Business Digest Radio

Music Venue Innovator, JW Roth Talks w/Host Dirk Hobbs - How VENU is Redefining the Future of Live Entertainment

Founded in 2017 by JW Roth, VENU started in Colorado Springs with Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern and The Hall at Bourbon Brothers, quickly expanding to Gainesville, Georgia.
They have established Themselves as leaders in entertainment and hospitality, and have recently expanded into Texas and Oklahoma.
VENU Holding Corporation is a dynamic and rapidly growing US entertainment and hospitality company offering unique owner and membership opportunities. Nationwide, our captivating entertainment destinations offer a range of experiences. From luxury outdoor music venues (8,000-20,000 seats) like Sunset and Ford Amphitheaters to entertainment campuses featuring legendary restaurants (Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern) and premium mid-size event centers and live music halls (Bourbon Brothers Presents), we fuel unforgettable experiences for all. These acclaimed destinations have earned recognition from industry leaders like The Wall Street Journal, Billboard, Variety, and VenuesNow.
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Main website: https://venu.live/
Investor Relations Links: https://investors.venu.live/overview/default.aspx 
AMEX: VENU
Host: Dirk R. Hobbs, CEO - Colorado Media Group Production & Distribution

Cardio Vascular Associates Discuss Significance of Early Detection of Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs, most commonly the legs and feet. This reduced blood flow can cause pain, cramping, or aching, particularly during exercise, and is often relieved by rest. PAD is often caused by atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries. While PAD itself isn't usually life-threatening, it can be a warning sign of more serious cardiovascular problems like heart attack and stroke.
Join host, Dirk Hobbs as he interviews this highly skilled, integrated care team at Colorado Springs Cardiology & Colorado Vascular Associates.
Christopher Kovach, MD - Interventional Cardiologist and Endovascular Specialist at Colorado Springs Cardiology
Danielle C. Smith, MD - Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon at Colorado Vascular Associates
David Feuer, MD - Vascular Surgeon and Endovascular Specialist at Colorado Vascular Associates
Mark Baker, Ambulatory Surgery Center Administrator at Colorado Springs Cardiology
Website: https://covascular.com/ 

Flying Horse Resorts Turns 20! GM Wendy McHenry & Jake O'Dell, Director of Golf

Hard to believe, it's been twenty years since The Club at Flying Horse, now Flying Horse Resort opened it's doors. The renowned golf club and resort has become one of Colorado Springs’ most luxurious resorts. General Manager, Wendy McHenry and Director of Golf Jake O'Dell walk us through the early days, the covid days, the real estate boom of 2022-24 and how the resort is position to bring enjoyment for members and guests for the next 20-years. 
 
The resort and club includes two private 18-hole championship signature golf courses:
Flying Horse main, designed by Tom Weiskopf, and
Flying Horse North is a Phil Smith Design
The Club at Flying Horse offers state-of the art Athletic Club, luxuriously appointed guest rooms at The Lodge and is home to Colorado Springs’ newest Steakhouse.
 
Website: https://www.flyinghorsecolorado.com/ 

Travas Deal, Chief Executive at Colorado Springs Utilities

Colorado Springs Utilities chief executive officer, Travas Deal joins Business Digest Weekly and host, Dirk Hobbs to discuss how CSU is working for long term sustainability of the region's power and resource availability. 
Travas addresses several key topics in this interview: 
The importance and responsibility of laying a strong utilities foundation now for future generations of businesses and residents in the region - like our predecessors did for us.
Eastern Wastewater System Expansion (EWSE) and who is paying for what
Lower Arkansas Valley communities are joining forces and speaking up against new annexations in Co Springs, including the Karman Line annexation which will be voted on June 17. 
The status of the research around working with nuclear power in the Pikes Peak Region
Area developer initiatives and how they work
Website: https://csu.org 

Dr. Garrison Ortiz, CFO & VP Operations, Colorado State University-Pueblo

Garrison Ortiz, Ph.D. and chief financial officer for Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-Pueblo) joins host, Dirk Hobbs on this edition of Business Digest Weekly. 
 
Dr. Ortiz discusses economic development and opportunity in Pueblo County from a myriad of perspectives: Pueblo-native, former County Commissioner, higher education executive, business owner, economic development board member, family man, and community leader. 
 
Garrison's rich knowledge of the community how the Steel City of the West has emerged as one of Colorado's most compelling markets for investment, new employer attraction and expansion, and emerging sectors, including technology and cyber. He also shares some of how CSU-Pueblo is planning for the additional acreage owned by the university just south of campus is shaping up. 
 
The community is experiencing a renaissance in many areas of downtown and of course is capitalizing on the attraction of its renowned River Walk. Pueblo County also presents vast opportunity for AI and other data warehouses with its ample water resources, land availability and a inter-agency collaboration to make permitting and other approvals more streamlined for investors, businesses, and employers. 
 
The University is also working closely with PEDCO and with employers to continue to create workforce readiness for new tech and cyber jobs,  renewable energy, long-rail, tourism, construction, and for would-be AI companies who take advantage of Pueblo's financial incentives, mild climate and expanding housing availability. 
 
Learn more about CSU Pueblo and their Pueblo Development Project during this interview and by going to their website. 
 
CSU-Pueblo web site: https://csupueblo.edu  | Brought to you by, Colorado Media Group, 45th U.S. Senior Open, Higginbotham, and Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group | csog.net

Director of Golf, Russ Miller | U.S. Senior Open 2025 this June at the Broadmoor Resort

The Broadmoor Resort's Director of Golf, Russ Miller joins host Dirk Hobbs for a fun and insightful conversation about this year's U.S. Senior Open being hosted at the world-renowned destination. Enjoy learning about what it takes to prepare for one of the USGA's events, some of the conversations and experiences of The Broadmoor staff, and what life is like for the players and their families that week at the resort.
 
2025's event marks the fourth time the U.S. Senior Open has been hosted her in Colorado Springs and it is one of the region's great events scheduled this summer. 2025 U.S. Senior Open Championship June 25-29, 2025 The Broadmoor Golf Club is proud to host the 45th U.S. Senior Open Championship from June 25-29, 2025.
 
All-time, this will be the ninth USGA championship and the third U.S. Senior Open contested at our legendary resort. The East Course is nestled on the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of more than 6,300 feet. Designed by Donald Ross and opened for play in 1918, it is now a combination of holes from Ross' original layout and holes designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1952.
 
TIX: https://www.broadmoor.com/usso2025

Michael Pepper, Managing Director – Investments

Michael Pepper, Managing Director - Investments at Virtuent Wealth Management Group joins host Dirk Hobbs to discuss the current economic landscape and some considerations for how investors can stay focused on the ultimate goals of the investor and how to view volatility. 
About Mick
Mick has served as a Financial Advisor since 2004, and transitioned his practice to Wells Fargo Advisors in 2008. Prior to his financial services industry career, he was the Senior Manager of Program Support at Verizon for 15 years. Mick is currently a member of the Investments and Wealth Institute.
Mick grew up in Colorado Springs, CO and currently lives in Monument, CO.
Website: https://www.virtuentwmg.com/team.htm 

Tyler Johnston, Sr. Partner, Vida HR | Vida Benefits: Tip for outsourcing HR

Did you know?  Colorado ranks #2 behind California for being the most onerous for employers in regards to compliance and requirements to employ, legislative burden, and yet, our business economy is chugging along nicely. So what does that tell you? Employers want to be here, but they will not keep coming if we keep piling on the requirements for employment.
Tyler Johnston, Sr. Partner and VP of Sales for Vida HR and Vida Benefits offerings pearls of experience into the realm of human resource outsourcing. Serving businesses in nearly every vertical, Vida HR helps small to midsize employers to navigate the complex landscape of human resources and all our current at-will state (Colorado) requires. Tyler helps listeners with the dos and don'ts and the formal processes required to properly create compensation plans, onboarding, training, payroll, compliance, retention, off-board employees, and so much more...
Learn about the efforts to change legislation in Colorado from an "at-will" state to a fixed term employment agreement state that would be cost-prohibitive and to detriment of employers who would otherwise like to explore investment and/or expansion in the state's business ecosystems.
Learn about this unique Colorado Companies which has been on of Colorado Companies to Watch and how they can serve your organization for a fraction of the cost of in-house HR.
Website: https://www.vidahr.com

What Sectors Are Hiring in S. Colorado? Pikes Peak Workforce Center CEO Traci Marques Explains

Aside from the "big three" - aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and cyber, there are several industry  sectors in southeast Colorado that continue to show signs of hiring for Q2, 2025: 
Healthcare
Tourism & Hospitality (seasonal jobs)
Tech and Deep Tech
The Trades
General carpentry
Electricians
Plumbers
Earth moving
Traci also discusses something called an LER - Learned Education Record. These are the skills we learn along the way that are transferable from one industry to another. 
Learn more about these topics and far more at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center website: https://ppwfc.org/ 

Family-owned WireNut Home Services Helps Homeowners Keep their Infrastructure up to Par

Host Dirk Hobbs meets up with founder Trent Urban and his son, Gavin Urban to showcase one of the region's top Home Services businesses, WireNut on this week's TrueNORTH and The So. Colorado Business Digest. 
Learn the origins of the company as a family business that is this year, celebrating it's 20th anniversary. Keeping our home's core mechanical systems in tip top shape can help avoid costly repairs downstream and even keep our home values up when resale time comes around. 
Looking for an opportunity? Hear about their desire to develop a locally based workforce in Pueblo. 
Website: https://thewirenut.com/