The Business Times Volume 29 Issue 20

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Patrick Pevoto once reminded a frazzled mother of the importance of taking better care of herself to better care for her children. It’s like the airline safety briefing about the oxygen masks that drop down in the event of decompression: Passengers should put on their own masks before helping others put on their masks.

The same principle also applies to the physicians who care for patients, Pevoto says. Physicians can use some help — whether that’s advocating on their behalf before lawmakers or promoting professional satisfaction — with helping others.

Pevoto expects to continue to play a role in that process as the new president of the Colorado Medical Society. His objective? “Try your best to lead and do your part.”

An obstetrician and gynecologist who lives in Fruita, Pevoto was elected in September. With more than 7,200 members, the CMS is the largest organization of physicians in Colorado.

Pevoto is only the third president of the CMS from Western Colorado.

He’s served on the CMS board of directors for six years, the past year as president-elect. He’s also served as the chairman of finance, political action and professional education and accreditation committees.

He’s a member of the Mesa County Medical Society, what he considers one of the best component organizations of the CMS, as well as the American Medical Association.

Pevoto foresees a busy year ahead in addressing various issues, among them women’s health care in the aftermath of a Supreme Court decision reversing the Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion as well as ongoing challenges in providing quality health care in rural settings.

It’s all the more challenging in representing a diverse membership that includes physicians practicing in so many different specialities and settings with sometimes conflicting interests, he says. But he’s no less committed to bringing members together to find solutions that benefit everyone

Dr. Patrick Pevoto, an obsetrician and gynecologist who lives in Fruita, has begun his term as president of the Colorado Medical Society. Pevoto will help oversee an organization representing more than 7,200 physicians in the state.

Mesa County unemployment rate retreats further

Phil Castle The Business Times

The monthly unemployment rate has retreated in Mesa County to it’s lowest level in four months.

It’s a trend that’s expected to continue through the end of the year before what’s typically a seasonal spike after the holidays, said Celina Kirnberger, employment services supervisor at the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.

The seasonally unadjusted jobless rate fell two-tenths of a point to 3.4 percent in September, according to the latest

estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. That’s the lowest level since the rate stood at 3.3 percent in May. At this time last year, the rate stood at 4.7 percent.

Kirnberger said she was pleased with the latest numbers. “I think they’re pretty good. That was definitely good to see.”

Between August and September, Mesa County payrolls grew 1,054 to 76,648. The number of people counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work fell 123 to 2,703. The labor force, which includes the employed and unemployed, increased 931 to 79,351.

Over the past year, payrolls grew 2,318 or 3.1 percent.

The ranks of the unemployed declined 926. The labor force increased 1,392.

Kirnberger said labor demand remains strong across most industry sectors and particularly in the health care sector.

The number of job orders posted at the Mesa County Workforce Center has declined on a year-over-year basis. But the number of job openings hasn’t decreased as much, she said.

For September, 742 job orders were posted. That’s down from 1,020 for the same month last year. Through the first the first three quarters of 2022, 7,441 orders were posted. That’s down from 8,617 for the same span in 2021.

For September 2022, job orders involved a total of 1,412 job openings. That’s down from 1,581 openings for the same month last year.

STORY AND PHOTO BY PHIL CASTLE

Grand Valley physician begins his term as president of Colorado Medical Society

Celina Kirnberger

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Construction tops out on new cancer center at Community Hospital

Construction continues on a cancer center and medical office building at Community Hospital in Grand Junction.

A topping out celebration was set for Oct. 25 to mark the placement of the last steel beam atop the building as well as an intermediate point in the $54 million project.

As part of a tradition, employees, construction workers, donors and others signed the beam prior to its installation to commemorate their involvement in the project.

The James Pulsipher Regional Cancer Center and medical office building is scheduled for completion in December 2023 and will add 126,000 square feet to the Community Hospital campus.

“This project is our hospital’s commitment to our partners to build a state-of-the-art regional cancer center and continue to develop our highly sought after cancer treatment program with the best possible medical and radiation oncologists in the region,” said Chris Thomas, president

and chief executive officer of Community Hospital.

The new center and office building constitutes a commitment to provide more room and resources to the physicians and staff who joined the hospital in 2014 to start Grand Valley Oncology, Thomas said. Cancer treatments since have become one of the fastest growing service lines for the hospital.

“In less than 10 years, Grand Valley Oncology has become the premier cancer center on the Western Slope because of the incredible leadership of JoAnne Virgilio and the stellar team of medical and radiation oncologists and dedicated staff,” Thomas said.

Grand Valley Oncology offers a range of cancer treatment options, including gynecological, medical and radiation oncology as well as clinical trials, genetic counseling, social services and a survivorship program.

Grand Valley Oncology operates a Commission on Cancer accredited program and also received the Patient-Centered Specialty Practice designation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Public health department awarded outoor rec grant

Mesa County Public Health is among the first 10 recipients of new state grants promoting outdoor recreation in Colorado.

The health department will use the $74,666 outdoor recreation grant to develop a master plan for the Gunnison Bluffs and Old Spanish Trail area south of Grand Junction. The plan will address navigation and safety concerns as well as trail deterioration.

Mesa County is the primary landowner in the proposed project area with additional segments owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and private landowners.

The state outdoor recreation grant program is the first offered by the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Funding comes from a U.S. Economic Development Administration state tourism grant.

“We are incredibly grateful to the governor’s office for acknowledging our efforts in public health. That includes quality outdoor experiences to improve both physical and social health,” said Jeff Kuhr, director of Mesa County Public Health.

“We’re committed to making the outdoors accessible to everybody in our community, and that includes well-connected and accessible trail systems.”

A total of $3.9 million will be distributed through the grant program. The deadline for the next round of quarterly applications is Dec. 31.

“The recipients of the state outdoor recreation grants truly reflect the best the industry has to offer, and we’re proud to provide financial support to programs and organizations that improve backcountry safety, connect marginalized groups to the outdoors and plan for the future by balancing economic vitality with resource protection,” said Conor Hall, director of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office.

Patrick Meyers, executive director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, said the outdoor recreation industry affects all areas of Colorado. “These grants will support organizations and projects that are growing the industry and will contribute to a healthy Colorado economy that works for everyone.”

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis agreed. “These exciting grants are part of our work building a Colorado for all and making sure Colorado remains the best place to live, work and enjoy the outdoors.”

Chris Thomas

Jeff Kuhr

Economic conference to draw students from across Western Slope

High school students and teachers from across Western Colorado are expected to attend an annual economic leadership conference in Grand Junction.

The Freedom & Responsibility Education Enterprise (FREE) Foundation and Foundation for Teaching Economics will host the Nov. 8 conference in the Colorado Mesa University ballroom.

Based in Grand Junction, the FREE foundation hosts the Western Slope Economic Leadership Conference as part of its efforts to promote financial literacy, including economic principles, entrepreneurship and free enterprise.

A total of about 150 high school juniors and seniors from the Grand Valley as well as Nucla, Norwood, Olathe and Montrose are expected to participate along with their teachers. So are home-school students in the region and their parents.

Participating teachers receive materials with which to teach free market concepts.

Conference speakers will include Donald Fell, program director for the Foundation for Teaching Economics and an instructor at the Institute on the Environment and Economy in California.

John Brock, director of the Center for Economic Education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, also will speak. He creates and teaches classes and seminars for social studies teachers across Colorado as well as internationally.

In addition to three sessions with instruction and hands-on activities, the day-long conference will include a speed networking event in which students will meet with business leaders.

United Way to launch program and unveil new downtown mural

United Way of Mesa County will launch a program expanding an early childhood literacy program as well as unveil a new mural in downtown Grand Junction.

An event scheduled for Oct. 27 downtown will detail the program and unveil the mural.

United Way plans to launch a Mesa County Imagination Library in partnership with the Dollywood Foundation. The program will build on the work of the Grand Junction Imagination Library and Lower Valley Imagination Library.

Mesa County Imagination Library will offer free, high-quality books to children from birth to 5 years old each month, expanding the early literacy program to all of Mesa County.

“United Way of Mesa County is honored to take over the hosting responsibilities of this vital childhood literacy program, and we look forward to getting even more books into the hands of children here in our community, beginning with outreach efforts in some of the more rural areas of our county,” said Keira Clark, community impact and marketing manager at United Way of Mesa County.

“We look forward to expanding this wonderful program and encourage any Mesa County resident with children ages birth to 5 years old to register by visiting

www.imaginationlibrary.com and clicking check availability,” Clark said.

In addition to announcing the launch of the Imagination Library program, United Way of Mesa County will debut a new mural replacing the 30-year-old artwork along Main Street in downtown Grand Junction.

United Way of Mesa County contacted students in Lora Quesenberry’s art class at New Emerson at Columbus Elementary to come up with 10 ideas for a new mural that would reflect the mission of United Way. The students presented their creations to a panel of local artists and United Way staff and volunteers in March.

In September, students interviewed artist Emily Adamson and selected her to make the students’ vision a reality. Adamson began work on the new mural during the Downtown Art Festival.

“We are beyond excited about this project and the great work by the students and Emily Adamson,” said Zebulon Miracle, executive director of United Way of Mesa County Executive Director Zebulon Miracle. “She masterfully incorporated the ideas and themes of the students into a mural that shows the mission and impact of United Way of Mesa County. We hope that this piece will inspire generations to come.”

Donald Fell

John Brock

New manager hired to oversee West Slope conservation areas

A manager has been hired to oversee the McInnis Canyons and Dominguez-Escalante national conservation areas in Western Colorado.

Amber Koski is scheduled to begin her new role at the Grand Junction Field Office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Nov. 6.

Koski will be responsible for two national conversation areas covering a total of more than 330,000 acres of public land known for their Colorado and Gunnison river canyons, cultural and historic sites and wilderness.

“Amber brings a diversity of experience to BLM Colorado and our national conservation areas,” said Greg Wolfgang, Grand Junction Field Manager. “We are excited to welcome Amber to Western Colorado’s amazing communities partners, and landscapes.”

Koski previously served as the planning and environmental coordinator for BLM Utah in the Green River District in Vernal.

She was responsible for coordinating six resource management plan amendments that

spanned three field offices and two districts for lands designated under the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act.

Those areas included the Jurassic National Monument, John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area, McCoy Flats Mountain Bike Trail System, San Rafael Swell Recreation Area, 63 miles of wild and scenic river segments and 17 new wilderness areas.

Prior to her planning role, Koski served as the assistant field manager of resources for the Vernal and Price field offices.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology and a master’s degree in environmental policy and management.

“My husband and two children are thrilled to be moving to Western Colorado and becoming a part of the community.” Koski said. “I look forward to engaging in the wonderful partnerships within BLM Colorado as well as serving our public, staff and the amazing public lands we manage.”

NFIB members favor tax cut

Members of a small business advocacy group in Colorado support a ballot measure reducing the state income tax, survey results show.

The National Federation of Independent Business asked members if they support Proposition 121 on the November election ballot. The survey asked one question: “Should Colorado reduce the state income tax rate from 4.55 percent to 4.4 percent.”

Among those who responded, nearly 90 percent answered yes, 10 percent said no and 1 percent were undecided.

“The result was not a surprise,” said Tony Gagliardi, state director of the NFIB in Colorado.

What is surprising, Gagliardi said, is the number of people caught up in the debate over the initiative. “Discussions about who benefits and by how much miss the point entirely. Proposition 121 is a small step toward achieving the goal of having no state income tax at all, which is something we ought to move on faster now that Arizona has instituted a 2.5 percent flat tax rate that will take effect at the beginning of 2023,” he said.

“Having no state income tax would give small business owners something they have always desired: the predictability needed to hire more employees and expand their enterprises, both of which would produce a sustainably healthier economy,” Gagliardi said.

Food bank joins in effort to operate diaper bank

Food Bank of the Rockies Western Slope has partnered with WeeCycle to operate the first and only diaper bank in Western Colorado.

Free diapers and wipes will be available at mobile pantry food distributions across the region.

“This is a higher dollar item that, due to inflation, has become an even greater burden for families across the Western Slope. We can now offer relief with not only food, but also diapers and wipes for the children of the families we serve,” said Sue Ellen Rodwick, director of the Food Bank of the Rockies Western Slope Distribution Center.

A nonprofit organization, WeeCycle was started to

collect and supply diapers to families in need. By one estimate, a third of American families report having diaper needs. Parents struggling to meet diaper needs are more likely to miss work.

No public assistance is available, however, to help families facing diaper shortages. Federal supplemental nutrition assistance programs don’t subsidize diapers.

“We are the largest diaper bank in the state of

Colorado, and as of last month we have given out 3.4 million diapers since Jan. 1 of this year,” said Jana Clark, program director of WeeCycle. “Daycare centers and childcare providers don’t allow children to attend without diapers. We’re helping families not just with basic sanitary needs for children, but this gives families the support to keep working.”

WeeCycle works with 57 different partner organizations and has a waiting list of 60 organizations to help distribute baby gear and items in need to families across Colorado.

Food Bank of the Rockies Western Slope has tried to meet needs by purchasing diapers locally with grant funding. The most requests have come from the Roaring Fork Valley.

Registration under way for Howl-o-ween benefit event

Registration is under way for the Howl-ween benefit event for the RoiceHurst Humane Society.

The Roice-Hurst Humane Society will join with the Greater Grand Junction Sports Commission to host the 5-kilometer and 1-mile fun run and dog walk scheduled for Oct. 30 at Las Colonias Park in Grand Junction.

Check-in is set to start at noon. The races will begin at 1, followed by live music and a pet costume contest at 2.

“We are pleased to partner with an organization as knowledgeable and respected as the Grand Junction Sports Commission for this fun and festive event,” said Anna Stout, chief executive officer of the Roice-Hurst Humane Society. “The Howl-o-ween 5K is a great chance to dress up with your human and canine family members and enjoy an autumn afternoon outdoors to support pets and people in our community.”

Participants can choose between running or walking the 5K course or 1-mile route around Las Colonias Park. Costumes are encouraged for both people and dogs.

Registration is $20 for humans and free for well-behaved, leashed dogs. Participants who bring their Roice-Hurst alumni canine receive 25 percent off the registration fee using the code RH-ALUMNI. Proceeds will support pets and programs at RoiceHurst Humane Society. To register or obtain more information, visit the website at https://rhhumanesociety.org/howl-o-ween.

The Roice-Hurst Humane Society operates a nonprofit animal shelter that provides care and adoption services for dogs and cats as well as programs and resources designed to help pet owners keep and care for their pets.

Sue Ellen Rodwick

Anna Stout

Colorado ski season under way

Powderhorn Resort set to open Nov. 25

The ski season is officially under way in Colorado.

Skiers and snowboarders kicked off the season Oct. 23 at Arapahone Basin.

Powderhorn Mountain Resort on Grand Mesa east of Grand Junction is scheduled to open Nov. 25.

“We all look forward to opening day every season, and we’re glad to see folks getting out on the slopes at Arapahoe Basin,” said Melanie Mills, president and chief executive officer of Colorado Ski Country USA, a trade association of 22 resorts.

“Skiers and riders can look forward to a fantastic ski season complete with new lifts, incredible dining options and behindthe-scenes improvements that add up to an amazing experience in Colorado ski country USA,” Mills said.

At Powderhorn, the improvements include a new beginner area surface lift. The resort also worked on snowmaking infrastructure.

The season will mark a number of milestones for Colorado ski resorts, including 60th anniversaries at Steamboat and Eldora, a 55th anniversary at Sunlight and 50th at Telluride. Colorado Ski Country USA itself will mark 60 years in operation.

Colorado Ski Country USA member resorts are coming off a record season for skier visits — an industry metric equivalent to one person skiing or snowboarding for one day.

Colorado Ski Country USA announced in June skier visits at its 22 member ski resorts increased 14 percent during the 2021-22 season. The trade association projected a statewide skier visitation record, edging out the previous record of 13.8 million visits in 2018-19 by a few hundred thousand.

Skier visits during the 2020-21 season totaled 12 million.

Colorado saw a slow start to the 2021-22 season, with many resorts not receiving significant snowfall until midDecember. Several resorts pushed back their openings. Once resorts opened, their teams were hit by the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, resulting in staffing challenges just as skiers and snowboarders arrived for the holidays. Snow totals picked up in the second half of the season. A busy February and snowy March and April brought a change of pace from the early winter months.

Melanie Mills

Colorado ag department gets $25 million for STAR effort

The Colorado Department of Agriculture has finalized an agreement to invest in a program promoting soil health in the state.

The Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural Resources (STAR) program was among 70 projects the United States Department of Agriculture selected for funding through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Project.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture will receive $25 million to more than double participation in the STAR program across Colorado, expand research on the benefits of regenerative agriculture across eight western states, scale the model nationwide and continue building markets for producers using climate-smart agricultural practices.

“This unprecedented funding for Colorado agriculture will allow CDA and our partners to put its full force behind the soil health initiatives we’ve been piloting for the past two years,” said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “This major investment from the USDA will allow us to show consumers the strides Colorado farmers and ranchers are making in deploying climatesmart agricultural practices by developing market signals that assure customers of our commitment to combating climate change. This funding will show the nation and the world that Colorado agriculture is on the leading edge of innovative production and stewardship in a changing world.”

Soil health is seen as a key to mitigating the effects of climate change by increasing carbon sequestration, reducing agricultural runoff, decreasing erosion and producing higher-yielding crops.

“This funding illustrates USDA’s commitment to natural resource conservation partnerships,” said Clint Evans, Colorado state conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. “The STAR program leverages federal dollars with state and local planning and action to directly benefit soil and other natural resources as well as agricultural climate-smart efforts.”

The STAR program was shaped from the ground up by farmers, ranchers, conservation districts and other partners who helped CDA tailor it to work for different crops, ranges and ways of farming and ranching across the state.

The program allows farmers and ranchers to evaluate their production systems, identify areas for improved management, document their progress and share their successes. In Colorado, STAR evaluates 11 different cropping systems and grazing lands for soil health and serves as a complementary tool to the STAR Plus program providing financial and technical assistance to producers.

Program helps firms convert to employee ownership

Another five Colorado businesses have converted to employee ownership with assistance from a state program.

The businesses received $3,000 employer ownership grants from the Employee Ownership Office of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).

“When a company transitions to employee ownership, the business benefits from a more engaged workforce, a guaranteed succession plan and a way to attract and retain top talent. Employee-owners generally experience higher wages, access to better benefits and improved job security,” said Nikki Maloney, director of business support at OEDIT. “Among Colorado’s small businesses, we are seeing a growing recognition of these benefits along with increased interest in Employee Ownership Office resources that can help them convert. This trend will have lasting benefits for business owners and workers alike.”

The businesses included Top Notch Logworks, a log home and products provider based in Gypsum.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis hailed the effort. “I congratulate these businesses on their transition to employee ownership

YOUR INFORMATION

Applications will be accepted through Nov. 4 for the next round of employee ownership grants for conversions completed by Jan. 6, 2023. For more information about grants and other resources, log on to https://oedit.colorado.gov/ employee-ownership-grant.

and am proud to continue our administration’s work to save businesses money and support employee ownership so that everyone can benefit when a business thrives.”

The Colorado Employee Ownership Office was established in 2020 to provide programs, funding and incentives for business owners to understand, explore and pursue employee-owned business structures. Since the employee ownership grant program began in early 2021, 18 businesses have converted to employee-owned structures.

The grants offset such professional services costs as accounting, business valuation and legal counsel.

The Employee Ownership Office also offers employee ownership tax credits that cover up to 50 percent of professional service fees necessary to become employeeowned — up to $25,000 for worker-owned cooperatives

and employee ownership trusts and up to $100,000 for employee stock ownership plans.

In addition to employee stock ownership plans and cooperatives, any structure that gives at least 20 percent of ownership to employees is considered an employeeowned business in Colorado and is eligible for grants.

Jennifer Briggs, chairwoman of the Colorado Employee Ownership Commission, said a recent survey conducted by the Employee Ownership Office and Exit Planning Institute found that 72 percent of survey respondents wanted to sell their business within the next 10 years. Yet, 68 percent said they were unfamiliar with their exit options.

“We see employee ownership models as a way for retiring business owners to realize the economic benefits of their hard work while preserving their businesses for future generations,” Briggs said.

The Employee Ownership Office also will partner with the statewide network of Small Business Development Centers to develop low-cost and no-cost resources that help business owners understand employee ownership options and guide them through the transition process. These programs are expected to launch over the next several months.

Nikki Maloney

City awarded for riverfront development and park

The City of Grand Junction has received recognition for the planning and collaboration that went into the Riverfront at Dos Rios development.

The city received another award for the River Park at Las Colonias.

The Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) presented the city with its Innovative Partnership and Collaborations merit award for Dos Rios. The award category recognized planning initiatives creating partnerships and collaborations among special interest groups, health organizations, school districts, funding partners or non-profit organizations.

The Colorado Parks and Recreation Association presented the city with its Columbine Award for Innovation for the River Park at Las Colonias.

Over the past 30 years, the 67-acre Riverfront at Dos Rios has evolved from a landfill and junk yard to an area poised for redevelopment and revitalization. With access to the Colorado River, a trail system, open space and downtown, the area was envisioned as a vibrant neighborhood with homes as well as places to work and play.

Numerous land acquisitions by the city and cleanup of the site by the Department of Energy led initially to the extension of the Riverfront Trail along the length of the property as well as the addition of a backwater pond for endangered fish. These early steps were made possible with the help of such community groups as One Riverfront and the Lions Club.

The value of completed infrastructure improvements for Riverfront at Dos Rios totaled $10.7 million with the purpose of creating a shovel-ready project for a potential developer.

The city has invested more than $1 million in park improvements, including a bicycle playground, restroom and shelter as well as development of a 16-acre park along the river with more amenities planned.

The River Park at Las Colonias is part of the Riverfront Trail system. The River Park was built to restore 14 acres of riparian area improving habitat and ecology in the adjacent river. It acts as a side channel for endangered fish species in the Colorado River.

The $1.2 million River Park project was funded by two grants received from Great Outdoor Colorado and the Colorado Water Conservation Board as well as support from the City of Grand Junction, the Colorado Basin Roundtable, Downtown Grand Junction and One Riverfront. The project was made possible through partnerships with many organizations, including Colorado Mesa University, the U.S. Department of Energy and Bonsai.

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Colorado Girl Scouts share in donation

Girl Scouts of Colorado received $2.8 million as part of an $84.5 million gift from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott. The donation will support ongoing efforts to equip girls to join in the next generation of female leaders.

“We are so grateful that Mackenzie Scott sees the value of investing in girls. This unprecedented investment is a validation of the work we’re doing, and it’s an opportunity for our organization to be visionary about how we serve girls throughout the state,” said Leanna Clark, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Colorado. “Our vision is to continue down a path of innovation and create ways to meet girls where they are, lifting up the issues they care about such as mental health, equity and our environment.”

Scott donated a total of $84.5 million to Girl Scouts of the USA and 29 out of 111 Girl Scout councils. With nearly 2 million girls and adult members worldwide, Girl Scouts is the largest leadership organization for girls in the world.

Clark said the donation will support efforts in Colorado to:

n Reimagine the physical presence of Girl Scouting in communities.

n Focus on an equitable approach to reaching and serving more girls while removing barriers to access.

n Build on partnerships and programs promoting mental wellness.

n Foster career readiness and interests in science, technology, engineering and math.

n Expand opportunities for girls to explore and build leadership skills in the outdoors.

Nationally, the donation will accelerate ongoing efforts to help girls cultivate the skills and connections to lead in their communities and globally, said Sofia Chang, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA.

“The support from all our donors, including this generous support from Mackenzie Scott, is critical in delivering on our work of reimagination and transformation. We’re excited to prove how her investment in girls will change the world — because when one girl succeeds, we all succeed,” Chang said.

Leanna Clark

Sofia Chang

Foundation awards $2,900 in Bloom grants

The School District 51 Foundation awarded another $2,900 in the latest round of Bloom Where You Are Planted grants.

The foundation awarded 44 grants, including grants to the Fire FC Soccer Club, Little Warriors Wrestling and Outdoor Wilderness Lab.

The fund was created by the family of the late Karl Bloom to provide financial assistant to enable Mesa County School District 51 students to pursue extracurricular activities.

Caring

Continued from page 2

Pevoto says his duties as president of the CMS include presiding as chairman over the board, acting as a liaison of sorts between the board and staff and serving as a point person for the organization. That last role could mean time spent testifying before committees of the Colorado Legislature as the CMS advocates for its members on various measures.

While physicians are busy, Pevoto says it’s important for them to become involved in issues affecting their practices and, ultimately, their patients. Rather than remain in their offices and complain, they should join in efforts to find solutions. “It’s like you’ve got to have some skin in the game.”

Pevoto says he’s been involved in the CMS since he relocated to Colorado in 2012. Before that, he was involved for 20 years in the Texas Medical Association.

Pevoto brings to his role nearly 40 years of experience as a physician. In addition to his medical degree, he also holds a master’s of business administration.

Pevoto works as an obstetric hospitalist for the Ob Hospitalist Group. He provides obstetric and gynecological services and also helps to start and operate obstetric emergency programs.

He currently works in California, commuting by commercial airline from his home in Fruita. He says he works in an agricultural area of California where many of his patients are farmworkers.

He previously worked as an obstetrician and gynecologist with the St. Mary’s Medical Group and Grand Mesa Women’s Healthcare in the Grand Valley.

Before that, he was a provider and department chief at Delta County Memorial Hospital in Delta — what he says was one of the best experiences of his career.

Before he was recruited to work in Delta, Pevoto worked in general and private practice in Austin, Texas.

The son of parents who were both

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

For more information about the Colorado Medical Society, visit the website at www.cms.org.

pharmacists and a father who became a physician, Pevoto says he knew at an early age he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. He remembers bringing X-rays of his broken arm to school for show and tell and accompanying his father while he worked.

Pevoto received a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Texas at Austin and medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine in Galveston.

While his father practiced pediatrics and emergency medicine, Pevoto says he was drawn to obstetrics and gynecology in part because of his desire to help women and do so with empathy.

He likes to say all his friends are patients and all his patients are friends. Some of the most rewarding aspects of his career has been to care for the children of his patients and even the children of children he delivered. Some of them have become physicians as well.

Advancing technology has given physicians remarkable tools with which to care for their patients, he says. But one of their most important tools remains empathy — to offer comfort and answer questions and treat patients with kindness and respect.

But those providing help can use some help themselves, he says. In the case of physicians in Colorado, he hopes the CMS can provide some of that help.

Pevoto says he’s excited about the year ahead as president of the organization. “Of course I’m honored.”

But he says he’s also looking forward to playing a role in helping other physicians — listening to their concerns and advocating on their behalf.

Helping those who help others achieves another goal, he says: improving patient care and creating healthier communities.

Pet webinar Nov. 22

The Roice-Hurst Humane Society and AARP Colorado has scheduled an educational webinar titled “Planning for Your Pets.”

The webinar is set for 10 a.m. Nov. 22 and will cover creating emergency kits for pets as well as the directives to include in estate planning to ensure caregivers have the information and resources they need.

The webinar also will offer information about programs available at the Roice-Hurst Humane Society to help pets and their owners in times of crisis.

“Our November webinar will help you navigate crucial tasks that will keep your beloved pet safe and well cared for when a crisis strikes,” said Anna Stout, chief executive officer of the Roice-Hurst Humane Society.

To register for the webinar, log on to https://local.aarp.org/grand-junction-co/ aarp-events.

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Retreats

Continued from page 2

While job vacancies persist, particularly in the health care sector, many employers work around worker shortages, Kirnberger said. “They’re finding other ways to make it work.”

There also could be some uncertainty about hiring given the risk of an impending recession, she said.

Some employers are gearing up for the coming holidays with hiring, including retailers and restaurants, she said. But many of them rely on more informal processes — help-wanted signs in windows, for example.

Kirnberger said she expects what feels like something of an employment plateau to continue through the end of the year.

The jobless rate typically jumps in January with post-holiday layoffs and the effects of winter weather on outdoor work.

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates also declined in neighboring Western Colorado counties in September: a half point to 3.6 percent in Rio Blanco County and a tenth of a point to 3.4 percent in Delta County and 3 percent in Montrose County. The jobless rate held steady at 2.8 percent in Garfield County.

Across Colorado, seasonally unadjusted jobless rate ranged from 1.6 percent in rural Baca County in the southeast corner of the state to 6.8 percent in Huerfano County in the south-central part of the state.

Among metropolitan areas, the jobless rate ranged from 2.5 percent in Boulder to 5.1 percent in Pueblo.

The statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.4 percent.

According to the latest results of household surveys, the Colorado labor force declined by 2,800 jobs between August and September. An increase in the ranks of the unemployed more than offset an increase in the employed.

According to the latest results of business surveys, nonfarm payrolls increased 5,600 between August and September with a gain of 7,600 jobs in the private sector more than offsetting a loss of 2,000 government jobs. Employment increased 3,500 in the leisure and hospitality sector and 2,000 in health services.

Over the past year, nonfarm payrolls have grown 113,000, a gain of 4.1 percent. The biggest gains occurred in the leisure and hospitality; professional and business services; and trade, transportation and utility sectors.

Payrolls decreased 2,600 in the financial activities sector.

Over the past 29 months, Colorado has added 437,700 nonfarm payroll jobs, more than offsetting the 374,500 jobs lost in March and April 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.

Over the past year, the average workweek for Colorado employees on private, nonfarm payrolls held steady at 33.5 hours. Average hourly earnings increased $1.97 to $34.43.

n Business filings

s New business filings in Colorado, 39,464 in the second quarter, up 0.5 percent from the second quarter of 2021.

n Confidence

t Consumer Confidence Index 102.5 for October, down 5.3.

t Leeds Business Confidence Index for Colorado, 39.8 for the fourth quarter, down 1.3.

s National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index 92.1 for September, up 0.3.

n Foreclosures

s Foreclosure filings in Mesa County, 20 in September, up from 2 in September 2021.

s Foreclosure sales in Mesa County, 14 in September, up from 2 in September 2021.

n Indexes

s Conference Board Employment Trends Index, 120.17 for September, up 1.69.

t Conference Board Leading Economic Index 115.9 for September, down 0.4%.

t Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index for manufacturing, 50.9% for September, down 1.9%.

n Lodging

s Lodging tax collections in Grand Junction, $451,679 for September, up 27.8% from September 2021.

n Real estate

t Real estate transactions in Mesa County, 371 in September, down 27.2% from September 2021.

t Dollar volume of real estate transactions in Mesa County, $164.9 million in September, down 19.6% from a year ago.

n Sales

s Sales and use tax collections in Grand Junction, $6.5 million for September, up 11.6% from September 2021.

s Sales and use tax collections in Mesa County, $4.9 million for September, up 15.3% from September 2021.

n Unemployment

t Mesa County — 3.4% for September, down 0.2.

n Colorado — 3.4% for September, unchanged.

t United States — 3.5% for September, down 0.2.

Tax collections trend upward

Both Grand Junction and Mesa County report year-over-year gains

Sales tax collections — a key measure of retail activity — continue to trend upward in Grand Junction and Mesa County.

The City of Grand Junction reported a 13.3 percent increase in sales tax collections in September compared to the same month a year ago. Mesa County reported an 18.7 percent year-over-year increase with gains in seven of eight retail categories.

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September reports reflect August sales.

The City of Grand Junction collected more than $5.4 million in sales taxes in September. That’s an increase of nearly $636,000 over what was collected a year ago.

Lodging tax collections rise

Lodging tax collections, a measure of hotel and motel stays, continue to increase in Grand Junction.

The City of Grand Junction collected $451,679 in lodging taxes in September, an increase of 27.8 percent over the same month last year. September collections reflect August hotel and motel stays.

Business People Almanac

The city also collected more than $908,000 as its share of sales tax Mesa County collects and distributes back to municipalities — a 7.3 percent gain.

In addition, the city collected more than $124,000 in use taxes, a smaller and more volatile source of revenue. That was a 16.2 percent decline.

September sales and use tax revenues for the city have increased in each of the last five years.

Through the first three quarters of 2022, the city collected more than $47.7 million in sales tax. That’s an increase of more than $4.5 million and 10.5 percent compared to the same span in 2021.

The city collected nearly $7.9 million in its share of sales tax from the county and almost $1.2 million in use taxes.

Mesa County collected nearly $4.5 million in sales taxes in September, an increase of more than $705,000 over the same month last year.

The county also collected almost $414,000 in use taxes — nearly all of those assessed on automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county. That’s a decrease of more than $58,000 and 12.4 percent from the same month last year.

County collections on retail sales topped $2.6 million in September, an increase of 18.8 percent over the same month last year. Collections increased on a year-over-year basis for every retail category except health and personal care products, which declined 12.2 percent. Collections increased 30.7 percent on

Through the first three quarters of 2022, the city collected nearly $3.5 million in lodging taxes. That’s an increase of about 33 percent over the first three quarters of 2021.

autos and 13.3 percent on home improvements. Collections also increased on food, beverages and gasoline although that could reflect higher prices resulting from inflation.

County sales tax collections also increased in September for most other industries with a 9.8 percent year-over-year gain in hotel stays and restaurant meals, an 18.5 percent increase in manufacturing and 26.2 percent increase in telecommunications.

Through the first three quarters of 2022, Mesa County collected $36.4 million in sales taxes. That’s an increase of more than $3.6 million and 11.1 percent from the same span in 2021.

Use tax collections increased 3.3 percent to nearly $3.3 million.

County tax collections on retail sales during the first three quarters of 2022 totaled nearly $22 million, an increase of more than $1.6 million and 7.9 percent over the same span in 2021. Collections increased for all but one category with a 2.3 percent decrease on health and personal care items.

Sales tax collections also increased in all but one industry category, including a 9 percent increase in the hotel and restaurant sector, a 15.5 percent increase in manufacturing and a 23.8 percent increase in telecommunications.

Consumer Confidence Index retreats

A measure of consumer confidence has seesawed back down on less upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions that could signal an impending recession.

The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index fell 5.3 points to 102.5 in October. The loss followed gains in September and August. Components of the index tracking current conditions and expectations both declined for October.

Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, said the present situation component of the index fell sharply, suggesting slowing economic growth for the fourth quarter.

The New York-based think tank bases the Consumer Confidence Index on the results of monthly household surveys. Economists monitor the index because consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity.

Less optimistic assessments of current conditions pulled down the present situation component of the index 11.3 points to 138.9.

The proportion of those responding to the survey upon which the October index was based who described business conditions as “good” fell 3.2 points to 17.5 percent. The share of those who said conditions were “bad” rose 3.1 points to 24 percent.

Lynn Franco

Consumers’ short-term outlook remains “dismal,” Franco said. “The expectations index is still lingering below a ready of 80 — a level associated with recession — suggesting recession risks appear to be rising.”

Intentions to purchase homes, automobiles and appliances increased, she said. But so did concerns about inflation, driven by rising gasoline and food prices.

“Looking ahead, inflationary pressures will continue to pose strong headwinds to consumer confidence and spending, which could result in a challenging holiday season for retailers. And, given inventories are already in place, if demand falls short, it may result in steep discounting, which would reduce retailers’ profit margins,” Franco said.

The proportion of respondents who said jobs were “plentiful” fell four points to 45.2 percent. The share of those who said jobs were “hard to get” rose 1.6 points to 12.7 percent.

Less upbeat outlooks pulled down the expectations component of the index 1.4 points to 78.1.

The share of those who expected business conditions to improve over the next six months rose six-tenths of a point to 19.2 percent. But the proportion of those anticipating worsening conditions increased more — 1.4 points to 23.3 percent.

The share of those who expected more jobs to become available in coming months rose 2.4 points to 19.8 percent. The proportion of those who believed fewer jobs rose more — three points to 20.8 percent.

While 18.9 percent of respondents expected their incomes to increase, 15.1 percent anticipated lower incomes.

Index forecasts recession

A monthly index forecasting economic conditions in the United States has decreased, continuing a trend that portends recession.

The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index (LEI) declined four-tenths of a percent to 115.9 in September. Separate measures of current and past conditions increased.

The downward trajectory of the Leading Economic Index suggests a recession is likely before the end of the year, said Ataman Ozyildirim, senior director of economics at the Conference Board. “The six-month growth rate of the LEI feel deeper into negative territory in September, and weaknesses among the leading indicators were widespread.”

The LEI declined 2.8 percent between March and September, more than offsetting a 1.4 percent gain over the previous six months.

Gross domestic product, the broad measure of goods and services produced in the United States, will increase 1.5 percent on a year-over-year basis in 2022. But then slow further in the first half of 2023, the Conference Board projected.

GDP fell at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter and six-tenths of a percent in the second quarter.

For September, five of 10 components of the LEI advanced, including average weekly manufacturing hours, building permits, interest rate spread and new orders for consumer goods. A decline in average weekly initial claims for unemployment benefits also bolstered the index. Five components retreated: consumer expectations for business conditions, leading credit and new orders indexes, new orders for capital goods and the Standard and Poor’s 500 index of stock prices.

The Coincident Economic Index (CEI) rose two-tenths of a percent to 108.9 in September. All four of the indicators of the index advanced: industrial production, nonfarm payrolls, personal income and manufacturing and trade sales.

The CEI increased nine-tenths of a percent over the past six months.

The Lagging Economic Index (LAG) increased six-tenths of a percent to 116.2 in September. Five of seven components advanced, including the average prime rate charged by banks, commercial and industrial financing, inventories and the price of services. A decrease in the average duration of unemployment benefits also boosted the index. Consumer credit and the cost of labor held steady.

Ataman Ozyilidirim

COMING ATTRACTIONS

n The Business Incubator Center has scheduled presentations on startups and accounting.

The next sessions of a business startup workshop are set for 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 3 and Dec. 1 at the center, 2591 Legacy Way in Grand Junction.

The workshops will cover business planning, financing options, legal structures, licensing requirements, state registration and trade name searches.

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Contributors Opinion Business Briefs

The trouble with diversity

Benefits abound, but a one-size-fits-all strategy won’t work

Human resource professionals and business managers serve on the front lines in a rapidly evolving world of work. They face not only global health challenges, but also economic and social uncertainty, environmental concerns and the expectations of an increasingly diverse workforce.

Business People Almanac

Admission is $55 for one person from a business. The second person from the same business will receive a half off discount.

A bookkeeping boot camp is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 13. Participants will learn how to set up and track business accounting records and gain more control over their businesses through the preparation of cash flow projections and income statements.

Tuition is $75, which includes lunch.

For additional information about upcoming events, programs and services at the Business Incubator Center, call 243-5242 or log on to the website located at https://gjincubator.org.

n The Grand Valley Biz Mix — a networking event for members of the Grand Junction, Palisade and Western Colorado Latino chambers of commerce — is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at St. Kathryn’s Cellars, 785 Elberta Ave. in Palisade. Admission to the members-only event is $10.

More information is available from the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce at 242-3214 or https://gjchamber.org.

n The next Coffee Club free networking meeting is set for 9 to 10 a.m. Nov. 18 at the FWorks coworking space, 325 E. Aspen Ave. in Fruita.

The meeting will include a presentation by Nina Anderson, owner of Express Employment Professionals offices in Grand Junction and Montrose. She will discuss programs and support for small business hiring and job seekers.

For more information, contact the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce at 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org.

At the same time, financial systems have moved away from models that define business success in exclusively monetary terms. Stakeholders — including employees and job applicants — are also interested in environmental and social effects and corporate government practices and performances.

People who feel they belong understand they’re valued for not only what they bring to the table, but also for who they are at the table.

individuals have a proverbial seat at the table. Employees are confident they’re not only welcome, but encouraged, to bring their full toolkit of abilities, skills and knowledge to the task at hand.

Carlene Goldthwaite

Research conducted by the McKinsey & Co. global consulting firm shows more diverse and inclusive organizations fare better in this changing environment — 70 percent higher growth, 36 percent better profitability, 75 percent faster time to market and 19 percent better innovation.

Clearly, there are compelling reasons to develop an intentional culture around diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and justice (DEIBJ). Yet, most organizations find a one-size-fits-all strategy rarely delivers intended benefits. That’s part of the trouble with diversity.

Fortunately, practical tools are available to develop a strategic approach to DEIBJ that fits an organization and community. It’s a matter of reviewing the characteristics of a dynamic workforce, learning techniques to identify and address hidden biases and avoiding some common pitfalls.

Over the past three years, the Society for Human Resource Management refined its working definition of diversity, equity and inclusion to add belonging as a key factor in sustaining individual and organizational performance. Characteristics of an equitable and inclusive culture include a work environment in which:

n Individuals are treated fairly and respectfully.

n Employees and job applicants have equal access to opportunities and resources.

n Staff members feel a sense of belonging.

n People are supported to bring unique backgrounds and experiences to work.

When these values are present within a company culture, individuals experience fewer barriers to contributing fully to the success of the organization.

Organizations that value the D of diversity ensure

The E for equity means an organization demonstrates the courage to regularly examine processes, policies and pay scales to identify and eliminate any systemic barriers to opportunities. Equity means the seat at the table is a chair that fits the individual.

The I represents inclusion. People at the table feel safe to bring their perspectives without fear of ridicule or repercussions. A popular internet meme warns: “It’s not inclusion if you’re inviting people into a space you’re unwilling to change.”

The B of belonging is perhaps the least tangible and measurable. It’s about how people experience their seats at the table. People who feel they belong understand they’re valued for not only what they bring to the table, but also for who they are at the table.

Finally, the J for justice means if any of the other pieces — the DEI and B — are missing or lacking, there’s a process to resolve the problem and prevent future occurrences.

A lot of ink has been devoted to DEIBJ over the past several years. Organizations have found the work of adjusting to the new normal requires creativity, courage and consistency. Tapping into a human resource or diversity professional who’ll walk alongside business leaders on the DEIBJ journey could constitute a game-changing investment.

Carlene Goldthwaite is principal of Create Real Growth, a consulting firm offering a range of services to improve organizational effectiveness and workforce improvement. For more information, visit www.createrealgrowth.com. Goldthwaite also serves as a member of the board of directors and director of diversity, equity and inclusion with the Western Colorado Human Resource Association. For more information, visit www.wchra.org.

Praise more likely to inspire jobs well done

Business leaders intent on moving their companies to ever higher levels of efficiency, effectiveness, profitability and success constantly look for ways to improve operations. This requires a discerning awareness of what is — and isn’t — working.

Marcus Straub

There’s a potential pitfall, though, if leaders focus only on what they perceive as wrong. While this approach could lead to improvements and desired results over the short run, it will damage other vital aspects of their businesses over time. Given their singular focus and accompanying astigmatism, these leaders fail to see all that’s achieved and accomplished, the efforts put forth by team members and how far their businesses have actually progressed.

These leaders will squash the morale of their team members with a lack of praise and abundance of criticism. In turn, team members will become less excited about being a part of and furthering company missions. Top performers will likely move on. This will hamper the very efficiency and effectiveness that’s sought and profitability and success that’s desired.

Conversely, when leaders offer well-deserved and genuine praise and recognition to their team members while also working to continually enhance how the company operates, a solid culture is established and the benefits ripple throughout the business. Why? Because when people feel good, even great, about the positive steps they’re making and work they’re doing, they’re encouraged to stay the course. Consider how great it feels and how motivating it is when you receive praise and recognition for your efforts and hard work.

Most people thrive on praise and enjoy some form of recognition. When a person is praised for a job well done, they feel valued and inspired to keep up the good work. They light up and get excited, which is apparent in their body language. When this happens repeatedly, they grow more self-confident, take on challenges with greater initiative and passion and become more adept at what they’re doing. In other words, they’re motivated to learn, grow and become more.

On the other hand, when a person truly gives their best and is met with only criticism of what they did wrong or should have done better, they feel defeated, inadequate and undervalued. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a situation like this, you know how unpleasant this experience can be. It’s compounded if this behavior is repeated over time. This is called negative conditioning and commonly leads to a diminished self-confidence, negative self-perceptions, resentment, disengagement, lower performance and turnover.

The desire to feel good about ourselves and the efforts we put forth constitutes a very real human need. Leaders

must understand this and change their perspectives and behaviors to consistently offer the praise and recognition team members appreciate and need to continue advancing. Positive reinforcement offers a more effective leadership strategy that negative conditioning.

As I coach leaders how to lead from a position of composure and with a balanced perspective, they work with their teams in new, dynamic and more effective ways. This enables them to build empowered teams that produce the results they want to achieve.

In your unending pursuit of success and a finely tuned business, don’t forget to consistently provide the well-deserved and genuine praise and recognition your team members need to learn, grow and become top performers.

When the team members in any business are supported in constructive ways — both for jobs well done and in those areas in which they’re in the process of improvement — they’ll typically perform at higher levels simply because they feel valued and encouraged in their efforts to be their best.

When you give others what they want, they’re more likely to give you what you want. Everyone is happier and more successful.

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.

Most people thrive on praise and enjoy some form of recognition. When this happens repeatedly, they grow more self-confident, take on challenges with greater initiative and passion and become more adept at what they’re doing. In other words, they’re motivated to learn, grow and become more.

Apps track activity, not productivity

Does monitoring employees —whether they work remotely or in the office — lead to increased productivity? Does it motivate, intimidate or infuriate your employees?

Many readily available applications — Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace and Microsoft tools — provide raw data on employee activities. But this data is just that. Raw. It doesn’t provide a true picture of productivity or performance, just activity in general. Nor does this data indicate employee engagement or satisfaction.

What can you do with some of these apps? You can see how many video meetings employees attended, how long the meetings lasted and how many people were at each meeting. But attendance isn’t the same as participating, contributing or even paying attention. You could assess how much material an employee saved to the cloud or hard drive, but not the value or even content of those documents. You could monitor the number and duration of chats between co-workers, but not the topics or usefulness of the chats.

In other words, these snapshots of an employee’s day might tell you what the employee did all day, but not the value of or participation in those activities.

To truly assess performance, you need to look at productivity, not just activity. Using activity based analytics to gauge productivity doesn’t necessarily allow for results from telephonic or in-person communications.

How do some of these apps work? What sort of data can you collect and assess from some of these apps?

If you have a paid Slack account, you can look at such data as how many days in a given period a person has been active and how many messages they’ve sent in a selected time period.

Zoom enables your administrator to determine the number and duration of meetings employees have participated in, how

long the meetings lasted and whether or not their cameras and microphones were enabled.

Microsoft 365 has a means for your administrator to view such data as the number of emails sent, how many files were saved on your company’s shared drive or the cloud and meetings the employees participated in using Microsoft Teams or the messaging feature. This data isn’t always easy to locate or collect, though.

Google Workspace offers data collection features similar to those of Microsoft 365.

Keep in mind such activities as mentoring, brainstorming, planning and other actions that occur without monitored computers don’t show up in the data collected by apps. Valuing quantity over quality might not yield the results you want and need.

Relying on data from these apps to evaluate performance could prompt employees to plan activities to maximize their apparent level of activity rather than ensuring high-quality performance and results.

You might discover monitoring leads to disgruntled employees — or worse.

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 at janet.arrowood@thewritesourceinc.com. For more information, log on to www.TheWriteSourceInc.com. F

Janet Arrowood

Keep in mind such activities as mentoring, brainstorming, planning and other actions that occur without monitored computers don’t show up in the data collected by apps.

Remain resolved to prevail, but face the brutal facts

James Bond “Jim” Stockdale was the most senior naval officer held captive during the Vietnam War. While commander of Carrier Air Wing 16, Admiral Stockdale’s A-4 Skyhawk was shot down over North Vietnam on Sept, 9, 1965.

After surviving ejection from his aircraft, Stockdale was captured and became a prisoner of war. He remained so until his release at the end of the war eight years later. He lived out the war without any rights, set release date or certainty he would survive to see his family again. He was tortured, but never gave in to his tormentors’ demands or the psychological trauma.

be out by Easter.’ And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving. And then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart.

“This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end — which you can never afford to lose — with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality whatever they might be.”

Named for Admiral Stockdale, the Stockdale Paradox describes a situation in which productive change begins in confronting the brutal facts. In his book “Good to Great,” Jim Collins cites the Stockdale Paradox in stating good-togreat companies maintain faith they’ll prevail regardless of the difficulties. At the same time, they maintain discipline to confront the most brutal facts of their current realities.

prevail. And he did prevail. Admiral Stockdale received a Medal of Honor for the time he spent in the Hanoi Hilton.

Stockdale subsequently led an exemplary life as president of the Naval War College until his retirement in 1979. He was president of the Citadel and a candidate for vice president of the United States in 1992 on the same ticket with Ross Perot.

In life and business, we’ll face daunting and even brutal situations. Our task as leaders is to steel our resolve we’ll ultimately prevail, not look through rose-colored glasses. We need to face those brutal facts, not run from them. And we need to rally the troops around helping each other find those relatively “unreachable solves” in not only surviving, but also thriving.

Tim Haggerty

Admiral Stockdale was once asked about his time as a prisoner of war and those who didn’t make it out. His reply, while at first shocking, resonates not only as to the condition later named for him, but also for the purpose of this column. To be great, companies must confront the brutal facts.

As for those who didn’t make it out, Stockdale said, “The optimists. They were the ones who said, ‘We’re going to be out by Christmas.’ And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they’d say, ‘We’re going to

What we do usually isn’t as critical or life-threatening as what Stockdale endured in Vietnam. Nonetheless, the lesson of confronting brutal facts while steeling your resolve you’ll eventually prevail is critical to individual and corporate survival.

Years ago, I worked with a vice president of operations who would almost gleefully retort we should celebrate our failures. I’m pretty sure Admiral Stockdale never celebrated the passing of another Christmas or Easter in captivity, but instead accepted the fact those holidays were going to come and go. He knew deep down, though, he’d ultimately

Tim Haggerty and his wife, Bernadette, operate a consulting firm based in Grand Junction that helps clients transition from command and control to servant leadership and change the view of wages and benefits from expenses to investments. Haggerty brings to the venture more than 40 years of experience in operations management and a record of decreasing costs while increasing productivity and revenue. Reach him at info@timothyhaggerty.com or (610) 737-0496. More information is available at www.timothyhaggerty.com F

Healthy stance: Good posture offers many benefits

My mother’s words from childhood still resonate in my head. “Stand up tall. Don’t slouch.” She was right, of course. There are physical and emotional benefits to maintaining good posture. Moreover, our posture says more about us than we might think.

Paula Reece

Simply put, posture refers to the body’s alignment. As with any habit, it takes work to make it consistent. We all know what constitutes poor posture — hunching, slumping and slouching. These habits break more than our mother’s rules, though. They create poor alignment that over time strains ligaments and muscles and causes pain and injuries. Proper alignment in every aspect of our day is important — from walking, sitting and standing to exercise and sports.

Maintaining awareness of your posture is the best place to begin. Think about your body language when you’re tired or ill. I tend to resort to poor posture when I’m hurrying around with too many things to do. After practice, I now catch myself and take a deep breath and align my body correctly. I feel more refreshed and in control.

There are other areas to consider when evaluating your

Your breathing becomes easier and deeper. It aligns muscles and joints. It improves circulation and digestion. There’s another benefit nearly everyone desires: Good posture conveys a more confident bearing.

posture. My chiropractor once told me my purse was way too heavy. Because I carry my purse on my right shoulder and continually add items throughout the day, the load was pulling my torso to the right. Technology can compromise alignment, too. Holding your cell phone squeezed between your shoulder and your head for long periods tweaks your natural position. Consider as well your posture when you’re sitting at a computer, the dinner table or in the car.

There are many benefits of maintaining good posture. Your breathing becomes easier and deeper. It aligns muscles and joints. It improves circulation and digestion. There’s another benefit nearly everyone desires: Good posture conveys a more confident bearing. What’s more, it makes you look slimmer and younger.

What does healthy posture look like? Here’s one way to tell if you’re standing up correctly. Stand up against a wall with your feet just a couple inches away and your upper back, shoulders and bottom touching the wall. Now, step away from the wall and see if you can maintain that position.

There are ways to help you maintain this position with ease. Perform slow and controlled movements that target your core and side muscles. Yoga and Pilates classes are excellent for improving posture. Do exercises that strengthen your upper and lower back as well as your shoulders. Roll your shoulders up and back, then hold.

Don’t forget the importance of stretching. Try standing tall with your arms reaching towards the sky and feel your torso lengthen.

The benefits of good posture are both physical and emotional. What does your posture say about you? Increasing awareness of your posture and learning ways to strengthen your body leads to a taller, prouder and healthier you.

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

Happy holidays? Increased spending forecast for 2022

Since the 2022 holiday season is nearly upon us, I wanted to share an excerpt from a recent news release from the International Council of Shopping Centers about expectations for spending.

“Shoppers expect to increase their spending in the 2022 holiday season by 6.7 percent, driven by an increased focus on deals and promotions, an earlier start to the holiday season and inflation, according to ICSC’s annual Holiday Shopping Intentions Survey. ICSC is also forecasting an increase of 9.9 percent on dining, bringing the total spending for the season to $1.56 trillion.

“The vast majority (89 percent) of consumers said inflation would impact their holiday purchases. Those shoppers noted that they would buy brands on sale or promotion (42 percent), shop at retailers that generally sell lower-price goods (37 percent) or do more research online than usual to find better deals (32 percent) in response. Inflation was also the most common reason consumers cited for spending more this season, with 40 percent identifying it as a key driver, ahead of wanting to go above

Shoppers are continuing to spend despite inflation and economic headwinds. And while higher prices will drive some of the increase in holiday spending this year, overall retailers are poised for a successful holiday season

for friends and family (25 percent) and planning bigger celebrations (20 percent).

“‘Shoppers are continuing to spend despite inflation and economic headwinds. And while higher prices will drive some of the increase in holiday spending this year, overall retailers are poised for a successful holiday season,’ said Tom McGee, president and chief executive officer of the of ICSC. ‘Consumers are particularly interested in deals and promotions, and retailers should make the most of deal events and other milestones this holiday season.’

“The survey found that consumers are increasingly embracing all channels to meet their needs and get the gifts they want at competitive prices. Ninety-four percent of

holiday shoppers will make both an in-store purchase and an online purchase with a retailer and 220 million people will take advantage of omnichannel shopping overall.

“Shipping and product availability are also significant for consumers: 57 percent of shoppers intend to buy from brick-and-mortar retailers to pick up items themselves and avoid shipping delays and fees, a 17-point increase from 2021. Similarly, 67 percent of shoppers think free shipping is important, and a majority are willing to wait longer for delivery (66 percent) or spend more money (59 percent) to get free shipping. Despite these concerns, 69 percent noted they will be patient and understanding this year about online holiday orders taking longer to arrive.”

Now that we know the numbers, let’s start our holiday shopping by patronizing local businesses and restaurants early and often.

Tim Whitney is managing broker of Coldwell Banker Commercial Prime Properties, a commercial brokerage and property management company based in Grand Junction. He’s been involved in the sale, leasing and management of commercial real estate in Colorado for more than 35 years. For more information, call 243-7375 or visit www.CBC-Prime.com.

Tim Whitney

Critical minerals really are: EV development depends on reliable supply chains

Colorado recently received $57 million from the federal government to help the state transition to the use of more electric vehicles (EVs).

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program established by last year’s bipartisan infrastructure law will help states like Colorado build charging stations along interstate corridors and is part of the Biden administration’s goals of reducing climate emissions.

However, limited access in the United State to essential critical minerals could imperil state and national plans for EVs and charging networks.

While electric vehicles offer a promising new means of affordable transportation, manufacturers still need critical minerals to build batteries for those EVs. Charging stations aside, we won’t be able to roll out EVs without enough batteries. Fortunately, the government can help by establishing strong supply chains to meet rising demand. We must act swiftly. Without access to a reliable supply of critical minerals, our EV goals will fail.

China is the world leader in producing and processing critical minerals. Public officials are aware of this dynamic, as an early executive order from President Joe Biden outlined the importance of establishing stronger critical mineral supply chains. In a June 2021 report, the White House outlined China’s control of this sector, noting the overwhelming majority of lithium and cobalt run through Chinese state-owned companies.

Fortunately, the federal government is working to challenge Beijing’s market control. The U.S. Department of Energy will launch a $675 million effort to strengthen critical mineral supply chains. Part of the DOE’s efforts is to develop domestic processing and production capacity. The goal is to strengthen America’s position as a global manufacturing leader.

While well intended, the U.S. isn’t equipped to produce the critical minerals we rely upon other countries to develop. We can look at China’s control of cobalt as an example. Even though the Democratic Republic of Congo possesses

most of the world cobalt reserves, China dominates the processing of cobalt.

China’s market dominance is in part embodied by their extensive facilities, although China’s part is massively distorted because of state-directed subsidies and other cases of market manipulation. Even if the U.S. were to open more mines domestically, refining and processing these critical minerals would be prohibitively expensive.

The smartest move forward is for lawmakers to collaborate with publicly traded multinational corporations and foreign countries that already have reliable supply chains of critical minerals. This approach would help quickly and effectively establish resilient supply chains for American manufacturers.

The good news is the Biden Administration is warming to this approach and moving away from focusing only on efforts to reshore critical mineral production and processing.

As for an example on this point, President Biden’s Executive Order 13953 states America “recognizes the continued importance of cooperation on supply chain issues with international partners and allies.” Developing these partnerships will ensure manufacturers can build EV batteries so Americans can enjoy the benefits of important projects like Colorado’s NEVI segment.

A steady and reliable supply chain of critical minerals constitutes the foundation of EV manufacturing and development. Collaborating with multinational companies with reliable access to critical materials will allow the U.S. to manufacture the products of tomorrow like EVs and provide more efficient and energy efficient transportation.

Prioritizing this strategy will also help the U.S. prevent China from solidifying its hold on global critical mineral production and processing.

Colorado and the nation are on the cusp of building a modern charging network for the next generation of EVs. To realize that dream, the U.S. must build a diverse and reliable supply chain of critical minerals and materials.

Baron Hill represented Indiana’s 9th Congressional District and served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He was a member of the Blue Dog Caucus of moderate Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Senate candidate offers “real deal” qualifications

When I was growing up, we’d use the phrase a person was the “real deal.” In my neighborhood, that might have been the highest compliment one could receive. It meant the person was authentic and genuine. Joe O’Dea, who’s running for the U.S. Senate in Colorado, is the “real deal.”

O’Dea is sincere when he says he is running to be “a voice for working Americans.” He can relate to blue-collar workers because he was one and in his heart will always be one. Prior to starting his construction business, Joe was a union carpenter and worked in the trades for a number of years. He understands getting his hands dirty and having them calloused at the end of a long day. More importantly, he appreciates the challenges many blue-collar workers deal with each day. He faced many of those same trials when he was starting out and working as a construction worker. When O’Dea indicates he can appreciate the issues facing public safety and the difficult job law enforcement confronts each day, he’s being honest. O’Dea was raised by a Denver police officer. Having a father in law enforcement means he heard and saw daily what was involved. More importantly, he recognizes one of the foremost concerns at this time is public safety. He realizes it’s important we support those in law enforcement, but also ensure they interact responsibly in that role.

Greg Fulton

O’Dea understands the difficulties and problems of small businesses. That’s because he started one with only he and his wife before growing his business to more than 300 employees. As he built his business, he experienced firsthand the problems many small businesspeople do related to financing, staffing, competing with larger businesses and complying with a myriad of state and federal regulations. He appreciates the impact government has on small businesses and the difficulties new regulations and laws pose for them.

O’Dea comprehends the challenges working class families face in our state. That’s because he grew up in one and witnessed daily the balancing acts the majority of our state’s households face. One could see, then, the impact of inflation and difficult choices it forced his parents and others to make. Facing similar levels of inflation today, he understands how families must grapple with rising food, gas and housing costs.

O’Dea appreciates our state’s diverse population. His wife, Celeste’s, grandparents immigrated from Mexico. Her story is as impressive as his in regard to achieving the American dream. As a teenager, she cleaned homes, worked in fast food and then retail. She was a good student and attended CSU, where she received a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and worked for 25 years in the medical technology field. While many speak of diversity in the workforce, O’Dea’s company is a model for others. The majority of O’Dea’s workforce at his company, Concrete Express, are Hispanic. His company has uplifted the lives of many of his employees.

O’Dea is one of those rare candidates who’s his own man. While he’s a Republican, he holds views that don’t conform with certain party positions. He’s indicated he’ll listen to both sides and not be one to vote the party line. Whether Joe O’Dea wins or loses, he’ll remain the same authentic guy he’s always been. It’s in his DNA, as it is with others who are the “real deal.”

Greg Fulton is president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, an organization that represents more than 650 companies involved or affiliated with the industry across Colorado.

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n COMPANY EXPANDS DONATION PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL

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AlloSource has expanded its placental donation program, partnering with St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction to facilitate the donation of placental tissue following childbirth.

“This unique program has shown to be a great way for mothers to be to collaborate with our organization and help those in need,” said Thomas Cycyota, president and chief executive of AlloSource. “Our new partnership with St. Mary’s in Grand Junction will offer more exposure to this program and help us continue to advance patient healing for years to come.”

AlloSource works with physicians, hospitals and expectant mothers interested in donating placentas following delivery. Amniotic tissues from placentas help patients in a variety of applications, including ankle and foot procedures, spinal surgeries and wound healing.

Based in Centennial, AlloSource has grown into one of the largest tissue networks in the country in creating more than 200 types of allografts for use in a variety of medical procedures. For more information about the placenta donation program, log on to https://donatemyplacenta.org.

n MONTROSE REGIONAL HEALTH EXPECTED TO JOIN PARTNERSHIP FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM

Montrose Regional Health is expected to join with the Army and Colorado Army National Guard in a program that connects employers with soldiers preparing for careers after the Army.

The Partnership for Your Success program guarantees soldiers five job interviews and possible employment following their service. The program provides participants with an opportunity to serve and prepare for their futures while offering employers a reliable source for recruiting.

Since the program began in 2000, more than 1,100 employers have joined as partners.

n COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OFFERS SUPPORT GROUP FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THYROID DISORDERS

Community Hospital in Grand Junction has launched a support group for people affected by thyroid disorders.

The group meets from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of every month at Grand Valley Wellness, 605B 28 1/4 Road.

Fr more information, call (970) 263-2661 or visit the website at www.GVThyroid.com.

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n APPLICATIONS DUE NOV. 17 FOR LATEST COLORADO CANNABIS BUSINESS GRANTS

The Colorado Cannabis Business Office will accept applications through Nov. 17 for the second round of cannabis business grants.

Funding is available to social equity licensed cannabis businesses in Colorado that have been awarded or are seeking a business license from the Marijuana Enforcement Division. Businesses may receive up to $50,000 in seed funding or support for business development projects.

The Colorado Cannabis Business Office offers access to capital, consulting, technical assistance and other resources to ensure equal opportunities to participate in the cannabis market.

For more information about the grants, visit the website at https://oedit.colorado.gov/cannabis-business-grant.

n ALPINE BANK OF COLORADO ANNOUNCES LATEST QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDENDS

Alpine Banks of Colorado will pay quarterly cash dividends on Oct. 31. The bank announced plans to pay a dividend of 18 cents per class B nonvoting common share and $27 per class A voting common share.

A $6.1 billion employee-owned organization headquartered in Glenwood Springs, Alpine Bank operates locations across Colorado and serves more than 160,000 customers. For more information, visit www.alpinebank.com.

n FREDDY’S TO OBSERVE VETERANS DAY WITH CARDS FOR FREE COMBO MEALS

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers will observe Veterans Day with free meals for veterans and active military personnel.

On Nov. 11, restaurants will give veterans and military peronnel cards for a free Freddy’s original double combo meal. Cards may be redeemed through Nov 30.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steamburgers operates a total of more than 440 locations in 36 states, including 737 Horizon Drive and 2489 U.S. Highway & 50 in Grand Junction and 3232 Interstate 70 Business Loop in Clifton. For more information, visit the website at www.freddys.com.

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Pink the Rink benefit events planned for Grand Junction

A kickoff event is planned as part of the Pink the Rink benefit hockey game in Grand Junction.

The kickoff event is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Handlebar Tap House at 417 Monument Road No. 1.

The Pink the Rink charity game between Colorado Mesa University and Northern Arizona University is set to begin at 4:45 p.m. Nov. 12 at the River City SportsPlex, located at 2515 Riverside Parkway.

Proceeds from the kickoff event and Pink the Rink hockey game will benefit the St. Mary’s Hospital cancer assistance fund.

Online donations can be made by visiting the website located at https://www.sclhealth.org/locations/st-marys-medical-centerfoundation/donate.

Contributions also be mailed in the form of checks to the St Mary’s Hospital Foundation, 2635 N. Seventh St., Grand Junction.

The Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease District has awarded a total of $350,000 in grants to help fund a new library branch and two fire fighting vehicles.

The district awarded a grant for $286,184 to the Mesa County Public Libraries for the construction of the new Clifton branch. The district awarded a grant for $63,816 to the Plateau Valley Fire Protection District for two brush truck cabs and chassis.

“The new Clifton library branch will have a singificant positive community impact for years to come and will be a great benefit to Mesa County,” said Dusti Reimer, grant administrator fo the Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease District.

Dusti Reimer

“The brush trucks for Plateau Valley Fire District will help provide continued protection to our area from fires, search and rescue, accidents and all other emergency service calls that are responded to by the PVFPD.”

The Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease District distributes federal mineral leasing funds to local public entities to support infrastructure, construction and public service projects that address the effects of energy development.

Since its inception in 2011, the district has awarded more than $8.1 million to entities in Mesa County.

For more information about the district, eligibility for grants, grant cycles and upcoming meetings, visit the website at www.mesaFML.org. Information about the district also is available on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MCFMLD and twitter at www.twitter.com/ MesaFMLD.

Thomas Cycyota

Business Briefs Business People Almanac Business Briefs Business People Almanac

n GRAND JUNCTION REALTOR ASSOCIATION PRESENTS AWARDS AT ANNUAL BANQUET

Three agents with Bray & Co. Real Estate were among those honored at the annual Grand Junction Area Realtors Association banquet.

Tyler Harris received the Realtor of the Year Award, the highest honor GJARA bestows, one based on business accomplishments; involvement in the community; and participation in local, state and national associations.

“Winning the Realtor of the Year for GJARA has been a goal of mine since I got into this business in 2017,” Harris said.“I have dedicated myself to making an impact on my community, peers and profession since I began my career. To be recognized for this award is humbling and something I will remember forever.”

Scott Hayduck received the Realtor in Action Award recognizing his community involvement.

“I find it to be an absolute pleasure to be able to give back to such a wonderful community, a community that is so very generous,” Hayduk said. “I am very grateful for all the organizations and volunteers in our community that give of their time, talent and treasure.”

Katie Davis, a commercial broker with Bray Commercial, was elected to the GJARA board of directors.

“I am very honored my fellow Realtors gave me this opportunity to represent them,” Davis said.

In addition to the other awards, Anne Wenzel, president and chief executive officer of the Western Colorado Community Foundation, received the Community Service Award. The foundation manages more than $118 million in assets and 350 charitable funds.

Oct. 27

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n UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PARTNER

JOINS HR CONSULTING SERVICES FIRM

Pamela Drake has joined Lighthouse HR Support in Grand Junction as an unemployment insurance business partner.

Drake brings to her latest role more than 35 years of experience in unemployment and human resources.

She worked in New Mexico as a hearing officer and then directed unemployment claims programs and provided human resources consulting to the New Mexico Hospital Association, Cleveland Hospital Association and Colorado Hospital Association. Most recently, she served more than 100 clients from various industries as the primary contact for the unemployment program and other contracted services through Equifax.

Drake served in various leadership roles with the Colorado Healthcare Association for Human Resource Management. She also served on the advocacy and annual meeting committees of the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration. She received six national awards from the organization.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in education from the State University of New York at Potsdam.

Lighthouse HR Support offers a range of human resource management consulting services for small and medium-sized businesses. The firm combines under one operation what previously were Employer Representatives, Background Research and Krey Benefit Solutions. For more information, call 243-7789 or visit the website located at www.lighthousehrs.net.

Delta man serves on corn committee board

Wayne Brew of Delta is among seven people who serves on a smaller board of directors for the Colorado Corn Administrative Committee.

The Colorado commissioner of agriculture approved a market order change reducing the board from 20 to seven members.

In addition, three directors were elected to leadership positions: Rod Hahn of Yuma, president; Josh Hasart of Bethune, vice president and treasurer; and Matt Mulch of Burlington, secretary.

“I am thankful to have the opportunity to serve as president of the CCAC,” Hahn said. “I am excited with the

new direction of the CCAC and look forward to working with the other directors, the staff and our corn producers across the state for the betterment of the corn industry. I am also excited about the changes to our action teams, as they will be the driving force behind what we’re doing, and I encourage producers to apply to be on these teams.”

The committee oversees the investment of a 1 cent per bushel assessment on education, market development, outreach, regulatory affairs and research to enhance the grain corn industry in Colorado. For more information, visit https://coloradocorn.com.

n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking luncheon, noon to 1 p.m., Dragon Treasure, 576 Kokopelli Drive, Suite A, Fruita. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3893

n Young Professionals Network of Mesa County business after hours paint and pour event, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Angelo’s Pottery, 2478 Patterson Road, Grand Junction. www.ypnmc.org Nov. 1

n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Veterans in Business monthly muster and presentation on services for veterans, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Veterans Art Museum, 307 S. 12th St., Grand Junction. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3893 Nov. 3

n Business startup workshop, 2 to 4 p.m., Business Incubator Center, 2591 Legacy Way, Grand Junction. Admission $55. 243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org Nov. 5

n Palisade Chamber of Commerce member harvest party, noon to 2 p.m., Blue Beryl Winery, 3587 G 7/10 Road. www.palisadecoco.com or 464-7458

Upcoming

n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce Networking at Noon, noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 9, No Coast Sushi, 1119 N. First St, Suite A. Admission $20 for chamber members, $25 for others. https://gjchamber.org or 242-3214

n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce presentation on maximizing chamber membership, noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 9, Fruita Civic Center Independence Room, 325 E. Aspen Ave. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3893

n Palisade Chamber of Commerce mocktail madness with the Mavs free networking event, 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 9, Blue Pig Gallery. 101 W. Third St. https://palisadecoc.com or 464-7458

n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce business after hours, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10, Cattlemen’s Cafe and Catering, 435 J 3/10 Road Admission $5 for chamber members, $10 for others. 858-3893 or https://fruitachamber.org

n Grand Valley BizMix event with the Grand Junction, Palisade and Western Colordo Latino chambers of commerce and Young Professionals Network of Mesa County, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 11, St. Kathryn’s Cellars, 785 Elberta Ave., Palisade. Admission to members-only event $10. 242-3214 or https://gjchamber.org

n Western Colorado Human Resource Association monthly membership luncheon and presentation on the jobs for veterans state grant program, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 16, Mesa County Workforce Center, 512 29 1/2 Road, Grand Junction. Members attend at no additional charge. Others pay $20 to attend in person, $10 virtually. www.wchra.org

Pamela Drake

Katie Davis

Scott Hayduk

Tyler Harris

Anne Wenzel

Almanac

Continued from page 34

n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Women’s Entrepreneurship Day luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 16, Two Rivers Winery, 2087 Broadway, Grand Junction. Admission $30 for chamber members, $40 for others. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3893

n Palisade Chamber of Commerce business after hours, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 16, St. Kathryn’s Cellars. Advance admission $5 for members and $8 for others. Admission at the door, $6 for members and $10 for others. 464-7458 or www.palisadecoco.com

n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends free networking lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Strayhorn Grill, 456 Kokopelli Drive. 858-3893 or https://fruitachamber.org

n Coffee Club free networking meeting, 9 to 10 a.m. Nov. 18, FWorks coworking space, 325 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita 858-3893 or https://fruitachamber.org

n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce business after hours, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, Alpine Bank, 125 N. Park Square. Admission $5 for chamber members, $10 for others. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3893 or 242-3214