Business Digest Radio

Pikes Peak Region Small Business Week | May 4-8, 2026 | Brandon Eldridge, Executive Director, PPSBDC

The Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, and the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado join sponsor US Bank for this year's Small Business Week. 
The weeks starts off with a celebration of finalists of six categories who will be recognized at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on Monday beginning at 4:30pm. 
There's still time to join the week long program at: https://www.pikespeaksbw.com/ 
 

Travas Deal, CEO at Colorado Springs Utilities - Q2 business update

Colorado Springs Utilities: State of the System | Q2 Executive Update
Colorado Springs Utilities powers more than 500,000 customers across the Pikes Peak region-delivering electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater services as a community-owned enterprise.
With a $2.2 billion 2026 budget, CSU is prioritizing critical infrastructure, grid modernization, and regulatory alignment, guided by its core strategy: rates, reliability, and relationships.
On this episode of Business Digest Radio, CEO Travas Deal joins host Dirk Hobbs for a comprehensive quarterly briefing, covering:
System-wide infrastructure investments and long-term capacity planning
Updates on the Horizon Plant and wastewater expansion
The evolving role and timeline of nuclear energy in the regional mix
Water supply realities tied to the Colorado River Compact
Drought outlook and CSU’s preparedness heading into a high-risk fire season
For business leaders, policymakers, and residents alike, this conversation provides critical insight into the systems underpinning Southern Colorado’s growth and resilience.
CSU also invites the community to attend its upcoming State of the Utility (SOTU):
June 24, 2026 | 8:00 AMColorado Springs City HubRegister: https://www.csu.org/events/state-of-the-utility
#ColoradoSprings #Utilities #Infrastructure #Water #Energy #EconomicDevelopment #BusinessDigestRadio #SouthernColorado

Colorado & El Paso County Medical Societies | Legislative Season Q2 2026

Colorado’s physician community is navigating a consequential legislative cycle in 2026, with several Senate and House bills poised to shape care delivery, regulatory oversight, and the long-term sustainability of medical practice across the state.
On Business Digest Radio, industry leaders Chet Seward, Chief Strategy Officer of the Colorado Medical Society, Dr. Brian Kilmartin, cardiothoracic surgeon and legislative representative for the El Paso County Medical Society, and Natalie Myers, CEO of the El Paso County Medical Society, outlined the most pressing measures physicians should be tracking.
The discussion highlights growing complexity in compliance requirements, evolving reimbursement dynamics, and ongoing debates around access to care, workforce pressures, and scope of practice.
For Southern Colorado providers, the implications are immediate—impacting operational decision-making, patient access, and the broader healthcare ecosystem. Physicians and healthcare leaders are encouraged to stay informed and engaged as these proposals move through the legislative process.
The full conversation is available on Spotify, iHeart, and Apple Podcasts—search Business Digest Radio.

Legislative Review for Physicians in Colorado: Q1 Overview from El Paso County and Colorado Medical Societies

Colorado’s physician community is navigating a consequential legislative cycle in 2026, with several Senate and House bills poised to shape care delivery, regulatory oversight, and the long-term sustainability of medical practice across the state.
On Business Digest Radio, industry leaders Chet Seward, Chief Strategy Officer of the Colorado Medical Society, Dr. Brian Kilmartin, cardiothoracic surgeon and legislative representative for the El Paso County Medical Society, and Natalie Myers, CEO of the El Paso County Medical Society, outlined the most pressing measures physicians should be tracking.
The discussion highlights growing complexity in compliance requirements, evolving reimbursement dynamics, and ongoing debates around access to care, workforce pressures, and scope of practice.
For Southern Colorado providers, the implications are immediate—impacting operational decision-making, patient access, and the broader healthcare ecosystem. Physicians and healthcare leaders are encouraged to stay informed and engaged as these proposals move through the legislative process.
The full conversation is available on Spotify, iHeart, and Apple Podcasts—search Business Digest Radio.

Chelsey Valerio joins Host Dirk Hobbs to Discuss the 3rd Ambassadors For Hope Golf Tourney-Oct 6

Chelsey Valerio is head of marketing for Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group, and a strategic partner with Colorado Media Group for the 2025 Ambassadors for Hope Golf Tournament. 
Valerio is an impassioned ambassador for the mission our beneficiary of the tournament, The Exodus Road, enacts every day around the world.  This prestigious tournament is now open for registration and sponsorships: https://ambassadorsforhopecos.com 
Hear her journey and message about awareness, and working to create a strong community of support for those coming out of the life of labor and sex trafficking and of course, preventative measures we as a community can build. 
We'll also cover how A.I. is being used at the individual level, as well as, in her orthopedics firm and how these technologies are creating efficiencies on every front of patient experience, and provider workflow. 
#ChelseyValerio, #AmbassadorsForHope, #TheExodusRoad #ColoradoMediaGroup, #NORTHmagazine, #NoMoreHumanTrafficking 
 

Wayne Heilman joins Dirk Hobbs on The Business Digest Weekly - State of Journalism

What comes to mind when you hear the word, "journalism"? 
Unfortunately for many, it's not what it used to be which was an honorable profession. Today, the work of journalists and media outlets typically arises a response on par with political operative, biased, and worse - not trusted. 
Like most of our institutions, medical - academia - food production, and countless others, Media & Journalism is going through a prolonged season of reconciliation with it's audiences. And we've earned our turn in the "refiners fire" as media outlets throughout the world have opted to follow the money and ideology rather than the story. 
Both the liberal and conservative media outlets have let Americans down with the unveiling of their innate biases to appease agendas and advertisers and have been for decades. Today's outlets are even more emboldened than ever going so far as to not even attempt to conceal their bias.  
For most Americans, mainstream and cable "journalists" (many of them not even degreed in journalism or even English), are a little more than entertainment hosts posing as impartial reporters of the news. They have positioned themselves as outlets for a political party and the formula has worked extremely well ... for them. But not for us as news consumers. 
Senior Writer for the S. Colorado Business Forum & Digest and a 40 year, highly respected, and reputable reporter for such prominent publications as The Gazette (Colorado Springs), Wayne Heilman joins host Dirk Hobbs for a fire-side chat about the current state of journalism, and what Colorado Media Group is doing to combat poor, inaccurate and counter-productive news reporting in the industry throughout southeast Colorado and south Denver. There is hope for this profession again! 
Website: HTTPS://SOCODIGEST.COM 

Artificial Intelligence Will Touch Every Industry. Jonathan Liebert, CEO - BBB for S. Colorado

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here and it is changing fast.
 
S. Colorado BBB chief executive, Jonathan Liebert joins Business Digest Weekly and host, Dirk R. Hobbs for a robust conversation about the inevitability of AI touching virtually ever current industry on some level.
 
While there is urgency for business owners, operators and staff to know and understand how AI will effect and be implemented, Liebert encourages all personnel make an effort to be informed and work to stay ahead of the curve.
 
AI is in a unique season in it's origins in that much of the commercially available solutions are affordable and accessible to just about any business category. But Liebert explains how the quickly AI has already evolved from just 12-short months ago.
 
Still spending a lot on SEO? Make way for the AEO generation or "Answer Engine Optimization" dynamic on which most of the AI tools function. SEO will likely sunset in the next 12-18 months in its current form, and AEO will eclipse search engines which merely provide lists. AEO responds to specific questions and delivers a far more rich result than typical search. It can also reduce and even eliminate redundant, non-revenue producing tasks and optimize workforce performance in many cases using the right AI solution and idea prompts.
 
Learn more: https://bbbsc.org and visit https://socodigest.com for ongoing insights.

Rodeo Season In Colorado Springs - Jay Dial, CEO of the Pioneer Rodeo Talks About the Tradition and Economy Impact of Rodeo

Jay Dial, CEO of The Pioneer Rodeo and Demolition Derby event joins host Dirk Hobbs on Business Digest Weekly on AM1460/101.1FM on Salem Media to talk about Colorado's rich history of rodeo.
 
The unique feature about The Pioneer is the addition of a Demolition Derby, Live Music and and all the events you'd expect at a professional rodeo.
 
Southern Coloradans have another reason to get out and enjoy our great summer season with this family-friendly event and enjoy a Taste of the O'l West. Mr. Dial has introduced the third in a trio of rodeos to be held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs - August 15, 16 & 17.
 
Tickets are now on sales on the website: https://PioneerRodeo.com

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/