication of ad materials or completed ads received after the deadline has passed. In this occurrence, the Business Times reserves the right to publish a previously run ad from the advertiser, the latest proof available for the current ad or no ad at all, depending on the circumstances and the advertiser will be billed per the contract.
• Identify your financial goals: Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timebound financial goals (SMART).
• Monitor and adjust as you regularly review your budget and track your spending to meet your goals.
A financial plan or budget provides a vision for working toward your goals. Accountability is the key to being successful in reaching goals. Adhering to a budget requires the accountability pieces to be in place. These include being self-aware, observing and admitting mistakes and accepting the responsibilities and consequences for not following the financial plan you created.
The newly elected U.S. president has promised fiscal responsibility in the federal budget. He is appointing people with the expertise to examine the budget and to identify fraud, waste and abuse. The American people have a duty to hold elected politicians accountable for keeping those promises.
Creating and following a budget is critical not only for success at the national level, but also for each individual. Resolve to be empowered. Hold yourself accountable. Take charge of your financial life.
Here’s to a fiscally sound New Year.
advertisers more opportunities to reach the clientele they desire, all in the quality format you’ve come to expect from the Business Times!”
“We’re excited for the next chapter in the Business Times service to the Grand Junction and Grand Valley communities. For our readers, we’ll be covering even more local, original stories than ever before while
Phyllis Hunsinger is founder of the Freedom & Responsibility Education Enterprise Foundation in Grand Junction. The FREE Foundation provides resources to students and teachers in Western Colorado to promote the understanding of economics, financial literacy and free enterprise. 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. For more information about the FREE Foundation, log on to www.free-dom.us.com. F
— CRAIG R. HALL, PUBLISHER
■ The publisher retains the right to not publish any ad for any reason it deems inappropriate for publication.
Become a “Founding Subscriber” with our special rate of only $50 for one year! And then renew a second year at the same,
■ New advertisers that have not established credit with the Business Times will be required to pay the first month’s advertising with their contract, and the first 6 months of the contract billed in advance. New, credit-approved advertiser contracts that go past due 60 days will be automatically cancelled and charged a 25% cancellation fee on both the unpaid balance and the remaining, cancelled ads. Cancelled contracts may also be subject to collection fees.
■ Billing terms are due on receipt and invoiced on the first day of the month for any ads the advertiser is running for that month. Ad accounts that go past due 90 days will be automatically cancelled and charged a 25% cancellation fee on both the outstanding debt and the remaining, cancelled ads. Cancelled contracts may also be subject to collection fees.
■ Advertiser may cancel this contract at any time with a 30 day, written notice. Upon cancellation, advertiser will be invoiced for all ads run at its retroactive, earned rate based on the cancellation date and billed a 25% fee on the remaining cancelled ads. Advertiser will be given full credit for all monies paid toward the final invoice.
■ Prepaid advertising is non-cancellable and will not be refunded under any circumstances, although the advertiser may opt (and publisher reserves the right) to pull all remaining, scheduled advertising.
■ Non-profits and governmental agencies receive the 12 time rate on all ads contracted. If a longer contract is desired, the Business Times and non-profit/government entity will negotiate a special rate. Political advertisers will receive the 24 time rate and must be paid in advance with contract. We have reviewed the policy information and agree to the terms.
n JUMP-START PROGRAM TAKES IN EXPOWER
ExoPower Inc., which is based in Grand Junction at the Business Incubator Center, 2591 Legacy Way, has been approved for Colorado’s Jump-Start Program.
ExoPower developed an in-motion capacitive wireless charging system for industrial mobile robots, such as small picking robots and autonomous forklifts, and eventually for larger electric vehicles (EVs). This technology enables these vehicles to charge while they work and move, eliminating the need to halt operations for recharging.
By reducing charging downtime, the technology intends to dramatically increase productivity and reduce costs, such as acquisition and maintenance costs. To maintain 24-hour operation, industrial mobile robots, particularly forklifts, may spend up to eight hours daily charging. Warehouse operators often compensate by buying additional robots to cover downtime, or investing in costly, space-consuming battery-swapping systems.
ExoPower, which relocated Grand Junction from Lafayette, CO in 2024 plans to facilitate in-house assembly of its products and later establish a headquarters as it scales, according to the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, which worked with ExoPower throughout its Rural Jump-Start application.
The jump-start program provides ExoPower with financial incentives and tax relief, including no state, local or income taxes for up to eight years. Plus, ExoPower is eligible to receive cash grant funding up to $20,000 to help offset startup costs and up to $2,500 per new hire, for the creation of up to nine new jobs. Through the program, the company will also collaborate with Colorado Mesa University to access its talent pipeline for internships, recent graduates and alumni.
To be eligible for the Rural Jump-Start Program, companies must be new to the state of Colorado or create a new division with a minimum for five new jobs, must add to the economic base, and export goods or services.
n REALTY ONE ANNOUNCES 3 NEW HIRES
Realty ONE Group Western Slope hired Harriet Matthews and Loren Forney as agents and Christa Brill in a support role.
Matthews brings more than 22 years of experience, and Realty ONE broker/owner Tyler Harris said she has a great reputation and the knowledge to help clients of all types across the Western Slope.
Forney is a newly licensed agent, and Harris said, “She has a great outlook on life and wonderful connections around the Western Slope that I know will help launch her career.”
Brill will be the Agent Success Concierge. Harris said Brill has a fantastic background in sales and marketing, and her skills will help the agents deliver a first-class experience to all clients.
n NOMINATION PETITIONS AVAILABLE FOR GRAND JUNCTION CITY COUNCIL
The City of Grand Junction City Council nomination petition is now available for in-person pickup in the City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 250 N. Fifth St. Call the City Clerk’s office, 970244-1509, in advance of picking up the petition. The nomination petition is due no later than 4 p.m. on Jan. 27.
Online Candidate Guidelines and Grand Junction Elections are available at gjcity.org.
The four open city council positions are District A, District D, District E and one at-large for a four-year term. The election will be held April 8.
The Grand Junction City Council is comprised of seven community members, five of whom are elected from and represent certain City districts, and two that are elected at-large. Regular municipal elections are held in April of odd years.
To be eligible for municipal office, at the time of election candidates must be: a citizen of the United States; at least 18 years old; and have been a registered elector within the City of Grand Junction for at least one year immediately preceding the election.
District candidates must have continuously resided in the district from which they are to be elected for at least one year immediately preceding the election.
n HOWELL RECEIVES REAL ESTATE LICENSE
Bray Real Estate’s Kayla Howell passed her exam to become a licensed real estate agent.
Howell has been part of the Your 3A Team at Bray, and with her license she will expand her role to help guide clients seamlessly through the process of buying or selling their homes.
“We are thrilled to see Kayla reach this milestone,” said Merrite Wyatt, 3A Team Lead. “Her passion for real estate, paired with her hardworking nature, has always shone through, and now she can provide even more value to our clients.”
n GART BUYS CANYON VIEW MARKETPLACE
Colorado-based real estate investment and management firm Gart Properties announced it acquired Canyon View Marketplace, 632 Market Street in Grand Junction.
The 42,783-square-foot shopping center was built in 2007 and is currently 91 percent occupied by tenants such as ULTA, Dollar Tree, Shoe Carnival and T-Mobile. Kohl’s, which is separately owned, was not part of the transaction.
The acquisition marks the inaugural investment of the Gart Stabilized Asset Fund, the company’s new income-focused real estate strategy. Through the Fund, Gart Properties aims to acquire longterm ownership of well-located, stabilized retail assets with strong, diversified tenant rosters. This purchase represents the first close of the Fund, with a second close scheduled for later in 2025.
NOTEWORTHY
Todd Hollenbeck began his new job as Mesa County administrator on Jan. 4, succeeding Pete Baier, who retired after 28 years as a county employee.
Hollenbeck has 25 years of experience with Mesa County to fall back on as he takes on his new duties. Since joining Mesa County in 1999, Hollenbeck held several key leadership positions, including regional transportation planning director, community development director, and most recently deputy county administrator since April 2021.
As deputy county administrator, he oversaw more than 200 employees and managed a $45 million annual budget across five county departments, according to a Mesa County news release.
“Todd Hollenbeck embodies the leadership, vision, and dedication Mesa County needs to continue to thrive,” Mesa County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel said. “We are confident in his ability to address challenges and seize opportunities that benefit our community.”
Hollenbeck’s leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, strategic planning and a commitment to serving the residents of Mesa County.
“My focus is on fostering collaboration, innovation and transparency to deliver the highest quality services for our community,” Hollenbeck said. “We will embrace opportunities, overcome challenges, and continue building a resilient, thriving Mesa County.”
Hollenbeck’s appointment in August followed a competitive selection process that attracted 16 applicants from across the nation.
Baier said of his successor, “I am confident that Todd Hollenbeck will continue to build on our progress, and I look forward to seeing the county thrive under his leadership.”
