Annette Miller believes 2012 could be the year the inventory of foreclosed properties shrinks to the point real estate prices finally rebound in Mesa County.

“I don’t know if 2012 is going to be the magic year, but we’ll continue to watch it closely,” said Miller, senior vice president of Heritage Title Co. in Grand Junction and a long-time observer of the local real estate market.

Annette Miller

Through one month of the new year, real estate transactions in Mesa County held steady compared to the same month in 2011 even as the sale of foreclosed properties at lower prices pushed down dollar volume.

Property foreclosure filings dropped, but foreclosure sales increased.

According to numbers compiled by Miller, 214 real estate transactions worth a collective $37.4 million were reported in Mesa County in January. Compared to the same month last year, transactions edged up nearly 2 percent, but the dollar volume dropped almost 16 percent.

Miller expects the trend to continue. “I think we’ll just see a continuation of that.”

The sale of foreclosed properties owned by the government and banks tend to pull down prices because foreclosed properties typically sell for less than comparable properties on the market.

According to the Grand Junction Area Realtors Association, the median price of a residential property fell to just under $160,000 in 2011, down 15 percent from the year before.

During January, 62 transactions involved foreclosed properties, 29 percent of overall sales, Miller said. In a good real estate market, the proportion of foreclosed properties to overall sales remains under 10 percent, she added.

Miller views the sale of foreclosed properties as a good thing, though, because it’s necessary to reduce the inventory of such properties to stabilize prices.

Moreover, there are signs foreclosure activity is slowing in Mesa County. For January, 93 foreclosure filings and 76 sales were reported, Miller said. Compared to the same month last year, filings declined more than

21 percent, while sales increased more than 15 percent. Because of the time that elapses in between, both a filing and sale for a given property don’t occur in the same month.

For all of 2011, 1,215 filings and 933 sales were reported. Filings dropped more than 23 percent from 2010. Sales held steady.

Since filings constitute a leading indicator of foreclosure activity, Miller sees the downward trend as a sign of fewer foreclosures in 2012.

Miller also sees a measure of encouragement in proposed federal policies that would make it easier for homeowners to refinance their mortgages to take advantage of historically low interest rates and, consequently, lower their monthly payments. Lower home values and tighter lending standards have made it more difficult for homeowners to refinance their mortgages. Efforts to make the process easier could help curb foreclosures, she said.

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According to the latest Labor Department estimates, nonfarm payrolls grew 243,000 in January as the unemployment rate edged down two-tenths to 8.3 percent.

The January increase was the largest monthly gain in payrolls in nine months. The jobless rate has retreated to its lowest level in nearly three years.

Based on the results of the latest monthly survey of employers, the private sector added 257,000 jobs with gains spread across a number of industry sectors. Government payrolls shrank by 14,000.

Initial estimates for job gains in December and November were revised upward a combined 60,000.

Still, an estimated 5.5 million people were counted among those unemployed for 27 weeks or more. Another 8.2 million were counted among those working part-time for economic reasons.

The unemployment rate, which is determined by a separate household survey, has dropped eight-tenths of a percent since August.

For January, professional and business services added 70,000 jobs, while manufacturing payrolls rose 50,000. The leisure and hospitality sector added 44,000 jobs and health care employment rose 31,000. The construction industry added another 21,000 jobs and mining employment grew 10,000.

The average workweek for employees on private nonfarm payrolls remained unchanged in January at 34.4 hours, while the average manufacturing workweek lengthened by three-tenths of an hour to 40.9 hours.

Average hourly earnings for employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose 4 cents in January to $23.29. Over the past year, average hourly earnings have increased 1.9 percent.

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A crew with Simplicity Solar installs solar panels on the roof of the headquarters of Mesa Developmental Services in Grand Junction. Pictured, from left, are Clint Larson, Thomas Barnes and Brian Tullio. When the $1.9 million project is completed, solar panels will be installed on 14 MDS sites in the Grand Valley and save the nonprofit organization an estimated $47,000 a year in reduced utility costs. (Business Times photo by Phil Castle)

Phil Castle, The Business Times

Even as workers install solar panels on the roof above his office, Ed Wieland cites the benefits of a massive project to Mesa Developmental Services.

Once photovoltaic panels have been installed on 14 MDS buildings in the Grand Valley, the nonprofit organization will save an estimated $47,000 a year in reduced electricity costs. And that’s not counting the environmental advantages associated with generating electricity from a renewable energy source.

“It’s a win-win situation,” said Wieland, vice president of finance for MDS, which provides a wide range of services to people with developmental disabilities.

Through an arrangement with a national company, MDS won’t spend a dime on equipment or installation costs. Rather, MDS has agreed to purchase electricity generated by the panels over the next 20 years.

Wieland said he was approached by ClearEnergy Group last year about the possibility of a solar project for MDS. ClearEnergy Group secures investors who pay for equipment and installation for nonprofits and other tax-exempt entities, such as school districts and government entities. Investors receive tax credits associated with the projects. The entities that work with investors agree in turn to purchase electricity generated by the equipment.

The arrangement makes it possible for organizations like MDS that can’t take advantage of tax credits to install solar projects, Wieland said.

ClearEnergy Group has what Wieland described as a “strong track record” that includes projects with the Douglas and Jefferson County school districts and City of Breckenridge.

At MDS, solar panels will be installed on 14 MDS buildings — including its large headquarters on Grand Avenue in Grand Junction as well as group homes and day services facilities located in the Grand Valley.

Wieland expects MDS to begin using electricity generated by the panels by the middle to the end of February.
Wieland said the panels are expected to generate a total of 466,000 kilowatt hours a year — enough to meet about
60 percent of the electricity requirements of the buildings.

MDS will initially pay 6.6 cents for each kilowatt hour of electricity generated by the panels, less than the 10.3 cents per kilowatt hour it pays Xcel Energy. Wieland said.

The difference amounts to about $47,000 in savings a year and $940,000 over the course of 20 years, he said.
That’s money that can put to other uses or help to counter what Wieland expects could be declining government funding for the services MDS provides its clients. “It’s one more opportunity, one more piece of the puzzle to allow us to continue doing what we do best.”

Wieland estimated the total solar project for MDS will cost $1.9 million, of which $1 million will go to Simplicity Solar, a Grand Junction company handling installation.

That means the project offers still another benefit in bringing in dollars to the local economy, Wieland said.
Jeff Evans, a project development consultant at Simplicity Solar, agreed. “We’ve devoted all our resources for the past four months to this project,” Evans said. “We’ve added three full-time staff, contracted with two local electrical firms and outsourced part of the work to local wiring, concrete and metal work companies.”

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Linda Smith has been the Executive Director of Western Colorado Contractors Association for the past 12 years. She is a native of the Grand Valley, raised in Palisade. Linda currently lives on acreage North West of Grand Junction with her husband Paul. Linda has a passion for the construction industry and is thrilled when WCCA’s members are awarded a project. She has been involved in a number of organizations through the years; her most recent being on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County that has been building homes for deserving hard working families, and on the board of the Western Slope Honor Flight send WWII Veterans to Washington D.C. to see their well-deserved Memorial.

Suzie Miller is the Business Services Manager at the Mesa County Workforce Center. While somewhat new in the position, she has been helping businesses recruit and job seekers find employment with the Workforce Center for over 5 years. After attending college in California and with the array of opportunities for work and play available in Mesa County, Suzie knew that the Grand Valley was the place she wanted to be. She has been very passionate about assisting businesses in hiring more effectively and efficiently while helping to grow a skilled and ready-to-perform workforce.

John Cassity joined the Einstein Bros. Bagels franchise family with nearly two decades of experience in commercial banking, providing him with a vivid picture of the type of entrepreneur it takes to own and operate multiple restaurant units. Based in Grand Junction, Colorado, JAC Development Corporation plans to open ten Einstein locations within the next five years in western Colorado, Ft. Collins and St. George, Utah. John along with his Wife Tisha Reed-Cassity have a son, Adyn and are expecting another Baby due end of March (A Girl), and reside in Grand Junction.

Chris Unfug has been Certified Financial Planner since 1993, and has been with Ameriprise Financial since 1988. He currently serves over 200 clients in his practice. Chris has been a Rotarian since 1990 and has served on various committees throughout his tenure, including 7 year serving in various board positions, including president for 2010-2011. Chris is also a member of a local folk group called the “King ’n Trio” that has donated just short of $200,000 to various local and international charitable causes. Chris is married to Teresa and they have two sons, Nicholas 21 and Jared 18.

Rob Griffin of Griffin Concepts, Inc. is passionate about Home design and construction. His company specializes in making the home construction experience personalized and enjoyable.  He strives to customize each home to fit the buyer’s needs, tastes, and requirements.  Together with his son, Dane, the duo pays specific attention to detail in a professional and workmanlike manner.  They know that designing and building a home is an exciting endeavor and we look forward to working with our new and return clients

Erika Jones is the Public Relations chair for Mesa County Womens Network.  She is also the owner and lead consultant for Synergy Marketing Consultants a Grand Junction based marketing firm.  She has been attending MCWN for 2 years now and enjoys networking and connecting with the future female leaders of our community.

Diane Schwenke has served since 1989 as president of the Grand Junction, Colorado, Area Chamber of Commerce, an organization with 1000 business members. She served on staff at the Greeley, CO Chamber of Commerce for one year and as CEO of the Beatrice NE Chamber for four years before coming to Grand Junction. Her volunteer activities include service on the El Pomar Foundation Northwest Regional Council, the Rocky Mountain Health Plans Board of Directors, a six year term on the Community Hospital Board, and various volunteer leadership posts with her church. She is married to Bruce Schwenke and is the mother of David (age 23) and Kate (age 20). 

Jamee Simons owns and operates Enstrom Candies with her husband Doug. Enstrom Candies remains a family business; Jamee and Doug oversee the operation of the “Candy Kitchen” and retail stores in Grand Junction, Colorado, where every batch of traditional almond toffee is still made by hand with only the finest, freshest ingredients. Jamee and Doug are also very proud that their sons Doug Jr. and Jim, have joined the company to become the fourth generation of the family business and are learning the art of what it takes to make world class confections.

Chris Allen is the principal in charge of accounting and auditing department at Dalby, Wendland and Co., PC and one of 6 board members of the Firm. He has over 12 years of experience specifically devoted to audit and attestation services. Chris provides audit and accounting services to a wide variety of clients in several industries including hospitality, property management, non-profit, governmental, insurance, employee benefit plans, construction, and manufacturing. Specialties include audit, review, compilation of financial reports, reporting requirements, planning and performing procedures, and general business consulting and strategic planning. Chris is current board member of the Grand Junction Lions Club.

Vikki Bell is a Commercial Insurance Agent for Colorado West Insurance Services.  Vikki’s previous experience includes being a Risk Manager and Vice President of Marsh, Inc.  She is a former Volunteer, Board Member and Past President of CASA of Mesa County and is a current member of the Board of Directors at Hilltop Community Resources. Vikki has been a proud Kiwanian since 2003 and is honored to serve as President during the 75th Anniversary of the Club. Vikki and the 2012 Board of Directors have lots of exciting events planned in celebration of this historic milestone.

LaVonne Gorsuch owns the State Farm Insurance Agency on the corner of Highway 50 and Unaweep. She has been in the insurance business for 24 years and self-employed for 18 of those years. LaVonne enjoys helping her clients plan for the future and protect their families from the unexpected each and every day. LaVonne and her team of 4 experienced customer service representatives work together to provide a remarkable experience for each of their clients. 

Mark Smith is the owner and operator of Main Street Bagels & Artisan Bakery Café for over 16 years. Mark loves to create an atmosphere where great food, great coffee & great people meet! Among Main Street’s award winning baked goods its bagels, authentic, hand-made artisan breads, pastries, the most decadent cinnamon rolls.

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           I think it is very unique to find a group of business guys willing to give up their early Friday mornings to come and talk about spiritual things,” says Scott Holzschuh, “Too often networking is seen as a quick way to add clients or business. Our focus is not on building business leads, but building deep, lasting spiritual direction together and it seems out of that grows a trust and confidence in each other that is unique and meaningful.”

            The time spent together on Friday mornings has led to deeper relationships outside the group time for the members and many of them have found a more meaningful opportunity to network out of deep, true fellowship. Additionally, the group’s demographic ranges from a newly married young man who is 24 and an 84 year old who is just as interested in his own spiritual growth and calling. “It’s been amazing to see the interaction and growth over the years,” adds Holzschuh.

            Holzschuh says that the group gathers every Friday at 6:15 and hangs out in the Office Outfitters & Planners kitchen eating donuts and drinking coffee prior to a half hour of study which begins at 6:30. After study, the men break out into smaller groups for another half hour or so. “It’s often in these informal settings that you learn about a guy, his family, his life and what makes him tick.”

            This informal interaction, supported by a more formal spiritual teaching and formation time, followed by some heart to heart conversations in smaller groups, has been significant for many of the men who come to The God Squad. All told, there are anywhere from 15 to 20 members attending from various churches all over the valley at any given meeting, and more than a few of the men have been active with the squad for the entire decade. “It’s in this safe environment that they can share job layoffs, illness, marital difficulties, and yes, sometimes business issues.”

            “Many men find themselves alone in the deeper, more significant, areas of life. Finding men who are willing to walk into meaningful areas such as spirituality and understanding issues of faith, is a unique and often inspiring benefit, explains Holzschuh, “I would say that many of the men who attend regularly see this group not as a networking platform, but as a lifeline of support, fellowship, and to some extent accountability.” 

            “Networking to me is not a 3 minute conversation about what you do and what I do and passing a business card to follow up,” Holzschuh continues, “I believe being in a relationship with other people is like breathing–If you stop, you die. Networking for me is like that. I will always seek ways to help men pursue and express their own spirituality. I believe it is part of what God expects us all to do.”

            Hozschuh adds that the God Squad is a way for men to have “iron sharpening iron” with other men who want to talk about and wrestle with life’s significant issues. The group helps these men stay sharp and focused. “Economically, I succeed as others see in me a unique set of values that might help them, encourage them, and sometimes serve them in ways that they don’t expect.  I love working with business owners who often need someone who’s walked their walk to come along side them for encouragement and accountability.”

            The weekly God Squad meeting is open to any man seeking to pursue his spiritual walk, “And that in itself is an open door ‘networking’ opportunity, but more important, one with a primary focus to grow spiritually.”

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            At its core, a business network is a type of social network whose sole reason for existing is to assist business people and their places of business generate sales and activity. And with the advent and growth of what the term “social networking” now is used more often to describe, our panel suggests that getting back to the basic of networking is needed more than never in today’s economy.

            “When I first got to Grand Junction over twenty years ago people told me that Grand Junction is a place where people like to do business with people they know,” says Diane Schwenke, “That is as true today as it was then. Although how they get to know each other may have deviated a bit in the age of social media and email communications, we still value face to face contact in the local business environment.” For this reason, the Chamber offers multiple leads opportunities in the form of its Leads groups, Networking at Noon, Business After Hours and an annual banquet.

            And reasons for having a large network to pull from goes beyond just doing business with someone, it is an effective tool to help out your clients when you may not have the answer. “The more people you know, the more opportunities you have to refer and receive referrals from clients and business associates and further to serve your peers, clients and networking contacts,” says LaVonne Gorsuch when talking about how networking helps her refer clients in the proper direction. “At times, client needs are outside of the professional services that Dalby provides,” adds Chris Allen, “Because of our strong relationships with our clients, many times they ask for a referral.  Usually these referrals come out of a networking relationship.”

            It is not just helping a client to resolve a particular situation that a networking group can come in handy for a small business owner or manager. There are times when it is just as important to have a peer group network that can help businesspeople address a situation that is peculiar to their own industry. “Networking with a peer group of like-minded or same industry business owners leads to opportunities to share trends and specific industry data to our local market that makes immediate impacts to the bottom line,” says John Cassity who regularly works with other franchise owners as well as the other business owners who occupy space in his immediate surroundings. “Being able to acquire outside knowledge and alternative perspectives allows us to make more informed decisions, particularly since our industry has constantly changing trends, techniques and regulations,” adds Rob Griffin.

            For the panel, however, what networking really comes down to are the one-on-one relationships that are more personal in nature. And while the future trend would seem to be more and more of the online variety, our panel agrees that actually knowing and meeting the people you are going to do business with is best. “I really enjoy getting to put faces with names,” says Suzie Miller, “We spend so much of our time at work, it is important to make these connections, not only for professional reasons, but to also get to know the good people of this community and enjoy each other’s company.”

            And in the Grand Valley, opportunity abounds to meet with other business people, owners and professionals. “We estimate that we have over 300 events per year.  Each of those, whether it’s a golf tournament or a committee meeting is an opportunity to get to know other business professionals,” adds Schwenke.

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            “We switched from using the word ‘networking’ to ‘building business relationships’ a couple of years ago because it is more appropriate for what we do,” says Diane Schwenke, “Networking implies a handshake and a business card, which in some ways can almost feel like speed dating. We are all about building relationships.” One such event that builds relationships is the Chamber’s Networking at Noon where “Attendees are placed at tables of four to six with non competitors and people they are not familiar with.  A couple of business related questions or topics are presented to begin the dialogue and then the groups proceed to engage in conversation and lunch.”

            Contractors at both the commercial and residential level are well served through the Western Colorado Contractors Association (WCCA) and the Home Builders Association of Northwestern Colorado (HBA). The WCCA is a locally-based organization that was formed in 1948. “We view ourselves as the information hub for commercial contractors on information as it relates to job bids throughout western Colorado,” says Linda Smith, “We provide our members with a weekly newsletter, a planning room that is both in house and online, as well as safety training and education on a variety of subjects.” The group also sponsors lunch and dinner meetings, golf tournaments and other events throughout the year where members can network.

            The HBA is a trade organization dedicated to the advancement of the home building industry. “Every member of our local HBA is automatically a member of our state and national organization as well,” says Rob Griffin, “and this gives our membership innumerable education and learning opportunities through their National and International Builders shows.” Locally, the HBA sponsors networking and marketing opportunities through its Home Expo, Parade of Homes and events throughout the year. Additionally, the HBA members have donated time and materials to local charitable projects such as doing renovations to the local Salvation Army center and Boy Scout offices.

            The Mesa County Women’s Network (MCWN) is a local women’s association that believes in relationship building, educating and supporting their members through networking meetings. Its board brings in speakers and educators to help in the various areas that its members indicate as areas of particular interest and need. “Recently, our members expressed a concern about time management so the board had John Burwell with Power 30 Training come in and do a session on time management and prioritizing,” said Erika Jones.  MCWN schedules luncheons and provides activities like “speed networking” where members can quickly connect, exchange information and discover new and exciting businesses that they may have never heard of otherwise. Additionally, a percentage of the proceeds from the group’s lunches are donated to local charities. “Women business owners have a challenge to perform in business along with being a wife, mother, daughter, amongst many roles,” adds Jones, “Networking and getting a support system can increase your ability to handle day to day activities and increase your exposure for your business.”

            One additional arena where the local associations play a big role is in the legislative process in terms of both access and education of its members. “Both our state and national HBA’s provide the local builders a voice at their perspective legislative levels, it is important to understand when legislation is passed that effects our ability to do business” says Griffin. The WCCA looks at governmental affairs more locally. “We have a Legislative Affairs Representative who keeps us up to date on what the city, county and state are doing legislatively,” adds Smith.

            “Because we are the voice of business we also offer very unique opportunities for businesses to network with and build relationships with policy makers and regulators,” says Schwenke. The Chamber offers a bi-monthly video conference with Rep Bradford, Rep Scott and Senator King to give its members direct access during the session to the people who vote on the member’s behalf. The Chamber hosts roundtables with western Colorado’s Congressional delegation of Representative Tipton, Senator Bennett and Senator Udall as well.

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            “At Rotary, we are bound to what we call the Four Way Test,” says Chris Unfug, “And that test asks ‘Is it the truth, is it fair to all concerned, will it build goodwill and better friendships and will it be beneficial to all involved?’ If the answer is yes, our members will have a quality, high character relationship, whether it is business or personal.”

            “The Kiwanis Club discourages ‘networking’ per se,” says Vikki Bell, “Having said that, we are a very close group of people and with the many service projects we undertake you tend to get to know each other pretty well and let’s face it, people like to do business with people they know, like and respect.”

            “Joining any organization to network or promote your business could be devastating to you and that organization,” explains Chris Allen, “However, the more involved you are, the more personally committed you are, the more relationships you will develop and the more you will expand your network both inside and outside the club.”

            All of the clubs benefit the community in many ways with the donation of hundreds of thousands of dollars each year through their fundraising along with donating countless volunteer hours. And it is while the members work so diligently at these charitable activities that the real relationships are formed within the organizations. With the solid relationship the members build, referrals are bound to happen.

            “We highly encourage our team members to get involved with organizations that they personally believe in and will devote time to,” says Allen. “In the end, many of them build a network of individuals, some of them best friends, that they refer business to and get referrals from.” 

            “The majority of our members also belong to and participate in other non-profit programs,” says Bell, “Through these activities our members interact and get to know other business leaders in the community. When you are helping children and the community, you’ll build strong relationships through those efforts.”

            “We are classified by vocation so when in need of a particular product or service it is easy to network to a specialty,” explains Unfug, “Having a core of business professionals to meet with regularly in a non sales atmosphere creates a unique networking opportunity and atmosphere.”

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            Enstrom Candies has a full service espresso bar with pastries and breakfast items and, of course, its world famous toffee and candies. Enstrom recently added breakfast burritos and quiches to give its customers something a little less sweet to have with their coffee. “Our shop stays pretty busy in the early morning with small groups meeting over coffee and other goodies,” says Jamee Simons, “I never dreamed that people would come to Enstrom for coffee and buy candy as an after-thought!” 

            Main Street Bagels and Artisan Bakery Café has been a downtown staple for many years. In addition to its award winning menu and healthy menu, Main Street boasts plenty of room for groups to meet, both large and small. “The bagel shop offers private meeting rooms seating up to 40 people,” says Mark Smith, “however, many smaller groups choose to take advantage of the energy in the busy, main dining area.”

            Einstein Bros. Bagels offers customers the ability to enjoy breakfast or lunch at their office with it s catering services. This way, local companies can network using the amenities available at their own offices while still enjoying Einstein’s great variety of coffee, bagels and lunch menu. “We take away the hassle of having you or someone on your staff having to go out and pick up breakfast or lunch,” says John Cassity, “This way our customers can do what they do best, and that is focusing on their clients.”

            So no matter what your business may need as it relates to the networker’s drink of choice, the local folks supplying the coffee and related foods and services have you covered, at their place or yours. “It’s great being a part of such a busy, community meeting place,” says Smith.

            “I think our clients enjoy the happy atmosphere in our shop,” adds Simons, “After all, who isn’t happy around chocolate?”

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            The trend that has become Social Networking can certainly help a business or owner increase the bottom line through the sharing of ideas, events, and interests with other like minded business people. But in many cases, this trend at places of business has gotten out of control as it spirals into more of a personal nature, where employees waste time and can actually cost businesses money. Additionally, many businesses have the desire, but not the dedication and desire, to implement social media properly, leaving any results from it lacking. The best results for social media, as in face to face networking, require a professional approach. So it is important to seek professional guidance, find the format that best matches what your business are trying to achieve and limit you and your employees’ time spent doing social networking to the task at hand.

            “My participation in the LinkedIn professional network has provided me the opportunity to discuss issues with other professionals from across the world,’ says Rob Griffin, “The ability to utilize the expertise of others is an invaluable tool that can be easily realized through social networking.” Using social networking can also be an effective tool when trying to get like minded people together for an event or in promoting partners on a wide scale. “We use it to promote all of our activities, events, major hiring opportunities and any other news we need to relay quickly and to a large audience,” adds Suzie Miller, “We also like to help promote our other economic partners and also forward on exciting happenings in the business world.”

            But social networking can also have adverse, albeit unintended, effects on a business. One recent survey in Great Britain showed that as much as 50% of British employers had banned the use of social networking during office hours. “It is best to have a tight control over the use of social media at your business,” says Erika Jones, “I advise my clients to have a specific employee manage their online presence, and have that employee stick to a specific purpose as well.” And just as important is that the employee you choose has the expertise to get the job done efficiently and effectively. “Social networking is kind of at the stage where websites were a few years back,” adds Jones, “And unfortunately many businesses are having to go through the ‘I had my kid or our intern set up my business’s Facebook presence since they know all about that stuff anyway’ phase. In fact, many of my clients came to me for this exact reason.”

            Social networking can and should be a part of a serious media and marketing strategy in business today. The media platform provides businesses with avenues to introduce themselves to customers on a wide and ever growing platform of opportunities. “Social networking through Facebook or similar social networking mediums are governed by our corporate Franchisor,” says John Cassity, “However, I have a QR code for building a subscriber group who then allow my company text communications, and from there I generate loyalty rewards to my clients and drive sales with great offers each week.” On a smaller business scale, the use of social networking can help create added business opportunity as well. “I have a Facebook business and personal page and keep in touch with my clients generally on a personal level, adds LaVonne Gorsuch, “I can keep up with what they do for a living, their families and to see if I can assist them in protecting what is most important to them.” 

            Just remember what is most important to your business should be the proper use and implementation of social networking.

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“The state’s large energy sector is pushing the state economy forward even as the construction industry weighs on the economy,” said Ernie Goss, director of the Goss Institute for Economic Research in Denver.

Ernie Goss

Goss calculates the Business Conditions Index for Colorado, Utah and Wyoming based on the results of surveys of supply managers in the three states. Readings range from 0 to 100. Readings above 50 forecast expanding economic conditions over the next three to six months.

In Colorado, durable and nondurable goods manufacturers, especially those with ties to energy and international markets, continue to benefit from a weak U.S. dollar compared to foreign currencies, Goss said.

The overall index reading reflected lower component readings for new orders at 55.2 and production or sales at 58.3. The reading for employment rose nearly two points to 63.3, although payrolls still must grow 105,000 to return to pre-recession levels, Goss said.

The combined Business Conditions Index for the three mountain states climbed to 61.3, the highest reading since the index stood at 61.2 in March. The index has remained above growth-neutral 50 for 27 straight months.

“Mountain states growth has significantly exceeded and will likely surpass that of the national economy,” Goss said. “Surveys of supply managers in the region point to healthy job growth for the first half of 2012. Growth will be especially strong for firms tied to agriculture, energy and international markets.”

The overall index for the mountain states reflected higher component readings for new orders at 6 and production or sales at 67.4.

The reading for employment fell 1.5 points to 57.2. Goss expects job growth to slow. “In the first half of 2011, the region added jobs at an annualized pace of

2.1 percent. Based on our survey results, I expect that rapid pace to slow to 1.4 percent for the first half of 2012. Even with this slower job growth, the region will add more than 27,000 jobs for the first six months of the year, leaving the region off more than 116,000 jobs since the beginning of the recession.”

A component of the index measuring confidence among supply managers in the three states edged up two-tenths of a point to 57.8. “Recent positive economic data on the national front have had clear and positive impacts on supply managers’ outlook,” Goss said.

In assessing various risk factors, 56 percent of supply managers cited rising energy prices as the greatest threat to the growth of their firms, while 20 percent cited federal regulations.

Supply managers reported adding to inventories of raw materials and supplies for a 26th straight month, pushing up the component reading for inventories up three-tenths of a point to 66.3.

The reading for prices paid, a component of the index tracking wholesale inflation, jumped more than five points to 73.9. Supply managers responding to the surveys upon which the January index was based said on average they expect prices to increase 3.4 percent over the next six months.

The reading for regional export orders retreated more than six points to 60, while the reading for import orders fell 1.5 points to 54.7.

“While the dollar has strengthened recently, the overall trend is decidedly toward a weak dollar, making U.S. goods more competitively priced abroad,” Goss said.

In Utah, the Business Conditions Index rose nearly two points to 61.3 on higher component readings for new orders at 62 and production or sales at 69.6. The reading for employment fell to 54.4.

In Wyoming, the Business Conditions Index fell nearly two points to 61.3 despite higher component readings for new orders at 62, production or sales at 69.6 and employment at 54.4.

Related posts:

1. Colorado business index falls to 12-month low, but still forecasts growth
2. Colorado business index forecasts growth in 2012
3. Colorado business index slips, but still forecasts growth

The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) fell nearly four points to 61.1. The index advanced a total of almost 24 points in November and December before losing some of that gain in January. Measures of current conditions and expectations both decreased in January.

“Consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions turned more downbeat and is back to November 2011 levels,” said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board Consumer Research Center.

“Regarding the short-term outlook, consumers are more upbeat about employment, but less optimistic about business conditions and their income prospects.”

The Conference Board, a business research and membership group, bases the CCI on the results of monthly surveys of U.S. households.

Economists closely monitor the index because consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity in the country.

Consumer assessments of current conditions pulled down the Present Situation component of the CCI down more than eight points to 38.4.

The proportion of consumers responding to the surveys upon which the January index was based who described business conditions as “good” fell three points to 13.3 percent. The share of those who said conditions are “bad” rose more than five points to 38.7 percent.

The proportion of consumers who said jobs are “plentiful” slipped a half point to 6.1 percent. The share of those who said jobs are “hard to get” climbed nearly two points to 43.5 percent.

Consumers’ were slightly less upbeat in their outlook for the near term, bringing down the Expectations component of the CCI eight-tenths of a point to 76.2.

The share of consumers who expect business conditions to improve over the next three months edged down two-tenths of a point to 16.6 percent.

The proportion of those who anticipate worse conditions rose almost two points to 15.1 percent.

The share of consumers who expect more jobs to become available in coming months increased more than two points to 16.2 percent. The proportion of those who anticipate fewer job openings slipped seven-tenths of a point to 19.5 percent.

The proportion of consumers who expect their incomes to increase fell 2.5 points to 13.8 percent.

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1. Consumers more upbeat headed in 2012
2. Consumer Confidence Index edges upward
3. Consumer Confidence Index retreats

With the decrease, the total number of deeds of trusts released in the county in 2011 dropped to a fraction of levels recorded only two or three years ago.

According to the latest information compiled by the Colorado Division of Housing, 1,522 deeds of trust were released by the Mesa County public trustee during the fourth quarter of 2011. That number is down 34.2 percent from the 2,314 deeds released during the fourth quarter of 2010.

For all of 2011, 6,424 deeds were released, down 18 percent from 2010 and nearly 50 percent from 2009.

A deed of trust is released when a real estate loan is paid off, whether through refinancing, sale of the property or the homeowner has made a final payment on a mortgage.

Paul Brown, Mesa County public trustee, said declining deed activity generally reflects a slowdown in housing sales as well more stringent lending requirements that curb refinancing.

On an annual basis, deed activity has trended downward from a peak of 19,134 in 2003 even though 2006 and 2007 were peak years in Mesa County in terms of the number and dollar volume of real estate sales.

Expressed as a ratio of the number of deed releases during the fourth quarter of 2011 divided by the number of occupied houses in 2010, Mesa County ranked near the bottom of 21 counties surveyed in Colorado for deed activity.

In the 21 counties, which collectively account for about 90 percent of occupied households in Colorado, the number of deeds of trust released fell in the fourth quarter and for all of 2011.

A total of 58,340 deeds were released in the fourth quarter of 2011 in the 21 counties, a drop of more than 27 percent from the same quarter last year.

For all of 2011, a total of 235,749 deeds were released sin the 21 counties, down 6.4 percent from 2010 and the lowest level in more than a decade.

“Real estate activity perked up a bit during the fourth quarter, which would reflect some very recent growth in employment and some mild increases in home prices. But overall, the fourth quarter’s activity wasn’t enough to keep 2011 from being another flat year,” said Ryan McMaken, a spokesman for the Colorado Division of Housing.

While recent mortgage interest rates have dropped to record lows, tighter lending standards have curtailed refinancing activity and, in turn, deed releases, McMaken said.

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3. Mesa County estate sales end five-year downward trend

The chamber selected West Star Aviation and Impact Promotions as its large and small business of the year, respectively. Jerome and Mary Gonzales were named citizens of the year. Denny Granum received a lifetime achievement award for his more than 25 years of involvement in economic development.

The chamber presented the awards during its annual banquet at Two Rivers Convention Center.

With 300 employees, West Star Aviation ranks among the largest private employers in the Grand Valley. The company serves as a fixed base operator at Grand Junction Regional Airport, selling fuel and providing a wide range of aircraft maintenance and repair services.

By one estimate, West Star Aviation derives about 99 percent of its business from outside the Grand Valley, bringing in nearly $250 million annually to the local economy.

West Star Aviation supports Community Hospital, Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado and United Way. The company also serves as title sponsor of the Grand Junction Air Show and contributes to the West Slope Honor Flight and Palisade Olde Fashioned Christmas.

Impact Promotions, a 32-year-old family owned operation, sells a variety of promotional products for business. The company employs 15 full- and part-time employees.

Over the past six years, Impact Promotion has provided more than $200,000 in discounts and donations to hundreds of organizations and community causes.

Jerome Gonzales serves as president and chief executive officer of JG Management Systems, a professional services firm based in Grand Junction. The firm ranks among the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States and top private companies in Colorado.

In 2011, JGMS was selected as one of 11 winners of the Colorado Biz magazine Top Company competition.

In addition to doing well, Gonzales promotes a philosophy of doing good. Employees receive 40 hours of paid time off a year to volunteer with a community organization or join in community service activities.

JGMS has a stated goal of donating a portion of net income to charitable organizations each year.

Gonzales himself serves on the Colorado Mesa University Board of Trustees.

Mary Gonzales is founder and executive director of the Riverside Education Center in Grand Junction, which offers after-school tutoring and other enrichment activities to more than 100 students a day. The center strives to inspire in students improved academic achievement as well as foster social and emotional development.

Granum was among the founders and the first fund-raising chairman of the economic development organization now known as the Grand Junction Economic Partnership. He continues to serve on the GJEP board and prospect committee.

Granum also has served as chairman of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and a member of many other boards. He currently serves on the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority Board.

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Colorado moved up one spot in the State Business Tax Climate Index for 2012 and continues to fare well overall for its comparatively low corporate, income and property tax rates.

Compiled by the Tax Foundation — a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C., that monitors government fiscal policy — the index compares how state tax systems affect the business environment.

“Even in our global economy, a state’s stiffest and most direct competition often comes from other states,” said Mark Robyn, an economist at the Tax Foundation. “State lawmakers need to be aware of how their states’ business climates match up to their immediate neighbors and to other states in the region.”

Colorado has ranked among the top 17 states in the index for the past five years. The state ranked 13th in 2010 and 2009 after climbing to 10th in 2008.

The index ranks states based in large part on their corporate, income, property, sales and unemployment insurance tax rates.

Colorado ranked highest at ninth in the assessment of property taxes and 16th for individual income taxes. The state ranked 20th for its corporate tax rate and 23rd for unemployment insurance tax. The state fared worst at 44th for sales tax.

Wyoming remained the top-ranked state in the 2012 State Tax Climate Index, followed by South Dakota, Nevada, Alaska and Florida.

Many of the top-performing states in the index don’t impose a major form of taxes. Wyoming, South Dakota and Nevada don’t assess corporate or individual income taxes. Alaska imposes no individual income or state sales taxes.

New Jersey remained at the bottom of the index, followed by New York, California, Vermont and Rhode Island.

The worst-performing states in the index impose comparatively high tax rates.

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The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index (LEI) rose four-tenths of a percent to 94.3 in December. The index has edged up only about a tenth of a percent over the past six months, although component indicators reflect more strength than weakness.

“The LEI provides some reason for cautious optimism in the first half of 2012,” said Ken Goldstein, an economist at the Conference Board, a business research and membership group.

“This somewhat positive outlook for a strengthening domestic economy would seem to be at odds with a global economy that is losing some steam,” Goldstein added. “Looking ahead, the big question remains whether cooling conditions elsewhere will limit domestic growth or, conversely, growth in the U.S. will lend some economic support to the rest of the globe.”

The December results reflect a comprehensive revision of the LEI, the first since 1996, to offer more accurate predictions of business cycles. Along with the addition of a new credit index, other indicators were replaced and calculation methods revised.

Seven of 10 indicators of the LEI advanced in December, including the average manufacturing workweek, interest rate spread, new orders for capital and consumer goods and stock prices. Moreover, average weekly claims for unemployment benefits declined. Retreating indicators included consumer expectations and a leading credit index. Building permit activity held steady.

The Conference Board reported that its Coincident Economic Index (CEI), a measure of current economic performance, rose three-tenths of a percent to 103.4 in December. The CEI has gained 1.7 percent over the past six months.

For December, all four components of the CEI advanced: nonfarm payrolls, personal income, production and sales The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index (LAG), a measure of past economic performance, also increased three-tenths of a percent in December to climb to 113.4. The LAG has increased 1.2 percent over the past three months.

For December, four of seven components of the LAG advanced: consumer credit, labor costs and the price of services. Moreover, the average duration of unemployment declined. The average prime interest rate and inventories held steady. Business lending declined.

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              However, in 2011 the level of angst and vitriol in the markets and the political arena caused markets and fundamentals to disconnect.  While the economy moves up at a modest but consistent pace, the stock and bond markets seem to be priced for drama and despair.  In spite of impressive growth in corporate profits, last year, the U.S. stock market went nowhere.  While European leaders assemble trillions of dollars in rescue funds, the markets contemplate the impact of a  colossal meltdown of the global financial system.  These worries seem overblown.

            The May-Investments Leading Economic Indicator keeps climbing, forecasting continued growth into 2012.  Of the ten indicators that comprise the May-Investments LEI, all but the export sensitive Baltic dry freight index are positive, or strongly positive.  The collapse of the freight index indicates a slowdown in global shipping activity, probably as a result of a recession in Europe and possibly Asia.  The rest of the indicators focus more on domestic economic activity and suggest continued growth in the U.S. economy.  If the markets begin reflecting a return to economic “normalcy” and we can get out of this “bond bubble,” or “fear bubble,” or whatever you want to call it, the stock market could do very well in 2012 and interest rates could shoot higher.

            Locally, there are additional reasons to be optimistic.  Dale Beede, Managing Director of Coldwell Banker’s Grand Junction commercial properties division, notes that the local real estate market looks like it can improve.  “We’re starting to see more investor traffic which is creating new opportunities for sellers.” 

            Commercial real estate prices have adjusted down, but to reasonable levels, not to fire sale price levels.  Taking advantage of the lower prices while interest rates are very low creates opportunities for potential real estate investors.  The stock market is also inexpensively valued, especially compared to alternatives such as bonds, TIPS, and bank certificates of deposit.  We would not argue that “savings” should be invested in more volatile “investment money” alternatives.  However, it is getting harder to argue that “investment money” should be on the sidelines invested in savings accounts.

            In 1979, Woody Allen wrote that, “mankind faces a crossroads.  One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness.  The other, to total extinction.  Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”  Allen was wrong, in 1979.  And we think that the financial markets, priced as if they are caught between a rock and hard place, are wrong today.

Related posts:

1. Positive signs
2. Labor trends index forecasts job growth
3. Leading index continues to forecast U.S. growth

                 This month I got an email outlining their twelve major consumer trends for 2012.  And, while I don’t know yet how the Chamber will act on this information, I do know this is something that may be useful to all businesses, regardless of your product or service line.  Briefly described here some selected trends:

• Red carpet  It is all about the Chinese.  Businesses worldwide will go after this huge market.  In just the first six months of 2011Chinese politicians and visitors made 30 million trips worldwide.  It is estimated by 2020 that over 100  million outbound visits will be made from China.
• DIY Health  As someone who already has the Weight Watchers mobile app and mobile kitchen on her ipad, this is no brainer for me.  Consumers increasingly will turn to technology to help manage their health.  The Apple App store already offers 9,000 health related apps.
• Dealer-Chic  Hunting for “deals” became an integral part of the shopping experience for most people during the recession, driven by having fewer resources.  In 2012 that behavior has now become a way of life.  The fun is in the “hunt.”  With access to websites that compare products and prices, email alerts consumers are now in much better position to judge if a deal is truly a “deal.”  This trend will spur more loyalty programs and other methods to keep consumers from “jumping ship” to the next big thing.
• Eco-cycology  It’s gone way beyond recycling paper and plastic.  Many companies in a bid for those concerned with sustainability are now taking back products that have reached the end of their useful life and recycling them.  Example:  Patagonia has taken back 45 tons of clothing and recycled it into 34 tons of new clothes.  Nike has recycled 25 million pairs of shoes and Dell has a partnership with Goodwill stores for returning and refurbishing computers.
• Cash-less  Okay, predictions about a cashless economy have been popping up for a few years now but with major initiatives from Google and others being rolled out we will get closer to this reality in 2012.  Check out Google wallet that becaome operational in October of 2011 or the Paypal mobile payment app for the Droid.
• Bottom of the Urban Pyramid  An untapped market for many is those who live in cities worldwide who are not upwardly mobile or living off their Wall Street bonuses.  In fact hundreds of millions are not even considered middle class but they still want innovations driven by their unique circumstances from ATM for those who cannot read to a computer tablet built on the android technology that will sell for around $60 in the United States.
• Idle Sourcing  Imagine being able to mobilize hundreds of ordinary citizens to monitor and transmit real time data from various locations in a city.  Speed Bump App has been tested in Boston to provide current information on street conditions for example.
• Flawsome  It is good to admit when you make mistake to admit that you were wrong.  Consumers fed up with what they believe to be evil corporate greed will and do welcome brands that show humility and humanity.  Think Dominos who in 2011 took out a huge billboard in New York City and encouraged customers to give them honest feedback that was then broadcast to anyone and everyone.
• Screen Culture  It’s the Iphone 5 and Ipad 3.  We are all spending more and more time in front of interactive screens be they our phones, our computers, our tablets or…coming soon the technology to change any surface into a touch screen.
• Recommerce  Who hasn’t traded in a car or a house?  But in 2012 we will be trading just about anything that anybody will accept.  Trading in and trading up will grow as pent up demand by the recession has kept consumers from simply disposing of the old and buying new.

             So, as I review the list and consider how these consumer trends may influence the Chamber, I begin to think about a mobile Chamber app (probably past due for that one), ways to market Chamber events in real time on screens (something we tried with challenging members to twitter from the Business Showcase last year and showing the feed live on screens)…and other changes needed to keep with my consumers, the business community demands.

            What might you do differently based on these and other trends?  The Trendwatching.com website has several more trends and past newsletter issues that might help you do a little horizon scanning on your own!

Related posts:

1. Labor trends index forecasts job growth
2. Labor trends index slips
3. Consumer Confidence Index retreats

            Since our country’s credit crisis of 2008, investors have searched for stable investments while watching residential and commercial property values fall, nearly zero returns on bonds, and a stock market that, for some, has taken a Jekyll and Hyde approach to stability.  As baby boomers age, their search for a decent, stable return on their investment dollar has been made tougher by these conditions.  Real estate may now fill part of that need.  Institutional investors (insurance companies and the like) have seen stabilized returns on their core investments, (retail centers and office buildings) and the word is out that these returns are growing and exceed all other types of investments for these owners.  While in Grand Junction we seem to trail the national real estate market by a year or more, greater commercial activity and some recent investor purchases also indicate that our market may be reaching a bottom.

            This may represent good news for those investors with empty buildings and those who have had to offer below-market rents just to retain tenants. 

            It finally appears that the local residential real estate market is stabilizing.  Look, for example, at local home sales over the past year.  While only a little over two thousand homes sold in Mesa County last year, prices have begun to stabilize.  Another surprising factor is that approximately one third of home purchases last year were cash purchases, indicating that investors are shoring up the market, especially in entry-level homes.  This is a great indicator that our local market is turning the corner.

            A number of economic forecasters are saying that the economic growth in Colorado should see a “modest recovery” this year.  Those of us in the trenches know it is still all about job growth.  It is heartening to know that even though natural gas prices are at very low levels, major companies are still hiring new employees to improve their natural gas production.  These jobs are helping to strengthen the employment base in our region.

            A quick look at commercial real estate sectors:

• Multifamily   Look for at least one and probably two projects to be approved this year for construction of new apartment dwellings in or about Grand Junction.  This is good news for contractors and potentially good news for those looking for affordable housing in the area.
• Retail   Sunflower Farmer’s Market will represent a new natural food outlet in the city.  Construction should be completed this year.  Other retailers expected to enter our market are some new clothing retailers, fast food outlets, and automobile-related companies.
• Industrial   We are still attracting some major energy service companies to our area.  Look for some new 10-40 acre company campuses to be erected over the next two years.  We should continue to see industrial leasing activity to increase and investor purchases should once again occur.
• Office   The office sector has remained relatively strong over the last three years.  Vacancy rates are still fairly low, although much of this may be attributed to lower negotiated rents to retain tenants.  Look for further stabilization in the office sector as the year progresses.
• Hospitality   The local hotel industry has suffered through this economy with the rest of us, but our Visitor and Convention Bureau along with large annual music events and grape and wine venues continue to draw visitors to the area.  Many of our hotels change hands every three to five years and more transactions should occur in 2012.  More restaurant transactions should also occur this year than in the past.

 All in all, it appears that our economic glass is now half full.  Here’s to your prosperity in 2012!

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                  Simply put, your target market should be one that produces the most profit for your store. I have talked with many businesses before that say, “We have women in their twenties who come in for our sales all the time.” While that can be great my response is always, “Who comes in and pays full price?  That is your target market!”

                   As an example, let’s say that target market is women 35 and up. Even with this answer, you only have about half the equation. You need to ask some specific questions as they relate to your target. What does this woman do?  Do they work, stay at home, go to school, or take care of the kids? What are her hobbies and interests?  What is she really concerned or care about?  Some women over 35 are so career focused they haven’t had children, are independent and aren’t married.  These women have a much different lifestyle that the one who is married, with kids and works. From most of the research I have done over 70% of women 35 and over work, care for the kids and take care of the house.  My conclusion has always been that thing these women care about is time! 

            Therefore, a business whose target market is women over 35 should speak to them from the perspective of time.  For example, if I was a car dealership trying to pull in this desired demographic, I would develop a marketing strategy not on price or value, but on the time that I can save her. Can you offer her something that will speak directly to her?  Once you answer that, you can develop a message that is going to speak directly to that person; quite simply, a message they can’t ignore. 

            So how does a business reach out to the over 35 working mom? If you think she is taking the time to go through the mail and look at your mailer you sent her, you are wrong. She is looking for bills and throwing the junk mail away–Remember, she doesn’t have the time. Now, if you were to talk to her during the morning news while she is getting ready, or on her drive to work and daycare, then you are getting somewhere. Another place you can talk to her is on her mobile device. Since she feels the time crunch, she is probably multi-tasking. As she is waiting in line at the bank, grocery shopping or waiting for coffee chances are she is reading the headlines or communicating in some way on her mobile device. Are you talking to her on her mobile device? You should be. 

            Success with your target market goes back to the hybrid media strategy I spoke about in my last article. However, none of it will work if you don’t know who you are talking to. Finding your target and hitting that target in today’s marketplace is a challenge, particularly with so many various ways to speak to people. You have to do the work before to define your customer and what is important to them before you can speak to them. Then you must speak to them consistently in the formats they are using each day based on their lifestyle.

            Businesses in today’s economy don’t have the budget or time to practice hitting their target or shooting their marketing ammo all over the place; they have to focus in on the target, aim and fire! 

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            Just this week I had an experience that clearly illustrates paltry customer service. I returned to a local men’s store to pick up two sport coats that had been fitted, and to exchange a pair of dress shoes that were the wrong size. I went in with receipts in-hand, excited to receive my items and conclude my business with them.

            As I walked in the store, it was apparent that the manager who “greeted” me had quickly sized me up, and concluded from my casual dress that I did not represent much value to him. His enthusiasm was nonexistent, and it was obvious he did not care about me.

            I explained to him why I was there, and he returned with my sport coats. The attached tags indicated that a fee for tailoring still needed to be paid, and he let me know this with an accusatory tone. After showing him my receipts — which proved prepayment for the service — he offered no apology for his negative attitude toward me. As he continued looking through the receipts, two of them fell to the floor. He made no attempt to pick them up, and when I did, he did not move aside to make room for me, nor did he apologize for dropping them.

            I was instructed to try on the jackets for fit while he retrieved the correct sized shoes. While the jackets had been altered correctly, they were covered in loose threads, chalk marks and lint. When he returned, I asked if it was their store policy to return items to customers in this condition. Without thought or concern, he simply took them from me and said he would have them cleaned up.

            I tried on the new shoes he brought out and they were too small. Only then did he indicate that they were a half size smaller than what I’d requested. I was then informed that the correct size would have to be special ordered, and that due to an inventory restriction, I would not have them for another 10-14 days. He told me all of this without concern for what my needs were. I agreed to have them ordered and, as he took my jackets away for cleaning, I looked at the shoes on display … sitting there was the size I had asked for.

            Upon his return, with jackets that were barely cleaned or attended to, I shared with him my discovery and asked to take the shoes I had found. At this point, two things were clear: I was the one who had done all the work to find a solution to the situation we were dealing with, not he; and, little care had been taken to really do a good job at cleaning my coats. Due to the exceptionally low quality of customer service I had received, I simply wanted to finish my business and leave.

            At the checkout counter, he provided me with his business card and — “in consideration for my inconvenience” — offered a 20% discount on my next purchase of a full-priced suit. On the surface this seemed like a caring offer, but in reality it was merely an appeasing gesture. Their sale prices are already a significantly better deal than this, and I was not interested in suits, something he hadn’t bothered to ask.

            The up-side to my experience is that, when I contacted the corporate customer service division, I was treated with the utmost regard. They thanked me for notifying them of my experience, assured me that this situation would be addressed with the manager, and provided me with compensation to correct my negative experience. They communicated that I was a valued customer and worked toward a meaningful resolution. The company’s genuine interest and care for me renewed my confidence in them, and therefore, I am likely to do business with them again.

            The lesson here is to never give a customer reason to doubt you. Paltry customer service that leaves the patron of any business feeling unimportant and devalued will hurt your company in more ways than you can imagine. Conversely, when your customer service comes from the grateful hearts and caring minds of you, and your entire team, the benefits to your business are tremendous.

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              Every January, people across the country make New Year’s Resolutions.  The number one item is, not surprisingly, to lose weight.  Over the years, I have learned that this is a recipe for failure.  Why?  It doesn’t identify anything about how you plan to change your routine, your mind-set, and why it’s important to you.  I’d like to help you learn about making resolutions with solutions, so that you can actually be successful.  People often fail because they did not identify what it is they actually want to accomplish when it comes to their health. 

             Let’s treat this like a journey, not a destination.  It’s not something you achieve and cross off your list.  Some important items to help make you successful include:  creating specific goals, planning a road map and preparing for those bumps and wrong turns that may occur along the way.   Creating your goals is the first step.  It is also the most important step. 

            Keep in mind that you are creating YOUR goals.  They are individual, like you.  Don’t let anyone tell you that there is a one-size-fits-all solution.  I have found that a helpful plan when making your goals is using the S.M.A.R.T. program.  It stands for Simple-Measurable-Attainable-Reasonable-Time.  Here’s how it works.  Take the New Year’s Resolution of “losing weight.”  Using this program, this goal now becomes “I will to lose 10 lbs. by March 15th.”    Now, ask yourself, “Why do I want to do this?”  Your reason and motivation is just as important.  Maybe your goal is because your doctor suggested it for health reasons or maybe there is an important event coming up that you want to look and feel your best.  Whatever the reason, make sure that you want to achieve this goal for YOU.  It becomes a commitment to you.

            The next step is planning a road map.  How are you going to get there?  Think of it like jumping in the car and taking off.  Would you ever consider taking a road trip without knowing where you are going?  Your road map is the map to the success of your goals.  Taking the goal of losing weight; decide what needs to be done to start on the right path.  Divide your goal into smaller parts; for example, nutrition and exercise.  Taking the time to plan healthy and nutrition meals and snacks is essential in losing extra pounds. 

            When starting an exercise program, start slow.  Believe it or not, exercise can be fun.  Try a group exercise class or start walking on your lunch hour.  By doing activities you enjoy, you will be more apt to continue to stay on the path of your goal.  Write down what you plan to do each day and stick with it. Starting an exercise regimen every January and stopping it every February can become a habit.  That is why many times the same New Year’s Resolutions show up on the list year after year. 

            The path towards successful goals is also filled with bumps and detours.  There will be times when you fail to follow your plan.  You many chose to eat the buttered popcorn at the movies, the toffee leftover from Christmas or both!  Try not to fall into the trap of feeling like you have failed and just quit altogether.  It’s only a slight detour.  Start again the next day, not the next week, but the next day.  There will be many times that you feel like quitting, but nothing tastes or feels as good as it is to be healthy!  Remember that you don’t cross off living a healthy lifestyle; instead it becomes part of your life.   Enjoy the journey! 

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As business services manager at the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction, Suzie Miller is uniquely positioned to track local labor trends. Miller foresees slow, but steady, job growth in the year ahead. (Business Times photo by Phil Castle)

Phil Castle, The Business Times

Suzie Miller cites a number of statistical trends she believes reflect improving labor conditions in Mesa County. But one sure sign of better times, she says, is the return of an annual job fair, an event that will feature 40 companies looking to fill actual openings, not just collect applications and resumes.

As business services manager at the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction, Miller is involved in organizing what’s billed as the Jump Start Job Fair on Jan. 31. She’s also uniquely positioned to track labor trends on an ongoing basis.

The results of a recent national study conducted for the U.S. Conference of Mayors suggests Mesa County won’t regain jobs lost in the recession for another five years. But Miller says the rapid growth brought on by an energy boom preceding the bust wasn’t sustainable anyway.

She foresees a pace of growth that’s slower, but ultimately better for the economy.

“Slow and steady often wins the race.”

Diane Schwenke, president and chief executive officer of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, draws a similar analogy in assessing prospects for job growth. “I think we’re out of the starting gate. But I don’t think we’ve made the first turn yet.”

Kelly Flenniken, executive director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, also expects progress to be slow. “We’re not going to fly out of a recession. We’re going to have to dig and scrape our way out.”

At the same time, though, Flenniken says she senses a more upbeat outlook. “I just feel some optimism. I just feel that things are ready to break in a good way.”

A study conducted by IHS Global Insight for the U.S. Conference of Mayors includes Mesa County among 80 metropolitan areas across the country that likely won’t recover jobs lost in the recession until 2017 or later.

Mesa County is expected to regain almost 24 percent of the jobs lost during the recession by the end of this year, but then take another five years or more to regain the remaining 76 percent of jobs.

According to the results of the study, work forces in only 26 out of 363 metropolitan areas nationwide have rebounded from the recession, while another 99 metro areas have recouped half their losses.

In Colorado, Pueblo and the Fort Collins and Loveland area already have recovered jobs lost in the recession. Boulder and the Denver and Aurora area have recouped about half of job losses. Colorado Springs and Greeley have regained about a third of lost jobs.

According to the study, employment peaked in Mesa County at 66,500 prior to the recession and fell to a low of 57,100, a drop of almost 16.5 percent. Employment is expected to rebound to 59,300 by the end of the year.

According to estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor, however, nonfarm wage and salary payrolls topped 80,000 in July 2008 and again in September and October of that year. Payrolls fell to just over 68,000 in June 2011. That’s a loss of 12,000 jobs and a proportional decline of 17.6 percent. As of November 2011, payrolls had climbed back to 71,401, regaining more than 28 percent of the difference between the peak and valley in the work force.

Miller, Schwenke and Flenniken all say there’s a big difference between what’s happened in Mesa County and other metropolitan areas in the country. Prior to the downturn, Mesa County experienced one of the fastest growing work forces in the country, gains bolstered by an increase in natural gas exploration and production in Western Colorado. As monthly unemployment rates dropped below 4 percent and drained the pool of available labor, the Mesa County Workforce Center began recruiting workers from other states, Miller recalls.

“We were growing at a rate we couldn’t sustain.”

Having soared higher than other areas of the country, the Mesa County labor market subsequently fell further in the aftermath of a double whammy of sharply lower energy activity and the full effects of economic recession.

Declining incomes and a downturn in the housing market, factors cited in the IHS Global Insight study as affecting recovery in metro areas, have been pronounced in Mesa County. According to the study, the median annual household income fell from $55,700 in 2008 to $46,200 in 2010, a decline of more than 20 percent. The median sales price of existing homes dropped from $183,400 in the fourth quarter of 2010 to $165,295 in the fourth quarter of 2011, a drop of more than 18 percent.

Miller and Flenniken say that because Mesa County was late in entering the recession, it likely will lag behind other metro areas in fully recovering.

But there are signs of recovery. In addition to increases in payrolls, Miller points to growing  labor demand as measured by the number of job orders posted at the Mesa County Workforce Center.

A total of 2,744 job orders were posted at the center during 2011, almost 60 percent more than in 2009 and slightly ahead of 2008, Miller says. Each order usually involves two or three job openings, sometimes more. There’s actually a shortage of qualified job applicants in some sectors, she says, in particular experienced machinists who can work for local manufacturers.

Miller expects job growth to continue in Mesa County at a slow, but steady, pace. While that growth won’t come close to matching what occurred prior to the recession, Miller sees that as a good thing. “What we’re doing, hopefully, is growth within what our business demands are.”

Flenniken says a downturn in the labor market constitutes something of a double-edged sword when it comes to economic development because labor availability helps in recruiting businesses to locate in the area. As the national economy improves, she expects economic development activity to increase. “Companies are moving and doing things.”

The Grand Junction Economic Partnership has taken a more proactive approach to economic development in working with GJEP board members and other local business leaders to tap their connections. While it’s still too early to tell how the approach will work, Flenniken says she’s optimistic.

Meanwhile, existing businesses that survived the recession by operating more efficiently are now poised to take advantage of increasing demand, she adds.

Schwenke also expects improving business conditions in Mesa County, albeit at a slow pace.

She bases her outlook in part on the latest results of a chamber survey. While 51 percent of business owners and managers responding to the survey expect the local economy to begin to recover in 2012 or 2013, 22 percent expect it could take until 2014 or later. “We’re still very early in the race.”

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Lisa Eckert

A woman with 30 years of experience working for the National Park Service in locations across the United States will take over in mid-February as the new superintendent of Colorado National Monument.

Lisa Eckert has been appointed to succeed Joan Anzelmo, who retired last year. Eckert twice worked at the Colorado National Monument during her career as a seasonal and later permanent ranger. “I feel like I am coming home to the familiarity of red rock canyons and intend to renew as well as create new partnerships,” she said.

John Wessels, intermountain regional director of the National Park Service, announced the appointment. “Lisa brings exceptional skills to this position and her knowledge about partnership-building will continue to serve the park and the Grand Valley community.”

Eckert currently serves as superintendent of the Horace Albright Training Center on the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. She previously served as superintendent at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in North Dakota, Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming and Gateway National Recreation Area Jamaica Bay Unit in New York City.

Eckert also has worked at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Shenandoah National Park and George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia and Denali National Park in Alaska. In addition, she worked under an international program that taught interpretive skills to Croation war refugees.

A native of Wisconsin, Eckert holds a bachelor’s degree in biological aspects of conservation from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

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Michael Dohm

Michael Dohm, a doctor with Rocky Mountain Orthopaedic Associates in Grand Junction, will present a free seminar on back pain set for 11 a.m. Jan. 31 at the Fruita Community Center, 324 N. Coulson St.

A board-certified orthopaedist who specializes in general orthopaedic surgery, Dohm treats patients for a variety of conditions. He performs surgery at Family Health West Hospital in Fruita. At the seminar, Dohm will discuss osteoporosis and spine fractures as well as new techniques to treat those conditions.

For more reservations for the seminar or additional information, call (877) 494-6532.

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Buffalo Wild Wings is expected to open later this year at the Mesa Mall.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to expand our brand and bring our great-tasting food and unique guest experience to new markets. We’re hopeful we’ll be able to accomplish that soon in Grand Junction,” said Scott Sahling, a regional manager for Buffalo Wild Wings. “We are tentatively set to open in the second  quarter of 2012.”
Buffalo Wild Wings has leased a building that previously housed Smuggler’s Brewpub and, before that, a Krispy Kreme franchise.

“We are absolutely thrilled to add Buffalo Wild Wings to our great selection of national restaurants at Mesa Mall. This addition further diversifies Mesa Mall’s  dining options and offers our guests a national restaurant they are excited to welcome to the market,” said Jammie McCloud, director of marketing at the mall.
Founded in 1982, Buffalo Wild Wings now operates a total of more than 820 restaurants in 46 states and two countries. The menus feature Buffalo, N.Y.-style chicken wings served with 14 signature sauces as well as hamburgers, sandwiches and salads.

More information about Buffalo Wild Wings, including employment opportunities, is available at ww.buffalowildwings.com.

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Rex Tippetts defends the installation of fencing and gates at the Grand Junction Regional Airport as the best available option to comply with federal safety and security regulations.

Tippetts also defends what he said is a record of improvements in airport operations and commercial airline service during his six-year tenure as director of aviation.

“The airport has never been in better shape.”

Tippetts discussed the controversy over the new perimeter fence and gates as well as other airport operations during a lengthy interview with the Business Times.

Tippetts and the seven-member Grand Junction Airport Authority board that oversees the airport have come under fire over concerns the new fencing and security gates hinder access to businesses operated at the airport. The gates require that people without security badges who visit the businesses first call them to gain entry and then be escorted back and forth by someone with a badge. Business owners have complained the measures are unwieldy and unnecessary. 

The Grand Junction City Council, which appoints three members to the airport authority board, has become involved in the dispute and at one point demanded in a letter the board respond to complaints and consider and implement alternatives.

Tippetts said the issue goes back years to an assessment that wildlife poses a potential hazard to airport operations. Two options were considered: the removal of wildlife habitats and additional patrols or the installation of a perimeter fence.

Subsequent regulations imposed by the Transportation Security Administration required that airport security measures be extended to general aviation operations. Specifically, the TSA requires that access to what’s known as the air operations area be controlled, Tippetts said.

Given the availability of federal funding to install the fence, Tippetts said the airport authority board concluded the best option to comply with both the wildlife and security regulations was to erect the fence around the air operations area as well as the general aviation hangars, including the handful of businesses operating in that area.

The other option would have been to require that general aviation tenants at the airport control access to the air operations area, Tippetts said. But the board didn’t want to pass on to tenants the substantial expense of securing so many doors and windows. “They were really looking for a way not to do that.”

While Tippetts has been accused of a “bias” against general aviation, he said general aviation tenants have been invited to one-on-one meetings to discuss issues.

At the same time, Tippetts said he and the authority board have a responsibility to operate the Grand Junction Regional Airport in a manner that serves not only general aviation, but also the residents of a large region that depend on the airport for commercial air transportation.

While general aviation accounts for more than half of aircraft operations at the airport, nearly 75 percent of airport revenues are related to commercial aviation, he said.

Tippetts said that since he become director of aviation late in 2005, he’s overseen a lengthy list of improvements in airport facilities and operations.

That list includes the reconstruction of roadways and parking facilities; rehabilitation work on aprons, ramps and runways; and the opening of a Subway restaurant to provide food service in the terminal.

At the same time, commercial air service has increased with the addition of new carriers and routes. Six airlines now offer service from Grand Junction to a total of seven destinations: Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.

Tippetts said he meets four or five times a year with representatives from airlines to discuss additional commercial service. When airlines expand, he expects some of the new routes to include Grand Junction. “We’re on the top of the list.”

The airport has secured additional service without offering any kinds of financial guarantees, he added.

Enplanements — passengers boarding commercial flights — have increased and climbed to an annual record of nearly 232,000 in 2009. More than 203,000 enplanements were recorded in 2011.

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Mark Snead

The Colorado economy should continue to slowly recover in 2012 even as uncertainty over the global economy persists.

Gross domestic product, the broad measure of goods and services produced in the United States, should grow at an annual rate of about 2 percent. Payrolls nationally should increase 1 percent, according to projections at an annual economic forecast breakfast presented by Vectra Bank Colorado.

“With all of the challenges it is facing, the fact that the economy has continued to grow at a fairly steady or modest pace in some sense could be considered very impressive,” said Mark Snead, an economist and executive with the Denver branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

“While we normally see surges in GDP and employment growth after a recession, considering the obstacles in place for the country, an annual 2 percent growth rate is an average growth rate,” Snead added.

A potential sovereign debt crises and recession in Europe could pose the biggest obstacle to continued recovery in the U.S., Snead said. But the downturn in the real estate market also has been a drag on the economy. He forecasted at least two to three selling cycles before large home inventories  are reduced.

Patricia Silverstein, president of Development Research Partners, a Colorado-based real estate analysis and economic development research firm,  suggested a “rebuild and remodel” strategy for small businesses. While business owners and managers can hope for more clarity, they must chart their own paths for growth, Silverstein said.

George Feiger, chief executive officer of Contango Capital Advisors based in San Francisco, said business owners as well as individuals should closely monitor global issues as they set short- and long-term investment goals.

In addition to ongoing problems in Europe, Feiger said other issues include slow growth and mounting debt in the U.S., speculative bubbles in emerging markets, inflation and resource suppliers.

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“We hope this is a good sign that things are starting to look up for our local economy,” said Mesa County Commissioner Craig Meis.

Mesa County reported collecting a total of more than $2.2 million in sales taxes for its capital improvement and general funds in December, up almost 6.6 percent from December 2010.

That latest monthly gain brought total collections for the two funds for 2011 to nearly $26 million, an increase of just under 7 percent over 2010.

An additional $846,423 in sales tax collections reported in December were distributed to cities and towns in Mesa County, including Grand Junction. Those collections were up nearly 6.6 percent compared to December 2010.

For all of 2011, the county collected and distributed more than $9.8 million, an increase over almost 7 percent over the previous year.

Meanwhile, the City of Grand Junction reported collecting a total of just under $4 million in sales and use taxes in December 2011, down 2 percent from the same month a year ago.

However, city tax collections for 2011 still outpaced 2010. At $48.7 million, collections were up 6.6 percent.

Since tax reports lag a month behind, December reports reflect November sales. Year-end reports for 2011 reflect sales from December 2010 through November 2011.

The January 2012 reports scheduled for release in February will offer a more complete look back at sales during the latest holiday shopping season.

For Mesa County, sales tax collections have increased on a year-over-year basis in all but one of the last 16 months.

In November, the county reported collecting a total of almost $2 million for its capital improvement and general funds, a drop of nearly 7.2 percent from the November report for last year and the first decline since August 2010.

Marcia Arnhold, finance director for Mesa County, said the year-end tax collection numbers bode well for the county and the capital improvements and operations it funds with sales tax revenues.

“We ended the year well within our budget projections, which is important,” Arnhold said. “We certainly hope to see the numbers continue to be stronger throughout 2012.”

Arnold said a 4 percent increase in sales tax collections has been budgeted for 2012 with total projected revenues of nearly $26.4 million for the capital improvement and general funds.

The county assesses a 2 percent sales tax with 1 percent allocated to a capital fund used to pay for the construction of roads, bridges, buildings and other large projects. Of the remaining 1 percent, 0.45 percent goes into the general fund for operational expenses and 0.55 goes back to cities and towns in the county. Sales tax collections account for about 19 percent of county revenues.

For the City of Grand Junction, sales and use tax collections dropped on a year-over-year basis for both the November and December reports, although the declines were modest at 1.3 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

Jodi Romero, financial operations manager for the city, said she expects sales and use tax collections to increase slightly in 2012. Nonetheless, the city has budgeted more conservatively for no change from 2011, she added.

The city assesses a 2.75 percent sales tax, with 0.75 percent allocated to capital construction  projects.

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The Grand Junction metropolitan statistical area, which equates to Mesa County, fell from 57th to 117th among 179 small metro areas ranked in the 2011 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index.

The index is based on eight criteria, including employment and wage growth as well the economic output of high-tech companies. The Milken Institute, an economic think tank based in California, strives to help business and public policy leaders develop and implement ideas for promoting prosperity.

Mesa County ranked third in the index in 2009 and fifth in 2008 on the strength of what was at that time one of the fastest growing labor markets and economies in the country.

But conditions changed rapidly in the aftermath of downturns in natural gas exploration in Western Colorado as well as the broader economy. Mesa County dropped 54 spots in the 2010 ranking and even further in 2011.

Since the index is based in part on lagging measurements, Mesa County continued to fare well in a measurement of wage and salary growth between 2004 and 2009, ranking sixth among small metro areas. Mesa County ranked 23rd in a measurement of job growth between 2005 and 2010.

Mesa County fared less well in short-term measurements, ranking 133rd for wage and salary growth between 2008 and 2009 and 178th for job growth between 2009 and 2010.

The results were mixed for measures related to the economic output of high-tech companies. Mesa County ranked 91st for five-year growth in high-tech gross domestic product between 2005 and 2010 and 130th for one-year growth between 2009 and 2010.

Pueblo, the only other Colorado city ranked among small metro areas, moved up 24 spots to 21st in the 2011 index.

Logan, Utah, ranked first among small metro areas, followed by Bismarck, N.D.; Morgantown, W.Va.; Hinesville, Ga.; and the College Station and Byran area in Texas.

Among 200 large metropolitan areas ranked by the Milken Institute, the Fort Collins and Loveland area jumped 47 spots to rank third in the 2011 index. The Denver and Aurora area advanced 19 spots to rank 44th, while Boulder slipped three spots to 59th. Greeley rose 39 places to rank 62nd, while Colorado Springs climbed 18 spots to 81st.

Texas cities once again dominated the ranking of large metro areas. San Antonio ranked first and Texas metros capture four of the top five spots.

Ross DeVol, chief research officer at the Milken Institute, said the best-performing cities took advantage of increases in energy production as well as business investment. Cities with the most resilient housing markets also have experienced the most job growth, DeVol said.

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At the same time, the Grand Junction City Council has voted to enter into a contract to provide procurement services for Mesa County in a collaborative arrangement that takes advantage of economies of scale while reducing duplication of efforts.

A number of county offices will relocate into a central building located near the intersection of First and Main streets in downtown Grand Junction.

The Clerk and Recorder’s Office will move it’s election and motor vehicle divisions, while the Public Works Department will move its administrative, building inspection and engineering functions. The Health Department will move its food assistance program and community food bank.

The new central facility offers a total of 53,000 square feet for offices and warehouse space. The building was remodeled to offer an open floor plan that saves money on heating and cooling. The move also will enable the county to vacate and sell its building at 750 Main St. as well as save rent at other locations.

“This is a much more cost-effective option,” said Mesa County Commissioner Craig Meis.

Donna Ross, regional services director for Mesa County, said, “As rents have increased over the years, this project began to make a lot of financial sense. This move will also allow us to reduce spending on energy and staffing costs through efficient building design and work flow processes.”

The Grand Junction City Council voted Jan. 16 to enter into a contact to provide procurement services for Mesa County. The county will reimburse the city $25,000 for the first six months of providing the service. City and county officials will assess the arrangement before entering into a contract for the next six months.

“It makes a lot of financial sense for the city and county to team up — not just to maximize our purchasing power, but to ensure we’re finding efficiencies and cost savings wherever possible,” Meis said.

Grand Junction Mayor Tom Kenyon said, “We’re happy to be able to work together in this way with Mesa County. When local tax dollars are used more efficiently, everyone benefits.”

Kenyon added: “This is not the only collaborative arrangement we have with the county, or any public organization for that matter. And it will not be the last. Looking for ways to streamline the work we all do is good business.”

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The Colorado Chapter of the American Public Works Association presented the award during a luncheon in Denver. Trent Prall, engineering manager of the Grand Junction Public Works Department, and Kathy Dirks, marketing manager at the Downtown Development Authority, accepted the award.

The campaign was launched as part of the Downtown Uplift project to maintain communications prior to construction, throughout the months of disruptive work and the reopening of Main Street. The campaign used block captains to communicate with merchants; maps for customers outlining parking areas; and weekly e-mails to merchants, property owners and policy makers.

Advertising, billboards and social media also were used to inform the public about construction and access to businesses.

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The VCB reported collecting $69,041 in lodging taxes in December, just $12 less than the same month last year.

For all of 2011, lodging tax collections totalled $1,130,656, a dip of 1.5 percent from the year before.

The VCB also reported a more than 65 percent decline in the number of brochures it mailed out in 2011 and a 53 percent decrease in inquiries on its toll-free telephone line. Unique visits to its Internet Web site were up 18 percent, however, to nearly 250,000.

Total visits to the Grand Junction Visitor Center held steady at just under 18,800 as increases in the number of in-state and international visitors to the center offset a drop in out-of-state visitors.

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Teresa Taylor serves as an executive advisor focusing on statewide industry growth.

Taylor previously served as chief operating officer of Qwest Communications based in Denver prior to the acquisition of the company by CenturyLink last year. The $12.2 billion deal combined the third- and fourth-largest traditional telephone companies in the United States.

“I welcome the opportunity to bring together the many resources available to deliver the message that Colorado is open for business,” Taylor said.

Ken Lund, executive director of COEDIT, said Taylor’s experiences align with the goals of the office and a new statewide economic development initiative. “Her experience in the technology, media and telecom sectors is a tremendous asset as we foster a more competitive Colorado to drive job growth,” Lund said. “We are delighted to have her join our efforts to retain, build and recruit the industries key to Colorado’s economy.”

At Qwest, Taylor supervised the operations of a corporation with 30,000 employees and $12 billion in annual revenue.

Taylor also serves on the Global Leadership Council for the Colorado State University College of Business as well as the Colorado Technology Association. Her past positions include appointments to the Colorado State Technology Institute and Colorado State Job Cabinet.

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Comments can be submitted online at the Web site located at www.gjairport.com/leasing-guidelines; by e-mail to atis@gjairport.com or by mail to 2828 Walker Field Drive, Suite 301, Grand Junction, CO 81506, attention leasing policy.

The airport authority board that oversees the airport plans to develop a formal policy for leasing hangars at the airport. The policy will include assignment clauses, leasing rates, maintenance requirements and renewals as well as detail what happens to building improvements at the end of leases.

The policy will deal with ground hangar leases, not airline leases or so-called “land-side” leases that don’t involve aviation uses.

“The board is committed to developing a policy that is fair to hangar tenants while protecting the public investment in the airport,” said Tom LaCroix, chairman of the authority board.

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The Mesa County Workforce Center has scheduled the 2012 Jump Start Job Fair for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 31 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 743 Horizon Drive.

Suzie Miller, business services manager at the center, said she expects up to 40 companies from a variety of sectors to participate, all of them of actively hiring. The event also will include presentations on such topics as resume preparation and WorkKeys jobs skills assessment program, Miller said.

For more information about the job fair, contact Miller at 257-2206.

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The tech petting zoo is planned for noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 28 at the central library at 530 Grand Ave. in Grand Junction. The event is free and open to the public.

Participants will have an opportunity to visit booths set up by Grand Valley businesses and try out various electronic devices. Participants also will learn how to download library materials on their devices as well as use the library phone app and the new library computer work station set up to accommodate people with disabilities.

In addition, participants can ask library staff questions related to using tablet computers, smart phones and other devices.

For more information, 243-4442 or visit www.mesacountylibraries.org.

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Laurie Purcell finished first in the open professional category for an entry titled “Last Light” showing the sun setting behind a barn. Elena Dravez received honorable mentions in two categories for photographs depicting two men on horseback driving cattle down a highway as well as a young girl at a county fair.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture, AgInsights Committee and Northeastern Junior College sponsor the annual contest of photographs depicting farming, ranching and agricultural-related tourism.

“All of the judges commented on the high technical quality of this year’s entries,” said Wendy White, marketing specialist with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “It was exciting to see the diversity of Colorado agriculture featured in the photographs.”

The winning photographs may be viewed online at the Web site located at www.coloradoagriculture.com.

Entries will be accepted through Dec. 31 for the 2012 competition. 

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The new members are: John Burwell Jr., Peterson Plumbing and Heating, president; Tom Oliver, Alpine Bank, vice president; Barbara Lucks, CMCA/Effective Membership Services, treasurer; and Dawn Merris, SOS Home Interior Styling, secretary.

Two more people have been elected to serve three-year terms on the Fruita chamber board of directors: Christy Hovland of Cherry Street Chocolates and Dan Reynolds of Horse Mountain Alpacas.

Hovland and Reynolds join three returning board members: Michelle Melgares of Cornerstone Mortgage, Ben Wagener of Younge and Hockensmith and Terry Moss of Western Valley Family Practice.

Joel Kincaid of Merge 2 Media, the 2011 chamber board president, has left after serving a three-year  term. So has Megan Sears of Town & Country Finance, the 2011 vice president.

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Mary Kruse posted the highest sales volume for the month, while Cynthia Castaneda, Bob Colony and Toni Herridge all tied for the most new listings.

Heiden Homes Realty operates offices at 735 Rood Ave. For more information, call 245-7777 or log on to www.heidenhomes.com.

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Sheader will discuss natural means of addressing acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers and other ailments.

The workshop is limited to the first 30 registrants. To register online, visit www.gjusatalks.com.

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Daniel Hannaher

Have you ever said to yourself: This town has too many hair salons? Or have you noticed that yet another pizza joint has opened? Of course, it’s entirely possible such ventures are all making a good profit. But sometimes you have to wonder whether small business owners sufficiently evaluate local markets to ensure their products and services are competitive.

Marketing takes time, money and lots of preparation. One of the best ways to prepare yourself is to develop a solid marketing plan. Such a plan will ensure you’re not only sticking to your schedule, but that you’re spending your marketing funds wisely and appropriately.

A marketing plan should include everything from understanding your target market and your position in that market to how you intend to reach that market and differentiate yourself from your competition to make a sale.

A marketing budget should be a component of your overall marketing plan. Essentially, a budget will outline the costs of how you’re going to achieve your marketing goals within a certain timeframe.

If you don’t have the funds to hire a marketing firm or even staff a position in-house, resources are available to guide you through the process of writing a marketing plan and developing a marketing budget. In Grand Junction,  contact the Small Business Development Center at the Business Incubator Center at 243-5242 for a free marketing counseling session. There are also many private-sector consultants in the area to assist you.

Once you’ve developed your marketing budget, it doesn’t mean it’s set in stone. There could be times when you need to throw in an unplanned marketing tactic —hosting an event or creating a newspaper ad — to help you reach your market more effectively. Ultimately, it’s more important to determine whether sticking to your budget is helping you achieve your marketing goals and bringing you a return on investment than to adhere to a rigid and fixed budget.

That’s why it’s important to include a plan for tracking the results of marketing. Consider what effects certain marketing activities have had on your revenues during a fixed period, such as a business quarter, compared to another time period when you focused your efforts on other tactics. Consider the tactics that worked as well as those that didn’t work. You don’t have to cut the tactics that didn’t work, but you should assess whether you need to give them more time to work or whether the funds are best directed elsewhere.

Granted, some tactics are hard to measure — the efficacy of such print collateral as brochures and sales sheets, for example. But you need to consider the effects of not having these branding staples in your market tool kit before you reign in the budget for graphic design and printing.

Marketing plans should be maintained on an annual basis at a minimum. But if you launch a new product or service, take time to revisit your original plan or develop a separate campaign plan you can add to your main plan.

At the end of the day, the time spent developing your marketing plan is time well spent because it defines how you connect with your customers. And that’s an investment worth making.

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Raymond Keating

American entrepreneurs, investors, businesses and workers are a hearty, resilient bunch. Despite government derailing the economy — and keeping it derailed for more than four years now — the private sector nonetheless continues to push ahead.

Assorted political supporters of and media apologists for big government activism assert that government has saved the private market from corruption and excess, not to mention unexplainable and unexpected shocks.

If not for government action, they assert, the entire economy would have gone off a cliff. This is the same spin served up for more than three-quarters of a century regarding the Great Depression, so why not replay the fiction now?

In reality, the economy of the 1930s plummeted off a cliff to great depths. Over the past four years, we fell into a deep recession followed by a grossly underperforming recovery. These were not cases of private market failure nor unforeseen shocks. Instead, these were unmistakable instances in which misguided government policies caused great harm.

During the Great Depression, protectionism, high taxes, large increases in government spending and unprecedented regulation wreaked havoc on private investment and business. In similar fashion in recent years, government subsidies, bailouts, so-called stimulus spending, regulatory activism, misguided monetary policy and higher taxes, along with the threat of further tax increases, have raised costs and created uncertainties that have done real and considerable economic damage.

Even considering the recent and potential effects of troubles in Europe, it must be recognized that Europe suffers from slow growth, debt woes and looming recession specifically because government sucks up more than half of GDP — along with commensurate and burdensome tax and regulatory structures.

Keeping all of this in mind as we look ahead, the key question remains: Will policymaking change to unleash the private sector in 2012? Given the political breakdown between the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, it’s hard to visualize any significant changes for the positive.

• Federal spending: Some negatives could be avoided if, for example, spending is reined in during the current fiscal year. Unfortunately, federal outlays not only climbed to new heights in FY 2011 — after unprecedented growth during FY 2008 and FY 2009 and a small, one-year breather in FY 2010 — but are expected to increase once more in FY 2012.
• Tax uncertainty: Will various temporary tax measures affecting entrepreneurs and businesses be extended for at least 2012? Unfortunately, tax uncertainty will continue to weigh on small business confidence and the general outlook in 2012.

In 2011, for example, Section 179 expensing allowed businesses to write off up to $500,000 in capital expenditures.

In addition, a 100 percent bonus depreciation applied to capital expenditures above $500,000 on new equipment, including for businesses spending in excess of $2 million. Unless changed, Section 179 expensing level is scheduled to fall back to $125,000 in 2012 and subsequently retreat to $25,000 for 2013, while bonus depreciation declines to 50 percent. For good measure, increases in personal income, capital gains and dividends tax rates are scheduled to take effect at the end of this year. At the very least, President Barack Obama has called for increased tax rates on upper incomes, meaning reduced incentives and resources for entrepreneurship, investment and job creation.

• Regulatory activism: The Obama administration shows no inclination for reining in regulatory activism. Consider the president’s pro-regulation recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. As a report from TheHill.com makes clear, these were appointments meant to score political points rather than decisions based on what makes sense for economic growth and job creation. Given these actions and campaign rhetoric, Obama seems intent on pushing a populist, liberal, class-warfare, anti-business agenda heading into the November election in an effort to energize his liberal base.

These and other uncertainties and potential cost increases will continue to dampen entrepreneurial and business activity. Considering this entire scenario, it’s difficult to envision the U.S. economy getting back to real annual gross domestic product growth of better than 4 percent, which is where growth should be during recovery and expansion years. While the economy should continue to expand in 2012 due to those resilient private-sector players, real growth likely will remain uneven and underperforming. Likewise, employment growth will continue to come up short compared to where it should be at this point in a recovery, with consumer confidence similarly restrained.

One factor that could change the outlook for 2012 is if business owners and investors see a pro-growth political majority emerging as November elections approach. Given that markets are forward-looking, growth could begin to pick up during 2012.

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Dan Danner

President Barack Obama is preparing, once again, to ask Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling — this time for an additional $1.2 trillion to feed the ever-mushrooming federal government debt.

 Any American small business owner who asked a bank to borrow money this way — always asking for more while not proving any ability to pay off the debt any time soon – would be kicked out immediately. And rightly so.

It’s irresponsible and a direct threat to the economy of our nation.

Ironically, it was just about this time last year the president said the United States couldn’t be competitive in the 21st Century if it’s “weighed down by crippling budget deficits, ineffective programs that waste tax dollars and a government that is not accountable to the American people.”

In that same address to Congress, the president said:

“If the recession has taught us anything, it is that we cannot go back to an economy driven by too much spending, too much borrowing and the paper profits of financial speculation.”

Small business owners didn’t need a recession to teach them they couldn’t spend what they didn’t have or borrow more than they could pay back. That’s basic Small Business 101, something they instinctively knew long before they launched their companies. Unfortunately, their federal government hasn’t learned anything from the recession. That’s part of the reason why the economy is still teetering on the brink.

Part of the problem is the money Washington spends belongs to someone else. If politicians, bureaucrats and regulators had to reach into their own personal savings, dip into their children’s college funds or postpone buying a new family car the way small business owners often must to keep their doors open, the federal debt would shrink rapidly.

If Washington had started 98 percent of the nation’s new businesses, created two-thirds of all net new jobs and generated 40 percent of the gross national product like small business has over the years, Americans wouldn’t be fearful of losing their jobs and homes, struggling to pay taxes and worrying about the rising burden of debt facing their children and grandchildren.

Unlike Washington, Main Street entrepreneurs pull their own weight, pay their taxes and play by the government’s constantly changing rules. They don’t fool themselves with fuzzy math or tell their employees one thing, then do the opposite. When they take risks, they accept full responsibility for the results.

 They expect the same from their government: stop digging the nation’s sinking debt hole and end the dangerous class warfare that’s poisoning future generations of entrepreneurs.

Small business built America, can rebuild it and keep it strong.

All Washington needs to do is follow Main Street’s example and understand a simple fact: Free enterprise is not free. 

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Craig Hall

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I did, almost a year ago to the day. You remember, don’t you? The last time our esteemed senator from Colorado, Mark Udall, introduced a harebrained resolution at the time of the state of the union speech. Udall offered his version of a Sadie Hawkins dance gone insane with his proposal that members of Congress make the state of the union address their personal date night with a member of the (gasp) opposite party.

As my column stated, this kind of fixup could lead to close dancing and making out under the bleachers — or worse. As the American people have come to learn, when members of Congress are bumping uglies and making kissy face, things tend to go very badly. Obviously, the legislative and executive actions over the past year have proven this to be an undeniable truth.

But as is the talent only known to a senator, their ability to make things substantially worse is surpassed only by the ideas our president presented at the state of the union that will, indeed, make our lives substantially worse. But there’s no sense in attacking the obvious of what Obama offered. OK, let’s do one. Warren Buffet doesn’t pay a 15 percent tax rate, he’s actually paying a second tax on his investment income for which he’s already paid a 35 percent tax on from when he earned it. Short and sweet, Warren is taking it in the short hairs, no matter where his sweet secretary gets invited to sit.

That said, let’s go straight to the bizarre, indecent proposal of Udall. As Democratic members tend to do, they double down on dumb and the things that don’t work in the real world — although, sadly, his idea last year at this time did work, which was bad news in and of itself for all of us. So this year, Udall proposed to not only take Republicans (and the American people) to the prom in a pretty dress, he proposed that the dress hit the floor while the Democrats do the Republicans the dirty deed with his “let’s spend the night together 24 hours of Rodney King why-can’t-we-just-all-get-along-a-palooza!”

In his blog, Udall states that he thinks, “Civility and bipartisanship should not be limited to one night per year, but 24 hours of civility is a good start.” Um, no. The American people saw what Congress is capable of over the past year after just the one date proposed by Udall. Heck, we’re sickened by the destruction Congress causes when no one is even talking. I, for one, would hate to see the scorched-earth policies Congress could create if  members actually shacked up for the night!

Udall goes on to state that without his outreach for bipartisanship, he, and Congress, could not have been so successful in, “permanently banning earmarks; bringing a balanced budget amendment to the Senate floor for a vote; and spurring job growth in our mountain communities, to name just a few.” Sen. Udall, while that all sounds nice, none of what you just wrote actually happened for most Americans. There are fewer Americans working than when you took office regardless of any rate you choose to cite, earmarks can (and probably are) be buried inside the thousands of pages of omnibus bills Congress passes without reading  and bringing a bill to the floor has little to do with getting it passed — or worse, what is passed is actually worse than the original bill. The examples are legion and their authors need to be cast out.

Udall’s laments: “Congress’s approval rating is at 13 percent right now. That’s a pretty strong signal to me that the American people are fed up with the hyper-partisanship that has hog-tied the legislative process. They want results. And bipartisanship is the vehicle to get us there.” That’s simply misguided. Bipartisanship-based results from Congress and wild ideas from the all-knowing who occupy the Oval Office, coupled with the express ignoring of our Constitution and the intent of our founding fathers, is what got us here. The last thing we need is more results from your John and Yoko bedroom press event! And as that photo op frighteningly brings vivid images to my mind, could you shave a little (or a lot of) something off the budget?

Udall closes his blog with, “Working together is the way we do things in the West, and that’s how I work in Washington, D.C. It’s time for Congress to follow Colorado’s lead, collaborate even where we have differences and lead by example. I hope you will join me in calling for 24 hours of civility.” What our senator refuses to recognize is that working together to do something that’s wrong or unconstitutional is never in the best interest of the American people, no matter how good everyone on the progressive side feels. The legislative process of feeling good has our government spending in excess of $1.5 trillion more than it takes in every year. That’s not an example of how to lead, unless your goal is to go over a cliff. Then again, I’m sure the wind in your face will feel really good, that is until you have to land. This simple example doesn’t work in the real world Americans live in, and it will fail for Congress as well. Then again, everyday Americans use their own money.

Personally, for 2012, I’m rooting for a couple’s spat of 8,760 hours. Maybe even a nasty breakup.  

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The Home Loan bus offers 45 seats and leaves from four locations starting at 6:30 a.m. and returns before 6 p.m. Service is available on Saturdays through March 24. The bus features flat-screen televisions showing ski and snowboard movies.

Tickets for a bus ride and lunch sell for $20. Tickets for a bus ride, lift ticket and lunch sell for $69. Fifteen tickets will be sold every week at each of three Grand Valley locations: Flyn Roosters, 569 32 Road; Kannah Creek Brewery, 1960 N. 12th St.; and Loki Mountain Shop, 2249 Broadway, Suite 8. Tickets must be purchased prior to boarding the bus.

Sponsoring restaurants will offer dinner and drink specials to participants who show their Home Loan bus tickets.

For more information about the Home Loan bus, visit the Web site located at www.homeloanbus.buzztown.com.

Located east of Grand Junction atop the Grand Mesa, Powderhorn Mountain Resort is in the midst of its first ski season under new ownership. For more information about Powderhorn, telephone 268-5700 or visit www.powderhorn.com.

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Pending regulatory approval, Eide Bailly and Wipfli expect to officially combine professional practices June 1.

The combined firm will be named EB Wipfli and operate 41 offices with a total of 2,327 associates, including 301 partners. The combined firm will serve a total of more than 70,000 clients and generate an annual revenue of more than $314 million. EB Wipfli will rank among the top 15 accounting firms in the United States.

“We are proud to join forces with a firm of similar size, scope, culture and service philosophy,” said Jerry Topp, managing partner and chief executive officer of Eide Bailly. Topp will serve as chairman of the merged firm.

“Eide Bailly and Wipfli are both committed to offering our clients top-quality service and customized solutions to help them thrive,” Topp added.

Eide Bailly operates six offices in Colorado employing a total of 120. In Grand Junction, Eide Bailly operates offices at 655 N. 12th St. 

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The new site, located at the intersection of Patterson and 30 roads, provides additional coverage and capacity for customers in the northeastern area of the city. The site is part of ongoing efforts to improve the mobile broadband experience for customers based on the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) of technologies. For more information about AT&T and its coverage, log on to the Web site at www.att.com.

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Local Focus Digital Media has grown from four advertising locations to 18 over the two years, a network that now includes businesses in Grand Junction as well as Fruita and Delta.

Local Focus, owned by Dave Vogt and Jim Montoya, sells advertising time on digital displays located in businesses and such high-traffic locations as Crossroads Fitness, Delta Memorial Hospital and Mesa Mall. Advertising messages can be updated quickly to offer new information to potential customers. In addition to advertising, the displays feature breaking news, local weather and trivia.

For more information, call 261-4319 or visit the Web site located at www.localfocusdigitaltv.com.

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The Commons of Hilltop opened the Memory Care Wing at its facility at 625 27 1/2 Road.

The wing features private and semi-private apartments that offer a home-like environment as well as common areas that offer companionship and socialization. A garden area offers secure access to the outdoors. Meals are served from an extensive menu offered at the Commons. A variety of support services, activities and outings are offered. Staff trained in caring for people with dementia work with residents and their families.

For more information, call 243-3333 or visit the Web site located at www.thecommonsgj.org.

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