Business Digest Radio

Doug Price, President & CEO, VisitCOS - Tourism Update for COS

Tourism is a tremendous contributor to the City of Colorado Springs economy: one-of-a-kind attractions and destinations, top-rated cuisine, entertainment and events, hotel stays and utilization of our community assets like Colorado Springs Airport and more.Doug Price, President & CEO of Visit Colorado Springs joins Business Digest Weekly today at 3PM MST on 1011 FM The Answer to break down the numbers and how a strong and thriving tourism industry helps to support residents and our infrastructure.Sponsored by: Notes Live, Inc. & Boot Barn Hall- Colorado Springs

Marisa Wigglesworth - CEO, United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum

This energetic and highly experienced museum executive walks us through the first six months of her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum located in beautiful downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. 
Her story appears in the So. Colorado Business Digest where she explains how she and her team are working to place USOPM on the stage starting with community. 
Marisa Wigglesworth  | Chief Executive Officer 
Marisa Wigglesworth [pronounced Ma-ree-sa] is a distinguished leader in the museum and attraction industry, known for her extensive expertise in philanthropy, strategic planning, project management, and operations. As the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum, she brings a profound commitment to promoting and advancing the Olympic and Paralympic values, while celebrating the exceptional achievements of Team USA athletes. Wigglesworth previously served as CEO of the Buffalo Museum of Science, where she provided strategic and operational leadership and oversaw the 264-acre Tifft Nature Preserve. Prior to that, she held key positions at prestigious institutions such as the National Aquarium in Baltimore and The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, showcasing her accomplishments and leadership in the museum field. Wigglesworth holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a master’s degree from New York University.
 

CMG's own John Lerohl discusses his pioneering role in Silicon Valley's Landfill Diversion efforts

Many of you know Colorado Media Group's John Lerohl as an ultra friendly fella who leads our partnerships. What you may not know is the significance of John's former work life where he spent 30-years. Prior to joining NORTH by CMG and now the #BusinessDigest, John was a pioneer in the components scrap industry in Silicon Valley.
 
John's organization led the charge in helping giants like Apple, FedEx, Sun, Walmart and other tech companies to avoid significant financial penalties from the EPA and created the realm of "landfill avoidance". This work has protected our landfills and streams from countless tons of cadmium, lead, and arsenic, and precious metals from the components in our modern tech.
 
Pretty cool, huh? Yeah, we think so too. FRI, 3PM on 1011 FM The Answer

Tatiana Bailey, Ph.D., Founder, Data-Driven Economic Strategies

Dr. Tatiana Bailey (Ph.D.), joins host Dirk Hobbs to discuss her Economic and Workforce Progress Report for next 2022-23. 
Dr. Bailey addresses a number of the key economic indicators and how we can best put those indicators into perspective to help us make more informed, educated decisions: Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP), Jobs:Population Growth balance (@4.0% unemployment), diversification of regional industries, S. Colorado's tight labor market, and why employers are struggling to find the right employees, and much more! 
Dr. Bailey is the former Executive Director at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Economic Forum, now heads up her own independent firm Data-Driven Economic Strategies. You can visit her business page website at: https://ddestrategies.org.

Dave & Busters Entertainment, Inc. COS

In Autumn 2023, Dave & Busters Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLAY) began local recruitment for more than 100 positions for the grand opening of their Colorado Springs location. 
The store has been open for a few months, and business is steadily increasing after a lucrative grand opening month (DEC '23).
Just miles from the entertainment group's other facility "Main Event", Dave & Busters is set to expand operations overseas throughout 2024. 
Hear more about local perspectives on opening up shop in Colorado Springs, and the forecast for the rest of 2024.  
https://www.daveandbusters.com/us/en/about/locations/colorado-springs

Terri Hayes, President & CEO | TriLakes Chamber & EDC

Northern El Paso County's business community is thriving! 
TriLakes Chamber senior executive Terri Hayes walks us through some of the driving factors that are propelling this area's economic development. Proximity and easy on-and-off access to I-25, charming small town feel, historic tourist destination, one-of-a-kind eateries, and collaborative community leaders help hundred's of small businesses and employers sustain strong economic performance. 
Not just bedroom communities, TriLakes has become home to UPS, Eagle Rock Distributors and a new 3,500 sq. ft. retail center, The Monument Mercantile, hosting a ranges of gifts, furnishings, old fashion candy shoppe, and other retail gems. 
The TriLakes Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Corporation & Visitor's Center is a varietal one-stop-shop for folks wanting to set up shop in the area, as well as take advantage of the business programs and networking programs available through the organization. 
WEBSITE https://trilakeschamber.com

Integrating Executive Personnel into Your Business Ecosystem - Founder, Melissa Scruggs - Financial Talent Group

Finding top leadership in various key stakeholder positions within a given organization can be a very challenging process. Beyond core competencies and general affability, executive hires can impact an organization's financial, innovation, sales and overall productivity for better or worse for a long time. 
Financial Talent Group can take the guess work out of key executive placement. Hear founder, Melissa Scruggs offer pearls of expertise for understanding the process of integrating key personnel into your business ecosystem. 
Financial Talent Group - Top Executive talent you need when you need it. A relationship-based business strategy drives this COS-based team who specialize in recruiting and matching talent to your culture and business requirements.
The Financial Talent Group primarily focus on Accounting, Finance, Administration and Executive recruiting serving businesses large and small from Denver to Southern Colorado.
Financial Talent Group offices: 719-217-4062.

Andrew Jahnke, CEO - RainTech IT Support & Management

“We're real people, with real solutions, in real-time”
-- Andrew Jahnke, Founder & CEO
At RainTech, we are passionate about giving businesses an IT experience that immediately raises the bar. From 4.9-minute response times to round-the-clock remote support to 100% compliance, we leave you wondering why you ever settled for less...Our mission is to provide an experience with IT that is better in every way – a custom, comprehensive experience that’s delivered as a scalable, predictable service.‍What started in a garage in 2001, has quickly become a best-in-class technology team with over 26% revenue growth year on year, over the past 6 years.To top it off, we were one of the very first cloud solution providers in the US, as far back as 2006.

The Craft Spirit Economy in Colroado Springs with Jake Weien, COO 1350 Distilling

More than 70 unique distilleries dot the Colorado landscape. Since Stranahan's single malt first release in 2006 to today, Colorado's Spirits Trail continues to grow. More than 1200 in-state employees, contributing to a $7B economy nationally, the specialty spirits genre is alive and well. 
Enter 1350 Distilling - a Colorado Springs-based distillery led by Jake Weien and his master-distiller, co-founder colleague, Phill Bragg, focus on bringing unique mash and distilling processes to the table. At it's core - a deep respect and celebration of America's front line defenders and first responders with every bottle sold. 
1350 Distilling presents: Wingman/Gin: United States Air Force, Guardian/Bourbon: United States Space Force, Blue Jacket/ Rum and Fleet Admirals'/Barrel Aged Rum: United States Navy, Old Blood & Guts/Vodka: United States Army, Leatherneck/Whiskey: U.S. Marine Corps, Code Four/Bourbon Whiskey: #police, Five Alarm/Cinnamon Fire Bourbon: #firefighters, Minuteman/Vodka: U.S. Colonial Militia.
The Business Digest Weekly is sponsored by: Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group, and Notes Live, featuring Boot Barn Hall, Notes Bar, and the Sunset Amphitheater. 
Listen live on AM1460/101.1FM - The Answer - a Salem Media station, on Fridays, 3PM MST, or podcast anytime. 
 
 

So. Colorado’s Sports Economy w/Megan Leatham, CEO - Colorado Springs Sports Corporation

The sports economy in southern Colorado continues to grow in year over year driven in large part by collegiate sports, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic assets choosing COS as their home base, and the work of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation. 
The Sports Corp, in partnership with Visit COS (the region's convention and visitor's bureau), the Colorado Springs Airport, and other leading  organizations have created a tightly integrated ecosystem where organizers can get their vision set up and produced with professionals in the categories necessary to ensure a successful event. 
COS is one of the most desirable markets in the nation to host organized sporting events from NCAA events to amateur and professional sports sanctioned competitions, and marquee community endeavors such as the Labor Day Liftoff and Pikes Peak Air Show, you will almost always see the Sports Corp at the core of a given event. 
CEO, Megan Leatham and former NCAA basketball player, walks us through how that ecosystem works, and the depth of the economic impact sports has in the region. Hear more about the record breaking 2023 season, and what's on the menu for 2024. 
Colorado Springs Sports Corporation (CSSC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit established in 1979 to assist in the relocation of the U.S. Olympic Committee from New York City to Colorado Springs.
CSSC’s mission is to inspire and advance Colorado Springs, Olympic City USA, and the Pikes Peak Region through sport and community events. Through event promotion and community development activities, CSSC plays a critical role in bringing civic leaders together with some of the nation’s premier sporting organizations to promote tourism and create positive economic impact.