Workplace diversity: Consultant answers questions

Editor’s note: Here’s a question-and-answer session with Claire Damken Brown, founder and president of Damken Brown & Associates, a Colorado consulting firm that specializes in diversity and equal employment opportunity strategies, gender communication, sexual harassment prevention and cultural competency. Brown is scheduled to lead a presentation at a Sept. 21 meeting of the Western Colorado Human Resource […]

Outdoor supplier donates $20,000 to Grand Valley groups

An outdoor equipment and sporting goods store has donated a total of $20,000 to four Grand Valley organizations as part of an annual nationwide grant program to preserve and maintain natural spaces through active volunteer programs. Recreation Equipment Inc. (REI) donated $5,000 grants to the Colorado Canyons Association, Colorado National Monument Association, Colorado Plateau Mountain […]

Mesa County hires new IT director

A man who managed information technology systems for colleges and universities around the country, soon will begin working as the new director of the Mesa County Information Technology Department. Frank Whidden is expected to begin his new position Aug. 22. Mesa County Administrator Chantal Unfug announced Whidden’s selection. “Frank has the expertise to guide our […]

Lawyer selected to oversee state economic development efforts

A Denver lawyer long involved in business transactions has been selected to oversee economic development efforts for the state of Colorado. Ken Lund is the new executive director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). Lund previously served as chief legal counsel for Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. Lund will remain a member […]

Name change official: It’s Colorado Mesa University

It’s official: Mesa State College is now Colorado Mesa University. A state law authorizing the change took effect Aug. 10. Staff, faculty and students at the university joined community members in celebrating the change the day before at a grand opening ceremony at Houston Hall, where a project expanded and renovated the first building on […]

Labor and housing slumps continue in Grand Junction, while state recovery lags

Grand Junction has suffered some of the worst downturns in the labor and housing markets in a state that continues to lag behind the nation in economic recovery. A number of factors continue to hamper the Grand Junction economy, including lower educational attainment levels and household incomes, according to Scott Anderson and Ed Kashmarek, economists […]

Agency receives grant extension to continue weatherization

A Western Colorado agency has received a $2.4 million grant extension to continue offering free weatherization services to low-income residents in a seven-county region. Housing Resources also was selected to participate in a national case study on the effectiveness of such programs. “We were picked because we performed the best in Colorado,” said Mike Hansen, […]