January 8, 2016
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Progress reports confusing to some ABOVE: QBLabs founder Jennifer Maskrey, of Parker, holds a tiny circuit board that monitors balance in seniors. It provides medical professionals with a warning, enabling them to intervene before a fall occurs. BELOW: A few tiny mechanical components developed by two Parker residents could revolutionize everything from physical rehab to dance to athletics.
Reports incorporate new measurement tools, use new online portal By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Jennifer, left, and Molly Maskrey, a pair of forward-thinking entrepreneurs from Parker, have paired with Innovation Pavilion to introduce technology that is quickly gaining attention in multiple industries, including healthcare. Photos by Chris Michlewicz
Tech startup could change world Parker-based QBLabs developed technology for medicine, sports By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Molly and Jennifer Maskrey don’t just believe their wearable technology can save lives — they know it will. With their startup, QBLabs, the Parker residents have developed MovementTek, a wearable device that alerts medical professionals and family members when a senior shows signs of instability when walking. The idea is for caregivers to intervene before a fall. But the device, which also is being tested to help patients with cerebral palsy, could expand beyond medical applications to provide real-time feedback to athletes and dancers to hone their techniques.
The company is seeking $1 million in seed funding for full-on production, manufacturing and distribution. It has partnered with Innovation Pavilion, a Centennialbased business incubator that has already connected the Maskreys with some big players in the industry, such as Arrow Electronics, a Centennial-based Fortune 500 company that specializes in electronic components and computer products. “Mind-blown” is how Lindsey Finklang, Innovation Pavilion’s strategic expansion associate, described her reaction when first introduced to the concepts being created by QBLabs, which stands for Quantative Bioanalytics Labs. “They have intelligence beyond words,” Finklang said of the Maskreys. “They understand technology development, and they want to use that to make the world a better place.”
FALL STATISTICS • One of three people age 65 and older fall each year. • Each year, 2.5 million people over 65 are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. • One of five falls causes a serious injury, such as a broken bone or a head injury. • Women experience threequarters of all hip fractures. • Adjusted for inflation, the direct medical costs for fall injuries are $34 billion annually. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Parent Amy DeValk, who has a student at Arrowwood Elementary in Highlands Ranch, is frustrated: The new electronic report card leaves her more confused than clear about how her daughter is doing in school. “The descriptions of outcomes and content are vague and somewhat meaningless,” she said. “For example, under math, one of the outcomes is ‘use appropriate tools strategically.’ What tools? As they apply to what? Fractions, geometry, algebra? And what does strategically mean as it applies to math tools? Can she pick the right operation? There isn’t enough information provided. I should not need a cross-reference to understand how my child is doing in school or to interpret her progress report.” DeValk is among some parents and teachers concerned about the Douglas County School District’s new Elementary Progress Report, a revised electronic report card system for elementary students. The parents say it is difficult to understand and use. The teachers say the district gave little guidance for developing rubrics to evaluate student performance. But some principals and district administrators, while acknowledging the system needs refinement, say the new assessment tool — which has been in development for 2 1/2 years — needed to be updated. Unlike the previous report system, the new one measures students against the most recent standards and desired goals and provides a more accurate picture of what and how students are learning. Each school also has flexibility in adapting the report to its own values and principles. “We wanted to be able to report out on our Guaranteed Viable Curriculum — so, Reports continues on Page 7
Coach’s family a full-court affair Steve Ketchum, who has seven sons, is feeling at home at Ponderosa By Jim Benton jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Steve Ketchum talks to the Ponderosa basketball team during practice. While coaching the Mustangs he is living with friends in Aurora. Courtesy photo
When all his sons are home, Ponderosa boys basketball coach Steve Ketchum can field a basketball team. That’s because Ketchum and his wife, Mardi, have seven sons: Two are from Mardi’s first marriage and five are adopted — three from the Denver foster care system and two from Haiti. “When Mardi and I decided we were falling in love and we were talking marriage, the first question I asked her was, ‘Would you be willing to have more chil-
dren?’” Ketchum said. “I said, ‘What about adopting?’ and she said, ‘Absolutely.’ She had always dreamed of having seven kids — and she has seven sons.” Ketchum, 57, has coached basketball for 32 seasons, including a stint in Missouri and 16 seasons in Aspen, where his family lives. This season at Ponderosa, a Class 4A school playing in the 5A Continental League, is his first in Parker but his 33rd season overall of high school coaching. He is living with friends in Aurora for the season, which could last until early March if the team makes the playoffs. His wife, Mardi, is chief financial officer of Terrapin Investments and Management Corp., a hotel ownership and management company headquartered in Aspen. Four of the couple’s adopted sons live with Coach continues on Page 24
STILL SEARCHING Parker man updates book in hopes of finding missing son on PAGE 5