The Business Times Volume 28 Issue 10

THE BUSINESS T IMES News MAY 27-JUNE 16, 2021

THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS NEWS SINCE 1994

VOLUME 28, ISSUE 10

THEBUSINESSTIMES.COM

Trends 125 and 2 Contributorscounting Opinion 4 Business Briefs 5 Business People Almanac

In this issue

n State of the valley A panel of local government officials addressed a variety of issues during an annual state of the valley presentation.

n St. Mary’s passes another milestone in caring mission in region. See page 2

n Thought for food

Even as COVID-19 presented challenges for food and ag businesses, the pandemic also brought some opportunities.

n Pitch perfect

A 12-story patient tower is among the expansions of facilities and services that have occurred since what’s now St. Mary’s Medical Center opened in Grand Junction in 1896.

Rural Colorado businesses have until June 18 to sign up to pitch their operations and vie for $1.3 million in investments.

n Summer camp A Denver-based company has announced plans to open a summer camp of sorts atop the Grand Mesa.

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n Rate retreats

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The jobless rate continues to retreat in Mesa County, but would drop lower if businesses could fill openings.

n Address stress

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Employers can make a difference in helping their employees address the stress that can lead to burnout.

n Departments Almanac Business Briefs Business People Contributors News Opinion Trends

30 28 30 21-24 2-18 26-27 19-20

Business Times photo by Phil Castle

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THE BUSINESS T IMES News The Business Times

Page 2

May 27-June 16, 2021

What’s the Trends state of Contributors the valley?

Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac

Government officials address local issues in annual presentation Phil Castle

The Business Times

125 and counting What started out as a 10-bed hospital in downtown Grand Junction has relocated and expanded over 125 years into the 346-bed St. Mary’s Medical Center and the largest facility of its kind between Denver and Salt Lake City.

St. Mary’s passes another milestone in its caring mission in region

B

ryan Johnson wonders what the nuns who founded St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction would think of what’s become 125 years later a regional medical center. Would they be satisfied their mission to care for the poor and vulnerable continues?

“I really believe if the nuns were here today, they would be proud of what we’ve done,” says Johnson, president of St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Johnson offered his observations during a brief speech in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the opening of St. Mary’s on May 22, 1896.

The milestone is important, he says, not only because of the rarity of organizations enduring Bryan Johnson that long, but also because it reflects an ongoing commitment to providing care in the region.

The 125th anniversary follows a difficult year in which St. Mary’s joined with other hospitals and health care providers in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson says. Other challenges lie ahead, among them ensuring access to health care and and lowering the cost of that care.

But changes over the past 125 years in terms of physical facilities, technological advancements and additional services have been remarkable, he says.

What opened in 1896 as a 10-bed hospital in a wooden frame building near 11th Street and Colorado Ave. has grown into a 346-bed regional medical center, the largest between Denver and Sale Lake City.

A medical center the size of St. Mary’s is unusual for a city the size of Grand Junction, Johnson says. “There are very, very few.”

Rather, the scope of St. Mary’s reflects its service to a large geographical region that stretches across Western Colorado and into Eastern Utah, he says. St. Mary’s makes it possible for patients in the region to receive even sophisticated treatments without having to travel to Denver or Salt Lake City.

See ST. MARY’S page 17

125 YEARS AT A GLANCE n 1895 — Sisters of Charity Balbina Farrell and Louisa Madden leave Leavenworth, Kan., on a mission to establish a hospital in Grand Junction. n 1896 — A small, wooden-frame, 10-bed hospital opens at the corner of 11th Street and Colorado Ave. n 1912 — A brick wing adds 20 beds. n 1923 — A new wing adds 30 more beds. n 1951 — A new hospital is constructed at the corner of Seventh Street and Patterson Avenue. n 1985 — A 125,000-square-foot addition houses radiation oncology, a critical care unit, a telemetry and intermediate care unit, 20 pediatric care beds and a perinatal center. n 1986 — St. Mary’s offers open-heart surgery and postoperative care. n 1994 — An $8 million, five-story patient tower opens. n 2003 — The Advanced Medicine Pavilion opens, housing a regional cancer center and blood center as well as outpatient imaging. n 2010 — The Century Project, a multi-year expansion and remodeling effort that includes a 12-story patient tower, is completed. n 2019 — The heart and vascular institute opens. n 2020 — Construction begins on a primary care clinic on Patterson Road with completion scheduled for mid-2021.

STORY AND PHOTO BY PHIL CASTLE

Grand Valley governments avoided an expected downturn in sales tax revenues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.

Governments and residents alike found ways to support businesses.

Collaborative and flexible efforts helped address issues as well.

Even as the effects of the pandemic ease, other challenges remain. They include affordable housing, access to mental health services and accommodating growth while maintaining quality of life.

Officials from Mesa County, the cities of Grand Junction and Fruita and town of Palisade discussed the effects of the pandemic and addressed other issues during a state of the valley luncheon hosted by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce.

The panel featured Mesa County Commissioner Janet Rowland, Mesa County Administrator Pete Baier, Grand Junction Mayor Chuck McDaniel, Grand Junction City Manager Greg Caton, Fruita Mayor Joel Kincaid, Fruita City Manager Mike Bennett, Palisade Mayor Greg Mikolai and Palisade Town Manager Janet Hawkinson.

In looking back over the past year and the effects of the pandemic, the officials said they were most surprised by what didn’t happen, and that was a large decline in sales tax revenues.

Mesa County collected nearly $37 million in sales taxes in 2020, a 5.4 percent increase over 2019. Rowland attributed the gain in part to an increase in tax collections on internet sales — up more than 200 percent in 2020 to more than $1.5 million.

Bennett said sales tax collections for Fruita have increased every year since 2017 and hit a record level in 2020.

The City of Grand Junction collected about $48 million in sales taxes in 2020, a 2 percent decline from 2019.

County sales tax collections through the first four months of 2021 rose 17.2 percent over the same span in 2020. The City of Grand Junction reported a 17.1 percent year-over-year increase in sales tax collections through the first four months of 2021.

Some good things came out of the pandemic, the officials said, among them local support for businesses and more collaborative and flexible efforts See VALLEY page 18

May 27-June 16, 2021

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Life is Precious

Serving families of the Western Slope for more than 100 years.

well-rounded perspective also brings opportunities to Mesa County fornew food and ag firms role

Phil Castle as well as New England and Canada. said people who work in information technology aren’t just “geeks,” EvenWhidden as COVID-19 posedwhat challenges for offer food an andimportant agricultural businesses in Frank brings he but perspective because Colorado, the pandemic brought opportunities forfamiliar businesses adapt and of considers a well-rounded perspective to his they’re withwilling nearly to every aspect neweven job improve as Mesa operations.

County administrator. operations and how work gets done. They “It taught me howalso to tend run ato better business,” saidpotentially Jason Whidden worked think about new and who operates 5280things Culinary, a foodand in information Morse, an executive chef better ways of doing in asking business based in Denver. technology and holds manufacturing and consulting answering “what if ” questions.

“They know Listening to customers what they want a master’s degree in how to and effectfinding changeout in an organization.”

Mozer, founder computer information remains crucial, said Elizabeth Whidden expectsand to chief bringexecutive that same in his Fortduties Collins. systems. But he also officer of LoCo Food Distribution approach to as administrator.

The state government can help insaid addressing holds a doctoral Whidden it’s hissupply role chain to help the commissioners agricultural sector, saidand Kate degree in applied problems and promoting county make then of agriculture. management and Greenberg, Colorado commissioner implement decisions.

The commissioners Morse, Mozer and discussed a varietyofofthe decisionJason making and Frank in Greenberg turn represent the residents Morse Whidden a rangeand of express questions a said. virtual worked for more than issues and answered county theirduring will, he “We panelWhidden discussionhas hostedwork

by Colorado Proud, a program of the 20 years as a minister. for the people.”

Colorado Department of Agriculture. worked for large and small organizations Whidden said he also considers himself Thesectors. pandemic forced 5280 Culinary so much pivot,and in both the private and public a liaison between to thenotcommissioners adapt, said — to notstaff, onlyand findone ways more Whidden expects tobut draw on Morse all of his county of totheoperate priorities is to efficiently, also diversify by adding newfeel services. experiences in helping Mesa but County make sure employees valued. Whidden Founded more thansaid a decade ago, 5280 Culinary sells spices, commissioners make and carry out decisions. he hopes not only to improve morale, andthe others products Valuing staff and brines making county butin more also than take 3,000 stepslocations that willnationwide. make Mesa The firm also provides for specialfor events as well an employer of choice is among the cooking County services an organization which people as consulting services for foodtoand beverage businesses. priorities, Whidden said.

So is planning want work. said and part of hisMeanwhile, job includesWhidden helping agricultural that Elizabeth results inMozer sustainableMorse funding expects the businesses basis. tell their stories and theirpolicies brands.and Theinitiatives effort balanced budgets on a long-term county to build continue makesCounty connections consumers misconceptions Meanwhile, Mesa willwiththat support and localdispels business and economic aboutthat agricultural and what There they do,arehe additional said. “Telling continue to pursue efforts promote producers a development. steps the story is crucial. important.” friendly business environment andIt’s so that can be taken to make it easier for local The internet platforms offerproducts one wayand to tell those to economic development, Whidden said. and social businesses to sell services so do events, he county, said. he added.

Whidden officiallystories, beganbut working as the handlesofwholesaleMesa food County distribution Collins county administrator at theLoCo beginning will from keepFort working with to Colorado Springs. sells more 140organizations Colorado the year. He succeeds Tom Fisher, who was The othercompany government entities, brands, Mozer said, including beveragesonand condiments as well hired as county manager in Summit and institutions fostering an environment as meats and seasonal produce.

County, that supports existing businesses and KateUtah.

Greenberg Mozer said her with farmers, ranchers and Whidden joined Mesa County in company attractsworks new businesses, he said. manufacturers help them reach wholesale buyers and expand distribution.

August 2011 as toinformation technology Whidden said there could be a the 2014, pandemic closed deputy restaurantsopportunities to in-person to dining last year, director.When In April he became encourage the demand additional shifted administrator to grocery stores for and strained supply chains, Mozer At the same county resource development of said. businesses that time, provide though, consumers becamereorganization acquainted with more locally produced products as well management in a staffing services to the agricultural industry asas well shopping groceries. thatonline eliminated fourfor director positions. as promote Mesa County as a distribution What hasn’t changed, said, is the importance for producers and small Before joining MesaMozer County, center for the region. business owners build relationships what customers That Whidden worked fortoa company providing and find Theoutimportant thing iswant. to consider includes nottechnology only products,services but also packaging andfrom pricing.

“You need to perspective, be aware information to issues a well-rounded of what your wholesale In buyers looking for.” colleges and universities. that are role, he Whidden said. “We won’t be myopic as we Growers and small owners starting out should consider selling at managed IT systems andbusiness services for just look at things.” farmers markets and first handle Illinois wholesale distribution on their✦own. institutions in Alabama, Arizona, Greenberg said the Colorado Department of Agriculture had to respond to the emergencies of COVID-19 as well as address what at the onset of the pandemic were issues related to the supply chains for beef and other foods. The department subsequently has been working to promote the recovery of the ag industry.

She said she expects additional funding to be available to promote Colorado agricultural products as well as loans to help farmers, ranchers and processors.

Part of a nationwide effort to rebuild infrastructure should include agricultural infrastructure.

The department will continue to support local food businesses regardless of the circumstances, she said. “We want to nurture that relationship without a global pandemic being the cause.”

F Phil Castle

The Business Times

The Business Times Whidden

FOR YOUR INFORMATION To watch a recording of the virtual roundtable or obtain more information about the Colorado Proud program, visit the website at http://coloradoproud.com.

The Business Times

May 13-26, 2021

Businesses sought to pitch for funding

Competition part of West Slope Startup Week Applications will be accepted until June 18 for more than $1.3 million in funding made available through the Greater Colorado Pitch Series.

The winners will be announced during West Slope Startup Week, set for July 12 to 16 with virtual sessions as well as in-person events in Grand Junction. The free event will showcase rural Colorado companies Mara Hardy and offer resources to them to improve their operations.

“West Slope Startup Week is an event for all rural Colorado companies — whether that is just starting out or scaling from national to international distribution,” said Mara Hardy, business development manager at the Grand Junction Economic Partnership and lead organizer of West Slope Startup Week. “I am looking forward to being able to highlight the true breadth of ambitious companies we’re seeing being built across the state and see real dollars continue to be invested.”

The Colorado Pitch Series will involve four providers offering capital for companies in various stages of startup and development. Rural Colorado companies serving customers well beyond their locations are eligible to apply.

Greenline Ventures will provide $1 million in growth debt, while the First

Southwest Community Fund will provide $50,000 in early-stage debt. The Greater Colorado Venture Fund will invest at least $250,000 into a seed stage company. The Fund Rockies will invest $50,000 in a pre-seed stage startup.

Each provider will select two finalists to pitch their ventures and will announce the winners during a July 16 event that will be held at the Avalon Theater in Grand Junction and broadcast online.

The Greater Colorado Pitch Series has been expanded from the inaugural event in 2020 in which nearly 100 applicants competed for investments from the Greater Colorado Venture Fund.

“While we funded multiple seed-stage startups through last year’s event, there were many great companies that also deserved funding but our fund wasn’t the right fit,” said Marc Nager, founding partner of the Greater Colorado Venture Fund. “This year, we’re excited to showcase a broader set of the capital ecosystem players, allowing us to get more funds to more growth-focused companies based on their stage and specific needs.”

Product Movement Technologies in Grand Junction received a loan last year from Greenline Ventures. “Greenline understood our vision and understood how we could grow our business with access to capital,” said Luke Sutherland, chief executive officer. “They seemed to actually understand our business and what we would use the capital for.”

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION To apply for investments, obtain more information or watch the finals, log on to the website located at www.greatercoloradopitchseries.com.

City sales tax collections jump Sales tax collections, a key measure of retail activity, continue to increase in Grand Junction.

The City of Grand Junction reported collecting nearly $5.5 million in sales taxes in April. That’s an increase of more than $1.7 million and 47.2 percent over the same month last year, although collections a year ago were affected by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.

April collections reflect March sales.

The city reported collecting another $81,607 in use taxes, a smaller and more volatile revenue source. That’s an increase of more than $5,000 and 6.6 percent over the same month a year ago.

Through the first four months of 2021, the city collected a total of more than $21.2 million in sales and use taxes. That’s an increase of nearly $2.8 million and 15 percent over the same span in 2020.

Sales tax collections rose 17.1 percent, more than offsetting a 23.8 percent drop in use tax collections.

City lodging tax collections, a measure of hotel and motel stays in Grand Junction, also increased in April.

The city collected $109,776 in lodging taxes, an gain of $38,616 and 54.3 percent over the same month last year.

The comparison is affected, though, by the pandemic in 2020.

Through the first four months of 2021, the city collected $313,746 in lodging taxes.

That’s a decline of $4,971 and 1.6 percent compared to the same span in 2020.

Lodging tax collections are divided among Visit Grand Junction, a city department that markets the area for travel and tourism, as well as the Grand Junction Regional Air Service Alliance and Greater Grand Junction Sports Commission.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

Company to open summer camp atop Grand Mesa A Denver-based company has announced plans to open a summer camp atop the Grand Mesa east of Grand Junction.

Gravity Haus will operate the camp on private property at Electric Mountain Lodge.

“At Gravity Haus, we envision the planet as a playground that fuels amazing expriences, personal Jim Deters growth and camaraderie with fellow adventurers. And what better way to live this vision than to build a summer camp in Western Colorado,” said Jim Deters, founder and chief executive officer of Gravity Haus.

“Everyone has memories from summer camp as a kid. We’ve built this Gravity Haus summer camp atop

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

For more information about the Gravity Haus summer camp and other locations and services, visit https://gravityhaus.com. the amazing Grand Mesa with the very same spirit of adventure, growth and connection in mind,” Deters said.

Seven domes — each of which can accomodate up to four people — will be available to reserve between June 25 and Sept. 27. Gravity Haus members will pay $62.50 a night on Sundays through Wednesdays and $125 a night Thursdays through Saturdays. Nonmembers will pay $125 a night on Sundays through Wednesdays and $250 a night on Thursdays through Saturdays.

The domes will be located a short walk away from the Electric Mountain Lodge restaurant serving farm-to-table fare from Western Colorado. The property offers access to more than 300,000 acres of forest land.

Camp activities will include yoga classes at the lodge as well as fishing; hiking; mountain biking; rafting; and tours of local farms, ranches and wineries.

The summer camp will be the second for Gravity Haus, which also opened a spring camp near Canyonlands National Park south of Moab in Utah. Gravity Haus Vail opened in December Gravity Haus Winter Park is scheduled to open this summer.

The company offers places to stay, train and work as well as a subscription service offering access to adventure travel, group fitness programs and outdoor equipment.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

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May 27-June 16, 2021

Colorado program offers incentives to get back to work A new program offers unemployed people in Colorado incentives to get back to work.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order creating the Colorado Jumpstart program, which offers people up to $1,600 to return to full-time work, “Powering the comeback means supporting Coloradans getting back to work and our businesses as they Jared Polis expand,” Polis said. “We know that getting back to work doesn’t mean all the financial challenges Coloradans are facing just disappear, and we want to ensure that as more people are returning to the work force, we are setting them up for success.”

To be eligible to receive an incentive, claimants must

have received at least one week of unemployment benefits of $25 or more between March 28 and May 16 and verified their identities through the ID.me process. Claimants who return to work full time in May will receive $1,600. Those who return to work full time in June will receive $1,200.

“More than a year after this Joe Barela pandemic swept through Colorado, we know that many Coloradans are not completely back on their feet just yet. That’s why we are taking this important step to provide support to those who need it most as they transition back into the workforce,” said Joe Barela, executive director of the Colorado Department of

Labor and Employment. “This won’t just help Coloradans, it’s going to help businesses to have a productive work force, ready to power our economy and comeback.”

Newly employed workers must maintain full-time employment for at least eight weeks to receive the full incentives. Payments are scheduled for distribution in two installments in July and August. Claimants will become eligible for the first half of the incentive after about four weeks of full-time employment and become eligible for the remaining half after about eight weeks.

Claimants receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits, workshare claimants and out-of-state claimants aren’t eligible for the Colorado Jumpstart incentive program. For more information visit https://cdle.colorado.gov/unemployment.

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Online programs help participants working remotely

Two new online certificate programs have been developed to help employers and employees succeed in a remote work environment.

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Colorado Workforce Development Council, Office of Economic Development and International Trade and Economic Development Council of Colorado enlisted the help of Colorado State University Global to offer the programs.

“COVID-19 has greatly accelerated the adoption of remote work across the world, and many will continue to work remotely after the pandemic has ended,” said Joe Barela, executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “These remote work courses will help workers and employers succeed with remote work arrangements in the long term.”

The supervisor course provides business owners and managers with best practices, insights, skills and tools needed to lead remote employees and teams. The employees course provides strategies for advancement, collaboration and productivity in remote and hybrid work environments. Both courses are applicable to any industry.

“We are excited to partner with our sister state agencies and CSU Global to offer these courses that nicely complement our Location Neutral Employment Incentive (LONE),” said Sarah Andrews, acting director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

“Remote work was already on the rise, and its adoption was accelerated by the pandemic. OEDIT works to ensure a business-friendly environment that encourages employers to hire the great talent that exists throughout our state. The LONE program and these certificates help establish that environment.”

For additional information about the certification programs, visit the website at https://csuglobal.edu/remote-work-certificateprograms.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

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May 27-June 16, 2021

Webinar to offer businesses help to get back on track A webinar series has been scheduled to offer information and resources to entrepreneurs in a six-state region that includes Colorado.

The U.S. Small Business Administration joined with the Public Private Strategies Institute to launch the webinar series, titled “Getting Back on Track: Help is Here.”

The webinar is scheduled for Isabella Guzman noon July 29 in SBA Region 8, which includes Colorado as well as Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

The webinar will feature speakers from the SBA and White House as well as small business leaders and members of Congress.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

For more information about the Getting Back on Track: Help is Here webinar, log on to www.publicprivatestrategies.com/back-on-track.

“The Getting Back on Track: Help is Here webinar series is an important outreach effort to help small businesses recover, rebuild and gain resiliency,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “Small businesses are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as marketplaces and main streets reopen thanks to strong vaccination rates. We are empowering small businesses to reopen fully and safely by connecting them with helpful resources and tools, including the Biden

administration’s tax credits that cover paid time off for employees getting vaccinated. We all must double down on our efforts to help our beloved small businesses survive and get our economy back on track.”

Rhett Buttle, a senior advisor with the Public Private Strategies Institute, said the webinars offer regionally focused conversations to help small business owners build back better. “The program will focus on three key areas: economic recovery and access to capital options, digital tools and resources to allow small business owners to be vaccine leaders with their employees and communities.”

The new webinar builds on a national series hosted by the SBA and Public Private Strategies Institute highlighting offers to create additional access to the Paycheck Protection Program.

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Collaborative effort advances technology that helps countries address challenges

The U.S. Small Business Administration and Millennium Challenge Corp. have joined in an effort to advance emerging technologies and innovations developed through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs.

The partnership will identify, pilot and scale innovative technologies to address country specific needs in such sectors as agriculture, health, irrigation, renewable energy, sanitation and water. The effort also will help U.S. small businesses gain access to international markets.

“This agreement continues the incredible collaboration between our two agencies as we support small businesses that are discovering innovative technologies to solve some of the world’s most complex problems,” said John Williams, SBA director of innovation.

“By combining our focus on renewable energy, climate and the environment, we’re demonstrating American leadership and commitment to sustainable economic development.”

Fatema Z. Sumar, vice president of the department of compact operations at Millennium Challenge Corp., said the collaboration will allow MCC partner countries to more easily access proven technologies to solve their most pressing development challenges. “We are pleased to be joining with other U.S. government agencies to maximize our joint impact while also providing opportunities to scale private sector involvement in MCC’s blended finance work.”

The SBA Office of Investment and Innovation coordinates SBIR/STTR programs across participating federal agencies totaling more than $4 billion a year in research and development awards to small businesses. The MCC new Innovation and Technology Program promotes private sector technology solutions for developmental impact and commercialization with MCC programs and partner countries.

For more information, log on to the website located at www.sbir.gov.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

University of Colorado to offer summer courses in data, machine learning Registration is under way for a summer educational series offering working professionals instruction in data science and machine learning.

The University of Colorado at Boulder will offer what’s billed as Tech Frontiers with courses in data science scheduled for July 12 and 13, and courses in machine learning set for July 15 and 16.

The courses will be offered with live instruction on the Boulder campus as well as a virtual option.

The courses will offer professionals an opportunity to refresh or enhance their understanding of these concepts without devoting months or years to training.

“We hear from our partners in industry that an understanding of these methods and how to use them is becoming a basic requirement even at the highest levels of business operations,” said Bobby Schnabel, a professor and chairman of the computer science department in the college of engineering and applied science at CU. “So we set about designing courses that could, in a short span of time, introduce professionals and executives to the latest concepts and research in the field,” Scnabel said.

Mark Weinberg, vice president of core product engineering at eBay and a member of the CU Boulder computing advisory board, said data science and machine learning have become integral to the way his company does business — from market research and product design to customer acquisition and product delivery.

“We’ve seen that the field and our business needs are evolving quickly,” Weinberg said. “CU Boulder’s short courses will allow our managers and professionals to gain the knowledge and experience they need to lead with confidence.”

Data has become a raw material in the digital age, one that can be transformed into business advantages, drive product decisions, engage consumers and even predict behavior and trends.

The introduction of algorithms and machine learning has accelerated how

organizations learn from data and has reduced the cost of that learning, making it important for managers to understand basic functions and capabilities.

Participants in the Tech Frontiers courses will gain an understanding of technical methods used in current practice through hands-on project experience in teams using real data sets. The courses will include an ethics component to address such issues as fairness, privacy and representation.

The course in data science will provide participants knowledge and skills in data collection, management, curation, cleaning and visualization as well as an introduction to methods in statistical inference and machine learning.

The machine learning course will explore deep learning, neural networks, classification methods and non-parametric methods.

Participants also will gain access to a community of Tech Frontiers fellows who receive regular information about engineering conferences and webinars on emerging topics and invitations to events.

Participants considering a degree can choose to continue their learning through a master’s degree in data science program, which offers an on-campus program for traditional students and a degree on Coursera that uses performance-based admissions –– which means no graduate record examinations, transcripts or letters of recommendation.

“The half-life of engineering knowledge is estimated to be less than five years,” said Keith Molenaar, interim dean of CU engineering. “Professionals need access to high-quality, innovative research, techniques and skills to stay ahead.”

“As the top engineering college in the Rocky Mountain region and a national leader in computer science, we are excited to offer access to our world-class faculty and to create a new professional network of industry leaders in Colorado,” Molenaar said.

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION For more information about Tech Frontiers courses, visit the website at https://www.colorado.edu/engineering/academics/tech-frontiersexecutive-education or send an email to techfrontiers@colorado.edu.

Students offered free bus transportation The Mesa County Workforce Center and Grand Valley Transit have joined in an effort to offer high school students free transportation to summer jobs and other destinations.

Mesa County School District 51 high school students may ride fixed routes on Grand Valley Transit for free until Aug. 31.

All that’s required is GVT stickers on their

student identification.

Information about the program and GVT service is available online from the website at https://gvt.mesacounty.us.

Virtual travel trainings are scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. June 4 and 4 to 5 p.m.

June 16. To register for the trainings, send an email to sarah.brooks@mesacounty.us.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

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Ceremony to officially open Grand Junction river park A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been scheduled to officially open a river park at Las Colonias Park in Grand Junction.

The ceremony is set for 4 p.m. May 27 at the Mariposa shelter just south of the butterfly pond. After the ceremony, a river park parade is planned. Food trucks and Gelato Junction will serve fare.

The City of Grand Junction and Grand Junction Stand Up Paddle will supply river Ken Sherbenou float tubes. Those who have float tubes, paddle boards, kayaks and other flotation devices are encouraged to bring them. There no lifeguards are on duty, and lifejackets are strongly recommended.

“The river park is a game changer for local and accessible outdoor recreation in Grand Junction,” said Ken Sherbenou, director

of Grand Junction Parks & Recreation. “It has opened river-based recreation to most everyone, which adds to the quality of life in Grand Junction.”

Sandbags that prevent flow into the river park channel were removed on May 20, and the park is open for use. Sandbags remain in place when river flows fall below 810 cubic feet per second. When river flows exceed 810 cfs, sandbags are removed, and water flows from the main channel of the Colorado River into the river park channel.

The $1.2 million river park project was funded by grants from Great Outdoors Colorado and the Colorado Water Conservation Board as well as the City of Grand Junction, Colorado Basin Roundtable, Downtown Grand Junction and One Riverfront. The project also was made possible through partnerships with Bonsai, Colorado Mesa University and the U. S. Department of Energy.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

BLM seeks nominations for councils The Bureau of Land Management is looking for nominations to fill vacancies on resource advisory councils in Colorado.

“The advice given to the BLM by these citizen-based resource advisory councils is a vital part of the BLM’s collaborative approach to land management,” said Jamie Connell, director of the BLM in Colorado. “Citizen input enhances our agency’s ability to administer and conserve these lands for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations of Americans.”

Vacancies will arise in June on the Northwest Colorado, Southwest Colorado and Rocky Mountain resource advisory councils.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve.

Nominees are evaluated based on their training, education and knowledge of the geographical area of a council.

All councils are comprised of 15 citizens with diverse interests in public land management, including conservationists, energy industry representatives, local and state government officials, outdoor recreationists and ranchers. The councils include three categories of positions: n Public land ranchers and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, the timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, offhighway vehicle use and commercial recreation. n Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical organizations, dispersed recreation activities and wild horse and burro organizations. n Representatives of state, county or local elected office; representatives and employees of a state agency responsible for the management of natural resources; representatives of Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which a council is organized; representatives and employees of academic institutions involved in natural sciences; and the public at large.

For nomination applications, go to http://ow.ly/iSks50EOMqr. For more about serving on the Northwest Colorado council, contact Chris Maestas at (970) 826-5101 or cjmaestas@blm.gov.

For the Southwest Colorado council, contact Shawn Reinhardt at (970) 240-5339 or sreinhardt@blm.gov.

For the Rocky Mountain council, contact Brant Porter at (970) 9019581 or beporter@blm.gov.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

The Business Times

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The Business Times

May 27-June 16, 2021

Sessions set to comment on marijuana regulations

A total of three more in-person and virtual public listening sessions are scheduled as the City of Grand Junction develops licensing and permitting processes for marijuana businesses.

In-person sessions are scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 27 at the Lincoln Park Barn and 5:30 to 7 pm. June 1 at Eagle Rim Park. A virtual lunch session is set for noon to 1:30 p.m. June 1.

In addition, the Grand Junction City Council has scheduled a workshop for 5:30 p.m. June 7 at City Hall.

The sessions follow the passage in the April municipal election of a ballot measure lifting a moratorium on marijuana businesses within city limits as well as a related tax question.

Taxes on retail marijuana sales will be earmarked to implement and enforce marijuana regulations as well as fund the highest priorities in a parks, recreation and open space master plan. The plan lays out $157 million in projects and priorities for the next eight to 10 years.

City staff plan to work with appointed and elected officials to develop the next steps in licensing and permitting marijuana-related businesses. Regulations on retail licensing are expected in the fall.

For additional information, log on to www.gjcity.org/MarijuanaRegulation.

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Bustang adds trips to West Line service

Bus service between Grand Junction and Denver has expanded with more trips.

Bustang will add three roundtrips on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays on its west line that includes Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Vail and Denver. The new trips add to three routes operating Monday through Friday.

Bustang also added roundtrips to its north line between Fort Collins and Denver and south line between Denver and Colorado Springs.

Bustang offers service aboard 51-passenger coaches.

“The addition of these routes brings us very close to our prepandemic service levels,” said Kay Kelly, chief of the Colorado Department of Transportation office of innovative mobility. “To help ensure that we continue on this trajectory, we are continuing to follow federal law with respect to face masks and are also asking passengers to please purchase tickets in advance, as much as possible, in order to minimize physical interactions with drivers.”

For tickets or more information about Bustang routes, schedules and fares, visit the website at https://ridebustang.com.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

The Business Times

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www.thebusinesstimes.com Bryan Johnson, president of St. Mary’s Medical Center, shares some observations during a celebration of the 125th anniversary of the opening of the hospital in Grand Junction.

(Business Times photo by Phil Castle)

St. Mary’s

Continued from page 2 Johnson cites as one example a neurological unit that cares for patients who’ve suffered strokes or other brain injuries as well as those suffering from epilepsy. A heart and vascular institute provides in Western Colorado care patients previously had to travel to Denver or Salt Lake City to receive.

Johnson says the opportunity to work at a medical center like St. Mary’s while living in a smaller community like Grand Junction attracted him and also attracts physicians and others.

Taking into account the full 125-year history of St. Mary’s, Johnson says some of the most important developments the construction in 1951 of a new hospital near the corner of Seventh Street and Paterson Avenue, the location where facilities were subsequently expanded to create the medical center.

The opening of the Advanced Medical Pavilion in 2003 was important in offering outpatient imaging, he says.

The Century Project completed in 2010 not only expanded and renovated St. Mary’s facilities, but also added a 12-story patient tower. With a cost of $400 million, the project is one of the largest and most expensive in Grand Junction history.

In addition to providing health care to the region. St. Mary’s also contributes to the economy, Johnson says — by one estimate $1.2 billion a year.

The medical center ranks among the largest employers in Mesa County with a staff of nearly 2,500 and provides what’s likely the largest payroll, he says.

At the same time, the mission of St. Mary’s hasn’t changed in 125 years, Johnson says, and that’s to care for the stick and meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable.

And, he believes, the founding nuns would be proud of the ways in which that mission goes on.

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The Business Times

May 27-July 16, 2021

Valley

Continued from page 2 Mikolai said he was encouraged by the community spirit he observed. “I’m really proud of the citizens of Palisade in how they reacted.”

Hawkinson said collaborations with the Ute Water District and Mesa County Sheriff’s Department helped ensure if town employees became ill, essential services would continue.

McDaniel said the City of Grand Junction worked with Mesa County Public Health to set up a vaccination site at the downtown convention center.

Caton said the city fared well in what was a kind of stress test. “Our delivery of services didn’t skip a beat.”

Even as the effects of the pandemic ease, other challenges remain, officials said.

Access to affordable housing has become a more pressing issue as the price of homes and rents increase.

McDaniel said he’s concerned Grand Junction could become like Colorado resort communities where the people who work there can’t afford to live there.

The city commissioned a housing needs assessment, which he said constitutes a first step in developing ways to address housing problems.

Mikolai said a variety of policy options likely will be needed.

Kincaid said the City of Fruita has allowed for increased density in housing developments while also promoting the development of trails, parks and other amenities that maintain quality of life.

Bennett said he hopes more flexibility will promote more variety in housing, including apartments.

Baier said the county building department strives to maintain a quick and efficient permitting and inspection process to help speed home construction.

In addition, bonding authority could provide funding to help promote affordable housing projects, he said.

Asked about what keeps them awake at night, the eight officials provided differing responses.

Bennett said he worries about striking a balance between accommodating a tourism industry that supports business and tax revenue in Fruita and maintaining quality of life for residents.

Rowland cited lack of access to mental health services.

Caton said he’s concerned about widening gaps between people with means and those struggling to get by.

After a series of disasters that have included a pandemic, a spring freeze that damaged the Grand Valley peach crop and historic wild fires, Mikolai said he wonders what’s next.

There’s a possibility, officials said, federal funds coming to the Grand Valley in the aftermath of the pandemic could be used to address some of those concerns and others. Moreover, local governments could collaborate further in that process, they said.

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News Trends Contributors Jobless rate retreats Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac The Business Times

May 27-June 16, 2021

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INDICATORS AT A GLANCE

n Business filings s New business filings in Colorado, 44,740 in the first quarter, up 32.2% from the first quarter of 2020.

n Confidence

t Consumer Confidence Index 117.2 in May, down 0.3. s Leeds Business Confidence Index for Colorado, 64.4 for the second quarter, up 16.5. s National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index 99.8 for April, up 1.6.

n Foreclosures s Foreclosure filings in Mesa County, 4 in April, up from 2 in April 2020. s Foreclosure sales in Mesa County, 4 in April, up from 1 in April 2020.

n Indexes

s Conference Board Employment Trends Index, 105.44 for April, up 2.79. s Conference Board Leading Economic Index 113.3 for April, up 1.6%. t Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index for manufacturing, 60.7% for April, down 4%.

n Lodging

s Lodging tax collections in Grand Junction, $109,776 for April, up 54.3% from April 2020.

n Real estate

s Real estate transactions in Mesa County, 504 in April, up 34.8% from April 2020. s Dollar volume of real estate transactions in Mesa County, $185 million in April, up 58.1% from April 2020.

n Sales

s Sales and use tax collections in Grand Junction, $6.16 million for April, up 41.6% from April 2020. s Sales and use tax collections in Mesa County, $4.29 million for April, up 46% from April 2020.

n Unemployment t Mesa County — 6.8% for April, down 0.4 n Colorado — 6.4% for April, unchanged. s United States — 6.1% for April, up 0.1.

But many Mesa County businesses are struggling to fill job openings Phil Castle

seekers on the sidelines.

A new incentive program in Colorado offers the unemployed $1,600 if they return April March The unemployment rate continues to to full-time work in May and $1,200 if they t Delta County 5.9 6.6 retreat in Mesa County, but would move return to work in June. Claimants become t Garfield County 5.6 6.0 even lower if businesses weren’t struggling eligible for the first half of the incentive after t Mesa County 6.8 7.2 to fill job openings four weeks of full-time employment and t Montrose County 5.6 6.4 “There are a ton become eligible for the remaining half after t Rio Blanco County 5.8 7.1 of job opportunities eight weeks on the job. out there, but they’re Rather than serving as an unemployment having a difficult time filling them,” said office, the Mesa County Workforce Center serves as an employment Curtis Englehart, director of the Mesa County office in helping people find jobs as well as employers fill openings, Workforce Center in Grand Junction.

Englehart said. In addition to posting job openings, the center hosts According to the latest estimates from hiring events, screens applicants and can cover part of the wages for the Colorado Department of Labor and new hires as they’re trained. More information about programs and Employment, the seasonally unadjusted services is available by calling 248-7560 or visiting www.mcwfc.us. unemployment rate declined four-tenths of a Englehart said he expects the jobless rate to continue to trend Curtis Englehart point to 6.8 percent in April. downward, but hopes more job seekers will fill openings to speed A year ago, when the local labor market suffered the full the process. brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions, the Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates also retreated in jobless rate spiked to 12.8 percent. The rate has dropped by nearly neighboring Western Colorado counties in April: down four-tenths half since then. of a point to 5.6 percent in Garfield County, down seven-tenths of a For April 2021, Mesa County payrolls rose 759 to 71,085. point to 5.9 percent in Delta County, down eight-tenths of a point to The number of people counted among those unsuccessfully 5.6 percent in Montrose County and down 1.3 points to 5.8 percent looking for work declined 264 to 5,188. The labor force, which in Rio Blanco County. includes the employed and unemployed, increased 495 to 76,273.

The statewide seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained Compared to a year ago, payrolls increased 8,882. The ranks unchanged at 6.4 percent, although nonfarm payrolls increased 17,000 of the unemployed fell 3,935. The labor force grew 4,947. from March to April. The leisure and hospitality sector accounted for While Englehart said he’s grateful the jobless rate has 9,900 jobs, while payrolls increased 2,900 in education and health decreased, the latest numbers belie a tighter labor market in which services. demand outpaces the supply of available job seekers.

Over the past year, Colorado has gained back 247,700 of the For April, 1,046 job orders were posted at the workforce 375,800 jobs lost between February and April 2020. The largest center. That brings the total number of orders posted at the center gains have occurred in the leisure and hospitality; education and in 2021 through April to 3,338. The construction, health care and health services; and trade, transportation and utilities sectors. manufacturing sectors have been hit hardest, Englehart said, but The average workweek for employees on private, nonfarm labor shortages have affected most sectors. payrolls lengthened an hour over the past year to 33.7 hours.

He attributed the situation in part to a $300 federal stipend Average hourly earnings decreased 97 cents to $31.08. added to weekly unemployment benefits that’s kept some job F The Business Times

AREA JOBLESS RATES

Consumer Confidence Index slips A measure of consumer confidence has slipped from it’s highest reading in more than a year, but still reflects mostly upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions.

The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 117.2 in May, down three-tenths of a point from what in April was the highest reading since early 2020.

“Consumers’ assessment of present day conditions improved, suggesting economic growth remains robust in Q2. However, consumers’ short-term optimism retreated, prompted by expectations of decelerating Lynn Franco growth and softening labor market conditions in the months ahead,” said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board.

Overall, consumer confidence should remain resilient as COVID-19 vaccinations increase and the economy fully reopens, Franco said.

The business research and membership group bases the index on the results of monthly household surveys. Consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity.

Assessments of current conditions pushed the present situation component of the index up 12.4 points to 144.3.

The proportion of consumers who responded to the survey upon which the May index was based who characterized business conditions as “good” fell seven-tenths of a point to 18.7 percent.

But the share of those who said business conditions were “bad” fell more — 2.7 points to 21.8 percent.

The proportion of consumers who called jobs “plentiful” rose 10.5 points to 46.8 percent. The share of those who said jobs are “hard to get” fell 2.5 points to 12.2 percent.

Consumers were less optimistic in their short-term outlook, pulling down the expectations component of the index 8.8 points to 99.1.

The share of consumers who said they expect business conditions to improve over the next six months fell 2.8 points to 30.3 percent. The proportion of those anticipating worsening conditions rose 2.7 points to 14.8 percent.

The share of those who expect more jobs to become available in coming months fell 4.5 points to 27.2 percent. The proportion of those anticipating fewer jobs rose 2.9 points to 17.3 percent.

Asked about their expectations for income, 14.5 percent of those who responded said they anticipated increases in the next six months — down 2.9 points from April. Meanwhile, 9.3 percent said they expected decreasing income, down 1.2 points.

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Leading index signals faster growth ahead for U.S. An index forecasting economic conditions in the United States continues to increase, signaling growth in the months ahead. Separate measures of current and part performance also rose.

The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index (LEI) rose 1.6 percent to 113.3 in April, topping its previous peak in January 2020.

“While employment and production Ataman Ozyildirim have not recovered to their pre-pandemic levels yet, the U.S. LEI suggests the economy’s upward trend should continue and growth may even accelerate in the near term,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, senior director of economic research at the Conference Board.

Gross domestic product, the broad measure of goods

and services produced in the country, is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 8 percent to 9 percent, Ozyildirim said.

Year-over-year GDP growth should reach 6.4 percent for 2021.

The Leading Economic Index increased 4.7 percent over the past six months while strength among the indicators remained widespread.

By comparison, GDP increased at an annual rate of 6.4 percent in the first quarter and 4.3 percent in the fourth quarter.

For April, eight of 10 components of the index advanced, including building permits, consumer expectations, interest rate spread, leading credit and new orders indexes, new orders for consumer goods and stock prices. A decrease in average weekly initial claims for unemployment benefits also bolstered the index. Average weekly manufacturing hours and new orders for capital goods held steady.

The Coincident Economic Index, a measure of current conditions, rose three-tenths of a percent to 104.1. The index has increased 1.1 percent over the past six months.

For April, all four indicators of the index advanced: industrial production, nonfarm payrolls, personal income and sales.

The Lagging Economic Index, a measure of past performance, rose 1.8 percent to 104.7. The index increased six-tenths of a percent over the past three months.

For April, three of seven components of the index advanced, including consumer credit and cost of services.

A decrease in the average duration of unemployment also bolstered down the index. Commercial and industrial financing, cost of labor and inventories retreated. The average prime rate charged by banks held steady.

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Trends Contributors Opinion Extinguishing burnout Business Briefs Business People Almanac

May 27-June 16, 2021

The Business Times

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COMING ATTRACTIONS

n The Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction has scheduled events offering information about startups and valuations.

Upcoming business startup workshops are set for 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 8, 9 to 11:30 a.m.

June 15, 1 to 3:30 p.m. July 7 and 9 to 11:30 a.m.

July 20 at the center, 2591 Legacy Way. The workshops will cover the business planning process, including financing options, licensing requirements and legal structures.

Admission is $55, which also includes admission to a series of Fast Trac classes offered at the center to delve deeper into popular startup topics.

A free business valuation presentation is set for 2 to 3:30 p.m. June 29 at the center.

Participants will learn about the roles of market analysis and business evaluation in developing a realistic business worth assessment. The presentation will cover listing prices, acquisition financing and selling within an industry.

For more information about upcoming events, services and programs offered at the center, call 243-5242 or visit the website at https://gjincubator.org. n The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a presentation on a renewable energy program, a meeting with the Colorado secretary of state and its annual banquet.

A free Zoom presentation on the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program is set for 10 to 11 a.m.

May 27. The program helps businesses pay for renewable energy and efficiency upgrades by providing financing with long-term repayment options.

A free Zoom roundtable webinar with Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is set for 10 to 11 a.m. June 2.

The annual chamber banquet for 6 to 11:30 p.m. June 11 at the Grand Junction Convention Center, 159 Main St. Individual tickets sell for $95. Corporate tables for 10 are available for $950.

To register for or obtain more information about chamber events, call 242-3214 or visit htttps://gjchamber.org.

As workplace stress builds in a pandemic, employers can help More than a year into the pandemic, more and more teams battle another effect of COVID-19: burnout.

Even before the pandemic, burnout had reached record levels. The World Health Organization included burnout in its classification of diseases in 2019, describing it as “a syndrome … resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Add to chronic workplace stress issues related to the pandemic — among them working from home, managing children and schooling, Amy political polariation and social unrest Weitzel — and burnout reached critical mass.

For too long, burnout has been seen as an employee issue and the onus placed squarely on the shoulders of employees with such solutions as mindfulness, meditation and self-care to build resiliency.

While these are fantastic tools and employees should be responsible for their own health, burnout also should be seen as an organizational problem requiring solutions at the organizational level.

One study identified six main causes of burnout: unsustainable workload, perceived lack of control, insufficient rewards for effort, lack of a supportive community, unfairness and mismatched values and skills.

Here’s where human resources and leaders can make a real difference in the personal and professional lives of their employees. Upstream measures put in place by leadership can have real and measurable downstream effects. n Adjust workloads: Unsustainable workloads was the most-cited reason for burnout and decreased well-being.

Work hours are blurred because people work from home; additional meetings have increased the work day an average of 48 minutes and child-care issues require flextime. Now emails are coming through at all times of the day and night. Leaders can help manage workloads by checking in with employees to make sure loads are manageable. Set boundaries on when emails are sent. Use the delay function in Outlook to send emails during a certain time if you’re working later at night to respect the traditional workday. n Control and flexibility: Give employees flexibility when possible so they can exert control over their hours to accomodate children’s schedules and bandwidth issues. This increases job satisfaction and productivity.

As managers, set clear expectations on what deliverables look like. Establish metrics and deadlines and then follow

up. Constant meetings remove autonomy from employees, but clear expectations provide autonomy on how jobs get done. As Ernest Hemingway said, “The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.” n Does this really need to be a meeting? Complete a meeting audit to see if the meetings you’re conducting are necessary. The goal is to avoid pulling employees away from completing actual work as well as decreasing their screen time if meetings are via Zoom. If a meeting is required, follow an agenda to keep people on track. Consider a consent agenda to reduce time spent on in-meeting discussion when items can be reviewed ahead of time. n Sense of purpose: Help employees see how they fit into the bigger picture of the organization’s mission and vision. What is the “why” behind what they do? What gives them passion in their jobs? Can they be assigned a special project that reignites their passion? Burnout at times requires some time to take a breath and at other times to move forward with a sense of purpose and reconnection with the mission and team. It’s possible with good communication to do both when you have an outward-focused mindset of wanting to support your team. n Check in on employees: Leaders and human resources should check in regularly with employees to prevent a slow burn from becoming a conflagration. Fires can smolder while employees toil away day after day, focus on work and home issues and miss the early signs stress is building. Cultivating a culture of checking in peer to peer or within teams promotes awareness before flames take hold. Wellness plans can help build resiliency. Training programs can help with mindfulness, resilience and stress management techniques.

Of course, an employee assistance program is always a great resource for organizational and employee support for burnout and other issues.

The most important support requires vulnerability and boldness — the ability of leaders to sit with employees and talk and listen about their mental health. There’s no better time to normalize talking about mental health at work.

Amy Weitzel is vice president of development of the Triad Employee Assistance Program based in Grand Junction. She lives in Denver and splits her time between Denver and Grand Junction to serve clients on the Front Range and Western Slope. This column was provided by the Western Colorado Human Resource Association.

For more information, visit www.wchra.org.

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The Business Times

May 27-June 16, 2021

Strive for life-work balance to avoid end-of-life regret As I watched my youngest daughter graduate from high school, I couldn’t help but notice the excitement in her eyes and the eyes of her 240 fellow graduates. Some of them are probably relieved school is over, while others look forward to the next phase of their educations.

Whatever path these young people choose, some will become consumed by work and business. But others will strike a balance between life and work, either intentionally or by accident. This second group is likely to experience more happiness and success — along with less regret.

Consider the second most frequently cited regret people express at their end of their lives: “I wish I Marcus hadn’t worked so much.”

Straub Given all the things people could possibly regret when looking back on their lives, this is an extraordinarily powerful and telling statement. This potential reality from the end of life confirms the wisdom in taking a different and more mindful approach to work and business, no matter your age.

The people who expressed this deep-seated regret acknowledged spending too much of their time on the treadmill of their work while sacrificing valuable time with their spouses, children, extended family, friends and even themselves. Some allowed their personal dreams and lifetime adventures outside of success to pass them by. The profound truth is that once they’re gone, these moments and experiences can never be recaptured.

There’s a common and prevailing mantra in business about making as much money as you possibly can, about becoming successful at all cost. There’s no doubt profitability

Your life is happening right now.

And there’s room within it for everything you desire — not only making money, but also enjoying the multitude of other things that bring you happiness and pleasure.

and competitiveness constitute primary objectives in business.

The question is, at what cost?

Business owners focused on making as much money as possible typically expect team members to have the same focus. In forgetting these people have lives, hopes, dreams and desires, too, these owners demand more and more.

When the focus is solely on success and the accumulation of wealth, people, their happiness and well-being are discounted.

The prospect of becoming wildly successful financially — along with all the accolades that come with it — can be addicting because it feeds the ego. As with any addiction, it can take over and obstruct the bigger picture of life and all it has to offer. When this happens, it creates a situation in which we’re out of balance, ultimately limiting the very happiness and success for which we strive.

One aspect of my work with business owners is to help them see the bigger picture of their lives, to discover within themselves what they value and whether what they sacrifice in their pursuits of success is truly acceptable.

As my clients develop their skills at balancing life and work, they begin to make different choices in how they allocate their time. They come to experience a more profound form of success — one that still includes

financial gains (often more than ever before), but isn’t a driving force in their lives. There’s a trickledown effect for their team members as their life and work balance is encouraged and supported.

It’s important to understand that once your children have grown, your youth has faded and your health has deteriorated, the dreams you abandoned in the pursuit of success and money can’t be recaptured. That time has passed forever.

We all know people who worked their whole lives to make enough money to travel and enjoy the other pleasures of life only to discover that by the time they “arrived,” they were unable to do so because they waited too long.

Your life is happening right now. And there’s room within it for everything you desire — not only making money, but also enjoying the multitude of other things that bring you happiness and pleasure.

Once you’re mindful about your life and your work and have the skills in place to create vital balance, you won’t have to work so hard to experience the happiness and success you want.

And at the end of your life, you won’t regret having worked too much.

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@ligcoaching.com or through the website located at www.ligcoaching.com.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

The Business Times

Put safety into your own words

When’s the last time you reviewed your workplace safety manual — the one that explains what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) expects you and your employees to know and follow?

What? You don’t have a manual? Then there’s no time like the present to create one.

Here’s a brief summary of the most common topics as well some useful writing tips. For more specific help or a professional review, contact the Employers Council at www.employerscouncil.org or Dean Harris, the Western Slope area manager for the organization, at 852-0190.

Make sure your manual is workplace and job site specific. Some of the topics you Janet should cover include: Arrowood n General health and safety policies tailored to locations and activities. n The rules for using personal protective equipment (PPE) and company vehicles, safe job procedures and workplace activities. Visit www.SafetyInfo.com for some useful ideas and templates. n How to perform OSHA-required inspections of workplaces and tasks to determine if hazards are present that would require the use of PPE. n Safe work practices and job procedures for each location. n Preventive maintenance requirements, schedules, roles and responsibilities. n Methods for communicating safety information and training employees in safe procedures and operations. n Required inspections, investigations and reports, including procedures for keeping records and statistics. n Emergency procedures covering potentially dangerous or life-threatening situations — chemical spills, fires, workplace shootings and other hazards. n Other topics relevant to your industry.

Keep in mind you’re writing a manual explaining what employees and managers should do — and not do. Write in an active voice. The “doer” must be absolutely clear. Passive voice deflects responsibility to some “unknown.”

Consider these examples. Which one makes it clear what must be done and by whom?

The safety valve must be set to “active” to avoid an explosion when the gas jet is opened. The gas technician must set the safety valve to “active” before opening the gas jet.

The first example is written in passive voice. The “doer” is not stated, leaving no one responsible for ensuring this important safety step is completed properly. Even if the “doer” is obvious, your manual needs to identify, in directive and active terms, the “doer.” The second example is written in active voice and leaves no doubt — in terms of job title — who’s responsible. n Always write in active voice. Be directive. Sentences must be simple, clear and concise. Delete adjectives (descriptive words before nouns) unless they add value or clarity. Avoid long words or phrases when one simple word works. Write “use” rather than

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A good workplace safety manual should constitute an excellent reference for both employers and employees.

“utilize” or “make utilization of.” Consider the following example.

The safety valve must be quickly, rapidly and thoroughly turned off immediately prior to rather than shortly after enabling and turning on the gas flow. That’s passive voice with lots of adjectives.

Now consider the same sentence written in active voice with no unneeded adjectives. Turn off the safety valve before turning on the gas. n Short, focused sentences ensure someone with a high school education can read and understand them. In the preceding example you can read how much shorter the directive, active voice sentence is, leaving no doubt what’s to be done and by whom. n Keep paragraphs to no more than three or four sentences.

Short paragraphs ensure only one topic is addressed at a time.

One-sentence paragraphs work well when you want to emphasize a point. n Use bullets or numbered lists. Bullets call out information, ensuring critical processes or information stand out, are easy to locate and simple to follow. Use bullets when the order of performance doesn’t matter. Use numbered or lettered lists when the order does matter — for a series of steps or a startup or shutdown process, for example n Focus on the measurable. Use specific terms that are measurable rather than vague terms open to interpretation. Instead of writing “recommended safety equipment must be brought to each site” try “technicians and engineers must bring the complete set of safety equipment listed in column 2 of table 7 when going to category 1 sites.” Go through your manual and weigh the value of words that end in “-ly” and “-ous.” These are words open to interpretation.

Health and safety procedures are not open to interpretation. n Be quantitative, not qualitative. Put yourself in the position of the people who must read, understand and use your manual. Will reading and referencing the contents make your employees safer and better prepared for risky situations? Are you making everyone’s roles and responsibilities clear? Have you revised at least 90 percent of passive voice sentences?

The OSHA Small Business Handbook available online at www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/small-business.pdf offers useful information.

Safety is everyone’s business. A good workplace safety manual should constitute an excellent reference for both employers and employees.

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.

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RentaSpace.DiegoCorp.com

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The Business Times

May 27-June 16, 2021

Think ahead to keep vacations fitness-friendly Vacations, long car trips and busy schedules can disrupt our fitness routines. Whether traveling by car or plane, staying in hotels or with family, you can keep fitness a part of each day. Here are a few tips to help make your vacations more fitness-friendly. n Sitting in a car for a few or many hours a day traveling to that great vacation destination can make you feel tired and stiff. Moreover, car trips are notorious for combining little physical activity with eating the wrong foods. Pull off at rest stops and stretch by reaching for the sky. Take deep breaths. Spend a few moments walking around and seeing the sights. every few hours will make Paula Stretching you feel less worn. Here’s a game Reece you can play when traveling with your family. At each stop, a different person gets to name the activity. It might be jumping jacks or running around the car. It can be as simple as racing each other to the “facilities.” Meanwhile, consider packing a small cooler with nutritious snacks. n At times, airline travel can have you calling the

airport your new home. Why not pack gym shoes in your carry-on? You’ve seen the moving walkways. Don’t use them if time allows. There are places to walk and climb stairs in most airports. When it comes to having a snack or meal, remember many food vendors offer nutritious choices. Consuming fewer calories while being less active is an important part of not gaining those extra vacation pounds. Pack some healthy treats in your purse or backpack. Dried fruit, nuts and water offer good choices. n Many hotels and resorts offer fitness centers. While your choices could be limited, remember any movement is better than nothing. Combine cardiovascular exercise — a treadmill or elliptical trainer — with strength training. n If your accommodations don’t include a fitness area, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Plan ahead. Pack some resistance bands. They can be purchased at many health clubs, local retailers or online. Resistance bands come in different colors and widths. These differences reflect the amount of stretch they allow for more or less resistance. Try them out to see which ones work for you.

Wrap your bands around a bed post or door knob. You can also use resistance bands by using your foot to step on the middle of the band for an arm workout, for example. n You can’t exactly pack weights in your suitcase,

so try filling disposable water bottles with water for a lightweight workout. Be creative. Many exercises can be done on the floor with nothing but your own body weight for resistance. Pushups, for example, offer a great upper body strength exercise and don’t require anything but you to perform. Situps, leg lifts and arm circles are just a few exercises that can be performed without equipment. n Cardiovascular exercise remains important when traveling. Many vacations involve sightseeing. Don’t underestimate the power of walking. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, bring water and wear sunscreen. You’ll get more heart-healthy exercise just by taking the stairs whenever possible. n By thinking ahead, you’ll keep your workout routine on schedule. No matter the mode of travel or destination, you still can exercise and eat right on vacation. Remember, too, it’s a vacation. Enjoy.

U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich of the District of Columbia recently struck down a nationwide eviction moratorium, deeming it unlawful.

The U.S. Department of Justice appealed the ruling, however.

If the order is reversed, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) eviction moratorium could remain in place until at least the end of June with the possibility of extensions.

In her ruling, Friedrich stated: “It is the role of the political branches, not the courts, to assess the merits of policy measures designed to combat Tim the spread of disease, even during Whitney a global pandemic. The question for the court is a narrow one: Does the Public Health Service Act grant the CDC the legal authority to impose a nationwide eviction moratorium?

It does not.”

The Georgia and Alabama associations of Realtors,

two housing providers and their property management companies filed the lawsuit in defense of mom-and-pop property owners around the country struggling to pay bills without rental income for more than a year.

In a lot of cases, property management companies also take a hit if their revenuers are based on a percentage of rents collected. If no rents are collected, there are no property management fees.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) helped secure nearly $50 billion in federal rental assistance to help tenants pay their bills and provide relief to housing providers that have lost income.

NAR supported the lawsuit, though, contending the moratorium was no longer needed.

“NAR has always maintained that the best solution for all parties was rental assistance to cover the rent, taxes and utility bills for tenants struggling during the pandemic,” said NAR President Charlie Oppler. “This decision prevents two crises – one for tenants and one for mom-and-pop housing providers who do not have a reprieve from their bills. With rental assistance secured,

the economy growing and unemployment rates falling, there is no need to continue a nationwide eviction ban.

With this safety net firmly in place, the market needs a return to normalcy and stability.”

Until the market does stabilize, this might help.

According to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) website, the state recently received $247 million for rental and utility assistance, and the Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is set up for both property owners and tenants.

Forms are available on the DOLA website located at https://cdola.colorado.gov/rental-mortgage-assistance.

Paula and Dale Reece own Crossroads Fitness Centers in Grand Junction with a downtown location at 225 N. Fifth St. and a north location at 2768 Compass Drive. For more information, call 242-8746 or visit the website located at www.crossroadsfitness.com.

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Court strikes down eviction ban, but outcome unsettled

Tim Whitney is managing broker of Coldwell Banker Commercial Prime Properties, a commercial brokerage and property management firm based in Grand Junction. Whitney has been involved in the sale, lease and management of commercial real estate in Colorado for more than 35 years.

For more information, call (970) 243-7375 or visit the website at www.CBCPrimeProperties.com.

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The Business Times

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Contributors Opinion Bold predictions 2015 If government calls for it good news, Contradictory terms: A new year Business affords Briefs then it’slike badnot-so-bold news for yourepeats and me more Some funny, some not a new opportunity Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES

PAGE age 26 22

Some words just don’t go together. Oh, they might work splendidly all by themselves. But arranging one after the other creates a contradiction.

Consider, for example, only choice or plastic glasses. If you’re afraid of breaking your stemware, your only choice is to use the plastic glasses. Right? Really?

The effects of an such figures of speech not only A new year almost always brings opportunity for a fresh start confound, and but also entertain. renewed ambition to do things better.

Comedian George was customers famous — better rightfully so — In business, that usually boils down to Carlin providing products for poking at than expressions he didn’t anymust sense. and services faster and at lowerfun cost competitors.

Partbelieve of the made process If someone’s drunk, then what’s the problem? include listening to customers to legally determine what they actually need and Leave then the poor all, guyitalone. someone’s undisputed what’s meeting that need. After does If little good toan offer the latestchampion, and greatest if all the fighting about?

And what, exactly, is a jumbo shrimp? nobody actually wants what you’re selling.

Is it a large jumbo?the Grand Junction Area Just like the businesses thatshrimp belongortolittle the group, I’m referring, course, to oxymorons. the word Chamber of Commerce invariably startsofout the new year with aIronically, reassessment of itself isitsomething of an oxymoron, combination of the Greek the services and resources provides and how well theyamatch with members for chairman sharp and of dull evolvedboard into pointedly foolish. needs. Jeff Franklin,terms the new thethat chamber of directors, Phil Castle As is so often the case, my train of thought transported me personifies this approach in describing what he considers his role for the coming to business and their whatneeds oxymorons might arise in that realm. year: listen to members, determine and then meet those needs.

It’s a a bit ofFranklin contemplation and as a little research, hereofare a few came to role After with which is familiar market president Bank ofthat Colorado. mind.The Some of these might be funny because, as the word process willbusiness take on aoxymorons more structured approach in what the chamber implies, they’re pointedly foolish.

But others not so much because they really are the plans as the resumption of a program aptly called Listening to Business. Under contradictory. program, business owners participate in in-depth interviews to identify barriers to n Working Is they it work or a vacation? Is it possible to combine the two? growth and othervacation. problems encounter.

ThatThe depends individual For some, even theclub. prospect of work — new on yeartheoffers a goodinvolved. time to join the proverbial however — would ruin what’s time away from work.

As anslight advertiser or reader, what likely do youwell-deserved need from the Business Times?

For others, a business trip conceivably could include some rest and relaxation.

While business journals traditionally gather and report the relevant news to n Friendly takeover.isn’t Evennecessarily if the management at street. the companies involvedtrue in as readers, communication a one-way That’s especially such an arrangement thedialogue merits, there be some who aren’t so happy Web sites and e-mail agree maketothe more could convenient than ever. whenGood the transaction goes through.

One of the results combining operations publications don’t exist in a vacuum.

Theyofrespond to the needs of is cutting costsand by readers. eliminating redundancies.

That often means people lose jobs. advertisers They provide what’s needed. n Job security.

So what do you There need? was a time when people worked their entire careers withIsone company in part because theythat feltwould more secure their jobs were safe. there additional news coverage help keep you informed about That time has passed.

As takeovers — see abovethat — and outsourcing increase, local business developments?

Are there features would be interesting or job securityIsdecreases.

Of course, companies facejobs the asame of challenge given useful? there advice that would make your littlesort easier? the willingness of their employees to leave if they see what they believe be It’s equally important to ask what you don’t need. With limited time could to greener pastures. produce content and limited space in which to publish it, would time and space be Healthytocompetition.

Most business owners and managers probably betterndevoted something else? would prefergood? a monopoly to vying for needed? market share. is healthy for What’s What isn’t?

What’s What Competition isn’t? consumers, though, in producing better productsonline and services at lower Times prices.Web Let us know.

Send us an e-mail.

Comment on the Business n Business ethics.

There are some who believe this is the biggest oxymoron site at www.thebusinesstimes.com. You could even write an old-fashioned letter to of all, thatifprofitability trumps all otherboth considerations including the editor you’d like. Your feedback, positive and—negative, is ethical valued ones. and It’s been my experience in working more than 20 years as editor of a business will be carefully considered. journal that’s not at all the The businesses are most Good publications are case. the result of not only that the efforts of successful their staffs,are butthose also that do thingsefforts right. They treat advertisers employees and and readers. customers well and give generously collaborative involving to theLike community. built and a reputation trustworthiness. any otherThey’ve good business, wemaintain want to listen to our for customers, find out what they need and then meet those needs.

Phil It’s Castle is editor of the Business a new year. Please help us toTimes. do so.Reach him at phil@thebusinesstimes. com or 424-5133. ✦ F

THE BUSINESS TIMES

609 North Ave., Suite 2, Grand Junction, CO 81501 TEL (970) 424-5133 • FAX (970) 424-5134

Publisher/Owner: Craig R. Hall

Editor: Phil Castle

Reach advertising at: publisher@thebusinesstimes.com Reach the editor at: phil@thebusinesstimes.com.

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. © 2021 — All rights reserved.

Every day we hear story after story aboutIt’s what all-caring at thatour time of year government when all levels does people. The biggest resolutions andfor prognostications abound. perception is we’vetohad an Year’s My favoriteproblem saying applied New everyday, kind of story (along a resolutionsgood-news is in saying they’re basically with stories) for more than week a bunchend-times of promises to break the first year since the “15while days Itowon’t slow predict the spread” of January.

And a that oddly garnered oneaccurately good news whole lot, never I can pretty much story the spread slowing.question nail aabout few things that without if You will see these are will Then make again, the news. one understands basic pretty, well, predictable: virus■lifespans, you Prediction one: weren’t expecting There will be some good because sort ofnews weather event, the 15 days weren’t natural disaster or going to occurrence do squat. As heinous I’ve said repeatedly: where someone will Viruses arrive, viruses be interviewed and say spread, viruses“I’ve peak, the following: viruses decline and we never seen anything Craig Hall live withinvariants like that my of them forever.

It’sifjust lifetime.”

It’s as this Craig Hall some than others. personare is worse a required That’s first good news from attendee atwhere everyour news government comesWhile into play.

Government reporting event.

I understand most payouts COVID-19can cases and deaths. people’sfor perspective indeed be limited The good news forwithin, hospitals wasown government by, or contained their personal was going to cover the costs experiences, it is too muchoftodealing ask towith aconsult pandemic.

Yet, all one needs to knowbefore is some historical perspective we’ve pandemic or outbreak sayingnever such financed a thing?aYes, this response can via theto taxpayers in history, it’s bad news. apply some events.

Butsowhen it comes Especially hospital admission and to weathersince and every natural disasters, I’m pretty recorded was identified as COVIDitself. for sure this death is simply history repeating the money, of millions the initial and claims being of Same as it much has for millions done observation of symptoms.

Given years.byMore important, the planet made it!

COVID has awere ton ofcertain symptoms, including no What didn’t species.

How’s symptoms at all, it was easy money. that for perspective?

Second good two: news,When we came up to a ■ Prediction it comes with testsomething for COVID identify cases crimea or thattooccurs between and fight the the other outbreak.

Problem, if you humans, required attendee at all spun test enough, auto-positive. news the reporting eventsit’s is the person who Reasons?

See above. infection says this: “They we’reWorse, just thethe nicest rate blew upinand the country people, and nothey way shuttered did I see something and all kinds of craziness.

So like mandated this coming.”

Exactly.

No one does all theofbureaucrats withitjobs andtoplaces most the time when comes of employment sat and watched jobs should and neighbors and acquaintances.

People business go away —goes with on pay. be surprised at what from time to positive: the flu is dead.

Somehow time Next in their neighborhoods, towns and this proof masks and social distancing withispeople they know because peoplework. are Yet, it didn’t with Butthey whatshouldn’t better good.

And for theCOVID. times that way to extend over people? be shocked —tyrannical like withrule politicians, repeat Logic would masks workthe given offenders anddictate terrorists —don’t where’s COVID increased following a interviewnumbers that says, “This doesn’t surprise very me inpredictable the least.”curve WITH masks and distancing.

Who takes scientific data from ■ Prediction three: Something gooda 10th grader’seconomically, paper posited by herthe dad who will happen and owns a statistics Government, if it government willcompany? take credit for it. The most means andprices, big boxwhere stores. people recent control. exampleOh, is gas Then there’s thecredit $600-a-week ask me why I won’t the president for unemployment (with is many states still low gas prices. bonus My answer simple: giving $300 after this expired) folks Government never makes the for price of who lost their jobs to mandated something godue down and simplyshutdowns. takes credit This act ofnews. government benevolence has for good Gas pricing is subject to put even morefactors. folks out of business many global Now there arewho couldn’t findanswers anyone to becausesome it’s more government tohire addressing of beneficial not prices to work.

Whofor theAmericans, hell thinks them to keep stable like this?government Must be thehas same government but our none of them in who pay you $1,600 to get off place.now Thesays onlyit’ll things it has in place in the

M ay 27-June 16, 2015 2021 JANUARY 15-28,

unemployment and go back to work. Fixing along “do-gooder” program that wastesAnother money run always hurt consumers. by program reaches that wastes more factadding is thatanother unemployment a certain money is insanity. again?

Government. level based on theThen economy.

And while the Igovernment wonder what idiocy it will up is with might brag the come number low, after the folks backthe to government work and quit after it’s more than go likely did their two $800 installments hit thebeing bank?low something to cause that number Of not course, theConversely, once-a-yearwhen — and in a there goodare way. bank account replaced maybe business picksbonuses up, it’s that because the people 1/20th of someone’s income andwere takesnot who need to buy widgets who months to debatebecause the amount of crumbswas buying widgets the economy from the Antionette cake we’ll be allowed. contracting due to natural (or unnatural, There’s now caused) a $300 per monthdecided per kid for government reasons, we special households (of course, that kid better buy some widgets.

Theifgovernment isn’t on one’stotaxes due to divorce, you get had nothing do with this. nada).■And let’s notfour: forget TRILLION Prediction In$2.5 keeping with in infrastructure spending on theIhorizon things the government does, predict which the won’t be spent onmanipulate infrastructure will beto government will theand numbers used political to special interests. makeasthe claim payoffs the economy is getting Because that’s what government spends on. better because of how hard it is working to Special croniesAmericans.” and benefactors. help all interests, of us “working Now Your $25 donation doesn’t it. say this you might say, “Craig, youcut always only effect thisbecause tax money aboutThe President Obama youhas don’t for and me isn’t likeyou him.”

You’re rightgood in a news. sense. Because I don’t we’re ones who’re to pay for and know the man, but whatgoing I know of him it. of todayI don’t — before with hisAs thinking, like itwe orget himhitone iota. another $4 TRILLION in added spending Before you go off, however, I didn’t like this year alone in thestimulus United President Bush — andthe hisdebt bailouts, States roughly $85,000 permarket PERSON and hisisabandoning the free to save and $225,000 per HOUSEHOLD. The the free market.

And I don’t know him worse 50 percent of the people either. news: What the government does, andinthe this pay And every onlycountry thing it don’t can do, is taxes. hurt the economy. single mentioned in put this criminals column isin Unlessitem it does nothing or adding on tooftopartnering those of us who do. BIGLY. jail instead with them, nothing So when you hear thehelp. nextAlways story about the government does will look how our way, all-caring government provides at it this whatever the government says free this or whatever that to help it is doing, thedefeat name “the of thevirus” law it — the latestorbeing free the vaccine freeof is passing, whatever nameafter or goal vaccine, now foritthe entire planet — just the bureaucracy is presenting to the keep theexpect ticker the ticking your taxtopayingpeople, polaronopposite occur. household individual tax debt.

And I guessorwhat I’m saying is that then lookit’s at time all thetothings perhaps get outgovernment of our own has done to decrease tax collections by perspective.

There’s plenty of history shuttering economy while claiming books andthe historical research out there to business aren’t paying their begin to understand that all “fair of this has share,” making it impossible pay for happened before.

And it willtoagain, government like Social Security whether the programs topic is people or government. and Medicare/Medicaid (which are The best recommendation is tobroke find already) because nothat onewhole is working and some books or try Google paying those taxes counties bragging thing. There’s a lotand of information on the about tax receipts fromisonline Great higher Depression.

The truth it wasn’t buying whileone areauntil businesses close left got even a good the government and right. There’s My pleaalso is please, please involved. plentyplease, of research note: is horrible news.

Period. on theThis medieval warm period when the This allmuch couldwarmer have been avoided.

As planet was than today with stated before as viruses we’d be inwell the a whole lot less people do, (and warmer same position arguably before(predictable) man was here at all).—And yep, better terms of deaths infections, peopleinhave been killingand other surprised especially given how was the numbers were people since history first written. tallied — if the government would have Maybe some research will help stop suggested protocols and not done all of thesehealth trends.

Otherwise, we’ll be one damned this column. saying we’vething neverlisted seeninanything like it in Yet planned. it’s all bad news. our more lives. isAnd not inAnd a good way.

Craig publisher of the Craig Hall Hallisisowner ownerand and publisher of the Business 424-5133 or BusinessTimes.

Times.Reach Reachhim himatat 424-5133 publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

The Business Times

Death and higher taxes: Biden agenda an attack on U.S. entrepreneurship

The Biden tax agenda amounts to a comprehensive attack on business, investment and wealth creation.

It is, therefore, also an assault on entrepreneurship and American workers.

President Joe Biden and his administration emphasize the notion that since they’re directly raising taxes on businesses and those earning more than $400,000 a year, that somehow there will be no negatives Raymond for the economy.

Keating Of course, that’s politics talking, not economics.

If you raise taxes on higher incomes, the results include altered incentives and decisions by such income earners, along with reduced dollars in their hands.

That means investments in new and expanding businesses are discouraged and reduced while more resources accumulate in political hands to be redistributed according to political incentives.

No matter how much those on the left and in the White House might wish it were not the case, the reality is that the incentives and knowledge deficiency in government guarantee that dollars drained from the private sector to be spent by government will generate serious inefficiencies. All of this combines to restrain economic, income and employment growth.

The same, naturally, goes for increased taxes on businesses, with Biden proposing to increase the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent and the top individual income tax rate from 37 percent to 39.6 percent. The obvious results are reduced incentives and resources for expanding business.

A favorite levy of the class warfare set is the estate, or death, tax. After paying a lifetime of taxes and fees, government shows up at death to grab a chunk of an individual’s assets. In fact, the top federal death tax rate is 40 percent and applies to estates worth more $11.7 million.

While Biden called for increasing the estate tax on the campaign trail, some think his latest tax plan didn’t include an increase in taxes at death. That’s not exactly true. Biden has proposed a dramatic change in the capital gains tax applied at death, which, in turn, would dramatically increase the overall tax rate faced at death.

Consider that Biden would impose both the estate tax and capital gains tax at death. What has long been the normal case, imposing both taxes at death was avoided. So, tax law generally has allowed for a what’s known as a stepped-up basis for assets transferred at death so they

weren’t hit by the capital gains tax and death tax. The stepped-up basis means the capital gains basis for an inherited asset is stepped up to the fair market value at the time of the original owner’s death.

But the Biden plan would tax unrealized capital gains at death. For good measure, Biden has proposed a dramatic increase in the capital gains tax — from 20 percent plus the 3.8 percent tax for a total of 23.8 percent to the top ordinary tax rate of 43.4 percent on gains worth more than $1 million.

Let’s consider the example of a small business valued at $52 million at the owner’s death after an initial investment of $12 million. The $40 million capital gain would be taxed at 43.4 percent for a liability of $17.36 million. The remaining $34.64 million in assets, after the $11.7 million exemption, would be taxed at 40 percent, for an additional tax bill of $9.18 million. That’s a total tax bill of $26.54 million, or a total tax rate of 51 percent.

Factor state taxes and inflation into the equation — capital gains aren’t adjusted for inflation — and the real total tax rate would soar even higher.

Of course, there are many small businesses that could be viewed as “asset rich,” yet not have the cash flow to pay such an enormous tax bill. For good measure, this massive government tax grab can come at a particularly vulnerable time at the owner’s death. The death tax already can be a death sentence for small businesses. This Biden proposal would only terminate more enterprises.

Keep Biden’s campaign pledge to increase the estate tax in mind. That creates more tax uncertainty and concern for what might still be coming.

The total tax rate would vary by circumstances, but the government grabbing somewhere around half, or more, of assets at death would be a major hit for small businesses and investors and serve as an obvious disincentive to investing in a business and an incentive to sell a business.

Investing in new and expanding businesses, and, for example, in the stock market — a critical vehicle by which businesses raise capital to innovate and build — are positives for the economy.

The ills of raising taxes on such investments certainly aren’t limited to upper-income earners. Indeed, the bad news would be widespread, restraining economic, income and job growth.

Raymond Keating is chief economist of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. The organization works to protect small business and promote entrepreneurship. For more information, visit www.sbecouncil.org.

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Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac

n FALL FESTIVAL SCHEDULED TO RETURN WITH SEPTEMBER CELEBRATION IN FRUITA

The Fruita Fall Festival, an annual tradition for more than a century, is scheduled to return in September.

“We are excited to bring back the festival and hope the community is just as thrilled,” said Kayla Brown, executive director of the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber announced the 2021 Alpine Bank Fruita Fall Festival, presented by Family Kayla Brown Health West, is set for Sept. 24 and 25.

The event will include not only local artisans and vendors selling crafts and food, but also a baking and canning contest, cornhole tournament and outhouse races.

The chamber is accepting vendor applications and offering a priority to local vendors. Chamber members will receive 20 percent off booth fees. No out-of-state vendors will be accepted until after July 1.

The Fruita Fall Festival is scheduled to begin Sept. 24 with the Fall Brew Fest featuring Colorado breweries pouring draft beer at Civic Cnter Park. Outhouse races are set to begin at 5:30 p.m.followed by live music from the Gerry Goodman Band and Dead Cowboys.

The festival will continue Sept. 25 with a Lion’s Club breakfast at Circle Park followed by a farmers market from 8:30 a.m. to noon. A parade will follow through downtown Fruita, followed by a cornhole tournament at Reed Park, then a baking and canning contest downtown. Live musical performances will feature the Rocky Mountain Ramblers, Gunny String Band, Straygrass, Southwise Highway and Jerrod Niemann.

For more information about the Fruita Fall Festival, visit the website at https://fruitachamber.org/fruita-fall-festival. n LISTINGS ACCEPTED THROUGH JUNE 11 FOR LATEST COLORADO HAY DIRECTORY Listings will be accepted through June 11 for the 2021 Colorado Hay Directory. The directory will be available in August and offer information about hay producers and brokers as well as companies providing related products and services.

Listings cost $25. Forms are available online at the website at https://ag.colorado.gov/markets or by contacting the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

The Business Times

SHARE YOUR NEWS

The Business Times welcomes submissions for free publication in Business Briefs. Email submissions to phil@thebusinesstimes.com or submit a news release online at the website at www.thebusinesstimes.com.

n HILLTOP HEALTH ACCESS OFFERS ASSISTANCE DURING EXTENDED ENROLLMENT PERIOD Hilltop Health Access will continue to offer information and assistance to uninsured people during a health insurance enrollment period that’s been extended through Aug. 15.

A certified assistance site for Connect for Health, Hilltop Health Access offers help with navigating the online enrollment process — from comparing coverage options to determining if tax credits are available based on income to enrolling for coverage.

Under the American Rescue Plan, individuals and families of all income ranges can qualify for financial help to reduce premiums — even those who were denied in the past. Anyone who’s received unemployment benefits for at least one week in 2021 may qualify for a free silver plan or a credit toward the plan of their choice.

For more information about Hilltop Health Access, visit the website at www.hilltophealthaccess.org or call 244-0850. n APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED THROUGH JUNE 1 FOR ELECTRIC LINEWORKER SCHOLARSHIP Applications will be accepted through June 1 for an electric lineworker scholarship.

The $2,000 scholarship is available to applicants who live in Mesa County and plan to enroll in the electric lineworker certification program offered at Western Colorado Community College in Grand Junction.

Applications and information are available from Grand Valley Power at the website at www.gvp.org/scholarship-program.

Applications may be submitted online, by mail or dropped off at the GVP office at 845 22 Road in Grand Junction.

A crew of Grand Valley Power linemen will review the applications and select the winner based on financial need, academic and work acievements and a personal essay.

For more information, call 242-0040.

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Montrose franchise owners awarded for their efforts Eli and Abby Powers, owners of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning in Montrose, have earned recognition for their efforts.

Authority Brands — which operates Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning and eight other home service franchises — awarded the Powers with a personal achievement award.

The award recognizes franchise owners who attain achievements in sales, recruiting, training or franchise development.

The Powers also were inducted into the 2021 President’s Club for revenue and profit growth for 2020. Their business grew more than 60 percent from the previous year with a double-digit increase in profitability. The couple also received the President’s Club recognition in 2015.

“Eli and Abby Powers have always been very successful and

respected owners within our system. But this past year we have really seen them flourish,” said Mark Dawson, chief operating officer of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. “The exceptional growth and sales performance that their business has experienced this year is a direct result of the personal effort the Powers put in, and it has been a joy to see their team and business thrive.”

The Powers said they increased staffing to reduce response time to sales calls. They also created a qualty control position to ensure customers remain satisfied.

The couple operates Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning at 201 N. First St. For more information, call 999-1811 or 497-4143.

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NOTEWORTHY

HopeWest in Grand Junction continues to rank among the best places to work in health care based on the latest results of a magazine survey.

The hospice, palliative care and grief organization was among 75 providers recognized by the Modern Healthcare trade publication. The recognition is the fourth for HopeWest.

“With the past year being especially challenging for the health care industry, I’m glad that everything HopeWest as an organization did Christy Whitney to support our employees is being recognized,” said Christy Whitney, president and chief executive officer of HopeWest.

“Since this designation is based on survey responses of employees, I am particularly grateful for this recognition.

When employees feel supported, they can provide the most compassionate care to patients and their families.”

Modern Healthcare selects its best places to work in health care based on the results of surveys completed by participating employers as well as satisfaction surveys completed by employees.

HopeWest employs a staff of more than 400.

Modern Healthcare has scheduled its Best Places to Work Gala for Sept. 16 in Chicago. At that time, the publication will reveal the ranked order for providers, insurers and suppliers.

HopeWest operates an in-patient hospice center in Grand Junction and also provides hospice, palliative care and grief support services in an 8,000 square-mile region of Western Colorado. For more information, call 241-2212 or visit the website located at www.HopeWestCO.org.

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BusinessBriefs Briefs Business BusinessPeople People Almanac Business Almanac

n WEST STAR ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS OF IT DIRECTOR, INTERIOR TEAM LEAD

Matt Vogel has been promoted to director of information technology at West Star Aviation.

Scott Debrie has been promoted to interior senior team lead at the West Star facilities in Grand Junction.

Working out of Grand Junction, Vogel oversees the company’s IT project portfolio, designing and Matt Vogel implementing systems to benefit employees and customers.

Vogel brings to his latest position more than 27 years of IT experience, most recently as IT manager. He’s worked at West Star since 2002. He holds an accounting degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University.

“I am invested in the long-term success of the IT department at West Star,” Vogel said. “I am excited to lead Scott Debrie the team into a more sustainable digital future, including migrating technology resources to cloudbased systems while maximizing efficiencies and enhancing data security.”

Katie Johnson, vice president of human resources at West Star, hailed Vogel’s promotion. “Matt works closely with each department as well as vendors to share our technology solutions, ensuring efficiency while also being user friendly.”

DeBrie oversees scheduling, quotes and production at the interior shop. He joined West Star in 2002 as an interior installer.

“I am looking forward to continue to lead the growth of the interior program, expanding my knowledge and resources to provide the best delivery to customers,” he said.

Dave Krogman, general manager of West Star Aviation in Grand Junction, praised the promotion. “Scott has been a leader in the interior program for many years, and we’re excited for this growth opportunity for him.”

West Star Aviation provides a range of maintenance, repair and overhaul services at facilities in Grand Junction, Aspen and Denver as well as Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. The company has ranked for eight 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. n MESA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR APPOINTED TO OPIOID RECOVERY PANEL Jeff Kuhr, executive director of Mesa County Public Health, has been appointed to the Opioid Crisis Recovery Funds Advisory Committee.

Kuhr serves on the committee as a representative of a local public health agency. The committee advises on the use of custodial funds the state receives as a result of opioid addiction-related litigation that’s not committed by court order or other actions by state or federal courts.

The Business Times

SHARE YOUR NEWS The Business Times welcomes submissions for free publication in Business People and the Almanac calendar of events. Email submissions to phil@thebusinesstimes.com or submit a news release online at www.thebusinesstimes.com. n ROICE-HURST PET BEHAVIOR COUNSELOR RECEIVES DOG TRAINER CERTIFICATION Laura Taylor, a pet behavior counselor at the Roice-Hurst Humane Society in Grand Junction, has been certified as a professional dog trainer.

Taylor earned the designation after passing the Certified Professional Dog Trainer knowledge assessment administered by the Certiification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.

“It feels good to demonstrate Laura Taylor that I have the knowledge the council feels is necessary to peform as a professional dog behavior consultant and trainer,” Taylor said. “I am excited to continue learning and be able to share information and ideas on how dog owners in our community can always be improving their relationship with their canine.”

“When Laura interviewed at Roice-Hurst for the events and volunteer coordinator, she told me her ultimate goal was to learn to work with the shelter’s dogs and eventually become a dog trainer,” said Anna Stout, chief executive officer. “When that position opened up, it seemed natural to move Laura into it and support her in obtaining this important credential. We’re proud to see her achieve that goal.”

The Roice-Hurst Humane Society operates a nonprofit shelter and adoption center that provides housing, medical treatment and care for dogs and cats as well as resources for pet owners. For more informtion, visit the website located at www.rhhumanesociety.org. n AGENT AND PROPERTY MANANGER JOINS GRAND JUNCTION REAL ESTATE BUSINESS Brandie Volpi has joined Weichert Realtors-Heiden Homes Realty in Grand Junction as a real estate agent and property manager.

Volpi was raised in Western Colorado and returned to the region after working in property management in California. She oversaw thousands of rental units in several states while also gaining experience in corporate Brandie Volpi property management. She said she also brings to her duties a hands-on approach, persistence, strong negotiating skills and a broad knowledge of real estate.

Weichert Realtors-Heiden Homes Realty operates offices at 755 Rood Ave. For more information, including properties for sale and rent, visit www.heidenhomes.com or call 245-7777.

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May 27-June 16, 2021

May 27 n Grand Junction Master Networks referrals group Zoom meeting, 9 a.m. May 27 and June 3 and 10. 216-7723 n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce free Zoom presentation on C-PACE, 10 to 11 a.m. https://gjchamber.org or 242-3214 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking lunch, noon, Qdoba, 401 Jurassic Ave. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894 n Young Professionals Network of Mesa County after hours networking event, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Copper Club Brewing Co., 153 N. Mulberry St., Fruita. www.ypnmc.org June 1 n Networking at Noon free gathering for members of the Fruita and Palisade chambers of commerce, noon June 1, 8 and 15, KAFM Radio Room, 1310 Ute Ave., Grand Junction. Email reservations required. membership@fruitachamber.org June 2 n Free Zoom roundtable with Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, 10 to 11 a.m. 242-3214 or https://gjchamber.org June 3 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking lunch, noon, Dragon Treasure, 576 Kokopelli Drive, Unit A. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894 June 8 n Business startup workshop, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Business Incubator Center, 2591 Legacy Way, Grand Junction. Admission $55. 243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org June 9 n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce networking at noon, 11:45 a.m., Warehouse 25Sixty-Five. Admission $18 for chamber members, $23 for others. https://gjchamber.org or 242-3214 June 10 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking lunch, noon, Munchies Pizza & Deli, 550 Kokopelli Drive. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894 June 11 n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet, 6 to 11:30 p.m., Grand Junction Convention Center, 159 Main St. Individual tickets $95. Corporate tables $950. https://gjchamber.org or 242-3214 June 15 n Business startup workshop, 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Business Incubator Center. Admission $55. 243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org June 16 n Palisade Chamber of Commerce business after hours, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Jet Boat Colorado, Interstate Highway 70 Exit 62, De Beque. Admission $6.

RSVPs required. www.palisadecoc.com or 464-7458 F

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