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Springs goes to Portland; Denver goes to Iceland

May 15th, 2012, 8:47 am by

While the local chamber of commerce recently led a contingent from Colorado Springs to Portland, our neighbors to the north went to — drum roll, please — Iceland.

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock “led a delegation of Colorado business and community leaders to Iceland (last week) to explore the economic development opportunities that lie ahead with Icelandair’s new non-stop flight to Denver,” according to Hancock’s office.

Icelandair launched its non-stop service between Denver and Reykjavik, Iceland on May 10.

“Today is an exciting day as we open Denver’s doors to new, international relationships with great partners like Iceland,” Hancock said in a statement. “Growing our international air service will not only expand the list of destinations available to travelers, but will also play an important role in boosting the local economy and expanding our tourism reach.”

Members of the Denver City Council joined Hancock on the trip.

Could you imagine if Colorado Springs council members said they wanted to go to Iceland?

 

Posted in: City Council • • | 2 Comments »

Quote of the Day

October 13th, 2011, 4:26 pm by

Colorado Springs City Councilman Tim Leigh was among the 70 local business and civic leaders who traveled to the nation’s capital this week to meet with key lawmakers and public policy makers to discuss issues affecting the Pikes Peak region.

Leigh, who is back in town, says he’s a thrifty guy — he drives a 10-year-old automobile and he said he’s “too cheap” to buy new shoes even though the ones he’s wearing have holes in the soles.

But, he said, the one thing he likes to splurge on when he travels is a hotel room.

So, Leigh said he was less than impressed when he arrived at the Liaison Capitol Hill.

He was even less impressed — more like disgusted — when he set his bag down and went to check out the bathroom.

What did he find?

-

“Somebody left a prize in the toilet for me,” he said.

 

Posted in: City Council • Etc. • • • | 2 Comments »

Bach to meet with ‘influential’ federal officials during trip to Washington, DC

October 10th, 2011, 4:04 pm by

Mayor Steve Bach is meeting with various federal officials during the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce’s “SC2DC” trip to the nation’s capitol this week, the city said.

“Bach is leading the delegation from Colorado Springs to build important relationships and showcase the City to influential federal officials,” according to a press release.

Among Bach’s meetings:

General Joseph Anderson – Director of Operations, Readiness and Mobilization, Office of the Deputy Command of Ft. Carson;

Brig. General Darryl Williams – Commander of the Warrior Transition Unity, Wounded Warrior Program;

National League of Cities – The organization equips leaders with the critical skills and capacities needed to ensure vibrant economic futures for their cities and towns;

Reception with Doug Holtz-Eaken – an academic, policy advisor and strategist;

Group meeting with Senator Michael Bennett;

Meetings with Legislative Directors from the Colorado Delegation, including U.S. Senator Mark Udall, Congressman Cory Gardner, and Congressman Scott Tipton; and

Lt. General Rick Lynch – commanding general of the US Army Installation Management command and assistant Army chief of staff for installation management.

Posted in: City Administration • • | 4 Comments »

Chamber Rising Professionals celebrate mayor’s selection of Donna Nelson

August 3rd, 2011, 4:27 pm by

The Chamber Rising Professionals are cheering the selection of Donna Nelson as economic vitality specialist for Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach.

“We are incredibly excited that the Mayor chose Donna Nelson as the director for such an important initiative. Her enthusiasm and passion for this city make her the perfect voice for ‘Spirit of the Springs,’” Chair Cyndi Parr said in a statement.

“Donna has been a fierce advocate for creating economic opportunities for all, including those whom the Mayor has focused his attentions on for ‘Spirit of the Springs,’” said Sandy Wenger, also in the statement. “Donna has also been a strong influence in actively retaining young professionals in our city, something that is critical to a healthy, dynamic economic environment.”

Nelson, 40, who was operations manager at Security Service Federal Credit Union before joining the Bach administration today, is the immediate past chair of the Chamber Rising Professionals. She was also a 2011 Athena Award nominee.

According to the statement:

The Chamber Rising Professionals renew their commitment to helping Mayor Bach in his efforts to engage young professionals and put people back to work.  Ms. Parr and the advisory board of the CRP’s ask everyone to join them in uniting behind this important initiative and helping our city capitalize on our very best assets…our people.

The mission of the Chamber Rising Professionals is to empower young career-minded individuals and future leaders of the Pikes Peak region through professional development, civic engagement, mentoring and networking.

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Quote of the Day

June 28th, 2011, 10:48 am by

“On average, in the past, we’ve peaked at about 450. So this would, by far, be a record for this event. We’re expecting somewhere between 750 to 800 people at this point.”

– Peter Aubrey, spokesman for the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting Thursday’s State of the City luncheon featuring Mayor Steve Bach.

The chamber added seating and moved the event from the Rocky Mountain Ballroom to the bigger Colorado Hall, which is behind the International Center and next to the Golden Bee pub.

Registration for the event closes at noon Wednesday, Aubrey said.

Posted in: City Administration • Civic Participation • • • • | 1 Comment »

People calling ‘like crazy’ to attend mayor’s first State of the City

June 28th, 2011, 7:09 am by

Everybody seems to want a piece of Mayor Steve Bach.

The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce says it has added more seats and moved Thursday’s State of the City luncheon, which features the new mayor, to what is apparently a bigger room at The Broadmoor “due to the overwhelming demand for tickets.”

Bach, who is the city’s first mayor under the new strong-mayor form of government, is expected to talk about his vision and plan for growing a vibrant economy and improving the city’s image, which took a beating in the national press last year.

“People are just calling us like crazy,” said Stephannie Finley, who works for the chamber but is spending a month helping the mayor as an executive-on-loan.

“It’s over 700 people right now,” she added. “There’s just a total excitement and new energy about what’s going on in the city. It’s pretty wild.”

Time is running out, but tickets can be reserved online at the chamber’s website by clicking on “Calendar of Events.” Tickets cost $35 for chamber members, $40 for non-chamber members and $400 for a corporate table of 10.

Also, the event will now be at Colorado Hall behind the International Center and next to the Golden Bee pub, the chamber said.

City Council President Scott Hente is also scheduled to speak at the event. He is expected to talk about the council’s role “in creating the best city possible,” the chamber said.

Posted in: City Administration • Civic Participation • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Springs ‘bowing to unions and special interest groups,’ Collins says

April 19th, 2011, 9:39 pm by

Helen Collins, who was part of a slate of at-large City Council candidates recruited by anti-tax activist Douglas Bruce, says Colorado Springs may pay dearly because a 527 political organization with union ties was involved in the April 5 municipal election.

The political organization, registered under the name Save Colorado Springs Now, was funded primarily by the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs and the political arm of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. Other donors included the Colorado Springs Police Protective Association.

The group campaigned against Bruce and two other members of the slate, Ed Bircham and Richard Bruce.

“Debbie Wamsley, the registered agent for the 527, used to be the head of the AFL-CIO in Denver,” Collins said in an email.

“The new City Council members will now feel they are obligated to their donors who want to do nothing but spend, spend, spend, just like the Federal government,” she wrote. “I hope the new City Council proves me wrong.”

Springs citizens “need to wake up and ask for transparency,” Collins said.

“Your article points to how much Colorado Springs citizens and city government are bowing to unions and special interest groups,” she said.

Posted in: City Council • Elections • • • • • • • • | 13 Comments »

Newell among nominees for 2011 Athena Award

April 19th, 2011, 8:18 pm by

Sherri Newell of Colorado Springs Utilities is among an impressive group of business women who have been nominated for the 2011 Athena Award.

The winner will be announced Thursday as part of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce’s annual Women in Business conference

“The ATHENA Award Program recognizes individuals for professional excellence, for providing valuable service to their community and for assisting women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills,” the chamber said in a news release.

“By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Award Program fulfills the ATHENA mission of supporting, developing and honoring women leaders, inspiring women to achieve their full potential – creating balance in leadership worldwide.”

Newell, who is the chief public affairs officer for Utilities, is among 12 nominees.

Of those 12, five will be named as finalists for the award on Thursday before the winner is announced at the luncheon.

Last year’s winner was Cindy Fowler, who work in business development for OfficeScapes, an office furniture and furnishings provider in Colorado and Wyoming.

Posted in: Civic Participation • Meetings • Utilities • • • | Post a Comment »

Anti-Bruce political organization funded primarily by HBA, chamber

April 19th, 2011, 6:47 am by

The self-proclaimed Reform Team

The Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs and the political arm of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce were the major donors of a 527 political organization that worked to prevent Douglas Bruce and two allies from ending up on the City Council.

The political organization, which calls itself Save Colorado Springs Now, received $35,000 from the HBA and $20,000 from the chamber’s political action committee, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.

The group campaigned against Bruce, Ed Bircham and Richard Bruce, who ran as a slate of at-large council candidates along with Helen Collins and Gretchen Kasameyer.

The self-proclaimed Reform Team promised to, among other things, derail the Southern Delivery System, a 62-mile pipeline that Colorado Springs Utilities is building to pump water from Pueblo Reservoir to Colorado Springs.

“With Bruce, Bircham & Bruce, we’re pretty much sunk,” the group said in one of its campaign flyers.

While campaigning against Bruce and Co., the group threw its support behind incumbent Jan Martin, Merv Bennett and Tim Leigh. All three won election.

The group, whose registered agent used to be the chief of staff at the union-friendly Colorado AFL-CIO, raised nearly $94,000 total.

Other big contributors included:

Core Services, Inc., $10,000

Hill Development Corp.,  $7,500

GE Johnson Construction Co., $5,000

Chuck Murphy of Murphy Construction,  $2,500

Phillip Lane,  $2,500

M.L. Lane,  $2,500

Katherine Loo,  $2,500

Colorado Springs Police Protective Association, $1,000

The group spent nearly $77,000.

Expenses included:

Denver-based Rocky Mountain Voter Outreach received more than $48,000 for canvassing

Ikon Public Affairs, also based in Denver, received $28,000 for mailing, phone calls and printing.

Posted in: Elections • • • • • • • • • | 9 Comments »

Chamber reinforces ‘strong endorsement’ of Bach for mayor

April 6th, 2011, 4:50 pm by

The president and CEO of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce issued a statement to members today celebrating the victory of several candidates the chamber had endorsed.

“The voters gave us a Council that is ready to invigorate the economy, infuse new energy in helping our city reach its full potential, and most importantly, build the framework for an effective working environment to approach our challenges with common sense and reason,” Dave Csintyan said in the email.

“We have the right ensemble ready to roll up their sleeves to get things done in creating a thriving business climate along with much needed jobs for the community,” he wrote.

In the at-large City Council race, the chamber had endorsed Jan Martin, Sean Paige, Merv Bennett, Tim Leigh and Val Snider. All but Paige won election, according to unofficial results.

In the race for District 3, the chamber endorsed Lisa Czelatdko, who has maintained a slight lead over challenger Michael Merrifield since the first set of election results were released Tuesday night.

In District 2, the chamber endorsed Larry Bagley, who lost to Angela Dougan.

The chamber also endorsed Steve Bach for mayor. Bach finished in second place and will face Richard Skorman in a May 17 runoff.

“We look forward to a spirited runoff where the contrast between these two individuals will be very apparent to the voters,” Csintyan wrote.

“We reinforce our strong endorsement of Steve Bach for his expertise in galvanizing disparate groups into action and his ability to motivate others to get Colorado Springs pressing forward to a very promising future.”
Csintyan called Bach a “tested champion” who will foster a positive business climate.

“Steve Bach will be a strong ambassador for the best Colorado Springs can offer and will inspire others to join in spreading that vision,” he wrote. “Steve will clearly build tangible energy and excitement about our city.”

The political arm of the chamber paid for a TV ad encouraging voters to support the candidates the chamber had endorsed. It was the first time the chamber had done advertising of that magnitude for candidates.

To see the commercial, click here.

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