Accelerator program to receive award
The Region 9 Economic Development District: Southwest Colorado will receive a 2014 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation for the regional SCAPE program.
The Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs supports the creation and development of high-growth, job-creating companies in Southwest Colorado by offering an accelerator program. The program offers mentoring, office space and an equity investment to help them enter markets and raise capital. Since beginning in 2013, the program has graduated five business ventures creating eight jobs and leveraging $385,000 in investment.
The SCAPE program will be recognized at a reception during the foundation’s 2014 Annual Training Conference Aug. 23-26 in Denver.
For more information, visit www.goscape.org or email Elizabeth Marsh at emarsh@goscape.org.
Big Brothers Big Sisters announces new hires
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado has hired Barbara Rod as the High School Bigs Program Manager and Chris Taylor as a School-Based Program Specialist.
With a background in the outdoor industry, Rod brings her experience in branded marketing, community outreach and partnership development. She will be working with youths in Durango and Bayfield, the high school Bigs and the elementary school Littles.
Taylor graduated from Fort Lewis College and the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work Four Corners Program with a degree in psychology and social work. During his time as a professional snowboarder, Taylor was actively involved in the field as a freestyle snowboard coach for youth.
Rod and Taylor are current Bigs in the Community-Based Mentoring Program.
For more information about the Bigs program, call Rod at 247-3720 or email barbara@bbig.org. For more information on the School-Based Mentoring Program, Study Connection, call Taylor at 247-3720 or email chris@bbig.org.
Spa Evo hires massage therapist
Spa Evo has announced the addition of Kristi Zink, licensed massage therapist, to its massage staff.
Zink, a Durango native, has been a massage therapist for 10 years and specializes in deep-tissue, sports massage, neuromuscular therapy and Swedish massage. She also recently earned her master’s degree in transpersonal psychology at Naropa University.
Zink will be available for appointments from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. most Saturdays. For more information, call 259-0226 or visit www.spaevo.com.
Regulatory fairness hearing to be held
Small-business owners, representatives of local economic-development organizations, trade groups and community leaders are invited to join the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Ombudsman Brian Castro to discuss federal regulatory issues impacting small businesses from 11:30 to 2 p.m. Aug. 14 in the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, El Paso County Citizens Service Center Building, 1675 Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs.
This event will offer a chance to voice concerns about unfair regulatory enforcement, excessive fines, retaliation, burdensome regulations and other regulatory issues involving federal agencies.
To RSVP, call Juanita Dailey at (719) 481-4877 or email juanitad@navsys.com. For more information, visit www.sba.gov/ombudsman.
Destroying confidential records explained
The Durango Chamber of Commerce will present “Be Careful How You Destroy Confidential Records!” at noon Aug. 27 at First National Bank of Durango, 259 W. Ninth St.
The program will be presented by Scott Fasken with Colorado Document Security. The cost is $10 for chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Reservations are required.
To register visit www.durangobusiness.org or call 247-0312.
Retired FLC professor publishes first novel
Retired Fort Lewis College civil-engineering professor, Omnia El-Hakim, has recently published her first novel, Sesen: Egyptian Lotus.
Published in March 2014 by AuthorHouse, the novel takes place in Egypt and the heroine’s story is told over her travels around the world. The novel is for sale locally at Maria’s Bookshop and available at the Durango Public Library and the FLC library. It is also being sold at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. Partially a love story, Sesen focuses on different cultures, international history and interracial interactions.
El-Hakim is a civil-engineering professor who emigrated from Egypt 35 years ago. She had her doctorate in civil engineering from Colorado State University in 1984. She held joint appointment at both Fort Lewis College and CSU in Fort Collins.
Sherry Waner graduates from banking school
First Southwest Bank announces that Sherry Waner, vice president, specializing in commercial government-guaranteed lending, graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado in July.
Serving as the premier community banking school in the nation, the focus of this program is to prepare the next generation of community bank leaders. Participants broaden their banking-industry knowledge while engaging in a cutting-edge curriculum focused on timely and relevant issues facing community banks. Waner, as a graduate, is recognized by the State Banking Commission of Colorado.
Thanks to her 21 years of banking experience and ongoing education, Waner is well-prepared to serve the banking needs of Southwest Colorado businesses. She is based in Pagosa Springs and serves markets including Durango, Alamosa, Center and Cortez.
For more information, visit www.fswb.com.
Herald Staff
