THE LISTS Outdoor Recreational Equipment Manufacturers | SUBMIT INFORMATION FOR future LISTS AT [email protected]
›› Tayer What matters for Boulder business in 2016 7
›› Bricker Big changes for downtown Greeley 9
›› Griggs Balanced mastery: your secret weapon 19
›› Kalinsky Home buyers: Longmont’s time has come 21
The business journal of the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado volume 35 | issue 6 | March 4-17, 2016 Listen here Public, community radio stations labor to keep up — while vying for dollars to pay for it all. Page 10
Maeve Conran, news director at KGNU-FM in Boulder. Jonathan Castner/for BizWest
Hospitality Boulder Greeley Outdoor industry Bringing cooks Photo Craft aims Keeping city’s Scheels flagship and kitchens to provide the groceries close in Johnstown together perfect print to home a ‘Disneyland’ Food Corridor strives to be Company was among Farmer’s Pantry lends Entertainment will be the ‘Airbnb for commercial first to embrace digital a hand to small farms, hallmark, including 65-foot kitchens.’ Page 3 revolution in printing. Page 6 new food businesses. Page 8 Ferris wheel. Page 14
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Joel Blocker/for BizWest Ashley Colpaart, founder and chief executive of The Food Corridor in Fort Collins, aims to help specialty food entrepreneurs succeed in the marketplace. Food Corridor brings cooks and their kitchens together
By Elizabeth Gold result is efficient, affordable and a Corridor. The online marketplace will ers. Commercial kitchens will be places [email protected] win-win for all. match new and growing food busi- such as commissaries, food banks, Like all small businesses, specialty nesses with underutilized commercial restaurants, schools and churches. In FORT COLLINS — In this era of food entrepreneurs start up with an kitchens. addition to kitchens, they will also Top Chef and the Food Network, investment in development, produc- As a 15-year food industry vet- include cold storage, trucks and gourmet and specialty foods rank tion, marketing eran, Colpaart equipment. high in America. To feed that love, and sales. One of launched her “Part of our service will also be artisanal food producers are serving the differences, “We’re like an Airbnb for company in 2015 confirming that verified users have up an assortment of palate-pleasing however, is that commercial kitchens.” and currently is business licenses, ServSafe cards and delicacies. for a lot of new Ashley Colpaart, Food Corridor running a pilot proof of insurance,” Colpaart said. Some of the ways these food entre- businesses, prod- program to collect Although Colpaart has a strong preneurs separate their products from ucts can be made data and test drive background in the food industry and mass-produced foods include making in the basement the idea. came up with the idea of the online them more personal, hands-on and until sales show enough of a market to The Food Corridor is built on a marketplace for foodies and kitchens, unique than run-of-the-mill flavors. invest in a separate location. sharing platform similar to Uber. she’s had her own challenges in get- One of the challenges they face in For food artisans, the basement “We’re like an Airbnb for commercial ting the project to this point. doing those things, however, can cost isn’t an option. Nothing can be pub- kitchens,” Colpaart said. “Being a non-tech co-founder and too much to maintain and limit the licly test marketed, much less sold, The pilot program, which ends in finding out how to build the technol- potential for making the businesses unless it’s been prepared in a health March, includes 12 pilot partners. The ogy as well as how to get people to join successful. department-approved kitchen from goal is to collect information that will the team has been my pain point from Lucky for everyone, a solution to the start. fine-tune development of the software the start,” she said. both problems is in the making. “They’re required to produce food that will match entrepreneurs with Her co-founder, chief financial offi- The answer involves shifting focus in a licensed kitchen,” Colpaart said, kitchens and cooking amenities. cer Ben Nelson, has a background to the well-known directive of loca- “and that can be hard to find, expen- Once the program is up and run- in finance, corporate management, tion, location, location — but not in sive and sometimes just not suitable ning, it will provide real-time match- business development and sales. They the way marketing and sales depart- for the kind of set-up they need.” making, online booking, financial were a good match for sustaining a ments traditionally understand it. To give them a better chance of transactions and more. business in the food industry but weak In Ashley Colpaart’s plan, the loca- making it in the marketplace, she’s Entrepreneurs will include food in the tech know-how to create the tion is a shared resource, and the kicking off her own venture: The Food manufacturers, food trucks and cater- Please see Corridor, page 4 4 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com
Corridor, from 3 According to Emily Wilson, Inno- software product. sphere development director, the “I needed to bring on a tech co- incubator helps startups with cus- founder to develop the idea I had in my tomized development plans, ongoing head,” Colpaart said. support and resources. To address the deficit, Colpaart Innosphere also provided the joined Galvanize, a shared workspace, opportunity for Colpaart to meet one incubator and code school. She also of her pilot partners, James Schrack, hooked up with Innosphere, an incu- co-founder and chief executive of bator that offers a network of advis- Stuff’n Mallows, a Fort Collins com- ers and mentors in addition to other pany that makes gourmet marshmal- services. lows stuffed with meltable chocolate “They helped me assemble a tech- chips. nical advisory board, draft the posi- At the time, Stuff’n Mallows was tion description for a CTO and ask the renting commissary space on an right kind of technical questions to be hourly basis when needed and when able to evaluate candidates,” Colpaart the spaces were available. said. “There have often been capacity The result is the recent hiring of issues,” Schrack said, describing the Dan Moore to be chief technical offi- challenges he’s had in using various cer. She described him as a sophisti- commissary kitchens. cated developer who also has a passion As a result of being in The Food and background in the food arena. Corridor’s pilot program, Schrack’s “Innosphere helped me with strate- company now is matched up with an gizing, networking, planning for fund underutilized kitchen. Stuff’n Mal- raising and getting the word out,” she lows plans to start using the Weld said. “Galvanize has a finger on the County school district’s kitchen in pulse of networking and classes.” April. Charisse Bowen, Galvanize cam- In addition to having access to pus director in Fort Collins, compared a large-capacity working kitchen, the company to a gym. Schrack will be able to consolidate “People join a gym to have access his operations. “We were produc- to personal trainers or equipment or ing, storing and shipping in different classes,” she said, “but a lot really hap- places,” he said, “but here we’ll have pens when someone jumps on a bike everything in just one space.” next to a guy who pedals faster. The other part of the equation is “We connect the infectious nature that not only will Stuff’n Mallows have entrepreneurs have, and they get the opportunity to quadruple its pro- inspired and gain confidence they duction, but the school district will be wouldn’t have in isolation.” making extra income. www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 5 GlobeImmune CEO cuts own hours, pay to preserve capital
What follows is a compilation of recent thetic products and will be packaged Justice as part of a nationwide investi- news reported online by BizWest.com. News Digest in a dry state requiring no preparation gation into hospitals improperly bill- Find the full stories using the search or rehydration. ing Medicare for implanted cardiac window at the top of the homepage. Miss this news? Posted Feb. 26. devices that weren’t covered. The set- tlement included 51 hospitals in 15 BizWest works every day to bring you LOUISVILLE — GlobeImmune states, including five hospitals that the latest news as it happens. Sign up Area counties saw bump Inc.’s chief executive Timothy C. for daily updates and the latest industry in health-exchange signups either are or were owned or operated Rodell was to start working part-time e-newsletters at: by Broomfield-based SCL. SCL, which beginning March 1 to help preserve Across the local region, Broomfield owns Good Samaritan Medical Center n bizwest.com/ capital for the struggling biopharma County saw the largest percentage in Lafayette, agreed to pay $1.95 mil- subscribe-to-our-newsletters based in Louisville. Rodell, whose full- increase in the number of residents lion. Good Samaritan, however, was time annual salary was $405,000, was who enrolled in 2016 health-care plans not one of the hospitals named in the tol cut his hours in half and will earn a French boutique café, will pay the city through Connect for Health Colorado. settlement. salary of $202,500, according to docu- $901,750 to buy the 85-year-old brick The state’s health insurance market- Posted Feb. 18. ments filed with the Securities and building and surrounding land at 103 place released county-by-county fig- Exchange Commission. In August, N. Main St. if the council gives final ures related to 2016 enrollments versus Layoffs follow closing GlobeImmune. (Nasdaq: GBIM) approval on second reading March 15. 2015. Open enrollment for 2016 ran of Constant Contact sale reduced its workforce from 22 to six The council approved the sale on first from Nov. 1 of last year to Jan. 31 this employees, according to documents reading at its meeting Feb. 23. year. Broomfield had 2,105 people LOVELAND — An unspecified filed with the SEC, in an effort to pre- Posted Feb. 24. sign up for insurance plans through number of workers at Constant Con- serve cash after negative trial results of the exchange this year, up from 1,821 tact Inc.’s customer-support center its hepatitis B drug candidate. Colorado Therapeutics applies a year earlier. Boulder and Larimer in Loveland are looking for work after Posted Feb. 24. to FDA for first product counties both saw 7 percent jumps. being laid off a day after the $1.1 bil- Boulder County’s count climbed from lion sale of the online marketing Cheese Importers nears OK BROOMFIELD — Medical-device 12,460 to 13,358, while Larimer’s rose company closed. About 15 percent of to buy building from Longmont startup Colorado Therapeutics LLC from 19,291 to 10,983. Weld County, Waltham, Mass.-based Constant Con- in Broomfield has filed an application meanwhile, saw a 2 percent increase, tact’s employees worldwide were laid LONGMONT — Cheese Importers, with the Food and Drug Administra- from 5,633 to 5,745. off Wednesday, Feb. 10, after official which has been leasing Longmont’s tion for its first product. The product, Posted Feb. 18. finalization of the sale to Endurance former municipal power plant since a sheathlike membrane, will rein- International Group Holdings Inc. 2012, is one city council vote away force and regenerate soft tissue where SCL Health to pay $1.95M (Nasdaq: EIGI), a Burlington, Mass.- from buying the building outright. weakness exists and for the surgi- in settlement with DOJ based cloud-hosting company. Con- Willow River Properties LLC, the cal repair of damaged or ruptured stant Contact employed 1,400 people company owned by brother and sister soft-tissue membranes, including the BROOMFIELD — SCL Health was — including 325 at the facility at 3675 Samm and Clara White that owns repair of hernia defects. The mem- involved in a $23 million settlement Precision Drive in Loveland. the fine-foods retailer, gift shop and brane combines biologic and syn- announced by the U.S. Department of Posted Feb. 16. 6 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com
BoulderBiz
NEWS&NOTES
CU business students offering free tax prep University of Colorado business- school students will offer free tax preparation services through April 6 for members of the public making $54,000 or less. The service, now in its seventh year at CU, is being run under the Internal Revenue Service- sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Participating students have passed an IRS certifi- cation exam, and community volun- teers experienced in tax law review all student-prepared tax returns to ensure accuracy and complete- ness. The students will host walk-in sessions from 5 to 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through April 6 in room 375 of the Koelbel Business Build- ing, 995 Regent Drive, with parking available in lots 474, 475 and 440 on the CU campus. Pre-recorded infor- mation with more details about the CU program can be accessed by calling 303-492-6654.
Jonanthan Castner/For BizWest Photo Craft Imaging owner Roy McCutchen led the charge in digital imaging in the late 1980s. “It was horribly painful, but we were Twenty Ninth Street convinced that it was necessary to be on the leading edge,” he said of the transition. eyes beer, wine kiosks Macerich, majority owner of the Twenty Ninth Street shopping district in Boulder, is aiming to spruce up Shooting for the perfect print and activate an outdoor plaza at the site by creating a public gathering By Tommy Wood founded Photo Craft in the early 1970s over the next decade and more. Digital space complete with beer and wine [email protected] as Poster Portraits and Blowups, and printing overtook traditional methods vendors operating out of recycled it became Photo Craft in 1975. A year in ease of use and quality of printing. shipping containers. The company is BOULDER — The perfect photo- later, Photo Craft had doubled in size Photo Craft tried to stay in front of these applying for a minor amendment to its approved site plan. Macerich has graph is hard to come by. Impossible, and added new printing techniques, advances, adding new technology such already received city planning staff even. including large-format printing. as the LightJet printer, which was one approval. The plaza — which sits just There are certainly some candidates, Things changed for McCutchen and of the first printers that could create a northeast of the intersection of Can- such as Walter Iooss’ shot of Muham- Photo Craft in the late 1980s, though, digital image on par with film. yon Boulevard and 29th Street — was mad Ali triumphantly pumping his when it began to experiment with digi- “Ultimately, when the industry formerly home to a skating rink that fist over the fallen Sonny Liston, or the tal imaging. In 1988, it moved into a evolved to a filmless business, we were offered ice skating in the winter and image of an unidentified man staring new facility that was capable of housing already there with printing processes to roller skating in the summer. But it’s been largely underutilized as the gath- digital printing machines, and installed support our transition to new products down a column of tanks at Tiananmen ering space that was envisioned for it Square. its first ones in 1989. and services,” McCutchen said. when Twenty Ninth Street opened in But photographers are artists, and “It was horribly painful, but we were The printing industry also made 2006. The kiosks would be located in good luck getting them to say that their convinced that it was necessary to be on leaps forward in its environmental a fenced area with controlled points work is perfect. the leading edge, sometimes called the friendliness. Printing requires far less of entry to allow for the alcohol sales. Roy McCutchen isn’t chasing the per- bleeding edge, of imaging technology,” water, natural gas and electricity than There would be several tables and fect photo, nor does he consider himself McCutchen said. “We were already there it did even 15 years ago, and the rise other seating and landscaping fea- tures. an artist. He enjoyed photography as a when our competitors awoke to the of digital printing has reduced the use child, even worked as a photographer new world. We were able to attract new of developing chemicals. Photo Craft, in the early 1970s, but it never captured clients because we were able to offer ser- for its part, has made even more of an Nivalis’ cystic-fibrosis drug his heart the way that processing and vices, turnaround times and products effort; in 2010 it installed 190 solar pan- wins FDA fast-track status printing those images has. To hear him not available from our competitors.” els on its roof that generate 46 kilowatts Nivalis Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: tell it, creating the perfect print has been By 1992, Photo Craft had the first of electricity. NVLS) got another boost from the his lifelong obsession. Rather unlike large-format digital printer in Colorado. Photo Craft’s website houses a docu- U.S. Food and Drug Administration the perfect photo, the perfect print is It cost $250,000, took a bank of comput- ment that espouses its commitment to as the company’s cystic fibrosis eminently achievable. ers to run, sat in a room that with strict environmental stewardship. It lays out drug N91115 was granted Fast Track “I’m not afraid to reject my own work temperature and humidity regulations efforts such as paperless billing, fluo- designation. The FDA designation if it’s less than what I know it can be,” and could only produce a mediocre rescent lighting, computer recycling, provides for accelerated review of drugs intended to treat serious or life- McCutchen said. “Making the perfect print. But it made them big and it made incentivizing employees to bus or bike threatening conditions and address print, from a technical standpoint, is them fast, and it was better to be the to work and a preference for dealing unmet medical needs. The Fast Track not that difficult. It’s a craft, not an art. only game in town with one than to not with other companies that have made designation comes just a month after You get your 10,000 hours in. The people have one at all. a similar commitment to the environ- Nivalis landed Orphan Drug designa- capturing the images are the artists. “I thought it was worth it,” McCutch- ment. tion for N91115. That designation pro- Though I have to say, without humil- en said. “There were many that thought Going green, McCutchen said, is a vides special status to drugs intended ity, we add some magic that takes what I was nuts; $250,000 was a large chop- “never-ending process.” There’s always to treat, diagnose or prevent diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people might be a decent image into the realm ping block for a small custom photo lab something more that can be done, and, in the United States. N91115 is cur- of spectacular.” in Boulder, Colo.” unlike printing, you can’t put in 10,000 rently in the middle of a Phase 2 clini- That’s been the mission of McCutch- The photo printing industry, like hours of practice and perfect it. But if cal trial, with results expected later en and his company, Photo Craft Imag- many other industries, saw exponential you’re McCutchen, you try, and you get this year. ing, for more than 40 years. McCutchen growth in its technology and innovation as close as you can. www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 7 What matters for Boulder business in 2016
few weeks ago, the Boulder nity with respect to transportation given the many unknown costs portionality: Far too often, we hear City Council held its annual efficiency, housing diversity, and and risks in pursuing the munici- from new businesses that they A planning retreat. This is an economic sustainability. Along palization course, along with the struggle to comply with the city opportunity for the entire commu- those lines, the Chamber urges time, expense and staff resources, of Boulder’s rigorous regulatory nity to take stock of where we stand City Council to sustain the forward the Chamber urges City Council to permitting processes and costs on important issues of the day direction in the identified infill consider other creative avenues for that are more suited to impacts and to prioritize our many needs. opportunity sites, including Boul- achieving our clean-energy goals. associated with larger business As such, the Boulder Chamber der Junction and the Arapahoe cor- The Chamber has offered its servic- developments. In certain instances, weighed in with ridor. es in helping Xcel and the city move the result is to kill what would oth- its own list of Development fees: The city of beyond current legal and regulatory erwise be desirable investments priorities and the Boulder is in the midst of review- battles and return to a dialogue in our community. We need to approach it hopes ing the various fees it applies to over opportunities for construc- address these unintended conse- our community’s new development in our commu- tively and effectively resolving this quences through a comprehensive policy leaders nity. The fees Boulder charges are matter in a mutually advantageous review of our city’s regulations will take with among some of the highest in the manner. to make sure we are giving small respect to issues Denver region, and it will be good Regional Transportation: We are business startups a fighting chance of importance Boulder Voice to understand if such high rates are all aware of the statistics: Boulder to get off the ground and, where to its business John Tayer justified. We also know that new benefits from a regional work- appropriate, special guidance to membership and development brings great value to force that brings more than 60,000 overcome hurdles to their busi- the community our community, which is why so employees into Boulder on a daily ness launch. The entire community at large. many other communities work so basis. Since we never will accom- will benefit from the effort to help Boulder Valley Comprehensive hard to achieve the level of business modate all of these in-commuters Boulder maintain its status as a Plan: Last year’s public vote on Bal- and residential demand Boulder is as Boulder residents, we need to welcoming home for creative new lot Issues 300 and 301 did not end enjoying these days. With that in help relieve their travel burden ventures. debate over the pace and character mind, and in order to make certain through enhanced multi-modal This is just a small sample of of development in our community. that our development fees are fairly transportation options. The Cham- issues the Boulder Chamber will be However, coupled with the recent calculated, the city’s review must ber intends to take a leadership following on behalf of the Boulder citizen survey results, it also is clear account for the enormous financial role in outreach to regional busi- business community in 2016. Please that Boulder’s residents generally benefits that accrue to the city of nesses and its business support reach out to me and our advocacy are comfortable with the direc- Boulder from development invest- colleagues, engaging them in dis- team if there is a perspective you tion our community is headed. ments. cussion regarding optional solu- want to share on these issues or if This includes movement toward Municipalization and energy tions for addressing transportation there are other concerns you need compact infill which creates more efficiency: The Boulder Chamber challenges and an expedited path us to address. vibrant and attractive centers of has great respect for the urgency forward to turning these proposed mixed-use activity that address a with which the city has confronted solutions into reality. John Tayer is president and chief number of goals for our commu- global climate change. However, Small-business regulatory pro- executive of the Boulder Chamber. 8 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com
GreeleyBiz Farmer’s Pantry keeps NEWS&NOTES Pilgrim’s Pride plans $190M in capital expenditures Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. said it city’s groceries close to home plans to spend $190 million to improve efficiencies at its chicken- processing plants throughout the By Curt MacDougall country. Greeley-based Pilgrim’s [email protected] Pride (Nasdaq: PPC), which is majority-owned by Brazilian food GREELEY — Greeley’s newest giant JBS, expects the capital grocery store has a somewhat Las investment to enhance growth Vegas-like philosophy, believing that with key customers and expand production of its Pierce Chicken what’s grown in Northern Colorado brand. The cash flow reinvestment should stay in Northern Colorado. plan is tailored to meet customer Calling itself a “community mar- needs through targeted capital ket,” Farmer’s Pantry is owned and spending in feed production, operated by Todd Doleshall and Glen fresh chicken, and prepared foods Cook. Both came from farming back- including case-ready operations grounds and say they understand — meat packaging that is ready for display cases in supermarkets. the plight of the local agricultural Pilgrim’s employs approximately community. 39,000 people and operates “Our main goal is to help out some chicken-processing plants and of the smaller farmers and smaller prepared-foods facilities in 12 business people in the area who states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. are just trying to get started, try- The company’s primary ing to break into the market,” Dole- Joel Blocker / For BizWest distribution is through retailers and food-service distributors. shall said. Those include Hazel Dell Heather Zobel, an employee with Farmer’s Pantry in Greeley, stocks shelves Feb. 22 Mushrooms in Fort Collins, Inno- with Pappardelle’s Pasta, a product from Denver. vative Meats in Evans and Boulder Greeley airport among 4 Organic Soups. in area to get state funding But Doleshall and Cook want to be The Greeley-Weld County more than just a local farm-to-table Airport is one of four municipal grocery store. airports in Northern Colorado “I struggle with the fact that we’re and the Boulder Valley that have in this amazing country and yet been approved by the Colorado we have people that are starving or Department of Transportation’s that have to be on subsidized food Division of Aeronautics to receive funding that will be used to systems when we throw so much improve safety and infrastructure. food away,” Doleshall said. So anoth- The others are Vance Brand er goal of the Farmer’s Pantry is to Airport in Longmont, Erie repurpose as much produce as possi- Municipal Airport and Rocky ble. It gives what Doleshall calls their Mountain Metropolitan Airport “wrinkled” food — produce that’s in Broomfield. They are awaiting still edible but may not be estheti- final approval from Gov. John Hickenlooper to receive the state cally pleasing — to the local food funding. Airport projects must bank or various shelters in town. include local and/or federal fund Down the road, it hopes to open a participation in order to receive commercial kitchen, where that pro- the Colorado discretionary duce can be turned into soups, salsas aviation grants. Greeley-Weld and other products. County Airport was approved for While the pair had been kicking $250,000 in state funding that will be used along with $350,000 in the idea around for some time, the Joel Blocker / For BizWest local funding and $5.4 million in impetus came when the downtown Todd Doleshall, left, and Glen Cook, co-owners of Farmer’s Pantry in Greeley. The grocer federal funding distributed by the Safeway supermarket shuttered in opened for business in November and features many locally grown Colorado products. Federal Aviation Administration on June 2014. That closure left some a $6 million project to repair and 30,000 people without easy access to “The first month, we averaged improve the airport’s runway. fresh food, an opportunity Doleshall “I struggle with the fact probably $200 a day in sales, and now and Cook couldn’t pass up, “so we that we’re in this amazing we’re up to anywhere between $500 Three new tenants worked with the DDA (Downtown and $700 a day,” Doleshall said, but country and yet we have open in Greeley Mall Development Authority) and the added that they’re hoping for better. health department here in Gree- people that are starving “We currently have three employees, A barber shop, a restaurant ley to bring in this store (where) we or that have to be on and right now they’re the only ones and a store selling gowns for such have basically everything you would getting paid.” events as homecomings and subsidized food systems proms have opened in Greeley need,” Doleshall said, “while also Still, the owners are optimistic Mall. The businesses are Avila’s trying to incorporate more Colorado when we throw so much about the future, with plans to incor- Barber Shop, La Michoacana products.” food away.” porate an adjacent coffee shop into 2 and Serenity, respectively. “It feels like a throwback to the old the business and start a hydroponic Moonbeam Capital Investments neighborhood grocery stores,” said Todd Doleshall, Farmers’ Pantry farm in the basement. operates the mall. Pam Bricker, executive director of the “It’s a much different experience Greeley DDA. “Couple that with really than if you go to a typical grocery healthy food that is grown in the area in late November with the help of a store where you end up with a trunk and that’s the best of all worlds.” grant from the Colorado Fresh Food load of groceries and go directly Located in the former Book Stop Financing Fund. Since then, busi- home,” Bricker said. “This is what building, Farmer’s Table opened ness has grown slowly but steadily. downtowns are all about.” www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 9 Big changes in works for downtown Greeley in 2016 tarting a new year always future home. City offices currently is a great time to reflect on are scattered among several blocks, S accomplishments of 2015 as and frequently customers are forced well as look toward future growth to search out several building in and where your organization is order to complete permits or talk headed in 2016. to the right city department. The The Greeley Downtown Develop- city has purchased several build- ment Authority recently finished ings near the current City Hall area its 2015 annual report. which docu- and is clearing buildings to make mented some significant achieve- room for future consolidation of city ments during our last year. Fifteen departments. new retail businesses were opened We frequently refer to this activ- (including four new restaurants, ity as the “domino” project, as there three new brew- are so many pieces that have to be eries/taverns moved. The cooperation between and a fresh-food the city of Greeley, the DDA and the pantry offering private investor/development group locally grown has been remarkable and weekly products). There meetings have been held for months were 23 property in order to complete a development sales, indicating agreement that is on target to be a growing inter- Greeley Voice negotiated and signed within the est in investing in Pam Bricker next month. downtown, and Needless to say, there will be lots there are currently only four listed of construction hats and disruption vacancies in the downtown core. throughout 2016 and early 2017, but An estimated 60,000 people the end result will forever change attended events sponsored through- the scenery in Greeley. Visit Gree- out the year. The city of Greeley ley already is fielding calls about completed three blocks of renova- convention activity, meeting space tions along Eighth Avenue, the and events. Inquiries are coming major corridor in about build- that connects Needless to say, ing apartment downtown and complexes, new the University of there will be lots of retail and reno- Northern Colo- construction hats and vation of current rado, and seven spaces. The city façade grants disruption throughout plans to com- were funded for 2016 and early 2017, plete the Eighth renovations that but the end result will Avenue corridor building owners all the way to the made to improve forever change the downtown core their street pre- scenery in Greeley. this year. Many sentation. new sculptures There is an Visit Greeley already and murals were ever-growing is fielding calls about installed in 2015 interest in down- convention activity, and even more town Greeley, are planned for and plans in 2016 meeting space and 2016. will significantly events. It is a won- change the land- derful time to scape. Not since be involved in the Union Colony Greeley. Our city Civic Center in government is 1988 and the Ice Haus skating rink in looking toward the future and our 2005 has downtown Greeley experi- citizens recently approved a sales enced a major construction project. tax increase to improve the infra- Starting in late March, the block structure of our streets. In addition east of the Civic Center and north of to the DDA’s economic emphasis, Lincoln Park will be cleared for con- the city also has expanded its Eco- struction of a 150-room hotel as well nomic Development Department as a conference center. This project and Greeley has been selected by is a cooperative effort between various organizations as “Best Per- the city of Greeley, the Downtown forming City,” “Best Small City for Development Authority and a group Jobs” and “Fastest Growing Metro of local investors who are commit- Area.” Greeley also is a designated ted to downtown’s future. Creative District by the state of Colo- To make room for this project, rado. the city of Greeley is moving cur- The slow and steady growth in rent functions that are housed in our downtown has just hit the accel- outdated buildings, will be con- erator pedal and we are thrilled to structing a new fire department and be a partner in the ride! temporarily housing the municipal court in modular units. The Lincoln Pam Bricker is executive director of Park Library will also be moving to the Greeley Downtown Development temporary space as it looks for its Authority. 10 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com
Joel Blocker/for BizWest From left, morning music host Ron Bostwick, music director Benji McPhail, afternoon deejay Keefer Fulgham (formerly of KBCO-FM and Colorado Public Radio’s “Open Air”) and consultant Paragon Media chief executive Mike Henry cheer in celebration as “The Colorado Sound” officially hits the airwaves Feb. 29 on KJAC-FM 105.5. Listen here Public, community radio stations labor to keep up with competition, technology and audience tastes — while vying for dollars to pay for it all
By Dallas Heltzell nature program focused on Colorado [email protected] On the dial issues,” he said, “but we’re in the pro- cess of building up our news depart- Cork-popping celebrations don’t Community and public noncommercial radio based in the Boulder Valley and Northern ment.” A big part of that was hiring Colorado often happen at 6 a.m. on a Monday, Michael de Yoanna, who starts March but then the scene at dawn in Greeley Call letters Frequency City of license Format 7 as KUNC’s first director of news con- on Feb. 29 wasn’t your typical party. tent. He brings a resume packed with KGNU-FM 88.5 Boulder Varied music, alternative news It was the dawn of a new era in radio work on local and national broadcast along Colorado’s Northern Front Range KRFC-FM 88.9 Fort Collins Varied music, public-affairs and print news outlets, as well as an programming — and a new challenge for noncom- Edward R. Murrow award he won as mercial broadcast competitors vying KCSU-FM 90.5 Fort Collins College rock (Colorado State University) a freelance reporter at KUNC seven for donor dollars. KGUD-FM 90.7 Longmont “Easy listening” music years ago for “The Burden of Proof: One KUNC-FM 91.5, which for nearly KUNC-FM 91.5 Greeley NPR and local news, talk Colorado Soldier’s Fight for Mild Trau- a half century had brought an eclec- matic Brain Injury Diagnosis.” He also KJAC-FM 105.5 Timnath “The Colorado Sound” music; affiliated tic mix of music and award-winning with KUNC directed “Recovering,” an independent investigative reporting to Northern documentary film about veterans heal- KVCU-AM 1190 Boulder College rock (University of Colorado) Colorado, switched on a new station it ing their war wounds through bicy- had purchased for $3 million in Decem- cling, which was shown March 2 at the ber to split off its music format so that it Lyric Cinema Café in Fort Collins. could devote its flagship frequency to lic stations for listeners’ ears and dol- outlets largely staffed by volunteers “Besides Michael, we’ll also bring in local and national news. lars. must find ever more-creative ways to two reporter positions,” Best said. “Our KUNC general manager Neil Best Those listeners can choose among win listener loyalty and underwriters’ goal is to produce at least a half hour a made a rare appearance behind a hot nearly 100 commercial and noncom- support. day of local newscasts and features.” microphone to introduce the new mercial stations from both the Denver The rest of the schedule will be filled format — branded “The Colorado and Northern Colorado markets — KUNC, KJAC: “A very tight budget” with content from NPR and public radio Sound” — on former sports-talk station including low-power stations owned Filling a 24-hour, seven-day sched- stations such as New York’s WNYC and KJAC-FM 105.5. Then the alternative- by Denver-based Colorado Public Radio ule with unique news content without Boston’s WBUR. rock songs began to play, providing that simulcast its news, classical and commercial advertising revenue is top “We are doing this on a very tight a soundtrack for a mounting battle “Open Air” music formats to Boulder of mind for Best. budget,” Best said, “but we saved by among the area’s community and pub- and Fort Collins — so small broadcast “At this point, we don’t have a sig- management working on both stations, www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 11 and on a lot of the startup costs for KJAC much more competitive market, but I’m because the station already existed.” much more of a collaborative person Purchasing the 105.5 signal was anyway,” Hughes said. “It just means made possible thanks in large part to more opportunities for people. One of a major gift from the Paul and Amy the things that has been really great Hach Charitable Foundation, as well to see in the last five, six, seven years is as reserve funds stewarded by KUNC’s how local musicians have really gone board of directors over the past 14 years from being underrepresented in the and some financing, Best said. community to have more opportuni- Two-thirds of KUNC’s $2,947,660 in ties. Now they’re in the mainstream, 2015 operating expenses came from making it onto the national scene — listener contributions, he said, with 26 and to know we really had a part in percent from underwriting. 6 percent making that happen. from grants and 1 percent from special “Radio was intended to bring people events.” Besides salaries and mainte- closer together,” he added. “The tech- nance, he said, “we spend more than nology was created for that. That piece $400,000 a year for NPR programs.” has been lost with more automation, For KJAC’s startup costs, he said, more syndication, Pandora, Spotify, all “We have reserves to allow us to get up these things you can get on the Inter- and get running. I’ll have a much bet- net. So there’s something wonderful ter forecast about what this will cost in about a station that’s human. One of three to five months. We want to grow the things we say a lot to our listeners is, income by at least 5 percent, and our ‘Create the circle of community.’ That’s operating expenses will be somewhere something you can only get from com- in the same range.” munity radio.” Best said one of the station’s greatest Keeping that circle unbroken has challenges is “ever-increasing competi- been tough for KRFC in the past year. It tion, more podcasts, more streaming had to move in September to a smaller services, websites. The competition temporary space, with limited music for eardrums and eyeballs gets more library and production facilities, while intense every day.” the Bohemian Foundation renovates its former space to create a “Music Dis- KRFC: “Circle of community” trict.” KRFC-FM 88.9 general manager “I think the biggest challenge has Brian Hughes isn’t too worried about been trying to continue to provide competition from the new kid on the everything that we did before in less local-music block — even with KJAC’s than half the space, with a limited plans to host local-music meetups at music library and production facilities,” The Artery in Old Town Fort Collins. he said. “Specifically ‘Live at Lunch’; we Jonathan Castner/for BizWest “I think Fort Collins has become a Maeve Conran, news director at KGNU-FM in Boulder, conducts an interview during a Please see Listen, page 12 morning show at the station.
Joel Blocker/for BizWest Mark Naber, a volunteer host with KRFC-FM in Fort Collins for the past five years, plays a variety of Americana music during his Thursday afternoon mix show. 12 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com
Listen, from 11 nication Commission’s recently passed don’t have the space or the ability to AM Revitalization Act, collaborating continue to do that show. We’ve been with other community stations around running rebroadcasts and looking into the country for additional program- what live programming at KRFC will ming, generating much more revenue look like when we go back into the new through online listeners and crowd- space.” sourcing, and getting youths much The anticipated completion of con- more involved. struction is May or June, Hughes said, KGNU has a paid staff of three full- “which would put us moving back in time and six part-time employees — in about August or September. We’ll including news director Maeve Conran, have some more space. The layout of who assembles the “morning maga- the entire building is going to be much zine” — plus an active base of roughly more open, much more collaborative, 300 active on-air and off-air volunteers. and configured much more efficiently. KGNU keeps them busy. Bohemian has been very communica- “You’re going to have to dig pretty tive with us about what we need to have hard to find some of the progressive a world-class radio station.” information and more eclectic music The station’s nearly $300,000 that’s out there, and we’ve got people Joel Blocker/for BizWest operating budget is funded through Erin O’Toole reports the morning news for KUNC-FM in Greeley on Feb. 29, the day doing that,” Russo said. “That’s what membership dollars, grants from the music programming was shifted to KJAC-FM 105.5. you’ll hear on KGNU — new and aspir- Corporation for Public Broadcasting ing artists. Compared to other pub- and local foundations, sponsorships, shine a light on local artists — not just tinue through March 13. lic and community stations around underwriting and events such as the their gallery or event but on them. The “We’ve been on the air since 1978, the state, we have a very solid balance annual Birthday Bash, scheduled this production is more complex than our and the strategic plan is to take us to 40 between local, state and national news year for March 25 at Club Tico in City other segments, and so is the vetting years and beyond,” said station man- and music, creating more visibility for Park. That event will feature two local process. So Noosa helps by sponsor- ager Tim Russo, who joined the station those artists as well.” women-fronted bands, Colony Funk ing it financially, and a member from in July after a varied career including 20 About 70 percent of KGNU’s annual and The Patti Fiasco. Noosa is part of the vetting process.” years of developing community radio budget of around $749,000 comes from A big plus has been the station’s KRFC hit the airwaves in 2003, and stations in Latin America. membership, with only about 11 per- “Support Local Culture” partnership a 2005 grant bought the equipment it “In a way, the board here brought me cent to 14 percent coming from the CPB, with Bellvue-based Noosa Yoghurt. uses now, but Hughes said remaining on to look at the changing demograph- “in contrast to larger public media enti- “We met with local artists and organi- competitive for the next 10 years will ics in Colorado,” he said, “including ties that are around,” Russo said. “We’re zations and asked what they needed. require a capital campaign he plans to bringing in those skills and experiences trying to help define ‘community radio’ How do we raise their profile? Very launch at the Birthday Bash. to encourage broader participation as one where we’re a mission-driven quickly, we saw a pattern of people say- across the board, more Latino partici- media outlet with no corporate inter- ing, ‘If I can tell people my story, if I have KGNU: “A very solid balance” pation, more bilingual programming.” ests whatsoever. We’re not beholden to five minutes with someone, I can make A fundraising drive also is under Russo’s goals include strengthening that corporate or government interest. a sale of my art,” Hughes said. “It was way at Boulder’s longtime alternative its 10-year-old 1390 frequency in Den- We’re beholden to the community.” absolute Kismet. That’s what we do. We voice, KGNU-FM 88.5, and will con- ver with help from the Federal Commu- KGNU creates close to 800 hours of www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 13 locally produced news a year through communication studies and journal- label or promotion company,” “So I formed a nonprofit called 16 original programs, including those ism who grew up in Evergreen, called Station manager Mikey Goldenberg Longmont Community Radio, and the focusing on Native American, African- “slightly above minimum wage.” teaches audio production classes, but district agreed to convey the license American, Asian and the gay and les- Most funding for the station’s nearly he, Calvet and the other managers are for the station to us. We mostly bought bian communities. $200,000 in annual expenses comes the only student employees. The rest all new equipment and upgraded the from the university, with a small per- “do it for the love of community, radio, transmitter because the FCC said we KCSU and KVCU: College radio centage from underwriting contracts education and music,” Calvet said. couldn’t have 10-watt stations anymore Finding a connection to youth is no with local businesses such as Tribal Like KCSU, the 17-year-old KVCU and had to upgrade to a minimum of problem for KCSU-FM 90.5 and KVCU- Rites tattoos, Front Door Direct, Fort gets most of its funding from the uni- 100.” AM 1190, stations housed on the Colo- Collins Audio and The Grove housing versity but also holds pledge drives and Baskos changed the call letters to rado State University and University of project. The station also collaborates solicits contributions and underwrit- KGUD — “K-Good” — and began run- Colorado Boulder campuses, respec- with the school’s Little Shop of Physics ing, he said. ning public-service announcements for tively. and the CSU Health Network. Calvet reports to the College Music other local nonprofit groups for special “Every single operator is a full-time As with KRFC, KCSU had to deal Journal every week about what songs events, entertainment and informa- student at CSU,” said KCSU station with being moved off campus tempo- are popular locally, and in 2015 was tion. For music, he chose a format that manager Rebekah Romberg. “We are rarily two years ago while Lory Student nominated to be its national Music used to be called “easy listening” — primarily volunteer based. We do have Center was being renovated. “We’re still Director of the Year. “When you’re stuck strings and heavy instrumental ver- a few internships. Some use on-air recovering from that as far as recruit- at a radio station,” he said, “you don’t sions of popular songs. time, others are behind the scenes in ment goes,” Romberg said. “A lot of really realize your work is having an Operating costs run about $25,000 the office.” students didn’t know we existed. We’re impact on the community.” a year, Baskos said, with “99.5 percent Primarily a music station, KCSU rebuilding our visibility and our volun- coming from listener contributions and also carries a weekly news program teer base. We have between 50 and 60 KGUD: Taking it easy the rest from me,” he said. called “Quite Honestly” and a pair of volunteer deejays. Their shows are in Community radio isn’t just for the Besides the music, KGUD carries a sports shows, “B&B Sports” and “The two-hour blocks, and a lot of people do young. Just ask 80-year-old George Bas- program on Saturday mornings that is Ramblers.” shows with their friends.” kos, who went to work for the former recorded at the Longmont Senior Cen- Operated by the nonprofit Rocky At CU-Boulder, KVCU also is housed KLMO-AM 1060 in Longmont in 1952, ter and promotes activities there. He’d Mountain Student Media Corp., which in the student union, and working there his last year in high school, and stayed like to add more Longmont-specific also runs the Collegian newspaper has been quite an education for staffers there until 1972, then ran a communi- community information, a service he and CTV on campus, KCSU hit the air- such as music director James Calvet. A cations media program for the St. Vrain remembers from the old KLMO. waves in 1964. “For a good long while, it senior from Durango majoring in psy- Valley School District’s Career Develop- Even a station catering to listeners was professionally run,” Romberg said, chology and communications, Calvet’s ment Center, a vocational high school. aged 50 and older has to adapt to the “but students came to the administra- original intent was to become a music “When school opened in 1972, we times, Baskos said. “In 2015, we were tion and said they wanted to be able to and art therapist, he said, but his KVCU applied for and received the license granted a power increase to 1,000 watts, control it.” experience — including booking bands for a 10-watt station we called KCDC so we’re hoping to get that operational She and the head of student media that come into the station for the “Local at 90.7 FM,” Baskos said. “When one of sometime this year.” are hired by the corporation and are Shakedown” show on Fridays — has the instructors and I retired in 2000, the in charge of hiring 10 to 15 other paid changed all that. school district decided to discontinue Dallas Heltzell can be reached staff members every semester, most of “When I graduate in May, I’m plan- the communications program, so they at 970-232-3149, 303-630-1962 or whom work about 10 hours a week for ning on trying to get into the music no longer had a reason to have the radio [email protected]. Follow what Romberg, a senior majoring in industry,” he said, “maybe a record station. him on Twitter at @DallasHeltzell. 14 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com
OutdoorBIZ
Courtesy Scheels The Scheels store under construction at Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 34 will encompass 250,000 square feet. ‘Disneyland’ of sporting-goods stores
“Scheels does not focus Entertainment will Hands-on be hallmark of new on the competition. experience Instead, we put our Johnstown Scheels Scheduled to open in late energies into providing 2017, the flagship location By Paula Aven Gladych will have several interactive high-level product [email protected] features: Baseball Football Basketball education for our
JOHNSTOWN — Colorado always associates at our Scheels has been considered an outdoorsy Universities. We have state, and thus has attracted some very high expectations of the largest outdoor retailers in the nation. of everyone on the sales Along with Sportsman’s Ware- floor for delivering an house, Sports Authority and Dick’s Sporting Goods — and, farther south, Skiing Golf Soccer Hockey outstanding customer Cabela’s, Gander Mountain and Bass experience.” Pro Shops — Northern Colorado soon Steve D. Scheel, Scheels chairman have its first Scheels, a cross between a sporting-goods store and an enter- tainment destination. It will be the “Disneyland of sport- Hoovers lists Scheels’ biggest ing-goods stores,” Scheels chairman competitors as Walmart and Sports Steve D. Scheel said at a recent ground- Shooting galleries Authority, but what is the ultimate breaking for the store in Johnstown. 65-foot Ferris wheel 16,000-gallon aquarium and laser simulators goal of the company as it expands out Scheels opened its first store in 1902 from the Midwest? BizWest graphic in Sabin, Minn., and its first all-sports “Our goal is to be the best retailer in store in Grand Forks, N.D., in 1989, the U.S.A. in the eyes and minds of our Scheel said. and the addition of Scheels to our for our associates at our Scheels Uni- customers and associates,” Scheel said. The company plans to open a development is great news for John- versities. We have very high expecta- He attributes some of the upcoming 250,000-square-foot store in John- stown, the surrounding communities tions of everyone on the sales floor for Colorado store surprises to the ideas stown on Sept. 30, 2017, and Scheel and the shopping center.” delivering an outstanding customer and talents of his employees. said fans of the retailer will get a big The Johnstown Scheels flagship experience.” “Once again, our people are always surprise when that location opens store will include sports, fashion and Scheel said his company is “con- seeking ways to improve the stores,” he since it will include new entertain- footwear and highlight sports such stantly seeking the very best brands said, “so new concepts including enter- ment concepts that haven’t been done as biking, running, golfing, camp- and products, so all gear companies tainment come from them.” anywhere else in the country. ing, hunting and fishing. It will fea- are possible partners,” although he Scheels is headquartered in Fargo, The Johnstown location will be in the ture hunting and fishing shops, a would not say if he has struck any N.D. It started as a hardware store but 2534 development, at the interchange 16,000-gallon aquarium, a wildlife partnerships with Colorado-based began adding sporting goods to the of Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 34. mountain and shooting galleries. It companies. “We love products made mix in 1954. As interest grew, the retail- The store will be built by Lincoln, Neb.- also will have a 65-foot, 16-car Ferris in the U.S.A.,” he said. er added additional lines of business, based Sampson Construction, which wheel, photo opportunities and laser The Johnstown Scheels will employ including athletic shoes and clothing. has built 16 Scheels stores around the shooting simulators. around 400 people and also will As of 2015, Scheels had 26 stores in Midwest and West. Developer for the Customers also will be able to test include a deli and fudge shop, Ginna’s 11 states, including Illinois, Iowa, Kan- project is Carson Development Inc. of their skills at golf, soccer, hockey, Café, which will serve soups and sand- sas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Overland Park, Kan. baseball, football and basketball in wiches, Starbucks coffee and specialty Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Allen Schlup, developer of John- sports simulators. drinks, homemade fudge and gelato. Utah and Wisconsin. stown Plaza, part of the 2534 project, When asked who their major com- “Scheels invests heavily in people, Scheel is the great grandson of said he is “confident we have found petition is, Scheel said that “Scheels and it is our people that instill our Scheels’ founder Frederick Scheel. the perfect location and town for our does not focus on the competition. culture and maintain our success,” Steve M. Scheel, the company’s chief project to call home. We are excited Instead, we put our energies into pro- Scheel said. “It has evolved over our executive, is Frederick’s great-great to bring a new tenant mix to the area, viding high-level product education 114 years.” grandson. www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 15 16 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com
Outdoor Recreational Equipment Manufacturers Ranked by number of local employees
Local Phone Person in charge, Title Rank Company employees Products/Services Website Year founded Crocs Inc. 303-848-7000 Andrew Rees, president 7477 Dry Creek Pkwy 3201 Casual footwear. www.crocs.com 2002 1 Niwot, CO 80503-8021
Carefree of Colorado Develops, manufactures, markets and sells shade products and accessories in 303-469-3324 Scott Thompson, president 2145 W. Sixth Ave. 300 recreational, residential and commercial applications. www.carefreeofcolorado.com 1971 2 Broomfield, CO 80020
Nite Ize, Inc. Hardware, LED toys, LED bike, LED illumination, INOVA flashlights, rugged 303-449-2576 Rick Case, CEO & founder 5660 Central Ave. 225 mobile/tool holsters. www.niteize.com 1989 3 Boulder, CO 80301
Spyder Active Sports Inc. 303-544-4000 Julia Hansen, CEO 4740 Walnut St. 80 High-end performance skiwear, outerwear, and accessories. www.spyder.com 1978 4 Boulder, CO 80301
Product Architects Inc./Polar Bottle 303-440-0358 Judy Amabile, president 5637 Arapahoe Ave. 50 Manufactures and distributes reusable insulated water bottles. www.polarbottle.com 1994 5 Boulder, CO 80303
Babolat VS North America Inc. Susan DiBiase, general U.S. operations for French manufacturer of tennis racquets, strings, accessories 720-542-6292 1175 Cherry St., Suite 100 42 manager and tennis shoes. www.babolat.com 6 Louisville, CO 80027 1999
Newton Running Co. Joe O'Neil, CEO; Jerry Lee, 303-442-1113 1375 Walnut St 401 Makers of specialty running shoes. co-founder www.newtonrunning.com 7 Boulder, CO 80302 2006
Backcountry Access Inc. Bruce McGowan, general 303-417-1345 2820 Wilderness Place, Unit H 40 Backcountry skiing and avalanche rescue equipment. manager www.backcountryaccess.com 7 Boulder, CO 80301 1994
Head Rush Technologies John McGowan, CEO & co- Engineers innovative technologies to bring new adventure recreation equipment 720-565-6885 1835 38th St. 40 founder to the climbing, zip line, adventure and amusement industries. headrushtech.com 7 Boulder, CO 80301 2009
Sea to Summit Inc. Shelley Dunbar; Andrew 303-440-8977 1901 Central Ave. 35 Backpacking, camping, adventure travel and paddle sports gear. Dunbar, owners www.seatosummit.com 10 Boulder, CO 80301 1998
Bison Designs LLC Manufacturer of apparel, belts (manufactured from climbing webbing), pet 303-678-9911 Brian Kelleghan, owner 735 S. Lincoln St. 35 accessories, paracord survival accessories, unique & custom aluminum www.bisondesigns.com 1987 10 Longmont, CO 80501 accessories as well as chalk related products.
La Sportiva N.A. Manufacturers of outdoor footwear, apparel and hardgoods for climbing, 303-443-8710 Jonathan Lantz, president 3850 Frontier Ave., Suite 100 30 mountaineering, mountain running, hiking and and ski mountaineering. www.sportiva.com 1928 12 Boulder, CO 80301
SCARPA North America Inc. Manufactures and distributes trail running, hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering 303-998-2895 Kim Miller, CEO 3550 Frontier Ave., Unit E 22 and ski boots and footwear. www.scarpa.com 2005 13 Boulder, CO 80301 Sportwaves Unlimited Inc.: Baseline Contract Manufacturer of custom bags, strap assemblies, back packs and reusable canvas Herb Riehl, president; Cindy Sewing 303-665-4122 22 grocery totes. Contract cutting and sewing, packaging, web cutting, die cutting Dyke, operations manager 404 W. Baseline Road www.baselinecontractsewing.com 13 and screen printing. 1989 Lafayette, CO 80026-1721 Great Trango Holdings Inc. Trango: Manufacturers and wholesalers of climbing and mountaineering 800-860-3653 Kitty Bradley, president; Chris 740 S. Pierce Ave., Suite 15 16 equipment. Stonewear Designs: Manufacturers and wholesalers of women's www.trango.com/ Klinke, director of hard goods 15 Louisville, CO 80027 active wear. www.stoneweardesigns.com 1991
Wheels Manufacturing 303-410-7336 Dave Batka, CEO 1475 Arthur Ave., Suite 1 15 Components for the cycling industry. www.wheelsmfg.com 1988 16 Louisville, CO 80027
HEAD USA Inc. Retail and rental snowsports equipment manufacturer: alpine skis, ski boots, Kevin Kempin, CEO/president 800-874-3235 3125 Sterling Circle, Suite 101 15 alpine bindings, snowboards, snowboard boots, snowboard bindings, helmets, HEAD North America www.head.com 16 Boulder, CO 80301 equipment travel bags. 1950
Retul Franko Vatterott; Todd Carver; 720-406-1171 5445 Conestoga Court, Suite 100 14 Bike fit tools, technology and education. Cliff Simms, co-owners www.retul.com 18 Boulder, CO 80301 2007
Deuter USA 303-652-3102 Bill Hartrampf, president 1200 S Fordham St., Suite C 13 Backpacks, avalanche safety gear and apparel. www.deuterusa.com 1898 19 Longmont, CO 80503
MontBell America Inc. 720-565-2800 Isamu Tatsuno, president 3550 Frontier Ave., Unit B 12 Outdoor and mountaineering gear. www.montbell.com 1975 20 Boulder, CO 80301
Eco Vessel LLC 800-969-2962 Jonathan Fox, president 5485 Conestoga Court, Suite 250 11 Performance based reusable water bottles, drinkware and food storage products. www.ecovessel.com 2008 21 Boulder, CO 80301
Zeal Optics 303-454-9325 Ben Peters, president 1230 Spruce St. 10 Sunglasses, goggles, lifestyle accessories. www.zealoptics.com 1997 22 Boulder, CO 80302-4806
Crescent Moon Snowshoes Inc. Jake Thamm, president/co- 303-494-5506 5401 Western Ave., Suite C 10 Snowshoe and longboard manufacturer. founder www.crescentmoonsnowshoes.com 22 Boulder, CO 80303 1997
Bring Your Adventure Sports Manufacturer of the TreePod, hammocks, and other backyard toys and 303-443-0163 Derick Cole, sales director 385 S. Pierce Ave., Suite D 8 accessories designed to engage users with the outdoors. www.byasports.com 2013 24 Louisville, CO 80027
Slackline Industries/Canaima Outdoors Inc. Manufacturer of slackline kits for all ability levels and ages. Sponsor of pro 303-443-0163 Derick Cole, president 385 S. Pierce Ave., Suite D 8 athletes and host of numerous consumer events. www.slacklineindustries.com 2009 24 Louisville, CO 80027 Region surveyed includes Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer and Weld counties. Researched by Chad Collins 1 2015 information. www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 17 18 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com
STARTUPS SuviCa uses undergrads STARTINGLINE Techstars unveils new class of startups for accelerator BOULDER — Techstars has unveiled the 10th class of startups that to test cancer drug on the fly will go through its Boulder accelerator, a group of 11 companies that includes a trio from Boulder. Converge Indus- By Jeff Thomas tries, Free and For Sale, and Section. [email protected] io are the three local companies that will go through the three-month program that culminates with demo BOULDER — Rack one up for the day presentations to investors on fruit flies — and the concept of involv- May 18. Converge Industries enables ing undergrads in front-line research, insurance inspectors to fly drones to as well. inspect buildings. Free and For Sale Both the flies and the students who provides a mobile marketplace that work with them were instrumental in makes it quick and easy to buy and sell used goods. Section.io makes a bringing Boulder biotechnology com- content delivery network that delivers pany SuviCa Inc. roughly $1.5 million faster, more secure content that can in federal funding to develop a treat- be run in local development environ- ment for head and neck cancer last fall. ments. The University of Colorado Boulder technology transfer company, headed Collegiate Challenge extends by Tin Tin Su, its chief science officer and a CU professor, has a drug candi- deadline for entrepreneurs date known now as SVC112 that helps FORT COLLINS — Colorado State prevent regrowth of cancerous cells University Collegiate Challenge offi- cials have extended the application following radiation therapy. Glenn Asakawa / University of Colorado deadline for the student business While at least a couple years away Tin Tin Su, a University of Colorado Boulder professor who serves as chief science of- ficer for technology-transfer company SuviCa Inc., works on a drug to battle head and pitch competition by a week to Sun- from any human testing, Su said the day, March 6. The competition is open neck cancer. money will help the fledgling company to current students and recent gradu- develop the drug as far as financially ates (within the last 12 months) of feasible. Su said the Phase II Small undergraduates to this first phase of uniquely integrated team of research- accredited colleges and universities in Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, Montana, Business Innovation Research (SBIR) potential drug identification is raising ers and managers well versed in early Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, contract from the National Cancer some eyebrows. drug development as the feature that South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Institute may help get the drug to the “That is our first line of attack, and really makes SuviCa, founded in 2010, BizWest reported in January that CSU beginning of human testing, although the reason is they (fruit flies) share really hum, was spinning off the collegiate com- certainly other funding would be nec- about 70 percent disease-relevant For instance, Bert Pronk, SuviCa’s petition from the $250,000 Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge. The winner of essary at that point. genes with us,” she said. “They are very vice president for preclinical develop- the CSU Collegiate Challenge, howev- “We would like to keep it as long as easy to manipulate; we can change ment who has more than 25 years’ er, does earn a spot in one of the Blue possible,” said Su about the company’s genes in fruit flies almost at will. It’s of experience in research and drug Ocean Enterprises Challenge regional first drug candidate. “We still have a lot cheap and fast.” development for various oncology competitions for a shot at the national of work in proof of concept in the lab Undergraduate evaluation of the indications in academic and industry finals and the grand prize. The CSU and in animal models, and we’re hop- fruit fly screening was very much a environments, also was instrumen- Collegiate Challenge will be held April 27 at CSU in Fort Collins, with partici- ing to raise money to get there. part of identifying SVC112, and the tal in developing SVC112. The SuviCa pants competing for $25,000 in cash “If we get appropriate funding, and courses designed by Su for her stu- team also includes clinicians and sci- awards, plus other prizes. The appli- the data looks good, I would say about dents have attracted funding by the entists at CU-Boulder, the University of cation deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain two years (until the drug could begin Howard Hughes Institute to forward Colorado Cancer Center, CU Anschutz time on March 6. Competitors will be to be tested on people). That’s an edu- the curriculum to reach a larger stu- Medical Campus and Colorado State notified of acceptance on March 24. For more information or to apply, visit cated guess.” dent population at CU. University, several of whom have pub- CSUCollegiateChallenge.org. SVC112 is a small molecule that “It’s getting a lot of attention,” Su lished a Phase I clinical study (dosage targets ribosomes, which create pro- said. “Giving the students hands-on response) on a similar drug inhibiting teins inside of cells. Essentially, the experience in doing front-line research post-radiation cancer cell growth. Estes business incubator researchers hope to inhibit cancerous really gives them better perspective “We’ve always been able to use focus of public meetings money very, very effectively,” Hem- cells that have been treated by radia- than traditional lab work.” ESTES PARK — The Estes Park tion from replicating themselves, a far The idea also was crucial in put- berger said. “That’s one of the things Economic Development Corp. will too common occurrence after radia- ting together a rather unique and tal- that brings this team together: the host two public meetings in March tion treatment. ented SuviCa team, as well. CEO Judy desire to create low-cost, effective can- to get input from area entrepreneurs The drug could have more far-rang- Hemberger, who was co-founder and cer treatments.” and business mentors about what ing application, as Su said working on chief operating officer of Pharmion Su’s research in her lab at CU-Boul- business-incubator programs and services are desired in the Estes Val- neck and head (not brain) cancer was Corp. prior to its sale to Celgene for der also may have revealed something ley and how they can be provided. more of a means to an end, as SVC112 $2.9 billion, said the unique screen- many cancer specialists were not Current volunteers for the Estes Park and other drug candidates at SuviCa ing technique, and its advantages in aware of, a communication between EDC Incubator Committee will be may have more extensive application. inexpensively putting drug candidates dying cells and their nearby counter- present, and entrepreneurs, potential “You don’t hear a lot about it (neck into the pipeline, initially drew her to parts. “We still don’t understand how mentors and angel investors are espe- cially encouraged to attend one of the they work,” she said, “but they (appear and head cancer) and, because it’s often the company. meetings. The first meeting will be neglected, patients have greater needs “I’ve probably served on 19 differ- to) send signals to their neighbors, tell- held from 8 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, for a new therapy,” Su said. “The speci- ent boards,” said Hemberger, who has ing them not to die.” March 9, at Via Bicycle Café in Lakev- ficity (of the cancer) comes less from the more than 30 years of experience in the But Su is hopeful that the current iew Plaza, 1751 N. Lake Ave., Unit 110. drug” and more from a business model pharmaceutical industry, with exper- screening process matched with top- That meeting also will serve as the first suggested by regulatory paths. tise including clinical development, end researchers may have a solution. open meeting of the Estes Park Start- up “Open Coffee” group. The second The use of fruit flies — or Drosoph- global regulatory and early commer- “We’re building a so-called pipe- meeting will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. ila melanogaster for those in the know cialization. “When I saw what Tin Tin’s line,” she said. “We have other new Thursday, March 10, at the Estes Park — in medical research is not new, but techniques offered, I was on board.” entrants at different states and are Museum, 200 Fourth St. certainly Su’s approach in bringing in Today, Hemberger points to a tweaking them now.” www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 19 Balanced mastery: your secret weapon in life uthor pride swelled and is a tool. Global leaders would learn From startups to industry. If you don’t allow solid quickly deflated as Kathy, my fixes for the work-life balance multinationals, a person’s employees to think bigger with you, A the USA Today writer shar- failures. Top management would they’ll think bigger without you. ing an office, fingered my new book. stay in the room when we talked humanity is larger than And bigger means their families, “The title ‘Professional Balance’ about honoring employee lives and the job, the business or their hikes, their gardens and all depresses me,” she blurted, “… respecting their humanity. that makes them human. Balanced makes me think too much about Over time, an ugly reality crept the industry. If you don’t mastery. work.” into my thoughts — not as bad allow solid employees After witnessing another work- Mental as Kathy’s book-title comment place tragedy, the body still warm, anguish has been but more subtle. Sipping on my to think bigger with I looked up, dazed at my clearer described as room-temperature chardonnay, I’d you, they’ll think bigger picture of the situation. Too many worse than physi- respond to the cocktail-party query, without you. spend their “productive” years offer- cal. Hurt sur- “What do you do for work?” with, “I ing up work done while sedentary, rendered to sting teach people how to balance their malnourished and sleep deprived. and then turned lives so they can live long enough to No one can start, grow or revive a into action. The spend the money they earn.” Feeling achievers do (copy them) business while sitting all day, eating book already was Innovation smug, even brilliant, I’d hear them • Study historical masters (tools, lousy food and bragging about only harvested, but my Rick Griggs sling over a departing shoulder, techniques, motivators) sleeping five hours a night. I’ve seen marketing mate- “Yeah, I need more balance, nice to • Start with will-power but shift it and the picture is ugly. rials slowly tilled in a new term: bal- meet you.” I finally got it: They had to habit I sought out exceptional achievers anced mastery. other priorities. Fair or not, results The original work-life balance who took their humanity seriously. On a warm July afternoon, leav- give permission for balance. movement was a pariah in the busi- They knew the value of being a well- ing the Blue Angels air show at My answer was “balance + mas- ness world because it failed to factor rounded human being and how that Mountain View’s Moffett Field, I tery.” Everyone wants to rule in a in getting results. During contract would buttress their contribution to began writing this first book. Bob, kingdom of quarterly numbers and proposals, I dial back on balance, the world. They saw the big picture a good buddy, had a real date wait- finish-line firsts. Too many want to sensing my contacts’ fear their boss- of authentic lives. Their results are ing, while I had a typewriter. Tap- hit that jackpot of cloud hovering es won’t feel the program is “nitty- exceptional and sustained. tapping away, weeks turned into accomplishment no matter what it gritty” enough. People get rewards My fatigued office friend is prob- months as I pushed to have a manu- does to school plays, arteries and the for solving big, ugly problems, not ably long retired, and I’m better at script done while still in my 20s. love in our love lives. for chatting about grades over din- picking book titles. Questioning whether I was either Balanced mastery: ner. Balanced mastery builds on a slow writer or simply preoccupied • Pick your top five life priorities results without sacrificing cherished Rick Griggs is the inventor of the with keeping my business afloat, the (score and balance them on human essentials. rolestorming creativity tool and book grudgingly arrived five years time; energy; effort) From startups to multination- founder of the Quid Novi Innovation later. The world would now see how • Nurture all five priorities als, a person’s humanity is larger conference. Contact him at rick@ achievement is the goal and balance • Examine what sustained high than the job, the business or the griggsachieve.com or 970.690.7327. 20 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com
REALDEALS
PropertyLine
Calif. firm buys 247 acres in Loveland for housing LOVELAND — A California real estate investment firm has acquired 247 acres of vacant land in Loveland with hopes of reviving a six-year old plan to develop lots for homebuilders. San Ramon, Calif.-based The True Life Cos. acquired the land at 4300 N. Wilson Ave. from GA Lee Farm LLC for $3.6 mil- lion on Feb. 23. GA Lee Farm had spent about $500,000 on plans approved in 2010 for a residential development consisting of 850 single-fam- ily, townhomes and duplexes, plus a com- munity center and athletic fields, with 30 percent of the land devoted to private open space, according to city planning docu- ments. The property is along the west side of North Wilson Avenue between the Buck and Hunter’s Run neighborhoods.
Minn. firm pays $11M for complex in Greeley GREELEY — Dominium Inc., a Minneso- ta-based developer and manager of afford- able housing, has acquired the Woodside Village Apartments in Greeley. Dominium, through the entity Greeley Leased Housing Association I, paid $11 million to Affordable Community Housing Trust-Zeta for the 160-unit apartment com- Courtesy Forum Real Estate Group plex at 144 E. 24th St., according to public A rendering shows what Phase 1 of the new Boulder Google campus will look like once completed. Google recently exercised an op- records. tion to purchase the land for Phase 2 of the project. Woodside Village Apartments, with a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units, was developed and operates with federal housing financing.
Boulder developers planning Google eyes land City Park Flats near airport BOULDER — A local real estate devel- opment group wants to build City Park Flats, a 70-unit apartment complex next to Boulder Municipal Airport and near Valmont City Park that would be priced for middle- income residents. for Boulder phase 2 Airport Adventures LLC, managed by Kyle McDaniel of Four Star Realty Inc. in Boulder, has the 2.6 acres of vacant land owned by By Joshua Lindenstein Construction remains completion next year, from Forum. As the city under contract and hopes to close [email protected] part of the development deal, Google the deal by March 30. McDaniel is one of the on schedule for the investors in the project. had to either have developers move The land is at 3289 Airport Road and is BOULDER — Google Inc., has first phase of the site. forward on Phase 2 by a specific date southeast of Hayden Lake. exercised an option to purchase the It’s unclear whether or buy the land. No specific timeline McDaniel said the group plans to build a land for the second phase of its new for Phase 2 ever has been made pub- mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apart- Google’s recent ments in five buildings that could be rented campus in Boulder rather than leas- lic, although Google officials have or sold as individual units. ing a finished building from devel- purchase might said in the past that the overall proj- opers as the company is doing for ect would help the company ramp Phase 1. mean the company is up to about 1,500 local employees Jax Mercantile pays $5.6M The Mountain View, Calif.-based planning to extend its — from the 300-plus spread among for Broomfield Kmart building tech giant paid developers — a group timeline for Phase 2 multiple locations in town now — BROOMFIELD — Jax Mercantile Co. has that includes Denver-based firms over a period of up to 10 years. paid $5.6 million for the building at 5005 W. Forum Real Estate Group and Brick- construction further into A group led by Forum and Brick- 120th Ave. in Broomfield, where it will open a store, its sixth in Colorado and seventh stone paid $12.2 million in 2013 to stone Partners — slightly more than the future. overall. $7 million for the 1.45-acre parcel at acquire the five parcels needed for the Fort Collins-based Jax Mercantile, 2930 Pearl St. Google campus. Forum gained enti- through the entity Jax Broomfield Property Developers broke ground last tlements for the Google project and LLC, on Feb. 8 bought the building and 7.2 acres of land in the Broomfield Plaza summer on the first phase of the $150 Darren Fisk, of Forum Real Estate subdivided the assembled property from Lone Ranger LLC, a limited liability million project, which is slated to Group, said he couldn’t comment on into two parcels, one for each phase. company based in Los Angeles, according create a new 300,000-square-foot specifics of the recent land sale, but Fisk said construction remains on to public records. campus on 4.33 acres of land that did note that nothing has changed schedule for the first phase of the site. The building formerly housed a Kmart, which vacated the building in 2012. Lone wraps around the Chase Bank prop- with regard to developers’ original It’s unclear whether Google’s recent Ranger LLC bought the building and land erty at the southwest corner of 30th deal with Google. A spokesman for purchase might mean the company for $3 million in 2006. and Pearl streets. The first phase is Google said in an email that there was is planning to extend its timeline Jax Mercantile has two stores in Fort Col- to include two of the three build- “nothing new or noteworthy in the for Phase 2 construction further into lins, including a Jax Outdoor Gear and Jax Ranch and Home. Lafayette also is home to ings — about 200,000 square feet of arrangement,” but declined further the future. the same two stores, while Loveland has space — on the southern portion of comment. “I don’t know what their plans are a Jax Outdoor Gear Ranch and Home, and the property. Phase 2, meanwhile, Google is planning to lease Phase with it,” Fisk said of Google’s timeline Ames, Iowa, has a Jax Outdoor Gear. will include the third building. 1 of the project, which is slated for for Phase 2. www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 21 For home buyers, Longmont’s time has come oulder Valley home buyers money will go farthest in Long- As prices radiate upward pro-housing, which means that in 2016 will face a daunting mont. and outward from there are reasons independent of B landscape, with a dearth proximity to Boulder for Longmont’s of inventory, rapidly appreciating Availability Boulder, Longmont has growth. While not new (more than prices and multiple-offer situations The greatest challenge facing the remained relatively 100 years old), Longmont Power and galore. One city stands out as the Boulder Valley real estate market in Communications has been provid- best opportunity 2016 is lack of inventory. Unless you affordable, but ... upward ing energy to the city for less than the for investment, are looking in the $1 million-plus pressure on Longmont is Colorado average, making Longmont especially for range, buyers likely will see less than an attractive place for business. Now first-time home a month of inventory on the market, building. it has added NextLight, a 100 percent buyers and espe- and of those about half likely will fiber-optic broadband that it is rolling cially if you do already be under contract. out to the city and promises to pro- not have $1 mil- Buyers looking for inventory vide ultrafast Internet. According to lion or more to should consider Longmont. In 2015, had to wait until 2014 for their homes Tom Roiniotis, its general manager, spend. Residential there were 1,236 single-family homes to be worth more than they bought it is the fastest speed in the United It’s Longmont. real estate sold in Longmont, which was almost them for. This means that such own- States. This advantage is promot- Here’s why: Jay Kalinski one-third of all homes sold in Boul- ers finally can sell their homes with- ing more growth and development der and Broomfield counties (543 out taking a loss. in Longmont, and means more Affordability more homes than sold in the city of and better jobs for residents and an Of all the markets in Boulder Boulder). Appreciation increased demand for housing. and Broomfield counties, Long- Why the higher inventory of While it took Longmont a little mont is the only one that finished homes in Longmont? First, Long- longer than other local cities to The Bottom Line 2015 with average single-family mont is one of the few areas in the appreciate out of the recession, it now Longmont offers the best deal in home prices below $350,000 (more county that still has a supply of appears poised to enjoy solid appre- Boulder Valley real estate right now. than $100,000 less than Broom- vacant, developable lots. According ciation going forward. Last year, the While relatively affordable, however, field, the second most affordable to John Covert of Metrostudy, Long- average single-family home appreci- it will not necessarily be easy to buy locale). Longmont also was the mont had the most annual home ated 13 percent in Longmont, and in Longmont. Last year, the aver- most affordable for attached dwell- building starts in the county and there are reasons to believe this trend age home and attached dwelling ings, with the average unit selling has the most vacant developable lots will continue. The first is geography. sold above its listing price, which for $244,329. The Federal Housing waiting to be developed. These new As prices radiate upward and out- is indicative of multiple offers and Finance Agency set the Boulder homes are more affordable, on aver- ward from Boulder, Longmont has bidding wars. Buyers in Longmont County 2016 conforming loan age, than other new homes being remained relatively affordable, but as should expect this trend to continue limit at $474,950, compared with built in the county. Second, Long- prices have risen in the surrounding throughout 2016. the regular $417,000. This means mont’s prices were slower to recover cities, upward pressure on Longmont that Boulder County buyers have after the Great Recession than the is building. Second, Longmont’s Jay Kalinski is broker/owner of increased purchasing power when rest of the county. For example, own- government has been comparatively Re/Max of Boulder. He can be reached using conventional loans, and their ers who purchased a home in 2006 forward-thinking, pro-growth and at [email protected]. 22 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com You can’t lose anything you don’t already have
he fear of losing a sale that a meeting to discuss the phase-in has yet to be completed has of the additional business from the T kept many salespeople from other divisions. Be very direct and doing what needs to be done to actu- inform the customer that if he doesn’t ally close the sale — or close the file if come up with the additional business the sale can’t be completed. promised, you’ll have to rescind the When the selling process starts favorable payment terms. to drag on — a prospect doesn’t fol- Action: Dropping hints hasn’t low through with worked up to this point. Dropping commitments or more probably won’t make a differ- otherwise stalls ence. Threatening the prospect is the process — likely to damage the relationship, salespeople need which is presumably good and prof- to be assertive and itable. So, taking a middle-ground address the issue approach is the most appropriate. Let with the prospect. the prospect know you are serious. Often, however, sales smarts You can be assertive without being the fear of being bob bolak pushy or overbearing. You need to perceived as des- obtain a commitment to move for- perate or pushy prevents salespeople ward with the additional business. from taking that action. Your request might sound like: What are you waiting for? At any “Jane, we’ve been doing business given moment during the business now for just over six months. The day, there are untold numbers of feedback I’ve received from you and salespeople working at their desks other members of your company has updating their customer and pros- been very positive. Everyone seems pect databases, reorganizing their to be pleased. My sense is that it’s files, checking the progress of previ- time to sit down and discuss phasing ous orders, planning and rehearsing in the business you promised from presentations, gathering and gen- the other divisions. When can we erating data for schedule a time proposals and Ask yourself, “Am to do that?” presentations, You must re-computing I really working or remain unat- the value of their avoiding real work?” tached to the sales funnels, and All too often, salespeople outcome: Having a host of other a conversation “sales related” perform busywork — like the example activities. work that allows them above requires When you are the salesperson engaged in these to look and feel busy — to stay in his or and similar activ- to avoid some of the more her “adult ego ities, ask yourself, unpleasant work of sales state.” On a sales “Am I really work- call, especially ing or avoiding such as prospecting and a prospecting real work?” While dealing with rejection. call, you must all of the activi- be emotionally ties mentioned unattached to the are appropriate outcome. If you and necessary from time to time, become attached to the goal of turn- they are not necessary all the time. ing every prospect into a customer, All too often, salespeople perform you will surely be disappointed. busywork — work that allows them Disappointment leads to frustration, to look and feel busy — to avoid some which can lead to procrastination or of the more unpleasant work of sales worse, saying and doing things that such as prospecting and dealing with can cost you the sale, or not saying or rejection. doing the things that need to be said You make the call. or done to close the sale — and so, Situation: Feedback from your the downward spiral begins. customer of just over six months has You can’t lose something you been very positive. When you initially don’t own, and you don’t “own” the closed the account, the customer held sale until it’s closed. The only thing out a carrot — additional business you risk by addressing the prospect’s from two other company divisions — delaying tactics is uncovering the as a negotiating ploy to obtain more truth. If the truth is that you’re not favorable payment terms, which going to close the sale, it’s better to you provided. You have yet to see know sooner rather than later. any business from the other divi- So, be “attached” to the process, sions despite your subtle hints. What not the outcome. As long as you focus should you do? on and work the process, the desir- Drop some additional hints, but able outcome will follow. don’t press the issue. Allow the cus- tomer to act on his own time. Be Bob Bolak is president of Sandler assertive and remind the prospect of Training. Contact him at bbolak@ his promise and suggest scheduling sandler.com. www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 23 Your business. Your city.
6 | BizWest | Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2015 www.bizwest.com
12 | BizWest | July 24-Aug. 6, 2015 www.bizwest.com BROOMFIELDBIZ GREELEYBIZ
NEWS&NOTES
Oxlo inks deal with Ford Motors | Serving up success Tim Veldhuizen is cookin’ with gas10 BizWest | July 24-Aug. 6, 2015 www.bizwest.com Ford Motor Co. has selected 8 | BizWest | Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2015 Broomfield-based Oxlo Systems www.bizwest.com Inc.’s software-as-a-service to Restaurateur aims Co-working space enable auto dealers across the to build on eclectic BOULDERBIZ comes with a side globe to register extended-warranty serviceLOVELAND plans. Financial terms of the BIZ of mentoring deal were not disclosed. Greeley successes Oxlo Systems is the owner/oper- ator of ODIN, the Open Dealer Inte- By Paula Aven GladychNEWS&NOTES By Joshua Lindenstein [email protected] gration Network for the automotive [email protected] industry. Oxlo provides auto dealer NEWS&NOTES Mental Health Partners software, auto manufacturer and BROOMFIELD — The Kitchen auto lender dealer data exchange GREELEY — Entrenched in Love- Coop in Broomfieldbuys isLafayette not your building aver- solutions and services that transact land at the time as owner of three Desktop 3-D printers hit A-B buys American age commercial kitchenBoulder-based co-op. Mental It pro Health- Part- automated business processes restaurants, Tim Veldhuizen passed vides kitchens andners production paid $5.9 million areas to buy the office The project, a collaboration Eagle Distributing several years back when a customer for small food producersbuilding at to 1455 make Dixon their Ave. in Lafay- between Ford IT and Oxlo Systems, Anheuser-Busch has purchased proposed taking the 4th Street Chop- wares, but it addsette, a wherelittle thesomething organization plans to leverages Oxlo’s software to opti- American Eagle Distributing as part move its executive and administrative mize an existing integrated data house concept and opening another extra: sound advice. of a transaction spurred by a new law offices over the coming years. bigfeed and positiontime Ford to expand to with little things passed by the Kentucky Legislature. location in Greeley. The idea stuck Jeff Greenberg, founderMental Health and Partners, presi- which countries that currently are not able The purchase of the Loveland- with Veldhuizen, however. dent of The Kitchenhas Coop more than LLC, a dozenwanted facilities in to register the plans. The software Boulder and Broomfield counties, is based beer distributor comes as A-B Veldhuizen sold his stakes in his his venture to stand out from the com- accepts third-party warranty data a nonprofit organization that provides Aleph Objects also transferred ownership of the two Loveland restaurants in 2008 to move feeds and performs pre-processing petition. Why keepmental-health renting andcommer wellness- services, JONATHAN CASTNER/FOR BIZWEST distributorships it owned in Kentucky to his wife’s native Argentina. But cial kitchen spaceas towell companies as substance-abuse that services,Founder and owner Jeff Greenberg puts his background in psychology and businessprinting and data itstransformation own prior to – in Louisville and Owensboro – to submission to Ford. The business when he returned to Colorado four had a high chanceto people of failure regardless when of their abilityto help small food producers launch and grow. “We even sometimes get involved with Odessa, Texas-based Standard Sales replacementprocess includes warranty parts status years later looking for opportunity, he he could share tohis pay. knowledge and product development, taking an existing recipe and refining it,” he said. Co. In exchange, Standard transferred Communications manager Barbara responses provided by Ford and distributorships it owned in Littleton, took a drive through Greeley and was expertise in management consulting Darling said the organization antici- By Jeff Thomasconverted by ODIN. Colorado Springs and Pueblo to Ameri- hooked. and manufacturingpates operations a mixed-use to for help the facility that taking an existing recipe and refin- Additionally, the Ford EMS sup- “We make sure that [email protected] can Eagle. “The fact is, it’s a really nice town these businessesincludes succeed some instead. services. The transition ing it.” port team will use Oxlo’s ODIN for According to a media release from will likely take a few years as Mental and has a lot of opportunity,” Veldhui- He didn’t just want to be a landlord. they have a realistic When a company reaches a certain Ford EMS, a secure online web Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev, Health Partners waits for the leases of zen said in a recent interview. LOVELANDportal connected — With to the the Oxloevolution Open which has its North American head- “In order to leverageexisting thetenants opportuni of the 37,000-square-- view of their product’s level of success, Greenberg and his Dealer Integration Network to view Veldhuizen quickly seized on ty, you need to helpfoot buildingthese companies to expire. Mental Health staff help it scale up to real properof 3-D printing accelerating in expo- quarters in St. Louis and a brewery in profitability so they are data feeds, registration process Larimer County, the American Eagle that opportunity, opening the Gree- grow,” he said. Otherwise,Partners’ executive he added, and administrative food manufacturing. They help clinential- fashion, how could a small status and manage registration deal is expected to close in September ley Chophouse in early 2013, buying you just keep rentingoffices toare onecurrently failing at 1333 Iris notAve. wondering why they ents develop food-safety programsLoveland company distinguish itself JOEL BLOCKER / FOR BIZWEST in Boulder. exceptions. and the Standard Sales transaction is COURTESY MAKEMUSIC in a world in which the industry is Moody’s American Grill later that year, company after another. aren’t making money.” and standard operating procedures to be finalized in October. Terms of the Tim Veldhuizen, owner of Greeley Chophouse, Moody’s American Grill and 1908 Speakeasy, stands behind the barThe at Weezic 1908 Speakeasy and MakeMusic teams gathered at MakeMusic’s Boulder headquarters in June. and then opening the 1908 speakeasy “The companies at that small scale and train them on the use of the comlaunching- into prosthetics, edibles transactions were not disclosed. in historic downtown Greeley on July 11. The speakeasy opened in June 2014. Jeff Greenberg, founder and last summer. But he’s far from done. can’t survive,” GreenbergBoulder-based said. “TheyZayo Group pany’s equipment and how to workand perhapsMortgage-services even custom firm pharma - A-B’s Kentucky distributing license president, The Kitchen Coop LLC Veldhuizen said he’s got more con- breakfast, pizza and others high on poletti, an Italian restaurant that has can’t develop long-standingassumes oversight clients of EAGLE- with The Kitchen Coop’s labor force toceuticals? to lay off 265 in state expires Oct. 31 and cannot be renewed “That’s what makes it because Kentucky lawmakers passed cepts he’s looking to open — both in his list. He’s also been looking lately since rebranded to Pourhouse Bar and because they aren’tNet going to make it; produce their products. The apparentBroomfield-based answer inUrban the Fulfill mind- Greeley and beyond. He said that in fun for me is to have for a place to open a craft brewery in Grill. While in Argentina, he opened House Bill 168, which bans beer they aren’t going toBOULDER make money — Zayo and Group Holdings The Kitchen Coop employs 15 to 18of the founder,ment Services chief has executive disclosed to theand producers from owning distributor- his “fantasy world” he’d have as many Greeley. the American-food-themed Colorado the opportunity to do MakeMusic singing new tunethey are going to Inc.quit.” (NYSE: ZAYO) a Boulder-basedsion making. He earned a bachelor’s people who work in day and eveningpresident stateof Aleph of Colorado Objects, that it Inc. plans was to lay to ships. The ban had been sought by as 20 restaurants along the northern While he doesn’t have a name for Grill before selling that to his chef The idea for Theprovider Kitchen of bandwidth Coop was infrastructure, degree in psychology and another in crews. go as openoff as 265 possible employees – open in the hardwarestate. the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic JOEL BLOCKER/FOR BIZWEST Front Range. a variety of different his overarching family of restaurants there when he left. born in 2011, buthas really assumed got network off theoversight economicsand from the Wharton School Companies come to The Kitchenspecifications The companyand open is asoftware subsidiary ofcode. Beverage Control to avoid monopolies support responsibility for EAGLE-Net Pittsburgh-based Urban Lending The LulzBot Mini desktop 3D printer prints a final test before being shipped. “I’d like to develop a real strong, things” yet, he envisions the brewery provid- Since his return, he’s worked with ground 2 ½ years ago. Greenberg was of Business at the University of Penn- Coop for two things. They either are “Our president, Jeff Moe, he was by separating breweries, distributors Alliance, an intergovernmental entity Solutions. The layoffs will occur at and retailers. Colorado law includes no diverse Colorado company,” said Veld- ing a common theme. chef David Malthanerafter on shaping his purchase of Paris’ Weezica consultant to manythat provides different broadband manu connectivity- sylvania. looking for a contract manufacturer, Tim Veldhuizen a successfuloffices entrepreneur in Westminster and in High vari- - such ban. huizen, who lives in Loveland again “One of the things we’d like to do current Greeley establishments. Veld- facturing companiesto schools, from libraries 2004 anduntil health-care It is that background that drives his someone to make their product forous free landssoftware Ranch asand Urban open-source Fulfillment and Fedora Linux to the silicon microcontrollers. following the return from Argentina. is get in on the brewing craze,” Veld- huizen said he’s not a “franchise guy,” he decided to venturefacilities out across on hisColorado. own. company today. them, or they are looking to rent space. Services shutters three divisions. the student and teacher is browser- the MakeMusic brand, there are sev- hardware over the years,” said Harris distros, as well as Both printers are powered by “So hopefully we can get there. huizen said. “I think when we do that, and is eyeing everythingCloud-based from hotdogs application Zayo and EAGLE-Net have entered The company had boomed One of his clientsan at interimthe time agreement was a as$30 they work To date, The Kitchen Coop has “We fit in between those in that Kenny,we communications manager Windows and Mac Arduino-compatible RAMBo boards McWhinney to develop based. eral other music technology products, during the foreclosure crisis that “I think there’s still a few good .open markets in all of those towns. we’ll kind of use the name of the brew- to steaks and “anything in between” million food companyto establish out an expanded,of Albu- long-termhelped two dozen companies and do want to offer co-manufacturing, provides entry to Web, “Weezic was acquired due to its most notably Finale, leading digital for the firm.came “Whenwith the burst there of the was housing a lot platforms. Aleph -- all-in-one 3-D printer motherboard, Van de Water retail space opportunities in the Fort Collins mar- So really the question is to find what ery to thread everything together.” for his next ventures. querque, N.M. Afterpartnership. working Zayo with takes that over thosecontinues to work with more than half but most companies we are talking to, core strengths of Web-based music notation software for the last 25 years. of experimentationbubble, but a company happening official toldas it supports both featuring 8-bit microcontrollers (or ket. I think there’s some opportuni- would be the next best move.” Veldhuizen, a chef by trade, had “That’s what makesChromebook it fun for me is market company for threeduties years, from Texas-basedGreenberg TX Comof- those, Greenberg said. they are so small that they don’t real- McWhinney Real Estate Services Inc. learning and assessment technolo- But there’s a lot more under the munications Inc., doing business as related tothe 3-D Denver printing, Post that hisdemand idea for was its software and hard- processors). RAMbo stands for (R) will break ground in mid-September ties in Loveland, Windsor, Estes Park, For Veldhuizen, a variety of styles co-owned the 4th Street Chophouse, to have the opportunity to do a variety decided he enjoyed the food industry The company has 23,000 square ize it is not profitable for someone else gies,” Fisher said. “Additionally, the Peaksware umbrella that Fisher Affiniti, which became affiliated with basically servicesto build has a declinedcompany as the that num has- ware open-source epRap (A)rduino-(M)ega-compatible on 18,000 square feet of retail space Longmont. I think there are still some is the name of the game, with Italian, McGraff’s American Grill and Cip- of different things,” Veldhuizen said. and wanted to work in it. feet of space, including six different to get involved,” he said. “It is not prof- ber of delinquent mortgages and By Jeff Thomas Weezic team is comprised of excep- oversees, including TrainingPeaks, EAGLE-Net in 2013. shared build files and source code for communities, but (M)other(Bo)ard. within its Van de Water community in He worked for sixEAGLE-Net months has at faced MM harsh critiproduction- areas, two packaging itable for someone else to take it over.” foreclosures have decreased. MOE Loveland. [email protected] tionally talented researchers and Best Bike Split and TrainHeroic — all the hardware – anything you need to it is in the latter Bryant said that both the software Local, a start-upcism branded from lawmakers food busi and- othersareas in and a large climate-controlled The company is working to bring in The development has signed ten- developers. of them cloud-based training apps. recent years who accused it of using make the printers work.” that outside inno- and hardware communities have ness that cans local, organic fruits and warehouse and office space so people more clients on the contract manufac- ants Mattress Firm, 5 Star Nails & Spa BOULDER — Boulder’s MakeMu- “We are committed to growing Bringing them all under one roof, taxpayer dollars to compete with The proofBroomfield of that conceptcontributing is prob- vation is most easily demarcated. contributed a great deal to the firm’s and Domino’s Pizza, and has room for vegetables, to betterprivate-sector learn Internetthe food service providcan- use the building as their entire turing side. sic Inc., interactive music –training SmartMusic and providing world- Fisher said, was the idea of investor ably well expressed in the pudding. “The folks over at NASA really like success, by suggesting or implement- more, according to a prepared state- FRAC FOR FREEDOM business. As part ofers his and work, laying he fiber needed optics in areasbase of operations. To that end, The Kitchen Coop has to landlord recruitment technologists, picked off what could class practice tools to musicians, Andy Stephens of LaunchEquity Part- already served by other companies. Sales of the LulzBot TAZ 5 3-D and (the LulzBot printers) because it’s a ing improvements to the system. ment. Construction is expected to be to find it a facility in which to operate. On top of that, the company owns added additional equipment and is Broomfield and Boulder are completed by spring. (QYLURQPHQWDO6DIHJXDUGV have become a major competitor for teachers and composers. With this ners of Boulder, which owns Peak- The organization also was accused of the LuzBotamong Mini 14 3-Dcities desktop in the Denver printers metro platform design,” said sales manager While that’s also an open invitation Liberty Oilfi eld Services, the only Denver headquartered, “That proved spendingto be very most difficult,” of its money withoutmillions of dollars in equipment for building out another production area The retail center, located off of an undisclosed amount last week, acquisition, SmartMusic will become sware. and their areaparts that have are raising been funds building to help at Josh Bryant. “But the trouble was they for a company to come in and copy &RQWLQXRXV3URJUDP Rocky Mountain centric hydraulic fracturing service he said. He beganfulfilling to mull its over core themission idea of connectingbaking and liquid product processing. as well. The goal is to work with small Sculptor Drive near Lowe’s Home along with the Web-based technol- available on the Web, and in par- LaunchEquity owned about a entice landlords to accept rental ,PSURYHPHQWV provider wants you to know some important facts about of opening his ownschool commercial districts. kitch- “We help clients with everything companies that want to produce morean incredible rate. Kenny said sales in were printing so hot they kept melt- everything from ground zero, he said Improvement and Kohl’s, is minutes why fracing is necessary: ogy needed to launch its own market- ticular, it will become accessible on third of MakeMusic when it bought assistance vouchers for the home- en facility for upstart food producers. from finance, marketing, business but don’t have a way of doing it cur2011- were at $71,940, before jumping ing the platform. So they just took the that has not been a concern at Aleph from McWhinney’s 3,000-acre master- 3URXG&RPPXQLW\ • US energy production hasleading soared decr producteasing into the cloud. Chromebook.” out the remaining shareholders in less. planned community Centerra. energy prices, saving the average US household While it might seem as though the planning and business-level consult- rently. to $523,659 the next year, $1,656,501 build specifications and built another Objects. 3DUWQHU 6XSSRUWHU “We have been the dominating Creating an app that works on 2013 for about $17 million. MakeMu- Isonas expands HQ, assembly The cities – which also include Van de Water is a 370-acre multiuse $1500/year. food industry is a major leap from ing, where we make sure that they “We provide a path to co-manuin- 2013 andAurora, $4,762,314 Denver, Arvada, in 2014. Brighton, platform that wouldn’t melt. “We have contributors who have player, but there are some new com- Chromebooks, which have extremely sic was one of Minnesota’s 100 largest plant to accommodate growth community combining residential '-%DVLQ*URZWK • Greater than 2x energy cost advantage over Greenberg’s previous work, he pointed have a realistic view of their product’s facturing that is proving itself quite EstimatedCentennial, sales Englewood, by Aleph Golden, this year “We make all those files available made a lot of modifications that we industrialized nations petitors,” said MakeMusic CEO Gear small hard drives, is important for edu- firms, employing about 100 people homes, commercial retail and business 2SSRUWXQLWLHV out that he studied BOULDERjudgment — decisionIsonas Inc., a designprofitability- so they are not wonder- worthwhile that it works. We help cliare- expectedGreenwood to reach Village, Northglenn,$10 million, to you when you buy the machine,” have adopted,” he said. “We really uses. 6WURQJ%DODQFH6KHHW • Dominant driver of reductionFisher. of US“Weezic per capita would have definitely cational tools, Fisher said. Chrome- there and reaching revenues as high er and manufacturer of security-con- Lakewood, Parker and Westminster CO2 emissions to 1964 levels by displacing coal! making as a graduate student at the ing why they aren’t making money. ents who self-manufacture and coachKenny said. Currently the company he said. do have a hugely devoted fan base, been a competitor.” books are based on cloud applications as $17 million annually. trol systems, has moved its corporate – have so far contributed $52,000. University of Colorado, earning a mas- They don’t go into it with unrealis- them and guide them through untilhas 89 employees, and is expected to People often ask about the reli- because our printers are so usable and Paris-based Weezic, like MakeMu- and are also rapidly becoming the No. However, in its last years as a pub- headquarters and assembly plant to a The fund promises up to $1,600 to Loveland, developer halt ter’s degree in cognitivelarger space psychology. within Boulder. tic expectations,” he said. “We help such a time as we can take over,” herapidly expandlandlords both to help its “cover workforce damages and ability of the printers and their abil- everything down to the motherboards sic, produces an interactive method 1 computer in school settings because lic firm, MakeMusic was losing about Isonas, headed by chief executive He wanted to be a management pro- them source ingredients and packag- said. “The offering is unique in thenetwork offrom resellers. tenants in the program and the ity to master complex and exacting can be modified.” South Catalyst partnership for music teachers to evaluate their of their low cost and useful free appli- $1 million a year. Rob Mossman, moved from 2,000 fessor, teaching managers and execu ing material. We even sometimes get industry and is what has attracted “It’s reallycost ofbeen short-term an exciting vacancies.” time for specifications, Bryant said. The easi- “It is theoretically possible for students’ home practice. The technol- cations. “Andy saw how fast we were grow- square feet at 4720 Walnut St. to The South Catalyst Project, which PHONE: (303) 515 - 2800 | FAX: (720) 583 - 6685 tives how to encourage better deci- involved with product development, people to us.” the company,” said Kenny. est explanation on hand, he said, is to someone to come and copy every- aims to revitalize a chunk of downtown ogy also allows the students to record Both teams will now work on ing, so he thought we’d all be better off 5,000 square feet at 4750 Walnut St. WWW.LIBERTYFRAC.COM earlier this month. Loveland, has hit a snag, with the city their music while listening to interac- releasing a Web-based SmartMu- under one roof,” Fischer explained. That’s pretty heady stuff, even show them a clustered network of 145 thing,” Bryant said, but they wouldn’t The company is growing and has though Moe has a fairly extensive Lulzbot printers making parts for new have the open-source community to and The Michaels Development Co. tive scores, which can actually skip sic, compatible with Chromebooks, About 30 people came to Boulder 28 employees. Isonas’ annual revenue cutting ties. measures along with the student’s in time for this fall’s school session. from the Minnesota firm, but Fischer increased 51 percent from $2.5 million entrepreneurial background. He printers and replacement. help them chart new developments. The two sides were unable to reach mistakes. Fisher said the Weezic team would said Peaksware is constantly hiring in 2012 to $3.8 million in 2014. founded Verinet Communications, an “It’s absolutely fascinating,’ said Bryant said his own background is an agreement on a second 90-day Isonas makes a door-access con- MakeMusic was based on tradi- largely be focused on that effort, as software technologists. Internet service provider acquired by Bryant about the self-replicating bots. in sales and corporate leadership, but renewal of a pact that gave the devel- trol product called the PowerNet IP opment firm the exclusive right to tional Windows and Mac desktop their product is gradually diminished Though MakeMusic is already Reader-Controller that can lock and Front Range Internet Inc. in 2002, and About 43 of the parts used by the larger he’s impressed by how little it takes negotiate with the city on proposals for unlock an unlimited number of doors also co-founded Andenken Gallery, desktop printer can be replicated by to motivate the technological experts applications, however, meaning an over the next several months. marketed around the globe, Fisch- the site. application had to be downloaded and Fisher described most of his team er said that Paris would become an within a network without having to now known as the Andenken/Battal- itself, as well as about 30 of the parts working at Aleph. wire panels or hubs. The South Catalyst Project includes launched from the hard drive. What as “musicians with a passion for tech- important hub of operations. Weez- ion gallery. Kenny said his president for the smaller printers. Interested “It’s been a super happy experience the area bounded by First and Third Weezic had was a new HTML 5-based nology,” but the entire Peaksware ic’s director of technology, Greg has extensive experience in numerous locals can drop by the company, at 626 for me,” Bryant said, noting that while streets on the north and south and application where the application was team can also be described as cloud- Dell’Era, is moving to Boulder to help free software and open-source hard- W 66th St. in Loveland, at 2 p.m. every not a technologist, he has long been Cleveland and Lincoln avenues on the in the cloud, and the interaction with based training technologists. Under coordinate technological resources. ware projects. Friday for a tour. interested in 3-D printing. east and west. The city has purchased most of the property in the area and Aleph’s open-source software, The printers themselves are open “When you walk around here, had been working with Michaels for Cura LulzBot, has been recognized to the very core. Both the Lulz Mini, everyone has a smile on their face,” he the past year and a half on plans for by the Free Software Foundation, and which retails at $1,350, and the Lulz said. “We’re very proud to make the the site. is supported by the Debian, Ubuntu Taz ($2,200) are accessible right down best 3-D printer out there.”
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THE BUSINESS JOURNAL OF THE BOULDER VALLEY AND NORTHERN COLORADO 24 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com Key business tax issues to watch in 2016
ngoing tax-reform devel- With the presidential election and a number of to the government in which they opments in a presidential gubernatorial elections taking place, the coming are resident and include detailed O election year, greater financial information about their compliance demands and a focus year should be a relatively quiet one for state tax law operations in every jurisdiction in on tax transparency will make the changes. But executives should be attentive to some which they operate. tax environment in 2016 a very chal- lenging one for company stakehold- pending developments. In certain states, particularly Keep an eye on state tax develop- ers. oil and gas producing states, fiscal stress may force ments. In 2016, it is With the presidential election critical for deci- lawmakers to adopt tax increases or “loophole and a number of gubernatorial sion makers to closing” measures. elections taking place, the coming stay informed year should be a relatively quiet on a number of one for state tax law changes. But tax issues in the executives should be attentive United States and ers should keep a close watch on The Organization for Economic to some pending developments. abroad. These Business the continuing debate. Interest Cooperation and Development’s In certain states, particularly oil international, accounting in reducing tax-code complexity Base Erosion and Profit-Shifting and gas producing states, fiscal Michael D. Moore federal and state and stimulating competitiveness, project, emphasizing enhanced stress may force lawmakers to tax issues could coupled with developments that tax compliance in the 21st century, adopt tax increases or “loophole affect company operations and, bring new leaders and influencers is in the implementation stage. closing” measures. Additionally, potentially, corporate reputa- into the process, creates the pos- Companies need to monitor the Like Colorado’s “Amazon Tax”, a tions. To provide the best value for sibility for action on some version steps taken by individual coun- number of states are considering their companies, leaders will need of reform in the coming year. One tries to adopt BEPs recommenda- legislative proposals implement- to stay informed and consider a area to watch with some common tions and then determine their ing remote-seller sales-tax collec- range of tax scenarios when mak- ground is on the international responses, such as preparing to tion responsibilities, especially ing business decisions. front. With the presidential elec- meet the enhanced transfer pric- in light of Colorado’s recent win Looking ahead, here are some tion coming into full swing, execu- ing documentation and reporting in the 10th Circuit. Finally, in action items for executives in 2016: tives should stay engaged and requirements, which may require certain states, such as New York, monitor proposals, and consider significant internal investment or Pennsylvania, and Tennessee that Keep a close watch on business tax engaging with members of Con- even changing how you operate. have made meaningful changes to reform developments gress on policy direction. Of particular importance will their corporation income tax over While the prospect of tax be country-by-country reporting, the last couple years, the state tax- reform in 2016 are uncertain, it Monitor ongoing calls from regulators which will require the parent com- ing authorities are just starting to remains a priority for members for heightened visibility into corporate pany of multinationals to provide issue guidance on the new laws. of Congress, and business lead- tax arrangements. a single country-by-country report Be mindful of payroll tax reporting and withholding rules to stay compliant. Today’s mobile workforce makes it necessary for compa- nies to track employees working across borders, internationally and domestically. Neglecting to properly report and withhold taxes associated with mobile employees can put a company at risk of losing foreign tax credits and corporate deductions, overpaying liabilities and incurring penalties. Individu- als also risk financial penalties for failing to pay taxes or for not filing the required documents with the appropriate tax authorities. Tax authorities also are imple- menting technology to make it easier to detect noncompliance. Employers will need to implement new processes and technology to meet global and domestic tax- reporting obligations with respect to mobile employees, preferably before issues arise.
Michael D. Moore is a tax partner in the Denver and Boulder office of KPMG LLP. He can be reached at [email protected]
Subscribe! Call 303-630-1953 or 970-232-3143 www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 25 26 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 27 Time Out
Chad Collins/BizWest The 2016 class of BizWest’s 40 Under Forty honorees gathers at a Feb. 17 ceremony at the Plaza Convention Center in Longmont. Details are online at fortyunderforty.com/boul- dervalley.
Courtesy Superior Chamber of Commerce Courtesy Greeley Chamber of Commerce From left, Superior Learning Academy teacher Shannon Lonnegren, owner and lead Palmer Withrow of Columbine Health Systems in Greeley, left, chats with Weld County teacher Wendy Shields and her husband, Gene Shields, join Superior Mayor Clint Fol- Sheriff Steve Reams during a Feb. 11 visit by the Leadership Weld County class to the som at the Superior Chamber of Commerce’s ribbon cutting for the new preschool on Weld County Jail. The class got to tour the jail, sample jail food and examine the Mobile Feb. 24. Command Center, S.W.A.T. van and mobile crime lab.
Courtesy Greeley Chamber of Commerce From left, Brian Seifried of The Wing Shack and Ken Craft and Mike Schwartz of Empire State Pizza celebrate completion of their building renovation on Eighth Avenue in Gree- Courtesy Superior Chamber of Commerce ley with a Feb. 23 ribbon cutting. From left, Kris Henderson of the Superior Chamber of Commerce, Vicki Trumbo and Pat Vero of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and Amy O’Neill of the Louisville Chamber Email your event photos to: Dallas Heltzell, [email protected]. of Commerce join David Hunter of Hunter Floor and Window Coverings at a Business Include complete identification of individuals. After Hours event in February, hosted by Community Food Share. 28 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com Briefcase
CLOSINGS ment expenses for the fourth quarter totaled $76 Fort Collins-based Employment Solutions won in Longmont that makes animal-health products million, and $269.3 million for the year, compared Inaverno’s Best of Staffing Client and Talent for livestock, including poultry, swine and cattle. Ball Corp. (NYSE: BLL) is shutting down its manu- with $50.1 million and $137.7 million, respectively, Awards for providing superior service to their cli- Huvepharma, which has its U.S. headquarters in facturing facility in Weirton, W.Va., which employs for the fourth quarter and full year 2014. ents and job seekers. Presented in partnership Peachtree City, Ga., took over operations of the about 300 people. The Broomfield-based metal- with CareerBuilder, Inavero’s Best of Staffing win- Longmont facility and ownership of the products packaging company said the plant, which makes PDC Energy (Nasdaq: PDCE), a significant pro- ners are industry leaders in service quality based made there. All 16 Zoetis employees in Longmont lithography and coating for flat sheet tinplate and ducer of oil and natural gas in Northern Colora- completely on ratings given to them by their cli- became Huvepharma employees. can ends, will cease operations by the first quarter do’s Wattenberg Field, posted a net loss of $68.3 ents and the permanent and temporary employees of 2017. Other Ball facilities will pick up the plant’s million for the full year of 2015. That amounted they’ve helped find jobs. production. to $1.74 per diluted share, down from a profit of MOVES $155.4 million, or $4.24 per share in 2014. Despite The Loveland Chamber of Commerce Market- Prepping for growth that is to be fueled in part Troubled Englewood-based sporting goods re- oil prices continuing to lag in the $30 per barrel ing Resource Committee selected the winners of by a recent investment from Intel, Boulder-based tailer Sports Authority is planning to close its S.A. range and pummeling many companies’ bottom the 2016 Loveland Valentine Business Decorat- laser manufacturer KMLabs sold its building and Elite store at Boulder’s Twenty Ninth Street shop- lines, Denver-based PDC reported net income ing Contest. Hillcrest of Loveland won in the is planning a June move to a larger location. The ping district. The impending closure comes as the of $3 million, or 7 cents per share, for the fourth Large Business category while Dog Baths and 20,000-square-foot space the company will lease company gets set to shutter roughly 140 of its quarter, down from $131.8 million, or $3.64 per Beyond took first in the Small Business category. at 4775 Walnut St. will give the 30-person com- 463 stores nationwide, including its location in the share a year earlier. But that was well below the 45 The winner from the School category was Van iconic, 91-year-old Sports Castle at 1000 Broad- cents per share forecast by analysts. Revenue for Buren Elementary. This year, there were an ad- pany room to add another 20 or 30 employees as it way in downtown Denver. The status of Sports the fourth quarter came in at $168.6 million, down ditional 10 winners for creativity and sheer enthu- ramps up over the next two years. KMLabs closed Authority’s other store in Boulder, as well as stores from $407.7 million a year earlier, while revenue for siasm. “B” Sweet Cupcake Shop won the Sweet- on the $4.55 million sale of its building at 1855 S. in Longmont, Fort Collins and Greeley, remain the year was at $595.3 million, down from $856.2 heart Award, First National Bank took home the 57th Court to Boulder from Element Properties, unknown, noting that the chain still is working million for 2014. Overall production for 2015 in- Shining Light Award, Aims Community College which is planning roughly $2 million in renovations through its evaluation of all sites and that a store creased by 65 percent. But production in the Wat- won the Studious Heart Award, Cactus Grille won and upgrades to attract new office users. KMLabs’ in Greenwood Village is the only other Colorado tenberg in the fourth quarter was up 91 percent the Wicked Heart Award, Chili’s won the Flamin’ current two-story building is about 31,000 square location known to be closing at this time. over the previous year. Heart Award, Cloz to Home won the Heart of feet. But the company uses only about half of that Hearts Award, Country Financial got the Bloomin’ and leases out the rest to other companies. CONTRACTS KUDOS Heart Award, DS Constructors LLC took home the Fragile Heart Award, Dunkin’ Donuts won the Greenwood Village-based GH Phipps Construc- Former Fort Collins mayor Karen Weitkunat took OPENINGS Most Creative Award and LOCO Artisan Coffee tion Cos., which has a branch office in Fort Col- home the top award Feb. 24 from the Fort Col- House won the Cherry on Top Award. Kriser’s Natural Pet, a chain of stores selling all- lins, was awarded the job of helping set budgets lins Area Chamber of Commerce’s 111th annual natural pet-food, supplies and grooming services, dinner at The Hilton Fort Collins. Allison Hines, for the Weld County RE-4 School District as it Greenhouse Partners, a Boulder-based brand- United Way of Larimer County’s vice president for will open its 34th store at 3531 S. College Ave. in prepares to ask voters to approve a school con- strategy and communications firm, received sev- resource development, received the chamber’s Fort Collins. The chain was founded in 2006 by struction bond package in November. The award eral awards for its work on “Beauty is a Beast,” the Young Professional of the Year award, and North- Brad Kriser in Chicago, and now is headquartered also includes selecting Phipps to perform at least first advertising campaign fromThe18.com. In ad- ern Colorado Legislative Alliance chairman Steve in Santa Monica, Calif. $20 million in major work at Windsor High School, dition, the agency also was a finalist for the Denver Tool was named 2015 Volunteer of the Year. if the bond package is passed by voters. The bond Business Journal’s annual Partners in Philanthropy Steve Hughes, founder of Boulder Brands and issue also would include work at numerous exist- awards. ing facilities, as well as construction of a new high Hospitals in Greeley and Lafayette were included chairman and chief executive of the company until on Denver-based Healthgrades’ list of America’s school in the Severance area. The League of American Bicyclists again recog- last year, partnered with a New York private eq- 100 Best Hospitals. Banner Health’s North Colo- nized Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewing uity firm to launch a new investment firm geared rado Medical Center in Greeley earned distinc- EARNINGS as a platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business, the primarily toward the natural-foods sector. Sunrise tion on Healthgrades’ top 50 list, which recog- highest honor awarded. Strategic Partners LLC will be based in Boulder Noodles & Co. (Nasdaq: NDLS) reported a loss nizes the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide and run by Hughes and former Citigroup invest- of $13.8 million, or 48 cents per share, for its fis- “for providing overall clinical excellence across MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS ment banker Vince Love. The local pair will lead cal year that ended Dec. 31, the Broomfield-based a broad spectrum of conditions and procedures the charge in finding investments and creating company reported. The owner and franchiser of consistently for at least six consecutive years.” New Jersey-based PSEG Solar Source (NYSE: fast-casual restaurants featuring noodle dishes re- SCL Health’s Good Samaritan Medical Center in PEG) acquired the 36-megawatt solar power fa- relationships with companies, while Trilantic North ported a loss of $4.3 million, or 15 cents per share, Lafayette, meanwhile, made the top 100 list honor- cility being built 25 miles north of Fort Collins for America will provide the capital. for its fourth quarter. Revenue for the quarter was ing the top 2 percent of hospitals. Platte River Power Authority. PSEG bought the $117.1 million and $455.5 million for the year, both project from Boulder-based juwi Inc., represent- The search took awhile, but the owners of Denver- increases compared with the same time periods Colorado State University’s College of Busi- ing what PSEG officials termed in a press release based Prost Brewing believe they’ve finally found a year ago. ness was ranked among the nation’s top busi- “an investment of over $54 million.” Juwi, which a prime spot to open up a Fort Collins taproom. ness schools for veterans, according to a survey developed the project, continues to serve as engi- Co-owner Troy Johnston and his partners are aim- Boulder-based pharmaceutical company Clovis by Military Times. The college ranks 29th, high- neering, procurement and construction contractor ing to open by the end of March at 321 Firehouse Oncology (Nasdaq: CLVS) reported a 2015 net est among Colorado schools, among the 180 for the project. PRPA, meanwhile, retains its 25- Alley. The 3,500-square-foot space on the back loss of $352.9 million, and also said the company schools that responded to the Military Times year power purchase agreement to buy all power side of the Illegal Pete’s restaurant at 320 Walnut is planning to submit a new-drug application for survey. The University of Nebraska-Omaha’s generated from the site. Originally dubbed Raw- St. is just steps away from where Bohemian Cos., cancer drug rucaparib to the U.S. Food and Drug business school topped the list. The business hide Flats Solar, PSEG renamed the project the Sage Hospitality and McWhinney are teaming up Administration sometime during the second quar- schools at the University of Colorado at Colo- PSEG Larimer Solar Energy Center. The project, to build a 162-room boutique hotel in the city’s Old ter of this year. Clovis’ loss amounted to $9.79 per rado Springs and Metropolitan State University being built on 290 acres leased from PRPA, is Town district. Prost, founded in 2012, won’t brew share as the company works toward gaining FDA in Denver placed 37th and 45th, respectively. slated to come online by the end of the year. When approval for a pair of its cancer drugs this year. CSU’s business school also ranked 44th in the complete, the project’s 117,000 solar panels will at the Fort Collins site. Johnston said Prost just Clovis, which had no revenue for 2015, reported a nation for best online Masters in Business Ad- provide enough electricity to power about 7,800 added new tanks at its Denver brewery, 2540 19th fourth-quarter net loss of $119.5 million, or $3.12 ministration programs for veterans in a survey homes. St., that will increase capacity there significantly. per share. The company finished the year with conducted by U.S. News and World Report. CU- After brewing about 6,500 barrels of beer in 2015, $528.6 million in cash, cash equivalents and avail- Colorado Springs was tied for 35th on that list. Bulgarian pharmaceutical company Huvephar- Prost is aiming to brew “right around 10,000” this able-for-sale securities. Research and develop- ma closed on the acquisition of a Zoetis facility year.
Nonprofit Network
FUNDRAISERS Broomfield-based Ball Foundation, Ball Corp. nior community center, employment solutions for First Nations Development Institute is accept- (NYSE: BLL) and its employees donated more the hard-to-employ, health care to those in need, ing proposals from Native American groups and The Special Olympics Colorado Polar Plunge, than $4 million to charitable organizations in the animal welfare, science/math education, music communities that are interested in conducting presented by Westerra Credit Union on Feb. communities where the company operates in and the arts. food-sovereignty or community food assess- 13 and Feb. 20 at Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort 2015. ments. Under the Native Agriculture and Food Collins and Aurora Reservoir raised more than The University of Colorado Boulder ranked Systems Initiative, which is supported by the $127,000 for Special Olympics, a statewide GOOD DEEDS No. 5 in the nation — up one spot from last year W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Longmont-based nonprofit organization that provides sports — for graduates serving as Peace Corps volun- Students at Salida del Sol Academy, an elemen- First Nations plans to award up to 10 grants of training, competition and leadership programs teers, with 53 alumni currently serving around tary school in the Greeley-Evans area, received up to $10,000 each to Native communities look- through schools and community venues for the world. In the annual Top Colleges list, CU- five laptops courtesy of theWeld County PC Re- ing to conduct food assessments and gain a 20,000 athletes living in Colorado with intellec- Boulder has held a position in the top eight na- fresh Program. When a county computer is up better knowledge and understanding about the tual disabilities. More than 800 participants of tionally among large institutions for the past 14 for replacement, the county’s Information Tech- historical, current and future state of their local all ages, 400 at each location, took the plunge years, ranking in the top three for nine of those nology Department examines the machine to de- food systems. All applications are due by 5 p.m. into waters that registered at 36.5 degrees. Fun- years. CU-Boulder also has been the state leader termine if it can be donated for other use or if it Tuesday, March 15. More information and an ap- among Colorado institutions of similar size each draising continues through the end of March. should be recycled altogether. If it is determined plication are available online at firstnations.org/ year since 2003. The six-venue series concludes with a Plunge at that the machine is still usable, the department grantmaking/2016FSA. Boulder Reservoir on Saturday, March 5. To reg- completely reformats the machine — removing GRANTS ister for the Plunges, visit SpecialOlympicsCO. all county software and data — prior to the do- Boulder-based Elevations Credit Union and the org. The minimum to participate in the plunge nation. A California couple, Elaine Baskin and Ken Buffalo Bicycle Classic presented $195,000 to is $75 for adults, $50 for students and Special Krechmer, donated $4 million to the University the University of Colorado Boulder College of Olympics athletes. Mitchell Frazen was the top The High Plains Library District distributed 113 of Colorado Boulder to create the first endowed Arts and Sciences for student scholarships. The individual fundraiser at the Fort Collins event, desktop all-in-one computers, 11 laptops and chair in the school’s Interdisciplinary Telecommu- BBC has raised more than $3 million in schol- raising $2,466. Top team was Mighty but Small six iPads to 21 Weld County nonprofit agencies nications Program, part of CU’s College of Engi- arship funds over the last 13 years. Funds are Penguins, raising $3,160. The Greeley Police whose services include but are not limited to neering and Applied Science. The couple created awarded for the best and brightest students, who Department was the top law-enforcement team, youth sports, education/tutoring/mentoring, in- the endowed chair in honor of Elaine’s father, enter CU with grade-point averages of 4.0, in ad- raising $9,579. dependent living resources for the disabled, se- Jack Baskin, 96. dition to demonstrating strong financial need. www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 29
ECONOWATCH
Rents continue year-over-year rise The Ticker Loveland lodgers led region in January occupancy rates By Doug Storum over-year growth of any Colorado paces the national average of 3.2 per- Lodgers in Loveland recorded a [email protected] city, up 11.6 percent compared with cent, it’s still below the statewide 59.2 percent occupancy rate during February 2015. A two-bedroom in average of 6.3 percent. January, producing the best perfor- Once again, the city by the Flat- Westminster is now going for $1,470, Median monthly rents for two- mance among cities and areas in irons had the highest apartment rent- according to the report. bedroom units in Greeley and Love- Northern Colorado and the Boulder al rates in Colorado. The median rent in Longmont land went for $950. Valley tracked by the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association. The Rent for a two-bedroom unit in reached $1,150 for a two-bedroom The report did not include percent association’s monthly Rocky Moun- Boulder was $1,850, according to the unit, an 8.8 percent increase from increases or decreases for those two tain Lodging Report revealed the March 2016 Colorado Apartment List last year. cities. occupancy rate for hotels along the Rent Report based on the median Renters in Broomfield paid about Denver comes in second for most U.S. Highway 36 corridor for Janu- price paid in February. $1,610 for a two-bedroom unit in Feb- expensive rents statewide. It has a ary was 58.6 percent, followed by Greeley, 53.7 percent; Boulder, 51.6 San Francisco-based Apartment ruary, a 5.9 percent increase com- two-bedroom price of $1,750. Rents percent; Fort Collins, 47.7 percent; List creates the monthly report using pared with February last year. there have increased 4.8 percent and Estes Park, 24.3 percent. The data from the several hundred thou- Fort Collins renters experienced compared with last year. report does not include figures for sand listings on its website. a 4.5 percent increase year-over-year. Longmont. Loveland has 867 rooms, While rents in Boulder increased A two-bedroom unit in Fort Collins Doug Storum can be reached which rented for an average of $115, compared with $111 in January of 3.3 percent since last year, West- was going for $1,380 in February. at 303-630-1959, 970-416-7369 or last year. Occupancy rate was down minster showed the highest year- Although Fort Collins’ growth out- [email protected]. 10.2 percentage points comparing January of this year with the same month a year ago. U.S. Highway 36 corridor (Interstate 25 to Boulder), 2,458 rooms, $114, up from $112 in January of last year. Occupancy rate was up 0.7 percentage points comparing January of this year with the same month a year ago. Boulder: colorado 1,708, $135, up from $129 in Janu- Fort Collins metropolitan ary 2015; Occupancy rate was down statistical area jobs revision: 8.2 percentage points. Estes Park: 1,100, $130, up from $125 in Janu- +3,500 ary 2015; Occupancy rate was down 0.9 percentage points comparing January of this year with the same Fort Collins month a year ago. Fort Collins: 1,511, $102, up from $98 in January 2015; Occupancy rate was down 3.5 per- Greeley centage points comparing January of this year with the same month Boulder metropolitan a year ago. Greeley: 573, $98.63, statistical area jobs revision: down from $104 in January 2015. Greeley metropolitan Occupancy rate was down 19.8 per- statistical area jobs revision: centage points comparing January UP of this year with the same month a -4,800 year ago. Boulder Boulder saw 17 $1M-plus Source: Colorado Department of Labor home sales in January Boulder saw 17 million-dollar-plus home sales in January, nearly one- fifth of all sold in the metro Denver region. The figures come from the Greeley job numbers revised down latest luxury homes report released by Coldwell Banker Residential Bro- kerage that analyzes all homes sold Fort Collins, Boulder state’s department of labor’s monthly 2.4 percent. of $1 million or more. There were 91 jobs reports are based on household The industry sectors expected to such sales across the metro area 3Q statistics increase surveys. undergo a downward revision for the in January, up from 49 for the same Estimates for the Fort Collins met- third quarter include mining and month a year before but down from By Doug Storum ropolitan statistical area are expected logging, which includes oil and gas, 152 in December. Denver featured the most million-dollar sales with 31, [email protected] to be revised up by 3,500 jobs, and 5,500; construction, 2,300; and lei- followed next by Boulder. The most jobs estimates for the Boulder metro- sure and hospitality, 1,200. expensive sale in the region was the DENVER — Job estimates for the politan statistical area may be revised Industry sectors expected to seven-bedroom, 21,000-square- Greeley metropolitan statistical area up, according to the report. undergo the greatest upward revi- foot home at 16 Sandy Lake Road in Cherry Hills Village. Property for the third quarter of last year are Statewide, third-quarter 2015 sions in the third quarter include records show Jack Clifford as the expected to be revised down by 4,800, estimates are expected to be revised professional and business services, seller and an entity called 16 Sandy reflecting the struggles that oil and up by about 30,300 or one and two- 13,100; trade, transportation and Lake Road LLC as the buyer. Of gas companies in the area are facing tenths of a percentage point, and utilities, 12,600; government, 3,900; the 91 luxury sales, 14 were for $2 due to lower crude prices. July and August 2015 estimates are information, 3,600; financial activi- million or more. “We’re gradually starting to see inventory levels creep Fort Collins and Boulder estimates expected to be revised up by about ties, 2,800; and other services, 2,400. up, and that’s helping with sales,” are expected to be revised upward, one percentage point and nine-tenths The state also expects third-quarter Coldwell Banker Residential Broker- according to a report released by the of a percentage point, respectively. estimates for manufacturing, educa- age president Chris Mygatt said. Colorado Department of Labor. Applying these results through tion and health services may also be “Traditionally, we start to see even The revisions are based on the December 2015 brings estimated revised up. more inventory come onto the mar- ket after the Super Bowl, so it will be third quarter 2015 Quarterly Census total nonfarm payroll jobs for that interesting to see what happens in of Employment and Wages, based month to 2,569,700, bringing over Doug Storum can be reached the coming weeks.” on reports supplied by businesses to the year payroll job growth estimates at 303-630-1959, 970-416-7369 or the U.S. Department of Labor. The through December 2015 to 59,800 or [email protected]. 30 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com
commentary Rain-barrel compromise Readers respond makes a deluge of sense to BizWest paywall ould reason be winning the day in the Colo- rado General Assembly? Don’t look now, ate last summer, as BizWest pre- faster-loading website. But reader engage- but a compromise is trickling through the pared to unveil its metered paywall ment has increased as well, with more C online, we wondered what effect it people spending more time on the site, corridors of the state Capitol, where opposing sides L would have on our readers and our web- visiting more pages. appear at long last to be willing to allow use of rain site traffic. Did we have the right model? Things are not perfect. BizWest is work- barrels to collect water for watering of lawns or gar- Would readers accept the idea of paying for ing hard to streamline the registration and dens. content online? Would our website traffic login process for its readers. We know that plummet? has been a source of frustration for many. Colorado is the only state to outright ban such res- As the system was We think it’s getting better, and we’d like idential rain barrels, but efforts to change the law in implemented, we to hear of any issues you’re having, espe- the past have been opposed by those who fear dilu- tweaked a number of cially in the past week or so, when some tion of water rights, even though the amount of water things, allowing for improvements went into effect. up to five articles to be While most readers seem to understand lost to holders of downstream water rights is believed viewed for free each that BizWest, like all media, requires new to be negligible. month. After that, revenue models in the digital age, a few — “Property rights are important. The Fifth Amend- we reasoned, readers publisher’s a very few — have questioned why we need ment of the Constitution establishes property rights, should be willing to pay notEbook to charge for content. Two readers, both for the content that they chrisTOPHER wood from the engineering sector, wrote recent- and water rights are a property right,” state Rep. J. read. It’s a model that ly to ask why we implemented the paywall Paul Brown, R-Ignacio, told the Denver Post recently. has been implemented at media large and or, effectively, why we need to charge for But Ignacio said, “We’ve come a long way” in small — including many other local pub- our services. (They neglected to provide a reaching a compromise. The proposed law — House lications — and we believed that it would list of their own business’ services or prod- work for us. ucts that they provide for free.) Bill 1005 — would allow for up to two 55-gallon bar- And it has. Most readers seem more Here’s why we implemented the meter: rels to collect rain water. A similar bill was defeated than willing to pay a modest subscription BizWest has a talented team of reporters, last year. But two amendments proposed by Repub- price for the most powerful local business- editors, researchers, freelancers, graphic licans paved the way for the bill to progress out of the news content in the region — more than designers, accounting, circulation, events is produced by all the daily newspapers in and account executives, and we want to state House of Representatives and to move on to the our region combined. ensure that we have the resources to pay Senate. Readers seem to agree, and have them to do the jobs they do so well. As One amendment specifies that possession of a embraced the new model, with hundreds with most businesses, we require a diverse rain barrel does not constitute a water right, the Post of new “Digital Basic” subscriptions roll- mix of revenues — advertising doesn’t pay ing in and growth in our paid print circula- for everything — and we believe that the reports. The second requires the state to monitor the tion as well, through the BizWest PrintPlus metered model provides the best of both impact of rain barrels on water rights. subscription, providing both digital and worlds: still providing some content for It’s unclear whether a consistent opponent of rain print content. Others have signed on for free, but asking those who use our services barrels — Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling — will BizWest Unlimited, which adds full access the most to pay a modest fee. to our wealth of business data. (Think our For those of you who have done so, we endorse the measure. While he told the Post that the Book of Lists and many directories.) thank you. For those who have thus far bill is “much, much, much better,” he still wants to What’s happened to our Web traffic? demurred, we’ll work hard to prove our see how the state will police use of rain barrels and Page views to BizWest have doubled from worth. whether their use could be curtailed in the event of a a year ago, although they did dip for a couple of months after the paywall was Christopher Wood can be reached at water shortage in downstream rivers and streams. implemented. Recent growth is due partly 303-630-1942, 970-232-3133 or cwood@ We hope Sonnenberg’s remaining issues can be to better search-engine optimization and a bizwestmedia.com. addressed in a meaningful way. Water rights are indeed important. But it seems ludicrous that Colo- BW POLL Next Question: rado continues to make it illegal for someone to cap- Are employees at your company ture rain water to water their lawns or gardens. Has the TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights) able to afford to live in the city A major battle over rain barrels might seem trivial amendment been good for Colorado? in which they work? to some, but the issues over water rights made it a Yes struggle. We’re pleased the compromise appears to No have prevailed, and hope that this might serve as a Yes 83% model for other, larger issues. Visit www.BizWest.com In the meantime, get ready to water those toma- No 17% to express your opinion. toes.
Publishers Volume 35, Issue 6 Jeff Nuttall Christopher Wood [email protected] [email protected] Boulder Office 970-232-3131 | 303-630-1955 303-630-1942 | 970-232-3133 1790 30th St., Suite 300, Boulder, CO 80301 | Fax: 303-440-8954 Copyright © 2016. Fort Collins Office 1550 E. Harmony Road, 2nd floor , Fort Collins, CO 80525 BizWest Media LLC. Executive Editor Vice President of Controller P.O. Box 270810, Fort Collins, CO 80527 | Fax: 970-221-5432 Reproduction or use of Christopher Wood Strategic Partnerships Lori Franklin editorial or graphic content Printed on [email protected] Sandy Powell [email protected] Forest Stewardship without written permission 303-630-1942 | 970-232-3133 [email protected] 970-232-3151 | 303-630-1963 Council certified is prohibited. 970-232-3144 | 303-630-1954 paper www.bizwest.com BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 | 31
Letters
Let Pinnacol meet changing needs general liability and other cover- Avoiding the LinkedIn sales pitch would point out, however, that As an insurance agency that’s age to all of the contractors and Great article, “‘Avoiding the reward for cold calling done advised businesses in Northern subcontractors on a project. This the LinkedIn sale pitch” (Feb. right is a client book of people Colorado for some 30 years, we means one underwriter serves 19-March 3). I’ve enjoyed Linke- with whom we love to work. must be astute to the growing everyone in one neat package. dIn as a networking tool and, Your article reminded me of needs of our customers, and But for Pinnacol, if these “all in while my motivation has always another reason I enjoy cold call- also vigilant in developing risk one” policies involve a project been to learn more about local ing, and that is learning from and insurance products that site in Kansas, for instance, they businesses, I can recall several my mistakes. I could, literally, meet those dynamics. Whether aren’t allowed to write it. This examples (in LinkedIn and else- write an article on the blunders it’s property/casualty coverage can force a business to move its where) where I have been guilty I have made while cold calling, for a small cycle shop or local entire worker’s compensation of a sales pitch such as the one and what I would have done dif- diner, or the surge in demand for coverage to a different carrier, you describe in your article. ferently. employee benefits, we take pride one that has a less intimate Your article reminded me Again, thank you for your in helping businesses obtain the understanding of our policy- that, as a sales person in a insightful and thought-provok- right coverage for the right price. holders’ needs. service industry, sometimes ing article. Pinnacol Assurance, which Is there a chance that if we become too myopic in our Dana Scott Bondy supplies worker’s comp to more allowed to sell its products out- approach. We see an opportu- Senior vice president, commer- than half of Colorado busi- side Colorado, Pinnacol could nity to add value and want to cial banking nesses, understands the growing find itself in a market that is swoop in as the hero, without BBVA Compass need for mobility. The emerg- unfamiliar? Perhaps. But it’s first getting to know our client, ing insurance model is one that this agent’s opinion that when their current situation and their allows customers to hold poli- it comes to worker’s comp, no plans for the future. cies in neighboring states and one handles customers like Pin- Not many people enjoy cold beyond in order to run their nacol. They are our large-market calling (or cold marketing). I do. business. choice. If we want to better serve Too often sales people measure An example of this evolution our customers, we must be nim- their success by what they have can be found in the construction ble. Pinnacol should be afforded sold. In cold calling, it is mea- industry, where Contractor Con- that same opportunity. sured by whom we get to meet. trolled Insurance Programs, or Kyle Dufford When there is value to be added, “Wrap-Ups” are becoming com- Agency operations manager a sale will occur. It is said that mon. These programs typically PFS Insurance Group cold calling is the punishment provide worker’s compensation, Johnstown for not asking for referrals. I
From the Web
nize to improve work conditions, different than when I moved Below is a sampling of Story: “Health care vs. highways: wages, etc. For the euphemism, here in 1974 and ate sprout sand- comments on recent online content State leaders at odds over windfall, “right to work” is a direct attack wiches at the Green Mountain at BizWest.com. To see the original TABOR limits,” Feb. 19 on such organizations, for they Grainery where the library now comments and add your own, could not exist if those who stands. We’ll likely need to make search for the headlines on our Commenter: Lis benefit from the union’s efforts a few changes on city council to website. “The whole problem they’re can do so without contribut- figure out how to house, park, facing is that they increased Med- ing something back. Make no and transport all these talented icaid under Obamacare, with no mistake about it, Republican new workers in a sensible and Story: “CSU, CU-Anschutz survey- real way to pay for it. Now they animosity towards workers and ing Windsor residents on impacts want more from the taxpayers. unions is the only motive for sustainable manner.” of oil, gas development,” Feb. 16 Colorado to Denver: We’re taxed these attacks.” out.” Story: “GlobeImmune’s CEO cuts Commenter: Tim Commenter: Vance own hours, salary to preserve “What a complete waste of time.” Story: “Longmont couple eyes OUR Townsend capital,” Feb. 24 Center site for LoCo Brewing,” “I’m guessing that the Repub- Feb. 16 licans used the ALEC model Commenter: Yolanda Story: “Greeley projects require legislation template for this Duperret civic shuffle,” Feb. 19 Commenter: JLR ‘Right-to-Work’ legislation. This “Quite frankly, this article is “I am so glad excited for a place is just another attack by the big offensive to the thousands of Commenter: tharen to learn to cook from a trained businesses behind ALEC on the small business owners/CEO’s “Odd, isn’t it, Greeley lacked professional. After class having a people who benefit most from who work tirelessly every day for the money to clear the snow place to have a beer makes sense, having a Union.” a fraction of this guys ‘cut’ sal- from the residential streets from ‘one stop shopping’.” ary. How about reporting on the our two ten inch snow falls this Story: “Google exercises option on CEO’s whose salaries are at par winter (even though we voted Story: “Colorado Senate approves land for second phase of Boulder higher taxes for road upkeep)–yet ‘right-to-work’ bill,” Feb. 23 campus,” Feb. 23 with their employees year after it seems to have unlimited funds year -because they know this is for pie in the sky–‘so we can all be Commenter: RyanH Commenter: Scott Dale the right thing to do to have a under one roof’ “Once again Republicans “This is a beautiful project. viable on-going concern. Poor demonstrate their enmity Boulder is changing for sure and guy gets to work part time…give towards workers’ right to orga- there is no stopping it now. Much me a break!” 32 | BizWest | March 4-17, 2016 www.bizwest.com