Vectra Bank names new market president

Vectra Bank Colorado has promoted Travis Craig to the new market president in the Durango branch.

Craig started with Vectra in 2005 as a credit analyst in the Durango, Cortez and Farmington markets. He also has worked as a commercial lender handling agricultural and construction accounts. In 2008, he was named a vice president.

A fifth-generation Durangoan, Craig is involved in numerous nonprofit groups in La Plata County, and he is an advocate for economic development and vocational education.

Vectra Bank has $2.3 billion in assets and serves small and middle-market businesses with 39 branches in Colorado and Farmington.

QuickBooks workshop to be held Aug. 31

“An Introduction to QuickBooks” workshop will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 31 in Program Room 2 at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.

Refreshments will be served. Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Bethany McManus will lead this tutorial. The cost is $30 for Durango Chamber of Commerce members and $35 for nonmembers.

To register, call 247-7009 or visit www.coloradosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=170310078.

Seminar to focus on proposal writing

The Small Business Development Center at Fort Lewis College is co-sponsoring a free “Write a Winning Proposal – Tactics and Tips” seminar from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Aug. 31 at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.

A second seminar is planned for the same time Sept. 1 at the Cortez Chamber of Commerce.

The seminar is designed for established businesses seeking to become federal government vendors or subcontractors. The goals are to understand the federal government’s bid process and create a winning proposal.

For more information and to register, visit www.coloradosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=170310117 for the Durango seminar, and www.coloradosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=170310118 for Cortez, call 247-7009 or email Asano_L@fortlewis.edu.

Sunshine Gardens official named to board

Trisha Kellogg, marketing director of Sunshine Gardens Senior Community and the Country Home, was named to the Colorado Assisted Living Association’s board of directors.

The board was formed in 1982, and is the only nonprofit association in Colorado dedicated solely to assisted living. For the last year, Kellogg has served on the board’s legislative action committee.

For more information, call 385-4090 or email info@sgwseniors.com.

Durango video contest accepting submissions

Durango Chamber of Commerce announces its second annual “I Love Durango” video contest.

Participants should create a video of 90 seconds or less that shows why they live in and love Durango. The first-place winner will receive $500 and prizes, second place will receive $250 and prizes, and third place will receive $125 and prizes.

The contest finalists will be invited to the Durango Chamber annual awards event Jan. 19 at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, where the winners will be announced. To view last year’s winning video, visit www.durangobusiness.org. The deadline to submit a video is Nov. 1.

For more information, call Rita Simon at 247-0312 or email rita@durangobusiness.org.

Durango Sports Club announces new hire

Durango Sports Club announces the addition of Kevin Dehlinger as a personal trainer and aide in the physical therapy clinic.

Dehlinger began his career as a personal trainer while completing a degree in physiology from the University of Arizona. He has earned certifications from the American Council of Sports Medicine as a personal trainer and from the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a corrective exercise specialist. His training uses a functional approach incorporating all aspects of exercise, from therapeutic to performance-enhancing.

The Durango Sports Club is located at 1600 Florida Road.

For more information, call 259-2579.

Alpine Banks receives recognition

Alpine Banks of Colorado was awarded second place for the 2011 Best Companies to Work for in Colorado.

The winners were announced July 28 at the Westin Westminster during the sixth annual Best Companies to Work for in Colorado. This initiative was designed to honor companies in Colorado that show dedication to their employees’ growth and quality of life, develop definitive information to help existing companies in Colorado retain their workforce, promote Colorado’s best employment opportunities to attract new workers and distinguish businesses in Colorado that attract and retain a talented workforce.

For more information, visit www.coshrm.org.

Alternative school announces new hire

Skills for Living and Learning and the Piedra Learning Community welcome new staff member Sky Gabel.

Gabel is a speech and language therapy paraprofessional and joins occupational therapy staff members Susan Livingston and Patricia Vorhies to provide speech language support for the preschool playgroup and the Piedra Learning Community kindergarten to third-grade alternative school students.

Registration is still open for Piedra Learning Community, which provides an individualized education for students based on their strengths and needs, and also for the preschool play group.

For more information, call 884-3259, email skills4landl@gmail.com or visit www.skillsforlivingandlearning.org.

First National Bank announces new hire

First National Bank of Durango announces the addition of Alaina Lufsey as a personal banker.

Lufsey started with the bank Aug. 8 and will be working at the Albertsons and Walmart branches. She previously worked at Sky Ute Casino Resort in the cashier’s cage. Lufsey is from Evansville, Ind., and has lived in Bayfield for eight years.

For more information, visit www.fnbdurango.com.

Herald Staff