The Business Times Volume 28 Issue 19

THE BUSINESS T IMES News OCTOBER 14-27, 2021

VOLUME 28, ISSUE 19

Energetic Trends efforts

THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS NEWS SINCE 1994

In this issue n GJEP update

2

The local economic news is mostly good, according to the deputy director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership.

THEBUSINESSTIMES.COM

n Ownership team grows at solar firm. See page 2

Contributors Opinion 4 Business Briefs 5 Business People Almanac The ownership team at Atlasta Solar Center includes, from left, Matt Fowler, Teddy Aegerter, Kevin Love, Chris Campbell and Lou Villaire. The company sells, installs and services systems across the West Slope.

n Ag challenges

Agriculture plays a key role in Mesa County, but also faces substantial challenges, local farmers and ranchers say.

n Model operation

The president of Colorado Mesa University believes the institution is poised to be a model for needed changes.

n Less confident

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Colorado business leaders are less upbeat heading into the fourth quarter, according to the results of the latest survey.

n Record year

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Higher prices and large transactions have pushed a measure of Mesa County real estate activity to new heights.

n Uncertain times

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A patchwork of COVID-19 mandates and rules has left employers uncertain about their responsibilities.

n Departments Almanac Business Briefs Business People Contributors News Opinion Trends

26 24 26 17-20 2-14 22-23 15-16

Business Times photo by Phil Castle

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THE BUSINESS T IMES News The Business Times

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OctOber 14-27, 2021

update: Trends GJEP Economic news Contributorsmostly good Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac Group seeks participation in effort to envision future Phil Castle

The Business Times

The ownership team at Atlasta Solar Center includes, from left, Matt Fowler, Kevin Love, Lou Villaire, Teddy Aegerter and Chris Campbell. One of the longest operating solar contractors in Colorado, the 42-year-old Grand Junction company sells, installs and services systems across the Western Slope.

Energetic effort Ownership team expands at West Slope solar contractor

T

he growing ownership team at Atlasta Solar Center expects to grow even more. In addition to adding two more partners, the team will offer purchase agreements to all the employees of the Grand Junction-based solar contractor.

Lou Villaire, one of five partners at Atlasta Solar, views the effort as a way to reinforce commitment and pride in a company that’s operated more than 40 years.

The moves come as business has increased along with demand not only for solar panels, but also electric vehicle chargers and power storage systems.

While there’s more interest in solar systems because of their environmental benefits as a clean and renewable source of energy, Villaire says Atlasta sells systems as a way to save money on electric bills.

An investment provides annual returns of 5 percent to 10 percent. As utility costs go up and the price of solar panels comes down, the investment becomes all the more attractive, he says. Federal tax credits offer an additional incentive.

Villaire, Teddy Aegerter and Kevin Love bought out the ownership share of Darin Carei. Carei and Villaire purchased Atlasta Solar Center in 2012 from Virgil Boggess, who started the company in 1979.

Chris Campbell and Matt Fowler, two employees of Atlasta Solar, joined the ownership team.

Carei will serve as a consultant to the team through the ownership transition.

The five partners of Atlasta Solar bring to the operation a collective 70 years of experience.

Villaire, who serves as general manager, started working with Boggess 15 years ago. Love has worked 14 years in the solar energy business, first

THE POWER OF THE SUN Since opening in 1979, Atlasta Solar Center based in Grand Junction has installed more than 9.6 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity in Western Colorado. That’s equivalent to: n 11,284 metric tons of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere. n 2,375 internal combustion vehicles removed from the road. n 291,163 seedling trees planted. as an installer before becoming operations manager.

Aegerty and Campbell lead sales efforts, while Fowler manages marketing.

Atlasta Solar serves an area that extends from Grand Junction south to Telluride and east to Glenwood Springs and Aspen. The company employs 25 people, four who work out of an office in Montrose. Villaire says the company is looking for a third location in Rifle.

Atlasta Solar designs, sells and installs photovoltaic and thermal solar systems for residential and commercial use. The company also services solar systems, some of which have been in operation for 40 years.

Atlasta Solar installers are licensed electrical contractors who can handle all aspects of residential and commercial projects — something Villaire says differentiates the company from competitors.

Fowler says 2020 was a busy year for Atlasta Solar in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.

See ENERGETIC page 14

STORY AND PHOTO BY PHIL CASTLE

Steve Jozefczyk considers the economic news more good than bad for Mesa County.

The unemployment rate has dropped even as sales and lodging tax collections have increased. So have passenger enplanements on commercial flights at Grand Junction Regional Airport. Moreover, Mesa County Steve Jozefczyk ranked 57th in the latest comparison of how small metropolitan areas fare for job and wage growth as well as high-tech output.

A low-fare airline abandoned a new route between Grand Junction and Southern California before people could find the website to buy tickets, Jozefczyk joked. And plans have been announced to move the headquarters of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management from Grand Junction back to Washington, D.C. Overall, the outlook remains encouraging, said Jozefczyk, the Coverage of deputy director of the Grand the Western Junction Economic Partnership.

Colorado “We’re still doing pretty good.”

Jozefczyk offered his update Economic as part of the Western Colorado Summit Economic Summit in Grand Junction, both an annual meeting continues and fund-raiser for GJEP and its on page 4. economic development efforts.

Jozefczyk and Mike Sneddon, chairman of the GJEP board of directors, also encouraged participation in a new effort to envision what the Grand Valley should look like as it emerges from economic distress.

GJEP will set long-term goals based in part on the results of an online survey posted at www.gjep.org/grand-vision.

The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions took a toll on Mesa County in 2020, Jozefczyk said, with declines in employment, tax collections and the overall value of locally produced goods and services.

The county recovered in 2021, he said, citing a number of economic indicators.

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate dropped to 5.7 percent in August, the latest month for which estimates are available.

Mesa County sales and use tax collections through the first three quarters of 2021 increased 21.5 percent over the same span in 2020. The City of Grand Junction reported a 23.1 percent increase in sales and use tax collections through the first eight months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Year-to-date lodging tax collections were up 67 percent.

Through July of 2021, passenger enplaments at Grand Junction Regional Airport were up 60 percent.

Jozefcyk said one of his favorite indicators was a 24-place jump for Mesa County in the Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index for 2021. The county ranked 12th for job growth over the past year.

See GJEP page 10

OctOber 14-27, 2021

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

but sector faces challenges well-rounded perspective to new Mesa County role Phil Castle

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The agriculture industry a subsantial roleCanada. in the Mesa Phil Castle as wellplays as New England and

The Business Times County economy, but also faces encroaching Whidden said development, people who changing work in

attitudes and other difficulties. information technology aren’t just “geeks,” “It’s an what ongoing Bruce Talbott, co-owner and Frank Whidden brings hechallenge,” but offer said an important perspective because operator of Talbott’s in Palisade. considers a well-rounded perspective to hisMountain they’reGold familiar with nearly every aspect of was among three Mesa County who new job as Mesa County Talbott administrator. operations and how work producers gets done. They discussed the future of agriculture during a presentation at the Whidden worked also tend to think about new and potentially Bruce Talbott Western Colorado Economic in doing Grandthings Junction.

The group in information betterSummit ways of in asking and also included Janie VanWinkle, co-owner the VanWinkle technology and holds answering “what ifof” questions.

“TheyRanch know based in Fruita, and Lowell operates a regenerative a master’s degree in how toKing, effectwho change in an organization.” farm and ranch operation in the Grand Valley.

Beiermann, an computer information Whidden expectsJenny to bring that same agriculture and business approach management specialist with the Colorado systems. But he also to his duties as administrator.

State University Extension, moderated. holds a doctoral Whidden said it’s his role to help resultscommissioners of the last agricultural degree in applied Beiermann said thecounty make andcensus then conducted in 2017 placedimplement the value ofdecisions. agricultural in Mesa management and Theproducts commissioners County at more than $94in million about $48the million for livestock decision making and turn — represent residents of the Frank Whidden and $46 million for crops. worked for more than county and express their will, he said. “We VanWinkle accounted nearly 20Janie years as a minister.Cattle Whidden has forwork for$30 themillion, people.”while fruits, tree nuts berries accounted for a total of more than said. worked for large andand small organizations Whidden said he $22 also million, considersshe himself Hay accounted $9 million. in both the private and public sectors.for another a liaison between the commissioners and By one estimate, money recirculates in the the priorities economyis2.4 Whidden expects to draw on all of his that county staff, and one of to times, more doubling the contributions, said. experiences in helping Mesa than County make sure employeesBeiermann feel valued.

Whidden The out 2,465 farns andsaid ranches counted in the 2017 census in commissioners make and carry decisions. he hopes not only to improve morale, Mesa County a 9 percent increase over will the 2012 Valuing staff and making theconstituted county but also take steps that makecensus, Mesa she said. the more 342,000 acres in production 2017 an employer of choice is But among the than County an organization for whichinpeople represented an 11 percent decline.

At 139 acres, the average size of priorities, Whidden said. So is planning want to work. a farm orfunding ranch was 19 percent. Whidden expects the that results in sustainable andsmaller by Meanwhile, Talbott said many county farmerstoand ranchers sell and to customers balanced budgets continue policies initiatives Lowell Kingon a long-term basis. outsideCounty of the county, they bring dollarsand intoeconomic the local Meanwhile, Mesa will meaning that support localnew business economy. continue to pursue efforts that promote a development. There are additional steps VanWinkle said family raises goesfor into a friendly business environment and thethatcattle can beher taken to make it easier local worldwide chain, but the money back toand Mesa County. economic development, Whiddenfood said. businesses to comes sell products services to According to one estimate, each cow Whidden officially began working as the county, he ranchers added. raise in the county a $600 toof$800 contribution a year to the economy, county administratorequates at the to beginning Mesa County will keeplocal working with the year. He succeedsshe Tomsaid.

Fisher, who was other government entities, organizations King insaidSummit farmers and and institutions ranchers contribute ecomony hired as county manager on fosteringtoanthe environment through payrolls as wellthat as thesupports batteries,existing tires and businesses equipment they County, Utah. and for their operations.

Whidden joinedneed Mesa County in attracts new businesses, he said.

Jenny Beiermann page See AG August 2011 as information technology Whidden said there could be 12a director. In April 2014, he became deputy opportunities to encourage the additional county administrator for resource development of businesses that provide management in a staffing reorganization services to the agricultural industry as well that eliminated four director positions. as promote Mesa County as a distribution Before joining Mesa County, center for the region.

Whidden worked for a company providing The important thing is to consider The retired president services of Colorado and a geographic data information technology to Mesa issuesUniversity from a well-rounded perspective, company honored In for that theirrole, contributions to economic development as well as as we colleges andwere universities. he Whidden said. “We won’t be myopic their community involvement. managed IT systems and services for look at things.”

Tim in Foster received the Joseph Prinster Leadership Award. institutions Alabama, Arizona, Illinois ✦ Kaart received the Charter Communication Spirit of Economic Development Award. The Grand Junction Economic Partnership presented the annual awards as part of the Western Colorado Economic Summit.

Mike Sneddon, chairman of the GJEP board of directors, praised Foster for his leadership in expanding CMU, which in turn benefitted Mesa County and Western Colorado. “No living person has done more for this community than Tim Foster.”

During Foster’s 17-year tenure, student enrollment, the number of certificates and degrees awarded and square footage of academic space on the Grand Junction campus all doubled.

The economic effects of CMU similarly have grown over the years, totaling during the 2019 and 2020 fiscal year an estimated $539 million in a 14-county region of Western Colorado.

Kaart was launched in 2006 to provide Global Positioning System mapping services to developing countries. The company now provides geographic data along with consulting, editing, engineering, landscape architecture and surveying services.

Kaart recently moved into a four-story building constructed on Main Street in downtown Grand Junction to house a work force that’s grown to more than 150.

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Retired CMU exec, data firm awarded for their contributions

OctOber 14-27, 2021

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New CMU president says university well positioned to be a model for change Phil Castle

The Business Times

John Marshall keeps in his office a scale model of a barn, one built by an Ohio carpenter to show his new design.

Marshall said his great-grandfather developed the design to provide more space inside barns and in turn offer his neighbors something better.

Colorado Mesa University similarly could serve as a model John Marshall for what the United States could become as a more respectful, humble and just place, said Marshall, the new president of CMU. “We are poised to be that human scale university,” he said Marshall delivered the keynote address at the Western Colorado Economic Summit in Grand Junction, outlining his vision for CMU. Too many universities have become what Marshall described as idealogic monoliths that have given up on welcoming diversity and instead operate as duplication

machines in producing similar graduates.

At the same time, graduates of all sorts are needed to solve problems. That includes graduates Marshall called diamonds in the rough. “We need all of them.”

Rather than offer large classes of students taught by teaching assistants, CMU offers small classes of 20 to 40 students taught by professors with doctoral degrees, Marshall said. Moreover, those professors know their students by name.

And vice versa, he said.

CMU is comprised of what Marshall called amazing individuals who come together in a common mission, including students, faculty and staff.

In answering questions following his presentation, Marshall said he expects CMU to offer more degree programs even as the Grand Junction campus expands.

“I think you should assume we’re going to continue to grow.”

Student debt remains a concern as college tuitions continue to rise, he said.

“We’re still too expensive.”

Marshall encouraged business owners and managers attending the summit to hire CMU graduates. “They have grit. They know how to work.”

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less upbeat

Colorado business leaders are less upbeat heading into the final months of the year as concerns mount over the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and supply chain issues.

The Leeds Business Confidence Index retreated 11.2 points to 56.1 for the fourth quarter. The index was lower at 47.9 for the fourth quarter of 2020.

The index is based on quarterly surveys Rich Wobbekind of business leaders across the state and industry sectors.

“Concerns around COVID-19, particularly the Delta variant, have played the biggest impact in this tempered confidence,” said Rich Wobbekind, senior economist and faculty director of the business research division at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

“Inflation and a constrained supply chain, as well as politics, have also played a role.”

In addition to an overall score, the index provides individual scores for each of six metrics. Readings above 50 indicate more positive than negative responses to the survey upon which the index is based.

For the fourth quarter of 2021, all six metrics declined. But five metrics remained above 50.

Confidence in the Colorado economy decreased 15.8 points to 55.1. A total of 36.8 percent of business leaders responding to the latest survey predicted a moderate or strong increase in the state economy, while 45.1 percent forecasted no change and a total of 18.2 percent expected moderate or strong decreases.

Confidence in the national economy dropped 18.6 points. At 48.9, the reading was the lowest of the six metrics for the fourth quarter and reflected more negative than positive responses. While 30.3 percent of leaders anticipated moderate or strong increases in the national economy and 35.2 percent expected no change. Another 34.5 percent forecasted moderate or strong decreases.

Hiring expectations retreated 6.1 points, but at 61.1 was the highest of the metrics for the fourth quarter. Exactly 50 percent of leaders expected moderate or strong increases in hiring, 35.6 percent anticipated no change and 14.4 percent forecasted moderate or strong decreases.

Sales expectations fell 10.6 points, but at 59 was the second-highest reading.

While 53.4 percent of leaders predicted moderate or strong increases 26.1 percent expected no change and 20.4 percent anticipated moderate or strong decreases.

See SURVEY page 10

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Mesa County tax collections trend upward

Tax collections, a measure of sales activity, continue to increase in Mesa County.

Mesa County reported collecting more than $3.7 million in sales tax in September, a 16.8 percent increase over the same month last year.

The county also collected more than $472,000 in use taxes — nearly all of it on automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county. That’s an increase of 17.9 percent over last year.

Combined sales and use tax collections were up almost $614,000 and 16.9 percent over a year ago.

September collections reflect August sales.

Tax collections on retail sales topped $1.3 million, a 12.2 percent increase over a year ago. Collections rose in nearly every category, including an 8.8 percent gain in collections on internet sales.

Sales tax collections also increased 21.7 percent on restaurant meals and hotel stays, 16.1 percent on home improvements and 13.9 percent on automobiles.

Through the first three quarters of 2021, Mesa county collected a total of almost $36 million in sales and use taxes.

That’s an increase of nearly $6.4 million and 21.5 percent over the same span in 2020.

Sales tax collections rose 20.5 percent. Use tax collections rose 33.1 percent.

Tax collections on retail sales exceeded $11.6 million, a 20.1 percent increase over the same period last year.

Tax collections on internet sales topped $2.1 million, a 31.7 percent gain.

Year-to-date sales tax collections also rose 32 percent on construction materials, 31.6 percent on home improvements and 30.9 percent on restaurant meals and hotel stays. Collections fell 45.5 percent in the oil and natural gas category and 8.3 percent in the telecommunications category.

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Local Kiwanis Club inducts new officers

John Hildebrand has been inducted as the new president of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction.

Hildebrand succeeds Toni Heiden, who now serves as past president.

Club officers for 2021-2022 also include Nathan Rhodes, president-elect; Stacey Mascarenas, vice president; Leonard Silence, secretary; and Alan Watkins, treasurer.

The Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction is part of a worldwide service organization.

Proceeds from the club’s Pancake Day benefit local groups serving children.

In addition to clubs for adults, the organization also offers Circle K Clubs for colleges, Key Clubs for high school students, Builder Clubs for middle school students, K-Kids Clubs for elementary school students and Aktion Clubs for people with disabilities.

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Continued from page 2 Grand Junction received attention in the Wall Street Journal as a one of the top housing markets in the country, Jozefcyzk said. In addition, GJEP was recognized in an annual magazine awards program.

GJEP won the 2021 ColoradoBiz Top Company award in the nonprofit category.

Meanwhile, efforts continue to bring new businesses to Mesa County and help existing businesses expand, he said.

“Developers are knocking on our doors daily.”

Sneddon said Mesa County is at a pivitol point, and residents can play a role in envisioning what the future should look like as the county emerges from economic distress.

GJEP has launched an effort to develop a plan that will include long-term goals for the community set by the community, he said.

The GJEP board delved into a series of discussions and activities centered around how to improve quality of life for Grand Valley residents, a key concept within the GJEP mission. A total of more than 20 business executives and community leaders joined in a session. GJEP opened the discussion to the community with a survey exploring quality of life measures and priorities. The process is expected to take six months and include several workshops.

In addition to economic indicators, Sneddon said it’s important to consider quality of life indicators unique to Mesa County.

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Survey

Continued from page 6 Profit expectations fell 8.6 points to 56.6. While 46.2 percent of leaders forecasted moderate or strong increases, 32.2 percent expected no change and 21.6 percent anticipated moderate or strong decreases.

Capital expenditure expectations declined 7.2 points to 55.4 with 39.4 percent of leaders forecasting moederate or strong increases, 42 percent no change and 18.6 percent moderate or strong decreases.

The statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a point in August, the latest month for which estimtes are available. But at 5.9 percent, the state rate remains above the national rate of 4.8 percent. Still, Colorado ranks 16th nationally in terms of labor market recovery following the pandemic.

The sesonally unadjusted rate fell eight-tenths of a point to 5.7 percent in Mesa County.

The value of construction in Colorado through the first eight months of 2021 increased 22.1 percent compared to the same span in 2020 with residential construction driving growth with an increase of 34.2 percent.

Looking ahead further to the first quarter of 2022, the Leeds Business Confidence Index rose 1.1 points to 57.2.

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News, views and advice you can use

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OctOber 14-27, 2021

Grand Junction firms among companies to watch winners Four Grand Junction-based firms are among the latest winners of awards honoring fast-growing Colorado companies.

Aspen Technologies Group, Cloudrise, Growl Agency and Phoenix Haus are among the 50 winners in the 2021 Colorado Companies to Watch program. MLS Senior Care and Timberleaf Trailers were finalists.

The awards will be presented in a gala scheduled for Oct. 22 in Denver.

The program honors second-stage companies for their innovative products, unique processes and performance in the marketplace as well as philanthropic efforts.

To participate, firms must be privately held, headquartered in Colorado, employ the equivalent of six to 99 full-time employees and generate $750,000 to $50 million in annual sales or working capital.

Aspen Technologies Group provides consulting services to improve customer

user experiences as well as cloud-based contact center solutions.

Cloudrise provides a range of services to companies to assess their capability to protect data and offers them automated processes and other resources as well as management services.

Growl Agency, a design and marketing firm, helps clients drive more revenue and results.

Phoenix Haus is a prefabricated home designer manufacturer that specializes in environmentally friendly homes.

MLS Senior Care provides a range of home care services, including companionship, housekeeping, meal preparation, respite care and transportation.

Timberleaf Trailers builds custom teardrop trailers with sleeping quarters and rear galley kitchens.

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Ag

Continued from page 4 The agriculture sector faces challenges, though, as the population continues to grow and development encroaches on farms and ranches, the panelists said.

Talbott said he’s especially concerned about the area around Palisade because of the unique growing conditions found there for peaches, wine grapes and other crops. “We can’t duplicate this many other places.”

He said he also understands why some producers sell their properties to developers to fund their retirements.

VanWinkle said producers also face challenges from new neighbors with less tolerant attitudes.

And then there’s the challenges posed by climate change.

Talbott said growers rely on what he described as “boring” weather, but climate change could bring more erratic conditions that hamper production.

King said his operation uses a sustainable approach with no tilling and cover crops. The result is improved soil health and less evaporation.

Talbott said the orchards on his operation act as hundreds of thousands of sequestration units that pull carbon from the air.

At the same time, producers constantly look for ways to improve practices — to increase production while decreasing costs.

VanWinkle said ranchers have taken advantage of better genetics, nutrition and animal care to sustain beef production with 30 percent fewer cows.

Asked about supporting agriculture in Mesa County, VanWinkle and King encouraged residents to buy from local producers.

More tolerant attitudes and support of multiple use policies on public lands also helps, VanWinkle said. “Those are little things. Each of us can have an impact.”

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Energetic

Continued from page 2 Some people who spent more time at home paid more attention to how much electricity they used and how much they paid for it, Fowler says. The momentum of 2020 carried into 2021 Campbell says an increase in new home construction also has bolstered demand for solar systems.

At the same time, though, some people have decided to remain in their homes and complete improvements them rather than buy another home, he says. Moreover, they’re looking for ways to reduce utility bills.

Still others considering where to invest their money have opted to purchase solar systems for the return they offer in reduced energy costs, Campbell says.

The rates utilities charge for electricity have increased about 200 percent since 1979, he says.

Still higher rates are coming, he says, in part because utilities will switch to renewable sources like solar energy.

People who purchase solar panels can provide their own electricity from a renewable source at a lower cost.

Villaire says the price of electrical production from solar systems has dropped 90 percent over the past 15 years. Innovations in panels as well as the computer software used to operate solar systems have made the systems increasingly efficient.

Federal tax credits for homeowners and businesses purchasing solar systems also factor into the equation, Villaire says.

A 26 percent credit will remain available through the end of 2022, drop to 23 percent in 2023 and then end for residential systems, he says.

Tax credits for commercial systems will drop to a permanent 10 percent after 2023.

In addition to the financial benefits of solar energy, Atlasta Solar has built business in a competitive industry through customer service and customer referrals, the partners say.

Atlasta Solar offers a complimentary solar site analysis — but no high-pressure sales tactics, Fowler says.

Campbell says customers usually communicate with the same person to complete not only design and sales, but also installation and service.

Villaire says the outlook for solar energy and Atlasta Solar Center remain encouraging. “We’re generally pretty positive about it.”

He credits the patronage and loyalty of customers over the years. “We are here because of our customers.”

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION Atlasta Solar Center operates offices at 1111 S. Seventh St. in Grand Junction. For more information, call 248-0057 or visit www.AtlastaSolar.com.

News Trends Contributors Record year for real estate Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac

OctOber 14-27, 2021

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INDICATORS AT A GLANCE

n Business filings

s New business filings in Colorado, 39,252 in the second quarter, up 25.7% from the second quarter of 2020.

n Confidence

t Consumer Confidence Index 109.3 in September, down 5.9. t Leeds Business Confidence Index for Colorado, 56.1 for the fourth quarter, down 11.2. t National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index 99.1 for September, down 1.0.

n Foreclosures

t Foreclosure filings in Mesa County, 2 in September, down from 8 in September 2020. t Foreclosure sales in Mesa County, 2 in September, down from 3 in September 2020.

n Indexes

t Conference Board Employment Trends Index, 110.35 for September, down 0.33. s Conference Board Leading Economic Index 117.1 for August, up 0.9%. s Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index for manufacturing, 61.1% for September, up 1.2%.

n Lodging

s Lodging tax collections in Grand Junction, $211,635 for August, up 75.9% from August 2020.

n Real estate

t Real estate transactions in Mesa County, 510 in September, down 9.9% from September 2020. s Dollar volume of real estate transactions in Mesa County, $205 million in September, up 14.5% from September 2020.

n Sales

s Sales and use tax collections in Grand Junction, $5.9 million for August, up 18.2% from August 2020. s Sales and use tax collections in Mesa County, $4.23 million for September, up 16.9% from September 2020.

n Unemployment t Mesa County — 5.7% for August, down 0.8. t Colorado — 5.9% for August, down 0.2. t United States — 4.8% for September, down 0.4.

Dollar volume of Mesa County transactions climbing to new heights Phil Castle

The Business Times

A combination of higher prices and large commercial transactions has pushed one measure of real estate activity to new heights in Mesa County.

With three months still left in 2021, the dollar volume of real estate sales has reached a record $1.729 billion. That tops the previous peak of $1.72 billion in 2006.

While the pace of transactions has slowed in recent months, dollar volume still could Robert Bray surpass $2 billion by the end of 2021.

“It’s still extremely healthy,” said Annette Young, administrative coordinator at Heritage Title Co. in Grand Junction.

Robert Bray, chief executive officer of Bray Real Estate in Grand Junction, said he’s not surprised given higher home prices and an increase in commercial activity. Meanwhile, a softening in residential activity and increase in inventory offers more and better selection.

Annette Young “It’s good news for buyers.”

Young said 510 transactions worth a total of $205 million were reported in Mesa County in September. While transactions decreased 9.9 percent compared to the same month last year, dollar volume increased 14.5 percent.

Twenty large transactions accounted for a combined $42 million, Young said. They included the sale of two deeds for the Subaru dealership and service center in Grand Junction for a total of $13.3 million, an industrial property in Fruita for $3.8 million and a luxury home on 18 acres in Whitewater for $2.8 million.

Through the first three quarters of 2021, 4,711 transactions worth a total of nearly $1.73 billion were reported. Compared to the same span in 2020, transactions increased 15.6 percent and dollar volume rose 38.7 percent. Just 127 large transactions accounted for a combined $276 million.

If real estate sales continue at the same pace through the

fourth quarter, 2021 will conclude with 6,281 transactions worth a total of more than $2.3 billion. Real estate activity peaked in Mesa County with 7,198 transactions in 2005 and $1.72 billion in dollar volume in 2006.

According to numbers Bray Real Estate tracks for the residential market in Mesa County, 341 transactions worth a combined $132 million were reported in September. Compared to the same month last year, transactions retreated 9.3 percent and dollar volume advanced 4.8 percent.

Year-to-date residential activity for 2021 still outpaces 2020.

Through September, 3,097 transactions worth a total of more than $1.1 billion were reported. Compared to the same span last year, transactions rose 4.5 percent and dollar volume rose 23.2 percent.

Bray said he suspects some buyers have taken a break in recent months from what previously was a “frenzy” of competition that often included multiple offers above listing prices.

Residential inventories remain below last year, but increased in September for the first year-over- year gain since July 2017.

That’s a reflection of more inventory left on the market and an increase in new listings, Bray said.

Still, low supplies and high demand pushed prices higher over the past year. The median price for homes sold through the first three quarters increased 15.1 percent to $328,000.

New home construction lagged in September and for the third quarter with year-over-year declines in single family building permits issued in Mesa County. Bray said builders faced higher prices for materials as well as supply chain issues that slowed activity. However, 727 permits were issued through the first three quarters of 2021, up 26.2 percent from the same span in 2020 and on the way to what Bray expects will be a record year.

Property foreclosure activity continues to decrease. Young said 21 filings and 15 sales were reported during the first three quarters of 2021. That’s down 74 percent and 42.3 percent, respectively, from the same span in 2020.

The seven resales of foreclosed properties in the first three quarters of 2021 constituted less than 1 percent of all real estate transactions, well below the 10 percent threshold Young considers indicative of a healthy market.

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Small Business Optimism Index retreats A measure of optimism among small business owners has decreased even as concerns over shortages of labor and supplies increased.

“Small business owners are doing their best to meet the needs of customers, but are unable to hire workers or receive the needed supplies and inventories,” said Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist of the National Federation of Independent Business.

“The outlook for economic policy is not encouraging to owners as lawmakers shift to talks about tax increases and additional Bill Dunkelberg regulations,” Dunkelberg added.

The NFIB reported its Small Business Optimism Index fell a point to 99.1 in September. The index is based on the results of monthly surveys of members, most of them small business owners.

For September, five of 10 components of the index declined, three advanced and two remained unchanged.

The proportion of those responding to the survey upon which the September index was based reporting unfilled job openings rose a point from August to a net 51 percent, a record high for the 48-year index for a third consecutive month.

Asked to identify their single most important business

problem, 28 percent cited labor quality and 12 percent labor costs — both record proportions.

A net 42 percent reported raising compensation, up a point to yet another record. A net 30 percent reported plans to increase compensation over the next three, up four points from August.

A net 26 percent reported plans to increase employment, down six points.

The share of those who said they expect the economy to improve in coming months fell five points. At a net negative 33 percent, more respondents anticipated worsening conditions.

A net 28 percent reported plans to increase capital outlays in coming months, down two points to below the 48-year average reading for the index. A net 11 percent said they consider now a good time to expand, unchanged from August.

The proportion of those who said they expect more sales rose another four points to 2 percent.

The share of those reporting higher earnings rose a point. But at a net negative 14 percent, a bigger portion reported lower earnings.

Among those reporting lower earnings, 26 percent blamed materials costs, 23 percent weaker sales and 19 percent labor costs.

A net 9 percent of respondents reported plans to increase inventories, down two points. A net 10 percent said they consider current inventories too low, down a point.

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The Business Times

U.S. payrolls up, jobess rate down Payrolls keep growing in the United States, albeit at a slower pace, and the unemployment rate continues to drop.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 194,000 and the jobless rate dropped four-tenths of a point to 4.8 percent in September, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The latest payroll increase was about a third of the average monthly gain of 561,000 through the first three quarters of 2021.

Estimated payroll gains for August and July were combined upward a total of 169,000 to 366,000 and 1,091,000, respectively.

Employment has increased 17.4 million since April 2020, but remains 5 million below February 2020 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

For September, 7.7 million people were counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work, down 710,000 from August.

Among those, 2.7 million have been out of work 27 weeks or longer.

Another 4.5 million people were counted among those

working part-time because their hours were reduced or they were unable to find full-time positions.

The labor force participation rate slipped a tenth of a point to 61.1 percent.

Employment increased 74,000 in the leisure and hospitality sector, 60,000 in professional and business services, 56,000 in retail trades and 47,000 in transportation and warehousing.

Employment decreased 144,000 in local government education with lower-than-usual back-to-school hiring.

The average workweek increased two-tenths of an hour to 34.8 hours. The average manufacturing work week remained unchanged at 40.4 hours.

Average hourly earnings rose 19 cents to $30.85 as increasing labor demand associated with recovery from the pandemic pushed wages higher.

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OctOber 14-27, 2021

Labor index slips

An index tracking labor trends has slipped, suggesting job growth could slow.

The Conference Board reported its Employment Trends Index fell 0.33 points to 110.35 in September.

The decline was the first for the index in seven months.

“The chief culprit behnid lagging job growth has been the summer surge in COVID-19 infections associated with the Delta variant,” said Gad Levanon, head of the Conference Board Labor Markets Institute.

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Trends Contributors Opinion uncertainty Mandate Business Briefs Business People Almanac

OctOber 14-27, 2021

The Business Times

Page 17

COMING ATTRACTIONS

n The Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction has scheduled a series of workshops offering information about startups.

Upcoming sessions of the workshop are set for 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 19 and 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Nov. 2 and 18 and Dec. 2 at the center, located at 2591 Legacy Way. The workshops will cover the business planning process, including financing options, licensing requirements, legal structures, trade name searches and state registration. Admission is $55, which also includes admission to Fast Trac one-hour business classes.

For more information about upcoming events as well as services and programs offered at the Business Incubator Center, call 243-5242 or visit the website located at https://gjincubator.org. n The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its annual health care summit for Oct. 20.

The summit is set for 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton 743 Horizon Drive.

Admission is $55 for chamber members, $65 for others. Registration is required.

The summit will offer information about such topics as the COVID-19 pandemic, employee mental health and future options for employer health benefits.

Keynote speakers will include Dr. Thomas Tobin, chief medical officer at Community Hospital in Grand Junction, and Dr. Yumi Lee, an infectious disease specialist at the hospital.

They’ll discuss COVID-19 efforts in the Grand Valley and how businesses can respond.

Breakout sessions will feature speakers from Mind Springs Health, Lighthouse HR Support and the Bechtel & Santo law firm.

A luncheon panel presentation will include local hospital executives and Jeff Kuhr, executive director of Mesa County Public Health. They’ll discuss how the business community can help address health challenges.

For more information about the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce and upcoming events, visit https://gjchamber.org. n The Western Colorado Human Resource Association has scheduled its next membership program for Oct. 20.

The luncheon event is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Warehouse 25Sixty-five, located at 2565 American Way in Grand Junction.

Members may attend at no additional charge.

Guests pay $20. Members of the Society for Human Resource Management Club at Colorado Mesa University pay $5.

The event will include a presentation

by Stacy Backes of Hub International on creating an inclusive workplace environment.

Backes will offer ideas, tips and tools to help employers create a culture in which employees feel safe and valued. Employers in turn benefit from employee efforts, ideas and skills as well as increased retention.

For more information about the Western Colorado Human Resource Association and its upcoming events, visit www.wchra.org.

Employers face a patchwork of vaccination rules and orders A patchwork of COVID-19 vaccination mandates and new government rules has left employers uncertain of their legal rights and responsibilities. They’re wondering how to make sense not only of what’s happened, but also what the future could hold.

Several rules could affect Grand Valley employers. On Aug. 30, the Colorado Board of Health adopted an emergency rule — 6 CCR 1101-1, Chapter 2, Part 12 — mandating all employees, direct contractors and support staff in licensed health care settings in Colorado receive their first doses of COVID-19 vaccines by Sept. 30 and be fully vaccinated no later than Oct. 31. All covered employees Dean are also required to obtain a booster Harris dose of COVID-19 vaccinations should one be recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices within the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rule also requires health care facilities to hire only fully vaccinated workers after Oct. 31. The law provides a religious exemption as well as a medical exemption when the vaccination is medically contraindicated as described in the product labeling approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Admonistration.

On Sept. 9, President Joe Biden announced his Path Out of the Pandemic COVID-19 Action Plan. The plan includes several provisions.

First, Executive Order EO 14042 requires employees of certain federal contractors to be vaccinated by Dec. 8.

The order applies to contracts with federal executive branch departments and agencies. Covered contractor employees are those employees working on federal contracts and any other contractor employees at a contractor workplace where those working on covered contracts are likely to be present.

Second, Executive Order 14043 requires vaccinations for all federal executive branch employees, even remote employees, by Nov. 22. In both cases, affected employees must provide documentation to prove vaccination status.

While disability and religious exemptions are available, there’s no opt-out alternative by submitting to regular testing.

Third, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in collaboration with the CDC announced emergency regulations requiring vaccinations for nursing home workers will be expanded to include ambulatory surgical settings, dialysis facilities, home health agencies and hospitals, among others, as a condition for participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Finally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is developing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce negative test results on at least a weekly basis before coming to work. The Biden Plan calls for the ETS to provide paid time off for workers to get vaccinated and recover post-vaccination. The OSHA standard doesn’t apply to municipalities, counties and other government agencies. Employers with employees outside Colorado should be aware some states enforce their own OSHA rules, which might or might not include the public sector.

The OSHA ETS will almost certainly draw a legal challenge. An ETS takes effect immediately

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Additional information is available from the Employers Council COVID-19 resource page at www.employerscouncil.org/corona-resources.

until superseded by a permanent standard. OSHA must demonstrate a “grave danger” due to exposure of a “new” hazard such that an ETS is required to protect workers.

Once the standard is published in the Federal Register, it becomes effective. The ETS lasts for no more than six months, in which time OSHA must propose a permanent rule subject to full rulemaking requirements if it wishes a standard to continue. The ETS process was last used in June to institute health care workplace rules to stop the spread of COVID-19.

In June, OSHA issued an ETS requiring health care providers to take certain precautions to protect employees from COVID-19. The June order didn’t mandate vaccinations. The June rule took five months for OSHA to formulate after an executive order by Biden. Unions sued to challenge it, claiming the standard didn’t do enough to protect workers outside health care. The outcome of that lawsuit remains undecided. Before June, the use of the ETS process was relatively rare. OSHA issued nine standards between 1970 and June 2021. Six of those standards were challenged in court. Courts invalidated or halted four of those standards and partially blocked one, according to the Congressional Research Service. Only one ETS survived court scrutiny intact, an ETS dealing with vinyl cyanide.

President Biden has urged OSHA to act quickly, presumably in less than the five months it took to develop the June ETS. It’s possible the OSHA ETS will be issued before this article goes to press. But even if the new ETS is challenged as expected or the June ETS is invalidated, such victories could be pyrrhic if most affected employers have already complied in the meantime.

Other challenges remain. The City and County of Denver mandated vaccinations effective Sept. 30 for city employees, private-sector workers in high-risk settings and employees of private organizations who provide services to affected entities either onsite or in the community. On Sept. 29, seven Denver police officers challenged the mandate in Denver District Court. The officers claimed the city didn’t have authority to impose the mandate under a local disaster emergency declared by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock at the beginning of the pandemic because Colorado Gov. Jared Polis rescinded his statewide emergency pandemic order in July. The officers claimed the city should have instead followed the longer process laid out for establishing regulations.

Where does the morass of current and pending rules and challenges to those rules leave affected employers?

Employers who don’t already mandate vaccinations should prepare to verify vaccination status, process available exemptions and handle operational difficulties caused by staffing shortages.

Dean Harris is an attorney and Western Slope Area Manager for the Employers Council. The Employers Council counsels, represents and trains member employers in all phases of employment relationships.

Contact Harris at dharris@employerscouncil.org or 852-0190.

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The Business Times

OctOber 14-27, 2021

Address and overcome personality conflicts Personality conflicts hurt businesses by damaging communication, collaboration, teamwork and morale. In turn, culture, efficiency, productivity and team member satisfaction and retention all suffer — along with profits and business growth.

The degree to which team members don’t communicate effectively and collaborate presents one of the greatest obstacles to business success.

The effective and efficient flow of information is critical to consistently meeting and exceeding the wants and needs of customers. It’s essential to producing and delivering high-quality goods and services in a timely manner.

When communication is limited or Marcus even impossible because of personality Straub conflicts, the business weakens from within and the effects extend far.

It’s crucial for business owners and managers to remain aware of negative behaviors resulting from pesonality personality conflicts and address them early and effectively to keep communication, collaboration, teamwork and morale at high levels.

Do you recognize any or all of these behaviors in your business? n Arguing: This behavior constitutes the antithesis of effective communication, collaboration and teamwork and doesn’t contribute to environments where team members perform at peak levels. Arguments disrupt operations, send negativity rippling through the business and damage company culture and morale. n Avoidance: Some people choose avoidance to cope with a personality conflict. While this might offer a more discreet way of dealing with the situation, it’s not effective

in fostering the high levels of communication, collaboration and trust necessary in highly functional businesses. n Verbal sabotage: Gossip and snide or edgy comments are common when there’s a personality conflict between team members. This type of negativity doesn’t lead to positive outcomes and damages the work environment. It has no place in a powerful business model. n Resistance: Individuals resist the suggestions, desires, directions and demands of the people with which they conflict. They could even demonstrate spiteful actions intended to get back at others. This behavior isn’t part of a successful team.

If you recognize any or all of these behaviors in yourself or team members, it’s important to consider the tremendous drag they’re having on the team, resources, operations and profitability of your company. When top talent and customers are lost as a result of these conflicts, it’s already gone too far. Given the downside personality conflicts bring to a business, it’s imperative to discover, address and overcome them as quickly as possible.

Many conflicts arise out of unconscious habits and tendencies that exist within each team member. Sometimes, these habits can easily be corrected by simply drawing attention to the damaging behaviors in which team members engage and make it clear they’re not acceptable in the workplace.

Team trainings based on highly accurate assessment results and designed to help people understand themselves and others — their similarities and differences — are invaluable. Trainings teach participants how to effectively communicate with various behavioral types. With greater understanding and acceptance of each other and enhanced communication skills, personality conflicts are reduced.

Effective coaching also helps people become aware of the situations at hand and their roles in them. Working

with a qualified professional, team members learn to take responsibility for their attitudes and corresponding behaviors and then correct them to create more positive and collaborative work environments.

Hiring for not only skills, but also attitude and emotional intelligence offers a proactive way to reduce personality conflicts. By using accurate assessments that measure the attributes of the team members you bring into your business, personality conflicts can be diminished from the outset.

Sometimes, team members will insist on keeping conflicts alive and refuse to set aside their differences. In those instances, the wisest choice is to let them go. Anytime you reduce negativity in the workplace, you improve the satisfaction level of the team and, in turn, customer service and profitability.

It takes a well-designed team working together in a culture free of personality conflicts to deliver the best possible experience to customers. We’re all unique and won’t always agree. But when strategic investments are made to help team members better understand themselves and others, it becomes easier to accept differences and communication and collaboration become the norm.

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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OctOber 14-27, 2021

The Business Times

Taking care of business — from an RV Extended or full-time living in a recreational vehicle has become an increasingly popular option for many working-age adults. But can you work effectively and efficiently and maintain productivity from an RV? Yes, but it takes planning. And its not inexpensive since you’ll likely require reliable internet access.

I spent almost a year living and working in an RV while traveling around the West. I worked full time while traveling 100,000 miles. Because of my data-intensive job, I couldn’t count on the wireless access or cable television available at most RV parks. At best, RV park internet systems are limited in their capacity and shared with many users. The TV systems are limited in their channels and quality.

If you’re going to live and work in an RV, Janet here are some things to consider: Arrowood Make sure your RV accomodates your working lifestyle. You might need an office area or built-in desk. You could make lap desks that are easy to store, work from a portable table or convert an area into an office. Using a dining table can become a nuisance. A dedicated space is better.

Check with your internet, cell phone and television providers to find out what they offer to meet your data and viewing requirements on the road. If you’re only going part time, you might be able to put your home services on vacation hold to reduce costs.

Or you could have to go with a diffrent provider or set of providers to support the RV lifestyle.

I started out with a Verizon Jetpack, but the mobile hotspot internet device didn’t offer enough gigabytes or bandwidth to meet my needs. Additional gigs cost a lot of money each month, and slow connections presented a real problem.

Most plans intergrate with your smartphone. But you might use the RV park WiFi for your cell phone to reduce data use on your mobile internet access plan. You might be able to use the

WiFi hot spot capability of your smartpone or tabet instead of a Jetpack or similar device. Keep in mind RV park internet access is often unseured before using those systems for anything related to business, finances or security.

Some sort of signal booster constitutes another consideration since most RV parks aren’t located near cell towers, and trees or buildings could attenuate the signal. There are additional considerations with a booster, including antenna location and height, to ensure the best possible reception.

Purchase and use an uninteruptible power supply. The electricity in RV parks isn’t reliable. Unplug your electronics if an electrial sorm is even remotely possible.

Secure computers, monitors and other hardware before you hit the road or windy weather is likely. Really pad and tie things down.

The open road is bouncy and hard on electronics.

For the best TV lineup, purchase a satellite system with a dish and receiver. Make sure you have enough cable and some sort of stable stand so you can move your dish for a clear view of the southern sky.

If you maintain a business travel schedule that requires air serice, plan RV stays well in advance so you’ll know where you’ll be when booking flights. This becomes particularly important if your partner will move the RV to another location while you’re gone, necessitating a return flight to a different airport. It’s usually less expensive to book round-trip flights from the same airport.

Finally, balance work and fun. It’s important to maintain a schedule — the same as working from home or going to an office.

But it’s also important to take full advantage of your RV lifestyle.

Get out there and explore.

Janet Arrowood is founder and managing director of the Write Source, a Grand Junction firm offering a range of services, including grant and proposal writing, instruction and technical writing. Reach her by email at janet.arrowood@thewritesourceinc.com. For more information, log on to www.TheWriteSourceInc.com.

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Page 20

The Business Times

OctOber 14-27, 2021

Action needed to avoid COVID-19 surge As we enter the fall and winter months, Mesa County has experienced similar COVID-19 case counts as this time last year, when we suffered our most severe wave of illness.

For the seven-day period starting Sept. 26, 615 COVID-19 cases were reported to Mesa County Public Health — 484 of those in unvaccinated individuals. That’s the highest seven-day total since January 2021. At that time, cases were decreasing from a peak in November 2020 with case counts above 1,200 for two consecutive weeks.

Already in October 2021, we’ve seen nearly the same number of deaths due to COVID-19 as we did in October of 2020, just Amanda as that surge began.

Mayle Communities with higher vaccination rates have fared better than Mesa County and are beginning to see cases, hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 decrease. The Mesa County vaccination rate stands at 52 percent of residents receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, below rates in Colorado and the United States.

Local data supports the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Fully 85 percent of hospital admissions and 81 percents of deaths due to COVID-19 have occurred in unvaccinated individuals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies the Mesa County community transmission as high and recommends everyone wear a mask in public, indoor settings.

As cases began to surge last spring because of the Delta variant, Mesa County Public Health urged mask use for all

individuals regardless of vaccination status. That remains the recommendation as Mesa County continues to experience elevated COVID case levels. That’s not to mention the threats of other respiratory viruses, including influenza, this fall and winter.

Employers know sick employees affect business. Absences due to illness curtail productivity and can hurt the morale of healthy employees who have to pick up the resulting slack. Some employees worried about losing pay or getting behind could come to work sick, putting others at risk and increasing the potential effects for the whole workplace.

Mesa County Public Health continues to urge prevention methods in a layered approach for all Mesa County residents regardless of vaccination status. This includes social distancing, the use of face coverings, hand washing, vaccinations and staying away from work, child care or school for those who aren’t feeling well.

COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available from Mesa County Public Health. Scheduling — including appointments for boosters or additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine as authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — is available online at https://health.mesacounty.us or by calling 248-6900.

Employers who’d like to host a clinic for flu vaccinations can fill out a form on the Mesa County Public Health website by clicking on the business flu clinics link in the menu.

Amanda Mayle is communication and marketing manager for Mesa County Public Health. Connect with Mesa County Public Health on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MesaCountyPublicHealth or on Twitter @MC_PublicHealth.

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News, views and advice you can use

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OctOber 14-27, 2021

The Business Times

Page 21

Contributors Opinion Bold predictions forcount, 2015 Make your vote Maybe a Pollyanna, A newI’m year affords more Business Briefs like for not-so-bold repeats it’s time a change but news mostly good a new opportunity Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he B BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES

PPAGE age 22 22

I admit I tend to view the proverbial glass as half full rather than half empty.

Presented with a pile of horse manure, I’m the guy looking for the pony. I guess I’d rather just count my blessings — cognizant circumstances could be worse and grateful they’re not.

It’s an approach applies to of alland sorts, in A new year almost always brings an that opportunity foroutlooks a fresh start particular economic ones.

It’s convenient because indicators renewed ambition to do things better. all boils pointdown in theto same direction at the same time.

In business, thatrarely usually providing customers better products I can’t disagree with assessment offered and services faster and atConsquently, lower cost than competitors.

Part the of the process must at the Western Coloradowhat Economic Summitneed the news for Mesa include listening to customers to determine they actually and then County thanthe bad.

Forand thatgreatest matter, the meeting that need. After all,isit generally does littlemore goodgood to offer latest if business journal you’re reading at this very moment reports nobody actually wants what you’re selling. news good bad.to I hope, of course, you’llJunction read all Area about it.

Just like the businesses thatand belong the group, the Grand But invariably for the sake of brevity, Chamber of Commerce starts out the here new are yearsome with highlights: a reassessment of n itAprovides combnation higher and large the services and resources and of how well prices they match with commercial members transactions have pushed the dollar volume of real estate sales needs. Jeff Franklin, the new chairman of the chamber board of directors, Phil Castle to record heights. what he considers his role for the coming personifies this approach in describing n Tax collections, a measure salesthose activity, continue year: listen to members, determine their needs and thenofmeet needs.

It’s a to increase in Mesa County.

Throughasthe first three quarters of 2021, county sales role with which Franklin is familiar market president of Bank of Colorado. and use collections were 21.5 percent over the same 2020.

Keep in Thetax process will take onup a more structured approach in span whatinthe chamber mind year-to-date collections have increased in each of the last five years. plans as the resumption of a program aptly called Listening to Business. Under the n Still, Colorado business leadersinare less upbeat heading into the barriers end of to program, business owners participate in-depth interviews to identify the year according to the latest results of a quarterly survey.

The Leeds Business growth and other problems they encounter.

Confidence 11.2 points thethe fourth quarter, but at 56.1 still The newIndex year dropped offers a good time tofor join proverbial club. reflected positive negative responses.

As anmore advertiser or than reader, what do you need from the Business Times? n The business Small Business Index based monthly While journalsOptimism traditionally gather andonreport the surveys relevant of news to members of the National Federation of Independent Business retreated a point readers, communication isn’t necessarily a one-way street. That’s especially truetoas 99.1 September.

Web in sites and e-mail make the dialogue more convenient than ever.

In addition to real estate sales,intax collections andrespond survey to results, still of Good publications don’t exist a vacuum.

They the needs other indicators constitute encouraging news.needed.

Chief among the opening of new advertisers and readers.

They provide what’s businesses and So what dothe youexpansion need? of operations.

I’m not so hopelessly naive to believe eveything’s hunky-dory or we’re all Is there additional news coverage that would help keep you informed about going to sing “Kumbaya” as we hand-in-hand the bank to make another local business developments?

Areskip there features thattowould be interesting or hefty deposit. useful?

Is there advice that would make your jobs a little easier?

On the contary, the COVID-19 pandemic and its reperccusions poseto It’s equally important to ask what you don’t need.

With limited time challenges not seen in decades, if ever.

I’m even more horrified by the produce content and limited space in which to publish it, would time and space be divisiveness to have spread like a contagion through this country. better devotedthat to seems something else?

It’s almost fashionable, as if spite wereWhat the new black What’sbecome good? What isn’t? What’s needed? isn’t?

ILet remain optistic, based most of allonline on theon capacity of the human us know.

Sendthough, us an e-mail.

Comment the Business Times Web spirit to do well and to do good.

If I’ve learned anything over more than 20letter years site at www.thebusinesstimes.com. You could even write an old-fashioned to as editor of a business journal, it’s that entrepreneurs are an especially adaptive the editor if you’d like. Your feedback, both positive and negative, is valued and and lot. Over the long run, they’re going to succeed. will resilient be carefully considered.

There are lots of reasons viewofthenot glass empty or perhaps Good publications are thetoresult onlyhas thehalf efforts of their staffs, even but also less.

I chooseefforts to viewinvolving the glassadvertisers as half full.and readers. collaborative Like any other good business, we want to listen to our customers, find out Phil is editor of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or whatCastle they need and then meet those needs. phil@thebusinesstimes.com.

It’s a new year. Please help us to do so.

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THE BUSINESS TIMES

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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.

Snazzy no? Well, It’s thatheadline, time of year whenit is to me.

It’s a combination of two taglines dad resolutions and prognosticationsmy abound. used when running the board of education My favorite sayingfor applied to New Year’s in my hometown Monroe, Mich., about 50 resolutions is in of saying they’re basically a years One tagline Theweek other bunchago. of promises todidn’t breakwork. the first did.

But I’m And not sure which was which. of January. while I won’t predict a I’m going to use whole lot, I can pretty much accurately this to tellthat without question nail column a few things every voterthe in Mesa will make news. You will see these are County to heed these pretty, well, predictable: words.

All while ■ Prediction one: taking my cue from the There will be some Mesa Education sort ofValley weather event, Association (MVEA) natural disaster or in not endorsing, yet heinous occurrence endorsing, candidates. where someone will I’ve been here be interviewed and21 say years.

When it comes the following: “I’ve to Craig Hall the board education never seenofanything and of Mesa County School like the thatperformance in my District 51, test scores lifetime.” It’s as if thisand improving our Craig schools, seem to be stuck in a rut Hall with the person iswe a required folks the MVEA attendee at everyactually news endorses (while trying to convince you it Iendorses no one). reporting event. While understand most And if you’re honest, its people’s perspective canwinning indeedcandidates be limited are making thingstheir worse by the year. by, actually or contained within, own personal This is where I’mmuch not endorsing experiences, it is too to ask toto keep doing way we’ve been doing consultthings somethe historical perspective before them oura schools.

It’s this my hope you can sayingwith such thing? Yes, response can figure outsome by my not endorsing anyone in apply to events.

But when it comes particular, who aren’t being endorsed to weatherthose and natural disasters, I’m pretty should have you voting opposite. sure this is simply history repeating itself. this might some SameI realize as it has forcolumn millions and upset millions of folks know important, who work in schools. years.I More theour planet made it!

IWhat neverdidn’t take my writing especially were certainlightly, species.

How’s when it could hurt the feelings of people I that for perspective? know.

I’m nottwo: writing to hurt feelings.

■ But Prediction When it comes to a Hurt are a result of someone’s crimefeelings or something that occurs between reactions to what write. If attendee those feelings humans, the otherIrequired at all occur and you’re not asking me about news reporting events is the person who what I’m “They writingwe’re or why says this: justI’m thewriting, nicest I’m guessing two things.

You people, and init’s noone wayofdid I see something don’t understand premise like this coming.”my Exactly.

No(or oneyours) does or there’s guilt somewhere. most of the timethere when it comes toThere’s nothing I can do about that. People should neighbors and acquaintances.

My premise is simple.

There always be surprised at what goes on fromare time to people anyneighborhoods, vocation who just don’t do a time in in their towns and good job. And if you think your vocation is with people they know because people are immune, a vaccine for they you. shouldn’t In D51, good. AndI have for the times that the people not thepoliticians, job done are at be shocked —getting like with repeat the top. And the board and upper offenders andthat’s terrorists — where’s the administration.

And “This unlessdoesn’t we replace folks interview that says, surprise at level, the next group at the methe in board the least.” top of■our administration will be as bad, Prediction three: Something goodor worse, than what we have now.

So make will happen economically, and the your vote count, forfor a change. government will it’s taketime credit it. The most Inexample the spiritisof MVEA, herepeople are recent gastheprices, where my (and get to do for ask non-endorsements me why I won’t credit theI president them while saving a bunchisofsimple: money low gas prices.

My answer while claiming I’mmakes not donating Government never the pricetooftheir campaigns or down laundering monies viacredit something go and simply takes the state news. version of pricing my association for good Gas is subject— to although for factors. full disclosure, I did many global Now there aregive $100 to other folks I’m not necessarily government answers to addressing some of endorsing here, even though I kinda them to keep prices stable for Americans, am) viagovernment highlightinghas candidates the in but our none of them MVEA is “helping” hasn’t place. The only thingsbecause it has initplace in the

ctOber 15-28, 14-27, 2015 2021 JOANUARY

learned meaning of the wordAnother long runthe always hurt consumers. endorsement.

Apparently, the members fact is that unemployment reaches a certain of thebased MVEA theirwhile ownthe level on are the victims economy.ofAnd educational shortcomings.

Then again, our government might brag the number is low, superintendent jokesthe about a teacherdid who it’s more than likely government asked her what the that wordnumber vag-uebeing meant something to cause low in her presentation, because that teacher — and not in a good way. Conversely, when didn’t understand it was the word vague. business picks up, it’s because the people Iwho bet need that teacher still haswho a job.

Sadly, to buy widgets were not so does ourwidgets superintendent. buying because the economy was So here’s who I can’t endorse.

I can’t contracting due to natural (or unnatural, endorse someone whoreasons, marchesdecided with Black government caused) we Lives and widgets. denies it;The associates with better Matter buy some government radical groupstoand had nothing do promotes with this. them on social media; who lectured thekeeping currentwith board ■ and Prediction four: In on all of the race issues the current board things the government does, I predict the has refused towill address — and the thennumbers wipes to government manipulate (like, a cloth?

Hillary lovers) his makewith the claim thefor economy is getting social history clean toithide all of to better media because of how hard is working these actions to the day he announced help all of usup “working Americans.”

Now his candidacy.

I can’t endorse someone you might say, “Craig, you always say this who schools should be used aboutbelieves President Obama because youtodon’t educate kids on health politics; like him.”

You’re rightcare in a and sense.

I don’t elements critical (CRT) while know theof man, but race whattheory I know of him and using the lyingI don’t excuselike D51 is not his thinking, it or himteaching one iota. the CRTyou college course in schools (to like get Before go off, however, I didn’t around accusations) though he knows President Bush and even his bailouts, stimulus absolutely elements are taught and and his abandoning thebeing free market to save forced our kids; andI don’t thinksknow these him are things the freeonmarket.

And needed to be added to the curriculum D51 either. What the government does, and theis already woefully on versus the pitiful only thing it can behind do, is hurt the economy. state averages.

I simply endorsein Unless it does And nothing or putcan’t criminals any candidate attaches herself to nothing the jail instead of who partnering with them, aforementioned because she feels the government candidates does will help.

Always look slighted already part of the at it thisand way,who’s whatever thebeen government says bad we’re onthe as name a district. it is direction doing, whatever of the law it Finally, never endorse is passing, orI’ll whatever the nameany or goal of candidate the MVEA and stateto teacher’s the bureaucracy it is presenting the union andpolar fund.opposite I must ask: Why people,endorse expect the to occur. is theI MVEA still backing candidates guess what I’m saying is that who continue to underpay, dangerous perhaps it’s time to getprovide out of our own and inhospitable working perspective.

There’s plentyconditions of history and push sizes that don’tout allow forto books andclass historical research there effective education? that It’s almost likehas the begin to understand all of this MVEA doesn’t have best again, interests of happened before.

Andthe it will its payingthe members ourorchildren) at whether topic is (and people government. the forefront. me to help:isIttodoesn’t.

The best Allow recommendation find final note on being “for theGoogle children.” someAbooks or try that whole Every on information this. It’s just that thing. candidate There’s aruns lot of on the some to help kids and others want to Greatwant Depression.

The truth is it wasn’t mold I can’t thegovernment molders (use got any even kids. a good onesupport until the definition want also here).plenty The only candidates involved.you There’s of research Ion want become board are those thetomedieval warmmembers period when the driven to give my children the best opportunity planet was much warmer than today with and environment learn, And can’t do a whole lot less to people (andyou warmer well that by simply building to get before man was here monstrosities at all). And yep, your name on been a plaque.

It comes getting people have killing otherfrom surprised back to conservative education. people since historybasics was in first written.

Conservative basics arewill what Andrea Maybe some research help stop Haitz, Will Jones Angela Lema all of these trends.and Otherwise, we’ll want be FOR kids.never So make vote count, sayingour we’ve seenyour anything like it in it’s a change. our time lives.for And not in a good way.

Craig Craig Hall Hall is is owner owner and and publisher publisher of of the the Business Times. Reach Reach him him at at 424-5133 424-5133 Business Times. or or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.

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Colorado enjoys benefits Regional conference focuses of a competitive tax code on leadership and economics

Coloradans will soon receive a welcome surprise in the mail — a check from their state government. The controller’s office announced enough income tax revenue was generated to issue every Colorado household a modest but meaningful $70 refund.

The idea of reducing the burden on taxpayers seems almost unheard of these days, especially as debate in Washington rages over the Biden administration’s tax-and-spend agenda. But in the Centennial State, policymakers know taxes don’t grow our economy, they slow it down.

Gov. Jared Polis understands this truth. Last month he proposed eliminating Colorado’s income tax. “In effect, when you tax something, you penalize it,” he said. While the governor’s proposal might be a tough sell, let’s not forget that just last year Colorado voters approved a proposition to reduce the state income tax from 4.63 percent to 4.55 percent, Matt Soper and residents are working to introduce a similar ballot measure this year to further reduce the rate.

This kind of forward-thinking tax policy flies in the face of negotiations in Washington, where President Biden and some members of Congress have proposed raising the U.S. corporate tax rate.

While increasing rates on “big companies” might make for a compelling sound bite, it doesn’t make for good policy — especially as businesses and workers struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and face renewed threats from the Delta variant. As Gov. Polis noted, raising rates will penalize our job creators and laborers, which will result in fewer jobs, lower wages and less productivity.

Research demonstrates corporate taxes overwhelmingly get passed on to workers. According to a Congressional Budget Office analyst noted, worlers shoulder more than 70 percent of the long-run burden of a corporate tax. This occurs through wage reductions, fewer job opportunities and less investment in training and equipment.

The White House promised a corporate tax increase would affect neither most middle-class families nor 97 percent of small businesses. Yet, an analysis by the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation found that fully 98 percent of Americans who earn less than $500,000 would be affected, including 1.4 million small and family owned businesses set up a C corporations.

Raymond Keating, chief economist of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, cautioned against raising rates as businesses continue to struggle to turn the page on COVID-19.

“Tax increases are always negative, but tax increases when you are trying to recover from a pandemic are really ill-advised,” Keating wrote.

There are ways to ensure major corporations — which employ tax avoidance measures when rates are too high — pay their fair share. That requires keeping rates low, closing loopholes and simplifying the tax code, which would also generate significant revenue. Unilaterally raising tax rates won’t solve the problem. It will make it worse, and put honest, hard-working businesses further behind their larger counterparts.

Nearly four years ago, Congress voted to reduce the U.S. corporate tax rate, which was then the highest in the industrialized world. That realignment put U.S. companies on more equal footing with competitors around the globe and unlocked significant growth throughout Colorado and the United States.

During 2018 and 2019, national wages grew by 4.9 percent, the fastest two-year growth rate in two decades. In 2019, unemployment hit a 50-year low and median household income rose 6.8 percent year-over-year. Weekly wages in Colorado achieved the highest annual growth in the country in the third quarter of 2019 — by a “landslide,” as the Denver Business Journal reported it.

These gains demonstrate what Colorado policymakers know. A competitive tax code benefits our job creators, our workers, our communities and our economy. This shouldn’t be a party line issue. The bipartisan infrastructure package passed by the U.S. Senate last month showed Congress can invest in our country without raising taxes on businesses and workers.

Here in Colorado, Democrats and Republicans are working together to advance tax policy that will grow our economy, create jobs and expand our middle class. I urge leaders in Washington to do the same and oppose any legislation that would raise the U.S. corporate tax rate.

State Rep. Matt Soper, a Republican from Delta, represents parts of Mesa and Delta counties in the Colorado Legislature.

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Have you ever said to yourself, “Someone should do something about that?” What if that someone was you?

Leading others by learning to lead from within is the theme of the Western Slope Economic Leadership Conference.

The conference for high school juniors in the region is set for Nov. 2 at the Colorado Mesa University Phyllis Meyer Ballroom Hunsinger in Grand Junction.

The Freedom and Responsibility Education Enterprise (FREE) Foundation hosts the conference as part of its mission to help students and teachers learn about economics, entreprenership, financial literacy and free enterprise.

The conference will feature T.K. Coleman, cofounder and education director for Praxis. The apprenticeship program combines a traditional liberal arts education with academic mentoring, group discussions, practical skills training, professional development workshops and real world business exprience. Coleman also serves as director of entrepreneurial education at the Foundation for Economic Education and travels the nation teaching young people about entrepreneurism and free market economics.

A partnership between the FREE Foundation and Foundation for Economic Education makes the Western Slope Economic Leadership Conference possible.

Donations from individuals to defray costs make it possible to offer the conference at no charge to students and their teachers.

The conference begins with a continental breakfast, followed by a nationally recognized keynote speaker,

participation in hands-on teaching activities and competitive activities. After a noon buffet, afternoon sessions and a drawing for door prizes follows.

Because of the small group discussions and hands-on activities, participation in the conference is limited to the first 150 Western Colorado juniors to register. Some of the smaller schools send their entire junior class.

Ample economic and leadership teaching materials are provided at no charge at the conference, enough to teach a full semester of economics. Materials cover such concepts as choice, innovation, market competition, property rights, scarcity and supply and demand.

Good leaders are needed throughout society — in businesses, churches and interest groups. And, yes, in all levels government. Moreover, understanding how economic principles apply to the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services is useful to every individual.

The conference addresses both the need to help young people develop leadership skills and learn how economics affects their lives.

If the statement “Someone should do something about that” resonates, the young people attending the conference well could decide that someone is them.

Encourage a high school junior to attend.

Phyllis Hunsinger is founder of the Freedom & Responsibility Education Enterprise Foundation in Grand Junction.

The FREE Foundation provides resources to students and teachers in Western Colorado to promote the understanding of economics, financial literacy and free enterprise. For more information, visit www.free-dom.us.com. Reach Hunsinger at phyllis@free-dom.us.com.

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Group grateful for help with vaccination clinics To the editor: The Western Colorado Trades and Labor Assembly is grateful to our community for their support during these unprecedented times. WCTLA wishes to thank the Colorado AFL-CIO and our affiliate unions who pulled together to make these events happen — AFT Local No. 1876-Colorado WINS, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers-IBEW Local 111, Colorado Education Association-CEA. You have our gratitude for co-sponsoring our recent mobile vaccine clinics. This year, more than ever, we have seen the true power of solidarity.

Additionally, I would like to extend a special thank you to the amazing team at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for their help. These events would not have been possible without you. Due to their assistance, we were able to provide free COVID-19 vaccines for the community. During the course of two community events, we provided 16 first doses of the Pfizer

Letter to the editor vaccine, 30 second doses and four booster shots. We also provided eight doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

We would like to express our gratitude to the Colorado State Patrol and National Guard, who were on site to ensure everyone’s safety. A special note of appreciation to the local press and radio stations as well as the folks at Colorado Mesa University and Mesa County Health who helped us spread the word about our events. WCTLA would also like to thank Jay Greenberg for the generous use of his property as a staging location for these events. Finally, we would like to thank all members of the community who have been vaccinated in an effort to end this pandemic.

Molly J. Anderson affiliate union and allies organizer Colorado AFL-CIO F

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Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac

n WESTERN MEDICAL ASSOCIATES JOINS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL PRIMARY CARE NETWORK

Another primary health care practice has joined Community Hospital in Grand Junction, a move expected to benefit both the practice and hospital.

“We feel both organizations will be strengthened through this new partnership,” said Dr. Mark Twardowski, an internal medicine physician at Western Medical Associates. “The alliance will allow for even Mark Twardowski more seamless and comprehensive health care for our community.”

Chris Thomas, president and chief executive officer of Community Hospital, agreed. “We have grown tremendously over the past decade, and this will undoubtedly help further enhance Community Hospital’s primary care network to better serve patients in our community.”

The physicians and staff of Western Medical Associates join a Community Hospital Chris Thomas network that includes six other practices across the Grand Valley. The practice offers a range of services for children, adults and seniors. For more information, call 241-7600 or visit the website at www.westmed.org. n ATOMIC WORKERS HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AWARDS COLORADO CONGRESSMAN A Grand Junction-based firm providing health care services to uranium and nuclear weapons production workers has honored a Colorado congressman.

Nuclear Care Partners presented its inaugural Naitonal Congressional Award for Atomic Heroes to U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter for his support of former workers at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant near Denver.

“Rep. Perlmutter has been a true champion Jenna Noem for former atomic workers, driving efforts on several fronts to preserve their benefits, protect their access to quality care and ensure that their needs are met through programs the way Congress intended,” said Jenna Noem, co-founder and chief executive officer of Nuclear Care Partners.

Nuclear Care Partners provides in-home health services under federal laws providing benefits to those who’ve developed illnesses from exposure to radiation and chemicals. For more information, call (888) 525-5111 or visit www.NuclearCarePartners.com. n PINNACOL FOUNDATION AWARDS $350,0000 IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS The Pinnacol Foundation awarded a total of nearly $350,000 in scholarships to 74 Colorado students for the 2021-2022 year.

The foundation — established by Pinnacol Assurance, a workers’ compensation insurance provider — provides college scholarships to students whose parents were seriously injured or killed in work-related accidents.

Since 2000, the foundation has awarded a total of nearly $6 million in scholarships to more than 650 Colorado students.

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OctOber 14-27, 2021

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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.

Bank of Colorado has opened a new branch in Grand Junction at 2452 Patterson Road near Mesa Mall.

“We look forward to continuing our growth in Grand Junction,” said Jeff Franklin, market president of Bank of Colorado. “This Jeff Franklin new location will provide greater convenience to our existing customers as well as help us gain new relationships in Grand Junction.”

Shawn Osthoff, president Shawn Osthoff of Bank of Colorado, agreed. “Bank of Colorado is deeply rooted in Colorado history, and we’re fully invested in its future,” Osthoff said. “The new branch adds a third location in Grand Junction and, with it, more opportunity to serve the people and businesses tht traverse an ever-growing commuity.”

The new branch opened Sept. 30 in remodeled quarters on the first floor of the four-story building.

The branch is equipped with an automated teller machine that enables customers to connect with tellers beyond regular banking hours and also serves as another contactless opton.

Bank of Colorado also operates branches at 2903 Patterson Road and 200 Grand Ave. in Grand Junction.

Part of Pinnacle Bancorp, Bank of Colorado operates more than 50 community banks throughout Colorado and has more than $5 billion in combined assets.

For additional information about Bank of Colorado, visit www.bankofcolorado.com.

n EIGHT MESA COUNTY HOMES ON PARADE IN ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASING BUILDERS The Housing & Building Association of Western Colorado has scheduled its annual Parade of Homes to continue Oct. 15 to 17.

The self-guided tour will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct 15 and 16 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oct. 17. Tickets sell for $15 and are available at Safeway locations in Grand Junction and online at www.gjparade.com.

“We are excited to be back completely Kelly Maves in person this year with eight spectacular homes located between Grand Junction and Loma. The homes are exquisite with unique outdoor spaces and breathtaking views,” said Kelly Maves, a member of the HBA of Western Colorado board of directors.

The parade will showcase the work of seven Mesa County builders — Alegria Homes, Alta Home Builders, Copper Creek Builders, Dahl Built Homes, J. Howell Custom Builder, Maves Construction and Senergy Builders. The homes range in price from $300,000 to more than $1 million and in size from 1,228 square feet to 3,676 square feet. With COVID-19 protocols in place, participants should bring face masks for use when required.

Prior to touring homes, participants are encourage to download the Grand Junction Parade of Homes application from an app store on a mobile device. The app offers previews, builder information, a map and navigation assistance. “We’ve gotten rave reviews from the app,” Maves said. “All the information is at your fingertips, and it makes touring easy and convenient.”

Participants touring homes will vote on people’s choice awards in three price categories and may join in a scavenger hunt sponsored by Alegria Homes to win a $500 gift certificate to downtown Grand Junction businesses.

The HBA of Western Colorado is a professional organization promoting the home building industry. For more information, call 245-0253. n MESA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 51 SCHEDULES CAREER FAIR FOR OCT. 16 Mesa County School District 51 has scheduled a career fair for Oct. 16. The fair is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 16 at R-5 High School at 455 N. 22nd St. in Grand Junction.

The event will offer information about job openings in teaching as well as custodial work, nursing, nutrition services and security. Student Transportation of America will offer information about openings for school bus drivers.

Participants should come prepared for job interviews and bring resumes, letters of interest and other materials to complete job applications.

For more information, including job postings, visit the website at https://d51schools.org.

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BusinessBriefs Briefs Business BusinessPeople People Almanac Business Almanac

n FINANCIAL OPERATIONS ANALYST JOINS WEST STAR AVIATION IN GRAND JUNCTION

Anthony Gaal has joined West Star Aviation as a financial operations analyst at the company’s facilities in Grand Junction.

Gaal brings to his duties experience in the health care and information technology sectors. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Missouri.

“Anthony brings vast financial Anthony Gaal knowledge to West Star and will be a beneficial asset to the team here,” said Dave Krogman, general manager.

Gaal said he’s pleased to join West Star. “I am excited to learn more about the aviation industry while applying my financial skills to assist with the company’s growth.”

West Star Aviation offers a range of services that include the maintenance and repair of airframes, engines and avionics as well as painting and interior refurbishments. In addition to its facilities at the Grand Junction Regional Airport, West Star Aviation operates facilities in Aspen and Denver as well as in Arizona, Illinois, Minneapolis, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.

For more information, visit www.weststaraviation.com. n STRIVE ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Gina Archuleta has joined Strive as human resources manager of the Grand Junction-based organization.

Archuleta brings to her latest position more than 19 years of experience in human resources, the last three as an HR director. She’s also a member of the Western Colorado Human Resource Association and Society for Human Resource Management.

Gina Archuleta Strive provides a range of services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental challenges. For more information, call 243-3702 or log on to the website located at https://strivecolorado.org. n FINANCIAL ADVISOR NAMED TO TAKE OVER GRAND JUNCTION EDWARD JONES OFFICE Cindi Graves has been selected to take over as financial advisor at the Edward Jones office located at 340 Grand Ave. in Grand Junction.

Jeannie Smith is the new office administrator and will be responsible for daily operations, client services and marketing. She succeeds Carol Palmer, who retired.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Cindi Graves Edward Jones offers financial services throughout the United States. Nearly 19,000 financial advisors serve a total of more than 7 million clients. For more information, visit www.edwardjones.com.

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 WESTERN HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE HIRES CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER Tom Northey has rejoined the Western Healthcare Alliance in Grand Junction as chief innovation officer.

Northey will lead information technology initiatives, including the development of data analytics and value-based care solutions for the alliance and its company, Community Care Alliance.

Northey brings more than 25 Tom Northey years of experience in health care to his latest position, including positions with the Western Healthcare Alliance as director of information technology collaboration and vice president of information strategy.

He holds a master’s degree in management from Regis University and bachelor’s degree in communication from Metropolitan State College.

“I’m excited to be back at WHA,” Northey said. “I’m looking forward to applying my experience with health care at scale to help support the preservation of community based rural health care.”

Angelina Salazar, chief executive officer of the Western Healthcare Alliance, welcomed Northey back.

“His in-depth knowledge of rural health care challenges and experience in developing innovative solutions will be invaluable as we continue to collaborate to improve rural health care in Colorado and Eastern Utah.”

The Western Healthcare Alliance provides a range of services and programs to a total of 32 members in Colorado and Utah, including debt collection, employee benefits and group purchasing. The Community Care Alliance provides population health infrastructure for rural hospitals and other health care providers. For additional information, visit the website located at www.wha1.org. n OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE FIRM NAMES WESTERN SLOPE MANAGER David Detwiler has joined Wember as Western Slope manager of the owner’s representative firm.

Detwiler brings to his duties more than 35 years of experience in the architecture, engineering and construction industry, including work on an array of educational and civic projects.

Wember offers program, project and construction management services David Detwiler in Colorado and Wyoming. For more information, visit https://wemberinc.com.

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OctOber 14-27, 2021

Oct. 14 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking lunch, noon, Ale House, 2531 N. 12th St., Grand Junction.

858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce business after hours event, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Timberline Bank, 649 Market St., Grand Junction. Admission $5 for chamber members, $10 for others. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org Oct. 15 n Coffee Club Networking Group free networking meeting with coffee, 9 to 10:30 a.m., FWorks coworking space, 326 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita. https://fworks.app.proximity.space Oct. 16 n Mesa County School District 51 job fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., R-5 High School, 455 N. 22nd St., Grand Junction. https://d51schools.org Oct. 19 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.

Oct. 20 n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce health care summit, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Doubletree

by Hilton, 743 Horizon Drive. Admission $55 for chamber members, $65 for others. 242-3214 or https://gjchamber.org n Western Colorado Human Resource Association monthly membership program and presentation on creating an inclusive environment, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Warehouse 25Sixty-five, 2565 American Way, Grand Junction. WCHRA members attend at no additional charge, guests pay $20. www.wchra.org n Palisade Chamber of Commerce business after hours event, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Plum Creek Winery, 3708 G Road. Admission $6 in advance. 464-7458 or https://palisadecoc.com Oct. 21 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking lunch, noon, Kokos Tavern, 152 S. Mesa St., Fruita. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org Upcoming n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking lunch, noon Oct. 28, Be Sweet Bake Shop, 150 W. Main St., Grand Junction. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org n Business startup workshop, 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Nov. 2, Business Incubator Center. Admission $55.

243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org. n Palisade Chamber of Commerce business after hours event, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 17, St. Kathryn’s Cellars and Talon Winery, 785 Elberta Ave. Admission $6 in advance. https://palisadecoc.com or 464-7458 n Business startup workshop, 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Nov. 18, Business Incubator Center. Admission $55.

243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org.

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