The Business Times Volume 28 Issue 21

THE BUSINESS T IMES News NOVEMBER 11-24, 2021

Trends Ordinary Contributors Fellow Opinion

THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS NEWS SINCE 1994

In this issue n New quarters

2

Networks Unlimited has moved into larger quarters in Grand Junction that better accommodate the growing firm.

n Expansive effort A food distribution company will expand operations with a Grand Junction warehouse store open to the public.

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n Winemaker opens his operation in historic Palisade building. Page 2

VOLUME 28, ISSUE 21

THEBUSINESSTIMES.COM

Business Briefs 5 Business People Almanac

n The big idea

Business leaders must persevere in the face of skepticism about their ideas, according to a conference speaker.

n Growth ahead

Ben Parsons, owner and founder of the Ordinary Fellow, pulls a sample of wine at his newly opened operation inside a former peach packing facility.

6

The United States will lead the way in a robust global economic recovery, according to a New York think tank forecast.

n Mixed numbers

15

Even as transactions trend down, the dollar volume of real estate sales in Mesa County climbs to record heights.

n Labor relations

17

A national labor board signaled another change in the way it deems the legality of some work policies.

n Departments Almanac Business Briefs Business People Contributors News Opinion Trends

26 24 26 17-21 2-14 22-23 15-16

Business Times photo by Phil Castle

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THE BUSINESS T IMES News

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November 11-24, 2021

Trends High hopes for Ordinary Fellow Contributors Opinion B Business Briefs Business People Almanac Renowned winemaker opens latest operation in Palisade

en Parsons named his latest winery after a pub in his native England. The Ordinary Fellow doesn’t seem to apply to Parsons or his extraordinary efforts that have changed the Colorado wine industry.

After kickstarting both a fast-growing urban winery and the equally fast-growing trend of canned wines, Parsons has returned to Palisade to open an operation in an historic building that once served as a peach packing facility. A grand opening for the Ordinary Fellow is set for 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 13 at 202 Peach Ave. After stepping down as winemaker at the Infinite Monkey Theorem, the winery he launched in Denver, Parsons could have moved anywhere in the world.

He says he choose to stay in Colorado and what he considers a magical place. Moreover, he has high hopes for his latest endeavor in a location that’s attracting more people and businesses. “I feel like Palisade is on the verge of something.”

See ORDINARY page 10

Ben Parsons, owner and winemaker at the Ordinary Fellow, leads a tour through his new operation inside an historic building in Palisade that once housed a peach packing facility. Parsons bottles four wines made with grapes from Colorado and Washington. A grand opening is scheduled for Nov. 13.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY PHIL CASTLE Preston Thornburg, left, vice president of tech operations at Networks Unlimited, and Mark Swain, president and owner, talk inside the new building housing the information technology firm in Grand Junction.

The design incorporates three shipping containers refurbished to provide meeting and office spaces.

(Business Times photo

by Phil Castle)

There’s no place like new home for Grand Junction IT business Phil Castle

The Business Times

Mark Swain has endured four moves in 20 years, each time to a larger location to accommodate his growing information technology company.

The last move was the most challenging, he said, in renovating a building in the midst of a pandemic.

Swain swears he’ll never move again. But with 18,000 square feet to spread out — nearly triple what was available at the previous spot — in a fresh space built for his operation, the president and owner of Networks Unlimited in Grand Junction doesn’t expect that will be necessary.

Swain said he’s especially pleased to provide a more productive and comfortable workplace.

“It’s just been good for our employees.”

Robert Benjamin, director of business operations, said the results of the effort outweighed the difficulties. “We love our new home. The space and layout support our workflow, collaboration and productivity.”

Preston Thornburg, vice president of tech

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Networks Unlimited operates offices at 515 S. Seventh St. in Grand Junction.

For more information, call 243-3311 or visit www.networksunlimited.com. operations, agreed. “I know the employees are getting settled into their new areas, and everyone just can’t say enough about this purpose-built office space.”

Networks Unlimited moved into a refurbished building at 515 S. Seventh St. in October. Work started early in 2020, but was delayed for six months in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Swain said he purchased the building from a friend to find larger quarters for Networks Unlimited. “We were running out of space.”

The 6,300 square feet in the previous location on Rood Avenue was not only cramped, but also inflexible, he said.

See HOME page 12

November 11-24, 2021

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opening warehouse store well-rounded perspective to new Mesa County role Phil Castle

The Business Times

A food distribution Phil Castlecompany that’s long served The Western Colorado Business Times will expand its operation with a warehouse store in Grand Junction open not only to restaurants, Frank Whidden brings what he food trucks and caterers, but also the public. considers a well-rounded perspective to his opening the Shamrock new A jobgrand as Mesa Countyforadministrator.

Foodservice WhiddenWarehouse worked is scheduled for Nov. 16 with product in informationsamples, giveaways and a $2,000 donation technology and holds to the Community Food Bank. a master’s degree in “We’reinformation super excited to open computer our warehouse the Grand Junction systems.

But he inalso community,” said holds a doctoralAnn Ocana, chief marketinginofficer for Shamrock Foods Co. degree applied The 18,000-square-foot store is located management and at 2401 North Ave. Ocana said associates decision making and Frank12 Whidden will workforthere. worked more than The foodservice warehouse is has the 20 years as a minister.

Whidden fourth in Colorado and 10th overall for worked for large and small organizations Shamrock Foods, a family owned company in both the private and public sectors. basedWhidden in Phoenix operates of expectsthat to draw on allone of his the largest independent distribution experiences in helpingfood Mesa County companies in the West with one of commissioners make and along carry out decisions. the largest dairies in Southwest.

Valuing staff and making the county Ocana saidofShamrock has served an employer choice long is among the restaurants and other foodservice priorities, Whidden said. So iscustomers planning with results direct deliveries.

That will continue. that in sustainable funding and But the foodservice warehouse store balanced budgets on a long-term basis.will expand the operationMesa in providing products Meanwhile, County will to a larger clientele, including the public. a continue to pursue efforts that promote friendly business environment and economic development, Whidden said.

Whidden officially began working as county administrator at the beginning of the year. He succeeds Tom Fisher, who was hired as county manager in Summit County, Utah.

Whidden joined Mesa County in August 2011 as information technology director. In April 2014, he became deputy county administrator for resource management in a staffing reorganization that eliminated four director positions.

Before joining Mesa County, Whidden worked for a company providing information technology services to colleges and universities. In that role, he managed IT systems and services for institutions in Alabama, Arizona, Illinois

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

The Shamrock Foodservice Warehouse is located as well as New England andatCanada.

2401 Northsaid Ave.people and open Whidden whofrom work in 7 a.m. totechnology 7 p.m. Monday to “geeks,” information aren’t just more information, butSunday. offer an For important perspective because visit www.shamrockfsw.com. they’re familiar with nearly every aspect of operations and how work gets done. They also tend to think about new and potentially saidof the warehouse betterShe ways doing things in store askingstock and more than 4,000 products — including answering “what if ” questions. “They know meats, fish and poultry well as dairy how to effect change in anasorganization.” products, fresh produce and a variety of Whidden expects to bring that same cleaning supplies.

The store carries the approach to his duties as administrator. portfolio of Shamrock products as Whidden said it’s Farms his role to help well as other national brands. county commissioners make and then The store sells The restaurant-quality implement decisions. commissioners products at competitive warehouse prices, in turn represent the residents of the but without memberships or he membership county and express their will, said. “We fees, Ocana said. That makes the store work for the people.” a resource not only for restaurants, food Whidden said he also considers himself trucks, caterers and other foodservice a liaison between the commissioners and businesses, but one also businesses county staff, and of the priorities isand to nonprofit planning as make sureorganizations employees feel valued. events Whidden well as individuals, Ocana said. said he hopes not only to improve morale, The stores are easy to and but also take steps that willnavigate make Mesa the associates working there friendly and County an organization for which people helpful, she said. “We are about service at want to work.

Shamrock.”

Meanwhile, Whidden expects the Ocana said Grand Junction county to continue policies andconstitutes initiatives athat good location for the warehouse store as support local business and economic See STORE page 12 development. There are additional steps that can be taken to make it easier for local businesses to sell products and services to the county, he added.

Mesa County will keep working with other government entities, organizations and institutions on fostering an environment that supports existing businesses and attracts new businesses, he said.

Whidden said there could be a opportunities to encourage the additional development of businesses that provide services to the agricultural industry as well as promote Mesa County as a distribution center for the region.

The important thing is to consider issues from a well-rounded perspective, Whidden said. “We won’t be myopic as we look at things.” ✦

November 11-24, 2021

The Business Times

Speaker to students: Don’t give up on ideas Phil Castle

The Business Times

T.K. Coleman tells a story about a bank employee with a magic penny that enables him to read minds.

The man discovers another employee who feels unappreciated for his long service plans to rob the bank. What should he do? Who’ll believe his account or, for that matter, his newfound abilities?

The situation isn’t T. K. Coleman so far-fetched, Coleman said, given the skepticism that greets innovations that seem just as implausible.

“This is how people react to great ideas.”

That means business leaders must not only persevere in the face of ridicule, but also respond to doubt and fear as learning opportunities and appeal to people’s self interest, he said during a conference in Grand Junction for high school students.

Coleman is co-founder and educational director of Praxis, an alternative educational program that combines a six-month professional development bootcamp with six-month paid internships with startup companies. He also serves as director

of entrepreneurial education with the Foundation for Economic Education.

Coleman delivered the keynote presentation at the Western Slope Economic Leadership Conference, an event hosted by the Freedom & Responsibility Education Enterprise (FREE) Foundation. The foundation provides resources to students and teachers in Western Colorado to promote the understanding of economics, financial literacy and free enterprise.

The business leaders who developed automobiles had to prove the superiority of their products at a time when there were fewer roads, no gasoline stations and consumers preferred faster horses, Coleman said.

Sylvan Goldman, the owner of a grocery store chain, similarly had to overcome skepticism when he invented a cart to enable customers to purchase more food than they could carry in their arms or baskets.

Customers were reluctant to use the carts, however. Rather than becoming defensive, Goldman talked to customers. Women who spent time pushing baby carriages didn’t want to push another cart in stores. Men considered using the carts too effeminate.

Goldman hired models to push carts around his stores, and the tactic worked. His shopping carts and stores because popular and successful, Coleman said.

See IDEAS page 14

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November 11-24, 2021

Forecast calls for economic growth in U.S., worldwide Phil Castle

The Business Times

The United States will lead the way in what’s expected to be strong economic growth worldwide in 2022 and a rapid recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Despite the depth of the recession in the first half of 2020 Dana Peterson — and the unexpected setbacks of the Delta variant in 2021 — the global economy has recovered rapidly from the pandemic shock compared to past recessions,” said Dana Peterson, chief economist of the Conference Board.

The member-driven think tank based in New York

offered an overview of its latest global economic outlook during a virtual media briefing.

Peterson said gross domestic product, the broad measure of goods and services, is expected to grow an average of 2 percent in the U.S. between 2022 and 2031, leading the way among large and mature economies.

Worldwide, GDP is expected to grow 5.1 percent in 2021 and 3.9 percent in 2022. Growth likely will slow to an average of 2.5 percent between 2022 and 2026 and an average of 2.4 percent between 2027 and 2031.

By the end of 2022, 66 out of 77 key economies accounting for 96 percent of global GDP should be at or above pre-pandemic levels.

In the U.S., investments and innovations in technology will spur growth. Federal legislation funding infrastructure construction also will contribute to growth.

Downsides remain in the outlook, however, Peterson said. They include labor shortages, inflation, climate change and the potential for financial instability.

Acute labor shortages continue to affect the United States as well as the United Kingdom and parts of Europe with no short-term solutions in sight, Peterson said.

Gad Levanon, head of the Conference Board Labor Markets Institute, said shortages persist desipte rapidly rising wages as well as the automation of some services.

Older workers have retired at higher rates than expected, while younger workers have become more selective in choosing where they’ll work, Levanon said.

Asked if the extent of inflation has been underestimated, Peterson said, “Probably yes.” Some inflationary pressurs likely will remain more enduring.

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November 11-24, 2021

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November 11-24, 2021

News, views Voters OK and advice high school you can use bond issue

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Work is expected to begin next year on a new Grand Junction High School after Mesa County voters approved a measure to fund the project.

Voters also elected three new members of the Mesa County School District 51 Board of Education whose responsibilities will include overseeing construction of the new high school.

Voters approved by a nearly 2-to-1 margin a measure allowing the school district to increase its debt to $115 million to replace the 65-year-old Grand Junction High School. The project is expected to cost about $145 million.

District 51 announced in a news release construction on a three-story high school is scheduled to begin in 2022 on the school property on Fifth Street and conclude by the end of 2024.

The new high school will be built with piles anchoring the foundation to shale to prevent the maintenance issues that occurred with the existing school. The new building also will feature only one main public entrance to improve security.

An existing gymnasium and art building on the property will remain.

Students and staff will remain in the existing high school while the new building is constructed.

Voters also elected three new members to the school board.

Andrea Haitz defeated Trish Mahre and Austin DeWitt in District C. Willie Jones defeated Nick Allan in District D. Angela Lema defeated David Combs in District E. Three Mesa County measures on the November election ballot were approved.

Voters approved a measure allowing marijuana cultivation, manufacturing and testing facilities in unincorporated areas of the county.

Another measure imposting a 5 percent tax on the sale of processed marijuana at a retail marijuana cultivation facility was approved.

The tax is expected to generate more than $750,000 a year, money earmarked to fund substance abuse and mental health services.

A third measure enables Mesa County to provide telecommunication services.

Voters in Mesa County joined those elsewere in Colorado in rejecting three statewide measures.

One measure would have increased the tax on retail marijuna sales to fund tutoring and after-school learning programs.

Another measure would have lowered property tax assessment rates.

A third measure would have amended the Colorado Constitution to allow the State Legislature to determine how to dispurse so-called custodial money, such as settlements from lawsuits or aid from Congress.

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November 10-24, 2021

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Ordinary

Continued from page 2 Parsons found a home for the Ordinary Fellow in a building that once housed the United Fruit Growers Co-op and a peach packing facility. During the early 20th century, local farmers loaded peaches onto trains headed for Denver.

Parsons renovated the building to accommodate winery equipment as well as an adjacent tasting room with indoor and outdoor seating areas. The tasting room is open daily for tasting flights and sells wines by the glass and bottle.

Four wines are bottled with the Ordinary Fellow label using grapes grown on Parson’s Box Bar Vineyard near Cortez

November 11-24, 2021 FOR YOUR INFORMATION The Ordinary Fellow is located at 202 Peach Ave. in Palisade and open daily. For more information, call 464-2185, send an email to drink@theordinaryfellow.com or visit www.theordinaryfellow.com. as well as vineyards in Washington. Those wines include a riesling from Colorado as well as an albarino, rosé and red blend from Washington.

In addition to the tasting room, those wines are available in liquor stores and restaurants and soon will be available to purchase online.

Parsons says he strives to “let the vineyards do the talking” in making wines, stepping in only to strike a balance among the various attributes.

Parsons says he expects to bottle additional wines, including cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, pinot noir and rosé from Colorado and a sparkling rosé from Washington.

Parsons brings to his latest venture more than 20 years of experience in the wine industry.

He started out selling wine in London, but soon realized he’d rather make wine.

He worked a harvest in New Zealand, then moved to Australia, where he earned a graduate degree in enology from the University of Adelaide.

After graduation, he came to Palisade to take a job as a winemaker at Canyon Wind Cellars. He also started a wine consulting business and later moved to Southern Colorado to help turn Sutcliffe Vineyards from a hobby winery into a commercial operation.

In 2008, Parsons launched the Infinite Monkey Theorem in Denver. The operation soon expanded with additional tasting rooms in Denver and Fort Collins as well as a winery in Texas.

Parsons also launched a program in packaging wine in kegs and in 2011, launched a canned wine.

Parsons stepped down as winemaker of the Infinite Monkey Theorem in 2019 and moved with his family back to the Grand Valley to focus on winemaking and the Ordinary Fellow.

He expects the operation to fit well with what’s become something of an entertainment district in Palisade as well as efforts to bring more visitors to the area on a year-around basis.

He plans to offer food service at the Ordinary Fellow starting in the spring.

And with ample space in the back of the building, he says there’s room for other complementary businesses — a coffee roaster or flour mill, for example.

At the same time, Parsons says he wants to offer a place in which people can relax, talk with friends and enjoy a glass of wine.

Eschewing pretension, Parsons says there was a time when ordinary was considered a good thing. He says it’s up to customers to decide whether or not his efforts and his wines are extraordinary.

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November 11-24, 2021

Home

Continued from page 2 Counting a mezzanine level constructed at the new location, the building offers nearly three times that much space for the 35 employees who work there, Swain said.

Networks Unlimited also operates an office in Montrose staffed by four employees.

The Grand Junction building previously housed a lumber business as well as Larro Feeds and Juanita Coal. Swain said he was pleased he could renovate an existing building, especially an historical one. “I’d always hoped I’d find a project like this to do.”

The refurbished building no longer resembles a lumber or feed store inside or out. The interior design incorporates three refurbished shipping containers — one stacked at an angle atop another. The 40-long containers not only improve the quality of the sound inside the building, but also offer office and meeting space.

Additional offices, work spaces and conference rooms accommodate a staff that’s grown along with the operation.

Networks Unlimited has evolved into a managed services provider in offering a range of information technology services as well as computer and networking sales and support.

Security has become a more important service in protecting small businesses often targeted by cyber attacks, Swain said.

The company serves more than 2,000 clients not only in Western Colorado, but also 38 other states.

Swain said those services vary depending on the needs and budgets of individual clients.

“We tailor solutions to fit their needs.”

While the business involves advancing computer technology, it also involves customer service and personal connections, Swain said. “It’s still very relationshipbased. Customers buy from us because they trust us.”

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Store

Continued from page 4 a commercial hub serving the region with 1,000 food service operators and 450 restaurants. “We see it as a growing community,” Ocana said.

That coincides with what Ocana said is a growing company.

Since its opening in the 1920s as a dairy with 20 cows and a Model T delivery truck, Shamrock Farms has expanding into a dairy operation with 20,000 cows. The operation diversified to offer various dairy products and food distribution. Shamrock Foods now employs a total of 5,000 associates in 25 states, she said.

The foodservice warehouse stores constitute another part of the growth strategy, she said. In addition to the Grand Junction location, a new store is scheduled to open in Billings, Mont., early next year.

More stores are planned.

For now, though, Ocana said she’s exciting about the grand opening celebration in Grand Junction and the products and services the store will offer.

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November 11-24, 2021

Ideas

Continued from page 5 When people question the merits of an idea, ask them why and engage them in the process, Coleman said. “Curiosity is so disarming.”

Coleman said leaders in business and other fields are usually ordinary people who use the skills and resources they have at hand to solve problems. “We all have something to work with.”

One way to solve problems, he said, is to state them as questions. Another way is to seek help — whether that’s from teachers, mentors or professionals.

To solve a problem, achieve a goal or reach some sort of destination, it’s essential to know the starting point. That requires an honest and precise assessment, Coleman said. “You can’t know how to get there if you don’t know where you’re at.”

It’s helpful, too, to avoid starting the day in what Coleman called a “frenzy state” and a reactive rather than proactive approach. He said he gets up early to read, meditate and walk before he goes to work.

“You have to take that time for you.”

Ultimately, leadership in business and other fields isn’t about exercising power, Coleman said. It’s about leading through understanding and appealing to people and their interests.

Success and wealth is a reward for solving problems, he said, whether that’s alleviating suffering or adding value to peoples lives.

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News Trends Real estate numbers mixed Contributors Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac

November 11-24, 2021

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INDICATORS AT A GLANCE

n Business filings t New business filings in Colorado, 38,211 in the third quarter, down 1.2% from the third quarter of 2020.

n Confidence

s Consumer Confidence Index 113.8 in October, up 4.0. t Leeds Business Confidence Index for Colorado, 56.1 for the fourth quarter, down 11.2. t National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index 98.2 for October, down 0.9.

n Foreclosures

t Foreclosure filings in Mesa County, 1 in October, down from 2 in October 2020. s Foreclosure sales in Mesa County, 3 in October, up from 2 in October 2020.

n Indexes

s Conference Board Employment Trends Index, 112.23 for October, up 2.55. s Conference Board Leading Economic Index 117.5 for September, up 0.2%. t Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index for manufacturing, 60.8% for October, down 0.3%.

n Lodging

s Lodging tax collections in Grand Junction, $177,537 for September, up 30.7% from September 2020.

n Real estate

t Real estate transactions in Mesa County, 480 in October, down 17.1% from October 2020. s Dollar volume of real estate transactions in Mesa County, $204 million in October, up 9.7% from October 2020.

n Sales

s Sales and use tax collections in Grand Junction, $5.78 million for September, up 14.7% from September 2020. s Sales and use tax collections in Mesa County, $4.32 million for October, up 17.1% from October 2020.

n Unemployment t Mesa County — 4.8% for September, down 0.9. t Colorado — 5.6% for September, down 0.3. t United States — 4.6% for September, down 0.2.

Transactions down, but dollar volume still way up in Mesa County Phil Castle

The Business Times

Even as the number of real estate transactions trends downward in Mesa County, higher prices and large commercial deals push dollar volume to record heights.

Robert Bray, chief executive officer of Bray Real estate in Grand Junction, sees lower inventories and higher prices as villains in slowing residential sales, while new construction has become a hero in helping to meet demand. Looking ahead, Bray said Robert Bray there’s the potential for higher interest rates on mortgages to play a role as well.

Annette Young, administrative coordinator at Heritage Title Co. in Grand Junction, agreed low inventories have slowed sales, but said the market remains busy overall.

Young said 480 transactions worth a total of $204 million were reported in Mesa County in October. While transactions fell 17.1 percent compared to the same month last year, dollar Annette Young volume rose 9.7 percent.

Just 18 transactions accounted for a total of $49 million, Young said. They included the sale of an apartment complex on Knollwood Drive in Grand Junction for $10 million, the property where Tractor Supply is located for $5.5 million and a manufacturing warehouse and 20 acres where Grand Junction Steel was located for $5.5 million.

Through the first 10 months of 2021, 5,191 transactions worth a collective $1.93 billion were reported. Just 145 transactions accounted for a total of $326 million. Compared to the same span in 2020, transactions increased 11.5 percent and dollar volume rose 34.9 percent.

With two months still left in 2021, dollar volume already has topped the previous peak of nearly $1.73 billion in 2006.

Transactions remain below the 7,198 reported in 2005.

According to numbers Bray Real Estate tracks for the

residential market, 300 transactions worth a combined $109 million were reported in October. Compared to the same month last year, transactions fell 27 percent and dollar volume dropped 23.2 percent.

Year-to-date residential activity for 2021 still outpaces 2020, however. Through October, 3,433 transactions worth a total of $1.3 billion were reported. Compared to the same span last year, transactions increased 1.7 percent and dollar volume advanced 18.2 percent.

Bray said lower inventories and higher prices have prompted some homebuyers to take a break from what’s been a competition for listings with multiple offers above asking prices.

Rising prices have made affordability a more pressing issue, he said. “You can’t keep up with that and not be affected.”

Residential inventories have picked up in recent months. The 392 active listings at the end of October constituted a 4.8 percent increase over the same time last year.

Low supplies and high demand continue to push prices higher.

The median price for homes sold through the first 10 months of 2021 increased 15.1 percent to $328,000.

New home construction has helped to meet demand, Bray said. A total of 793 single family building permits were issued in Mesa County through the first 10 months of 2021, a 22 percent increase over the same span in 2020 on the way to what Bray expects will be a record year.

Bray said he expects the year-end number of residential transactions for 2021 to match or perhaps slip below 2020, but still considers 2021 a good year for residential real estate in Mesa County. Commercial activity has been strong, he said.

Looking further ahead, Bray said interest rates on mortgages remain historically low, but could edge up and eliminate some potential buyers.

Meanwhile, property foreclosure activity continues to decrease in Mesa County. Young said 22 filings and 18 sales were reported through the first 10 months in 2021. That’s down 73.5 percent and 35.7 percent, respectively, from the same span in 2020.

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

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Small Business Optimism Index declines A measure of optimism among small business owners has declined even as concerns over labor and inventory shortages mount heading into the holiday shopping season.

The National Federation of Independent Business reported it’s Small Business Optimism Index decreased nine-tenths of a point to 98.2 in October.

“Small business owners are attempting to take advantage of current economic growth, but remain pessimistic about business conditions in the near future,” said Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist of the NFIB. “One of the biggest problems for small Bill Dunkelberg businesses is the lack of workers for unfilled positions and inventory shortages, which will continue to be a problem during the holiday season,” Dunkelberg said.

The NFIB bases the index on the results of monthly surveys of members, most of them small business owners. For October, seven of 10 components of the index declined, one advanced and two remained unchanged from September.

The proportion of those responding to the survey upon which the October index was based who said they expect the economy to improve in coming months dropped four points. At net negative 37 percent, more respondents expected worsening conditions.

The component has dropped 17 points over the past three months to its lowest level since November 2012.

A net 31 percent of respondents reported plans to increase capital outlays, up three points. A net 10 percent said they consider now a good time to expand, down a point.

A net 26 percent reported plans to increase staffing, unchanged from September. A net 49 percent reported unfilled job openings, down two points from a record-high reading for the 48-year-old index. Asked to identify their single most important business problem, 24 percent cited labor quality and 10 percent labor costs.

A net 44 percent of respondents said they raised compensation, a record-high proportion. A net 32 percent said they plan to raise compensation in the next three months.

The proportion of those who said they expect more sales dropped two points to net zero.

The share of those reporting higher earnings dropped three points. At a net negative 17 percent, a bigger share reported lower earnings. Among those reporting lower earnings, 31 percent blamed higher material costs and 25 percent cited weaker sales. Among those reporting higher earnings, 56 percent credited stronger sales.

A net 8 percent reported plans to increase inventories, down a point. A net 9 percent said they consider current inventories too low, also down a point.

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U.S. payrolls up, jobless rate down Hiring rebounded in the United States in October as payrolls increased and the unemployment rate decreased.

Nonfarm payrolls grew 531,000 and the jobless rate slipped two-tenths of a point to 4.6 percent, according to estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The latest payroll gain came in closer to the average monthly increase of 582,000 so far in 2021. Smaller payroll gains for September were revised upward a total of 235,000 to 312,000 and 483,000, respectively.

Employment has increased 18.2 million since April 2020, but remains 4.2 million below February 2020 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. For October, 7.4 million people were counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work. Of those, 2.3 million have been out of work 27 weeks or longer.

Another 4.4 million people were counted among those working

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

The labor force participation rate held steady at 61.6 percent.

Payroll gains were spread among a number of industry sectors.

Employment increased 164,000 in the leisure and hospitality sector, 100,000 in professonal and business services, 60,000 in manufacturing, 54,000 in transportation and warehousing and 44,000 in construction.

Employment decreased a total of 65,000 in state and local government education.

The average workweek shortened a tenth of an hour to 34.7 hours. The average manufacturing workweek decreased a tenth of an hour to 40.3 hours.

Average hourly earnings rose 11 cents to $30.95. Hourly earnings have increased 4.9 percent over the past year.

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November 11-24, 2021

Labor index rises

An index tracking labor trends in the United States has increased, forecasting job growth.

The Conference Board reported its Employment Trends Index rose 2.55 points to 112.23 in October.

Gad Levanon, the head of the Conference Board Labor Markets Institute, said the unemployment rate likely will dip below 4 percent within the next six months and could reach a pre-pandemic low of 3.5 percent by the end of 2022. Labor shortages will persist and wages will rise.

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Trends Contributors Opinion Workplace civility extinct?

Business Briefs Business People Almanac The Business Times

November 11-24, 2021

Page 17

COMING ATTRACTIONS

n A free presentation offering information about COVID-19 vaccination mandates is planned for Grand Junction.

The Western Colorado Human Resource Association and Bechtel & Santo law firm have scheduled the presentation for 3 to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Mesa County Workforce Center, 512 29 1/2 Road.

Michael Santo, a partner in the firm, and his team, will offer an update on the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration employer vaccine mandate.

To register for the event or obtain more information, visit www.wchra.org/event-4541214. n The Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce will join with Vectra Bank and Nexa1 to host a presentation on preventing fraud.

The presentation is set for noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 17 in the meeting room of the Vectra Bank location at 2394 Patterson Road in Grand Junction. Chamber members may attend at no charge. Others will pay $10.

For more information, call 858-3894 or visit the website at htttps://fruitachamber.org. n The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its annual economic outlook luncheon for Dec. 13.

Richard Wobbekind, senior economist and faculty director of the business research division at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder, will review the latest results of an annual forecast compiled by CU. Wobbekind will discuss the economic outlook for 2022 for Mesa County as well as Colorado and the United States.

For more information about chamber events, call 242-3214 or visit https://gjchamber.org.

Labor board signals another change to employee handbook rules Robert Frost observed in his 1914 poem “Mending Walls” that good fences make good neighbors. Well-written employee handbooks, policies and procedures similarly help employees understand their roles, rights and responsibilities while providing a framework for productive employer-employee relationships.

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) gives employees the right to engage in protected concerted activities to address the terms and conditions of their employment. Something as simple as two employees discussing their wages in the workplace or on social media could be considered protected concerted activities.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has examined in recent years employer policies — particularly employee handbooks and social media policies — it believes could Dean interfere with employee rights to address the Harris terms and conditions of their employment.

In Lutheran Heritage Village-Livonia (2004) , the NLRB held a work rule that didn’t otherwise violate the NLRA would be found unlawful if employees would reasonably construe it to prohibit NLRA rights. The board majority stated: “We will not conclude that a reasonable employee would read the rule to apply to [protected] activity simply because the rule could be interpreted that way.” But the two dissenting members would have held the company’s verbal abuse and abusive language rules, as well as its no harassment rule, would reasonably tend to cause employees to refrain from voicing disagreement with their terms and conditions of employment.

In a series of three memorandums issued in 2011 and 2012, the NLRB appeared to shift from the “would” to “could” standard. n An employee’s termination was illegal because her swearing and sarcasm about the level of care provided by her employer in Facebook posts was objectively “quite innocuous.” n Policies prohibiting disparaging comments when discussing the company or the employee’s superiors, coworkers, and/or competitors or prohibiting “disrespectful conduct” were overly broad and unlawful. n A policy requiring employees to expressly state their social media comments are their personal opinions and not those of their employers would significantly burden the exercise of employee rights. n Social media rules prohibiting any activity that 1) violates, compromises or disregards reasonable expectations as to privacy or confidentiality; 2) prohibits any communication that constitutes embarrassment, harassment or defamation of the hospital or of any hospital employee; and 3) statements that lack truthfulness or might damage the reputation or goodwill of the employer or its employees were overbroad and restricted protected activities.

In 2017, the NLRB announced a new standard for evaluating workplace rules and policies. In Boeing, the board adopted a new

test that recognized three distinct categories of workplace rules and policies. n Category 1 includes rules the board designates as lawful to maintain either because the rule, when reasonably interpreted, doesn’t prohibit or interfere with the exercise of NLRA rights; or the potential adverse effect on protected rights is outweighed by justifications associated with the rule. Civility rules fall within this category. n Category 2 includes rules that warrant individualized scrutiny in each case as to whether the rules prohibit or interfere with NLRA rights and, if so, whether any adverse effect on NLRAprotected conduct is outweighed by legitimate justifications. n Category 3 includes rules the board designates as unlawful to maintain because they prohibit or limit NLRA-protected conduct and the adverse effect on NLRA rights isn’t outweighed by justifications associated with the rule. An example would be a rule that prohibits employees from discussing wages or benefits with one another.

Although particular rules might be lawful, the board held that applying such rules to employees who engage in NLRA-protected conduct could violate the act.

Jennifer Abruzzo, the new NLRB general counsel, announced her agenda and plan for managing BLRA cases in a memo to regional staff on Aug. 12. Regional directors are no longer permitted to take independent action on a wide variety of cases, but must refer the cases to the division of advice to “reexamine these areas and counsel the general counsel’s office on whether change is necessary.” These cases include application of the Boeing test to handbook rules including, but not limited to, confidentiality rules, non-disparagement rules, social media rules, media communication rules, civility rules, respectful and professional manner rules, offensive language rules and no camera rules. The memo also targets rules regulating employees’ rights to use an employer’s email system or other electronic platforms for workplace communications.

So how should an employer draft reasonable policies on workplace behavior, social media and the use of electronic systems?

Even as the NLRB moves back to more stringent pre-Boeing standards, rules generally will pass muster that prohibit dishonesty or defamation; harassment and discrimination; or the use of work communication systems for such personal business or activities as viewing pornography, gambling and gaming.

General civility rules requiring respect or courtesy are again suspect and will certainly be held illegal if used to limit legitimate discussion of pay or workplace issues.

Dean Harris is an attorney and Western Slope area manager for the Employers Council. The Employers Council counsels, represents and trains member employers in all phases of employment relationships. Contact Harris at 852-0190 or dharris@employerscouncil.org.

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Agency offers statistical snapshot of small businesses in Colorado Nearly 675,000 small busineses collectively employ 1.2 million people in Colorado, according to the latest version of an annual statical snapshot of small firms.

The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy prepares small business profiles for states and territories. The profiles include information on the number of firms, employment, demographics and other topics using the most recently available government data.

Information for the latest profiles was collected before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the 2021 profile for Colorado, there are 674,741 small businesses in the state. The SBA defines

small businesses as those with fewer than 500 employees.

Small businesses accounted for 99.5 percent of all businesses in Colorado and employed about 48 percent of the private workforce.

Between March 2019 and March 2020, the number of Colorado business establishments increased by a net 1,256 firms and added a net 25,197 jobs. Between 1994 and 2018, small business employment grew 42.2 percent in Colorado.

Professional, scientific and technical services firms ranked at the top of small businesses sorted by industry with 118,119 firms and a total of 93,553 employees. Real

estate and rental and leasing firms were second with 78,094 firms and 67,330 employees. Construction firms came in third with 77,404 firms and a total of 58,564 employees.

Women owned 44.5 percent of small businesses, Hispanics 11.1 percent and veterans 7.4 percent.

Out of the nearly 6,000 firms exporting goods from Colorado in 2019, 87.2 percent were small businesses.

They exported a total of $2.1 billion worth of goods.

Small business profiles for Colorado and other states are available from the SBA Office of Advocacy website located at www.sba.gov/advocacy.

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Page 18

The Business Times

November 11-24, 2021

Don’t let bad apples spoil your business You’ve probably heard the saying: “Hire for skills and fire for attitude.” This means bad attitudes far outweigh the skills people bring to their positions. Failing to take corrective action puts a company at risk.

Most businesses have a number of skilled team members, many with decent and even great attitudes. They come to work, perform their jobs to a satisfactory or higher level and contribute to the work environment in positive ways. But what about those team members who, even though they have the skills to do their jobs, damage culture, morale and business operations through their bad attitudes?

Marcus Chances are, you’re thinking of these Straub people right now.

In many cases, business owners and managers tolerate so-called bad apple because it’s expensive and time consuming to hire and train new people. This is especially true if these team members bring in large amounts of business, work in key positions essential to operations or their knowledge of the business is extensive or proprietary. Under these circumstances, business leaders often feel held hostage by these team members which, unfortunately, keeps them from taking necessary corrective action.

Business owners and managers with one or more bad apples must recognize there’s a heightened awareness of these individuals throughout the company. Negative team members are difficult to work with, which damages commuications, morale, team dynamics, trust and ultimately results. Other teams members avoid them and could even harbor resentment toward owners and managers for allowing negative individuals to remain in the business.

Wise business owners and managers face the situation that comes with bad attitudes and initiate corrective action sooner rather than later.

If one of these bad apples happens to hold a management position, the consequences are even more severe.

Wherever they are in your company, bad attitudes will cost you talent. Your best people will only put up with so much before they can’t take it anymore and leave. Others in the organization could fall under the influence of a bad apple, putting your customer service, culture and success at risk.

These infected team members will spread the subversive message and attitudes, deepening the dysfunction.

Keeping these individuals on board isn’t the best choice. Wise business owners and managers face the situation that comes with bad attitudes and initiate corrective action sooner rather than later.

The first step is too free yourself from the belief your business can’t survive without these people. It isn’t true.

Time and time again I’ve helped business owners release this limiting mindset. The outcomes have been nothing but positive for everyone involved.

If the team member in question is vital to your operation, initiate corrective action by presenting them with a performance improvement plan and offering them professional development with a qualified professional to help them recognize, address and overcome their negative attitudes and damaging behaviors.

While not an overnight process, a qualified professional development coach can quickly identify a team member

who’s willing to change. When team members accept the information and work to change their attitudes, they become true assets rather than continuing liabilities. If, however, they’re unwilling or unable to change their bad attitudes and behaviors, the next step is an obvious one. You must step up to the plate and let them go. The moment you take this corrective action, your business — and everyone within it — will be freed of a negative influence.

When letting go of and replacing team members, it’s wise to put a plan in place to avoid reproducing the same situations. Work with a qualified professional who can assist you in creating a job benchmark for the position and provide insight into the attitudes and skills of your candidates. When you hire for attitude first, you can teach skills if needed. When you encounter a candidate with both, you have a solid hire.

As a business owner or manager, you can’t afford to allow bad apples to harm your culture, customers and team. The costs are too high.

One of the fundamental secrets to success is to build the most powerful team you can. Individuals with bad attitudes, no matter how skilled they are, can never be a part of this winning team.

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 11-24, 2021

The Business Times

Policies and procedures: Get them in writing You probably have a number of activities in your workplace that are repetitive, process-driven and require specific performance. These are the sorts of activities that should be documented in the form of policies and procedures (P&P) or standard operating procedures (SOP).

Your P&Ps and SOPs have many applications. But one thing all P&Ps and SOPs have in common is they need to be written in active voice to ensure employees consider themselves responsible for performing or complying with the activities. n Human resources: Your P&Ps and SOPs can be used to document a variety of HR activities and roles. You might want to create policies for onboarding and out-processing employees, handling company sensitive Janet information or employee termination as well Arrowood as general company policies and procedures. n Safety and operational activities and requirements: If your operation is subject to Occupational Safety and Health or Mine Safety and Health Administration oversight, many documentation requirements involve P&Ps and SOPs, often in the form of an employee handbook. Both OSHA and MSHA perform work place audits. Your P&Ps and SOPs can play an important role in passing these audits. n Operating company provided equipment: While it’s easy to assume everybody knows how to start up and shut down such equipment as computers, system and operational security often require additional steps to ensure critical data remains secure.

P&Ps or SOPs ensure employees and contractors do things the same way every time. Perhaps you have company vehicles and want to ensure they’re taken care of properly. SOPs offer an excellent way to communicate how your company expects employees to handle vehicle use. n Manufacturing processes: If your company runs production or assembly lines, you need P&Ps or SOPs for each operation.

A good approach is to walk the floor, having a person unfamiliar with the operation go around with someone familiar with the operation. The person who doesn’t know the procedures tries to capture the entire procedure based on what they see and hear, asking the experienced person and actual operators lots of questions. When something is unclear, the operative question becomes, “Can you please show me how?” Then the entire process can be documented in a P&P or SOP almost anyone can follow and implement. It can be helpful to include photographs. n Maintenance operations: Vehicles come with owner’s manuals.

Companies should have similar documentation in the form of P&Ps and SOPs for all ehicles and equipment that have ongoing, scheduled and unpredictable maintenance requirements. Creating these guides ensures equipment is treated properly and the same way every time. n Virtual and remote work: It appears remote work is here to stay. P&Ps and SOPs are invaluable in ensuring smooth and effective operations and setting uniform expectations for remote, virtual or offsite employees and contractors. Without them, it could be difficult to verify people are working when you expect them to be on the clock.

P&Ps and SOPs set expectations for check-in times, Zoom meetings and virtual polling processes to validate people are actually logged in and responding to requirements and requests in real time.

The best time to have P&Ps and SOPs is before you need them. Creating them after the fact could be way too late.

This column provides a far from complete list of the P&Ps and SOPs your company might need. In addition, this column is not intended to offer legal advice.

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

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Page 19

Page 20

The Business Times

November 11-24, 2021

Take COVID precautions to keep holidays safe The holidays are here. So is COVID-19.

A sharp increase in cases occurred in Mesa County in November 2020 — some might argue the first real wave of illness. A year later, illness levels are rising again.

Mesa County has seen a steady increase in COVID-19 illness levels since early August. In recent weeks, the increase has shifted from steady to sharp.

In the week between Oct. 18 and 25, the positivity rate jumped from 6.21 percent to 7.71 percent.

An increase in COVID-19 cases is alarming because it often leads to an increase in COVID-19-caused Amanda hospitalizations and deaths. Many Mayle Colorado hospitals, including those in Mesa County, are full or nearing capacity due to COVID-19, non-COVID-19 emergencies and routine visits.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said if the surge continues, the state will request medical surge teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in addition to the

National Guard teams already in place. Hospitals could have to halt elective surgeries and resort to crisis standards of care.

In addition to high hospital admission rates, Mesa county has experienced high death rates. Sixteen deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in September and 35 in October.

Vaccines remain the most effective way to control the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent hospitalizations and death.

Since April 1 — the date Colorado expanded vaccination eligibility to include most adult residents — 85 percent of hospital admissions and 82 percent of deaths due to COVID-19 have occurred in unvaccinated individuals.

This holiday season, Mesa County Public Health recommends the following precautions to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19: n Whenever possible, move public and private gatherings and events outdoors. Increase ventilation in indoor spaces if being outdoors isn’t possible. n Wear a mask in crowded indoor and outdoor spaces. n Get tested if you’re experiencing symptoms consistent

with COVID-19. n Stay home if you’re sick or waiting for COVID-19 test results. n Get vaccinated if you’re eligible. n Get your booster shot if you are eligible based on occupational, living or medical circumstances.

In the workplace, sick employees affect business.

Absences due to illness hurt productivity and diminish the morale of healthy employees who have to work extra hard in a colleague’s absence. Some employees worried about losing pay or getting behind could come to work sick, putting others at risk and increasing the effects for the entire workplace.

Taking COVID-19 precautions now will help reduce transmission, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 — as well as help ensure workplaces don’t take a hit after the holidays.

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

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Outlook bright for commercial real estate in Mesa County They’re univeral questions: What does the future hold?

What does it mean for me? While challenges remain, the outlook for Mesa County appears bright with sustainable growth for years to come.

Mesa County has been affected over its history by a series of boom-and-bust cycles. But the commumity also has enjoyed steady economic growth as a regional commercial center with the agricultural, education, health care and outdoor recreation sectors leading the way.

More recently, new industries and people have come to the area, attracted in part by tax inventives provided Cory in so-called opportunity zones. That Carlson includes the aerospace, advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.

A shift to remote work has enabled entrepreneurs to relocate and take advantage of the lifestyle.

The cumulative effects of these trends protend sustainable growth for years to come. Conservative

Conservative estimates indicate the Mesa County population will increase 80,000 over the next 30 years. estimates indicate the Mesa County population will increase 80,000 over the next 30 years. The news bodes well as the local population exceeds 150,000, a key metric to attracting regional and national franchises.

The need for more rooftops to keep pace with growth boosts all construction industry segments in Mesa County, providing still more job opportunities and demand for commercial space.

The dollar volume of real estate transactions totaled $1.729 billion through the first three quarters of 2021 in Mesa County, topping the previous peak of $1.72 billion in 2006.

That record number reflects market demand as well as key metrics driving commercial real estate activity.

If anything, 2021 has provided a snapshot of the growth

potential and the desire for companies to consider Mesa County as their home.

With the boom-and-bust roller coaster of the past behind us, the economy has diversified. That should inspire confidence in the local commercial real estate market.

Growing pains and other obstacles present challenges over the short term, among them inflation, labor shortages and supply chain issues. Such risk factors as interest rates, market conditions and vacancies affect real estate values and prices.

Considering, though, the upside for companies to identify Mesa County as a desirable destination and location, commercial real estate should remain a relatively safe investment.

Although local, regional and national economic fundamentals and trends must always be considered, the future of Mesa County appears bright for years to come.

Cory Carlson is a commercial broker with Bray Commercial Real Estate in Grand Junction. For more information, call 241-2901 or visit www.braycommercial.com.

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November 11-24, 2021

The Business Times

Page 21

Network fulfilling mission of lowering health care costs When Monument Health was launched in 2016, health care costs were considerably higher on the Western Slope than the Front Range.

Primary Care Partners, Rocky Mountain Health Plans and SCL Health St. Mary’s Medical Center joined in an effort to align incentives and take a more innovative approach to lowering costs.

Five years later, I’m proud to share we’ve driven outcomes to change the narrative around health care in our community. Health insurance premiums in the Grand Valley are now Ashley comparable to — and in some cases, Thurow lower — than premiums for similar plans on the Front Range.

As the largest clinically integrated network serving Western Colorado, we’ve always focused on prevention to contain health care costs and help people live their healthy best.

By guaranteeing access to primary care providers, encouraging annual screenings and exams and educating members on where to go for care, we contain health care spending and improve patient outcomes. By operating a network in which physicians, insurance companies and hospitals align to save patients money while achieving positive health outcomes, we fulfill our mission.

We’re proud to share some of these results reflected in premium rates for our co-branded products on the Connect for Health Colorado insurance exchange, sold by Rocky Mountain Health Plans, a UnitedHealthcare company.

This year, Monument Health exchange plan premiums were, on average, 8 percent lower than they were in 2020.

This is an incredible accomplishment because reinsurance

Health insurance premiums in the Grand Valley are now comparable to — and in some cases, lower — than premiums for similar plans on the Front Range. levels were reduced by the State of Colorado in 2021.

As we head into 2022, Monument Health premiums are once again, on average, 8 percent lower than 2021.

Our popular silver tier plan premiums will drop more than 15 percent. An individual purchasing a Monument Health plan will pay less money, dollar for dollar, than they did in 2019.

Our 2022 exchange plan premiums will be lower than all other insurance plan offerings in the areas where Monument Health delivers care and also lower than several similar options offered on the Front Range. Residents of Mesa County as well as Delta, Moffat and Rio Blanco counties will pay less money for health insurance than many residents of Boulder, Denver and Summit Counties.

With a robust network of providers, our plans also offer more patient choices than competing carriers on the exchange. In other words, people shopping for health insurance on the exchange will have more options in terms of physician offices and providers to choose from if they select our product, which costs less.

While recognizing we still have a long way to go, this is one step in the right direction for Western Colorado.

Our founding partners — along with the providers, practices and hospitals in our network — are committed to achieving real affordability.

Demonstrably high-performing primary care medical

homes like Primary Care Partners, Patterson Primary Care and Western Valley Family Practice, to name just a few, are committed to providing integrated, high quality and total cost performance to serve within our network. Through this commitment, our network of providers and facilities keep care local rather than sending our friends and family members to Denver or Utah for care.

Not only are we keeping care local and reducing the cost of care, but we’re also serving every single population in the community regardless of insurance coverage type.

We couldn’t have accomplished this without our network partners. They deliver high-quality care and are willing to integrate and be held accountable to positive patient outcomes as we drive down the total cost of care and reduce premiums year-over-year for our members, which also happen to be our friends and neighbors in Western Colorado.

In less than six years since our inception, we’re proud to celebrate Western Colorado health insurance prices compare favorably to similar products on the Front Range.

We’re keeping care local and remain committed to serving our community with excellence.

Ashley Thurow serves as executive director of Monument Health, a clinically integrated network based in Grand Junction. Monument Health doesn’t provide health insurance, determine coverage, handle premiums or process claims. Rather, Monument Health partners with a health insurance provider to offer the framework and accountability for high-level integration between insurance companies, physicians and hospitals to ensure the delivery of high-quality health care, less red tape or duplication and cost containment for its members.

Learn more at www.monumenthealth.net.

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Contributors Opinion Bold predictions for 2015 Of airports and stadiums: Grand among more A newopenings year Business affords Briefs like not-so-bold repeats Telling a COVID-19 story indicative local trends a new opportunity Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he B BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES

PPAGE age 22 22

One of my jobs as editor of a business journal is to pay attention to various indicators and what they, well, indicate, about the economy. Consequently, I spend a good portion of my time writing about unemployment rates, real estate sales and tax collections.

I’m also something of a geek.for Perhaps another A new year almost always brings an opportunity a freshinstart and life I havebetter. worked as an economist. I actually consider these renewed ambition towould do things of numbers interesting and enjoy reporting onproducts them.

In business, thatsorts usually boils down to providing customers better I came to the office at 6 in the morning to join in a virtual and services faster and at lower cost than competitors. Part of the process must media briefing staged bywhat the Conference Board New York include listening to customers to determine they actually needin and then to goall, over latest outlook.

I was happyif meeting that need. After it its does littleglobal good economic to offer the latest and greatest to do so because I got to listen to some real economists nobody actually wants what you’re selling. talk about such topics domestic product, labor Just like the businesses that belong to as thegross group, the Grand Junction Area shortages and inflation.

It was like Christmas — and nearly Chamber of Commerce invariably starts out the new year with a reassessment ofas entertaining as listening to well officials thewith Federal Reserve the services and resources it provides and how theyfrom match members their peculiarly parsed fashion about their projections. needs. Jeff Franklin,talk the in new chairman of the chamber board of directors, Phil Castle Of course, none of the indicators singularly personifies this approach in describing what he considers his role forsuggests the coming what’s going ontheir in the economy.

Butmeet connect the dots, year: listen to members, determine needs and then thoseallneeds.

It’s aand arole more complete picture emerges. with which Franklin is familiar as market president of Bank of Colorado.

In County, for example, thestructured monthly unemployment rate trended TheMesa process will take on a more approach in what thehas chamber down even higher prices large commercial transactions push the dollar plans as theas resumption of aand program aptly called Listening to Business.

Under the volume real estate salesparticipate to record levels.

Tax collections to barriers outpace to program,ofbusiness owners in in-depth interviewscontinue to identify not onlyand 2020, butproblems the past four It’s picture of a local economy that’s growth other they years. encounter. rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, also challenges The new year offers a good time to joinbut theone proverbial club. from labor shortages higher housing As anand advertiser or reader,prices. what do you need from the Business Times?

In reporting other business stories, it gather occurred me I should add two more While business journals traditionally andtoreport the relevant news to indicators to my list — grand openings and relocations. readers, communication isn’t necessarily a one-way street. That’s especially true as openings scheduled for Nov. for the Ordinary Fellow, a new WebGrand sites and e-mail are make the dialogue more13convenient than ever. winery in Palisade, anddon’t Nov. exist 16 forinthe Shamrock Foodservice Good publications a vacuum.

They respond toWarehouse, the needs ofa new store in Grand that will servewhat’s not only restaurants and caterers, but also advertisers andJunction readers. They provide needed. the public.

That’s notneed? to mention the recent relocation of Networks Unlimited into So what do you larger and refurbished in Grand Is there additional quarters news coverage thatJunction. would help keep you informed about There’s no direct correlation among grand openings, and or local business developments? Are there features that wouldrelocations be interesting economic growth.

Courageous entrepreneurs openaventures in the midst of useful? Is there advice that would make your jobs little easier? challenging times, still confident they’ll survive even thrive.

It’s equally important to ask what you don’t and need.perhaps With limited time to More generally speaking, though, grand openings and relocations indicate produce content and limited space in which to publish it, would time and space be improving conditions — of businesses opening to meet demand or relocating to better devoted to something else? keepWhat’s pace with growth. news is more oftenWhat goodisn’t? than bad. good?

WhatThe isn’t?

What’s needed?

I’ll reporting other economic indicators because I think Let keep us know.

Send on us an e-mail.

Comment online— onnot theonly Business Times Web it’s but also because I happen to think fun.an But I’m also eager to to site important, at www.thebusinesstimes.com.

You could evenit’s write old-fashioned letter report on grand openings andfeedback, relocatons.

Consider not-so-subtle invitation the editor if you’d like. Your both positivethat andanegative, is valued and to business owners and managers to help me with the process and let me know in will be carefully considered. a timely fashion when they occur.

Good publications are the result of not only the efforts of their staffs, but also It’s part of my job to pay attention to various indicators. They’re so, well, collaborative efforts involving advertisers and readers. indicative.

Like any other good business, we want to listen to our customers, find out what they need and then meet those needs.

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

THE BUSINESS TIMES

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

Publisher/Owner: Craig R. Hall

Editor: Phil Castle

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

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

Copyright © 2015 — AllCopyright rights reserved. © 2021 — All rights reserved.

IIt’s could headline that have time written of year the when “Of Colorado andprognostications Texas: a Covid 19 story.” resolutions and abound.

But just covering airports and stadiums will My favorite saying applied to New Year’s allow you toisget gist.they’re I’m also writing a resolutions in the saying basically this offof thepromises top of my I’llweek bunch tohead breakbecause the first never get myAnd headwhile around the two Americas of January.

I won’t predict a we’re living the pandemic. whole lot, I in canrelated prettytomuch accurately story involves nail aMy few things that without question a tripmake to Dallas will the with news. You will see these are some buddies to catch pretty, well, predictable: the Broncos game and ■ Prediction one: enjoy awill weekend in a There be some placeofwhere freedom sort weather event, rings. Sadly, whatorthis natural disaster column should be heinous occurrence about was the beers, where someone will football and brushes be interviewed and say withfollowing: greatness we had the “I’ve Craig Hall because of the Draft never seen anything Kings Lounge like that in mypasses we got through lifetime.”

It’s asanifold this— well, she’s young Hall — friend allowing for a cool experience. person is a required suchCraig So I’ll briefly touchnews on them anyway. attendee at every Boy was there football to watch.most We reporting event.

While I understand were literally on the Denver sideline for the people’s perspective can indeed be limited game the within, Cowboys. experience by, or against contained theirThe own personal was nearly as enjoyable at Texas experiences, it is too much to askLive, to the largest andhistorical coolest sports bar I’vebefore consult some perspective ever seen.

Yeah.

We had fewresponse beers as can saying such a thing?

Yes,athis well. After all, events. it was aBut guys’ trip.itAs for apply to some when comes greatness, missed out disasters, on the picture to weatherIand natural I’m my pretty buddies with lengendary Broncositself. sure thisgot is simply history repeating running Davis on elevatorof Same asback it hasTerrell for millions andthe millions comingMore backimportant, down to the theit! years. thelounge planetfrom made main concourse.

I didspecies. turn around and What didn’t wereBut certain How’s say, “Hey, that’s Lee Greenwood” from our that for perspective? vantage point, andtwo: he came for pics ■ Prediction Whenover it comes to a and handshakes withthat myoccurs buddies and the crime or something between crowd in the the other lounge pit area.attendee at all humans, required packedevents a lot into 48 hours newsWe reporting is thethe person who of freedom between our experiences in says this: “They we’re just the nicest the gulags disguised thedid airline in people, and in no as way I see industry something America. like this coming.” Exactly. No one does isn’t about Grand Junction mostThis of the time when it comes to Regional Airport.

It’s what the People airport should must neighbors and acquaintances. operate under given all the laws, mandates be surprised at what goes on from time to and Sequoia-pulp-sized litanytowns of regulations time in their neighborhoods, and from people our federal Sopeople maskedare with theygovernment. know because up it was the times moment entryshouldn’t to the good.

Andfrom for the thatofthey moment we — gotlike on the then it got be shocked withplane, politicians, repeat worse. First, to be frank (while hoping offenders andand terrorists — where’s the I get no one in says, trouble) we doesn’t sat wellsurprise away interview that “This frominour as a small group with masks me thegate least.” basically off. And three: then asSomething my “crew”good tends ■ Prediction to do,happen we followed the cart and going will economically, theup to the bar to be there at take “opening” satThe pretty government will credit and for it. most much mask-less theprices, table aswhere well. people recent example isatgas All thanks partcredit to a county which for ask me whyinIno won’t the president wants current leadership low gasfreedom prices. — Myour answer is simple: folks aside who want theirthe version Government never makes priceofofit.

Of ocurse, I could abut something go down and write simplya novel takes credit what the news.

TSA has I digress. for good Gasbecome, pricing isbut subject to I heard about Now masks once manyIfglobal factors. there areon the plane, I heard it six times before takeoff government answers to addressing some of — including the ever-popular threats them to keep prices stable for Americans, of breaking federal has law,none losing but our government of flying them in privileges inference harshin the place.

The and onlythe things it has inofplace

NJovember 11-24, 2015 2021 ANUARY 15-28,

penalties for breaking the “law.”Another Then long run always hurt consumers. again, the feds run the airlines as awell, so fact is that unemployment reaches certain there’s always been a chance of that.

The level based on the economy. And while the airlines are correct: Flying is a privilege. government might brag the number is low, But a privilege is something we should it’s more than likely the government did go to a privatetobusiness to number obtain and adhere something cause that being low to notway. the dictates of when —its andprocedures, not in a good Conversely, government. more business picksYou’ll up, it’sunderstand because thethis people once shopping eating out who need to buyorwidgets whobecomes were nota government-regulated buying widgets because“privilege.” the economy was After looking about the for any contracting due to natural (orcabin unnatural, curious eyes,caused) I took my time eating government reasons, decidedmy we pretzels mask down-mask back up style better buy some widgets. The government with the occasional sip this. of water requiring had nothing to do with the same insane actions. you think the ■ Prediction four: InIfkeeping with surge problems the result thingsof thein-flight government does,are I predict the of anything but mask policies due to government willthe manipulate the numbers to government more control of make the claimtaking the economy is getting our lives underofthe guise ofitsafety from to better because how hard is working COVID, couldn’t be more wrong. help all ofyou us “working Americans.”

Now They are. Ifsay, you“Craig, unconvinced, thensay why you might you always this won’t the government airlines to start about President Obamaallow because you don’t their own terminal access flights for like him.”

You’re right in aand sense.

I don’t those flywhat withI no mask know desiring the man,tobut know of — himand and better, more sensible security?

Hint: his thinking, I don’t like it or him oneThey iota. never For more proof, Beforegive youup gocontrol. off, however, I didn’t like see gambling, cigarettes, pot and all the President Bush and his bailouts, stimulus other industries in which themarket government and his abandoning the free to save controls the means the free market.

AndofI production. don’t know him For the record, the flightdoes, home airport either.

What the government and the to plane experience was a huge ditto. I’m only thing it can do, is hurt the economy. just glad weather Unless it the doesAmerican nothing orAirlines put criminals in problems thethem, end ofnothing the jail insteadare of restricted partneringto with month after employees outAlways of hours. the government does willrun help. look Now, how ’bout that at it this way, whatever the Cowboys government says stadium? never the seenname a smoother it is doing,I’ve whatever of the law it running operation handling 100,000is passing, or whatever the name or goal of plus people overitaisfew hours intosuch the bureaucracy presenting the an efficient manner my life.

I’ve to been to people, expect theinpolar opposite occur. moreI than University of Michigan guess100 what I’m saying is that games, the out Bataan Death perhapsand it’s it’s timelike to get of our own March just toThere’s go to the bathroom or get perspective. plenty of history abooks hot dog. in Jerry World.out Ticket and Not historical research there to takers? more thanthat a couple of folks begin toNo understand all of this has in the multitude lines.

Security happened before.ofAnd it will again,gates?

Come onthe through, don’t whether topic ispardner. people And or government. messThe withbest the recommendation three guys on theisother end to find or you’ll have — of Google which my some books orproblems try that whole humor saved me after they started in thing. There’s a lot of information onon the my Buccaneers gear.

Great Depression.

The truth is it wasn’t my buddy asked, you ever evenAs a good one until the“Have government got seen a place wherealso youplenty had soofmuch room involved.

There’s research surrounded by 100,00 And the we on the medieval warmpeople?” period when did it all without a bunch planet was much masks, warmersame than as today with of other stadiums did last weekend. a whole lot less people (and warmerAnd well as it hasman beenwas since began. before herefootball at all).season And yep, Ipeople assume without being other a super spreader have been itkilling surprised event. people since history was first written.

Yet our some airlines and airports mask us Maybe research will help stop up despite being actually less crowded. all of these trends. Otherwise, we’ll be Then one and sayingagain, we’veJerry neverJones seenruns anything likethe it in government runs our lives. And notthe in other. a good way.

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

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

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November 11-24, 2021

The Business Times

True blame for scarcity lies not with pandemic, but pandemic response It’s a fundamental economic truth: Scarcity exists because resources are limited. It is a matter of unlimited wants versus limited resources.

United States residents are unique and pampered. In fact, the U.S. has been called the land of the plenty when compared to other countries and economic systems.

Americans are accustomed to fully stocked automobile Phyllis showrooms, grocery Hunsinger stores, lumber outlets, technology centers and other suppliers of goods.

Most people alive today have never experienced true shortages of basic supplies. There were shortages during World War II because resources were devoted to the war effort. There were shortages of gasoline in 1973 during the OPEC oil embargo and in 1979 with the Iranian revolution. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, toilet paper and hand sanitizer were scarce, but those shortages were short-lived.

Something is different now. Have you noticed empty shelves in your favorite store? Have you placed an order only to discover the item was out of stock or backordered? Then months later the order remained unfilled? Have you been unable to repair your car because an essential part can’t be found? Is lumber unavailable or too expensive?

The pandemic has been blamed for the shortages and broken supply lines that deliver goods to market. The goal of shuttering the economy was to break the pandemic cycle. That might have been helpful, but not catastrophic to the economy. But the extended closures that followed in some states were indeed catastrophic. Is the pandemic to blame?

Or is it the response to the pandemic?

A supply chain is defined as a system

of activities, information, organization, people and resources supplying products and services to consumers. The supply chain everyone depends on was decades in the making.

Helen Raleigh, a senior contributor at The Federalist, wrote in a recent blog: “The culprit of current supply chain disruptions is a persistent labor shortage caused by poor government policies.”

She cited economist Richard M. Salsman from the American Institute for Economic Research, explaining the labor shortage has been both mandated by shutdowns of “nonessential” businesses and subsidized with extended unemployment benefits.

That’s made it difficult for many businesses to attract and hire labor of sufficient affordability, quality, quantity and reliability.

Workers are needed to unload ships at port, drive trucks, man the rails, deliver goods and stock shelves. In the absence of these workers, consumers stare at empty shelves.

The unprecedented scarcity of goods Americans face now is different. The unintended consequences of government regulation have affected the economic principle of supply and demand.

In their book, “Common Sense Economics,” Joseph Calhoun, Tawni Ferrarini, James Gwartney, Dwight Lee and Richard Stroup define economics as the science of common sense. If that’s true, our scarcity today is a result of government bureaucrats who have no common sense.

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

For more, visit www.free-dom.us.com.

A former teacher, principal and superintendent, Hunsinger wrote “Down and Dirty: A ‘How To’ Math Book. Reach Hunsinger at phyllis@free-dom.us.com.

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n FIRST WEST SLOPE MECHANICALTHROMBECTOMY PERFORMED AT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Dr. Todd James performed the first mechanical thrombectomy in Western Colorado using the ClotTriever System at Community Hospital in Grand Junction.

The system removes blood clots from arteries or veins in a single treatment without the need for anti-coagulation drugs or an overnight intensive care unit stay, said James, an interventional cardiologist with Grand Todd James Valley Cardiology at Community Hospital.

Blood clots can be caused by anything that prevents blood from circulating or clotting normally — including injuries, certain medications and limited movement. Clots can dislodge and subsequently become lodged in pulomonary arteries, posing potentially life-threatening complications.

“Patients who suffer from this potentially fatal disease are benefitting greatly because of it,” James said of the ClotTriever System. “We expect to continue to lead the way on the Western Slope in interventional cardiology techniques and devices and take this responsibility seriously.”

Community Hospial opened a cardiovascular procedure center in June. Grand Valley Cardiology offers a range of cardiac care services. For more information, call 644-4030 or visit the website at www.YourCommunityHospital.com. n HILLTOP’S HEALTH ACCESS OFFERS HELP IN ENROLLING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE Hilltop’s Health Access in Grand Junction offers assistance in enrolling people for health insurance for 2022.

A certified assistance site for the Connect for Health health insurance exchange in Colorado, Hilltop’s Health Access can help people compare insurance plans and enroll for coverage.

Depending on their income, people could qualify for tax credits that could save them thousands of dollars on insurance premiums over the course of a year. Last year, thousands of Colorado residents didn’t take advantage of tax credits that could have reduced the cost of their insurance.

People must enroll by Dec. 15 for coverage that starts Jan. 1.

For assistance or more information, contact Hilltop’s Health Access at 244-0850 or visit www.hilltopshealthaccess.org. n WESTERN COLORADO UNIONS JOIN IN EFFORT TO BRING VACCINE CLINIC TO GRAND JUNCTION The Western Colorado Trades and Labor Assembly will join with Colorado WINS, the International Brotherhood of Electricians Local 111, Colorado Education Association and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment to sponsor a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Grand Junction.

The CDHPE vaccine bus will offer free vaccinations from noon. to 6 p.m. Nov. 19 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21 on the Colorado Mesa University campus. Vaccinations will be available for adults as well as children ages 5 years old and older.

The vaccination clinic will be offered in conjunciton with the Native American Market Days event at the CMU University Center. The bus will be parked on the plaza west of the center.

No appointments or health insurance or identification cards will be required.

The Business Times

November 11-24, 2021

SHARE YOUR NEWS

NOTEWORTHY

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

The Roice-Hurst Humane Society in Grand Junction has received recognition for its efforts to integrate wellness and safety into workplace culture.

The animal shelter received the 2021 Health Links Integration Award.

“I am incredibly proud of the culture we’ve cultivated at Roice-Hurst, which prioritizes our people,” said Anna Stout, chief executive officer. “Working Anna Stout in animal welfare can be taxing both mentally and physically.

So wellness and safety are top priorities for our team because we can only take care of animals if we take care of ourselves. RoiceHurst is truly one of the best places to work in the state, and it’s an honor to be regonized for that with the Integration Award.”

Health Links — a program of the Center for Health, Work and Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health — offers resources to assist businesses in improving workplace wellness and safety. The Integration Award recognizes efforts to promote workplace wellness and safety based on staff assessments.

Roice-Hurst won the Health Links Champion of Well-Being Award in 2019 and was a finalist for the Champion of Innovation Award in 2018 and Dedication in Small Business Award in 2020. Stout was among three finalists for the 2021 Health Links Director’s Award, a recognition she won in 2018.

The Roice-Hurst Humane Society provides housing, individualized behavioral and medical treatment and daily care for dogs and cats as well as animal behavior counseling, adoption services and low-cost veterinary services.

For more information, call 434-7337 or visit the website at www.RHhumanesociety.org.

n APPLICATIONS DUE DEC. 15 FOR GRANTS FROM UNITED WAY OF MESA COUNTY Applications will be accepted through Dec 15 for the latest grants from United Way of Mesa County.

Volunteers on allocation panels will review applications and applicants and make recommendations to the United Way of Mesa County Board of Directors. Funding will begin in July.

“United Way’s model is based on keeping Zebulon Miracle things local and is all about community input,” said Zebulon Miracle, executive director of United Way of Mesa County. “It is the community that identifies pressing needs, the community that identifies ways to tackle those needs and the community that raises the resources needed to make substantial change. Anyone and everyone can participate in the process.”

United Way of Mesa County supports programs that address human services needs in the areas of health, education and selfreliance. To be considered for funding, organizations must have: n Tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code and have been incorporated as a nonprofit since Nov. 1, 2019. n Bylaws that describe their structure, mission and operations. n Nondiscrimination policies that comply with laws and apply to staff, volunteers and board members. n An annual audit, financial review or compliation conforming to generally accepted auditing principles.

For more information, call 243-5364 or visit the website at www.unitedwaymesacounty.org. n FREDDY’S TO HONOR VETERANS AND MILIARY

BY GIVING AWAY CARDS FOR COMBO MEALS Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers will celebrate Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11 by giving veterans and current military personnel cards good for free original double combo meals. No purchase will be required. The cards may be redeemed through Nov. 30.

In Grand Junction, Freddy’s are located at 737 Horizon Drive and 2489 U.S. Highway 6 & 50. For more information, visit the website at https://freddysusa.com. n HORIZON SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB DISTRIBUTES $13,000 TO SIX NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS The Horizon Sunrise Rotary Club in Grand Junction has distributed a total of more than $13,000 to six nonprofit organizations.

The club distributed proceeds from its annual A La Mode fund-raiser to the Community Food Bank, Counseling and Education Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Grand Junction Imagination Library, Riverside Educational Center and Spellbinders.

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n PRESIDENT OF ENSTROM CANDIES INDUCTED INTO CANDY HALL OF FAME

Doug Simons, president of Enstrom Candies in Grand Junction, was among the latest inductees into the National Confectionary Sales Association Candy Hall of Fame.

Simons was among 10 inductees in the class of 2021 honored during a black-tie event in Tampa.

Considered one of the highest honors bestowed in the confectionery Doug Simons industry, induction into the Candy Hall of Fame honors individuals who’ve dedicated their careers to the betterment of the industry. Inductees exhibit service over and above their personal careers that results in contributions advancing the industry. Inductees give back through participation in trade associations, educational outreach, mentoring and community involvement.

Founded in 1899, the National Confectionary Sales Association represents all aspects of the industry — manufacturers as well as brokers, distributors, retailers and suppliers.

Simons and his wife, Jamee, joined Enstrom Candies in 1979, the third generation of the family to be involved in the company founded by Jamee’s grandparents, Chet and Vernie Enstrom. Doug and Jamee Simons purchased the company in 1993. Their sons, Doug Jr. and Jim, since have joined the operation.

Doug Simons long has been active in the confectionary industry. He served on the board of Retail Confectioners International from 1991 and 2000, including a stint as president from 1999 to 2000. He hosted the association’s Western Regional Conference in Grand Junction in 1998.

He’s also served several terms as a National Confectioners Association director and was chairman of the 2010 Western Candy Conference in Hawaii. n THREE GRAND VALLEY RESIDENTS APPOINTED TO STATE BOARDS Three Grand Valley residents have been appointed to state boards.

Jennifer Mendenhall of Grand Junction was appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council to a term expiring Aug. 1, 2024. She serves on the board as a parent of an individual with a disability who has difficulting representing themselves. The council advises State Rehabilitation Sevices.

Christie Robson of Palisade was appointed to the State Board of Unlicensed Psychotherapists for a term expiring July 1, 2022. She serves as a public member on the board, which oversees the practice of unregistered psychotherapy.

Brian Paul Hill of Fruita was reappointed to the Colorado Student Leaders Institute Executive Board to a term expiring July 7, 2023. He serves on the board as a person from the community with an interest or experience in education.

The board oversees the Colorado Student Leaders Institute, which operates a summer academic program for high school students entering 10th and 11th grades.

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.

Toni Heiden

C. Castaneda

Anthony Heiden

n GRAND JUNCTION REAL ESTATE AGENCY HONORS ITS BEST-SELLING AGENTS Toni Heiden, Cynthia Castaneda, Anthony Heiden and Kyle Rivera were honored as the top-performing agents for October at Heiden Homes Realty in Grand Junction.

Toni Heiden posted the most closed transactions and highest dollar volume for the month. Castaneda, Anthony Heiden and Rivera tied for second for closed transactions.

Kyle Rivera Heiden Homes Realty operates offices at 735 Rood Ave. For more information, including listings for sale and rent, call 245-7777 or visit the website at www.heidenhomes.com. n BROKER ASSOCIATE JOINS TEAM AT GRAND JUNCTION REAL ESTATE FIRM Sawyer Blumhardt has joined Bray Real Estate as a broker associate in the Grand Junction office.

Blumhardt relocated to Grand Junction after working in electrical engineering on the Front Range.

“One of the best things about living here is being able to get out and experience the outdoors, whether it’s Sawyer Blumhardt on my mountain or road bike, rock clmbing, hiking or getting in runs on my snowboard,” he said.

Blumhardt said he’s eager to share his expertise in real estate investing.

Stewart Cruickshank, sales manager at Bray Real Estate, welcomed Blumhart. “He has a great deal of patience, and his understanding of the entire real estate process makes him invaluable to our clients.”

Bray Real Estate operates offices at 1015 N. Seventh St. For more information, call 242-3647 or visit the website at www.brayandco.com.

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November 11-24, 2021

Nov. 11 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking lunch, noon, Camilla’s, 206 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita, 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce business after hours, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Family Health West Arthritis Center, 576 Kokopelli Drive, Unit D, Fruita. Admission $5 for chamber members, $10 for others. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org Nov. 12 n Western Colorado Human Resource Association and Bechtel & Santo free update on OSHA employer mandated COVID-19 vaccinations, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Mesa County Workforce Center, 512 29 1/2 Road, Grand Junction. www.wchra.org/event-4541214 Nov. 17 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Business Toolbox presentation on preventing fraud, noon to 1 p.m., Vectra Bank Colorado, 2394 Patterson Road, Grand Junction. Event free for chamber members, $10 for others. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894 n Palisade Chamber of Commerce business after hours event, 5:30 to 7 p.m., St. Kathryn’s Cellars and Talon Winery, 785 Elberta Ave. Admission $6 in advance. https://palisadecoc.com or 464-7458 Nov. 18 n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking lunch, noon, Cattlemen’s Bar and Grill, 1369 12 1/2 Road, Loma.

858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org Nov. 19 n Women’s Entrepreneurship Day luncheon and panel presentation, noon to 1 p.m., Fruita Community Center, 324 N. Coulson St. Admission $25. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org Upcoming n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking lunch, noon Dec. 2, Rib City Grill, 455 Kokopelli Drive, Unit E. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business free end of the year party, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2, JXN Station, 571 25 Road, Grand Junction.

858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce economic outlook luncheon, noon to 1:30 p.m.

Dec. 13, location to be announced. 242-3214 or https://gjchamber.org n Palisade Chamber of Commerce business after hours event, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 15, Grand Valley National Bank, 600 W. Eighth St. Admission $6 in advance. https://palisadecoc.com or 464-7458 n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce Zoom presentation on chamber membership, noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 25. 242-3214 or https://gjchamber.org n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet, 6 to 11:30 p.m. Jan. 28, Grand Junction Convention Center, 159 Main St. 242-3214 or https://gjchamber.org F

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November 11-24, 2021