News
ENLARGE
The chambers of Summit County will co-present the 4th Annual Economic Summit on Friday, Dec. 7, hosted by Vail Resorts/Keystone at the Keystone Conference Center. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with registration and luncheon buffet. Opening remarks begin at noon, and the session concludes at 3:30 p.m. followed by a hosted reception.
The economic outlook forum brings business and community leaders together to address economic opportunities and challenges facing our mountain communities. The purpose of the annual forum is to foster a healthy business climate based on quality growth of our existing businesses and to promote economic diversification ensuring a sustainable future for Summit County. State Senator Dan Gibbs will open the afternoon session with a message from Gov. Bill Ritter and his perspective on Colorado's economy.
The regional symposium will feature Daniel Burrus, one of the world's leading technology forecasters and business strategists. Founder and CEO of Burrus Research, he is the author of six books, including the highly acclaimed Technotrends, which has been translated into over a dozen languages. His organization monitors global advancements in technology driven trends to help clients better understand how technological, social and business forces are converging to create enormous untapped opportunities. The New York Times has referred to Daniel Burrus as one of America's top three business "gurus" in the highest demand as a speaker. As a futurist, Burrus has established a worldwide reputation for his exceptional record of predicting the future of technological change and its direct impact on the business world. Burrus blends timely and provocative knowledge with just the right amount of humor and motivation. A panel featuring local and state experts addressing technological change will follow the keynote presentation. Event participants will have an opportunity to interact with the speakers throughout the session. Pre-registration is required to reserve a seat. To register by Nov. 29, call the Summit Chamber office, (970) 668-2051 or send e-mail to events@summitchamber.org. Registration form is available at www.summitchamber.org.
Vista AutoGroup announces grand opening
Vista AutoGroup announced Monday the grand opening of their newest and largest automotive dealerships: Vista Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Vista Subaru. Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne is not only the group's largest dealership, but also the largest in Summit County and the surrounding areas.
Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne will have a full inventory of over 300 new Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Subaru cars and trucks. The more than 38,000 square foot dealership will also buy and sell pre-owned vehicles on their five acre lot.
"The dealership is locally owned and operated and committed to unparalleled service for our neighbors in the High Country," said Rod Buscher, president of Vista AutoGroup.
"I invite our neighbors living in the mountain communities to come by the dealership and see what sets us apart," says Robert Farnett, general manager of Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne. "My staff and I are happy to explain in detail the Vista customer pledges and make sure that you have the best auto buying experience available."
Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne's business hours are Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on Sundays. The dealership has 42 employees, including 12 sales personnel, available for questions, scheduling test drives, maintenance and purchase. Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne is located at 171 West 9th Street in Silverthorne, just north of the Target Store on Highway 9. For questions about Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne or to schedule a test drive, call (866) 798.6044.
Elevation Fitness, LLC celebrates three years
Elevation Fitness, voted Summit County's Best Health Club, is celebrating three years in business and the opening of its new location in downtown Dillon. As Summit County's only independent health club, Elevation Fitness is able to provide personalized training programs and top of the line commercial exercise equipment to our members.
The economic outlook forum brings business and community leaders together to address economic opportunities and challenges facing our mountain communities. The purpose of the annual forum is to foster a healthy business climate based on quality growth of our existing businesses and to promote economic diversification ensuring a sustainable future for Summit County. State Senator Dan Gibbs will open the afternoon session with a message from Gov. Bill Ritter and his perspective on Colorado's economy.
The regional symposium will feature Daniel Burrus, one of the world's leading technology forecasters and business strategists. Founder and CEO of Burrus Research, he is the author of six books, including the highly acclaimed Technotrends, which has been translated into over a dozen languages. His organization monitors global advancements in technology driven trends to help clients better understand how technological, social and business forces are converging to create enormous untapped opportunities. The New York Times has referred to Daniel Burrus as one of America's top three business "gurus" in the highest demand as a speaker. As a futurist, Burrus has established a worldwide reputation for his exceptional record of predicting the future of technological change and its direct impact on the business world. Burrus blends timely and provocative knowledge with just the right amount of humor and motivation. A panel featuring local and state experts addressing technological change will follow the keynote presentation. Event participants will have an opportunity to interact with the speakers throughout the session. Pre-registration is required to reserve a seat. To register by Nov. 29, call the Summit Chamber office, (970) 668-2051 or send e-mail to events@summitchamber.org. Registration form is available at www.summitchamber.org.
Vista AutoGroup announces grand opening
Vista AutoGroup announced Monday the grand opening of their newest and largest automotive dealerships: Vista Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Vista Subaru. Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne is not only the group's largest dealership, but also the largest in Summit County and the surrounding areas.
Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne will have a full inventory of over 300 new Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Subaru cars and trucks. The more than 38,000 square foot dealership will also buy and sell pre-owned vehicles on their five acre lot.
"The dealership is locally owned and operated and committed to unparalleled service for our neighbors in the High Country," said Rod Buscher, president of Vista AutoGroup.
"I invite our neighbors living in the mountain communities to come by the dealership and see what sets us apart," says Robert Farnett, general manager of Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne. "My staff and I are happy to explain in detail the Vista customer pledges and make sure that you have the best auto buying experience available."
Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne's business hours are Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on Sundays. The dealership has 42 employees, including 12 sales personnel, available for questions, scheduling test drives, maintenance and purchase. Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne is located at 171 West 9th Street in Silverthorne, just north of the Target Store on Highway 9. For questions about Vista AutoGroup of Silverthorne or to schedule a test drive, call (866) 798.6044.
Elevation Fitness, LLC celebrates three years
Elevation Fitness, voted Summit County's Best Health Club, is celebrating three years in business and the opening of its new location in downtown Dillon. As Summit County's only independent health club, Elevation Fitness is able to provide personalized training programs and top of the line commercial exercise equipment to our members.
"The staff is extremely friendly and there is such a variety of equipment that I never have to wait," said Cesar Munoz, Elevation Fitness member.
Join us the club on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the brand new location, at 124 Main Street Unit 101. Half hour training sessions will be provided between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. free of charge to nonmembers who schedule an appointment in advance by calling 970-468-7597. Sessions are limited. Hors d'ourves and refreshments will be served from 2-6 p.m.
New insights give leadership training a makeover
In the domain of leadership development and team building where programs are designed to lead employees to higher levels of performance, companies often find these programs to be one-dimensional, over-hyped, short-lived and disappointing. The problem is twofold. One, traditional approaches inform and sometimes entertain, but limit practical application. Two, many conventional management practices are now obsolete given new insights in lifting business performance. Addressing these issues is how Alpine Initiative gains new dimensions in management training effectiveness.
To help organizations transform managers into leaders who take their
teams to the next level of performance, Alpine Link Corporation, a leadership development company, and Colorado Bike and Ski Tours, an outdoor experiential leadership company, announce the formation of the Alpine Initiative. This joint venture combines inventive group activities and stimulating outdoor adventure with new insights in lifting business performance. The result is a high return-on-investment management development experience.
Mike Hawkins, a co-partner in the Alpine Initiative, has been a leader, consultant, executive coach and trainer for over 23 years. Having worked for IBM, Scient, LogicaCMG and Alpine Link, he has greatly benefited from training and ongoing development, but has also experienced the limitations of conventional classroom training.
Conventional instructor led classroom training just isn't very effective. Studies show that within a matter of weeks, the participants forget most of what was taught. Alternatively, when the learning approach emphasizes hands-on application and real time feedback, retention goes way up. Now, with the programs we are providing in the Alpine Initiative, we take hands-on application to another level by merging it with experiential adventure. With this combination, the retention goes up even higher because when people are fully engaged and having fun, their minds at their peak, said Hawkins.
Byron Swezy, co-partner in the Alpine Initiative, has been involved in outdoor education as well as international logistics for almost 20 years. Having traveled in over 100 countries, Swezy has gained enormous experience in the field of domestic and international adventure travel. He has organized outdoor-based initiatives for hundreds of clients.
"True learning necessitates that you put yourself into an environment outside of both your comfort zone and outside the boundaries of familiarity. This is the zone where the right balance of cerebral, physical and creative processes lead to high retention," said Swezy.
The next Alpine Initiative program is a two-day workshop titled Imparting Ownership ThroughLeadership, which is now open for enrollment. This workshop is designed to help managers impart purpose and ownership in others. It prepares managers to pursue increased business results and other organizational initiatives by learning and applying key principles in gaining employee buy-in, commitment and ownership. Activities include the GPS Snowmobile Quest, Tyrolean Traverse Rescue Rigging and Let's Get Cooking.
Participants in Alpine Initiative programs will stay at the Alpine Villa, located five minutes from the historic Victorian mining town of Breckenridge, Colorado. The Alpine Villa is a newly-constructed Tuscan executive retreat with many amenities for guest relaxation and recreation. Imparting Ownership Through Leadership runs Feb. 20-22, 2008 in Breckenridge. For more information, call Mike Hawkins
at 970-453-4924, Byron Swezy at 970-668-8900 or visit www.AlpineInitiative.com.
Join us the club on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the brand new location, at 124 Main Street Unit 101. Half hour training sessions will be provided between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. free of charge to nonmembers who schedule an appointment in advance by calling 970-468-7597. Sessions are limited. Hors d'ourves and refreshments will be served from 2-6 p.m.
New insights give leadership training a makeover
In the domain of leadership development and team building where programs are designed to lead employees to higher levels of performance, companies often find these programs to be one-dimensional, over-hyped, short-lived and disappointing. The problem is twofold. One, traditional approaches inform and sometimes entertain, but limit practical application. Two, many conventional management practices are now obsolete given new insights in lifting business performance. Addressing these issues is how Alpine Initiative gains new dimensions in management training effectiveness.
To help organizations transform managers into leaders who take their
teams to the next level of performance, Alpine Link Corporation, a leadership development company, and Colorado Bike and Ski Tours, an outdoor experiential leadership company, announce the formation of the Alpine Initiative. This joint venture combines inventive group activities and stimulating outdoor adventure with new insights in lifting business performance. The result is a high return-on-investment management development experience.
Mike Hawkins, a co-partner in the Alpine Initiative, has been a leader, consultant, executive coach and trainer for over 23 years. Having worked for IBM, Scient, LogicaCMG and Alpine Link, he has greatly benefited from training and ongoing development, but has also experienced the limitations of conventional classroom training.
Conventional instructor led classroom training just isn't very effective. Studies show that within a matter of weeks, the participants forget most of what was taught. Alternatively, when the learning approach emphasizes hands-on application and real time feedback, retention goes way up. Now, with the programs we are providing in the Alpine Initiative, we take hands-on application to another level by merging it with experiential adventure. With this combination, the retention goes up even higher because when people are fully engaged and having fun, their minds at their peak, said Hawkins.
Byron Swezy, co-partner in the Alpine Initiative, has been involved in outdoor education as well as international logistics for almost 20 years. Having traveled in over 100 countries, Swezy has gained enormous experience in the field of domestic and international adventure travel. He has organized outdoor-based initiatives for hundreds of clients.
"True learning necessitates that you put yourself into an environment outside of both your comfort zone and outside the boundaries of familiarity. This is the zone where the right balance of cerebral, physical and creative processes lead to high retention," said Swezy.
The next Alpine Initiative program is a two-day workshop titled Imparting Ownership ThroughLeadership, which is now open for enrollment. This workshop is designed to help managers impart purpose and ownership in others. It prepares managers to pursue increased business results and other organizational initiatives by learning and applying key principles in gaining employee buy-in, commitment and ownership. Activities include the GPS Snowmobile Quest, Tyrolean Traverse Rescue Rigging and Let's Get Cooking.
Participants in Alpine Initiative programs will stay at the Alpine Villa, located five minutes from the historic Victorian mining town of Breckenridge, Colorado. The Alpine Villa is a newly-constructed Tuscan executive retreat with many amenities for guest relaxation and recreation. Imparting Ownership Through Leadership runs Feb. 20-22, 2008 in Breckenridge. For more information, call Mike Hawkins
at 970-453-4924, Byron Swezy at 970-668-8900 or visit www.AlpineInitiative.com.
Sales figures from Slifer Smith & Frampton show mountain real estate is continuing to buck national trend
Local real estate firm Slifer Smith & Frampton has released company sales numbers for fiscal year 2007 that reflect record numbers for a second straight year. According to the firm, the Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate Eagle County division recorded $1.476 billion in sales and Summit County recorded $293 million in sales. Combined for the company, Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate closed 1,403 transactions.
"Mountain real estate remains as popular as ever, even in light of the downturn that's occurring in other metropolitan areas," said Jim Flaum, president and managing broker of Slifer Smith & Frampton. "Our sales figures show that Eagle and Summit County are not only experiencing record years, but sales prices are still rising, with average prices in Eagle County exceeding $1 million, and Summit County nearly $600,000. It's a strong market in the High Country."
Eric Thompson, who heads Slifer Smith & Frampton's Summit County division added:
"The fundamentals that have driven our market for the last 20 years are still at work today. We have world-class, year-round resorts located a short drive from a major city and a small supply of land that could ever be built upon."
In Eagle County, there are currently 1,400 active listings, which represent approximately one year worth of inventory at current sales rates, and in Summit County there are 750 active listings, which represents only five months worth of inventory for the county.
New Summit real estate associates named
Slifer Smith & Frampton announced that Jenny Gloudemans, Karen Hackett and Paul Clift have joined the firm as associate brokers at the Summit County office.
Gloudemans has resided in Summit County since 1993 and has held her professional real estate license since 2001. She has previously worked as an office manager for a property management company in Breckenridge and co-owns The Hot Tub Company with her husband. She earned her a degree in resort operations from Western Carolina University and her MBA from the University of Denver.
Hackett recently located to Breckenridge from New York, where she worked on the trading floor of the NYSE and was a member for 28 years. She was the first female floor governor of the NYSE and was also elected to the board of executives. She is a past board member of the Handicapped Children's Fund. She has held her professional real estate license since 2007.
Clift has been a Summit County resident since the mid-1990s and has held his professional real estate license since 1996. He has worked as a real estate coach and trainer since 2004.
New resort certification to serve growing second-home and resort market
Allison Simson, broker/owner of Summit Real Estate Ð The Simson/Nenninger Team, has recently obtained the designation of Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS).
To better serve the huge second-home and resort real estate sector, a new certification for REALTORS called the Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) is now offered by the National Association of REALTORS. This certification program was launched in January 2006.
According to an NAR survey, more than 140,000 REALTORS currently work in resort area and second home markets.
"Serving the resort and vacation real estate market has come of age at a time when the second home market has never been stronger and savvy buyers increasingly demand the expertise of a real estate professional with proven knowledge of resort and second-home market conditions," said Dennis Johnson, 2007 chair of the NAR Resort & Second-Home Committee.
A National Association of Realtors (NAR) study of second-home buyers showed substantial growth in the second-home market. The study indicated that investment property and vacation homes make up a significant portion of the overall housing market, accounting for more than one-third of residential transactions. Acquiring a second home has grown in popularity over the last 10 years and in particular since 2003. Sales of second homes increased 16 percent in 2004 from the year before. NAR also estimates in a study of second-home owners that the typical vacation-home owner is 59 years old, while the median age of the investment property owner is 55.
"The intensified courses on Building Wealth through Real Estate Investments and 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges needed for the designation make me better equipped to counsel sellers and buyers of resort and second-home property." Simson said.
Alpine Bank helps Latin-American communities
Alpine Bank is pleased to announce the newest addition to its Loyalty Visa Check Card collection Ð the Americas Card. Alpine Bank and several local nonprofits are partnering together with the new card to help the Latin-American communities in Western Colorado improve their quality of life and learn the importance of helping others.
Each time the card is used, Alpine Bank donates 10 cents on behalf of their customer's loyalty to local organizations that embrace and support our growing Latin-American communities. Some of the organizations that have signed up to participate in the program include:
Catholic Charities of Colorado, The Buddy Program, Aspen Film Fest, Aspen Valley Ski Club, Club Rotario Roaring Fork, Alpine Legal Services and Roaring Fork Family Resource Centers.
Nonprofits supporting Latin-Americans on the Western Slope that wish to benefit from Alpine Bank's Americas Loyalty Check Card may contact Abraham Baeza to learn more about the program and how to participate.
Allison Simson, broker/owner of Summit Real Estate Ð The Simson/Nenninger Team, has recently obtained the designation of Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS).
To better serve the huge second-home and resort real estate sector, a new certification for REALTORS called the Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) is now offered by the National Association of REALTORS. This certification program was launched in January 2006.
According to an NAR survey, more than 140,000 REALTORS currently work in resort area and second home markets.
"Serving the resort and vacation real estate market has come of age at a time when the second home market has never been stronger and savvy buyers increasingly demand the expertise of a real estate professional with proven knowledge of resort and second-home market conditions," said Dennis Johnson, 2007 chair of the NAR Resort & Second-Home Committee.
A National Association of Realtors (NAR) study of second-home buyers showed substantial growth in the second-home market. The study indicated that investment property and vacation homes make up a significant portion of the overall housing market, accounting for more than one-third of residential transactions. Acquiring a second home has grown in popularity over the last 10 years and in particular since 2003. Sales of second homes increased 16 percent in 2004 from the year before. NAR also estimates in a study of second-home owners that the typical vacation-home owner is 59 years old, while the median age of the investment property owner is 55.
"The intensified courses on Building Wealth through Real Estate Investments and 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges needed for the designation make me better equipped to counsel sellers and buyers of resort and second-home property." Simson said.
Alpine Bank helps Latin-American communities
Alpine Bank is pleased to announce the newest addition to its Loyalty Visa Check Card collection Ð the Americas Card. Alpine Bank and several local nonprofits are partnering together with the new card to help the Latin-American communities in Western Colorado improve their quality of life and learn the importance of helping others.
Each time the card is used, Alpine Bank donates 10 cents on behalf of their customer's loyalty to local organizations that embrace and support our growing Latin-American communities. Some of the organizations that have signed up to participate in the program include:
Catholic Charities of Colorado, The Buddy Program, Aspen Film Fest, Aspen Valley Ski Club, Club Rotario Roaring Fork, Alpine Legal Services and Roaring Fork Family Resource Centers.
Nonprofits supporting Latin-Americans on the Western Slope that wish to benefit from Alpine Bank's Americas Loyalty Check Card may contact Abraham Baeza to learn more about the program and how to participate.
