With oil prices, what goes down must come up

With oil prices, what goes down must come up

Phil Castle, The Business Times As an economist who’s monitored crude oil prices for 40 years, John Felmy knows from personal experience what goes down must come up. That’s why Felmy believes slumping oil prices that have saved consumers some money at the pump but also forced energy companies to reallocate resources eventually will rebound. […]

Manufacturing connections: Summit to offer networking, but also focus on workforce development

Manufacturing connections: Summit to offer networking, but also focus on workforce development

Phil Castle, The Business Times       Eric Goertz stresses the importance of making connections among manufacturers. But Goertz also knows manufacturers face a challenge in finding qualified workers. That’s why the second version of an event that brings manufacturers together for educational presentations and networking also will focus on workforce development. “It’s the […]

Space for innovation: Entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses

Space for innovation: Entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses

Phil Castle, The Business Times Jon Maraschin knows well what happens when entrepreneurs gain access to equipment and counseling: They start and expand businesses. But the secret sauce, Maraschin says, is the collaboration that occurs whenever ideas are discussed, experiences shared and, in the end, businesses made even better. “That’s magic. That’s what we do […]

Making an impact: CMU economic effects top $417 million

Making an impact: CMU economic effects top $417 million

Phil Castle, The Business Times        As Colorado Mesa University continues to grow, so do the effects of CMU on the Western Colorado economy. The latest results of an economic impact study estimate the total direct and indirect effects of the university tops $417 million. That total for the 2013-2014 fiscal year is nearly […]

Promoting oil shale: Big role foreseen for big resource

Promoting oil shale: Big role foreseen for big resource

Phil Castle, The Business Times         While the promise of commercial oil shale production has yet to be fully realized in Western Colorado, Brad McCloud believes there’s an upside to slow development. As technology to extract oil from shale improves, so do the prospects of doing so in economically and environmentally sustainable ways, […]

Chamber chairman banking on experience

Chamber chairman banking on experience

Phil Castle, The Business Times What Jeff Franklin says he enjoys most about his job as a bank president is meeting the owners and managers of various businesses and finding ways the bank can help them improve their operations. “I really enjoy helping businesses out and seeing them grow,” Franklin says. Franklin expects to take […]

What’s ahead? Outlook for Mesa County upbeat

What’s ahead? Outlook for Mesa County upbeat

Phil Castle, The Business Times Higher tax collections, increasing real estate activity and more upbeat expectations for business conditions are among the signs pointing toward  an improving economy in Mesa County in 2015, officials say. It’s no longer so much a question if growth will continue, but how much and how fast. “Overall, I’m cautiously […]

Educational experience: Instruction and activities combine at CMU

Educational experience: Instruction and activities combine at CMU

Phil Castle, The Business Times Patrick Wall says he’s learned a lot from his business courses at Colorado Mesa University, but even more from the various entrepreneurial activities in which he’s been involved. Wall works at the Point, a student-run pub on the CMU campus in Grand Junction. He also participates in the Entrepreneurship Club […]

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