C-RAD opens in Durango, offers radon testing
C-RAD Colorado Radon Abatement and Detection announces its opening in Durango.
Owner Lee Sentner has a background in building materials sales and the construction industry. The business offers radon testing and mitigation.
For more information, call 946-1618.
Program helps seniors get training and jobs
La Plata Youth Services announces its partnership with The Senior Community Service Employment Program.
The employment program is an organization that is committed to improving the quality of life for low-income, financially eligible seniors by assigning them to temporary subsidized paid training and assisting them in their search for unsubsidized jobs in their community. The employment program is the steward of federal funds, appropriated to recruit, train and place eligible seniors in subsidized employment.
La Plata Youth Services is currently looking for one senior citizen to train as part of the program. The participant will be paid to train through funding from the United States Department of Labor. La Plata Youth Services seeks someone who is interested in learning clerical skills.
Applicants must be at least 55 years of age, currently unemployed and be on a limited income to participate. Wages and benefits are provided by SER Jobs For Progress, a nonprofit group funded by the United States Department of Labor.
For more information and to apply, call Judy Campbell at 385-3995. Do not contact La Plata Youth Services.
Presentation on Mac computers is Dec. 16
The Durango Chamber of Commerce will offer the presentation, “How Does a Mac Fit into Your Work Environment?” at noon Dec. 16 at First National Bank of Durango, W. 259 Ninth St.
The topic will be presented by David Sessions and Christina Dispigno of The Mac Ranch. Participants will learn about safety and security; connecting to corporate networks; mobile device management solutions; recycling options; and iPhone and iPad integration. The cost is $10 for Chamber of Commerce members and $20 for nonmembers. Reservations are required.
To register, visit durangobusiness.org or call 247-0312.
Nonprofit leaders attend management program
Three nonprofit executive leaders from Durango – Sandhya Tillotson, Ann Marie Meighan and Barbara Casey – all recently graduated from Community Resource Center’s Nonprofit Leadership & Management Program in Denver.
Tillotson, Meighan and Casey all completed the nine-month program and expanded their leadership capabilities as well as discovered new management techniques. They also cultivated professional relationships by engaging with their classmates at bi-monthly professional-development sessions and at a three-day retreat to Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center. Tillotson and Casey were two of 11 leaders chosen by the Anschutz Family Foundation to receive a scholarship to participate in the program.
For more information or to apply, visit www.crcamerica.org/leadership.
Two local businesses partner for open house
An open house for Pathways Physical Therapy & Holistic Health and Marisa Asplund Coaching and Counseling will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at 2243 Main Ave., Suite 3.
The event will celebrate the businesses’ new partnership. Participants will meet Marisa Asplund and Cindy Schmidt and learn about their new, unique programs for athletes. Paleo-inspired food and drinks will be served, and participants will learn what food can improve how they feel. A raffle for free services also will be held.
For more information, visit PathwaysDurango.com, MarisaAsplund.com or call 985-2416.
Durango Rocks Awards to be held on Jan. 21
The Durango Rocks Awards event will take place Jan. 21 at Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
A reception will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. followed by the awards at 6:30 p.m. The cost for tickets is $25 before Dec. 31 and $30 beginning Jan. 1. Tickets will be on sale at the Durango Chamber of Commerce by calling 247-0312; Santa Rita Park, 111 South Camino del Rio; the Community Concert Hall Ticket Office at 247-7657; and the Downtown Welcome Center, 802 Main Ave.
For more information, visit durangobusiness.org or durangoconcerts.com.
New law business announces opening
Albrechta & Albrechta announces its opening at 1221 Main Ave.
The business is owned by general practice attorneys Dave and Eleni Albrechta. The law firm focuses on employment law, family law, estate planning, business planning, DUIs and litigation. The firm also provides a full range of general practice legal services to the marijuana industry in Durango, La Plata County and the surrounding area. The firm is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
For more information, call 422-3288.
Know Your Dough receives $1K donation
Know Your Dough, a local nonprofit providing financial literacy for youth and young adults, announces a donation made on behalf of the Durango Area Association of Realtors.
The $1,000 contribution will be used to meet the cost of financial-literacy programs at Durango High School.
For more information, email Allison Andersen at Allison@know-your-dough.org or call 779-0607.
Ballantine Family Fund awards grants to 96 firms
In 2015, the trustees of the Ballantine Family Fund awarded more than $230,000 in grants to 96 nonprofit organizations in Southwest Colorado.
By category, the Ballantine Family Fund awarded:
$2,500 to animal protection.
$53,701 to arts and entertainment.
$39,103 to education.
$15,500 to environment.
$62,500 to human services.
$46,000 to youth.
$11,100 to other.
By county, the Ballantine Family Fund awarded:
$16,000 to Archuleta.
$3,000 to Dolores.
$109,128 to La Plata.
$60,890 to Montezuma.
$1,036 to San Juan.
$40,350 to other counties that support Southwest Colorado but are not physically located in our geographic region.
In addition to the $230,000, the Ballantine Family Fund awarded a $40,000 Core Value Grant to La Plata Youth Services in support of the organization’s Radical Possibilities Community-in-School Partnership Program. Radical Possibilities focuses on delivering prevention and early-intervention services to at-risk students facing significant, adverse barriers to school attendance.
The grant will help La Plata Youth Services concentrate on improving school climate and coordinated delivery of community resources in the school setting, including mentorship, family outreach, mental health, case management, advocacy, tutoring and transportation.
Also, the Ballantine Family Fund is launching a new website and online application in January. The online application directly addresses best practices and simplifies the grant-seeking experience for users. For more information, visit www.ballantinefamilyfund.com.
Axis Health System announces new hires
Axis Health System, a private, nonprofit serving the health care needs of Southwest Colorado residents, welcomes these new staff members to its health care team:
Dr. Rebecca Berghorst, director of psychiatry, is responsible for oversight, enhancement and development of Axis’s psychiatric program. Berghorst is board-certified in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. Her interests include childhood trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, and neuro-developmental disorders. She is excited to develop a child and adolescent psychiatric program and provide a holistic approach to psychiatry that integrates medical, psychiatric and spiritual patient care.
Charles Johnson, grants and budget manager, will play a key role in monitoring and maintaining grant reporting and accounting compliance and will support grant and organizational budgeting and forecasting needs. He spent the first few years of his career in public accounting auditing not-for-profit and for-profit organizations and has held management positions in the health care, logging and metal mining industries.
Matt Payne, senior director of operations, will support the development and oversight of contracts management, risk management, compliance, program development and related data analysis. Payne will develop and maintain key community and state association relationships in support of the Axis Health System mission.
For more information, call 259-2162 or email estein@axishealthsystem.org.
Chamber to host After Hours event
The Durango Chamber of Commerce will host Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at ImageNet Consulting, 194 Bodo Drive.
The event will feature food, wine, beer, door prizes and networking.
The cost is $7 for chamber members and guests.
Architectural firm announces new hires
Steve Eccher Design & Planning, a full-service architecture firm, welcomes Chris Clemmons and Christal Dye to its team.
Clemmons has joined the firm as a project designer with six years of experience in the design and management of various residential and commercial projects. He specializes in building information modeling to envision project potential and bring the greatest value to the client. Clemmons holds a Masters of Architecture from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Clemson University.
Christal Dye joins the firm as the office and marketing manager. She has 17 years of operations and marketing experience in various industries, including management consulting, financial services and health care. Dye brings comprehensive expertise in process improvement, marketing, business development and client service to the firm.
Clemmons and Dye join the existing team, including Steve Eccher, Dallas Bankston, Paige Schingen and Will Zillich.
Visit www.sce-design.com for more information.
Herald Staff
