Out West Training targets fitness for the Colorado lifestyle.
n Coffee with love
5 Dutch Bros opens drivethrough location in GJ.
n HBA Summit for housing challenges
6 In this issue
The Feb. 6 summit aims to address housing challenges in the Grand Valley with an emphasis on community voices.
n Doubts cast on 4th and 5th Street data
Downtown GJ businesses take issue with city using cellphone data to determine business activity.
8
n Fruita hires Vassen for City Manager
The City of Fruita picked Shannon Vassen when it voted unanimously on Jan 16 to hire him as its city manager. 10
Sunny Disposition
Resumption of solar-cell manufacturing in U.S. in 2024 makes a difference for solar installers and customers
See story, Page 2
Harty.
An American-Made Solar Revival
A Solar-cell
t first blush, the resumption of solar-cell manufacturing in the United States during the third quarter last year doesn’t sound like a big deal.
But when you shine a little light on it and take a closer look, it means more U.S.-manufactured parts are getting put into solar arrays. And when enough of an array’s parts say “American made” on them, savings can be realized that make it worthwhile to move away from foreign-based manufacturing.
The solar cell, a photovoltaic cell most commonly made of silicon semiconductor material, is the building block of the solar panel or module, which is a collection of connected solar cells. And in 2019 the manufacturing of silicon solar cells in the United States stopped. From a financial standpoint, it made more sense to leave that to foreign countries, China chief among them. And it stayed that way for five years.
manufacturing’s return to the U.S. is showing up in local solar arrays
who tend to make decisions based on bottom-line cost.
“To meet those demands to get that extra benefit in cost definitely helps the end user for sure, beyond a 30 percent federal tax rebate that’s currently existing,” McClain said.
Villaire thinks demand for American-made solar cells may be outstripping supply right now, but the U.S. is getting serious about solar manufacturing and providing the supply.
In addition to Qcells investment in a Georgia factory, other solar-cell manufacturers have set up shop in California, Florida, Texas and Ohio to name a few.
“The United States is stepping up to take market share from foreign competitors and making sure that the jobs and economic growth from solar are benefiting American communities,” SEIA President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper said in a December news release from SEIA.
“You know, the thinking was that if we can get solar panels made cheaply overseas, we should just think about the lowest cost possible for the electricity consumer. And so that’s the best deal, and let’s do that,” said Mike Kruger, executive director of the Colorado Solar and Storage Association, based in Denver. “As you do that, though, that meant that higher-cost manufacturing in the U.S. couldn’t compete. Those manufacturers either shut down completely or moved offshore.”
Atlasta Solar Center co-owner Lou Villaire said once China was able to ramp up manufacturing of solar cells, there was no competing with it.
“The statistic,” Villaire said, “is that every time the world has doubled manufacturing capacity of modules, prices are pushed down about 10 to 20 percent. And that’s held pretty strong.”
What changed after five years of letting foreign countries make all of the silicon solar cells? Primarily, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provided tax incentives that level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers.
And the solar industry has responded across the nation since then, leading to the Q3 2024 revival of solar-cell manufacturing. That, the Solar Energy Industries Association said in a December report, marked “a pivotal moment for America’s surging solar manufacturing sector.”
Addressing the Inflation Reduction Act, Villaire said, “There are many, many manufacturing incentives in that piece of legislation, the battery manufacturing, U.S. solar-panel manufacturing, and things related to renewables, hydrogen, lots of different incentives.”
Demand also is bolstered by other incentives in Colorado that kick in when a solar installer can show at least 40 percent of the materials used in a project are made in America.
“If we can document a certain amount of domestic production of the products that we’re installing, then there’s an added 10 percent tax credit to the customer,” Villaire said. “U.S.manufactured solar panels, inverters and racking, those are the three main components, all three of those components are now being manufactured to a large extent in the U.S., reshored sometimes.
“The domestic-content requirement and the domestic-manufacturing requirement has resulted in billions of dollars of investment in the U.S. to manufacture these products here. That’s a good thing.”
Incentives also are making solar arrays more affordable. American-made parts may cost more than foreign parts initially, but they become competitive and sometimes less expensive overall than the foreign parts. Villaire gave the example of South Korea solar manufacturer Qcells, which is a brand of solar panels Atlasta Solar keeps in stock. Qcells opened a manufacturing plant in Georgia and is one of the largest manufacturers of solar cells in the U.S.
“The manufacturing in the U.S. right now, as I understand it, is if you manufacture like Qcells does in the U.S., they can produce them for slightly lower than, say, manufacturing them in South Korea or even China, because of shipping and tariffs and all that kind of stuff,” Villaire said.
That, according to John McClain of SolarWorksGJ, is a difference maker for U.S. customers,
Kruger said growing access to American-made solar panels is a big deal for the solar industry.
“We’ll have panels that we know we can get and a timeline that we can get them,” Kruger said. “Demand has continued to be very strong from residential up through large scale, predominantly the larger projects right now.”
Colorado stood to join the contingent of states adding silicon solar-cell manufacturing when Swiss company Meyer Burger Technology committed in late-July 2023 to build a factory near Colorado Springs, starting in the fourth quarter of 2024. However, Meyer Burger announced in late August 2024 that it canceled its plans for an approximately $400 million plant that would have employed approximately 380 people.
Interest has re-emerged for a factory near Colorado Springs, but Kruger said a lot will depend on the cost to build it. And if someone does build it, they need certainty the market will remain strong for the product.
The latter is in limbo now that President Donald Trump has returned to the White House with a promise to levy tariffs on foreign trade partners. Pundits are uncertain about what effects tariffs ultimately will have, and the solar industry has to play wait-and-see. Trump also could end the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits.
The SEIA’s Ross Harper remained hopeful Trump will acknowledge the giant role solar can play in America’s energy future. In a statement she released upon Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, she said in part:
“Under President Trump’s first term, the solar industry grew by an astounding 128 percent. We’re ready to work with the new administration and Congress to continue the buildout of solar and storage, including the ongoing surge in domestic manufacturing that is reducing our reliance on foreign countries and supporting American workers.”
Villaire also voiced some optimism regarding the future growth of U.S. solar-cell manufacturing.
“The way the political winds are, things may shift some, we don’t know exactly,” he said. “But as far as the manufacturing goes, we do feel pretty confident that that will continue.”
MAKE IT AMERICAN-MADE
Atlasta Solar Center co-owner Lou Villaire said Atlasta will soon begin a large project for the City of Grand Junction, installing a large, commercial array on the roof of City Hall.
“One of the requests that was made on the part of at least a couple of the city council members was that we would use as much U.S. product as we can,” Villaire said. “And in fact, the racking, the inverters and the modules are manufactured in the U.S.”
STORY BY TIM HARTY
Out West Training seeks to train people for the ‘CO lifestyle’
Tim Harty The Business Times
Scott Jones wants to make one thing clear about opening a new training center where he said three different CrossFit-style gyms operated in recent years: “We are not CrossFit. In any of the verbiage, just make sure people know that. That seems to scare people away like the plague.”
So, to be clear, Out West Training, which opened Jan. 1 at 145 N. Mesa St. in Fruita, is NOT a CrossFit gym.
What it is, according to 59-year-old member Sandi Bittle, is functional, and “that’s the thing I love about it. I feel I’m getting overall health training as opposed to just muscle. At my age, I need that all-around training.”
That’s exactly what Jones and his wife, Lauren, as co-owners, co-trainers and co-coaches want to hear. Out West Training is a place “to train together, get fit, train for the Colorado lifestyle, whether it’s hikers, bikers, general fitness, people who wanna play with their grandkids a little bit longer in life, later in life,” Scott said.
Out West Training co-owner and trainer Lauren Jones, shows member Sandi Bittle how to do an exercise on the balance trainer while holding a medicine ball. Bittle said Lauren and her husband, Scott Jones, are excellent at guiding people and helping them use correct form during training sessions. Photo by Tim Harty.
As parents of two boys, ages 13 and 11, Scott and Lauren also want their gym to be a place for kids to train.
“If we can fill this thing up with kids a few nights a week and Saturday mornings, and fill the mornings and the middle of the day up with adults that want to get after it, that would be a good goal,” Scott said.
Scott said Out West Training is off to a good start.
On Jan. 20, he said 22 kids showed up for an event to introduce them to the training center.
“That was the first time we’ve really tried to get kids in the door,” he said. Two days before that, 33 people attended an injury-prevention clinic for runners.
Based on previous experience operating training centers – Scott is 46 years old, and Lauren is 42, and both have been trainers/coaches all of their adult lives – those were impressive turnouts.
“If we would have put on an event like that in the Front Range and had 30 people
register, we’d be lucky to get 10 people to actually show up,” Scott said of the injury-prevention clinic. “And we had 30 people register, and 33 people showed up. It’s pretty cool.”
Scott said his family moved to Fruita about a year-and-a-half ago from Bailey, CO.
“We were living way up in the high country,” he said, “and our kids were sitting on a bus 30 minutes each way (to school). And sports was further. It was 45 minutes to get to baseball practice or basketball practice or whatever it was, and I didn’t think I wanted to do that for 10 years with my kids.”
And they had lived on the Front Range for about 15 years before that. So, after big cities and mountain towns they were looking for something else.
“We spent a lot of time out here,” Scott said of Fruita. “We put on retreats and events out here for years, and we knew the area pretty good, so we just thought we would try something different. We wanted a small community for family.”
They’ve run their own gyms before and trained “every type of athlete you can imagine,” Scott said “Athletes from pretty much every professional sports league, Division I athletes, future Olympians, and people who want to lose weight, people who just wanna get more active, people coming off injuries. We’ve just run the gamut on all this stuff.”
They know what has worked and what they believe in.
Scott guarantees anyone who decides to spend their money on Out West Training will get their money’s worth.
“The big difference between us and a rec center or a big-box gym is that people come here to be coached,” he said. “They don’t come in here just to try to pick out what their workout’s gonna be for the day, the old ‘stare at the treadmill for 10 minutes and leave the gym, because you don’t know what to do.’ We guide people along the whole time.”
If a member schedules an hour for training, they’re getting an hour of training.
See TRAINING on Page 10
Coffee with love
Dutch Bros opens drive-through location in GJ
Tim Harty The Business Times
Dutch Bros Coffee uses its own blend of Brazil, El Salvador and Colombia coffee beans to create its signature flavor of coffee, which you can now get in Grand Junction.
As of Jan. 24 the Dutch Bros drivethrough location near the 29 Road and North Ave. intersection, specifically 498 Sparn St., has been open for business.
Its coffee beans, Dutch Bros Regional Operator Maria Haase said, “are 100 percent rainforest-certified. We roast our own beans in Texas and Oregon. They’re picked for us, we roast them ourselves, and then we distribute them.
“All of our products are high-quality. ... Everything is handcrafted. We put a lot of love in what we do.”
Ah, love. That’s an important word at Dutch Bros. To say the national drive-throughcoffee chain makes and serves coffee is to sell it short, according Haase, who also runs the Dutch Bros location that opened recently in Montrose. Both locations are owned by Dutch Bros, which is headquartered in Grants Pass, OR, and operated by Haase.
“There’s coffee,” she said. “It looks like coffee, it smells like coffee, but don’t get it twisted: The product is love.”
That’s right. Dutch Bros wants its customers to know there is more to what’s in your cup than the deliciousness that results when a blend of ground coffee beans and hot water unite.
The employees of Dutch Bros cultivate a caring community, as the company lists as its core values:
• Speed: “We aim to make every interaction quick and efficient with a personal touch.”
• Quality: “Quality drinks made from the best ingredients and served by awesome people.”
• Service: “We aim to make every interaction quick and efficient with a personal touch.”
And when Dutch Bros hires someone it claims it “isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to learn together, grow together and have a ton of fun doing it!”
Haase said the Grand Junction location will employ about 30 people.
Dutch Bros Regional Operator Maria Haase stands outside the Dutch Bros Coffee drive-through location that opened in Grand Junction on Jan. 24. Haase is also the operator of the Dutch Bros store in Montrose.
In addition to coffee, the Dutch Bros menu includes smoothies, teas, lemonades, sodas, hot chocolate, steamers, energy drinks and more.
What you buy also tends to make a difference in other people’s lives.
“I think the biggest thing that sets us apart is we give back to the community,” Haase said.
On Jan. 25, Dutch Bros in Montrose gave $1 to the Make A Wish Foundation from every drink sold.
Feb. 14 will be more than Valentine’s Day. It’s also Dutch Love Day, when Dutch Bros will donate to the Western Slope branch of Food Bank of the Rockies.
“It’s not like, ‘Hey, come in and donate,’” Haase said “Buying your regular coffee donates to the community. So, it’s not rounded up, it’s not, ‘Hey, give us more money to do this.’ We’re giving it to everybody just because we like giving back. That’s important to us.”
HOW TO FIND DUTCH BROS
Dutch Bros Coffee is a drivethrough coffee store at 498 Sparn St. in Grand Junction, near the intersection of 29 Road and North Ave. Order online at dutchbros.com or via the Dutch Bros app.
HBA summit to address housing challenges
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
The Housing and Building Association of Western Colorado will host its first housing summit on Thursday, Feb. 6, at the Colorado Mesa University Ballroom. The event, which will run from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., aims to address housing challenges in the Grand Valley.
Registration is open to both industry professionals and the public.
According to the registration site, “Through a mix of presentations, case studies, and panel discussions, we’ll explore innovative strategies and collaborative solutions to bridge the housing affordability gap and support our community’s workforce.”
Shayna Heiney, executive director of the Housing and Building Association of Western Colorado, emphasized the summit’s focus on community voices.
“We have three separate groups of panelists,” Heiney said, “so we’re really getting the information directly from our community, our business owners, our builders, and also our government officials. I think that’s such an important voice to have right now.”
She added the Common Sense Institute, a nonprofit organization, will present local updates and discuss the impact of government fees, such as impact fees, on other areas in Colorado.
“Them being a particularly unbiased nonprofit — I think that voice is important there as well,” Heiney said.
The summit will feature three panels, each with preset questions and opportunities for audience participation. One panel will include builders and real estate professionals, another will feature city officials, and a third will include representatives from School District 51 and other large employers in the area.
“There are a lot of businesses whose employees do not have permanent housing right now,” Heiney said.
Don Potter, president of the Grand Junction Area Realtors Association, highlighted inventory and affordability as key concerns.
“The lack of inventory, which leads to an affordability issue, is the primary one that we need to address,” Potter said. “We need to figure out how to add to that inventory in a responsible manner and how to control input costs so that builders and developers have an incentive to add to that inventory.”
Potter stressed the need for collaboration to address housing issues effectively.
“Really, everybody has an idea of how to address the housing issue and how to address affordability issues,” he said. “But it’s really a problem that can’t be solved without broad collaboration. And so the idea behind the summit is to bring in all of these different pieces to the puzzle and see if we can’t get that puzzle in more of a complete state.”
Doubts cast on Fourth and Fifth Street data
Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
At a Grand Junction City Council workshop on Jan. 13, City Manager Mike Bennett presented an overview of proposed changes to the Fourth and Fifth Street pilot program from a memorandum prepared by city staff.
Bennett then handed the presentation over to Transportation Director Trent Prall, who further detailed the data and recommendations.
Some of the data presented about business downtown since the pilot program began is particularly relevant and puzzling to Main Street businesses.
Regarding sales-tax data, the memorandum said, “Staff reviewed, but with only one full month of returns since both corridors were finished the data was inconclusive. We will update when we have the data from those months.”
Also, the Downtown Development Authority cited cell phone data from Placer.ai that showed a 3.4 percent increase in visitors and a 0.4 percent increase in visitations to the selected zone. The data compared cell phone visitations in the zone from Sept. 18 through Dec. 10 in both 2023 and 2024.
The selected zone has a western boundary along N. First Street, an eastern boundary at Eighth Street, a northern boundary on Rood Avenue, and a southern boundary a half block north of Ute Avenue.
The memorandum concludes, “This data depicts no reduction in downtown visitation since implementing the Fourth and Fifth Street improvements.”
The Business Times took a deeper look at the data and spoke with downtown businesses about if and how much cell phone records cited by the Downtown Development Authority correlated accurately with their sales numbers and foot traffic for the year.
The Business Times contacted seven Main Street businesses. Six of the seven reported a decline in sales compared to 2023.
One business, Pollux Clothing, reported an increase in sales, attributing it to a managerial change and new items being offered, but noted the pilot program has negatively affected both sales and overall foot traffic.
All seven businesses said customers mention and some frequently mention negative aspects of the pilot program. With some saying it has caused them to visit the downtown area less often.
Additionally, all seven businesses said the Downtown Development Authority has not contacted them to ask about changes in sales since the pilot program began.
While the total visits show a 0.4 percent increase in overall visitations for the time frame, the hourly visits chart on Page 9 of the Placer ai report shows visitations are down at all hours of the day except for 5 and 6 PM. The daily visits chart shows visitations are down on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, while visitations are up Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Both The Dream Cafe and The Rockslide reported sales are down during the week and on the weekend.
Downtown events are a potential outlier that could explain why weekend visitation numbers increased overall but did not correlate with hourly increases throughout the day or with higher daily sales for many downtown businesses.
One event that may have skewed the total visitation numbers when comparing the two time frames is the ColorAuto Detailing Downtown Car Show. The car show, an annual event, was held on Sept. 16 in 2023, two days before the data analysis period began on Sept. 18. However, it was held on Sept. 21 in 2024, falling within the analysis period for the second data set.
Downtown Development Director Brandon Stam said
Placer AI data cannot definitively tie trends to 4th and 5th streets. He acknowledged controversy over the project isn’t beneficial to businesses and expressed hope that city adjustments, such as improving sight lines and reverting to the old post office configuration, will address concerns.
The Two Rivers Convention Center is included within the project boundary. The convention center hosts numerous large events, some of which are new, while attendance at recurring events can fluctuate, and event dates vary year to year.
“It’s not right that they included the event center,” Pollux Clothing owner Sayde Sadd said, noting many attendees at Two Rivers events do not visit Main Street.
Sadd also said tourists who frequent her shop, including repeat visitors, have complained about the Fourth and Fifth Street project and the nearby Homeward Bound of the Grand Valley Resource Center, which provides services for homeless individuals.
Finally, while the Homeward Bound of the Grand Valley Resource Center is not within the zone, Grand Valley Catholic Outreach Director Jody Visconti Clow said it is possible homeless people have affected the visitation numbers. She said many homeless individuals go to Main Street to use the free WiFi for a variety of reasons, including medical issues, safety and being able to make calls when unable to pay for data.
“It’s hard to do anything without a phone, including reaching friends and family. One of the first things we collectively try to do is make sure they have a phone to stay in contact,” she said.
Clow also noted a larger number of homeless people are staying closer to the resource center and moving downtown to set up camps or find shelter at night than in past years. Furthermore, with the resource center closing at 5:30 p.m., it is harder to make it to places that are further away before dark. F
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Fruita hires Vassen for city manager
The City of Fruita decided to remove the word interim from Shannon Vassen’s title when it voted unanimously on Jan 16 to hire him as its city manager. The hiring won’t become official until Vassen and the Fruita City Council agree to a contract.
Vassen had served as the interim city manager following the departure of Mike Bennett, who took over as city manager for the City of Grand Junction in December.
In a news release, the city said Vassen stood out among 43 candidates for the position, and the hiring process was extensive.
A recruitment agency, Columbia ltd, reduced the candidates to 10 who it recommended to the city council, which then chose four finalists to interview. Fruita City Council had multiple meetings during a fiveday period to deliberate and unanimously selected Vassen as the best choice.
Prior to becoming the interim city manager, Vassen served as Fruita’s assistant city manager since 2023, and he’s been employed by the city since 2021. Vassen has also worked as a management analyst for the City of Fruita and worked for the City and County of Denver and Mesa County Department of Human Services.
Vassen has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Colorado Mesa University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs.
The City of Fruita is a home-rule city with a council-manager form of government. The city manager is the chief executive officer of the city and reports directly to the City Council. The manager is also responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and support of city operations and oversight of city departments.
Training
Continued from Page 4
“We start on time, everybody works out for at least 57 minutes. There’s no 10-minute workouts,” Scott said. “We really try to honor people’s time and get in as much as we can out of their time here.
“That’s what we did with a lot of our other stuff, and it just really works. People really like it, the strict part of that.”
Bittle can vouch for that. As Lauren trained her during a recent noon-hour session, Bittle went from one exercise to another, always under Lauren’s watchful eye. Bittle was standing on a balance trainer while holding a medicine ball with both arms extended. Then, came a few minutes on an exercise bike, followed by a few minutes on a rowing machine, then lunges while carrying a dumbbell in each hand, followed by side lunges with a kettlebell. And on it went.
“It’s worth every penny,” said Bittle, who discovered the gym was open when she went to see her chiropractor in the same commercial building as Out West Training.
Bittle said she was four days into a free week to determine if Out West Training was right for her, “and I signed up on the fourth day.”
MORE ABOUT OUT WEST TRAINING
CONTACT INFORMATION
Want to visit Out West Training’s facility and meet the coaches before you commit? Book a time for a tour and programs presentations with the coaches and owners, Scott and Lauren Jones.
Call 970-230-3101 or email contact@outwesttraining.com.Visit their website at outwesttraining.com.
TRAINED TO BE TRAINERS
Scott has a master’s degree in exercise physiology and sports performance.
Lauren has a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and sports medicine, and she’s a certified instructor for pilates and paddleboarding. She’s also a trail running coach and hiking guide.
“We both have just been coaches forever,” Scott said. “It’s what we studied in school. We’ve always been entrepreneurial ever since I met her. We started a business a few weeks after we met each other.”
THE SUV WILL WAIT
Starting a business comes with risk, and that doesn’t scare Scott or Lauren Jones.
For Out West Training, Scott said the up front cost to start the business wasn’t bad. Actually, he put it this way: “It was like buying a 5-year-old car. That was our investment. … We’ve been joking about that a lot at the house, like, we can go buy a 5-yearold SUV or we can go start a business. What do you want to do?”
Shannon Vassen
The time to start investing is now
You may be familiar with the Chinese proverb about the best time to plant a tree: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Christopher West
This same proverb can also be applied to investing. Time, not timing, is key to building wealth. Building wealth is not about making huge profits in the short term but about steadily applying good money behaviors over many years.
The foundational money behavior is living below your means to enable the creation of excess investable liquidity (i.e., “cash”). The second foundational money behavior is putting that excess liquidity to work by embracing risk and investing.
Yes, it is certainly scary to witness the ups and downs of the stock market. The violent short-term swings can sometimes make one think of the stock market as more gambling than investing. However, historically, the market has trended upward.
Since 1970, the S&P 500 (an index representing the 500 largest U.S. public companies) has produced an average annual rate of return of approximately 10 percent. The important word in that last sentence was “average.” For more than 55 years since 1970, significant swings have resulted in annual returns well below and well above the 10 percent average.
Yes, it can be a rollercoaster ride. This first rule is to get on the rollercoaster. The second rule is don’t get off in the middle of the ride.
Warren Buffet is famously quoted as saying, “The stock market is the device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.” Warren’s quote emphasizes the importance of staying invested through market fluctuations and not panicking during downturns by selling prematurely.
You can harness your money’s full potential by investing consistently and staying invested. This could require a mindset shift: Instead of worrying about short-term fluctuations, focus on the bigger picture. Even if the market drops, keep investing.
Many successful investors subscribe to the mantra, “Always be buying.” This means that instead of trying to time the market — buying when stocks are low or selling when they’re high — you make regular, consistent contributions to your investment portfolio. Long-term investors who stay committed through good times and bad often see the best results.
Even small amounts invested regularly can accumulate over time, building wealth in a steady, disciplined way. The longer you allow your money to compound, the greater the results. Even if you don’t invest huge sums of money upfront, starting early means your money has more time to grow.
When it comes to investing, compound interest is your best friend. This powerful concept means that you are not only earning interest on your original investment but also on the interest that has already been added to your account. Compound earnings is one of the keys to long-term wealth building.
My example of the power of compound earnings is my own 401(k) retirement account. I recently fired up the good old spreadsheet and analyzed 28 years of activity in my 401(k). In my early 20s, I started contributing $100 per month into my 401(k) and slowly increased the monthly contribution as my wife and I’s household income increased.
Now, 28 years later, it’s fascinating to see that the first 10 years of 401(k) contributions (and the related compound earnings) represents 31 percent of my current total account balance. Even more fascinating is that the first 10 years of contributions represent only 18 percent of total contributions to the account over 28 years.
For fun (because this is how accountants like to have fun), I projected my 401(k) balance out to my estimated retirement year of 2040, assuming a continuation of maximum contributions and an estimated average annual rate of return of 10 percent. The result: The first 10 years of contributions represented only 7 percent of total cumulative lifetime contributions. However, 25 percent of the total projected account balance was represented by the first 10 years of contributions (and the related compound earnings).
What a powerful example to see that a quarter of my projected 401(k) balance will be represented by the early years of contributions. This is the result, even though the early years will have the lowest actual dollar contribution.
This might be too much numbers analysis to digest in an article, so I will boil it down to the main takeaway from my personal 401(k) analysis: Of my total projected 2040 account balance, 85 percent will represent the cumulative lifetime earnings, and only 15 percent will represent the actual cumulative lifetime contributions. Wow!
My point? Get started early. The time to start is now! 2025 offers a fresh opportunity to start building your financial future. Remember, investing is a marathon, not a sprint. In your early years, focus on your savings rate versus your investment rate of return. Keep a long-term perspective, make consistent contributions, and let the power of compound interest work its magic.
As you begin your investment journey, keep in mind that it’s not about having all the answers from the start. It’s about getting started. By building wealth on your terms and staying disciplined over time, you’ll be well on your way to financial success.
F
Christopher L. West, CPA, PFS, is CEO and a principal of DWC CPAs and Advisors and DWC Wealth Advisors.
2025 HR Trends to watch in CO Legislature and U.S. Supreme Court
With the ball officially dropping on 2024 and the Colorado Legislature ringing the bell to start the 2025 legislative session, businesses and human-resources professionals can pull out their crystal balls to forecast what 2025 will bring.
After all, as the old saying goes, the only constant in human resources law is change, and more change. So, what changes are anticipated at the Colorado Legislature in 2025? Well, even though we’re only a few days into the new legislative session, the clear answer to that question appears to be “a lot.”
Here are a few things we’ll be keeping an eye on in 2025:
The Colorado Legislature proposes changes to the Colorado Labor Peace Act.
Way back in 1943, Colorado passed the Colorado Labor Peace Act. This act requires that if a union receives more than 50 percent of the votes in an election to unionize a company’s workforce that a second election vote must be held where the employees will vote on whether the company will be considered a “union shop.”
A union shop is defined as an organization in which the employees are required to join a labor union as part of their employment. In essence, employees in a union shop must join the union, whereas employees who work in companies that aren’t a union shop can decide whether they want to join the union as part of their employment. In this second election, more than 75 percent of the employees must vote in favor of the company becoming a union shop.
Now, the Colorado Legislature is seeking to amend that act, which has stood for more than 80 years, by removing the requirement for the second election. Of course, this isn’t the first time the legislature has undertaken this effort. In 2007, the Colorado Legislature proposed and passed a similar bill only to have then-Gov. Bill Ritter veto the bill. So, this bill is likely to draw a lot of fireworks during the 2025 term.
Colorado Legislature proposes changes to Colorado’s Wage
Act
While the revisions to the Colorado Labor Peace Act were drawing all of the attention, the first bill out of the chute this legislative session was a bill that would greatly amend Colorado’s Wage Act by providing increased penalties against employers who incorrectly classify workers as independent contractors when they should be classified as employees.
The bill also would provide employees more opportunities to file claims against their employers with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, instead of having to file those claims in court.
Finally, the bill also includes anti-retaliation measures for undocumented workers who report wage claims.
And speaking of wage claims...
In summer 2024, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of E.M.D. Sales, Inc. v. Carrera. This case involves the issue of what evidentiary standard courts should use when determining whether an employer has established that an employee meets one of the FLSA’s duty-basis tests.
As background, for an employee to be exempt from receiving overtime, the employer must establish that the employer paid the employee at least the relevant salary amount and that the employee meets one of the FLSA’s duty-basis tests (e.g., executive, administrative, professional, etc.)
Courts have traditionally held that when determining the duty-basis test, courts should use the “preponderance of the evidence” test, which means, in essence, that the majority of the evidence supports the decision.
In Carrera, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that was too low of a standard, and organizations must establish the employee met one of the FLSA’s tests by the “clear-andconvincing” standard, which carries a greater burden than the preponderance-of-the-evidence test.
If the Supreme Court chooses to follow the 4th Circuit, employers are going to have a much more difficult time establishing that employees meet the duty-basis test at issue, because they will need to meet the clear-and-convincing standard instead of the preponderance-of-theevidence standard. A decision on this matter is expected sometime in 2025.
In sum, it’s certain to be an interesting 2025 for Colorado employers and human resources professionals.
Michael Santo is co-founder and managing attorney of the Bechtel & Santo law firm in Grand Junction. His practice focuses on defending companies in employment litigation, including discrimination lawsuits, wrongful discharge and wage-and-hour matters. He also represents employers in claims of trade-secret misappropriation, unfair competition and employee raiding. Santo is also a member of the Western Colorado Human Resource Association. For more information, visit www.wchra.org. F
Michael Santo
Learn to separate personal issues from professional life
against their of having workers of E.M.D. standard courts employee overtime, the relevant salary executive, courts should majority of the standard, “clear-andreponderance-of-the-evidence test. to have a issue, because preponderance-of-theand human law firm litigation, matters. He competition Resource
Some people believe there is a very distinctive barrier between our personal and professional lives which keeps the two separate. However, when you really step back and take an honest and discerning look at your own experiences and those of others you have worked with, this is clearly not the case. In fact, it is quite common for one’s personal baggage to be carried right through the front door, unpacked and spread throughout the workplace.
We travel between two interconnected worlds - the personal and the professional. When there is balance, purpose, contentment, happiness and success in one’s life outside of business, the version of themself they take into the workplace is very different than if this is not their reality.
Relationship issues, parenting challenges and extended family matters are common occurrences in the lives of people. These are real issues that often weigh heavily on the hearts and minds of those affected. When not managed effectively, they can have a negative and even lasting impact on attitude, performance, morale and the business itself.
When you compound this with additional circumstances such as financial troubles, health problems, lack of purpose, meaning and fulfillment and the despair that often accompanies them, you have a recipe for disaster through dysfunctional behaviors. Who you are at work directly affects the team members, customers and the bottom line in profound ways.
As a business coach and consultant, I have witnessed top performers lose all sense of direction and focus due to mounting personal issues, and their inability to deal with them in a constructive way. Even after years of dedicated work, it can be a quick slide from the top when personal challenges overwhelm one’s ability to function at the high levels they and others have grown accustomed to.
Business owners, managers and anyone else in a leadership role have the largest impact - positive or negative - on the work environment. Team members look to these individuals for direction, guidance and stability. When a leader is lost in their own personal issues or is unable to separate from them while on the job, the entire team will be impacted to some degree, and a noticeable funk can easily overcome the entire department or business.
An increase in errors and customer dissatisfaction - often due to a lack of focus and disengagement - coupled with a loss of revenue and the negative impact on the work
Palisade Winter Rewards Program
The Palisade Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to launch the Palisade Winter Rewards Program, made possible by Alpine Bank, starting February 1st! This exciting program rewards you for shopping at your favorite local Palisade businesses. It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore the town’s amazing shops and restaurants while earning rewards for your purchases. Don’t miss out on supporting local businesses and enjoying the incredible products they have to offer!
HOW IT WORKS
Shop locally at food and beverage businesses, retail stores, personal services, accommodations, attractions, and other select businesses on the eligible business list. Save your
receipts and take a photo of each one.
Once you have spent $250, $400, or $650, you can submit your receipts through an online form linked on our Palisade Winter Rewards Program page. There is a minimum amount for any receipt of $25. The first 60 people to have their receipts approved will receive a gift card of their choice from the list of eligible businesses. The program begins February 1st and will conclude once all gift cards have been rewarded.
By participating in the Palisade Winter Rewards Program, you’re not only earning great rewards, but you’re also making a direct impact on the local economy. Shopping at small businesses helps keep money circulating within the community,
environment can only be tolerated for so long before a team member must be let go. But this doesn’t have to be the case.
Personal life challenges belong solely to the person having them - not everyone at work. And, certainly not to the customers who are patronizing the business. One successful strategy is to view work as a “timeout” - or getaway - from your personal challenges. By placing your attention and energy squarely on the work at hand, you give yourself a much-needed break from the painful reality of your personal circumstances and the opportunity to feel better as you excel professionally.
I’m in no way suggesting that one should deny or avoid the challenging realities of their personal life. In fact, my position is quite the opposite. My approach simply suggests that there is an appropriate time and a place for dealing with the difficulties in one’s life, but - in all likelihood - that place is not at work.
People are often of the belief that they should just “pull themselves up by the bootstraps” because getting assistance with their life challenges is a sign of weakness. This is often a difficult, lonely and unsuccessful route, however. If you find yourself challenged to take back your life on your own, there is no shame in that.
Seeking out the professional help of a qualified coach to get yourself - and your lifein balance and on track, is a wise choice indeed. It is amazing what can be accomplished with increased awareness, simple changes in perspective, goal setting, and accountability supplied through the unbiased support of a competent coach.
Unwanted, unexpected and truly challenging situations are a part of life for each of us. They can be difficult and daunting, but they don’t have to damage or destroy a career or business. If your ability to function at a high level and to be successful and happy is compromised by the issues in your personal life, make the strong choice to get the assistance you need so you can bring your best, not your baggage, to work.
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 (970) 208-3150, marcus@ligcoaching.com or through the website located at www.ligcoaching.com.
supporting jobs, fostering business growth, and strengthening Palisade’s business community. When you choose to shop local, you help business owners thrive, encourage entrepreneurship, and contribute to a vibrant, flourishing economy. This program strengthens the community by encouraging residents and visitors to support local businesses, helping them grow and sustain their businesses!
For a full list of business you can purchase from, information on the program, and rules for participating the program, visit Palisadecoc.com
Marcus Straub
Craig
n SPRINGER GETS NEW TERM ON MINERAL LEASE BOARD
The Mesa County Commission reappointed Home Loan State Bank President Craig Springer to serve a threeyear term as representative at large on the Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease District .
The district oversees the distribution of federal mineral leasing funds to local public entities by providing financial support to serve the infrastructure, construction and public-service needs of Mesa County Springer joins Mesa County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel and Quint Shear of Shear Inc. on the board.
Beginning with our Jan 8,
The mineral lease district’s meetings are open to the public, and public comments are welcome. The next meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2 p.m., at the Home Loan Building, 205 N. 4th St. in Grand Junction. For more information, visit website www.mesafml.org.
The Business Times 609 North Ave., Suite 5 Grand Junction, CO 81501 (970) 424-5133 www.thebusinesstimes.com
n D51 FOUNDATION HOSTS WHITE ICED EVENT, CELEBRATES ROLE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
2025 edition, your favorite business and community newspaper goes WEEKLY!
The School District 51 Foundation is hosting its 13th Annual White Iced Celebration on Feb. 1 from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in Colorado Mesa University’s Meyer Ballroom. The event celebrates the key role public education plays throughout Mesa County and honors White Iced Award recipients and Outstanding Academic Growth schools.
This year the foundation will recognize Peter Booth as the 2025 D51 Foundation Spotlight Award recipient.
Guests are encouraged to wear cream, white, silver and gold colors.
The Business Times is published once weekly and distributed throughout Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Advertising rates and deadlines are available upon request. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and don’t necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor or advertisers.
Tickets are available at the door for $85. Community members, parents, D51 staff and business owners are encouraged to attend.
The 2025 White Iced Award winners are: Crystal Green, Palisade High School; Janelle Gustafson, Orchard Avenue Elementary; Joshua Lehman, Mount Garfield Middle School; Katie Hummel, Fruita Monument High School; Ryan McLaughlin, Bookcliff Middle School; and Samantha Sidebottom; Central High School.
and announcements: stories@thebusinesstimes.com or 970-424-5133
The 2024-2025 Outstanding Academic Growth Schools are: Chatfield Elementary School; Fruita Monument High School; Grand Junction High School; Loma Elementary School; Orchard Mesa Middle School; Palisade High School; Redlands Middle School; and Tope Elementary School.
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