Work In Progress: Your Weekly News from COBRT

February 18, 2016

Connect and Collaborate now on Denver's Money Talk 1690 AM Monday through Friday 4-5 p.m.

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So far this week, we've heard from Anthony Lambatos and Sam Totten of Footers Catering about company culture and how to make employees feel valued; Stephanie Veck, Director of Colorado Workforce Development Council, revealing the number one concern of businesses and how business-led strategies can solve it; and Joelle Martinez and Olivia Mendoza discussing the robust curriculum, extraordinary mentorship and community service of the Latino Leadership Institute.

Today, Dennis Houston of Parker Chamber of Commerce discusses how Parker continues to grow and in which directions . On Friday, Peter Moore of VITAL for Colorado is joined by VITAL Board member Chad Vorthmann, Executive VP of Colorado Farm Bureau, to discuss why they support Colorado's oil and gas industry. We'll also discuss ballot initiatives related to the energy industry, and their impact on property rights holders.

Next week, expand your network by learning with and from our prominent guest hosts:

Feb 22 - From Anna Ewing, we'll learn about the Colorado Innovation Network as part of the OEDIT and specifically about the Open Innovation Challenge seeking your ideas for promoting healthy lifestyles for the children of Colorado.

Feb 23 - Jay Lindell, Aerospace and Defense Industry Champion at Colorado OEDIT, will discuss the importance of the Aerospace industry to Colorado's economy.

Feb 24 - Lee Middlekauf, Pixi Kits. Lee gives us a firsthand perspective on developing an entrepreneurial idea and getting it to the market place. We'll discuss entering business from a kickstarter campaign to how today's businesses have impacted the barriers to entry.

Feb 25 - Kristi Strother, Journalism Professor, Community College of Denver. Our topic is New Media. We'll discuss how access to information has changed and the need for Media Literacy Education not only for aspiring journalists, but for the everyday media consumer (YOU!) as well.

Feb 26 - Host Jim Salestrom introduces us to John Herrington, Former U.S. Energy Secretary in the Reagan Administration. We'll discuss current energy policy and more about our relationships with other countries concerning energy.

Key Issue: International Business

World Trade Center Denver Selects Site and Development Team for New Global Campus

The World Trade Center Denver, a trade association with a million dollar brand and global recognition, selected the TOD (Transit Oriented Development) site located at 38th and Blake Street in the revitalized River North Art District (RiNo) neighborhood for a New World Trade Center Global Campus. The site is located just one commuter rail stop from Union Station downtown on the route to Denver International Airport. Read more

Key Issue: Healthcare and Retirement

ColoradoCare Represents Real Threat to Physicians and Their Patients (op-ed)

"ColoradoCare will have a negative impact on the Colorado doctor community, and that effect could drastically influence the care Coloradans receive. Under the ballot initiative, a State-run Healthcare system would be implemented with fixed, payroll-based revenue provided by taxpayers, and will therefore require massive cost management oversight." Read more

Best Practices

Erik Mitisek Appointed Co-Chair of Quarterly Forum

Local business leader Erik Mitisek has been appointed co-chairman of Quarterly Forum, a nonprofit organization that works to connect, educate and inspire leaders in Colorado. Effective March 1, Mitisek will share oversight of the leadership organization with fellow co-chairman Ryan Heckman. This new partnership between Heckman and Mitisek comes at a momentous era for Quarterly Forum with increasing membership, new leadership and civic engagement programs tailored to the development of the state's best emerging leaders . Read more

Key Issue: Smart Regulation

Process of recycling carbon fiber composites

CU-Boulder Researchers Recycle Carbon-Fiber Composites

Carbon-fiber composites -- stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum -- can easily and cost-effectively be recycled into new material just as robust as the originals, a team of researchers led by the University of Colorado Boulder has found.

Additionally, both the fabrication of the new material and the recycling are energy-efficient and comparatively fast, potentially addressing barriers to wider use in manufacturing. For these reasons, the team's carbon-fiber composites are "unprecedented," said Wei Zhang, CU-Boulder associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

Key Issue: Technology

Colorado SBDC, Minority Business Office and PTAC Partner to Help Colorado Businesses Prosper

The Colorado Small Business Development Center (CSBDC), the Minority Business Office (MBO) and the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) have entered into an agreement to work together in assisting companies and people seeking business and government procurement assistance.

Brave Leaders

Davies is First Coloradan to Win Librarian of the Year

Arapahoe Libraries announced last month that Nicolle Ingui Davies, executive director of Arapahoe Libraries, has been named the 2016 Library Journal Librarian of the Year. This annual award recognizes one talented individual for transforming his or her library and community, and for leading the profession toward innovation. This is the first time that a librarian in Colorado has earned this honor.

Davies is notable for building a committed and energized staff and implementing a forward-thinking strategic plan to move the library from "nice to essential" -- while helping to reimagine how the library as a brand is considered in her community and beyond.

National Small Business Association

Obama Addresses Cybersecurity

In response to a number of high-level cybersecurity breaches in both the public and private sector over the past 18 months, President Barack Obama has recently taken steps to ensure that enhancing cybersecurity is top priority for his administration in the last year of his presidency.

Customs Bill Passes Congress

Last week, the Senate passed the bipartisan, bicameral trade Conference Report for H.R. 644, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, marking the largest legislative reform in customs and enforcement policy in nearly 20 years. The measure, which was authored in the Senate by Finance leaders, Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection and puts in place effective tools to strengthen trade enforcement at the border and facilitate the efficient movement of legitimate trade and travel.

NSBA's Legislative Outlook

Fresh off a surprisingly active legislative year in 2015, Congress has begun 2016 with numerous items to do and a Republican leadership eager to prove its ability to govern and get things done. Combined with this legislative enthusiasm is President Barack Obama's renewed focus on what he can accomplish in his remaining months in office. I ssues significant to small businesses that Congress may address this year include p atent reform, c ybersecurity, h ealth care, U.S. Department of Labor rules, t ax reform and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Business Roundtable

Support Soars for Modern Air Traffic Control System

From the BRT Blog: "A plan to modernize the U.S. air traffic control system, encouraging innovation while strengthening safety oversight, is gaining speed, with its approval this week by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee." Read more

Business Leaders Welcome House Ways and Means Committee Focus on Jobs and Growth

Business Roundtable leaders issued earlier this month the following statement on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee's first hearing of 2016, "Reaching America's Potential: Delivering Growth and Opportunity for All Americans." The Committee oversees tax and trade issues, two key components of the Business Roundtable agenda for increased economic growth and employment. "Expanding U.S. trade with other countries is central to creating the economic momentum we need for more growth and opportunity," said Tom Linebarger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cummins Inc. and Chair of the Business Roundtable International Engagement Committee. Read more

Buying and Selling: Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions and the U.S. Corporate Income Tax

The United States has the highest statutory corporate income tax rate among developed nations and is the only developed country with both a high statutory corporate income tax rate and a worldwide system of taxation. These features of the US corporate income tax have disadvantaged US businesses in the global market for cross-border M&A. Most developed countries impose little or no additional tax on the active foreign income of multinational companies. Today the United States is the only developed country with a worldwide system and a corporate income tax rate above 30%. Consequently, foreign companies can afford to bid more for acquisitions in the United States and abroad as compared to US companies. Read more

Calendar of Events

2/25/16

China Business Review and Outlook by Colorado U.S. China Chamber of Commerce

3/7-9/16
2016 Solar Power Colorado by Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association

3/12/16

Annual Seed Swap by The GrowHaus. Come on down to find a garden's worth of organic, non-GMO seeds and seedlings. The day-long party will feature hour workshops as well as music, food and seeds.

3/15/16

Lone Tree Transportation and Mobility Summit by the City of Lone Tree, the Lone Tree Chamber of Commerce and regional partners

3/17/16
Regionalism Revolution: Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon by Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation

3/21-24/16

118th National Western Mining Conference by Colorado Mining Association

4/7/16

Downtown Denver Annual Awards by Downtown Denver Partnership

See all at our events page and use this contact form to add yours!

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