THE BUSINESS T IMES News The Business Times
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December 23, 2021-January 5, 2022
Trends Growth phase foreseen for ContributorsMesa County Opinion Business Briefs Business People Almanac But pandemic and inflation remain challenges in 2022, according to CU economist Phil Castle
The Business Times
Ivan Geer, principle and engineering project manager at River City Consultants, will serve as the next chairman of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Geer says one of his roles during his year-long term will be to ensure all voices are heard in directing chamber efforts.
Engineering efforts
Chamber chairman brings curiosity, team approach to role
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van Geer enjoys his career as an engineer because, he says, he likes to learn how things work and solve problems. He also prefers a team effort over top down management. It’s an approach Geer says he brings not only to his role as an owner of River City Consultants in Grand Junction, but also his roles on the governing boards of various organizations. And it’s an approach he says he expects to bring to his upcoming term as chairman of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. While the local business climate remains conducive to continued growth, challenges persist, he says. They include the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as inflation and labor and housing shortages. Change itself constitutes a challenge. But the chamber is well-suited to address those challenges and serve as a business advocate, Geer says. “We’re not afraid to tackle anything.” Geer starts his year-long term in January. He will succeed Katie Powell, president of Munro Companies. Geer says one of his duties will be to ensure all the voices on the chamber board are heard and the process remains transparent. One of the strengths of the chamber, he says, is the diversity of voices engaged in what is sometimes respectful dissent. “The small business voice is as big as the big business voice.” Otherwise, Geer says he expects the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce to continue to do what it does best in serving as a catalyst for growth,
“This is one of the most relevant chambers in the nation.” Ivan Geer a convener of leaders and groups and a champion for businesses and the community. He cites as an example chamber involvement in a program implemented in the midst of the pandemic allowing businesses following public health guidelines and safety practices to operate under less stringent conditions. The Mesa County 5 Star program became a model for efforts elsewhere in Colorado and other states. “This is one of the most relevant chambers in the nation,” he says. Geer also cites the chamber’s role in appealing a proposed water quality rule imposing maximum levels for selenium and other pollutants in the Grand Valley. The proposed rule doesn’t take into account the amount of selenium found naturally in Grand Valley soils washed into the watershed. The resulting standards, he says, aren’t physically possible to meet. Geer serves as a principle and engineering project manager with River City Consultants. Geer and Jeffrey Mace own the firm, which provides a range of surveying and engineering services to private and public-sector clients throughout Western Colorado. See ENGINEERING page 12
STORY AND PHOTO BY PHIL CASTLE
Rich Wobbekind foresees good things in the year ahead for the Mesa County economy and local businesses. “Right now, the economy here looks to be in a very strong growth phase,” said Wobbekind, senior economist at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The agriculture, energy and tourism sectors are expected to fare well in 2022 and bolster the economy even as wages and incomes rise. Increases in Rich Wobbekind building permits and bank deposits also bode well, Wobbekind said. Challenges remain, though, among them the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions. That’s not to mention what could be additional challenges not yet known. The business research division at the Leeds School of Business compiles an annual business and economic forecast for Colorado with sections for various industry sectors and geographic regions. Business, industry and government officials contribute to the report. Wobbekind detailed the forecast for Mesa County as well as the state and nation during a presentation hosted by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. The broad measure of goods and services produced in Mesa County rebounded in 2021 from a decrease in 2020, he said. The seasonally unadjusted jobless rate dropped from a high of 12.8 percent in April 2020 to 4.7 percent in November 2021, the latest month for which estimates are avalable. Overall employment has grown over the past year with gains in warehousing and business and professional services. Employment remains down in the mining and leisure and hospitality sectors. Wages and personal income remain strong, Wobbekind said. “Life is pretty good based on those indicators,” he said. Building permits, an indicator of construction activity, are up, as is the value of residential and nonresidential construction and infrastructure. The number of passengers using commercial air service at the Grand Junciton Regional Airport has increased. So has the count of drilling rigs operating in Western Colorado, he said. Bank deposits, a proxy for subsequent lending activity, have increased as well, he said. “This is a good sign.” As for Colorado, Wobbekind said the forecast calls for nonfarm payrolls to grow 73,900 in 2022 as the state finally recoups jobs lost because of the pandemic and related restrictions. Gains are expected in each of 11 industry sectors. The leisure and hospitality sector likely will realize the biggest gain at 31,700 jobs, but also suffered the biggest decrease in the pandemic. See GROWTH page 14
