The Business Times Volume 29 Issue 21

THE BUSINESS T IMES News NOVEMBER 10-23, 2022

VOLUME 29, ISSUE 21

THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS NEWS SINCE 1994

THEBUSINESSTIMES.COM

TrendsAt the center 4 of workforce Contributors resources Opinion 5 Business Briefs 6 Business People Almanac

In this issue n Rural efforts

The leaders of 10 business groups called on Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to support efforts promoting rural growth.

n Energy revenues Colorado received more than $146 million in a disbursement of revenues from energy production on federal lands.

n New director committed to serving customers at one-stop Mesa County shop. See page 2

n Taxing matters Colorado ranks 21st among the 50 states in an annual comparison of how tax systems affect businesses.

Lindsay Bullock oversees services and programs offered at the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.

n Slowing activity

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Mesa County real estate activity continues to slow as mortgage interest rates rise and uncertainty mounts.

n Ready for winter?

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Holiday parties, snow days and sickness all raise common seasonal questions among employers.

n Reducing risk

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Small business owners can take simple steps to reduce the risk of of costly cybersecurity attacks.

n Departments Almanac Business Briefs Business People Contributors News Opinion Trends

30-31 28 30 21-25 2-18 26-27 19-20

Business Times photos by Phil Castle

n Child care facility to soon open on hospital campus. See page 2

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 67 The Business Times 609 North Ave., Suite 5 Grand Junction, CO 81501

THE BUSINESS T IMES News The Business Times

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November 10-23, 2022

Trends At the center Contributors of workforce resources Opinion Business Briefs L Business People Almanac New director affirms commitment to serving customers of all kinds at one-stop Mesa County shop

indsay Bullock recalls what her mother once told her about what retailers actually sell, and that’s customer service.

Bullock remains mindful of that maxim in her latest role as director of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. What she describes as a one-stop shop provides an array of services to customers, including individuals looking for jobs and businesses looking for employees. “We just want the resources we have to be of the most benefit.”

Bullock also promotes collaboration — among the staff at the center, the businesses with which the center works and other organizations involved in workforce and economic development.

While a tight labor market and changing workplace culture challenge employers, she sees opportunities for new approaches.

Moreover, the Grand Valley offers other perks, she says. “It’s a wonderful place to live.”

Bullock succeeds Curtis Englehart, who left the center in August to become executive director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership. She joins a new generation of leaders that includes Englehart as well as Candace Carnahan at the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce and Dallida Bollig at the Business Incubator Center.

Bullock brings to her duties nearly two years of experience at the center as a career development supervisor. She served the last three months as manager. Before joining the center, she worked as an eligibility specialist and supervisor with the Mesa County Department of Human Services.

She worked with her mother and sister for seven years in operating Bibs to Cribs, a Grand Junction store selling used clothing and furnishings for children as well as other household goods.

See WORKFORCE page 18

Lindsay Bullock settles into her office as the new director of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. Bullock oversees what she describes as a one-stop shop offering an array of programs to people looking for jobs and businesses looking for employees.

STORY AND PHOTO BY PHIL CASTLE

Child’s play: Hospital center expected to open next summer Phil Castle

The Business Times

Chris Thomas, president and chief executive officer of Community Hospital, discusses Adventure Academy, a child care facility expected to open on the hospital campus next summer. (Business Times Photo by Phil Castle)

A facility is expected to open next summer at Community Hospital in Grand Junction to provide child care services to employees there and in turn help address a child care shortage in Mesa County.

Child care is especially important in retaining and recruiting health care workers, said Chris Thomas, president and chief executive officer of Community Hospital. “This is truly a workforce issue for Community Hospital.”

An event at the hospital celebrated the start of construction on Adventure Academy, an early childhood education center. The 7,500-square-foot building will be built on the hospital campus on

G Road and is scheduled for completion around June, Thomas said.

The facility will be licensed to care for up to 100 children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. Thomas said 73 hospital employees are already on a waiting list for services at the center.

The project is expected to cost about $5 million. The hospital has received a total of $2.8 million in federal and state funding to help pay for the project, he said.

The Community Hospital Foundation has launched a campaign to raise an additional $2.5 million. Under a Colorado program, donors will receive a 50 percent state tax credit for their contributions.

Jennifer Knott, operator of Adventure Academy, said the center will include eight See CENTER page 16

November 10-23, 2022

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The Business Times

The Business Times 609 North Ave., Suite 5 Grand Junction, CO 81501 (970) 424-5133 www.thebusinesstimes.com The Business Times is published twice monthly and distributed throughout Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade.

Advertising rates and deadlines are available upon request. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and don’t necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor or advertisers.

Copyright © 2022 — All rights reserved

November 10-23, 2022

Business organizations call on Polis to support rural growth incentives

A group of 10 business and industry organizations in the Grand Valley and Western Colorado have called on Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to support efforts promoting growth in rural areas of the state.

The leaders of the Fruita, Grand Junction and Palisade chambers of commerce and Grand Junction Economic Partnership sent a letter to Polis.

They were joined by the leaders Jared Polis of the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, the Colorado and Mesa County cattlemen’s associations, Club 20, Western Colorado Contractors Association and West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Association.

The groups promote business and economic development and also represent businesses and industries recruiting young professionals to work in Western Colorado.

The letter followed comments Polis made during a candidate debate at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.

A CMU student asked Polis, a Democrat

seeking a second term, and Republican challenger Heidi Ganahl how they’d support young professionals looking to start careers outside the Interstate Highway 25 corridor.

Polis cited the expansion of remote work opportunities.

“While we recognize and appreciate the importance of incorporating remote work into our local economy, we invite you to explore and support opportunities that encourage growth and expansion of existing and new industries that provide stable professional careers within the local workforce which bring a variety of positive impacts to the overall community and economic health,” the letter stated.

“By encouraging and promoting incentives and grants from the State of Colorado that target rural Colorado as prime locations for everything from tech startups to advanced manufacturing, we are able to create a sustainable future that features a healthy workforce within diverse industries,” the letter added. “When not burdened by over-regulation, our legacy industries such as energy, agriculture, construction and outdoor recreation maintain a strong heartbeat to our economic base.”

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Spirit of Christmas Walk scheduled to return to downtown Grand Junction

A free holiday event featuring entertainers and treats is scheduled to return to downtown Grand Junction.

The Spirit of Christmas Walk is set for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9.

More than 300 roving entertainers are expected to perform along Main Street and in downtown businesses — everyone from carolers to bluegrass pickers to jazz bands. Some entertainers will rove through downtown, while others will remain in place.

Participating businesses will remain open until 8:30 p.m. and serve complimentary beverages and other holiday treats.

Horse-drawn hayrides will be available.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus also will on hand.

Downtown merchants invite entertainers — amateur and professional — of all kinds to join in the event. That includes clowns, comedians, drama groups, magicians, mimes, magicians, jugglers and poets. Individual musicians and bands also are encouraged to participate, including barbershop quartets, choirs and school bands.

For additional information about the upcoming Spirit of Christmas Walk, contact Mark Smith at Main Street Bagels by email at info@mainstreetbagels.net.

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November 10-23, 2022

The Business Times

Colorado receives $146.2 million share of energy revenues 2022 revenues top $10 million in Mesa County Colorado received $146.2 million in the latest disbursement of revenues from energy production on federal lands in the state.

The money was part of more than $21.5 billion disbursed by the U.S. Department of Interior Office of Natural Resources Revenue during the 2022 fiscal year.

The offices makes most disbursements monthly from the royalties, rents and bonuses it collects from energy and mineral companies operating on federal lands and waters. Since 1982, the Interior Department has distributed more than $353 billion.

The overall disbursement for the 2022 fiscal year was the second largest since 1983. Renewable energy programs generated record revenues and included $4.27 billon from the New York Bight offshore wind lease sale.

A total of $4.36 billion was disbursed to 33 states.

The disbursement also included $10.64 billion to the U.S. Treasury, more than $3.3 billion to the reclamation fund,

nearly $1.6 billion to tribes and individual mineral owners, $460 million to federal agencies and $150 million to an historic preservation fund.

Colorado ranked fourth among states receiving the largest disbursements. New Mexico ranked first with $2.74 billion, followed by Wyoming with $785.73 million and North Dakota with 163.65 million.

Revenue for the 2022 fiscal year in Colorado totaled more than $393 million.

Revenue from natural gas production accounted for nearly half of that at almost $174 million. Another $98.6 million in revenue came from oil production and almost $22.4 million from coal.

Revenue in Mesa County exceeded $10.1 million, almost $9.5 million of that from royalities.

Mesa County ranked six among Colorado counties for revenues. Garfield County ranked first with nearly $130 million in revenues, followed by Weld County with $96.8 million and Rio Blanco County with $69.4 million.

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Colorado ranks 21st in state tax comparison Colorado ranks 21st among the 50 taxes, but also how well they HOW STATES RATE states in the latest comparison of how tax structure their tax systems. systems affect businesses.

Colorado ranked 20th Here are the top and bottom Colorado fared well in the 2023 State in the 2022 index and has five rankings in the 2023 State Business Tax Climate Index for lower ranged between 19th and Business Tax Climate Index: corporate and individual income taxes, 23rd in the index since 2014.

1. Wyoming 46. Maryland but less so for property and sales taxes and For the 2023 index, 2. South Dakota 47. Connecticut unemployment insurance.

Colorado ranked seventh 3. Alaska 48. California The Tax Foundation — a nonprofit, for the lowest corporate tax 4. Florida 49. New York nonpartisan tax research organization based rate and 14th for the lowest 5. Montana 50. New Jersey in Washington, D.C. — compiles the index individual income tax rate.

The state ranked fared less to compare states for the competitiveness of their tax codes. The index takes into account variables in well at 36th for property taxes, 40th for sales taxes and five major areas of taxation: corporate and individual income 42nd for unemployment insurance taxes. taxes, property and sales taxes and unemployment insurance.

Wyoming remained atop the 2023 State Business The index compares not only how much states collect in Climate Index for a 10th straight year. Wyoming imposes

no corporate or individual income taxes and ranked sixth for sales tax.

South Dakota remained second and also imposes no corporate or individual income taxes. Alaska ranked third, followed by Florida at fourth and Montana at fifth. Alaska imposes no individual income tax or sales tax. Florida imposes no individual income tax. Montana imposes no sales tax.

New Jersey remained last in the 2023 index at 50th.

The state imposes some of the highest corporate and individual income taxes as well as property and sales taxes.

New York ranked 49th with the highest individual income tax and comparatively high property and sales taxes. California ranked 48th, followed by Connecticut at 47th and Maryland at 46th.

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November 10-23, 2022

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Genetic counselor joins hospital A genetic counselor has joined Grand Valley Oncology at Community Hospital in Grand Junction.

Rachel Lawrence brings to her practice training in prenatal, pediatric, cancer, ocular and adult general genetics. She works with patients diagnosed with cancer, including breast, colon, endometrial, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancers. Many patients Rachel works with have a family history of cancer or known disease- Rachel Lawrence causing mutation in their families. Referrals for genetic counseling must come from primary care physicians.

“I like to think of genetic counselors as a being a translator of sorts,” Lawrence said. “I love being able to convey complex or overwhelming information in a digestible and accessible way.

I aim to meet my patients where they are at and support them in their decision making.”

Lawrence has worked in genetic counseling for two years and received board certification in August. She holds a master’s degree

in human genetics and genetic counseling from Thomas Jefferson University. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware with a major in psychology and double minors in biology and genetic counseling.

Sarah Watson, practice director for Grand Valley Oncology, hailed the addition. “We are extremely fortunate and excited to have Rachel at Grand Valley Oncology. As the only genetic counselor in the Grand Valley, Rachel helps patients and family members assess hereditary cancer risks as well as address the need for increased screening and eligibility for targeted treatment.”

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.

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Small business group honors West Slope lawmaker State Rep. Matt Soper is among six winners of awards presented by the National Federation of Independent Business.

Soper, a Republican from Delta who represents District 54 in the Colorado House of Representatives, received the Guardian of Small Business Award.

“Although there were others who had good pro small business voting records in the last session of the Colorado Legislature, Matt Soper six went the extra mile for mom-and-pop enterprises, especially on Senate Bill 22-234 dealing with the

state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. And for that, we’re proud to honor them as Guardians of Small Business,” said Tony Gagliardi, state director of the NFIB in Colorado.

The other Guardians of Small Business Award winners were State Rep. Richard Holtor and State Sens. Larry Liston, Paul Lundeen and Rob Woodward. An award for State Rep. Hugh McKean, the House minority leader, will be presented posthumously.

A nonprofit, nonpartisan and member-driven association, the NFIB advocates on behalf of small business owners at all 50 state capitals as well as Washington, D.C. F

November 10-23, 2022

Applicants sought for federal funding for food and shelter Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. Nov. 28 for funding offered through the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

Mesa County was awarded nearly $66,000 through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency to supplement existing emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

United Way of Mesa County will administer the award. A volunteer emergency food and shelter program board will determine how the funds are distributed.

Funding is available to nonprofit organizations or government agencies in Mesa County with the demonstrated capability to administer food and shelter programs.

To qualify, applicants must have accounting systems and volunteer boards of directors as well as practice nondiscrimination.

For more information about applying for the funds, contact Keira Clark at United Way of Mesa County by email at Keira@uwmesacounty.org or telephone at 243-5364.

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November 10-23, 2022

New network offers support to Colorado manufacturers

A network has been launched to provide additional resources to Colorado manufacturers.

The Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association joined with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Economic Development Council of Colorado, Sustainment Technologies and Manufacturer’s Edge to launch the Colorado Manufacturing Network (CMN).

Access to the platform is free for manufacturers and support organizations to help them connect with other manufacturers and organizations as well as commercial and government buyers.

Buyers pay a subscription to access sourcing algorithms and other tools to help them connect with manufacturers Colorado manufacturers can create a profile and access the benefits online at manufacturersedge.com/co-mfg-network.

Sustaintment Technologies offers software enabling United States-based manufacturers to find and interact with suppliers to build resilient supplier networks.

Steve Carroll, chief operating officer of Sustainment, said the platform offers value beyond connecting buyers and sellers. “Our buyers demand accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information, and they want to know the people behind the business.

Our ongoing mission is to provide a level of value, trust and user experience that drives our manufacturing community to not only provide their information, but to engage with the platform on a regular basis.”

Manufacturer’s Edge, the official manufacturing partnership center for Colorado, will administer the network.

The platform is expected to drive more businesses to manufacturers, help buyers localize and strengthen supply chains and coordinate support resources.

Jennifer Hagan-Dier, vice president and chief operating officer of Manufacturer’s Edge, said manufacturers are stronger together. “Investments of time and money in ecosystem building increase collaboration, leverage existing resources and provide opportunities to identify and drive initiatives to benefit Colorado manufacturers.”

Glenn Plagens, chief executive office of Manufacturer’s Edge, said the effort is an important one. “The Colorado Manufacturing Network resides on the most robust supply chain tool in the country.

Manufacturer’s Edge is proud to partner with Sustainment and other statewide organizations CAMA, EDCC and OEDIT to convene the Colorado Manufacturing Network. We are at a time of significant importance for manufacturing. Utilizing the Sustainment platform, the Colorado Manufacturing Network will bring the connections, tools and resources to the manufacturing community that they need to grow and prosper.”

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November 10-23, 2022

System allows city customers to keep track of water use

Customers who purchase water from the City of Grand Junction can now monitor water use through online accounts.

The advanced metering infrastructure system shows customers how much water they’re using, helping them to conserve water and manage monthly spending.

“The benefits of the new online smart water meter system for customers include being able to detect any leaks before they show up on the monthly water bill,” said Randi Kim, director Randi Kim of the Grand Junction Utilities Department.

“Not only does the new system eliminate surprises that could impact the commercial or household budget, but customers can manage their own usage to help conserve this important natural resource.”

The department recently completed a three-year program to replace the remaining meters that were read in person.

A $300,000 grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation supported the project.

The new system uses a small radio device to transmit low-power radio signals from water meters to receivers positioned on buildings or towers around the city. By providing data transmitted electronically from more than 9,800 meters, the utilities department has eliminated the need to send technicians in trucks to read customer meters for monthly bills.

Through software, customers have direct access online to water usage information. Customers can track water usage in nearly real time through the online customer portal.

An alert system detects unusually high water usage to find leaks within the same day rather than waiting for this to be found when the monthly water bill arrives. Customers also can identify ways to conserve water — fixing a leaky toilet or reducing the frequency of landscape watering, for example.

“This transition to the AMI system is one more way we are providing efficient, safe and reliable water services to our customers,” Kim said.

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Library closures set

Mesa County Library locations will be closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and again on Nov. 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving.

In addition, library locations will close early at 6 p.m. on Nov. 23.

Patrons can visit the website located at https://mesacountylibraries.org to renew materials, place holds or access other library resources. A list of library locations and hours also is available from the website.

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November 10-23, 2022

Fruit and vegetable growers plan annual conference Registration is expected to open in December for the annual conference of the Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA).

The keynote session will address production challenges in the face of drought and climate change.

“With drought that is unprecedented in our lifetimes, agriculture is aware it must quickly find solutions to raise the Bruce Talbott food needed by growing populations in our country and our world and to do it with less water,” said Bruce Talbott, a Palisade grower who serves as president of the CFVGA. “We hope this session will inspire innovation to address our state’s water shortage.”

The conference is set for Feb. 21 and 22 at the Westin

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

For more information about the Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association conference, visit the website at https://pheedloop.com/ CFVGA2023/site/home.

Hotel in Westminster. The CFVGA represents more than 250 members, including growers involved in all sizes and types of production throughout Colorado as well as representatives of allied industries.

Conference participants will choose from a variety of educational sessions covering research and production practices, produce pricing strategies and food safety techniques. Sessions also will address the Ag Labor Rights

& Responsibilities Act and workforce resources gleaned from farmworker ergonomic research.

The evening keynote session set for Feb. 21 and titled “Agriculture Climate Resiliency Tools and Policy Opportunities,” will feature A.G. Kawamura, former secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Kawamura is founding co-chairman of Solutions from the Land, a non-profit organization developing collaborations for 21st century agriculture. He serves on multiple boards and committees, including the Southern California Water Coalition, Farm Foundation Board and Western Growers Association Board.

The conference also will include a grower-buyer networking session as well as exhibitors showcasing produce production goods and services.

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Center

Continued from page 2 classrooms, three playgrounds, a commercial kitchen and nursery.

The center will provide what Knott described as a childcentric experience with a play-based curriculum.

The center will create 20 new jobs paying living wages and offering career pathways, she said.

The center also will help in addressing a child care shortage in Mesa County. According to one estimate, 4,000 child care slots are needed to meet workforce demands.

Stephanie Bivins, director of the Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families, said many people struggle with finding child care. That hinders their ability to work. “We need to improve access to child care in Mesa County.”

The Adventure Academy will help, as will a early childhood education center and training center planned as part of a community

The Business Times FOR YOUR INFORMATION For more information about the Adventure Academy at Community Hopital, including donating to the project, visit www.YourCommunityHospital.com/Childcare. campus under construction on a 27-acre site on D 1/2 Road in Clifton, Bivins said.

Nicole Riehl, president and chief executive officer of Executives Partnering to Invest in Children, praised Community Hospital for helping to address child care issues. Based in Denver, the nonprofit organization promotes early childhood policies and investments in Colorado that in turn support the workforce and economy.

“Thanks to this amazing team for getting this done,” Riehl said.

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November 10-23, 2022

Long-running fund-raiser helps schools with theatrics

A total of more than $15,000 will be awarded to theater programs at four Mesa County School District 51 high schools, proceeds from what was billed as the 240Mile Theater Run. Mark Leistico raised the money while participating in the Moab 240 Endurance Run. “Of course, being able to accomplish something like running 240 miles is pretty Mark Leistico cool. But to me, it’s nothing compared to the impact these programs have with very limited resources. I just hope I was able make a difference and tell their stories well enough to convey how vital they are to our kids and community,” said Leistico, a Grand Valley chiropractor.

Of the total, $2,007 will be awarded each to Fruita Monument and Palisade high schools, while $5,007 will go to Grand Junction High School and $6,007 to Central High School.

Amanda Meltzer, theater director at Central High School, praised the contribution and Leistico’s efforts. “Thank you so much Mark for this donation and commitment to D51 theater. You are an inspiration to all our students and have shown all of us that we can do hard things. Running might be an individual achievement, but your theater family has been here cheering you the whole time, and we are so proud and thankful for you. With this donation, we can keep our program running and do some incredible productions that I once only thought we could do in our dreams.”

Audrey Neumiller, theater director at Grand Junction High School, also said she was grateful. “When a community member partners with a school program, it sends a strong message to our students that the community cares and supports what they are working so hard on. Mark’s donation to GJHS Theatre Department will directly impact over 100 students this year. It will be used to buy materials for our upcoming musical ‘Treasure Island.’ Thank you so much Mark.”

Christian Herring, theater director at Fruita Momument High School, agreed.

“We truly appreciate Mark’s passionate and inspiring efforts to support the artistry of theater here in School District 51.”

Camryn Leistico, a member of the Central High School Theater Club, also said she appreciated her father’s efforts.

“I am so grateful for my dad for running 240 miles to raise money for me and the other theater kids in the valley just so we could continue to do something we love. I love him so much for that.”

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Workforce

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November 10-23, 2022

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

The Mesa County Workforce internships and on-the-job Continued from page 2 Center is located at 512 29 1/2 training.

Bullock holds a bachelor’s of business Road in Grand Junction.

The goal, Bullock administration degree from Colorado Mesa For more information about says, is to offer in one place University in Grand Junction. programs and services, log on the resources people and to https.mcwfc.us.

Bullock says she’s excited to start her businesses need. Regardless new job, further develop partnerships and of their positions, staff build on what’s already been accomplished. members are committed to helping people and businesses, “I love what we do here.”

Her new job involves “a little bit of everything,” she she says. “Everything we do for our customers falls within your job description.” says.

Bullock says she values collaboration both as an She oversees as staff of 65 at the workforce center who in turn administer a variety of programs and provide administrator at the center and partner with other Grand Valley organizations. a range of services. “We have a great team here.”

The center works with Mesa County School District For those looking for employment, Bullock says the center offers help with job searches, completing resumes 51, CMU and Western Colorado Community College to and preparing for interviews. Classes help participants pass help graduates find employment and keep talent in the the General Educational Development Test. Additional help Grand Valley, she says.

The center also works with the Grand Junction is available in earning commercial drivers licenses. That’s Economic Partnership, Business Incubator Center and not to mention assistance with childcare and other resources.

For businesses looking for employees, Bullock says local chambers of commerce to develop the workforce, the center posts job openings and hosts hiring events. bridge gaps in skills and training and meet the needs of The center also can help write job descriptions and businesses, she says.

The Mesa County labor market remains tight, Bullock screen applicants. Additional assistance is available with

says. The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.4 percent in September, the latest month for which estimates are available.

Most industry sectors have struggled with labor shortages, she says. The situation has been especially challenging for the health care sector and what’s one of the biggest employers in the Grand Valley People are relocating to the Grand Valley, she says, many of them from the Front Range of Colorado. But a lot of them work remotely. They live in the Grand Valley, but still work for employers in Denver and elsewhere.

New and different approaches could be needed to address labor shortages, Bullock says. That could include dividing full-time positions into part-time positions allowing more flexibility for those who fill them — high school and college students, for example, or parents of young children in school.

Her advice to business owners and managers?

“It’s just a matter of keeping an open mind.”

And keeping in mind the Mesa County Workforce Center offers programs that could help — along with a continued commitment to customer service.

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Colorado celebration promotes benefits of apprenticeships

A month-long celebration in November brings together businesses leaders, government agencies and educational institutions to raise awareness of registered apprenticeship programs in Colorado.

“Apprenticeships are essential to the evolution of Colorado’s future workforce and will enhance the state’s competitive edge by empowering our businesses — and our people — with the talent Joe Barela and skills our economy needs to thrive and innovate,” said Joe Barela, executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Apprenticeship Month comes after the enactment of a state law creating the State Apprenticeship Agency in the Office of Future Work in the state labor department.

The agency will work to accelerate the adoption, development and promotion of registered apprenticeship programs and ensure programs comply with state and federal laws.

“Apprenticeships are a critical tool to prepare Colorado’s workers and businesses for the future of work, and we are excited to celebrate this powerful model throughout the month of November especially as we prepare to launch our State Apprenticeship Agency next July,” said Katherine Keegan, director of the Office of Future Work.

More information about Apprenticeship Month as well as apprenticeship programs is available on the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment apprenticeship page at https://cdle.colorado.gov/offices/officeof-the-future-of-work/apprenticeshipcolorado.

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News Trends Contributors Real estate sales slow Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac

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INDICATORS AT A GLANCE

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. t National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index 91.3 for October, down 0.8.

n Foreclosures

s Foreclosure filings in Mesa County, 20 in October, up from 1 in October 2021. t Foreclosure sales in Mesa County, 2 in October, down from 3 in October 2021.

n Indexes

t Conference Board Employment Trends Index, 119.57 for October, down 1.16. t Conference Board Leading Economic Index 115.9 for September, down 0.4%. t Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index for manufacturing, 50.2% for October, down 0.7%.

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, 339 in October, down 29.4% from October 2021. t Dollar volume of real estate transactions in Mesa County, $144.3 million in October, down 29.3% from October 2021

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. s United States — 3.7% for October, up 0.2.

But Mesa County market still showing signs of “surprising” strength Phil Castle

Business Times

Real estate activity continues to slow in Mesa County even as interest rates rise and uncertainty mounts over a possible recession and the aftermath of a midterm election.

Annette Young, the administrative coordinator at Heritage Title Co. who’s long tracked the market, said local trends are similar to what’s happening elsewhere.

“I think it’s kind of expected when you see what’s going on at a national level.”

Annette Young Although the number of transactions and combined dollar volume in Mesa County have dropped compared to a record breaking 2021, the market also shows some signs of resiliency, said Robert Bray, chief executive officer of Bray & Co. Real Estate in Grand Junction.

“The strength of the market is still surprising.”

Young said 339 transactions worth a total of $144.3 million were reported in Mesa County in October. Compared to the same month last year, transactions decreased Robert Bray 29.4 percent and dollar volume dropped 29.3 percent. While nine large transactions worth a collective $24.5 million bolstered dollar volume in October 2022, 18 transactions accounted for a total of $50 million a year ago.

Through the first 10 months of 2022, 4,195 transactions worth a total of nearly $1.83 billion were reported. Compared to the same span in 2021, transactions decreased 19.2 percent and dollar volume fell 5.5 percent.

Young and Bray said the trends reflect the rising interest rates on mortgages that have followed government efforts to curb inflation. Bray said the “trifecta” of factors affecting real estate activity also includes expectations of recession and the uncertainty that comes with an election.

According to numbers Bray & Co. tracks for the residential market in Mesa County, 249 transactions worth a total of more than $99.5 million were reported in October. Compared to the same month last year, transactions fell 21 percent and dollar volume declined 13.6 percent.

Through the first 10 months of 2022, 2,883 residential transactions worth a total of nearly $1.23 billion were reported.

Compared to the same span in 2021, transactions fell 16.8 percent and dollar volume decreased 2.8 percent.

The good news, Bray said, is the slower pace of sales has bolstered inventory and in turn selection for buyers. At of the end of October, there were 602 active listings in Mesa County. That’s up 53.6 percent from the 392 listings a year ago.

New home construction continues to lag behind last year, however, as higher interest rates and the costs of labor and materials slow building, he said. Through the first 10 months of 2022, 645 building permits for single-family homes were issued in Mesa County. That’s down 18.7 percent from the same span in 2021.

Despite the slowdown in sales, home prices continue to rise.

The median price of homes sold through the first 10 months of 2022 rose 18 percent on a year-over-year basis to $385,900.

It’s a seller’s market, Bray said, with more than 98 percent of homes sold receiving list price.

Looking ahead, Bray said he expects real estate activity to continue to trend down and end the year below 2021 levels. Prices could continue to rise, but at a slower pace.

But the downturn is different than past shifts, he said. There’s still a shortage of housing and the labor market remains strong.

Property foreclosure activity continues to increase in Mesa County, Young said. Through the first 10 months of 2022, 208 foreclosure filings and 41 sales were reported. That contrasts with 22 filings and 18 sales for the same period in 2021.

Foreclosure activity has increased in part because forbearance measures are no longer in place. But activity hasn’t yet reached a worrisome level, she said.

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Small Business Optimism Index retreats A measure of optimism among small business owners has retreated on less upbeat expectations.

“Owners continue to show a dismal view about future sales growth and business conditions, but are still looking to hire new workers,” said Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist of the National Federation of Independent Business.

“Inflation, supply chain disruptions and labor shortages continue to limit the ability of many small businesses to meet the demand for their products and services,” Dunkelberg said. Bill Dunkelberg The NFIB reported its Small Business Optimism Index fell eight-tenths of a point to 91.3 between September and October. The index has remained below its 49-year average of 98 for 10 consecutive months.

The NFIB bases the index on the results of monthly surveys of members of the small business advocacy group, most of them small business owners.

For October, seven of 10 components of the index decreased, two increased and one remained unchanged.

The portion of NFIB members responding to the survey upon which the October index was based who expect the economy to improve fell another two points. At a net negative 46 percent, more members anticipate worsening conditions.

A net 23 percent of survey respondents reported plans for capital outlays, down a point from September. A net 5 percent said they consider now a good time to expand, also down a point.

The share of those who expect increased sales fell three points.

At a net negative 13 percent, more predicted decreased sales.

Expectations for profits rose a point, but only to a net negative 30 percent. Among those reporting lower profits, 34 percent cited higher materials costs, 22 percent blamed weaker sales and 12 percent pointed to higher labor costs.

A net 2 percent of respondents planned to increase inventories, up two points. A net 0 percent reported current inventories were too low, down a point.

A net 20 percent reported plans to increase employment, down three points. A net 46 percent reported unfilled job openings, unchanged from September.

Asked to identify their single most important problem, 33 percent cited inflation, up three points from September. Another 23 percent the quality of labor and 12 percent taxes.

A net 50 percent of respondents reported raising average selling prices, down a point. Price hikes were most frequent in the retail, wholesale and construction sectors.

A net 44 percent reported raising compensation, down a point. A net 32 percent said they expect to raise compensation in the next three months, up nine points to the highest level in a year.

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The Business Times

U.S. payrolls grow, but at slower pace Payrolls continues to increase in the United States, but at the slowest pace in nearly two years.

Nonfarm payrolls grew 261,000 in October as the national unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a point to 3.7 percent, according to the latest estimates from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The October increase was the smallest monthly job gain since December 2020.

The payroll gain for September was revised upward 52,000 to 315,000. The gain for August was revised downward 23,000 to 292,000.

With the latest numbers, payrolls have increased an average of 407,000 a month in 2022.

For October, 6.1 million people were counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work. Of those, 1.2 million have been out of work 27 weeks or longer. Another 3.7 million people were

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

The labor participation rate edged down a tenth of a point to 62.2 percent, still below the rate before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

Payroll gains for October were spread out among industry sectors. Employment increased 53,000 in health care, 43,000 in professional and technical services, 35,000 in leisure and hospitality and 32,000 in manufacturing.

The average work week remained unchanged at 34.5 hours for a fifth consecutive month. The average manufacturing work week edged up a tenth of an hour to 40.4 hours.

Average hourly earnings increased 12 cents to $32.58. Hourly earnings have increased 4.7 percent over the past year.

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November 10-23, 2022

Labor index falls

A monthly index tracking labor trends in the United States signals continued job growth, but at a slowing pace.

The Conference Board Reported its Employment Trends Index fell 1.16 points to 119.57 in October.

Frank Steemers, senior economist at the Conference Board, said job growth likely will continue over the next months. But tightening monetary policy imposed by the Federal Reserve to curb inflation is expected to slow the pace of hiring by early 2023.

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Trends Contributors Opinion Ready for winter?

Business Briefs Business People Almanac

November 10-23, 2022

The Business Times

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COMING ATTRACTIONS

n The Business Incubator Center has scheduled presentations on accounting, startups and social media marketing.

A presentation on setting cash flow budgets using Microsoft Excel is set for noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 15 at the center, located at 2591 Legacy Way in Grand Junction.

A class on the fundamentals of using Excel spreadsheets is set for 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Nov. 22. Admission is $35.

The next session of a business startup workshop is set for 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 1. The workshop will cover business planning, financing options, legal structures, licensing requirements, state registration and trade name searches. Admission is $55.

A workshop on using social media marketing to grow businesses is set for 3 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6.

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 A presentation on the jobs for veterans state grant program is planned as part of the next Western Colorado Human Resource Association luncheon meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 to 1 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Mesa County Workforce Center, 512 29 1/2 Road in Grand Junction.

WCHRA members attend at no additional charge, others pay $20 to attend in person, $10 for a virtual presentation.

To register or obtain more information, visit www.wchra.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. n The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its annual economic outlook luncheon for noon to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Mesa County Workforce Center.

The event will feature Richard Wobbekind, senior economist and faculty director with the business research center of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Admission is $20 for chamber members, $25 for others.

To register for or obtain more information about upcoming chamber events, log on to https//gjchamber.org or call 242-3214.

’Tis the season for employers to ponder important questions As I drove south on U.S. Highway 50 and 550 recently, I noticed a series of signs advising me to check my tires and asking whether I was ready for winter. Of course, being physically and emotionally prepared for winter are different subjects.

Employers must prepare for winter, too. This column will cover a few of the most common questions I receive from employers approaching the winter and holiday seasons.

Are organizations hosting holiday parties again?

Some leaders believe COVID-19 and the increase in remote employment killed the holiday party forever.

Gray & Christmas — an Dean Challenger, executive staffing and coaching firm Harris — reported last year 26.6 percent of companies planned to host in-person holiday parties, up from the 5.33 percent that reported they would do so in 2020. Early 2022 surveys indicated more organizations intend to hold in-person parties this year than last. The traditional holiday party is down, but not yet out.

Is our organization liable for alcohol-related incidents arising from our holiday party?

Generally, if the party is organized properly, no.

Colorado’s “dram shop” law holds a social host isn’t legally liable for the actions of a guest who’s served alcohol by the social host unless the host serves alcohol to minors. Many, if not most, employers host parties at restaurants or other food and beverage providers. This transfers responsibility for monitoring overconsumption to staff trained to do so.

The state dram law holds that an alcohol vendor, unlike a social host, is liable for incidents related to alcohol use if the vendor knowingly and willfully sells alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person.

But this isn’t the most important consideration for most employers. No employer wants to create a situation that ends in tragedy regardless of where the legal liability lies. Employers hosting a party where alcohol is available should consider several options for discouraging overconsumption. n Don’t provide an open bar. Instead, consider a cash bar or provide a limited number of tickets for free drinks. n Consider limiting offered drinks to wine and beer instead of hard liquor. Also provide a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks. n Stop offering alcohol at least an hour before the party ends. Serve coffee, desserts and plenty of water and non-alcoholic drinks during this time. n Arrange to get employees home safely. Offer free cabs or ride-hailing services and enlist designated drivers.

It’s snowing. Do I have pay employees on snow days?

The answer depends on two other questions. Is the organization closed for the day, and is the employee classified as non-exempt or exempt from overtime?

The question is simpler for non-exempt employees.

The Fair Labor Standards Act only requires an employer to pay non-exempt employees for the time they actually work. Some employers provide paid leave when the office is actually closed as opposed to the office remaining open while the employee has difficulty getting to work. In that case, employers usually allow employees to use available time off benefits.

This isn’t the most important consideration for most employers. No employer wants to create a situation that ends in tragedy regardless of where the legal liability lies. Employers hosting a party where alcohol is available should consider several options for discouraging overconsumption.

The answer is a bit more complicated with exempt employees. The employer must pay the exempt employee for a closure caused by the employer or operating requirements of the business. This includes business closures caused by weather or such circumstances as power outages.

If the exempt employee chooses to stay home because of bad weather, the employer must still pay the employee for the day if the exempt employee performs work during the day. But the employer may require the exempt employee to use paid time off benefits for any time the employee isn’t performing work, just as it may under normal circumstances.

The increase in remote employment makes this question moot to a certain degree. Employees already working from home may continue to do so while the snow piles up. Many employees who normally commute to work are equipped to work from home. The employer may allow or direct the employee to do so. But the employer should consider that employees who don’t work regularly from home might not have sufficient work available to make this practical.

My employee says they’re only coughing because of the dry air. Can I send home employees who appear sick?

Can I require them to use sick leave?

An employer may send home employees who appear to be sick with a communicable disease. Employers should make available sick leave or other paid leave just as it would for an employee call-in. But the employer should make sure it takes this approach consistently with all employees who appear to have a communicable disease.

And watch for more serious issues. I recently spoke with an employer whose employee persistently coughed, but claimed the cough was not caused by a communicable illness. The employer could need to explore whether reasonable accommodations are required for illnesses that rise to the level of a disability.

Employers should prepare now for a successful winter season. The Employers Council offers members counsel and resources on these questions and other seasonal employment issues.

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

Contact Harris at dharris@employerscouncil.org or (970) 852-0190.

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The Business Times

November 10-23, 2022

To create thriving businesses, create raving fans When customers like — or better yet — love your business, they give you their patronage and share their glowing recommendations. Business owners who want to create enterprises that survive challenging times and thrive in easy times should endeavor to create raving fans of their customers.

Over the past two plus years, I’ve encountered business owners proud to share positive feedback from new customers. Those customers used to frequent other businesses before the COVID-19 pandemic. But those firms dropped the ball with service. Owners told me customers felt respected, cared for and welcomed by their team members and would now do business with them.

Marcus The most effective way to create Straub raving fans of your customers is to first create raving fans of your team members.

They interact with your patrons and deliver customer service.

In many instances, team members control the quality of the products and services you provide. If your team members don’t trust respect, like and appreciate you, your business will suffer due to decreased customer satisfaction.

How do business owners and managers create raving fans of their team members? n People want to be liked and accepted. This is a basic need. We typically treat people we like differently from those we don’t like. When you like someone, you take an interest in them, build relationships and care about them. They know it. They also know when you don’t like or care about them.

Your team members aren’t merely assets, resources or cogs in the wheel of business. They’re human beings

The most effective way to create raving fans of your customers is to first create raving fans of your team members.

with lives, challenges, fears, hopes and dreams just like you. Get to know your people. Most team members who are treated this way develop a real sense of loyalty and commitment to the business and the customers it serves.

When people on your team feel cared about, they return the favor to you and your customers. n People want to feel valued and appreciated. Don’t you? Now, more than ever, praise team members for jobs well done. They aren’t going to be perfect. But if they give their best in caring for your customers, let them know you value and appreciate them.

There are many ways to show your genuine appreciation of your team members. Knowing what they value matters.

When a member of your team is on time, does consistently high-quality work, improves their skills and abilities and treats your customers with the utmost regard, reward them accordingly. Otherwise, they’ll work for another business and turn its customers into raving fans. n People want to feel important. They want to know they matter and contribute to the team. Creating this feeling in your team members is as easy as involving them in the decision-making process. If you’re truly running the company and they’re working in operations, your team members likely will be aware of things you’re not.

Ask for, listen to and really consider their input as you make decisions and implement changes. This doesn’t mean you’ll take action on every suggestion. It does mean

you think enough of your team members — and ultimately your customers — to get their perspectives and implement their great ideas when and where you can.

Team members who are treated well are typically more engaged, motivated, caring, loyal and willing to go the extra mile for customers because the business owner does the same for them. Turnover decreases as efficiency and productivity increase. Sales are captured, not lost.

It’s important to realize customer loyalty starts at the top — with the business owner. Who you are and how you treat people when doing business will determine customer satisfaction, loyalty and success. As you begin to involve, value, care for, recognize and support your team members to a greater degree, the quality of your business will rise along with them.

Given the challenges of a possible recession, more COVID, continued labor shortages and high inflation, I urge you to understand and honor the symbiotic relationships among you, your team members and customers. When your team members are your biggest fans, they create raving fans of your customers. Happy customers are repeat customers.

They spend more of their hard-earned money with you and constitute a great source of referrals.

Marcus Straub owns Life is Great Coaching in Grand Junction. His personalized coaching and consulting services help individuals, business owners, executives and companies build teams, organizations and lives filled with happiness and success. Straub is winner of the International Coach of the Year Award and author of “Is It Fun Being You?” He’s available for free consultations regarding coaching, speaking and trainings.

Reach Straub at 208-3150, marcus@ligcoaching.com or through the website located at www.ligcoaching.com.

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November 10-23, 2022

The Business Times

Beware: Bossware can backfire Perhaps you’ve decided the simple data collection applications to monitor employee activities I mentioned in my last column aren’t sufficient. You want to take the next step.

What might that step be? Implementing the dreaded bossware.

What is bossware? The term means different things to different people, but essentially it’s software enabling managers to track keystrokes and mouse clicks as well as capture screenshots of monitors to see what employees are doing. The prevalence of intrusive, detail-oriented monitoring software has increased during the extended period of Janet remote working.

Why bossware? Many managers — Arrowood especially those unsure of themselves and their employees — seem to subscribe to a theory: “If I can’t see you, you can’t possibly be working.”

Bossware provides them a means to quantitatively assess the level of activity of their employees.

What might be some the negative aspects of bossware? n Increased employee stress and absenteeism — along with an associated reduction in productivity. n Attempts by employees to get around the monitoring, perhaps by using a mouse jiggler to create movement and apparent activity — at least while they run to the restroom or grab a cup of coffee. n Feelings of invasion of privacy. n A sense managers and the company doesn’t trust employees.

Some of the more common bossware software includes products from Teramind, ActivTrak and Hubstaff. These products offer features that can include tracking applications used by employees, noting the websites they visit, taking screenshots of their activities and monitoring keystrokes and mouse clicks.

It’s tempting to monitor the keystrokes of employees, especially those who aren’t in the office. But consider the way

Page 23

Trust is essential to a good working relationship and an acceptable level of productivity. remote workers tend to do things. They might work on weekends, late into evenings or early in mornings, using the same computer for work and personal activities. How are you going to distinguish between the two types of uses?

If they’re using a computer provided by the company, they could occasionally break off work activities to handle some personal items — just as they almost certainly did when they were in the office. How are you going to decide when the employee is working and not working?

This isn’t to say this intrusive level of monitoring is all bad.

There are certainly some remote workers who abuse the system.

Keystroke, website or other monitoring could help identify and correct the situation.

If you’re going to use a simple monitoring system such as Zoom or Slack, you probably want to let your employees know.

If you’re going to use a more intrusive data collection tool, definitely be transparent and tell your employees. Trust is essential to a good working relationship and an acceptable level of productivity. Monitoring could erode or even wipe out this trust.

When does monitoring make sense? When there are security issues and you need to protect data, documents and activities.

More on that next time.

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.

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Page 24

The Business Times

November 10-23, 2022

Failure to communicate perpetuates war at work

A silent war pitting quiet quitting against quiet firing rages on in the workplace. What are the catalysts for this behavior? The relationship isn’t always direct and could serve as an endless, tiring and unproductive feedback loop between employers and employees.

We’re all aware of the increased buzz around quiet quitting. Workers do only enough to get by because of burnout or dissatisfaction with pay and working conditions. But there’s also a growing trend of managers striking back with their own passive aggression.

Some managers could be in the throes of quiet quitting themselves, avoiding difficult discussions with employees and failing to provide feedback. Whatever Pamela the reason, poor or no communication Drake is the root cause of war.

Ineffective leadership presents a disservice to employees. They can’t correct performance and behavioral issues if they’re unaware of their managers’ dissatisfaction or their jobs could be in jeopardy. Failure to meet the needs of employees becomes an invitation to quit.

Excluding employees from meetings or projects and passing them up for promotions and pay raises create hostile work environments. Most employees want to keep their jobs.

But when they’re not well supported, they feel pushed out.

Separation under these circumstances constitutes a quiet firing.

According to a Linkedin poll, more than 80 percent of employees have witnessed or experienced quiet firing.

Remote work contributes to this situation since it’s easier to blank someone out virtually than in person. This is yet another contributor to employees’ feelings of isolation and lack of support. With the increase of remote and

hybrid working arrangements, effective performance management is more important than ever.

Quiet firing might be a new expression, but it’s not a new concept. It’s the same as “constructive discharge” — a term used for decades to describe situations in which an employer makes working conditions so intolerable an employee feels forced to quit.

In the case of quiet quitting, employees’ omission to communicate to management their dissatisfaction or need for training or resources constitutes a blatant failure to attempt to rectify adverse circumstances, especially if their performance was in obvious decline.

It all goes back to good performance management and communication. It starts with proper hiring and ongoing communication and training as well as support and respect.

Employers must make every effort to hire the right person for the job with the right skills and fit with company culture.

Performance management doesn’t stop there, though.

Employers must make job expectations clear with ongoing monitoring and mentoring. Documentation is essential, too.

Managers must be available and approachable.

Otherwise, the likelihood of an employee asking for support or bringing issues to the attention of management decreases. Employees should inform employers of issues affecting their ability to perform successfully, but must have the assurance of safety and respect to do so.

In terms of denying unemployment benefits in the case of termination, the burden of proof falls on employers to prove claimants were guilty of misconduct. In cases in which an employee fails to meet expectations, but hasn’t been warned, counseled or provided an opportunity to correct performance — and there’s no corresponding documentation — proof doesn’t exist.

Was there any communication at all? Did the employee ask to address issues? Is there evidence the employee wasn’t

doing the best they could, but were unaware there was a problem. Is this quiet quitting or quiet firing? It’s often difficult to ascertain the actual moving party, especially when there are diverging perspectives of the circumstances surrounding separation. It’s highly likely a claimant would be awarded benefits under these circumstances.

When an employee quits, the burden shifts to them to raise issues or they fail to exhaust all avenues of redress to remain gainfully employed. If there was no good reason for failing to bring issues to the attention of the employer prior to quitting, the claimant could be disqualified. Questions arise in this type of scenario as well. Did the employee try to discuss concerns with the employer without success?

Was the claimant afraid to raise issues because the employer didn’t care to listen? Was this a quiet quitting or quiet firing?

Where there’s no documentation, the benefit generally goes to the claimant in unemployment adjudication.

A failure to communicate by employers and employees perpetuates this silent war of passive aggression, resulting in severe repercussions. A lack of productivity and toxic environment endanger healthy workplaces. The challenge is to do the right thing, to foster mutual trust and respect and create a place where employees are heard and feel safe.

There should be open communication and good documentation in place to address issues. The better the communication, the more engaged and productive the employees. That turns a war into a win-win situation.

Pamela Drake works at Lighthouse HR Support as an unemployment insurance business partner.

The Grand Junction firm offers a range of human resource management services to small and mediumsized businesses. For more information, call 243-7789 or log on to www.lighthousehrs.net.

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November 10-23, 2022

The Business Times

Page 25

Commercial real estate slowing, but still robust The commercial real estate market in Western Colorado has begun to show signs of slowing. But thanks to a strong start at the beginning of the year, activity during 2022 remains robust overall.

The year began with several high dollar sales, including the $6.9 million sale of the D Road Mini Storage, $5 million sale of Mesa Inn and $6.3 million sale of the Horizon Park Plaza office building. These first quarter and second quarter sales were just a few of the multimillion dollar transactions.

A strong first half of 2022 Darah meant the slower pace of sales in third quarter didn’t significantly Galvin the affect yearly sales. Compared to the same span in 2021, third quarter transactions decreased 47 percent and total dollar volume of $39 million dropped 47 percent. For the year, however, transactions are down 13 percent and dollar volume down 4 percent.

Retail transactions were the strongest category for the third quarter. They included the sale of Tractor Supply for nearly $5.9 million, a newly constructed Arby’s restaurant in Clifton for almost $1.9 million, the Main Street Station shopping center in Grand Junction for $1.7 million and and Cornerstone Storage in Fruita for $1.5 million.

The City of Grand Junction and Mesa County continue to report increasing sales tax collections. The City of Grand Junction showed an increase of 13.3 percent in September 2022 compared to September 2021 and a 10.5 percent increase in year-to-date numbers. Mesa

County reported an 18.7 percent increase from September 2021 to September 2022 and 11.1 percent increase year to date. Sales tax collections have increased over the last few years and barely took a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions and closures.

Although the office sector continues to see lower numbers, there have been a few notable sales. In July, a 6,608-square-foot office building at 2779 Crossroads Blvd. in Grand Junction sold for $1 million.

As with much of the nation, hybrid and fully remote work operations have changed the way office spaces are used. There’s more demand for smaller offices as fewer people use them full time.

Mesa County continues to see sales of medical and medical-related offices, however. According to the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, eight of the top 15 employers in Mesa County are in the health care sector and employ a total of more than 6,600. Buildings with single offices for lease continue to see demand for space

As the holiday season approaches, employers across the Grand Valley start thinking about annual staff gatherings.

There are steps to take to ensure employees can gather safely to celebrate the successes of the past year. Now is the time to prepare for holiday gatherings and do what you can to remain as safe as possible.

COVID-19 continues to circulate in Mesa County and affect the community. The number of outbreaks and hospitalizations are expected to this fall and winter as people Sarah Gray increase spend more time inside and gather indoors.

Keep in mind we’re entering another year of dealing with two respiratory viruses at the same time — COVID-19 and influenza.

The most effective way to protect yourself and your co-workers from both of these viruses ahead of the holiday season is to stay up to date with vaccinations.

Another key point to emphasize to your workforce this time of year is that if employees don’t feel well, they should stay home. It’s one of the easiest ways to minimize the spread of germs in the workplace during the fall and winter months.

Yet another important tool in minimizing the spread of viruses, especially COVID-19, is testing. Mesa County Public Health offers at-home COVID-19 tests. It’s a good idea to test not only if you experience symptoms, but also before any large gatherings.

Finally, support employees who wish to wear a mask — whether they’re unvaccinated or have weakened immune systems.

Mesa County Public Health continues to offer appointments for flu vaccinations during regular business

As with much of the nation, hybrid and fully remote work operations have changed the way office spaces are used. There’s more demand for smaller offices as fewer people use them full time.

Mesa County continues to see sales of medical and medical-related offices, however.

for counselors, therapists, specialists and others in the health care industry.

The multifamily sector has experienced the biggest purchasing slowdown heading toward the end of the year. Investors took advantage of the increasing market and lower prices than other markets last year, purchasing almost $55 million in multifamily assets in 2021. Sales of multifamily properties year-to-date have lagged behind last year by 13.1 percent.

The sale of the Comfort Care nursing home in August for $2.65 million showed the multifamily market is still moving, although slowing.

Construction of new multifamily units remains strong, with the Railyard at Rimrock nearing completion. The Eddy Apartments hit the rental market. The construction of the Copper Village Apartments will add more rental units.

The industrial and warehouse market saw incredible movement in 2021 as well. Although 2022 has yet to emulate 2021, activity still fares comparably to past years. Large transactions included the sale of 2309 Grand Park Drive — a 13,172-square-foot building on 1.29 acres — for more than $2 million; a 7,280-square-foot building on 4.4 acres at 721 23 Road for $2 million; and a 5,720-square-foot building at 2756 Winters Ave. for $1.1 million.

The slowdown in the housing market has shown up in the commercial market. But thanks to a strong start, 2022 remains a comparatively good year.

Darah Galvin is research and development coordinator at Bray Commercial Real Estate in Grand Junction.

For more information, visit www.braycommercial.com or call 241-2909.

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Take steps to gather ’round safe and sound for the holidays hours. Schedule an appointment by calling the public health clinic at 248-6906. Mesa County Public also conducts a clinic for COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters. The clinic operates Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Schedule an appointment by calling 248-6900 or visiting the website at https://health.mesacounty.us.

The clinic has administered more than 4,000 doses of the COVID-19 bivalent booster, which is formulated to fight the Omicron variant that remains the most prevalent form of the virus in Mesa County.

Encouraging staff to make their health and the health of their families a priority can help promote a healthier workforce during the coming holiday season.

Sarah Gray is a communication specialist with Mesa County Public Health. For additional information, call 248-6900 or visit https://health.mesacounty.us.

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Contributors Opinion Bold predictions for 2015 No matter the election results, A new year Business affords At workforce center, you Briefs and be represented more likeI won’t not-so-bold repeats it’s all about service a new opportunity Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES

PAGE age 26 22

It bodes well for businesses looking for employees and people looking for jobs that Lindsay Bullock brings a passion for service to her new role as director of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.

The center an array of resources — everything fromstart hosting A new yearprovides almost always brings an opportunity for a fresh and job fairs and screening to helping with resumes and preparing for renewed ambition to doapplicants things better. interviews, to name It’s boils a matter, though, of not only what the center In business, thatfour. usually down to providing customers better products provides, but also how.

It’s about meeting the uniques needs of businesses and and services faster and at lower cost than competitors. Part of the process must individuals.

It’s about solving problems.

It’s about service. include listening to customers to determine what they actually need and then Bullock to herall, duties experience as atocareer development meeting that brings need. After it does little good offer the latest and supervisor greatest if at the center.

She’s wants worked the you’re last three months as manager. She previously worked nobody actually what selling. as anJust eligibility and then supervisor thethe Mesa County Department like thespecialist businesses that belong to the with group, Grand Junction Area of Human Services.

Before that, she worked with her mother and sister in Chamber of Commerce invariably starts out the new year with a reassessment of operating a Grand Junctionitstore selling and furnishings formembers children and the services and resources provides andclothing how well they match with other goods. helpful in overseeing programs for businesses needs.household Jeff Franklin, theIt’s newalways chairman of the chamber board of directors, to have experience in overseeing businesses. personifies this approach in describing what he considers his role for the coming her passion for service, alsothen emphasizes herneeds. commitment year:Along listen with to members, determine theirBullock needs and meet those It’s a to collaboration — not only in working with staff at the center, but also businesses role with which Franklin is familiar as market president of Bank of Colorado. and other local organizations in workforce and economic The process will take oninvolved a more structured approach in what development. the chamber The County Workforce Center plays crucialListening role in that It’sUnder difficult, plansMesa as the resumption of a program aptlya called to regard.

Business. the if not impossible, expandparticipate existing businesses and recruit new ones without the to program, businesstoowners in in-depth interviews to identify barriers availability a well-prepared workforce.

That’s why efforts connecting students at growth and of other problems they encounter.

Colorado Mesa University and Western Colorado Community The new year offers a good time to join the proverbial club.College with local employers remain so or important.

As an advertiser reader, what do you need from the Business Times?

Bullock is especially familiar with onegather of herand collaborators.

Her predecessor, While business journals traditionally report the relevant news to Curtis left the isn’t workforce centerainone-way August street. to become director of thetrue as readers,Englehart, communication necessarily That’s especially Grand Junction Economic and Englehart a new generation Web sites and e-mail makePartnership. the dialogueBullock more convenient thanjoin ever. of Grand Valley leaders that also includes Candace Carnahan at the Grand Good publications don’t exist in a vacuum. They respond to the needsJunction of Area Chamber Commerce Dalida Bollig at the Business Incubator Center. advertisers andof readers.

Theyand provide what’s needed.

The MesadoCounty Workforce Center has developed a well-deserved reputation So what you need? over Is thethere yearsadditional for offering in one place that a range of resources a one-stop news coverage would help keep— you informedshop about businesses and jobseekers would be well advised to use.

Given her passion or for local business developments? Are there features that would be interesting service commitment to collaboration, Bullock useful? and Is there advice that would make your jobs isa well-suited little easier?to sustain and build on that wish her It’ssuccess. equally We important to well. ask what you don’t need. With limited time to F to publish it, would time and space be produce content and limited space in which better devoted to something else?

What’s good? What isn’t? What’s needed? What isn’t?

If day, us it must also be deadlineonline day. on the Business Times Web Letit’s uselection know. Send an e-mail.

Comment Atwww.thebusinesstimes.com. least it seems those two events more often not when letter to site at Youcoincide could even write an than old-fashioned production on feedback, Tuesdays. both The polls didn’t untilisseven hours the editor ifdeadlines you’d like.fall Your positive andclose negative, valued and after thecarefully latest print edition of the Business Times went to press. will be considered.

It’s frustrating because news is aof lotnot likeonly fishthe — efforts best served as fresh Good publications are the result of their staffs,asbut also possible.

On the other hand, theadvertisers two weeksand until the next print issue is scheduled collaborative efforts involving readers. for publication hopefully will afford to determine the outcome Like any other good business, weample want time to listen to our customers, find of out close racesneed as well provide broader context to the election results. That’s true what they andas then meet athose needs. not only candidates, buthelp alsous thetoplethora It’s afor new year. Please do so. of propositions on the ballot.

Keep reading. ✦ F

When elections and deadlines coincide

THE BUSINESS TIMES

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

Publisher/Owner: Craig R. Hall

Editor: Phil Castle

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

Subscribe or submit press releases online at www.thebusinesstimes.com The Grand Valley Business Times, a subsidiary of Hall Media Group LLC, is published twice monthly and distributed throughout Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Advertising rates and deadlines are available upon request. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor, staff or advertisers.

Copyright © 2015 — AllCopyright rights reserved. © 2022 — All rights reserved.

In 22 years of writing opinion columns, I’vetime never written a truer It’s that of year when headline.

And 22 years of writing resolutions andinprognostications abound. columns, it’ssaying never been a more important My favorite applied to New Year’s rule to understand aboutthey’re those we elect. a resolutions is in saying basically Two bunch of reasons promisesfor to break the first week the headline.And 1. It’s of January. while I won’t predict a because theI folks whole lot, can pretty much accurately opposite expect nail a fewme things that without question their “representatives” will make the news. You will see these are to do what pretty, well,they predictable: say or 2. one: ■ demand.

Prediction IThere simply want my will be some “representative” sort of weather event, to adhere to the or natural disaster Constitution.

I don’t heinous occurrence Craig Hall care elected wherewho’s someone will or what party be from interviewed and say they’re a member. the following: “I’veThe Constitution limits their I also realize my “want” in neverpower. seen anything this might like case that in my be the dumbest thing I’ve ever wanted politician in my life. lifetime.”

It’sfrom as if athis Then maybe not. Craig Hall personagain, is a required In literally every out-of-control attendee at every news Facebook forthIand forth andmost back reporting back event.and While understand regarding the two candidates running in people’s perspective can indeed be limited Colorado’s 3rd Congressional those by, or contained within, theirDistrict, own personal on the left keep experiences, it demanding is too muchortospouting ask to two things: Whathistorical has U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert consult1.some perspective before done forsuch her district?

Shethis votes against can saying a thing?2.Yes, response veterans.

That’sevents. a load ofBut fertilizer.

And it’s apply to some when it comes being spreadand for natural the samedisasters, reason. The to weather I’mleft pretty demands representatives special sure this its is simply history provide repeating itself. rights, force people do act and howof Same as it has for to millions andspeak millions they and punish enemies. years.demand More important, the planetThose madeare it! literally how Democrat politicians What didn’t were certain species.garner How’s votes.

See: Bennet, Michael. that for perspective?

By the way, it’s theWhen same with all theto a ■ Prediction two: it comes propositions we vote that on inoccurs Colorado.

They’re crime or something between unconstitutional on required their faceattendee because at you’re humans, the other all voting to changeevents the constitution.

Andwho if news reporting is the person they evenwe’re one vote, become says pass this: by “They just they the nicest law.

Folks, democracy, mob people, andthat’s in nonot way did I see that’s something rule.

Andcoming.” mob rule Exactly. never benefits thedoes people. like this No one Because eventually — no matter how most of the time when it comes to many times you or your special interests win should — neighbors and acquaintances.

People eventually theatmob be surprised whatcomes goes for on you. from time to I voted for Boebert. time That’s in theirwhy neighborhoods, towns and She’s done what’s constitutional for are with people they know because people her constituents (the left that hates that) good.

And for the times they shouldn’t while fighting that are already repeat be shocked — laws like with politicians, unconstitutional.

In addition she’s voted offenders and terrorists — where’s the against every bill. Let interview that new says,unconstitutional “This doesn’t surprise me help rabid liberals: THESE BILLS in thethe least.”

ARE■WHERE ALL OF Something THOSE “VOTES Prediction three: good AGAINST COME will happenVETERANS” economically, and the FROM. Democrats lines into omnibus governmentbury will little take credit for it.

The most — lookexample that up is along with “continuing recent gas prices, where people resolutions” billscredit so they talking ask me why I— won’t thehave president for points argue about on low gasyou’ll prices.

My answer is Facebook. simple: IGovernment also voted straight Republican hoping never makes the price of to elect folks go who will and do the same. something down simply takes credit Here’s to waking up with more for good news.

Gas pricing is two subject to years representatives you many with global factors. Nowwho thererepresent are and me whileanswers following the Constitution. government to addressing some of more pointstable on why your themOne to keep prices for Americans, congressional member passin but our government has shouldn’t none of them special laws youthings wantittohas minimize place. The only in place in the

NJovember 10-23, 2015 2022 ANUARY 15-28,

personal responsibility, force your beliefs and others or punish those longbehaviors run alwaysonhurt consumers.

Another who There are plenty fact isthink that differently. unemployment reaches a certain on thebased righton who listen upwhile as well. level theshould economy.

And the Term limits might will never government brag work. the number is low, Our than founders term limits it’s more likelythought the government did would be obvious no one in low something to causebecause that number being their right would want more than — and not mind in a good way.

Conversely, when one termpicks in Congress.

That’s because the business up, it’s because the people Constitution limited members’ powers who need to buy widgets who were not and certainly didn’t because make it the a paying career. buying widgets economy was The problem? politicians have done contracting dueSlimy to natural (or unnatural, nothing overcaused) the centuries increase government reasons,but decided wethe power andsome money involved the first better buy widgets.

Thesince government election.

It’stonear the point had nothing do with this. of no return outside of abolishing ■ Prediction four:the In Constitution, keeping with firing swamp creatures and starting thingsall thethe government does, I predict the over.

Whichwill might not be a the badnumbers idea when government manipulate to you aboutthe it. economy is getting makethink the claim the of power cesspoolto betterGiven because howand hardmoney it is working in Washington, D.C., allAmericans.” term limits would help all of us “working Now do give us more slimyyou creatures youismight say, “Craig, always more say this often. insteadObama of four-because or five- you termdon’t about So President slimeballs going into after like him.” You’re rightlobbying in a sense.

I don’t becoming millionaires, beofdoing know the man, but whatthey’d I know him and ithisafter two terms.

Just what thinking, I don’t like it orWashington him one iota. needs.

AndI believe you BeforeMORE you go lobbyists. off, however, didn’t like me, they’dBush figureand outhis a way to become just President bailouts, stimulus as two terms theymarket did after four, andrich hisafter abandoning theasfree to save five, 10 or 150, like the free market.

AndNancy I don’tPelosi. know After him all, there are cattle futures, pharmaceutical either.

What the government does, and the stocks and it defense among the only thing can do,contracts is hurt the economy. myriad info stillor output there.

Unless itinsider does nothing criminals in But remove the power and trillions jail instead of partnering with them, nothing and what do youdoes get?will Citizen the government help.servants Always and look few, if any, insider trading like we at it this way, whatever the tyrants government says have now. This way, the if you have it is doing, whatever name of someone the law it serving several terms while adhering is passing, or whatever the name or goal of to limits of the one thethe bureaucracy it isConstitution, presenting tonothe cares. bestthe news foropposite Democrats, they people,The expect polar to occur. won’tI guess be representing either, which is what I’m me saying is that something on out the left wants. perhaps it’severyone time to get of our ownThat should makeThere’s everyone happy, it won’t. perspective. plenty of but history So,and what does thatresearch leave when we to books historical out there don’t personal representatives beginhave to understand that all of thisdoing has our biddingbefore. in Congress? things the happened And it Two will again, left despises: personal responsibility and whether the topic is people or government. individual freedom.

While I’m not best The best recommendation is the to find at either at times, I live life striving to be some books or try thatawhole Google better me and myofkids.

Here’s why thing. for There’s a lot information onand the how In my 60The years on is this I see GreatI vote.

Depression. truth it orb, wasn’t this ourone country clearly: Freedom evenabout a good untilvery the government got is built on There’s private property (physical, involved. also plenty of research monetary, intellectual) andwhen contract on the medieval warmrights period the law.

Period.

That’swarmer the Bill of Rights me. planet was much than todayforwith Do what youpeople want, think what well a whole lot less (and warmer you want andwas sayhere whatatyou before man all).want Andwhile yep, interacting those youother want,surprised be it people havewith been killing business or pleasure. contract?

Don’t people since history Your was first written. breakMaybe criminal lawsresearch and don’t break some will helpyour stop word acting ethically all of while these (hopefully) trends. Otherwise, we’ll beand morally.

Everything else should leftlike alone. saying we’ve never seen anything it in Especially by government. our lives.

And not in a good way.

Craig Craig Hall Hall is is owner owner and and publisher publisher of of the the Business Business Times.

Times. Reach Reach him him at at 424-5133 424-5133 or or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.

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November 10-23, 2022

The Business Times

Page 27

Erasing student loan debt Take action to reduce a matter of legal plunder risk of cybercrime attacks Frederic Bastiat, a 19th century French economist, wrote this in his book “The Law:” “See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime.” Bastiat described this as “legal plunder.”

Consider the executive fiat from the Biden administration that declared up to $10,000 of college student loan debt can be forgiven and some exceptions could allow up to $20,000 to be forgiven.

Debts aren’t Phyllis simply erased.

Hunsinger The money was borrowed and must be paid back. To offload the debt from an individual, the student, to the collective, the taxpayer, by government edict satisfies Bastiat’s description of legal plunder.

A financial debt is money owed.

A loan is a sum of money that’s expected to be paid back with interest. A lender lends funds with the expectation the funds will be repaid. A borrower is the person receiving money from a lender signing a legal contract to pay the money plus interest back to the lender by a specified time.

The transaction is personal. The obligation agreed to in the loan agreement is between the lender and borrower. These conditions are the same whether one secures a loan for a car, house or education. Only one person, the borrower, is responsible for repaying the loan.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little was among 22 governors who sent a letter to President Joe Biden opposing the student loan cancellation plan. Little’s letter states: “Only 16 percent to 17 percent of Americans have federal student loan debt, yet your plan will require their debts be redistributed and paid by the vast majority of taxpayers.” The letter went on to

explain how the plan shifts the burden of debt from the wealthiest Americans with a “regressive impact that harms lower income families.”

There are varied reasons individuals don’t attend college, ranging from cost to alternative employment or business options. College is not the only avenue for success in America. What about the young entrepreneurs who need loans to start their businesses? What about the individual costs for apprentice programs? What about the individual who bypassed college due to a lack of funding because they did NOT want to go into debt?

How ironic and unjust that with the stroke of an executive pen, indebted college students are relieved of the responsibility of their own choices and a portion of their indebtedness is now shifted to others who didn’t make that choice.

Since the individual borrower owns the debt, a quote by American economist Walter Williams seems appropriate.

Williams said: “No matter how worthy the cause, it is robbery, theft and injustice to confiscate the property of one person and give it to another to whom it does not belong.” The same is true for debt.

Debt taken from an individual and given to other individuals is morally wrong.

Hard work, perseverance and individual responsibility are characteristics upon which Americans have prospered.

The American dream was never achieved by taking from one group and giving to another. Legal plunder has no place in a free society.

Phyllis Hunsinger is founder of the Freedom & Responsibility Education Enterprise Foundation in Grand Junction. The FREE Foundation provides resources to students and teachers in Western Colorado to promote the understanding of economics, financial literacy and free enterprise. Reach Hunsinger at phyllis@free-dom.us.com.

For more information about the FREE Foundation, log on to the website located at www.free-dom.us.com.

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In 2021, cybercrimes against small businesses reached a record high value of $2.4 billion. Online sales exceeded $960 billion that year and are expected to surpass $1 trillion this year.

As we approach the holiday shopping season, small retailers need to evaluate their susceptibilities to cyberattacks and protect their systems from costly data breaches and online scams.

Small retailers are especially attractive targets to cybercriminals because they typically lack the security infrastructure of larger businesses. A recent survey found 88 percent of small business owners felt their businesses were vulnerable to cyberattacks.

There are simple steps business owners can take to mitigate their risk of costly and destructive cybersecurity threats. Here are five easy and inexpensive actions business owners can take to reduce their risk of cybersecurity attacks: Aikta n Update software: Software suppliers constantly Marcoulier provide updates or patches to prevent the latest cyber threats.

The cheapest and easiest way to prevent online attacks this holiday season is to update your computer systems on a regular basis. n Review online security protocols. It’s critical to ensure your website is secure by getting trustmarked with a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate.

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates a website’s identity and enables an encrypted connection. Verify that your e-commerce platform has multiple layers of security in place and you’re not storing credit card data. n Create passwords that can’t be hacked. The use of weak passwords constitutes one of the major reasons small retailers are so prone to cyberattacks.

Always ensure your employees use unique passwords with at least 12 characters with a mix of numbers, letters, capital letters and punctuation. Use multi-factor authentication, which provides a layered approach to securing data and applications, where a system requires a user to present a combination of two or more credentials to verify identity for login. n Beware of social engineering threats. Hackers love to bait or trick employees into giving up sensitive personal or company information. Social engineering techniques include phishing scams, baiting, scareware and incentives.

Hackers can review both your personal and company social media profiles then create emails, phone calls and text messages that appear to be coming from a customer, vendor or someone familiar to gain access to sensitive information. n Enforce strict rules on how your computer systems are used. It’s critical to provide effective training to employees who access your computer systems.

Make sure employees only have access to data and tasks deemed necessary to their job functions and roles. You might hire multiple seasonal employees over the next few months. Controlling how they interact with your online systems constitutes a critical management function.

The holiday shopping season is a critical time for most small retailers — especially those with a robust online presence. Keeping your online systems safe will benefit not only your customers, but also your bottom line.

Aikta Marcoulier is administrator of U.S. Small Business Administration Region 8.

Marcoulier oversees the operations of the SBA in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. For more information visit www.sba.gov.

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Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac

n WEST SLOPE STAFFING SERVICE CONDUCTS PAY IT FORWARD HOLIDAY HIRING DRIVE

A holiday hiring drive is scheduled to continue through Nov. 14 at a staffing service with offices in Grand Junction and Montrose.

Express Employment Professionals conducts the Pay It Forward Hiring Drive.

“Pay it forward to us means working with local businesses to help find jobs for unemployed workers in our community so they can earn a paycheck and help support their families this Nina Anderson season,” said Nina Anderson, owner and chief executive officer of the Express Employment Professionals offices in Grand Junction and Montrose.

Besides helping people provide for their families, the hiring drive will help businesses find additional staffing they need for what can be a busy season, Anderson said.

In addition, Express Employment Professionals will make a financial donation to the Food Bank of the Rockies for every employee placed through Nov. 14.

Businesses can help, she said, by hiring Express employees, providing reference letters those employees can use to obtain other jobs and share information about the hiring drive.

Express Employment Professionals fills short-and long-term assignments for a variety of office, professional, skilled and light industrial positions, she said. The firm evaluates and screens associates before placements.

For more information, call 242-4500 or send an email to jobs.grandjunctionco@expresspros.com. n FREDDY’S JOINS IN NOVEMBER FUND-RAISER FOR FOLDS OF HONOR SCHOLARSHIPS Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers will join with Folds of Honor to collect donations for scholarships of spouses and children of fallen and disabled military service members and first responders.

Through Nov. 30, customers will have an option to round up their purchases in restaurants to the nearest dollar or contribute $1, $3, $5 or $10 when ordering online or with an application.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers operates a total of more than 440 locations in 36 states, including 737 Horizon Drive and 2489 U.S. Highway 6 & 50 in Grand Junction and 332 Intestate 70 Business Loop in Clifton. For more information, visit the website at www.freddys.com.

The Business Times

SHARE YOUR NEWS

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

n NOMINATIONS DUE DEC. 8 FOR ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTED BY SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 8 for annual awards presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The SBA presents national and state awards to the small business person and small business exporter of the year. A state wall of fame award also will be presented.

The awards will be presented as part of the National Small Business Week observance Frances Padilla scheduled for April 20 to May 6, 2023.

“We welcome nominations from every corner of the state for these coveted SBA recognitions,” said Frances Padilla, director of the SBA Colorado District. “With more than 690,000 small businesses that call Colorado home, we’re looking forward to dynamic, successful companies spanning numerous industries to be represented.”

Nominations must be submitted electronically to the SBA Colorado District Office by 1 p.m. Dec. 8.

For nomination guidelines and additional information, send an email to the district office at ColoradoDO@sba.gov or visit the website at www.sba.gov/nsbw. n HILLTOP’S HEALTH ACCESS OFFERS HELP IN ENROLLING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE Hilltop’s Health Access based in Grand Junction offers public assistance enrolling for health insurance.

A certified assistance site for Connect for Health, Hilltop’s Health Access offers assistance in navigating the online process, comparing coverage options and completing enrollment. Tax credits are available to qualified Colorado residents to help reduce the cost of their health plans.

For additional information, call 244-0850 or visit the website at www.hilltophealthaccess.org.

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Ribbon cutting planned for Kooler Garage Doors A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled to celebrate the opening of the Kooler Garage Doors location in Grand Junction.

The ceremony is set for 4:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at 554 25 Road, Unit 6.

“Kooler Garage Doors has been rooted on the Western Slope, and we’re pumped to bring an elevated home service experience with our certified professional technician team into Grand Junction,” said Matt Kuehlhorn, founder Matt Kuehlhorn and owner. “We love the Grand Junction community and look forward to engaging even more.”

The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce will help with the ribbon cutting ceremony. The event will include food, a shop tour and Skee-Ball competition.

Candace Carnahan, president and chief executive officer of the chamber, said she’s pleased Kooler Garage Doors joined the organization. “We are grateful for businesses like this that keep our community moving forward and our economy strong.”

Kooler Garage Doors began in 2015 in Gunnison and opened the Grand Junction location in October. For more information about Kooler Garage Doors, visit www.KoolerGarageDoors.com or call (970) 660-3456.

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November 10-23, 2022

NOTEWORTHY

Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County is among the nonprofit organizations across Colorado participating in a new program helping injured workers return to the workforce.

Pinnacol Assurance, a workers’ compensation insurer in Colorado, launched the return to work program to offer injured workers light duty options while supporting local causes.

“Even as injured workers ease back into volunteering only a few hours a week, they see benefits such as opportunities to interact Nevine Laughllin with others in a professional environment, the chance to test their bodies and provide feedback to their physicians and a return to the structure regular works provides,” said Nevine Laughlin, return to work director at Pinnacol Assurance.

Pinnacol consultants work with injured workers to find light- or modified-duty options and pair them with nonprofits if that constitutes a good option.

Workers take on a variety of tasks, including answering telephones, assembling boxes of food, delivering donations, greeting customers and sorting donated clothing.

Consultants track the progress of injured workers and work with their employers to plan their return to work when they’re medically cleared to do so.

Nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado participate in the program, including ARC and Goodwill Industries.

The Sharing Ministries Food Bank in Montrose also participates.

Pinnacol Assurance provides workers’ compensation insurance coverage to nearly 1 million workers in Colorado.

For more information, visit the website at www.pinnacol.com.

November 10-23, 2022

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BusinessBriefs Briefs Business BusinessPeople People Almanac Business Almanac

n FINANCIAL ADVISOR APPOINTED TO WOMEN’S ALLIANCE ADVISORY COUNCIL Barbara Traylor Smith has been appointed to the Colorado Women’s Alliance advisor council.

Traylor Smith represents Mesa County on the council, which includes women from 17 other counties.

“Barbara is the perfect addtion to our organization,” said Joni Inman, executive director of the alliance.

“Her knowledge as a financial advisor B. Traylor Smith and entrepreneur, combined with her community engagement skills, make her the ideal advisor to our organization.”

A statewide nonprofit organization, the Colorado Women’s Alliance focuses on advocacy, education and research on issues that matter to women voters.

Traylor Smith operates Retirement Outfitters in Grand Junction and works as an independent wealth advisor with Foundations Investments. She began her nearly 40-year career as a Certified Public Accountant and then began working in the financial services industry. She holds designations as a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant.

For more information about the Colorado Women’s Alliance, visit www.ColoradoWomensAlliance.org. n GRAND VALLEY REAL ESTATE FIRM HONORS ITS BEST-SELLING AGENTS FOR OCTOBER Toni Heiden and Cynthia Castaneda were honored as the top-performing agents for October at Heiden Homes Realty in Grand Junction.

Heiden posted the highest dollar volume in sales for the month. Heiden and Castaneda tied for the most closed transactions.

Heiden, the owner and managing Toni Heiden broker of the firm, has worked in the real estate industry for more than 40 years. The Grand Junction Area Realtor Association selected her the 2021 Realtor of the Year.

Castaneda has worked as a Realtor since 2007.

Heiden Homes Realty operates offices at 735 Rood Ave. For more information, including listings for properties for sale and rent, call 245-7777 Cynthia Castaneda or log on to www.heidenhomes.com.

The Business Times

SHARE YOUR NEWS The Business Times welcomes submissions for free publication in Business People and the Almanac calendar of events. Email submissions to phil@thebusinesstimes.com or submit a news release online at www.thebusinesstimes.com. n COLORADO WEST LAND TRUST ANNOUNCES ADDITION TO STAFF Julia Currier has joined Colorado West Land Trust as development and communication coordinator.

Currier will work with the Grand Junction-based organization on fundraising, external communications and special events.

“Western Colorado holds a special place in my heart, and I’m excited to play a role in conserving it and sharing Julia Currier the great work of the CWLT,” she said.

Currier brings to her latest role experience with the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and Club 20. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University, where she studied journalism, mass communication and agricultural literacy. She grew up on a cattle ranch in Molina.

Colorado West Land Trust has conserved a total of more than 125,000 acres in Mesa County and five other Western Slope counties. For more information, visit the website at https://cowestlandtrust.org. n ATTORNEY APPOINTED TO FILL VACANCY ON 21ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT Jeremy Chaffin has been appointed to the 21st Judicial District Court in Grand Junction, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Lance Timbreza.

Chaffin previously worked as an assistant United States attorney for the District of Colorado, a position he held since 2017. He previously worked as a Jeremy Chaffin senior trial deputy district attorney in the 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, a senior appellate law clerk at the Colorado Court of Appeals and special assistant attorney general in the consumer protection section of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho and law degree from the University of Colorado.

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Three Grand Junction residents appointed to state boards Three Grand Junction residents have been appointed to state boards and councils.

Jeff Kuhr, director of Mesa County Public Health, was appointed to the State Board of Health. Kuhr serves on the board as Republican from the 3rd Congressional District.

Eric Frazer was appointed to the State Board of

Pharmacy. Frazer serves on the board as a licensed pharmacist.

Sara Lovato was appointed to the Developmental Disabilities Council as a family member of an institutionalized person with developmental disabilities.

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November 10-23, 2022

Nov. 10 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce business after hours, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Cattlemen’s Cafe and Catering, 435 U.S. Highway 6 & 50. Admission $5 for chamber members, $10 for others. 858-3893 or https://fruitachamber.org Nov. 15 n Presentation on setting a cash flow budget using Microsoft Excel, noon to 1 p.m., Business Incubator Center, 2591 Legacy Way, Grand Junction.

243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org Nov. 16 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., Mesa County Workforce Center, 512 29 1/2 Road, Grand Junction. WCHRA members may attend at no additional charge.

Others pay $20 to attend in person, $10 virtually. www.wchra.org n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Women’s Entrepreneurship Day luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Two Rivers Winery, 2087 Broadway, Grand Junction. Admission $30 for chamber members, $40 for others. 858-3893 or https://fruitachamber.org n Grand Valley BizMix event with the Grand Junction, Palisade and Western Colorado Latino chambers of commerce and Young Professionals Network of Mesa County, 5:30 to 7 p.m., St. Kathryn’s Cellars, 785 Elberta Ave., Palisade.

Admission to members-only event $10. 242-3214 or https://gjchamber.org Nov. 17 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends free networking lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., Strayhorn Grill, 456 Kokopelli Drive.

858-3893 or https://fruitachamber.org Nov. 18 n Coffee Club free networking meeting, 9 to 10 a.m., FWorks coworking space, 325 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita 858-3893 or https://fruitachamber.org Nov. 22 n Class on the fundamentals of using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Business Incubator Center. Admission $35. 243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org Upcoming n Business startup workshop, 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 1, Business Incubator Center. Admission $55.

243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org n Workshop on using social media marketing to grow a business, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6, Business Incubator Center. https://gjincubator.org or 243-5242 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 See ALMANAC page 31

November 10-23, 2022

Almanac

Continued from page 30 Upcoming n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce annual economic outlook luncheon, noon to 1:30 p.m. Dec.12, Mesa County Workforce Center.

Admission $20 for chamber members, $25 for others. https://gjchamber.org. or 242-3214 n Bookkeeping boot camp, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dec. 13, Business Incubator Center.

Admission $75, which includes lunch. https://gjincubator.org or 243-5242 n Palisade Chamber of Commerce business after hours, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Dec. 14, Orchard River View,

The Business Times

3926 U.S. Highway 6 & 24. Advance admission $5 for members, $8 for others.

Admission at the door $6 for members, $10 for others. www.palisadecoco.com or 464-7458 n Coffee Club free networking meeting, 9 to 10 a.m. Dec. 16, FWorks coworking space. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3893 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking luncheon, noon to 1 p.m. Dec. 22, Qdoba Mexican Eats, 401 Jurassic Ave. Fruita. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3893 F

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November 10-23, 2022