Young Professionals making an impact and connections
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
Curiosity, purpose and connection were central themes at this year’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) Summit and BestSlope NextGen Awards, hosted by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 22 at Colorado Mesa University.
More than 150 emerging leaders from across many sectors on the Western Slope gathered for a day of networking, learning and recognition. The summit aimed to help participants grow as leaders while celebrating 20 standout professionals who already are making an impact in their careers and communities.
“Sometimes when young professionals leave the area, it’s because they feel disconnected,” Chamber CEO Candace Carnahan said. “When you get everyone in a room of 150 people and show them that there absolutely is a place for them here, it changes that. They realize they’re surrounded by peers who are navigating the same things. That sense of connection helps people stay and grow right here in the Grand Valley.”
She added, “These are faces we don’t always see at our regular business events. We wanted to dig deeper than just the usual decision-makers and leaders. These young professionals are the ones keeping doors open and driving the day-to-day work that makes our economy function.”
See story Page 5
Banking on the river
OakStar Bank relocates to new facility at The Riverfront at Las Colonias. — See Page 2
OakStar Bank Regional President for Colorado Clay Tufly and his wife, Cassie
the
vice president of business and mortgage products, stand in front of OakStar’s new building, which opened for business Oct. 22
Junction. The building is part of the Riverfront at Las Colonias development along the
Tufly,
bank’s
at 1351 Riverfront Loop in Grand
Colorado River.
Photo by Tim Harty.
An actual river bank
OakStar Bank is open for business in its new home on the Colorado River
too, and Clay made sure to point out in fun, “She doesn’t report to me, so that’s good for everybody.”
Tim Harty The Business Times
It’s Oct. 23, Day 2 of OakStar Bank being open in its new location at the Riverfront at Las Colonias, and Clay Tufly is locked out of his office. He either has the wrong key fob for the door, or it’s not logged into the system right or some such.
Welcome to the new building!
OakStar’s regional president for Colorado saw the humor in it and chuckled, then took his interview with The Business Times to the second-floor break room.
It’s a cool building at 1351 Riverfront Loop, just off the Riverside Parkway and a stone’s throw from the Colorado River. Impressive from the outside. Glassy. Modern. A dog walker even relayed his appreciation for the architecture to Tufly during a brief conversation on the front sidewalk.
And it’s impressive on the inside. A tour of the nearly 14,000-square-foot building reveals a spacious, open first floor with a comfortable, natural-light-saturated lobby, a center section with stations to serve customers, offices on the perimeter, plus a break room of its own.
Then, the second floor has a large conference room with 16 chairs surrounding a rectangular configuration of tables, a small conference room with six chairs
by Tim Harty.
around its table, several offices and two large decks.
OK, the decks are technically exterior, but with sizable covered areas they feel like an extension of the inside, and they’ll allow OakStar Bank to host events for 70-80 people. Tufly suspects OakStar will make a habit of that.
Overall, it’s a significant upgrade from the downtown office at 501 Main St., where OakStar bids adieu to reside in its shiny, new home.
Well, shiny until Tufly’s 2-year-old grandson tracked in some mud. That reminded Tufly to go back to the Main Street office, which will close in two months, and bring back a broom, dustpan and vacuum cleaner.
The bank down by the river is OakStar’s fourth home since its arrival in Grand Junction in 2021, when it started in one downtown loft doing loan production, then moved to a loft at 461 Main St., above Summit Canyon Mountaineering (now Gearhead Outfitters). A move across the street to 501 Main St. a little more than two years ago brought the addition of personal banking.
It’s another thing Tufly can chuckle about, recalling the humble Grand Junction beginnings for OakStar, which has 20 branches across three states –Missouri, Kansas and Colorado – and is headquartered in Springfield, Mo.
See OAKSTAR on Page 9
Come see it for yourself
OakStar Bank team members, leadership and shareholders will celebrate the grand opening of their new building at 1351 Riverfront Loop on Nov. 6 from 2 to 5 p.m. The Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce will oversee a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m.
Members of the Grand Junction community are welcome and encouraged to attend.
How may we help you?
OakStar Bank Grand Junction offers deposit services, consumer and business lending, corporate services, mortgage lending, and other services to the surrounding community.
They appreciate what you did
If you find the architecture stunning, know that it’s the handiwork of Missouri-based Baron Design & Associates. The construction, meanwhile, was done by Grand Junction stalwart FCI Constructors.
Sized right for these parts
OakStar Bank Regional President for Colorado Clay Tufly characterizes OakStar as the right size to meet the average Grand Valley and Western Colorado consumer’s needs.
“We’re still small enough that we can make quick decisions and have a lot of ability to be creative with financing and other types of things,” he said. “But we’re large enough to do most any project that we would want to be a part of. Our lending limit’s sufficient to do in excess of $40 million. We choose to stay around $20 million for an individual project, but that’s just an internal kind of guidance.”
Parking-lot service, if you choose
One thing you won’t find at OakStar’s new facility is drive-up windows.
Instead, it will try to do “just a little bit different kind of banking,” Tufly said. “We’ll have three lanes out front that people can park, and if they want us to come grab their transactions, we’ll come do that, kind of like during the COVID era, instead of using a drive-through and having all of that additional overhead.
“You know, I’ve been doing this a long time, and drive-ups can be a challenge, and we just chose to do it without, especially with this location. There really wasn’t a way to do that that made sense. … With banking anymore, there’s so much digital and electronic opportunities that I think it’s less important to have people being able to drive through and do some of those other things.”
It took the whole team
Tufly knows his name got attached to all of the news during the past two years about OakStar Bank building its new home by the Colorado River, but he said that doesn’t recognize the people who deserve the recognition.
“I really don’t want any credit,” he said. “If you’re going to give any credit, it’s the team. … I’ve just been very fortunate and blessed to get to be the face of it, and sometimes that’s not fair to everybody else, I don’t think.
“And they’re all very humble people as well. I don’t know that anybody’s looking for any kind of credit, but they deserve it.”
Oakstar Bank of Grand Junction Vice President of Business and Mortgage Products Cassie Tufly, left, and her husband, Clay Tufly, OakStar’s regional president for Colorado, stand in the large conference room on the second floor of the bank’s new building. Each has an office on the second floor,
Photo
More about OakStar Bank
Habitat for Humanity doubles homebuilding, expands into Delta County
Volunteers, staff and community members gathered Oct. 17 for Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County’s 3rd Annual Hope Through Homes block party, a celebration of the organization’s continued growth in providing affordable housing.
The event featured live music, food trucks and families who have helped build homes in the expanding Hoffman Subdivision in Grand Junction.
This year marked a milestone for Habitat’s local operations as the organization increases the number of homes it builds each year, expands its service area into Delta County and prepares to launch a new 21-unit subdivision in Clifton called Cottage Gardens.
“This is our third annual Hope Through Homes event,” said Tanya Adams, program specialist for Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County. “We host this community block party every year to show people what we’re doing for affordable housing. That’s why we have it in a subdivision, so the community can see the homes and where we’re at in the process. Every donation stays local and helps build homes for families right here.”
Building Momentum
Adams said the organization is currently building six homes this year, up from four the year before.
“We have a total of eight new future homeowners,” she said. “Our goal is to continue building a couple more each year. We went from four to six this year, and we’re hoping to do eight next year.”
Construction Manager Nathan Margosian oversees the hands-on work of building those homes, often alongside volunteers and future homeowners.
“Right now we’re finishing this side of the subdivision, and then we’ll be done in here,” he said. “Next year we’ll start our next project in Clifton.”
That next project, Adams said, is Cottage Gardens, a neighborhood near the Clifton Community Center at E Road and 32 1/2 Road.
“We’re really excited about that,” she said. “If the county finishes the roadwork and we can get the infrastructure done in time, we’ll do eight homes next year and maintain at least that number moving forward.”
Expanding Into Delta County
In another major development, Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County recently gained
approval to expand its service area to include Delta County, a move that will allow it to begin identifying land and funding for future builds there.
“We just got Delta County in our service area,” Executive Director Laurel Cole said. “We’re really excited about that. The plan is to start reaching out and seeing what opportunities and funding are available, so we can start building out there, too. We’ll be building both here and there.”
Community Connection
The Hope Through Homes event, featuring musical performances by Peach Street Revival and The Lost Junction Band, took place on the foundation of the next Habitat home to be built, symbolizing the organization’s mission of combining community, music and construction to build something lasting together.
For many staff and volunteers, the event also offered a chance to meet the families whose lives are being transformed through affordable homeownership. Children ran between the framed homes and food trucks while volunteers in Habitat shirts greeted visitors and helped with a silent auction that even included a pair of purebred German shepherd puppies.
Funding and Affordability
Adams said Habitat continues to rely on a mix of grants, community partnerships and homeowner investment to keep housing costs low for qualifying homeowners who are selected.
“Our homeowners pay for their houses, but they do it through a zero to low-interest loan through Habitat,” she said. “We don’t do traditional mortgages with high interest. It keeps things affordable for working families.”
Habitat also benefits from a growing number of local sponsors and fundraisers.
“We’ve been doing a lot more community events this year,” Adams said. “There are so many great nonprofits in the valley, so we’re working hard to get our face out there and show people what we’re doing.”
Looking Ahead
With the Clifton subdivision breaking ground soon and new opportunities in Delta County on the horizon, Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County is positioning itself for its most productive year yet.
“We’re really hoping to ramp up our building,” Adams said. “Our goal is to maintain a minimum of eight homes a year and eventually go up to 12, and that’s just here. Then we’ll start building in Delta, too.”
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County staff gather during the 3rd Annual Hope Through Homes block party held at the organization’s active build site in Grand Junction. Left to Right: Christina Martin, operations manager; Nathan Margosian, construction manager; Tanya Adams, program specialist; and Laurel Cole, executive director. Photo by Brandon Leuallen.
GJ Chamber hands out 20 awards to next generation of young professionals
Continued from Page 1
Breakout sessions and celebrating next generation
The morning began with a keynote titled “Why Purpose Isn’t Found, It’s Built” presented by Marty Imes and Wes Love of CultureStoke. They encouraged attendees to see purpose not as something discovered, but as something developed through intentional effort and small, consistent steps.
After the keynote, attendees joined a series of breakout sessions covering topics such as personal branding, communication and the future of work, each led by local professionals and business leaders. The afternoon included networking activities, lunch with cybersecurity expert Kurtis Minder and a closing reflection session before the evening BestSlope NextGen Awards Ceremony.
The evening’s BestSlope NextGen Awards Ceremony honored 20 young professionals recognized for leadership,
awards. Award recipients represented a wide range of industries, including public service, health care, business and nonprofit leadership.
“These are individuals already making a huge impact,” Carnahan said. “They represent what’s next for our community.”
Investing in the Future
The Young Professionals Network of Mesa County has grown to more than 300 members and provides yearround opportunities for development and connection. Membership includes monthly luncheons with local leaders, workshops and volunteer opportunities.
Carnahan highlighted the low cost of joining YPN. Membership costs $40 per year for CMU students and alumni, and $70 for nonmembers.
Do you want to become a speaker?
Not only does the Young Professionals network bring young professionals together to find peers and build their personal network, it helps them build skills, including offering opportunities to
Jordan Koos, events and education coordinator, Western Colorado Contractors Association.
Mindy Gutierrez, assistant vice president of workforce development, CMU Tech.
Beau Flores, vice president of Western Colorado affairs, 76 Group.
Honorees were introduced with a short profile before taking the stage to receive their
According to Carnahan, the chamber provides several entry points for aspiring speakers through its Young Professionals Network.
“Anyone who’s interested in sharing their passion and knowledge with our young professionals should reach out to us,” she said.
She explained that the chamber of commerce can connect people with speaking opportunities that fit their background and goals.
“Whether it’s the summit or one of the monthly lunch conversations, we love creating those pathways,” she said. “We’re always happy to keep cultivating that list.”
YPN hosts monthly lunch sessions and after-hours events where community members can start by leading short discussions, serving as mentors, or co-hosting panels before taking on larger speaking roles.
See YPN on Page 12
YPN Summit keynote speaker Wes Love, co-founder of CultureStoke, led the morning session titled “Why Purpose Isn’t Found, It’s Built.” Love and his business partner Marty Imes encouraged attendees to build purpose through curiosity, reflection, and meaningful connection. Photo by Brandon Leuallen.
Envisioning their second restaurant
Owners of Fidel’s Cocina in Palisade found
Tim Harty The Business Times
The idea of opening a second restaurant struck Jody Corey first, but her husband, Jeff Snook, wasn’t convinced that was a good idea.
That was until the co-owners of Fidel’s Cocina & Bar in Palisade went to Fruita to view the building at 169 S. Mulberry St. Then, Snook got on board. There, they both saw an Italian restaurant where an auto-repair shop, among other things, had previously resided.
“When we saw the space, it really struck us as being something special,” Corey said. “We enjoy remodeling old buildings and old properties, and we saw the potential in this space.”
They bought the building in December 2024 and got to work on what would become Josephine’s Italian Restaurant, which they opened for business Oct. 14.
They knew one thing for sure about what they didn’t want in their new restaurant. They didn’t want it to be a second Fidel’s Cocina, which serves Latin-inspired food.
“When we were thinking about a new concept, we didn’t want to replicate what we had at Fidel’s,” Corey said. “We do think it’s a unique spot, and if we replicated it again, we would probably be cannibalizing our own business.”
The new restaurant had to be different, and they settled on Italian cuisine for two main reasons. One, they said Fruita lacks Italian restaurants, so there’s a need. Two, Corey grew up in an Italian family, eating Italian food and making it in Queens, N.Y.
When Corey said, “I’ve eaten Italian food almost my whole life,” Snook couldn’t help but say, “I wouldn’t say ‘almost.’” Corey then corrected herself with: “My whole life.”
That also made naming the restaurant easy. They chose Josephine’s in honor of Corey’s grandmother Josephine.
“Growing up, my grandma lived two houses away from me, my grandma and grandfather, and I was there all the time, and we had a huge Italian family, and her spot was the house, so people were there all the time,” Corey said. “I think that really taught me how to be hospitable.
“When people came into her house, there was always food for them. She welcomed them, whether they were dirty or dressed up. You know, there was just that feeling of warmth that we want Josephine’s and Fidel’s to really have that, where they walk in and we treat our guest as family.”
Snook added Josephine’s family-oriented style of cooking is how he and Corey like to eat.
“When we go with our friends, even our employees, when we sit down with everybody it’s lots of portions, lots of plates, but small portions, so everybody gets to taste it,” he said.
That inspired the menu at Josephine’s, as Snook added, “You can get through the whole menu pretty easily, so you can taste everything.”
Josephine’s menu is still a work in progress, so Corey and Snook ask that customers be patient. Something on the menu a week ago might disappear as they determine what’s working and selling, what should be staples and what should rotate.
For certain, though, everything will be made from scratch. Customers can expect there will be four to five pasta dishes, several varieties of wood-fired pizza, a couple salads and a couple desserts offered.
A member of the wait staff on Oct. 21 passed along to Corey and Snook that a customer raved about that evening’s limoncello dessert.
They liked hearing that, and they welcome honest feedback from customers. It’s OK to say you didn’t like something, but Corey asks that criticism also comes with understanding.
See JOSEPHINE’S on Page 8
‘special’ place to open Italian restaurant in Fruita
ABOVE: Josephine’s Italian Restaurant owners Jeff Snook, left, and Jody Corey, stand outside their new restaurant, which opened Oct. 14 at 169 S. Mulberry St. in Fruita.
BELOW: A wide-angle look at the interior of Josephine’s Italian Restaurant on Oct. 21, which marked one week of being open. As owners of the building, Snook and Corey had a blank slate to design the space to their liking. Photos by Tim Harty.
Josephine’s
Continued from page 6
“Be honest with us about how things are, whether it’s good or bad, so we can grow,” Corey said. “Give us some grace in the beginning.”
“I think that’s all any restaurateur would want to hear is: Give us some grace in the beginning,” Snook added. “Let us know if it’s good or bad, because you’re not going to hurt our feelings, and help us grow to be better than we were yesterday.”
A sausage and fennel pizza that was baked in the wood-fire oven at Josephine’s Italian Restaurant on Oct. 21. The pizzas are made from scratch and use dough from
Yes, that’s a garage door
Because one of the previous business iterations at 169 S. Mulberry St. in Fruita was an auto-repair shop, the building has a huge garage door facing Mulberry Street.
And Josephine’s Italian Restaurant co-owners Jody Corey and Jeff Snook kept the feature. Now, it serves as a wall of windows letting in natural light, but it does still open and close.
“We imagine we would be having that open at some point,” Corey said. Or maybe not.
“We actually don’t know if the garage door is a great idea, because: Is it too cold? Is it too hot? Is it air conditioning? Do we have bugs? So we’re not sure.”
Intensive renovation
One of the things Corey and Snook loved about the building is it provided a blank slate for the interior design. Of course, that also meant substantial investment in additions and updates.
“We had to invest a good amount of money to put in the infrastructure to open a restaurant,” Corey said. “We had to install a new hood system, heating and cooling, all the bathrooms, a commercial kitchen requires a lot of plumbing for hand sinks and dishwashers and things like that, and then the bar systems.
“So, we felt, after owning Fidel’s, this is our opportunity to design around the cuisine we’re going to have and then the space that we want to have.”
Snook added Fidel’s Cocina was different, because they lease that building, and it was already a restaurant when they took it over.
“We were a little limited on what we were wanting to invest into it,” he said.
For Josephine’s, Snook echoed Corey in calling it a blank slate.
“We got to do whatever we wanted, within financial constraints, of course, because we don’t have that kind of money,” he said “But it was literally walking in to say, ‘This is a blank slate. We get to do what we want and how we want.’
“So, we’ve spent a lot of time really trying to think about how it’s set up, the dining experience, the heating and cooling, the ambiance, the sound, the light. There was a lot of thought and a big team behind us to help make that happen.”
A little help from a friend
For pizza making, Josephine’s has a wood-fire oven and will serve Neapolitan-style pizza, using dough from Italy.
Corey said Snook’s best friend, Frank Linn, came to Fruita and helped consult, because he owns a pizza restaurant called Frankly Pizza in Kensington, Md.
“He is a pizza whiz,” she said. “He helped us with the dough, made sure that it worked with this altitude and our climate, humidity effects or lack of humidity effects on pizza dough, and he came to train our staff prior to us opening.”
More About Josephine’s Italian Restaurant
Italy. Photo by Tim Harty.
Continued from page 2
“We started out in an office, just three of us sitting on each end with one little desk,” he said. “And we kind of kid that, I think, we had an old cardboard box that we used as like a side table to an old couch that I brought in, with an old TV that I had, so that was our break room.
“But we were able to just kind of keep our overhead very low and try to build some income and cash flow to support ourselves.”
A few more people joined the cause along the way, including Cassie Tufly, Clay’s wife. Hence, a contingent of 10 people initially occupy the new building, which is a full-service bank with the ability to grow.
It’s also a bank that’s going to stick around. Clay Tufly thinks that’s the ultimate message OakStar Bank’s new building sends.
He struggled for the right word to sum up that sentiment, then changed course and said it simply: “We’re actually here, people can trust that we’re here, they know we’re not going anywhere,” he said. “I think it shows a very large commitment to Grand Junction, to Western Colorado, and I think that’s probably the more important piece. It’s not so much a shiny new toy, but an established presence that can be an important part of the community, that the community can use as well.”
A grand opening is scheduled for Nov. 6, and Tufly hopes the community will seize the opportunity to see OakStar’s new home and find out what the bank is all about. He hopes newcomers will see what he sees.
For what sets OakStar apart, Tufly said, “I think it starts with the team of people we have, just really good people trying to do what they can to help others.”
He said they have a one-word motto: Serve.
Tufly knows a lot of banks want to provide good customer service, so standing out from the crowd is a challenge, and OakStar’s staff embraces it. They’re veterans of Grand Junction’s banking community, and Tufly thinks customers will experience that with every service OakStar provides.
“It’s a lot of the people they know from some of their previous banking relationships,” he said. “Come down and see who’s here and what we can offer, and we hope to just be able to help people do better and treat them the right way and see where that goes.”
OakStar Bank executives Clay and Cassie Tufly stand on one of the two decks at the new OakStar Bank building. Photo by Tim Harty.
Mineral Lease District awards $348,781 in grants
The Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease District awarded five grants totaling $348,781 for its 2025 grant cycle to entities in Mesa County, according to a news release from the district.
The Town of De Beque was awarded a traditional grant of $157,799 for engineering work on the De Beque River Park project.
Mini Grant Awards were distributed as follows:
• Gateway-Unaweep Fire Protection District received $45,982 for the Motorola XTS Replacement Project.
• Town of Palisade Police Department received $45,000 for the K9 Public Safety Program for Schools & Community.
• Caprock Academy received $50,000 for upgrades to its Safety and Security Program.
• Chipeta Elementary School received $50,000 for a park water fountain, shade and locks
“The grant funding we receive from oil and gas leases are meant to support our community and address local impacts. The board is thrilled to fund these projects, which will enhance Mesa County for years to come,” said Dusti Reimer, grant administrator for the district.
The funding for these grants comes from federal mineral lease payments distributed to the State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs, which then allocates funds to counties, municipalities, and federal mineral lease districts impacted by federal mineral leasing activity. Approximately 70 percent of the land in Mesa County is publicly owned and rich with various mineral deposits, the news release said.
For more information about the mineral lease district, grant eligibility and grant cycles, visit www.mesafml.org. For upto-date information regarding meetings and grant-project progress, follow the district on Facebook and X.
Recipients of the 2025 BestSlope NextGen Awards celebrate on stage at Colorado Mesa University on Oct. 22. Twenty honorees from across the Western Slope were recognized for their leadership, innovation and community impact during the evening ceremony. Photo by Brandon Leuallen.
Continued from Page 5
Carnahan said the chamber acts as a matchmaker for emerging speakers.
“If you’re passionate about helping cultivate and support our young professionals, we want to know about it,” she said. “There’s such a diverse amount of opportunities, and we can help match you with what makes the most sense for you.”
Advice from the keynote speaker
“The biggest advice I give people if they want to get into speaking is find your message,” said Wes Love, who co-founded CultureStoke and delivered the opening keynote “Why Purpose Isn’t Found, It’s Built.”
Love said aspiring speakers should focus on what truly drives them.
“Have a big idea about how you want to make the world a better place, not just how to make more money,” he said. “We get one time on this spinning rock, so you might as well make a legacy and an impact. What do you care about? Find a compelling message and then start shouting it from any rooftop you can get on.”
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BestSlope on stage on Oct. across the recognized for and comevening cerLeuallen.
Letters to the Editor
Continue improvement, momentum with incumbents
Dear Editor,
The District 51 incumbent school board candidates running in the upcoming Nov. 4 election have my thanks and support for what has been accomplished in the last four years. What I appreciate most is the reported improved student outcomes in core essential skills such as reading and math as indicated in increased academic scores all while the board demonstrated fiscal responsibility and stability. This was achieved through hard work and dedication of all involved. I’m talking about students and supportive parents, teachers, administrative and support staff, and all board members serving in the past four years.
Congratulations to all! And thank you! You have much of which to be proud, and no doubt the community is proud of you also. In addition to student academic achievement, teacher salary and support staff wages have increased, likely contributing to staff retention, lower turnover and improved overall morale. I was glad to hear the reserve fund increased from a concerning low to a much more stable level. And wow, who ever hears of a project such as new high school building construction being on time and under budget?
In a letter to the editor I saw several days ago, a local resident said he spoke with D51 teachers describing the poor state of D51 schools. I would agree they have been in the past, but in my opinion much improvement and much upward and forward momentum has been achieved in the past four years. I would say D51 is much better off today than it has been in quite a few years.
Help this to keep moving forward by re-electing Andrea Haitz, Will Jones, and Angela Lema.
— Cristine Hoche, Glade Park
Our schools are thriving — let’s keep it that way
Dear Editor,
I am a parent of two children and grandmother of one child, all of whom graduated from the D51 school system. I also am a retired pediatric speech-language pathologist (in an outpatient setting) who has worked with hundreds of school-age children and their families, most of whom were educated in D51. I had opportunities to maintain ongoing contact with many school staff such as teachers, therapists and special educators regarding students who we had in common.
Over the past 30-plus years of living in Mesa County I have had diverse experiences, both personal and professional with various aspects of the school system. Presently, as a community member, I continue to look at how our schools are functioning, have attended school board meetings and have followed the many positive changes during the past four years.
District 51 has achieved a milestone we should all celebrate: 100 percent of schools academically earned either a “Performance” or “Improvement” rating, a historic first for District 51 since the state began this system in 2010. Not a single school is in the state’s lowest categories for the first time in 15 years.
This didn’t happen by chance. It was the result of a clear, community-driven Strategic Plan and a board that worked hand-in-hand with teachers, staff, families and students to put academics first. Under this board, we’ve adopted a stronger reading curriculum, implemented a cell phone policy to keep kids focused and created more pathways for student success.
This is proof that teamwork matters — and so does strong leadership that sets a vision and follows through. Let’s keep this momentum going.
Re-elect Andrea Haitz, Angela Lema and Will Jones. – Phyliss Flower, Grand Junction
Fiscal accountability and responsible curriculum
Dear Editor,
Over the past few years, many in our community have called for greater accountability and transparency in School District 51. One significant step in that direction: The district/ taxpayers no longer pay the teacher’s union president’s salary! That position is now funded entirely by union dues – not taxpayer dollars. This was a longstanding concern for many, and it’s a concrete example of fiscal responsibility in action.
When people ask what else has changed, I point to the district’s curriculum choices. For example, when the fourth-grade Colorado history curriculum came up for review, the board of education approved a version that met the state’s academic standards while rejecting a version that strayed into political activism for 10-year-olds. The majority board’s decision was rooted in the principle that elementary education should focus on academics and foundational knowledge – not ideology.
Afterward, several community members went back and reviewed the board meeting videos and materials themselves. Many have since reached out to express appreciation that our board took a measured, age-appropriate and academically grounded approach. Those are just two examples of why our schools are on a better path – fiscal accountability, strong academics and a commitment to parents’ trust. These are the kinds of decisions that build confidence in public education. Re-elect Haitz, Lema and Jones on Nov. 4. — Pete Hosburgh
Kids win with Jones on District 51 School Board
Dear Editor,
Over the past ten years, I have had the privilege of knowing Will Jones, and I can say with complete confidence that his heart and actions have always been centered on one thing: the kids. Will shows up. Whether it’s cheering at athletic events, supporting nonprofits that serve children with disabilities or lending a hand to any group that helps kids feel valued and included, Will is there.
When Will walks through the community or into a school, the kids light up. They run up to him, wave, and call his name, because they know he’s on their side. That kind of connection doesn’t happen by chance. It comes from years of showing up, listening and genuinely caring about every child, no matter their background or ability
I’ve watched Will spend entire days playing dodgeball with kids who have intellectual and physical disabilities, help students struggling with insecurities, and step in on short notice to announce at youth sporting events — not for recognition, but because he wants every child to feel seen and celebrated.
The School Board needs someone like Will Jones, someone who is truly for the kids and who the kids themselves trust and respect. His commitment extends beyond schools and into the heart of our community, where he’s always willing to help nonprofits and organizations that strengthen families and support young people.
As a parent, I feel confident that my children have a voice when Will is on the school board. He brings compassion, integrity and a true understanding of what our students need to succeed. That’s why I’m proud to support Will Jones for School Board — because when Will serves, kids win.
– Georgia L. Hoaglund, Parent of District 51 student
Haitz, Lema, Jones have courage to do what’s right
Dear Editor,
When incumbent school board members Andrea Haitz, Angela Lema and Will Jones took office, they inherited a district budget that had been operating in the red for years, temporarily backfilled by COVID relief funding. Once those federal dollars expired, the financial reality could no longer be ignored.
While others might have chosen the easy path or delayed the hard choices, Haitz, Lema and Jones stood firm. They refused to cave to pressure or chase popularity. Instead, they made the tough, often unpopular decisions necessary to restore fiscal stability and protect the future of our schools. That meant consolidating resources and closing facilities – painful steps, but responsible ones.
True leadership isn’t about applause; it’s about accountability. Their resolve has delivered measurable results: higher graduation rates; stronger test scores; increased teacher pay; and the completion of the new Grand Junction High School, on time and under budget.
This November, vote to retain the proven leadership of Andrea Haitz, Angela Lema and Will Jones — leaders who had the courage to do what’s right for students, even when it wasn’t easy.
— Kelly Maves, Grand Junction
Don’t change what’s working on school board
Dear Editor,
As a community, we often look to successful businesses for lessons on strong leadership. One of the clearest lessons is this: When something is working, you don’t change it. You don’t replace effective leadership during times of growth; you build on that success. The same logic applies to our school board.
Our current school board has shown strong leadership. The 2024 graduation rate was 83 percent, which was the highest rate in the history of District 51. Test scores continue to climb. From an article in The Business Times on September 2, 2025: “We were able to exceed the state average in five out of the six elementary CMAS categories, which is not something we’ve done before,” (Superintendent Brian) Hill said. “At the high school level, we were outpacing the state in nine out of 12 areas. That’s a highlight and something that we haven’t really been able to celebrate in the past.”
Whether it’s student achievement, responsible budgeting (Grand Junction High School was built under budget thanks to Director Angela Lema’s attention), or school safety, we’ve seen clear progress. Why would we risk that by replacing leaders who are delivering results?
Look at companies like Apple, Microsoft and Costco. When their leadership is strong and business is thriving, their boards stay the course. They don’t disrupt progress by gambling on untested leadership. They double down on what’s working. That’s what we should do here. In times of dysfunction or decline, change makes sense. But right now, our schools are moving in the right direction. Let’s keep the momentum going. I urge voters to re-elect Andrea Haitz, Angela Lema and Will Jones to the school board and let them continue the important work they’ve already started.
– Jenny Dalley, Grand Junction
Letters to the Editor
Clarifying record on D51’s budget, enrollment and school closures
Dear Editor,
Recently, there has been some concerning misinformation suggesting School District 51 has “manufactured” a financial crisis. This narrative is not only false, it’s harmful to our staff, teachers, students and the broader community.
If we want our community to ever consider supporting a future mill-levy override, it’s vital they understand the facts: District 51 is not adequately funded by the state, and no one has fabricated or exaggerated a financial crisis. The State of Colorado has commissioned two independent studies confirming that public education funding falls short of what’s needed to adequately serve students. You can review those reports here: www.air.org/project/colorado-financial-adequacy-study and www.apaconsulting.com/ co-adequacy-study.
The D51 Board of Education and administration recognize recent discussions about district finances and school closures have raised questions. Because some inaccurate information has been circulating, we want to provide our community with a clear and factual explanation of the financial and enrollment challenges that guided these difficult decisions.
Since the 2019–2020 school year, D51’s student enrollment has dropped by more than 2,000 students, nearly three times faster than the state average. The signs of this began as early as 2017. This year alone, our student count declined by another 2.4 percent. Because Colorado funds schools based on the number of students enrolled, fewer students mean fewer dollars. Declining enrollment directly reduces the district’s yearly funding, no matter what changes occur at the state level.
Consolidating underused buildings and reducing staff continue to save the district more than $7.2 million each year. In total, these changes have avoided over $15 million in cumulative costs. These savings came from closing East Middle School, Fruita 8/9, three elementary schools, and reducing the size of our central office. Those funds have been redirected to teacher pay, benefits and classroom resources, where they have the most direct impact on students.
The district’s “fund balance” is like a savings account that helps protect against unexpected costs or drops in funding. This balance grew because of careful planning, not because the district withheld money from schools. During the pandemic, federal COVID relief funds – known as ESSER dollars (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency
Relief) – were used strategically to cover certain expenses so that the district’s main budget, called the general fund, could be used for long-term stability while ensuring student needs were met.
Importantly, the district did not “hold back” state money. Those funds were used to raise staff pay and benefits, keep up with inflation and maintain essential programs.
From 2020–21 to 2024–25, total salary and benefit costs increased from $139 million to $199 million, a 43 percent increase. Total district spending rose 39 percent during the same time. Meanwhile, reserves grew from 14 percent to 23 percent of expenditures, which is appropriate for a $250 million annual budget. Strong reserves aren’t excess; they’re protection for students and staff in case of future downturns.
Even as enrollment declined, D51 invested heavily in its staff. Nearly all employees affected by school closures were able to stay employed within the district. The district’s pay increases in recent years, including a 38 percent increase in average teacher pay, have outpaced many other Colorado districts. These improvements were made possible by ongoing savings and careful budgeting.
While reductions in the state’s “Negative Factor” or “Budget Stabilization Factor” helped all Colorado districts that receive state funding, that change was not a repayment of previous funding losses, which totaled nearly $250 million for D51 over many years. Our district’s stable financial position is the result of local, long-term decisions, not an unexpected windfall. Without the savings from school closures and efficiency measures, D51 would be facing multi-million-dollar structural deficits today
The D51 Board of Education and district leadership have worked to maintain financial stability, improve staff pay and protect student programs during a time of declining enrollment and rising costs. We understand school closures affect communities. Those choices were not made lightly. They were made to ensure that every student in Mesa County continues to have access to strong academic programs, great teachers and well-supported schools for years to come.
If anyone in the community has any questions, please reach out to the board of education or the D51 finance department with any and all questions. You can find contact information at d51schools.org.
— Andrea Haitz, Board of Education President, Mesa County Valley School District 51
It’s another election day, and the government needs more of your money
Isn’t that what elections have become all about? Well, except electing folks who are the tip of the iceberg on government needing more of your money.
I could have added to the headline, “Like it always does after another failed social experiment,” but I prefer to digress in the body, not the punchline, errrr, headline. And no, this isn’t a column telling you how to vote. It’s a column telling you how I voted. Which brings us to the easy part of this year’s ballot. Just vote no on the two statewide initiatives to give government more money for programs that, once again, never achieve desired results and never have enough funding. Which, since I’ve been voting, is literally every government program or initiative ever put on a ballot.
Let’s face it. Every government program is a fiscal and moral failure. Want proof? A favorite saying on the left is: “You can’t legislate morality.” Yet all the left does is introduce legislative morality. That alone should garner a no vote. Not enough evidence? Then how about 250 years of waste, fraud and abuse of literally every government program that never achieved the desired result?
So a no vote on Props ll and mm (and nn and oo and pp or whatever letter the progressives in Colorado are up
to) was a no-brainer. That last comment is some raw meat for you leftists to write to me about.
Which brings us to the other part of the ballot, Mesa County. Our school board elections. The good people of Mesa County have the opportunity to vote for some individuals who literally are keeping a government program within its budget. And they are doing it even with the state underfunding them and our citizens approving an outrageous amount to build Taj Mahal High, formerly known as Grand Junction High School.
Quick note: This doesn’t mean I didn’t realize we needed to replace the high school. That was obvious since I moved here in 2000. But what our “community leaders” proffered in that single-issue ballot measure (for the record, I was the first pundit to say we needed a singleissue ballot measure, not a Christmas-tree one) was outrageous. Thank goodness we had Will Jones, Angela Lema and Andrea Haitz elected before the shovels hit the dirt to keep things under control.
And that’s not all they’ve gotten under control. Spending is down (a necessity given enrollment is down), fiscal responsibility is up, grades and test scores are improving, and staff salaries are up to be more in line to keep good employees across the board. And yet, it’s not enough for the local and state teachers’ unions.
Then again, nothing ever is.
Yet here, in Mesa County, we have three incumbent school board members doing citizen service. And they’ve done it in transparency to boot. And the people who have
benefited the most from them want them gone.
When it comes to elections, there’re always three reasons for that: Power, money and control. No wonder the unions (a control mechanism that needs to be outlawed) want them gone. They are in the way of the union’s power, money and control over our most valuable possessions: our kids. To paraphrase every control-freak progressive throughout history, “Get ’em while they’re young.” And for that, nothing works better than taking away parental rights in education.
This makes voting for Will, Angela and Andrea even more obvious than voting against giving the government more power to confiscate your money. Which ironically is what most of our education-based ballot measures end up being about. Oh, it’s also nice we finally have a savings account to put some money toward the district’s next monument. Although my hope is with these three re-elected, they’ll just build a functional building for educating our kids. And we all know how the union hates that.
As my dad’s campaign slogan said in his successful campaign for school board back in Monroe, Michigan: Make your vote count.
And in this election, my hope is that vote is in Freedom and Truth.
F
Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at (970) 424-5133 or publisher@ thebusinesstimes.com.
Craig Hall
n Clinic launches ‘Hear for the Holidays’ contest
Western Colorado Hearing Clinic is bringing back its Hear for the Holidays contest, giving community members the chance to nominate someone special to receive the gift of better hearing. The selected winners will receive a free pair of premium hearing aids.
“We’re honored to bring back this annual tradition and help make the holidays a little brighter for someone in need,” said Jennifer Bebee, owner of Western Colorado Hearing Clinic. “Hearing plays such an important role in our connections and quality of life. It’s truly one of the most impactful gifts you can give.”
Community members can submit nominations in one of three ways: Scan the QR code found on the clinic’s promotional materials; visit www.wchearingclinic.com/holidayhearing; or stop by one of the clinics and request a nomination form. Nominations will be accepted through Nov. 30. Finalists will be contacted Dec. 1, and winners will be announced Dec. 11. Nominees cannot be a member of the same household as the nominator. Nominees need to be aware of the submission and be willing to be contacted by the clinic. For more information or to nominate someone deserving, visit www.wchearingclinic.com/holidayhearing.
n Dinosaur Journey hosting cocktail-tasting fundraiser
The Museums of Western Colorado invites the community to raise a glass at Dinos on the Rocks, a cocktail-tasting fundraiser at Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita. The event takes place Nov. 8, 6 to 9 p.m., in the exhibit gallery.
Guests will enjoy tastings from local distilleries and restaurants, paired with catered desserts. The event will include a craft cocktail competition, featuring categories for best cocktail, best mocktail, and best presentation. Local food trucks will offer dinner options.
General admission tickets cost $40 and include admission, tastings, dessert and one drink token. VIP tickets cost $70 and include early entry at 6 p.m., a branded glass and two drink tokens. Additional drink tickets cost $10 each.
Proceeds from Dinos on the Rocks support the Museums of Western Colorado. Tickets are limited and available now at www.mowc.co.
n Grand Junction Kiwanis Club allocates $45,000 to nonprofits
On Oct. 23, the Grand Junction Kiwanis Club allocated $45,000 to local nonprofits that are dedicated to helping children and families.
The recipients are: Adventure Academy; Court Appointed Special Advocates of Mesa County; Counseling and Education Center; Colorado Discover Ability; Community Food Bank; Eureka! McConnell Science Museum; Friends of Youth and Nature; Girls on the Run; Grand Mesa Nordic Council; Harmony Acres; Hilltop; Homeward Bound – Pathways Family Shelter; Partners; Reverent Rhythms; RiversEdge West; Riverside Education Center; Sleep in Heavenly Peace; The Theatre Project of GJ; Trail Lamp BAM!; and United Way – Book Exchange.
The funds were raised at the GJ Kiwanis’ 57th annual Pancake Day on June 7.
n State of Palisade breakfast takes place Nov. 6
The Palisade Chamber of Commerce invites the community to attend the State of Palisade Breakfast on Nov. 6 at the Town of Palisade Gymnasium, 711 Iowa St. Check-in and breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the program from 9 to 11 a.m.
The program will feature remarks and discussions from Town of Palisade leadership, Mesa County commissioners and state and federal representatives, followed by presentations from School District 51 reps and Colorado Mesa University economics professor Nathan Perry, who will share an economic outlook for the region. These conversations will highlight the coordinated efforts driving Palisade’s growth, from infrastructure and agriculture to education and workforce development.
“The State of Palisade Breakfast is a reminder of what makes our community so special. We’re at our best when we work together,” Palisade Chamber President and CEO Jessica Burford said. “This event gives our residents, business leaders and elected officials a shared space to celebrate progress, discuss challenges and strengthen the partnerships that keep Palisade thriving.”
The event will include a complimentary breakfast, networking opportunities and dialogue centered on collaboration and community progress. Registration is required and can be done online at www.palisadecoc.com/events or by calling 970-464-7458.
n Confluence Center hosting grand opening Nov. 5
The public is invited to attend the grand opening of the Confluence Center of Colorado, a new hub for land, water and community collaboration at 2596 Dos Rios Drive in Grand Junction. The event will take place Nov. 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will feature tours, refreshments and opportunities to meet the organizations that now call the center home.
The Confluence Center is a collaborative space for six of western Colorado’s leading nonprofit organizations: EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum; RiversEdge West; One Riverfront; Colorado National Monument Association; Colorado West Land Trust and Colorado Canyons Association. They represent a shared commitment to education, science and stewardship across the lands and waters that define western Colorado.
The new facility also includes a STREAM preschool, operated by EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum. The preschool provides early learning opportunities for the children of employees from the six organizations, with remaining spots made available to local first responders and teachers. All 40 openings for the 2025–2026 school year are filled, and a waitlist is now in place.
“By bringing these organizations and the community together, we’re creating a home for ideas and partnerships that can make a lasting difference for our community and the Colorado River Basin,” said Rusty Lloyd of RiversEdge West.
The Center also features interpretive river signage, community meeting spaces and a conference room available for nonprofit use for educational programs, meetings and events.
State of Check-in
a.m. leadership, followed by economics region. These growth, from community so and CEO elected officials partnerships opportunities and required and 970-464-7458.
Center of Dos Rios and will now call the Colorado’s leading RiversEdge West; Land Trust education, Colorado.
EUREKA! opportunities for the available school year are creating a home community and the spaces and a and events.
