So Colorado Business Forum & Digest Vol. 1, No. 4 | December 19, 2023

SPACE

TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY

Global Space Community to Convene in COS

Expanding SCIFs in Southern Colorado

Exponential Impact Support Surrounds Entrepreneurs

P. 19

P. 21

P. 24

Vol. 1 No. 4 / December 19, 2023

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Space Foundation Fuels Life on Mars Program LISTEN TO

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Publisher’s Letter FOUNDER , COLOR ADO MEDIA GROUP & EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER , SO. CO. BUSINESS FORUM & DIGEST Dirk R. Hobbs dhobbs@coloradomediagroup.com VICE PRESIDENT OF STR ATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS John Lerohl jlerohl@coloradomediagroup.com MANAGING EDITOR Lee Harper lharper@coloradomediagroup.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Christopher Tombaugh ctombaugh@coloradomediagroup.com SENIOR GR APHIC DESIGNER Geraldine Villanueva STUDIO NARR ATOR/BUSINESS DIGEST WEEKLY Rachael Plath SENIOR WRITERS Pam Bales & Jeanne Davant STAFF WRITERS Emilie Hagopian, Olivia Bond, Kay Rowe, Kim Daly, Keri Kahn & Tiffany Underwood SOCODIGEST.COM WEB TEAM Sterling McMannis & Angelina Pecoraro SENIOR PHOTOGR APHER Don Jones - Studio 9 Photography HEAD OF OPER ATIONS Stephanie Lerohl STR ATEGIC MEDIA & PRODUCTION PARTNERS KKTV 11 NEWS & Salem Media AM1460/101.1FM

The So. Co. Business Forum & Digest audio version can be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, and Google Play. So. Co. Digest is also distributed to the Business Wire and Apple News+ The Business Digest Weekly radio show can be heard on AM1460/101.1FM The Answer – a Salem Media channel on Fridays at 3:00PM MST, then on podcast anytime. Business Digest Minutes can be heard daily between 7AM and 9AM, and 3PM and 5PM on AM1460/101.1FM Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest is published by and is the exclusive property of Colorado Media Group, Inc. a registered S-Corporation in the State of Colorado. All naming conventions, derivatives, and the ampersand are the sole property of Colorado Media Group, Inc. The Digest is a secondary trade name for this medium.

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hank you, Southern Colorado!

Since our launch in late summer 2023, The Business Digest has been welcomed by tens of thousands of business and industry leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, small business owners and operators, educators, and more.

Now that we’re out of the gate and running, it’s time to advance our region’s business communication and economic connectivity to the next level.

What’s new in 2024?

More Business Forums Forums are branded social/networking gatherings, hosted in partnership with our good friends at Notes Live. Selected from a number of regional keynote presenters, local business leaders gain expert insights on topics likely to have some impact locally, in a lively and informative session. And, of course, there is always great food and live music.

The Book!

Business publications around the nation are expected to create a strong and comprehensive list of regional businesses. First calls for placement in The Book! 2024 will begin February 1, 2024. Subscribe now to make sure you receive the opportunity to place your business content in this must-have edition of The Digest. This piece will be printed and available online for purchase.

Industry In-Focus Editions Over the course of 2024, The Digest will publish and print a number of Industry Sector editions that are unique to southern Colorado. These will feature in-depth showcases of varying sector employers; and explore how southern Colorado is uniquely positioned to continue to attract workforce as well as organizations that complement these industry ecosystems.

The Business Digest Next Gen One of our most exciting releases of 2024, The Business Digest Next Gen is being developed for schoolaged children in grades 7-12 to provide them with a

socodigest.com / Vol. 1 No. 4 - Dec. 19, 2023 / 4

tool to enhance their grasp of the working world that awaits them on the other side of graduation. Whether a student is headed to college or not, Business Digest Next Gen will provide content from a variety of regional business experts to help bolster these readers on a range of topics, with real-world information: • • • • • • • • •

•

Financial literacy Professional writing and communication skills Workplace standards and ethics Responsibility and accountability in the workplace Developing strong people and leadership skills How to prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow Entrepreneurialism and innovation Importance of learning relevant workforce tools: AI, coding, cyber security, robotics, and more Industry exposés: major employers who talk about the exciting endeavors of their respective industry and what they will look for in a future workforce.

And so much more!

The first edition of The Business Digest Next Gen is slated for spring 2024.

SNOW CAPPED PEAKS INCLUDING MOUNT BLANCA MAKE UP THE DRAMATIC SIERRA BLANCA MASSIF IN SOUTHERN COLORADO.

Continued Deep-Dive Investigative Reporting In 2023, we rallied the region’s employers and workforce around a business communique. Moving forward our team will continue to work hard to balance their efforts to get to know all the moving pieces and influencers in the region and showcase how they interact and function within our state, and their respective industry segments. Additionally, we’ll keep you informed with key insights on the progress of those we’ve placed in a positions of trust in our region.

In the coming year, you’ll see a greater emphasis on “news you can use” as well as some of the featurettes you’ve come to enjoy.

With that, I’ll leave you to a very joyous season, hopefully with time for family and friends.

To your success,

Dirk Hobbs

5 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Contents / December 19, 2023

Space Foundation

Opening ceremony of Space Symposium at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado held April 17, 2023. P. 21

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/ BUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY

9 Airport, Business Park Take Off

Trevor Nolan of Nooks Colorado explains these complex, secure facilities for storing sensitive information and why they are so important locally.

Peak Innovation Park is 25% built out, and on target to be larger than Denver’s Tech Center.

by JEANNE DAVANT

11 Taiwan Visits COS Business Leaders

The nexus between trade and geopolitics was never far from the conversation, according to this recap of discussions.

23 Expanding SCIFs in Southern Colorado

by PAMELA BALES

26 Exponential Impact Support Surrounds Entrepreneurs

Critical investment in tech start-ups is about more than just the dollars. Vance Brown talks about XI’s focus on the human factor.

by JEANNE DAVANT

by KELLY SLOAN

SPACE

WORKFORCE

18 Space Foundation Fuels Life on Mars Program

29 Economics of the Outdoors

by EMILIE HAGOPIAN

by JEANNE DAVANT

21 Global Space Community Preps to Convene in Colorado Springs

31 Report Predicts Continued Economic Growth in SoCo

Select groups of individuals will work with space industry professionals to blend theoretical aspects of space colonization with practical problem-solving.

Registration is open for the 39th Annual Space Symposium set for April at the Broadmoor, with international participation from approximately 40 countries.

by KERI KAHN

Outdoor recreation provides substantial economic benefits in Colorado; Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance gives the data to illustrate the industry’s broad impact.

El Paso and Pueblo counties are two areas reviewed in this snapshot of the 59th annual Colorado Business Economic Outlook from the Leeds School of Business/UC-Boulder.

by JEANNE DAVANT

Welcome To Integrity, Josh!

Josh Stensrud joins Integrity Bank & Trust as the new Senior Lending Officer, bringing over ten years of experience serving the banking needs of individuals and businesses in Colorado Springs and the greater El Paso County area. True community banking is at the heart of Josh’s work, as he believes the personal service and deep connection with those both inside and outside of the bank is the single biggest contributor to mutual success. Josh is values-driven, and is excited and energized by the alignment with Integrity’s second-to-none approach to serving the Colorado Springs area.

In his new role, Josh will be responsible for overseeing the bank’s lending operations, developing and implementing lending strategies, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. He will collaborate closely with the executive team to identify and pursue new business opportunities while maintaining a strong focus on risk management and customer satisfaction.

“We are thrilled to welcome Josh to our team,” said CEO/President Brett Wyss. “With his wealth of experience and expertise, we are confident that he will be key in advancing our goals while contributing to the overall value our customers get from Integrity Bank & Trust. His leadership will be invaluable as we continue to provide exceptional financial services to our clients and drive growth in our lending portfolio.”

About Integrity Integrity Bank & Trust is a Colorado Springs-based financial institution committed to providing personalized banking solutions, professional treasury management, and exceptional customer service. With a history of 20 years in the industry, Integrity remains dedicated to meeting the financial needs of individuals, nonprofits, and businesses in the community.

NMLS #439891

7 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Updates From Around the Region Gunnison The Wolves Win

According to the Colorado Sun’s Jason Blevins, U.S. District Court Judge Regina Rodriguez on Friday, Dec. 15, denied a last effort by ranchers to block wolf reintroduction in Colorado. The Colorado Cattlemen’s and the Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ associations argued that US Fish and Wildlife Service, under the National Environmental Policy Act, should have conducted analysis before they signed an agreement with Colorado Parks and wildlife over management of endangered species in the state. The report said that CPW approved the final wolf reintroduction plan in May, after hosting 47 meetings with 3,400 residents across Colorado. As many as 50 gray wolves will be released in the first three years of the plan; it also offers ranchers who lose livestock and working dogs to wolves as much as $15,000 per animal. Ranchers are allowed to kill wolves that are actively threatening livestock, per the plan.

Colorado Springs Full Operational Capability Reached

Colorado Springs and El Paso County leaders issued an announcement Friday, Dec. 15 to recognize that U.S. Space Command has reached full operational capability (FOC) at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs.

Pueblo President Announced at CSU Pueblo

According to the Alamosa News, Armando Valdez, was unanimously confirmed as the 16th president of Colorado State University Pueblo by the university’s Board of Governors, effective Feb 1, 2024. Valdez will complete the remaining 2.5 years on the contract of outgoing President Timothy Mottet, who announced his intent to resign following six years in the post. Tony Frank, chancellor of the CSU System, was quoted in the article, saying, “In Armando, we have a solid leader who knows this campus in the community really well and is 100% invested in the future of southern Colorado.” Frank went on to say, “Above all, we heard from the Pueblo campus that they don’t want to lose momentum or continuity during the presidential transition, and Armando will be able to step in on Day 1 with the knowledge and experience to keep the campus on track and moving forward.”

Yemi Mobolade, Colorado Springs Mayor, said: Congratulations to General Dickinson and the women and men of U.S. Space Command for achieving full operational capability. Today’s announcement is a major achievement for our national and global security. Our worldclass talent base is why Colorado Springs remains the premier ecosystem for defense and aerospace related missions. We remain fully committed to supporting the critical Colorado Teachers Want to Quit defense efforts of this command, including According to a Dec. 17 CBS News report, the Colorado Education Association a high quality of life for the more than 1,200 published a report which shows nearly 60% of teachers surveyed across the service members and their families who call state are considering leaving the profession. The CEA’s findings outline three Colorado Springs home for good. primary challenges for the state of education in Colorado including respect,

Statewide

Governor Jared Polis and Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera said in a statement: “This is an exciting mile stone as Space Command, from its permanent home in Colorado Springs, continues to protect our national security in the space domain.

Congratulations to the Command and military community on this monumental achievement reaching Full Operational Capability. Colorado continues to serve as the epicenter of national security space and the proud home to a nation-leading aerospace industry and workforce.”

investment, and educator safety. It went on to say, according to CBS, that 85% of teachers surveyed in Colorado say politically divisive issues have affected their feelings about working in education and overall morale. Per the report, 70% of teachers who responded to the survey say students’ mental health needs have worsened over the past few years while 66% of educators say their own mental health has deteriorated over that time.

Angelica Givler, a fifth grade social studies teacher from Colorado Springs quoted in the article, says she is not surprised by the report’s findings, citing that teachers have felt they do not get respect for their jobs. “It’s just a constant fear that you’re going to do something wrong, not on purpose, just trying to get the standards and help kids read, and become educated beings, and then get arrested or fired or both,” Givler was quoted.

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Regional Professional Business Organization & Events Organization Links

So. Colorado is fortunate to have amazing support from dedicated, informed, and highly active local chambers, EDCs, and business organizations that focus on advancing marketplace trust among consumers.

Stay current with the region’s business-to-business/ networking meetings, events, educational offerings, member benefits, and more. Click your local organization’s icon and mark your calendars with the right events for your business.

When you support your local chambers, EDCs, SBDCs, and the BBB – we make business stronger for everyone!

The Greater Pueblo Chamber

Pueblo Economic Development Corp.

BBB of Southern Colorado

Royal Gorge Chamber Alliance

Castle Rock Chamber

Colorado SBDC - Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center

Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC

Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber

The Colorado Springs Black Chamber

Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Visitor Center

Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber

Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce

9 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Economic Development/Business

AIRPORT, BUSINESS PARK TAKE OFF

by J E A N N E DAVA N T

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olorado Springs Airport hit a benchmark in 2022 with the highest number of passenger enplanements since 2000. 2023 is even busier.

“In 2023, we added two airlines and five new routes that bring more opportunities for people to fly out of their hometown airport,” says COS Aviation Director Greg Phillips.

Peak Innovation Park, the business park helping to support the airport, is also set to expand. With 5,000 workers currently employed, the 1,600-acre park is on the way to becoming a major employment center.

In September, the airport embarked on a $38 million, eightphase master plan called Elevate COS that will update the airport over the next three years. The first step is modernization of the terminal concourse. The public side was fully modernized after a terminal fire in 2018, so the plan focuses on the areas of the concourse surrounding the boarding gates, Phillips says.

“We want to maximize the utility

of all the spaces so we don’t have to add brick-and-mortar gates any earlier than necessary,” he says.

The plan includes infrastructure updates, amenities such as nine new food and beverage concepts, and accommodations improving accessibility, efficiency, and sustainability.

Peak Innovation Park is currently home to three Amazon fulfillment centers, Northrop Grumman, and the Aerospace Corp.; and construction of a new Marriott hotel and a Frito Lay distribution center are underway, says Troy Stover, director of business park development. Additionally, Flywheel Capital is preparing to lease space in its 50,000-square-foot office building while also under contract to build another 120,000-squarefoot building.

“We’re roughly 25% built or planned out,” Stover says, “and we’ve got roughly about 125 more acres of land in negotiations,” including over 10 acres of retail, restaurants, and gas stations that will serve the

park’s employees.

The park is already bigger than Denver’s 1,200-acre Tech Center and will continue to expand to almost 2,200 acres with the airport’s newly acquired 562-acre tract on the park’s east side.

“At full buildout, Peak Innovation Park is planned to employ roughly 35,000 to 40,000 people,” Stover says. With state, national, and even international employers showing interest, “there’s no reason why South Colorado Springs can’t be as popular for development as North Colorado Springs has been.”

Jeanne Davant is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

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Economic Forum REMOTE WORK HAS INCREASED DEMAND FOR RESIDENTIAL SPACE

by D R . BI L L CR A IG H E A D

H

ousing costs are a significant concern, locally and nationwide.

Although home prices and rents have generally moved sideways over the past year, between January 2021 and June 2022, the median price of a single-family home in the Pikes Peak region increased by over 25% and rent on a two-bedroom apartment rose by more than 20%.

Some of this increase was driven by short-term factors. Throughout 2021, very low mortgage rates increased demand for real estate.

However, the abrupt shift to much higher rates has not led to a commensurate fall in home prices, as homeowners who were able to lock in low rates are reluctant to move. This has restricted the supply of homes available on the market, helping to keep prices high.

While these sharp fluctuations in mortgage rates are important for understanding recent changes in the cost of real estate, they aren’t the whole story. A more fundamental shift in working patterns has permanently increased the demand for residential space.

An annual census survey asks people how they typically travel to work. The share in El Paso County who said they worked from home more than doubled, from 8.0% in 2019 to 17.5% in 2022. An even higher share of Denver-area residents

reported working from home in 2022, especially in Douglas (30.9%) and Boulder (32.0%) counties. These figures may underestimate the degree of remote work as people who are in the office three or four days a week would say they “typically” drive to work.

With the rise in remote work comes a need for more residential space. Sharing a housing unit becomes considerably less appealing when everyone is simultaneously trying to participate in separate Zoom meetings at the same kitchen table. As people converted bedrooms into home offices, households fragmented into a larger number of smaller units. This is apparent in data on household formation. Over 2013-2019, the number of households in the Colorado Springs region

increased at a rate of 1.5% per year.

This increased dramatically to a 3.5% annual rate for 2020-2022. The national rate of increase is slower, but it also sharply accelerated in 2020-2022.

House prices will always be vulnerable to swings in interest rates and other ups and downs in macroeconomic conditions. Looking beyond this, we can see that this lasting change in how we work has fundamentally increased housing demand. All else equal, higher demand means higher prices.

Dr. Bill Craighead is the Director of UCCS Economic Forum College of Business.

11 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Economic Development/Business TAIWAN VISITS COS BUSINESS LEADERS

by K E L LY SLOA N

www.globaltaiwan.org

L

ast month, a delegation from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Denver – the de facto Taiwanese consulate for the region – visited the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce for a roundtable discussion with several local business leaders. The discussion with TECO Director General Bill Huang (the equivalent of a Consul General) covered a range of topics, including TECO’s consular role and covered region, existing trade relationships between Colorado and Taiwan, opportunities for trade growth in a variety of sectors, and of course, the often tense geo-political environment in the region.

As Director General Huang pointed out, Taiwan and the U.S. share much in common: for instance, both are democracies that support individual rights and a free market economy. The two countries also share a significant amount of trade volume; Colorado alone is Taiwan’s sixth largest trading partner in agricultural trade. DG Huang spoke about the importance of Taiwan’s high-tech capabilities, in particular their crucial advanced semiconductor industry — the island produces around 90% of the most advanced semiconductors used

in the world. He also spoke about the potential future opportunities for increased trade and business relationships that could benefit both Taiwan and Colorado Springs, especially in fields such as aerospace and defense.

The nexus between trade and geopolitics was never far from the conversation; DG Huang spoke of his country’s long held desire to be included in regional trade agreements, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) among several Pacific Rim nations (excluding China), and the U.S.-led IndoPacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

Huang described the pressure exerted by the People’s Republic of China to exclude Taiwan from such agreements, as well as from other international accords and organizations. He also expressed his optimism about the ongoing negotiations surrounding the U.S.-

TECO Director General Bill Huang Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade, especially a potential agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, which Huang described as an agreement that would benefit investors in both countries.

The roundtable was an informative and fascinating discussion that covered a lot of ground, and suggested that great opportunities lie ahead for increased cooperation between Colorado Springs and Taiwan.

Kelly Sloan is principal of Sloan & Associates, a public affairs firm in Denver.

C

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(719)886-4800

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Small Business Spotlight HEARTSHAKE STUDIOS PROMOTES INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR SMALL SHOPS

by K E R I K A H N

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ike any small retailer who weathered 2020, artist and curator of Old Colorado City’s Heartshake Studios, Kit Hutchinson, relied on relationships and community support – two factors which keep their business flourishing today.

Heartshake is a queer-owned shop at 2627 W. Colorado Ave. Its welcoming atmosphere has built a loyal customer base hungry for the eclectic variety of ethically sourced gifts and home goods including antler art and prints made by Hutchinson, plants aplenty, and handmade goods curated from around the globe.

“I really strive to order from other queer makers — from BIPOC makers, from more marginalized communities — so we have a broader array of things to offer,” Hutchinson says.

Hutchinson has sold art since graduating from Bard College in 2010; but when wholesaling opportunities took hold, they began to grow into the entrepreneur they are today. Eventually, Hutchinson set up the online store and inventory management system. It was good practice for launching Heartshake, which happened after a 2018 move from California to Colorado.

Heartshake benefits from Old Colorado City Associates’ promotion of neighborhood businesses. In addition, dozens of OCC business owners collaborate in a group chat, which inspired the scavenger hunt and raffle to draw Small Business Saturday shoppers further west last month.

“We just started this group chat recently and I

Kit Hutchinson, owner of Heartshake Studios. think it’s been really fruitful,” Hutchinson says. “I could definitely see more collaboration between all the neighbors, trying to come up with fun ideas to get people to come out.”

As far as challenges go, inflation has been a big one. With money from 2021’s post-pandemic shopping frenzy, Hutchinson opened a second location – Little Heartshake – in 2022, which they divulge was not great timing. Still, when one store’s numbers are down, the other store is up, so it’s a good balance for now, especially with carefully selected price points.

“We’re not selling groceries or necessities — we’re selling fun things,” they say.

With two brick-and-mortars, an online store attracting shoppers through social media, and antlers wholesaled to other shops, Heartshake’s income is diversified enough to weather pandemics and inflation.

But one theme remains clear: If residents want local shops to survive, they must shop small. Last-minute shopping is available at Heartshake Studios and many other small retailers through Christmas Eve. Keri Kahn is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

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Economic Development/Business

www.pueblo.us

PRESIDENT TALKS JOBS IN PUEBLO

by T I F FA N Y U N D E RWOO D

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n November 29, President Joe Biden came to Pueblo, Colorado. He was here to celebrate investments made with CS Wind, the world’s largest wind turbine tower manufacturing plant. During his speech, Biden discussed creating jobs in the local markets and additional investments in clean energy manufacturing. Governor Jared Polis commented in a release, “Colorado is leading the nation in transitioning to 100% renewable energy, and our wind manufacturing capabilities are helping to power our clean energy economy, create jobs, and save people money on electricity.”

This visit is part of the administration’s Investing in America tour across the United

States and President Biden launched the agenda with the intention of creating American jobs that develop American products. His overall goal for this agenda is to limit exported jobs and imported resources.

According to The White House website, this “agenda is mobilizing historic levels of private sector investments in the United States, bringing manufacturing back to America after decades of offshoring, and creating new, good-paying jobs, including union jobs and jobs that don’t require a college degree.”

Investing in America has pledged $392.2 billion to public infrastructure and clean energy investments in the U.S.. This includes $20.9 billion dedicated to make communities more resilient to climate change and other threats.

Additionally, under the same agenda is the Manufacturing the Future

program, which supports 21st century industries. A few examples of these industries are clean power, biomanufacturing, EVs, and batteries. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, $628 billion has been invested by private companies.

President Biden states that he plans to continue to dedicate himself to clean energy projects, including his goal to produce 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035.

During his visit to Colorado, Biden stated, “All across America, instead of exporting jobs, companies both foreign and domestic are creating jobs here in America and exporting American-made products.”

Tiffany Underwood is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

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Economic Development/Business SOME OFTENOVERLOOKED BUSINESS RESOURCES

by K AY ROW E

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COS Open for Business is a one-stop guide that assists entrepreneurs and small businesses in creating grand openings. The guide provides key points of contact and helpful business resources within the Colorado Springs region. cosopenforbiz.com The Hispanic Business Council within the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Colorado Springs promotes and assists in minority-owned small business development, specifically Hispanic-owned businesses in the Colorado Springs region.ncshispanicchamber.com The Pikes Peak Library District provides free business resources, including business plans, legal information, investment resources, adult education tools, research guides, demographic databases, food industry training, engravers for branding, LinkedIn Learning in multiple languages, and much more. All that is required is a library card to access these resources. ppld.org The Colorado Small Business Development Center Network (CSBDC) helps existing and new businesses in Colorado by providing free and confidential consulting, as well as no- or low-cost training programs. coloradosbdc.org

www.cosopenforbiz.com

he following is a limited directory of resources to aid startups and established businesses in business development, growth, and sustainability. Contact the Economic Development - El Paso County Administration for more resources and information.

The Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce (SCWCC) is committed to economic vitality for its members as well as for our community. It provides strategic business and political relationships and offers connections that support business in the Southern Colorado region. scwcc.com The State of Colorado invites businesses of all sizes and origins, as well as non-profits, real estate developers, higher education partners and investors, to apply for the resources to help them achieve their goals. co.colorado.gov/business Beyond the above, there are other resources such as business networking groups like VetNet Colorado Springs. Since 2013, VetNet has provided Veterans with opportunities for personal and business growth through education, networking, and leadership opportunities.

The group meets Tuesdays at 8:30-10:00 a.m. at Exponential Impact, 3650 N. Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs. facebook.com/groups/CSpringsVETNET Kay Rowe is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

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Space SPACE FOUNDATION FUELS LIFE ON MARS PROGRAM

by E M I L I E H AGO PIA N

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his year, the Space Foundation of Colorado Springs teamed up with the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation to establish the LEVL5: SPACE DOCK program in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The program’s mission is to nurture space-related interests and expand the global space ecosystem. They accomplish this by hosting educational events, such as the upcoming Life on Mars program.

Life on Mars is an interactive challenge designed to simulate life on the Red Planet. This three-day habitat simulation — scheduled to run from Jan. 26 - 28, 2024 at the Levan Center — will task participants with creating a successful Martian township.

The simulation promises to be a unique experience that blends the theoretical aspects of space colonization with practical problem-solving.

During the challenge, six teams will work together to determine what it would take to sustain life on Mars. Each team will focus on different factors that are crucial for survival, including habitat operations, resource development, nutrition and agriculture, and health and safety. Participants will need to work together to overcome the challenges presented by Mars’ harsh environment. Each team will then present their strategies to a panel of judges on the final day.

Life on Mars welcomes all

adults who are interested in space exploration, regardless of their educational backgrounds. “We really want people to recognize that it’s not just aerospace engineers that will be needed,” says Sasha Kedzie, the program manager at The Space Commerce Institute.

“We’re going to need lots of other skills, too.” Applicants included doctors, engineers, agriculturists, communication specialists, fashion designers, and many others.

The participant application window for the simulation closed in late October, and the Space

Foundation is in the process of reviewing applications. The chosen applicants will be announced later this month.

Those chosen will have the opportunity to work closely with NASA experts and other space industry professionals, encouraging the growth of the space exploration industry in the process.

Emilie Hagopian is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

19 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Space Symposium GLOBAL SPACE COMMUNITY PREPS TO CONVENE IN COLORADO SPRINGS

by K E R I K A H N

T

he 39th annual Space Symposium will bring the global space community’s key players to The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, April 8-11, for what has become one of the world’s most influential space gatherings.

Having grown from several hundred participants in its first year to over 10,000 in 2023, Symposium is unique to other large space gatherings in that it unites leaders from all space sectors, including government, industry, military, intelligence, research, and investment.

Steve Eisenhart is the senior vice president for the Strategic & International Affairs for Space Foundation, the group which organizes Symposium. He credits the event’s growth largely to reputation, deliberate international outreach, and inclusion of all segments in the space ecosystem.

“The real key change we have noticed over the last number of years is the growth of the international participation of all sectors,” he says. “Normally, we have more than 40 nations represented at Symposium.”

Australia, France, and Italy, for instance, tend to bring large delegations of military, industry, and government.

Participants will fill close to 20 hotels in Colorado Springs for a substantial economic impact on the city.

Eisenhart says all indicators point toward 2024 being

Space Foundation

Opening ceremony of Space Symposium at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado held April 17, 2023 the most successful Symposium ever and he notes a strong appetite for a return to face-to-face networking, and an exhibit hall where many partnerships develop.

“We already have confirmation from senior U.S. government officials, numerous heads of space agencies, and officials and leaders from both military and industry,” he says.

Military representation comes from the U.S., its allies, and NATO. On the industry side, prime contractors attend, as well as start-ups and young professionals, to take part in Symposium’s New Generation Space Leaders Program.

“The international piece is the way the space business is done these days,” says Eisenhart. “Nobody can do it alone. It is all about partnerships and so forth.”

Having all sectors together in one place provides the unique opportunity for the world to develop these partnerships as dialogue on critical space issues unfolds from multiple perspectives.

Registration is available at spacesymposium.org with in-person and virtual attendance options through standard access, livestream, and a track program. More information about speakers and agenda items will be available early in 2024.

Keri Kahn is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

socodigest.com / Vol. 1 No. 4 - Dec. 19, 2023 / 20

Education LOCAL TALENT TAKES FLIGHT

by K I M DA LY

AIR FORCE CADET AWARDED RHODES SCHOLARSHIP

M

onument native and U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Madelyn Letendre has been selected for the highly competitive Rhodes Scholarship, a fully funded postgraduate program at the University of Oxford, England. The biochemistry major and philosophy minor will commission into the Air Force in May as a 2nd lieutenant before pursuing double master’s degrees in clinical and therapeutic neuroscience, as well as public policy.

Letendre’s undergraduate research focused on disability support systems for military families. In addition to launching a military program at the Autism Society of America, she is the first Academy cadet to investigate replacing sunlight with acetate to feed plants, probing how food will be grown — and oxygen produced — for long-term space exploration. The experiment was approved by the Defense Department Space Experiment Review Board for future launch to the International Space Station.

“The U.S. Air Force Academy has so much talent within the cadet wing and it’s gratifying when an organization like the Rhodes Trust selects one of our cadets for recognition,” says Col. Margaret Martin, vice dean of the faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

“Madelyn Letendre is a shining example of the hard work, service mindset, and internal motivation that prepares our cadets to lead.”

A long-distance swimmer, Letendre is the 44th Rhodes Scholar from the U.S. Air Force Academy and one of only 32 Americans selected. She will enter Air Force pilot training following her time at Oxford.

“I am so grateful to the Rhodes Trust for the opportunity to further my education at Oxford” says

Monument native and Air Force Cadet 1st Class Madelyn Letendre is the 44th Rhodes Scholar from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Letendre. “I want to thank all of the professors and mentors at the Academy who guided and encouraged me over the last four years, my incredible friends, my swim team, and my squadron. Most importantly, thank you Mom, Dad, and [brother] Ethan — this is a testament to your love and support; I owe everything to you.”

Dating back to 1802, the Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest international scholarship program enabling students worldwide to study at the prestigious U.K. institution.

Kim Daly is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

21 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Technology EXPANDING SCIFS IN SOUTHERN COLORADO

by PA M E L A BA L E S

C

olorado Springs is already home to many Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs), and the developments continue to increase.

More than 200,000 square feet of expanded space was announced in 2023 with a focus on supporting the region’s Aerospace and Defense industry. Though traditionally used by the Department of Defense, other groups including higher education, defense contractors, and other proprietary businesses are also using SCIFs. SCIF is a U.S. Department of Defense term for a secure room or data center that guards against electronic surveillance and suppresses data leakage of sensitive military and security information. They are supervised and staffed with personnel of various security clearances. Since their origin in the post-World War II era, SCIFs have evolved alongside other global technological advancements.

SCIFs can be permanent or temporary, and they are set up in official government buildings, onboard ships, in officials’ private residences, or in places of necessity for traveling officials, i.e. hotels.

Four major entities have recently expanded or opened in the Colorado Springs area in the last year.

These include Frontier Technology, Delta Solutions and Strategies (a service disabled veteran-owned small business), Aerospace Corporation, and Nooks (a veteranowned small business).

SCIFs have strict specifications that pertain to both their construction and personnel procedures. One of the key issues in construction is the prohibitive costs, which range from $100,000 to well over eight figures, according to Trevor Nolan, director of Nooks Colorado.

With its third Colorado Springs facility, Nooks has taken a different approach to creating these extremely sensitive and expensive facilities by granting industry and government partners flexible access to a network of classified Trevor Nolan, director of infrastructure.

Nooks Colorado.

“The biggest gap between innovators and defense is the prohibitive cost for winning government contracts and then building the SCIF,” explains Nolan.

“We’re using economies of scale to build out our facility.

We’re also changing the formula for a better user experience.” Trevor likens working in a traditional SCIF to working in a bank vault.

“I worked in SCIFs during my time in the military,” he notes. “We want to start with the user experience and wrap the security and parameters around the individual

socodigest.com / Vol. 1 No. 4 - Dec. 19, 2023 / 22

Inspirational IQ A modular SCIF facility designed by Marylandbased builder, Modular Genius.

“

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

Modular Genius

— Peter Drucker

– more like what the private sector does when creating these SCIFS. You can even have windows if they meet the strict privacy parameters.”

Nooks is expected to pour $33 to $37 million into the Colorado Springs economy.

The defense contractor Delta Solutions and Strategies, named National Prime Contractor of 2023 by the U.S. Small Business Administration, won a $187-million, five-year contract in 2022. This made the Colorado Springsheadquartered business the primary contractor of U.S. Space Command for professional and technical services.

“As the home to U.S. Space Command, multiple military installations, and the growing space sector, Colorado Springs remains an attractive place to grow an aerospace or defense business,” says Mark Stafford, CEO of Delta.

“Delta is only as good as its people, and Colorado Springs is an ideal location to attract and recruit qualified talent who are committed to the mission.”

Frontier Technology, Inc. is expanding by developing a new 46,000-square-foot secure facility, investing $15 million in the Colorado Springs area, and creating 200 new high-paying jobs with an annual salary average of $131,000. These developments come alongside the opening of its secure Operational Research Bridge for Innovation & Technology (ORBIT) Center, slated to open Dec. 31, 2024.

Aerospace Corporation is building a 90,000-square-foot, $100-million Space Warfighting Center in Colorado Springs with the intention of supplying work areas and digital tools to military space agencies. These agencies design satellites and train satellite operators, so this development intends to create roughly 250 jobs, according to Aerospace Corporation executives.

Pam Bales is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

“

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

— Steve Jobs

“

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

— Albert Schweitzer

23 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Must Read THE ROAD LESS STUPID: ADVICE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

by Keith J. Cunningham Smart people do dumb things. Here’s the proof: How much money would you have right now if I gave you the ability to unwind any three financial decisions you have ever made?

Business is an intellectual sport. The principles and structure suggested in The Road Less Stupid will enable anyone, regardless of the size of the business, the currency, or the industry, to run their business more effectively, make more money, and dramatically increase the likelihood of keeping that money. It all hinges on Thinking Time.

socodigest.com / Vol. 1 No. 4 - Dec. 19, 2023 / 24

Technology EXPONENTIAL IMPACT SUPPORT SURROUNDS ENTREPRENEURS

by J E A N N E DAVA N T

S

tarting a new company is one of the toughest jobs one can undertake.

“Entrepreneurs are twice as likely to commit suicide and have twice as much emotional challenges,” says Vance Brown, cofounder and executive director of Exponential Impact, a nonprofit incubator for startups. “By definition, it’s high risk, and so it’s high stress.”

At Exponential Impact, “we bring a whole community around to help these entrepreneurs,” he says.

Brown is helping to build an incubator ecosystem to attract and support innovators of emerging technologies that also includes the Catalyst Campus and the National Cybersecurity Center at UCCS along with education partners and organizations including the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC and the Space Foundation.

“The Catalyst Campus is focused on DoD, and we’re focused on commercial,” he says. “We want to be one of the best cities in the country for this entrepreneurial ecosystem for commercial technology.”

Exponential Impact shares its space with the National Cybersecurity Center, where Brown formerly served as president and CEO. A lawyer by training, he was president and CEO of GoldMine Software and has started two other software companies.

A celebration of entrepreneurship in southern Colorado and the introduction of the 2019 XI Accelerator startups.

Exponential Impact launched its flagship Accelerator program in 2018. Since then, about 61 emerging technology companies have come through the program. “Those companies have received about $34 million in investment and generated about $61 million in revenue,” Brown says.

The 12-week Accelerator program has two tracks: Start focuses on entrepreneurs who have a viable product but no revenue or customers, and Scale is for companies that are ready to grow. Participants are paired with mentors for one-on-one support and assistance, and program components include weekly wellness sessions and the opportunity to share XI’s coworking space.

“It’s very holistic,” Brown says.

“We’re focused on the human link.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, XI created the Survive & Thrive program to support struggling local businesses, bolstering them with mentors, programming and funding.

“We raised $2.3 million and gave 132 loans to local small businesses,” Brown says. The city of Colorado Springs, which became a partner, found that the $2.3 million investment had an economic impact of $156 million — a 6,000% ROI in about eight months.

Jeanne Davant is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

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27 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

“

The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

— Vidal Sassoon

“

I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.

— Jeff Bezos

“

It’s not about ideas.

It’s about making ideas happen.

— Scott Belsky

“

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.

— Thomas Jefferson

Nonprofit PIKES PEAK UNITED WAY UNVEILS NEW FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER

by E M I L I E H AGO PIA N

P

ikes Peak United Way recently opened their first Family Success Center at 1520 Verde Dr, in Southeast Colorado Springs. The ribboncutting ceremony took place on Thursday, Nov. 2, and featured guest appearances by Mayor Yemi Mobalade, members of the El Paso County Board of Commissioners, and representatives from the Colorado Springs City Council.

This facility will serve as a hub for local families and individuals, offering a wide variety of resources, including job readiness and training classes; GED/ESL adult education classes; financial empowerment workshops; one-on-one credit counseling; health and wellness education opportunities; and access to health clinics and mental health counselors. Community partners will be available at the center to offer helpful guidance, including Chef Brother Luck, who is currently exploring the creation of a hospitality program at the center.

The success center’s mission is clear: to serve families and empower community members. The hope is to help locals attain financial stability, acquire essential employment skills, prioritize health and wellness, and cultivate the skills necessary to achieve their goals.

Cindy Aubrey, CEO of Pikes Peak United Way, has great hope for the

Harrison School District Two

Inspirational IQ

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for PPUW Family Success Center. center’s potential impact. “Pikes Peak United Way is excited to bring the community together to learn what will make the center effective and life changing,” she says. “We envision a place where families and students can connect with the resources, training, and support they need…”

Emilie Hagopian is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PPUNITEDWAY.ORG/FAMILYSUCCESS-CENTER

socodigest.com / Vol. 1 No. 4 - Dec. 19, 2023 / 28

Workforce GAEBLER BUILDS CONSENSUS TO ADDRESS HOUSING NEEDS

by J E A N N E DAVA N T

B

uilding affordable housing has a positive value proposition, says Jill Gaebler, the new executive director of the Pikes Peak Housing Network.

“Data is showing that putting all types of housing in every neighborhood does not reduce your property value,” she says. “It also doesn’t increase crime. It doesn’t increase traffic.”

Gaebler, who assumed her new position Dec. 1, says her primary duties include educating community members and changing the conversation around affordable and attainable housing.

Pikes Peak Housing Network seeks to unite a broad-based coalition of partners to advance housing options for all residents. The coalition includes the Affordable Housing Collaborative, Apartment Association of Southern Colorado, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, Downtown Partnership, Colorado Springs Housing & Building Association, and Pikes Peak Association of Realtors. The Network was created in 2018 to address the region’s critical need for affordable and attainable housing – two terms that many may misunderstand.

Affordable housing means properties that those with 30-80% of the area’s median household income can bear the expense of. These are properties that rent for $600 — $1,000/month, and those who need them are often making minimum wage.

“For them to afford an apartment, they would have to work 90-92 hours a week,” Gaebler says, adding that affordable properties are difficult for commercial builders to develop without rebates or tax credits.

Attainable housing is “any housing that can be afforded by those who earn 80-120% of the area median income,” she says. “That is the missing middle – our teachers, our young people just getting out of

college, and a lot of our seniors on a fixed income.”

A two-bedroom attainable unit renting for $1,500 to $1,600 a month is the hardest kind of housing to find, she says.

Affordable and attainable housing are not the only kinds lacking; in 2022, Colorado Springs had a total housing deficit which ranged from roughly 10,600 to 21,200 units. According to the Common Sense Institute, this growing area needs to add between 4,700 and 6,400 new units per year, between now and 2028.

Addressing the shortage will require collaboration between developers, legislators, businesses, neighborhoods, and other local organizations, according to Gaebler.

“I want our community to understand that it’s really important for us to be building in all of our neighborhoods,” she says.

Jeanne Davant is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

29 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Workforce ECONOMICS OF THE OUTDOORS

by J E A N N E DAVA N T

P

arks, trails, and open spaces are amenities that sometimes get taken for granted. But they are fundamental community components which provide substantial economic benefits.

According to a 2017 report from the Trust for Public Land (TPL), these amenities in Colorado Springs boost the value of nearby residential properties by $502 million and increase property tax revenue by $2.58 million a year. Here’s a look at what parks, trails, and open spaces accomplish annually:

• • • • •

Provide stormwater infiltration valued at $3.06 million Reduce pollution control costs by $201,000 Save users $56.5 million in medical care costs Generate $135 million in visitor spending and $6.36 million in tax revenue Support $32.4 million in resident spending on sports, recreation, and exercise equipment and provide 986 jobs

Becky Leinweber, executive director of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, says the city of Colorado Springs is working with TPL to update those figures, which likely will indicate that outdoor recreation has even greater economic significance today. More recent data from Longwoods Travel USA and the Colorado Tourism Office point to the importance of the Pikes Peak region’s outdoor amenities to visitors.

“In 2022, we had 23.7 million visitors,” Leinweber says. “Their No. 1 activity was outdoor activity.”

Another indicator is that outdoor recreation-focused companies like SRAM, a Chicago-based enterprise whose local facility develops and tests bicycle technology, are seeing increased demand, and expanding.

“Bikes shops across Colorado Springs have had to move toward e-bikes, because that’s a growing trend,” Leinweber says. Mountain biking is a staple in the Pikes Peak region, and stand-up paddleboarding, pickleball and disc golf also are trending in popularity.

“The outdoor industry is largely made up of small businesses, which are nimble and can make these shifts,” she says.

The industry spectrum is broader than many people realize, she says. Besides retailers, manufacturers, and businesses that provide outdoor experiences, the industry includes outdoor law specialists, planning consultants, CPA services, and nonprofits that focus on trail work, stewardship of public lands, conservation, and outdoor education.

Workers are in demand, and PPORA is hosting a job fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 22 at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, 1675 Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs.

Also in the works is a region-wide planning effort.

“We’ll be sharing our recommendations the week of Jan. 22,” Leinweber says.

Jeanne Davant is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

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31 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Workforce REPORT PREDICTS CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH IN SO CO

www.lightsourcebp.com

by J E A N N E DAVA N T

Colorado’s largest solar projects, Bighorn Solar in Pueblo.

T

he continued growth of economic sectors such as government contracting, healthcare and hospitality has ensured a healthy diversification of industries and job growth across Southern Colorado; and resulted in a relatively low unemployment rate, increases in new jobs, and average annual wages.

Those are among the findings of the 59th annual Colorado Business Economic Outlook from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder.

The report, which looks at the state as a whole along with regions including Southern Colorado, projects that Colorado’s economy will remain resilient in 2024, despite headwinds including inflation, high interest rates, high housing costs, worker shortages, and slowing consumer spending. The state’s

unemployment rate is 3.3% and, while job growth is expected to slow, jobs in seven of the state’s 11 major industries will increase.

Below are findings specific to Southern Colorado.

El Paso County

Of the 21 industry sectors in El Paso County, 17 of them saw job gains in 2022. The most significant gains were in accommodations and food services; transportation and warehousing; professional, scientific, and technical services; and healthcare and social assistance. These four industries represented 87% of the 10,480 new jobs in the county.

Commercial vacancy rates were low compared with national data, and average rents for office, industrial, and retail properties continued to increase.

While continued growth is projected, Colorado Springs’ cost-of-living index is 109% of the U.S. as a whole, primarily due to high housing costs. The housing opportunity index for Colorado Springs, which measures the percentage of homes sold in the region that are affordable to the median-income household, decreased from 71.4% in Q3 2019 to 21.5% in Q3 2023.

“The Pikes Peak region needs 8,500 dwelling units, either singlefamily or multi-family, per year between 2023 and 2028 when incorporating both population growth and the existing shortage of housing,” the report states.

Pueblo County

“Pueblo’s economy is anchored by its strong manufacturing base and is the hub of Southern Colorado,”

the report states. “Pueblo offers a strong transportation infrastructure, relatively low cost of land/real estate, abundant water capacity, ideal climate, successful and innovative workforce training programs, and the largest voter-funded cash incentives in the state.”

Pueblo’s unemployment rate is relatively low at 4.3%. Employment in 2023 was fueled by the successful completion of the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, which destroyed 2,613 tons of material that had been stored at the Pueblo Chemical Deposit. The project presented new employment opportunities to more than 1,000 highly skilled workers, the report estimates.

Jobs in Pueblo were most plentiful in healthcare and social assistance, government, and retail trade.

Manufacturing and metal fabrication provide many of the primary jobs that support additional employment in the community.

The report notes that Pueblo is attracting a variety of new companies in industries that are actively recruiting, such as aerospace and defense, outdoor recreation, and the professional and scientific sectors, as well as several areas of manufacturing.

The report cites improvements at Evraz Steel Mill, the expansion of CS Wind’s turbine production facility, and Lightsource BP’s new 300 MW solar facility.

Its highway and rail facilities give Pueblo a “tremendous transportation advantage.”

Furthermore, the city plans expansion of the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, an amenity that is seen as a driving force for its downtown development and tourism.

Jeanne Davant is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Source: Colorado Business Economic Outlook, Leeds School of Business, Boulder

www.burnsmcd.com

socodigest.com / Vol. 1 No. 4 - Dec. 19, 2023 / 32

CS Wind America’s turbine production facility in Pueblo.

El Paso County By the Numbers

[Figures are for September 2023, except where otherwise noted]

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Unemployment rate: 3.4% Labor force: 368,052, a 1.9% annual increase Employment: 355,496, a 1.2% annual increase Net new jobs (2021-22): 10,480 Average annual wage (2022): $61,990, a 4.5% annual increase Per capita personal income: $58,627, 83% of state’s average Single-family home permits (Oct 2022-Sep 2023): 2,439, a 40% annual decrease Permits for multi-family projects: 143 Permits for rental units: 2,176 Median single-family home price (Q2 2023): $467,100 Average monthly rent (Q2 2023 Colorado Springs metro area): $1,480 Office vacancy rate: 11.5% Industrial vacancy rate: 4.5% Retail vacancy rate: 4.6%

33 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Sports Economy KING OF THE MOUNTAIN (WEST)

by T I F FA N Y U N D E RWOO D

www.watchstadium.com

I

n a ceremony this fall, Craig Thompson, former commissioner for Mountain West Conference, was inducted into the 2023 Colorado Springs Sports Corp. Sports Hall of Fame.

With the support of Thompson, MW was able to accomplish great feats: strengthening the conference through member expansion efforts and negotiating nearly $600 million in television revenue to member schools. He is the only Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) commissioner with more than 30 years of experience leading a multi-sport conference.

Thompson stepped down from the position of commissioner effective December 31, 2022. In a news release Thompson said, “… With CFP expansion accomplished and having invested almost a third of my life in the Mountain West, the time is now right for me to conclude my tenure and allow the conference to continue its momentum under new leadership.”

According to the MW website, “Mountain West has been committed to excellence in intercollegiate athletics, while promoting the academic missions of its member institutions.” MW conference is one of the collegiate athletic conferences affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The

conference began in Colorado but now covers a broad range of member schools including Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State.

Thompson’s background in athletics includes participation in football, basketball, and track in high school. In college, he pursued a journalism degree that led him to the public relations field. After graduation, Thompson held several positions in PR for Kansas State University, the NBA’s Kansas City Kings, and Metro Conference.

He then served as commissioner for American South Conference from 1987-1991 as well as Sun Belt Conference from 1991-1998. In 1998, Thomson was the first employee and commissioner for MW Conference.

Sports Corp. said of Thompson, “Throughout his career, Thompson was an integral part of the national landscape in intercollegiate athletics, holding many prestigious posts on the NCAA and sportspecific national committees…”

During the ceremony, organizers

Craig Thompson announced that the MW annual football championship trophy will be named in Thompson’s honor, beginning with the upcoming season’s title game.

Tiffany Underwood is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

35 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Health & Wellness

WHEN HOLIDAYS FEEL TENSE…

N

icole Weiss, director of community training and empowerment at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience, recently answered questions about how families and individuals can cope with stress during the holiday season.

What are some of the top stressors this time of year?

I think many families, especially today, feel financial stress during the holidays. This combines with the pressure of “keeping up” and trying to gift to many people, or gifting the latest and greatest. Highlight reels on social media add to this pressure.

The other, quieter stress tends to be the desire to be happy and merry

while hiding or masking feelings of sadness, grief, or loneliness that can accompany holidays.

How can people effectively deal with stress during the holidays?

It’s important to take time for you, even if it’s small moments of time.

I am an advocate for mindfulness, especially during busy seasons.

Remembering to stay in the present moment can be helpful. Being in nature also does wonders for our mental health, so stepping outside for a walk, or even just looking out a window for moments of time, can help. Other strategies include building and sticking to a budget, choosing priorities (whether that is financial, time, or relational

priorities), spending time with family or friends who feel positive to you, and PLAYING! Go sledding, watch silly movies, make snow angels — we need to keep playing, even as adults.

What tips do you have for people who are dealing with family issues?

Boundaries are healthy!

Boundaries are physical and emotional limits of behaviors we establish in relationships, whether that relationship is with loved ones or coworkers. Consider what limits you could establish that would help you feel your best — then voice those boundaries, and stick to them.

socodigest.com / Vol. 1 No. 4 - Dec. 19, 2023 / 36

Sometimes the holidays revive feelings of grief over In today’s world, people are sometimes separated past loss. How can people cope with those feelings? from family both emotionally and physically — how Holidays often remind us of loved ones lost. It can be can people keep loneliness at bay during a season helpful to honor those loved ones during the holidays. when everyone seems to be celebrating with family?

Write them a note or card, say a prayer, spend time in a place that feels meaningful to your relationship, or even just voice thoughts or memories out loud. This is another time when mindfulness can be helpful as well to remind yourself to stay in the present moment.

How do you maintain reasonable expectations for the holiday season with your family and with your children?

There are many ways to celebrate relationships. If you cannot be together physically, think about ways you may connect virtually, or through other methods, such as cards or recorded videos. Maybe video-call each other while cooking or opening gifts to feel more present with one another. Emotional distance can be more difficult; you might find ways of honoring happy memories (possibly through food or certain movies) and focus your energy on being physically present with people who feel positive to you.

Communication! Effective communication is one of the best things we can do in relationships. Communicate with other adults on what feels reasonable to you during the season, whether that is around finances or time. For children, it can be helpful to discuss traditions or the many “reasons for the season.”

Many in our community celebrated Hanukkah at a particularly difficult time. How can terrible news affect the holidays? And how can they respond positively?

This is where I like to say, “it’s an AND.” We can hold multiple complicated emotions at one time and honor those emotions within us. You can grieve AND feel moments of joy, and neither experience needs to take away from the other. I think it’s a disservice to our human experience to push away true feelings. It’s HARD when we’re dealing and holding on to difficult news and experiences quite often. So, we can honor those hard feelings while allowing space for positive feelings as well.

Nicole Weiss is the Director of Community Training and Empowerment for the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience

FOR MORE INFORMATION

about how to grow resilience as times get tough personally, visit

GRIT.UCCS.EDU

37 / Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

Advertiser Index / In Alphabetical Order Thank you to each and every advertiser listed herein.

5Star Bank Better Business Bureau Boot Barn Hall Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern The Broadmoor Business Digest Weekly Radio Colorado Springs Airport Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber/El Concilio Financial Talent Group First National Bank of Colorado Flying Horse Realty Integrity Bank & Trust KKTV 11News Ledbetter Agency Marquesa Hobbs, Realtor/Colorado Hearthstone Properties/ The Platinum Group Realtors Notes Bar Notes Live NORTH Magazine Salem Media So. Co. Women’s Chamber of Commerce Sunset Amphitheater WCG, Inc.

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CLOSE TO HOME,

A WORLD AWAY.

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