Business connect september 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017

SHOULD EMPLOYEES be tested for marijuana in Colorado? pg. 4

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

helps employees improve careers

pg. 12

PG. 7

WHO’S NEXT: CHEF HONOREES

PG. 15

NEW INDUSTRIAL PARK WEST OF AIRPORT

PG. 16

MAKIN’ IT: QUESTIONS WITH ELY CORLISS

I M P O RTA N T NOTICE! OWN A BUSINESS? YOU MUST OBTAIN A NEW BUSINESS LICENSE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2017, EVERY PERSON/ COMPANY DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF GREELEY IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A BUSINESS LICENSE. THIS LICENSE REPLACES THE CURRENT SALES TAX LICENSE WHICH IS NO LONGER VALID IN THE CITY OF GREELEY.

City of Greeley 970-350-9733 • Email: greeleysalestax@greeleygov.com www.greeleygov.com/government/finance/business State of Colorado 303-238-SERV (7378) • www.colorado.gov/pacific/tax Greeley Finance | Sales Tax 1000 10th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 • Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

970-350-9733 tel • 970-350-9736 fax • greeleysalestax@greeleygov.com

2 I Business Connect I September 2017

FEATURES

PG. 12

PG. 4 Should employees be tested for marijuana in Colorado?

Professional development helps employees improve careers

PG. 7

PG. 19

PG. 10

Colorado grows

Who’s Next: Chef Honorees

More apartments slated as northern

September Calendar of Events

PG. 20

PG. 15

Business Briefs

PG. 16

On the move

Industrial business park in the works

PG. 22

Makin’ it: five questions with Ely Corliss PUBLISHER Bryce Jacobson EDITOR Randy Bangert CREATIVE MANAGER Kyle Knoop

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Andy Stonehouse Katarina Velazquez SALES MANAGER Stephanie Mighell

BUSINESS CONNECT 501 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631 P.O. Box 1690 For all editorial, advertising, subscription and circulation inquiries, call (970) 352-0211.

BUSINESS MANAGER Doug Binder

CREATIVE SUPERVISOR Amy Mayer

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MANAGING EDITOR Sharon Dunn

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For display advertising inquiries, contact: bdennis@greeleytribune.com

NICHE AUDIENCE AND BRAND DIRECTOR Bruce Dennis

2017, September, Issue 7.

Published by: Greeley Publishing Co., publisher of The Greeley Tribune, Windsor Now, the Fence Post, Tri-State Livestock News, and Energy Pipeline

September 2017 I Business Connect I 3

Should employees

be tested for marijuana in Colorado?

Marijuana plants get treated inside a greenhouse at Natures Herbs and Wellness Center, 540 27th St., in Garden City.

BY KATARINA VELAZQUEZ kvelazquez@greeleytribune.com

J

ohn Rotherham wants his employees to smoke weed.

Rotherham, owner of the Nature’s Herbs and Wellness pot shop in Garden City, said trying the marijuana products allows his employees to better assist their customers, whether that’s making recommendations for fi rst-timers or describing the effects of the products to not-so-fi rst-timers.

Ron Wildeman, branch manager at Norfolk Iron and Metal, leads employees who operate heavy machinery on a daily basis. As a result, Norfolk employees undergo random drug tests after an initial pre-employment drug test. If their results are positive, for weed or any other sort of illicit drugs, they lose their jobs. Wildeman said that’s for their safety, as Norfolk believes operating a chainsaw while stoned is probably not a good idea.

These two companies are extreme examples, yet they demonstrate the wide range of responsibilities businesses assign to their employers.

Sometimes operating in a state where pot is legal doesn’t matter, but many other times it’s a challenge. A recent study conducted by 4 I Business Connect I September 2017

Employers Council found nearly 70 percent of organizations in northern Colorado have some sort of drug testing policy and almost all of them still test for pot. The study also showed more than half of employers fi re employees for a positive test, even after the fi rst offense. This means employees still can be fi red for smoking pot even though it’s legal in Colorado.

Chuck Marting, owner of Colorado Mobile Drug Testing, 411 W. Platte Ave., Unit B, in Fort Morgan, said his company gets calls from employers who are confused about the issue of impairment as it pertains to pot use, alcohol and other drugs.

“Employers are dealing with this on a larger scale, and so much so where they don’t have all the information they should have because they’ve never had to deal with it before,” he said.

TO TEST OR NOT TO TEST? Curtis Graves is the staff attorney for Employers Council, the organization that conducted the survey. He speculated fewer companies are testing for weed than they did when Amendment 64 was fi rst passed, which sent everyone into a panic.

About 4 percent of organizations have

way to test for drunkenness on the spot.

WHY SOME COMPANIES DRUG TEST FOR POT ...

Wildeman, of Norfolk Iron and Metal, 31181 Weld County Road 39 ½, said his company drug tests randomly throughout employment, as well as when any injuries take place at work or if there is damage done to equipment. If employees fail these drug Prax Machado, waters baby marijuana plants at Natures Herbs and tests, they’re immediately Wellness Center located at 540 27th St., Garden City. terminated.

Wildeman noted Norfolk relaxed their policies as it pertains to weed in employees regularly work with processing mathe past two years, the survey said. Furtherchines, plate burners and saws, and they also more, 3 percent of businesses have removed operate overhead cranes and fork lifts. weed from their drug lists when testing, and “All of those can be dangerous, especially so another 3 percent took it away from their preif an individual is under the influence,” he said. employment processes but still test for other work-related reasons.

Wildeman also said Norfolk is headquartered in Nebraska and has several locations throughMarting said he works with a broad span out the U.S. where pot might not be legalized. of businesses across the state of Colorado That’s another reason why the company has — ranging from rental car companies to the policies it does: to keep things as broad contractors to oil field companies — where he and simple as possible so they can be installed conducts drug tests and helps train employers nationwide. on how to detect impairment at work. He said a lot of businesses can get insurance discounts when they implement a drug-free work place. He said costs for testing can be pricey when employers include it into their budgets, but some companies actually save money in the long run because they don’t encounter as many drug-related claims.

Alcohol is included in these drug-free work zones alongside weed, as companies don’t want their employees drunk at work as much as they don’t want Adam Hepner unloads metal from a forklift at Norfolk Iron and Metal them high at work. But unlike marijuana, there’s a company, 31181 County Rd 39 1/2 in Greeley.

September 2017 I Business Connect I 5

Left Photo: Monica Rinaldi, trims marijuana at Natures Herbs and Wellness Center, 540 27th St., in Garden City. Right: Roger Casias, a machine operator, measures metal to be cut at Norfolk Iron and Metal located at 31181 County Rd 39 1/2 in Greeley.

… AND WHY SOME DON’T

WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE

Brian Seifried, owner and founder of northern Colorado’s Wing Shack, said his restaurants don’t and never have conducted drug testing. He said he thinks that probably represents the food industry as a whole.

Seifried already struggles with fi nding workers in a tight market; it’s hard to keep all six of his locations at 100 percent staffi ng.

Drug testing might make his hiring pool even smaller, given he typically has students working for him. Seifried also said he doesn’t feel it’s his duty to control what employees do when they’re not on the clock.

“We’ve had the mentality that what an employee does at home and what they do in their personal life doesn’t reflect on us, as long as they come to work ready to work hard,” Seifried said.

Many other larger employers in Greeley don’t test either because they can’t afford it or don’t see the need to do so. Greeley-Evans School District 6 doesn’t test pre-employment or randomly, according to spokeswoman Theresa Myers, because of the expense. The University of Northern Colorado conducts background checks for a past of illicit drug use but does not implement a drug test during the hiring process, said spokesman Nate Haas. Both test if there’s reasonable suspicion an employee is intoxicated at work, which is outlined in their drug and alcohol policies.

Graves speculated several things would need to change in order for off-duty weed use to not be a legal reason for termination for Colorado employees. The most obvious, he said, is marijuana would have to be legalized at the federal level. Most local employers agreed with that notion.

Graves said another way would be if Colorado passed a statute protecting employees for marijuana use. For example, Arizona passed a law that said simply testing for weed is not a good enough reason to fi re or refuse to hire somebody without any proof of impairment, Graves said, in regards to medical marijuana users. If Colorado had a law like that, employers wouldn’t be able to fi re their employees for pot use if they weren’t high at work.

Then there’s technology, Graves said. Right now, there’s a way to fi nd out if someone is drunk at work, but pot stays in people’s systems for months. Graves said if there was a tool such as a Breathalyzer for weed that could test for present impairment, a lot of the issues employers are dealing with could be solved.

Lastly, Graves said he thinks the unemployment rate would have to go up, probably to about 6 or 7 percent, in order for businesses to start drug testing again. Right now, the state sits at a 2.3 percent unemployment rate, according to recent preliminary numbers from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

6 I Business Connect I September 2017

CHEFS The Greeley Tribune and Business Connect are highlighting the up-and-coming leaders across Weld County as part of a new series called Who’s Next. The goal of the Who’s Next series is to honor some of the most dedicated young people working to shape our cities in Weld County every day. The honorees you see on the following pages were nominated by their peers for the outstanding work they are doing as a chef, and were celebrated at our sixth Who’s Next event on August 29.

VIEW MORE ONLINE AT www.greeleytribune.com/whos-next-honoringchefs/

JEREMY KRIEGER

KITCHEN MANAGER AT STUFT BURGER BAR | Age: 26

CHEFS

What began as just a job has turned into a passion for Jeremy Krieger.

“Last year I just needed a job and ended up working at Stuft Burger and started cooking there,” Krieger said. “I had cooked at home. I was always experimental with my cooking. My mom cooks a lot and she taught me some things.” Before he knew it, Krieger had progressed to kitchen manager where he is responsible for ensuring the kitchen is fully operations, food is ordered correctly and that other workers know the recipes.

His favorite thing to cook? Omelets. But he’s not too picky. “I really like food. I like to eat and I like to eat my own food. It’s fun to experience different tastes and try out new things.” While the restaurant is about to launch a new menu, Krieger recommends the Chile Relleno Burger with a side of parmesan garlic fries.

September 2017 I Business Connect I 7

SEAN PRICE

HEAD CHEF AT BRIX TAPHOUSE AND BREWERY | Age: 30

CHEFS

Sean Price’s mom taught him the basics of cooking. From there he’s expanded, working as the head chef at Brix Taphouse and Brewery. After adventuring across the country a few times and learning and volunteering along the way, he settled in Greeley where he began working at Lincoln Park Emporium. After a coworker who went to Brix a lot heard they needed a cook, she recommended Price and he began as a part-time cook. Within a year he had become head chef and is also responsible for scheduling and booking musicians, private parties and other reservations. “Basically whatever is needed, I do,” Price said. “I’m typically the only acting manager that’s there, so whatever they need me to do I jump in there and do it.” Price works full-time in the kitchen as well, creating new recipes and specials. “Food is something I know so well. I enjoy being able to cook and provide happiness to people. Especially when I get the creative control I have at Brix to be able to put out high-quality food that has thought and love in it,” Price said. “I know how nice it can be to sit down and enjoy a nice meal and good drink. Being head chef I can make sure everyone who comes in can enjoy that. It’s really satisfying.”

MATT HOELTL

SOUS CHEF AT THE TAVERN AT ST. MICHAEL’S | Age: 26

CHEFS

Matthew Hoeltl did fry cooking for five years before he began working in what he calls “real kitchens.” Recently named the sous chef at The Tavern at St. Michael’s, where the person who nominated him said, “He makes amazing food, creating new specials all the time. He has a true passion for quality that is visible with each dish he puts out.” Not that cooking was always his forte. “It was only Kraft Mac & Cheese for me for a while at home,” Hoeltl said with a laugh. “I’m getting more in tune with my own kitchen at home now.” As for his work at The Tavern, he said he really enjoys the open kitchen aspect and that he gets to learn something new every day. “Everyone can see you in our kitchen. You get to put on a little bit of a show.”

JOHN ALBERT

KITCHEN MANAGER AT FAT ALBERT’S Age: 29

CHEFS

John Albert was born into the restaurant business. His parents own Fat Albert’s, which has been in business since 1982, before Albert was born. “I did actually leave and try to do something else for a year, but I was pulled back in. There’s no escaping it,” he said jokingly. He grew up around the kitchen and said he was always there trying to help, but didn’t begin working there until he was 15 and cooking when he was 18. “It all just takes practice,” he said. “I remember at one point I couldn’t figure out how to make the simplest things and now I’m one of the strongest cooks.” He enjoys making the soup 8 I Business Connect I September 2017

fresh every day. A particular favorite is Thursday’s homemade chicken noodle, which he said he often hears is “the best soup we’ve ever had,” from customers. “I’m a foodie. I enjoy food in every aspect. Not many places can say they’ve been around as long as we have. We’ve outlasted chains and other restaurants. We’re still here.”

BRENDA SANDOVAL

CHEF DE CUISINE AT THE TAVERN AT ST. MICHAEL’S | Age: 35

CHEFS

Brenda Sandoval has been cooking at The Tavern at St. Michael’s for seven years. During that time she has become a part of the restaurant family and quite the chef. “This is like my second family,” Sandoval said.

“I love food. I love eating food. I like to create things people like so they are happy. I also like the challenges. Sometimes I’ll be asked to try a new recipe and I just do it. I enjoy making customers happy and having them come back.” Sandoval enjoys making soups from scratch, using some creativity and whatever she has on hand to create that day’s soup. She credits her family for supporting her. “My husband is the one that backs me up. He offers ideas for me to try. He and my family are the ones that push me all the time.”

PETER BAEK

SUSHI CHEF AT SUSHI 1

CHEFS

Peter Baek is a sushi chef at Sushi 1 where he creates delectable dishes for his customers. His nominator Ryan Aguirre, said this of Baek, “Peter has been the best sushi chef at Sushi 1 for four years. As a server at this restaurant I have noticed Peter always puts extra effort into making the sushi rolls look beautiful for the customers, even during the busiest times. He will always make the extra effort to ensure the customers have a wonderful experience. Not only is Peter a great chef, but he always greets new customers with a smile as they walk in the door.”

DO YOU KNOW A

WHO’S NEXT COMMUNITY LEADER?

2017

The Greeley Tribune and Business Connect want to highlight some of the up-and-coming people who are shaping Weld County’s philantrophy sector as part of a series called “Who’s Next.” The intent of the “Who’s Next” series is to highlight some of the most dedicated young people working to shape our cities in Weld County every day. Our goal is to identify and track the next generation of leaders and influencers.

Presenting Sponsor

NOMINATE TODAY!

Someone under 40 • In the nonprofit/philantrophy sector who is making a difference in their vocation or volunteer efforts

w w w. g r e e l e y t r i b u n e . c o m /w h o s - n e x t - g i v e r s or send an email to bdennis@greeleytribune.com with “Who’s Next: Givers” in the subject line.

Please submit nominations by September 3, 2017.

September 2017 I Business Connect I 9

SEPTEMBER 2017 EVENTS SEPT. 7 GREELEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

leads group, 7:30 a.m., at the Chamber, 902 7th Ave., Greeley. This group meets every Thursday morning to share and create business leads for our group’s members. Details: (970) 352-3566.

SOUTHEAST WELD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Northeast Corridor

Business Expo 2017, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., Wild Animal Sanctuary, Details: 1-844-517-5406

SEPT. 19 HIRE JOB AND RESOURCE FAIR, Island Grove Regional Park Conference rooms, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. www.greeleytribune.com/hire

SEPT. 21 GREELEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

Young Professionals, 5:30-7 p.m., Rennstall-USA, 3805 10th St., Greeley.

Free. Details: (970) 352-3566.

EVANS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, business after hours, 5-7

p.m., Lit’l Bit Bar & Grill, 3620 35th Ave., Evans. Details: (970) 330-4204.

SEPT. 13 GREELEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

business before hours, 7-8:30 a.m. , Homewood Suites Greeley, 2510 46th Ave. Free to investors; $20, noninvestors.

Details: (970) 352-3566.

GREELEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FORT LUPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, luncheon, 11:30 a.m. - 1

p.m., 203 S. Harrison, Fort Lupton.

Details: 303-857-4474

leads group, 7:30 a.m., at the Chamber, 902 7th Ave., Greeley. This group meets every Thursday morning to share and create business leads for our group’s members. Details: (970) 352-3566.

SEPT. 14

SEPT. 26

GREELEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

GREELEY BUSINESSWOMEN’S NETWORK, luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1

leads group, 7:30 a.m., at the Chamber, 902 7th Ave., Greeley. This group meets every Thursday morning to share and create business leads for our group’s members. Details: (970) 352-3566.

10 I Business Connect I September 2017

p.m., Community Banks of Colorado, 3780 10th St., Greeley. $15, members; $20 nonmembers. RSVP at www. greeleybusinesswomen.com.

CALENDAR SEPT. 27 WINDSOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

networking at noon. Noon - 1 p.m., Manweiler Appliance, 414-B Main St,.

Windsor. Details: (970) 686-7189.

WE CHAMPION A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY • By actively engaging in workforce development activities within education.

• By promoting agriculture and its major role in our economy.

• By providing multiple connection opportunities to meet new business prospects.

60 IDEAS IN 60 MINUTES, 7:30 a.m.,

Sept. 27, Greeley Country Club, 4500 10th St., Greeley. In just 90 minutes, attendees of this event will walk away with the collective knowledge of six forward thinking business leaders from Weld County. Come ready to learn, ask questions and start your day out with a great breakfast! www.greeleytribune. com/60in60

• By enthusiastically encouraging Greeley residents and businesses to keep their dollars in the community.

Join us and let us be your champion, too!

SEPT. 28 GREELEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

leads group, 7:30 a.m., at the Chamber, 902 7th Ave., Greeley. This group meets every Thursday morning to share and create business leads for our group’s members. Details: (970) 352-3566.

GREELEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

business after hours, 5-7 p.m. Gateway Place Apartments, 3750 24th St., Greeley. This event happens every fourth Thursday. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and network with other Greeley Chamber investors. You can also win door prizes. Free to members; $20 nonmembers. Details: (970) 352-3566.

To include your business news in the Business Connect sections, contact Sharon Dunn at sdunn@greeleytribune. com or call (970) 392-4439.

GREELEYCHAMBER.COM • 352-3566

September 2017 I Business Connect I 11

Professional develo helps employees improve careers

By ANDY STONEHOUSE For Business Connect

12 I Business B Bussiness Connect I September S t ber 2017 20

opment

N

ot so long ago, in our parents’ working generation, success in business was often simply a case of picking a job and diligently sticking with it until retirement.

That is no longer the norm. For those employees lucky enough to find work in the first place, the path to stability or better job opportunities often involves a healthy dose of professional development.

Happily, that can be often accomplished either through an employer itself, though many workers have found that upgrading or specialty skills training also can lead to better opportunities.

Tammeron Trujillo, director of human resource services with the Mountain States Employer Council, says she is seeing an increasing number of businesses offering tuition reimbursement or other forms of professional development – even to part-time employees.

“We believe that the more you help people to be marketable, the more dedication they’ll show to their job,” she says. “There’s always a little bit of a disconnect as some employers think that workers will leave once they’ve received upgrading, but that’s not true.”

Mountain States research has found approximately 58 percent of northern Colorado employers provide at least some form of tuition reimbursement or sponsorship for professional upgrading, with those benefits immediately available to about 33 percent of employees – or within a year of employment for about 37 percent.

Chris Gaddis, head of human resources for JBS USA, is a product himself of professional development. He oversees those opportunities for nearly 100 local JBS employees now enrolled in employer-sponsored upgrading and career development education, most working in conjunction with Colorado State University for certificate, undergraduate and professional certificates and degrees.

Gaddis says he encourages even recent high school graduates to consider some real-world working experience to help better set them on the path to an appropriate career – with many employers willing to help assist with the everincreasing costs in post-secondary education.

“It can be tough for a kid out there, fresh out of community college, and I always suggest that people instead work for a while to develop September 2017 I Business Connect I 13

their own career path – and then figure out which professional degree or certification will benefit them the most,” he says.

Gaddis himself underwent a complete career change while working at JBS, and says others may also find that their working aspirations change as they experience the day-to-day realities of their jobs, especially young people fresh out of college.

“I was that kind of kid – I finished high school, I graduated from college, I went to law school and passed the bar and was $100,000 in student loan debt, and in my case, I didn’t particularly like practicing law,” Gaddis says.

“After I joined JBS, my eyes were opened to the diversity of opportunities available in corporate America, and I was offered entirely on-the-job training to change careers. My transition would not have been possible in a vacuum – so I’m happy to work for a company that valued me and my contributions, and had a belief that I could go somewhere.”

Gaddis says that professional development can benefit practically any member of an employer’s team, aiding in overall job satisfaction.

“We want to make our high-potential employees better at their jobs,” he says. “If we do help, they value that and develop a sense of loyalty – and that’s a great tool for retention and morale, as well.”

According to the Mountain States survey, 80 percent of employers who do offer help for on-the-job upgrading do emphasize direct job-related training. Trujillo says that 58 percent say they encourage general careerdevelopment upgrading or education, while another 33 percent require participants

14 I Business Connect I September 2017

to complete a degree as part of their reimbursement arrangement.

“From an HR standpoint, someone who has certifications or degrees or is trying to pursue those indicates a level of commitment to their job and their profession,” Trujillo adds.

“Professional development is always a good thing, and it’s continuing to trend up as the employment rate goes up.”

Jill Scott, director of human resources with Greeley’s Professional Finance Company Inc., says her company has opted to aggressively offer training to all of its supervisors, managers and senior leaders, with three tiers of ongoing development courses offered.

“We decided to invest pretty heavily in our employees, so we do a full course of leadership development programming for new, emerging and even continued leaders,” she says. “We’ve found that the younger generation, the millennials especially, are really thriving and asking for development and constant learning – and opportunities to do so.”

Scott says approximately 30 of her 155 employees have taken part in internal training programs, focusing specifically on issues specific to Professional Finance Co.’s culture – the tricky business of bill and debt collection.

That’s included an educational program called Litmos, which uses classroom time and an online component to teach the basics of Excel, HIPAA and other compliance issues, plus help with handling difficult situations.

“Employees appreciate anything that shows that their career path has been extended, and obviously this is a great retention too, as well,” she says. “Any chance you get to boost employee engagement is also a great bonus.”

New industrial business park in the works,

planned for area west of Greeley-Weld County airport

By KATARINA VELAZQUEZ kvelazquez@greeleytribune.com

A

new 58-acre industrial park is in the works to open in the area west of the Greeley-Weld County Airport on East 8th Street in Greeley.

Currently in the preliminary design stage, the Greeley Airport Business Park, 2139 E. 8th Street, will have 13 industrial lots about 2 to 4 acres each, according to city documents. Mark Bradley of Realtec Commercial Real Estate Services in Greeley said the property will be zoned industrial to allow for outside storage, oil and gas companies, agricultural users, construction companies and more businesses of that nature.

Bradley said the Greeley Airport Business Park is one of many projects that will hopefully tackle the need for industrial lots in Greeley. He said there are only a handful of available industrial lots in town, with Realtec working on another one in north Greeley, north of Weld County offices on O Street.

“If Greeley wants to continue to capture those jobs, then they need to have a place for those companies to locate to,” Bradley said.

Bradley said the next three to four months will be spent going through the process of approvals with the city, and best case scenario, construction crews will tackle the project next spring.

Melanie Foslien, project engineer for Northern Engineering and Land Surveying, 820 8th St., said there are no planned users for the property right now.

City officials have been working to make the East 8th Street Corridor more appealing to potential businesses and more successful for current businesses, according to Becky Safarik, assistant city manager, considering it’s a direct connection from the airport to Greeley’s downtown. The Greeley Airport Business Park will be just one piece to that puzzle, she said.

“It’s so complementary to that corridor because it’s a heavy industrial corridor anyway,” she said. “Having a business park out there that will help build out and create more destinations and opportunities for businesses is just a positive for Greeley all the way around.”

The industrial lot is not associated with the Greeley-Weld County Airport in any way, despite its name, as it is a privately funded project, said airport manager Gary Cyr. September 2017 I Business Connect I 15

Makin’ It: Five questions with Ely Corliss, publisher of BandWagon Magazine and owner of Moxi Theater in Greeley

By KATARINA VELAZQUEZ kvelazquez@greeleytribune.com Ely Corliss, poses on the stage at the Moxi Theater, 802 9th St., in downtown Greeley. Corliss has been the owner of the Moxi since 2013 and is also the publisher of the Bandwagon Wagon Magazine in Greeley.

16 I Business Connect I September 2017

E

ly Corliss had a high school band that was going to make it big. Or at least that’s what they thought at the time.

That’s how he ended up in Greeley from Aurora about 10 years ago. One of his band members was going to school at the University of Northern Colorado, so the rest of the band tagged along to follow their teenage dreams.

Although they never ended up on any top-40 music radio stations, Corliss still made a name for himself in the music industry. He’s pretty much the head honcho of the music scene in downtown Greeley these days.

Corliss, 29, is the publisher of BandWagon Magazine and owner of the Moxi Theater, 802 9th St., and is one of the younger, more prominent business leaders in the community.

He made his passion for the music industry into a career, which started in 2007 with his concert promotion business called The Crew Presents.

That was his way of fi nding local gigs — mainly consisting of small rooms and corners of bars — for his band and other bands in town.

Corliss then developed BandWagon with editor-in-chief Jed Murphy in 2011 as a way to help promote concerts for The Crew Presents.

Two years later, Corliss landed the secondfloor music venue now known as the Moxi, which books everything form local bands to nationally known acts.

With no direct venue competition in Greeley, Corliss said he’s enthusiastic about how much it’ll grow in the coming years. Five years in the making, he said, 2017 already has been his best year in revenue and landing acts.

“I just hope it keeps getting bigger and better,” he said.

But it’s still a tough, competitive business, Corliss said. Denver music venues land the greater chunk of bands that fly through Colo-

rado, making it difficult to secure larger acts at the Moxi sometimes. But that doesn’t keep Corliss from trying.

You’d probably recognize Corliss at local music events sporting his signature black-rimmed glasses, thick beard and raspy laugh.

The Tribune recently sat down with Corliss to further discuss his successful career in Greeley.

Walk me through a typical day.

A :

Oh no … (laughs) Usually I have to wake up late because I’m up late the night before for concerts and stuff. Then I go get some coffee at John Galt (Coffee Co.) and I come in here. If all goes well Jack ( Jordan, BandWagon art director) is already in here (the Moxi) because he doesn’t come out to the concerts. Then we work on some graphic design — I’m a graphic designer and so is Jack — and we work full-time in here putting our magazines together.

On my end, I do a lot of the administrative stuff, (which includes) everything from booking the talent to putting away beer orders. Luckily, my wife (Samantha) is the bar manager here, so I don’t have to worry about any of the ordering or inventory or anything like that. But yeah, the big day-to-day is just marketing concerts, booking concerts and keeping up on the paperwork.

What are your thoughts about your generation and how do you think others view it?

A :

I don’t know. I think millennials are defi nitely unique. I wouldn’t generalize anything, though. I think there’s good people and there’s bad people, and honestly, there’s people who do work out and those who don’t work out (as employees). That’s the way it always is. Certainly, we’ve had some employees or some people that we try to bring into the office that just do not work out, but I don’t think it’s generational.

I’m self-employed, self-motivated. Like, I feel lazy at times, but I don’t have a problem getting motivated if I have to. I don’t know. I think it’s more of a personal thing than a generational thing.

September 2017 I Business Connect I 17

Ely Corliss holds onto a pair of tickets for a show while in the ticket office at the Moxi Theater, 802 9th St., in downtown Greeley. These tickets are to Corliss’s golden birthday bash concert, which featured RVRB, Silver & Gold, Slow Caves and Bitter Suns.

What sparked your interest to start a business in Greeley?

A :

I think the market needed it. I literally started my business of concert promotions (in 2007) — which kind of spurred everything else — because there was a need for it. There was nowhere to book my band in Greeley then.

Do you have any advice for young folks who are interested in starting a business or getting involved with Greeley?

A :

Well, I mean, I think just good life advice that I might have is — I’ve said this before and I’ve said it a number of different ways — but you gotta push print eventually. That’s a direct analogy with our magazine. You have to go for it. You can’t just spend all your time making plans. Obviously, there’s a lot that goes into (starting a business) — a lot of planning and a lot of thought. But the biggest thing, not necessarily with millennials, but everyone, is that they’re too scared to pull the trigger. You know what I mean?

I’ve never really had that fear and maybe I’m just lucky. But it’s OK to just go for it. It doesn’t hurt to do it. We’ve defi nitely been wrong a few times ... but you know, life’s full of mistakes. It’s OK to make mistakes.

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?

A :

Oh man … a slogan for your life. I don’t even know. How do I even say something without sounding like a total cheese ball or sounding arrogant?

Maybe going off that last question … “It’s OK to make mistakes?” That’s a terrible slogan. (laughs) I think ‘Go for it’ is probably a good one.

Yeah. That would be it. Go for it.

18 I Business Connect I September 2017

More apartments

slated as northern Colorado grows

BY SHARON DUNN sdunn@greeleytribune.com

T

he past couple years have featured almost staggering numbers of apartments being built in and around Greeley.

It doesn’t look to end any time soon.

As of July 6, the city of Greeley was tracking projects in various stages of design to construction that will add 455 apartment units in Greeley. That’s on the heels of an apartment boom a couple years back when 348 units were added at 83rd Avenue and 20th Street, and Scott Ehrlich’s Legend Flats put another 176 units on the market in Evans.

Down the road in Johnstown, Spanos Corp.’s Gateway Apartments recently put

up 254 units at Interstate 25 and U.S. 34, with a second phase on the way. The development is slated for another 212-unit project from Wisconsin-based Continental Properties.

Many have been asking how they possibly could be fi lled.

Ryan Schaefer, principal at Chrisland Real Estate who has brokered lot development deals at 2534, conducts a biannual northern Colorado-specific rental survey.

The numbers tell him a story of demand.

“One of the stats that keeps coming to mind is we’re only delivering 60 percent of the housing starts that we were in the 2005 peak,” Schaefer said. “That’s pretty staggering when you think about the compounded annual growth. More of that housing product this time is being delivered as apartments.

“As the cost of single-family homes continues to outpace incomes, that’s just going to continue to drive more people to apartments.”

As of April, that survey showed Greeley/Evans vacancy at 4.7 percent.

The state Department of Local Affairs does a quarterly mul-

Vacancy rates source: Colorado Department of Local Affairs, March 2017.

Occupancy rates/rents source: Chrisland Real Estate Co.

APARTMENTS continued on page 21

September 2017 I Business Connect I 19

Business briefs Flatiron Steel markets 10 years in business in new building

Flatrion Steel is celebrating 10 years in business with its new building in the HighPointe Business park in west Greeley.

The 32,000-square-foot structure at 11500 21st St. on a four-acre site, enables Flatiron to efficiently produce orders of any size, standard and custom, according to a news release. Every steel panel found on site was produced by Flatiron Steel, transforming the entirety of the facility into an indoor and outdoor showroom, the release stated. The site incorporates every steel panel profi le the company produces, the release stated.

“Our new facility allows us to provide our customers with the products they need, when they want them,” Flatiron owner and president Lee Smith said in the release. “Our growth and the new facility is due to the support of community in and around Weld County. We are truly thankful for this.”

Flatiron Steel supplies metal roofi ng materials for residential, commercial and agricultural properties. It is the only family-owned metal roofi ng manufacturer in Colorado, the release stated. It also has a branch in Colorado Springs.

Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital celebrates 10 years

JOHNSTOWN Northern Colorado Long-Term Acute Hospital will celebrate 10 years in northern Colorado next week.

The public is invited to an anniversary party from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital, 4401A Union Street in Johnstown. The event will include music, food and fellowship. RSVPs are requested.

The hospital sees more than 200 patients per year. The hospital provides long-term acute and critical care services to patients recovering from serious illnesses or injuries, according to a news release. Often they need care for conditions such as trauma, infectious diseases, wound healing, cardiovascular disease, stroke, amputations and respiratory failure, the release stated.

“Most people who need inpatient hospital services are admitted to an ‘acute care’ hospital for a relatively short amount of time,” CEO Lamar McBride said in the release. “If a patient has a medically complex condition and needs continued care beyond the original hospital stay, the patient will be referred to a long-term acute care hospital like ours.”

Patients receive a variety of care, including 24-hour respiratory and nursing care, speech, physical and occupational therapies, aquatic therapy, pain management, dysphagia management, ventilator weaning and wound care. The hospital also offers a cardio/pulmonary recovery program, the release stated.

To RSVP for the anniversary party, call (970) 619-3662.

Greeley sign company changes name

Signs Now Greeley, 2526 10th St., has a new name.

Re-named Image360 Greeley, the center and its longstanding owners, Pete and Cheryl Thomas, are offering a fresh approach to professional graphic solutions with enhanced customer service and a completely new look in the center, which now includes a conference room, according to a news release.

Image360 will provide the graphic solutions to regional businesses and organizations. With the transition to Image360, the Thomases hope to expand services to their customers.

Image360 is locally owned and operated and is a member of Alliance Franchise Brands franchise network, linking more than 600 locations in the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom. For more information, contact Image360 Greeley at (970) 353-2233 or go to image360.com/greeleyco.

20 I Business Connect I August September 20172017

Business briefs (cont’d) ARB Midstream to expand crude gathering system

Platte River Midstream, a subsidiary of ARB Midstream, has secured an agreement with one of the largest acreage holders and oil and gas producers in the Denver-Julesburg Basin to move crude oil through its Lucerne west facility.

The agreement promises crude production from a nine-township area in Berthoud, Windsor and Greeley and areas of Weld County, according to a news release.

Platte River’s gathering system, which has a capacity of 157,000 barrels of oil per day and serves multiple producers, started service in mid-2016. The system gathers crude oil from the inner core of the DJ Basin, and delivers it to long haul pipelines for delivery into to downstream markets including direct access to the market center at Cushing, Okla. The system also includes storage tanks and truck stations to maximize shipping and delivery options, the release stated.

Platte River Midstream has added more than 100 miles of pipeline this year, the release stated.

— To include your business news in Business Connect, contact Sharon Dunn at sdunn@greeleytribune.com or call (970) 392-4439.

FROM APARTMENTS PG 19

tifamily vacancy survey, which showed Greeley’s vacancy rate was at 4.0 percent, but that includes of all of Weld County.

Across the state, the average vacancy rate was 5.7 percent, which has been going up since 2011, when it was roughly 3.9 percent, according to state numbers.

A 5.0 percent vacancy rate is considered a marker of balance in supply and demand.

Chrisland specifically surveyed the occupancy rates of two of the newest complexes in the Greeley/Evans area. He found Creekview, the 348-unit complex built at 83rd Avenue and 20th Street, was at 90.5 percent occupancy in April. Legend Flats, which Ehrlich put up two years ago in Evans was 97.7 percent occupied.

Those projects were pretty visible, but along 29th Street on the southwestern edge of Greeley, the hammers keep flying. The Porterhouse Apartments at West T-Bone ranch has 100 units under construction now at 29th Street and 54th Avenue. The Reserve II at West T-Bone Ranch is in preliminary design for 76 units at 29th Street and 58th Avenue.

Still other projects are quietly going up: Reserve at Hunter’s Cove along 1st Street and 59th Avenue has 46 units under construction. Another 48 units are slated in the Lofts at St. Michaels at 30th Street and 67th Avenue; and University Flats developers are readying for a second phase of 42 student units at 6th Avenue and 17th Street.

That doesn’t count the 96 senior living units just announced at Peakview Trails off 59th Avenue and 16th Street and the 47 units under construction at the Guadalupe Shelter at O Street and 11th Avenue.

Through June, developers pulled permits to build 208 apartment units, that’s just two shy of last year at the same time, while single-family housing dropped 63 percent to 59 compared with 158 the year before, noted Brad Mueller, community development director for the city.

“Multifamily is right on track with the amount last year, and it represents a a larger trend we’ve seen for three years, where the percentage of housing that’s being built is increasing(ly) multifamily,” Mueller said.

“It seems pretty clear the demand continues to be greater than supply of all types of housing.”

September 2017 I Business Connect I 21

ON THE

BRYNNE GANT has joined OTIS, BEDINGFIELD & PETERS as a LITIGATION ASSOCIATE. She graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University and earned her J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young. Before law school, Gant worked for a firm specializing in family and criminal law, along with real estate and business law. During law school, she interned for the Lehi City Attorney’s Office and the Denver District Attorney’s Office in the Family Violence Unit. She was runnerup in the school’s trial competition and was the president of multiple clubs.

She comes to Otis, Bedingfield & Peters after a fellowship with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office-Appeals Division and after working more than three and a half years for the Weld District Attorney’s Office, most recently as one of the special victims unit DAs. She has handled more than 40 jury trials, including everything from misdemeanor harassment to homicide.

BRAD ERKER will be next EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR for the COLORADO WHEAT ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE, COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF WHEAT GROWERS, and COLORADO WHEAT RESEARCH FOUNDATION. Erker comes to Colorado Wheat from Limagrain Cereal Seeds, where he worked for seven years as the company’s product development manager.

Having been raised on a dryland wheat farm in eastern Colorado, Erker brings a great deal of knowledge and passion of the wheat industry to the table for Colorado’s wheat farmers.

22 I Business Connect I September 2017

CAROL RAZNICK

has joined COAN, PAYTON & PAYNE LLC, as an ATTORNEY. Raznick’s practice focuses on all aspects of commercial real estate, homebuilding, financing, mergers and acquisitions and general business. She assists with transactional needs, including negotiating and drafting contracts and other documents regarding acquisitions, warranties, indemnities, dispositions, purchase and sale options and debt, as well as entity formations and restructuring.

Raznick joins CP2 with more than 35 years of experience in practice, including a period where she served as vice president of real estate — legal for M.D.C. Holdings Inc., one of the nation’s largest publicly traded homebuilders. As a result of that experience, she developed exceptional negotiating skills, which offer creativity within the legal framework and optimize legal and other protections while achieving the entrepreneurial objectives of her clients.

Raznick received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and her J.D. from Emory University School of Law. She is licensed to practice in Colorado, as well as the 10th Circuit.

ANDREA WALLACE joined

SEARS REAL ESTATE as a BROKER ASSOCIATE. Wallace is a Greeley native and spent 22 years working in the insurance industry. She will specialize in residential sales and can be reached at (970) 371-2304 or andrea@searsrealestate.com.

LIZ MINNEROP

will join the law firm of RAPP, MANZER, WIEST & MINNEROP LLP. The firm specializes in all aspects of family-law litigation, grandparent visitation, child dependency and neglect matters, probate and all levels of criminal defense from minor traffic, misdemeanors to high-level felonies.

She graduated from Colorado College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in American political economics. She graduated from Wyoming Law School in 2011. During her stint in law school, Minnerop worked for University of Wyoming Legal Services assisting lower-income residents with legal issues. She gained experience writing briefs and argued a parental rights case in front of the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Minnerop brings to the firm six years of experience specializing in family law. She also has handled numerous cases involving criminal/traffic violations, evictions, Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, petitions to seal and adoptions.

She volunteers at events and clinics aimed at providing free legal counsel for the community.

She sits on the boards for the Weld County Bar Association and Weld County Legal Services.

She is the president of the Weld County Legal Services board. Call her at (970) 346-8500.

BUTCH HAGELSTROM,

an AUCTIONEER with Windsor-based HAYDEN OUTDOORS, recently received his designation as an accredited auctioneer real estate from the National Auctioneers Association’s Education Institute.

The AARE program trained him to effectively market residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial real estate, according to a news release. He also was trained in evaluating property, preparing important financial documents and preparing the property for auction.

The AARE designation requires the completion of 24 hours of training, the completion of a case study and recorded participation in 10 real estate auctions. Fewer

than 360 individuals have this distinction in the United States, the release stated.

Hagelstrom specializes in the marketing of farm, ranch and recreational properties; farm and construction equipment; and benefit auctions.

SARAH GOSTENIK has joined

PATHWAYS, a northern Colorado nonprofit that provides hospice care, palliative care, and grief and loss support, as its new volunteer services coordinator for Weld County. Gostenik will act as the link between Pathways and volunteers.

She is a longtime Greeley resident. Gostenik has held several roles that have allowed for ample interaction with the Greeley community. She previously served as the community programs coordinator for Lutheran Family Services refugee and asylee programs in Greeley, where she managed volunteers and interns and collaborated with nonprofits. Gostenik also has experience working with individuals with disabilities, program implementation and education training.

Gostenik will manage volunteers and connect them to positions that match their interests and abilities. Pathways works with approximately 300 volunteers who perform duties in a variety of areas, including patient and family support, community outreach, administrative support, grief support, caregiver relief, veteran recognition and more.

To include your business moves in Business Connect, contact Sharon Dunn at sdunn@greeleytribune.com or call (970) 392-4439.

Professionals

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September 2017 I Business Connect I 23

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24 I Business Connect I September 2017