Business Digest Radio

Exponential Impact - Business Accelerator for S. Colorado Businesses

Vance Brown, founder of Colorado Springs' Exponential Impact (XI) named Max Cupp as Executive Director for one of the region's top business accelerators.  
“From the first cohort in 2018 to today, XI has taken a holistic approach to creating community and a culture of innovation & collaboration. We develop founders and startups by equipping them with resources and expertise, then strengthen their connections to create exponential growth & enduring impact for their business. ”
This informative interview with Cupp expounds on what XI is positioned to do for early stage companies located in the region. Here, we'll learn more about XI Accelerator offers multiple rigorous, holistic 12-week programs to support founders at every stage for emerging technology startups, from start to scale. At XI, we don’t just value profit - we value people., and XI Survive & Thrive a funding, mentorship, and programming for Colorado Springs-based entrepreneurs. To date, XI has infused $4 million into local businesses to spur economic growth in our region.
Website: https://www.exponentialimpact.com/ 

CO. Companies to Watch aims to grow momentum for S.E. Colorado's growing ecosystem of second-stage companies

Colorado’s second-stage companies are high-performing, innovative trailblazers, driving economic growth across every industry sector and region of the state. These companies not only provide thousands of high-quality jobs but also contribute billions of dollars back to our local economies, propelling Colorado’s economic landscape to take flight.
Colorado Companies to Watch (CCTW) certifies and celebrates these transformative contributions. Since its inception, CCTW has honored nearly 800 companies, generating billions of dollars in economic impact and helping businesses soar to new heights of success.
Launched in 2009 by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) in partnership with the Edward Lowe Foundation, community partners, and dedicated volunteers, CCTW continues to elevate its alumni network. By fostering collaboration, strategic partnerships, and leveraging vital resources, CCTW ensures these exceptional companies continue to grow, thrive, and take flight in shaping Colorado’s vibrant economic future.
Business Digest Weekly welcomes guest, Jon-Michael Horst, Program Manager for CCTW to how CCTW is intentionally seeking out Stage II companies located in El Paso and Pueblo counties to create and develop further momentum for southeast Colorado business ecosystem.  Learn more about the Pikes Peak Chapter of Colorado Companies to Watch and how to get involved. 
WEBSITE:  https://coloradocompaniestowatch.org/ 

De-Dollarization: Should We be Concerned? T.H. Williams, Ph.D., CFP®

Virtuent Wealth Management Group's Managing Director, T.H. Williams, Ph.D., CFP®  joins host Dirk Hobbs on Business Digest Weekly to discuss his popular article, "De-Dollarization: Should We be Concerned?"
Williams lends an academic and practical perspective to any concerns about the value of the U.S. dollar falling into jeopardy anytime soon. 
Williams explains what it takes to be a currency and why the U.S. dollar is uniquely positioned to reign supreme for the foreseeable future. Hear about: 
Store of Value,
Medium of Exchange,
Unit of Measure, and
Reliability & Stability
Also: What About The BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India* (Iran), and China)? These nations continue to attempt to formulate a global currency in order to become less reliant on the U.S. dollar. Their common interest driving this ambition? Their mutual distain for the United States. 
Enjoy this rich, educational piece with Dr. T.H. Williams and gain a more robust understanding of why and how the U.S. dollar is positioned well. 
See full article here: https://issuu.com/healthycoloradanmediagroup/docs/north_oct-nov_rev_1032023 (Pages 10-11)
*The nation of India has become far less defamatory in relation to the U.S. and its status as the standard for most global commerce infrastructure and value measurement. However, the nation of Iran has become far more defamatory and hostile to U.S. interest and its role in global markets. 
NOTE: This interview and article are NOT financial advice. The contents of this interview are offered for educational purposes only and are specific the article offered above. For more information about your specific financial situation and goals, consult a certified financial planner (CFP®). To learn more about Virtuent, visit www.virtuentwmg.com

Is Space Command Leaving, Comcast Rise Grants Awarded, Importance of Shopping Local

In fall 2024, the Comcast RISE program selected 100 small businesses in El Paso and Pueblo Counties to receive a generous tech and media package as well as a $5000 grant to strengthen their businesses. 
Now in it’s fourth year, 14,000 recipients in 1,410 cities across 38 states were selected as Comcast RISE recipients, including a diverse roster from restaurants and barber shops, to professional services, childcare centers and retail shops.
Recipients received:
CONSULTATION: Assessment of business and tactical planning; business-to-business coaching; and mentorship to advise on how to grow business.
 
EDUCATION RESOURCES: Educational content and resources tailored to individual companies based on where they are in their business lifecycle.
 
 
MONETARY GRANT: $5,000 monetary grant to invest in growth and sustainability.
 
CREATIVE PRODUCTION & MEDIA: Turnkey production of a 30-second TV commercial, plus a media strategy consultation and 180-day media placement schedule.
TECHNOLOGY MAKEOVER: Computer equipment and Internet, Voice and Cybersecurity services for 12 months.

Larry Plummer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, El Pomar Chair of Business & Entrepreneurship, College of Business

Larry Plummer, Ph.D. joins host Dirk Hobbs to discuss the El Pomar Institute for Innovation and Commercialization (EPIIC) and some of the program's recent developments and successes. 
Dr. Plummer shares valuable insights into the economic strengths and vulnerabilities of the southern Colorado employer ecosystem. Plummer also shares how overemphasis in specific sectors can lead to increased failure rates among early stage companies who spin out of established segments of this particular economy: aerospace, defense, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing. A well thought out strategy and intentional diversification of economic strongholds can enhance a regional economy as various start-ups seek to take their intellectual property and solutions and pivot to serve other market verticals. 
Dr. Plummer is the Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, El Pomar Chair of Business & Entrepreneurship, College of Business at UCCS in Colorado Springs. 
EPIIC at UCCS: https://epiic.uccs.edu/ 

Dawn Conley, Sr. Executive Director, Catalyst campus, COS

An experienced leader with a passion for business growth and development, Catalyst Campus Sr. Executive Director, Dawn Conley has a strong history of  success in her career.
Dawn joins The Business Digest Weekly with host Dirk Hobbs to share how this unique innovation and entrepreneurial incubator and accelerator is further galvanizing the region's reputation as a magnet hub for organizations that intersect with aerospace and defense industries.
Catalyst Campus Delivers an Ecosystem that Cultivates Partnerships & Sparks Innovation
A collaborative ecosystem with best-in-class amenities where industry, small business, workforce training, entrepreneurs, startups, and venture capital intersect with the aerospace and defense industry to create community, spark innovation, and stimulate business growth.
Organizational website: https://catalystcampus.org/

Jeff Crank, Candidate for Colorado's 5th Congressional District

Pueblo born Jeff Crank joins the Business Digest Weekly to present his case for the votes of El Paso County residents to be sent to Washington, D.C. to take the seat currently being held by long-time Congressman, Doug Lamborn.
With just a few weeks remaining in the campaign, Crank has visited the U.S./Mexico border twice, to gain a first hand account of the challenges the failed policies of the Biden Administration have incurred on Border Patrol as a policing force, and the economic and public safety issues of bordering and adjacent states, like Colorado. 
Crank also unpacks his approach to working with the Washington apparatus to build consensus on common sense approaches to reducing the size and scope of the U.S. Government, and reducing/removing pork spending at the levels currently underway. 
Crank has been endorsed by Lamborn and a number of other key constituent groups. He is conducting ongoing grass-roots efforts as well as mass presentations to residents leading all the way up to the campaign. 
The Business Digest is a proud supporter of Jeff Crank and his desire to reduce government spending, to stopping the ongoing scope creep of government programs and overreach, and to collaborate with same and opposition party members to help Coloradans address the rising concerns around illegal immigration, crime, based on poor policy and enforcements of our laws, and cost of living based in part on current out-of-control spending. 
Campaign site: https://jeffcrankforcongress.com/ 

Kerry Siggins, CEO, Speaker, Author of The Ownership Mindset

Actively disengaged workers cost the U.S. upwards of $550 billion in lost productivity annually. This statistic is staggering — and one leaders should be paying attention to.
Kerry Siggins is the CEO of StoneAge Tools, the leading global high-pressure industrial cleaning equipment manufacturer. Under her leadership, StoneAge transformed into a powerhouse in the industrial cleaning industry, disrupting how the world is cleaned.
Kerry also led StoneAge’s transition to become 100% employee-owned, and StoneAge has won numerous awards, including Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work.
An author of a best-selling book, The Ownership Mindset, and contributor for Forbes, Inc., and Entrepreneur Magazines, Kerry has become an in-demand speaker for businesses ranging in size from small to enterprise, across the country.

The Hotel Polaris at the U.S. Air Force Academy - Kevin Barosso, Dir. of Marketing & Sales

What's the buzz around the Hotel Polaris at the U.S. Air Force Academy?
The Hotel Polaris (website)Find out from Director of Marketing & Sales, Kevin Barosso what makes this world-class facility at the Northgate entrance of the United States Air Force Academy extraordinary. Learn more about job opportunities, and the anticipated economic impact the hotel will have on the region's north end and beyond. Business Digest Weekly on Salem Media Group3PM MST | AM1460/101.1FM | or Streaming @ AM1460THEANSWER.COM

William Craighead, Ph.D. - Executive Director, UCCS Economic Forum

Executive Director, Dr. William (Bill) Craighead discusses this year's 28th Annual Economic Forum being held September 26, 2024 at the ENT Center for Performing Arts from 12pm to 5pm. Registration is required: https://web.cvent.com/event/711a169b-e9a5-441c-b629-38e8833d395f/summary 
 
The UCCS Economic Forum is the most widely attended expert economic overview in the region held annually in the fall. 
 
The program begins at 1 pm with our keynote “Where do we Grow from Here?  Population Trends in Colorado and El Paso County” presented by State Demographer Elizabeth Garner.  That will be followed by two concurrent (choose one) panel discussions: “The Future of Downtowns and Commercial Real Estate” and “Small Business in the Pikes Peak Region: Opportunities and Challenges.”  Forum Director Dr. Bill Craighead will conclude the program with “The Economic Outlook for the Pikes Peak Region.”
The forum will conclude with a Happy Hour reception from 4:00-5:00 pm.
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