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As a member of South Metro Denver Chamber, you are invited to partake in a brief survey regarding the skills gap that your company may face in Colorado. This anonymous survey should take less than 7 minutes. Results will be shared with all 2018 gubernatorial candidates explaining how employers view the skills gap and what strategies are needed to improve Colorado’s schools. Email or call Kelly Caufield if you have questions: (571) 235-1338 The goal of this survey is to measure how Colorado employers view the skills gap and the strategies needed to close the gap. These results will be shared with Colorado’s gubernatorial candidates to demonstrate the solutions that employers would like to see.
 To say this was a whirlwind of a week would be an understatement. This week the state's financial analysts showed the strength of the Colorado economy, the budget was completed, there were changes in leadership, major compromises on transportation and state pension plan (Public Employees Retirement Act (PERA)) reform were achieved and, there was the expose of yet another "scandal." On Monday afternoon, the Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB), under the direction of Henry Sobanet, and the Office of Legislative Legal Services, Each department (think delete what I bolded) made a presentation to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) detailing how the state's economy was doing. An improvement in the state's fiscal outlook of nearly $850 million from the previous forecast was the message delivered and the JBC was left to finish their work with the budget. By Wednesday, the JBC was expected to be completely finished with the appropriations bill (the long bill), but late nights in the Senate kept them from finishing. Senators worked late into Wednesday night to work out a deal on SB18-001, the transportation-funding bill. Democrats managed to get an amendment onto the critical bill, trimming the request from the state budget to $250 million a year from $300 million for bonding and delayed sending the request to the voters until November 2019. Moving the referred ballot initiative to 2019, an off-year election, would relinquish a decision to ballot initiatives being planned for this November. The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce (DMCC) is leading a statewide alliance that wants to ask voters for a sales tax increase. There are two other ideas being floated as well. One is being considered by business interests other than the DMCC and led by Colorado Concern. That group wants to ask voters to changes the Specific Ownership Tax in order to pay for transportation needs. The second is being pushed by the Independence Institute - ran by Jon Caldara and Amy Oliver Cooke. Their preference would be to force the legislature to pay for the improvements. This request seems far from possible given the $9 billion in transportation needs and the other expenditures that are mandated to ensure the state continues to run. On Thursday, budget writers were able to commit more than the $250 million currently requested by SB18-001 for transportation, finishing the budget with a $495 million dollar transfer to the Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF). On the same day, JBC members also dedicated $225 million to fund PERA. Although those promises should have been worthy of some earnest celebration, members and media were distracted by the state legislature's harassment scandal this week that resulted in Sen. President Grantham (R-Canon City) filing a harassment charge against Sen. Daniel Kagan (D-Cherry Hills), the resignation of Sen. Lucia Guzman (D-Denver) as Minority Leader and the dismissal of Sen. Jim Smallwood's (R-Parker) aide, Andrew Knarr. Earlier this week it was reported that - and no, I can't believe that I am writing this - Sen. Kagan was caught using the women's restroom by a fellow Senator. This wasn't the first time for this apparent accident and to make a statement about discomfort in the workplace, President Grantham filed a formal complaint against Sen. Kagan. Two days later, Sen. Guzman announced she was stepping down from her Democratic leadership post expressing frustration following the Kagan reports and over frustration she held against Republican leadership and their handling of the harassment scandals. "My moral compass says that is a breaking point for me," Guzman told the press. Her resignation happened on the same day that that some capitol staff were receiving harassment training. One aide did not seem to take the issue with deserved weight posting an awful comment to Snapchat about grabbing women, which prompted Sen. Smallwood to immediately dismiss him. On Friday, the JBC finished their work. Major investments were made as follows:
Until then! Session Highlights Provided By:  Women-owned business completes meticulous process to demonstrate capabilities to government and corporate members. DENVER, CO, March 22, 2017 — Spin Event Management, a business specializing in corporate event management, planning and event marketing, is proud to announce national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise West, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). “We are honored and excited to receive our certification and become a part of the WBEC West community,” says Kimberly Schmitz, President/CEO of Spin Event Management. “The world-class certification program allows us how to increase our exposure and opportunities as a woman-owned business and demonstrate our capabilities to various government agencies and corporate members.” WBENC’s national standard of certification implemented by the WBEC West is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women. By including women-owned businesses among their suppliers, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs. To learn more about Spin Event Management, please visit www.spineventmanagement.com.
Parker, CO 80138 720-233-9780 spineventmanagement.com ABOUT SPIN EVENT MANAGEMENT Spin Event Management is a woman-owned, full-service corporate event management and event marketing services firm, located in the Denver-metro area. We focus on internal/external corporate events, exclusive/VIP client experiences and incentive/destination services. We work with our clients to ensure we are planning the event to grow their business and create experiences for their employees, clients and partners. Spin Event Management believes in-person events impact marketing results, sales pipeline and revenue and no matter how big or small, events truly are experiences. Learn more at www.spineventmanagement.com, www.twitter.com/spineventmgmt. www.facebook.com/spineventmgmt About WBENC: Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation’s leader in women’s business development and the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with more than 13,000 certified Women’s Business Enterprises, 14 national Regional Partner Organizations, and over 300 Corporate Members. More than 1,000 corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands as well as many states, cities, and other entities accept WBENC Certification. For more information, visit www.wbenc.org. On Monday, March 12, 2018, South Metro Denver Chamber hosted members from The International Visitor Leadership Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). The Multi‑Regional Project entitled “Women and Entrepreneurship,” is being administered by Mississippi Consortium for International Development and conducted from February 26 to March 16, 2018.
South Metro Denver Chamber joined the program by inviting the nine women, from around the globe, to a luncheon with chamber members and staff to explain the role a Chamber of Commerce holds within the business community. Discussions covered the social, economic, and political factors that influence and encourage women as entrepreneurs, owners or managers of small, medium, and large‑scale businesses and the barriers they face. Members shared insight into societal barriers facing entrepreneurs, especially women, and best practices in overcoming these restrictions. “It was great to meet women from all over the world, in different roles, who share a common goal: helping women in business in their communities to succeed and grow. I was honored to be a part of the conversation on how the Women in Business group of the Chamber is helping women succeed and give them ideas that they could take back and share,” explained Heather Howerton, Chair of Women in Business. The attendees will share with their networks back home, the impact of women‑owned businesses on the U.S. economy and how to continue to explore the progress of women participating more fully in the global economy. The Office of International Visitors seeks to provide a broad and balanced range of perspectives in the International Visitor Leadership Program. To this end, programs include a variety of appointments with individuals and representatives of organizations whose opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government Greystone Technology is now offering in-person, and online, training courses for Office 365, Sharepoint, and Cybersecurity. They can also create a customize training specific to your company needs and specific toolsets your company uses. These training courses can help you and your employees become more productive and effective using the technology you already have. For more information, descriptions on the courses offered, or to sign up for current course offerings, visit: https://www.greystonetech.com/register-courses-events/ Or reach out directly to a trainer for a customized course: training@greystonetech.com   How to navigate the Denver South area during southeast Denver Light Rail closures, March 16-293/13/2018   If you haven't heard yet, take note: Light rail service will temporarily shutdown at the Lincoln and County Line stations along Denver's southeast corridor. The closure is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 16 at 9 p.m., and open back up after 3 a.m. on Monday, March 26. Dry Creek station will act as the end of line over the course of the shutdown, but what if you live or need to travel south of Dry Creek station during that time? Whether you're visiting for one of the many big events in Denver during that time, normally use those stations for your commute or just need to get some much-needed shopping time in, we've got your back. Here's how to manage getting around the closure when you need to go or come from south of Dry Creek station: Free shuttle buses You'll still be able to park at either the County Line or Lincoln stations, it's just the train service and platforms that will be off limits. Of course, parking there does you no good if you can't get anywhere afterwards. Luckily, RTD is contracting with several private charter companies to provide free shuttle buses between stations. From Lincoln station an express bus will take you straight to Dry Creek station, and vice versa. There will also be an All Stop bus, which adds an extra stop at County Line station. If you need to make it to the Park Meadows area, be sure to catch the All Stop bus from Dry Creek or Lincoln stations and get off at County Line. Remember to look for charter buses, as they won't have the RTD logo on them. Shuttle service begins around 4 or 5 a.m. most days, depending on which route you need. For more details and the full schedule click here. Lyft it up RTD has partnered with Lyft to provide ride discounts for passengers affected by the station closures. This might be the best option for those who need to travel south of Dry Creek station, since you can not only get directly where you need to go, but enjoy some potential car karaoke. Lyft is offering 20% discounts on up to five rides during the length of the light rail closure. Note that there is a maximum discount of $5 per ride. To claim your discount, all you have to do is use discount code DRYCREEK20, or go here: lyft.com/invite/drycreek20 Bus service The light rail service should not disrupt regular bus service in the southeast Denver area in any way. Stop by RTD's online trip planner service if you need to get south of Dry Creek on wheels instead of tracks. Hotel shuttles If you're staying at a hotel south of Dry Creek station, most of them offer free or super-cheap shuttle service. Requesting one to take you to Dry Creek should be a breeze, but make sure you ask them whether they'll be able to pick you up when you get back. Shuttle drivers also tend to know the best local eats and things to do, so pick their brains while you're riding. And don't forget to have a little cash on hand to tip the driver. Driving a car If you're visiting Denver during the light rail closure and were hoping to avoid renting a car, you can definitely get away with it - just make sure you've given yourself some extra time. But driving is of course another option for getting around the closure, but with one of the biggest volleyball tournaments in the country, several spring breaks and general nice weather expected to already increase traffic during that time, be prepared for some extra bumps. And remember that if you're heading into downtown Denver from the southeast corridor, parking is hard to find and expensive, and parking spaces at Dry Creek station and stations north of it are expected to tighten up with increased demand. Driving your own car is certainly a good option, but keep in mind the few extra obstacles you'll need to plan for. Stay flexible Keep in mind the work being completed is weather dependent. If a nasty storm rolls in, be sure to check with RTD to see if the schedule has been adjusted and tweak your travel plans accordingly. Now that you know all of your options, getting around the light rail closure should be a breeze. Still looking for more info? Check out our need-to-know guide to the closure. Highlands Ranch, CO - The Audubon Society of Greater Denver (ASGD) is partnering with Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) South Campus for a unique program to connect children to nature through bird watching. On Thursday, March 22 at 1:00pm, the Audubon Society of Greater Denver will be hosting a bird feeder ribbon cutting ceremony at Children’s Colorado South Campus. ASGD is donating two bird feeders and Denver bird identification guides to the hospital for the enjoyment of the patients and their parents.
“It has been proven that a connection with nature provides many health benefits. Since birds are everywhere, and are easily attracted to bird feeders, they provide a great first connection to our local wildlife without having to travel. Birding is relaxing and a great stress reliever,” said Karl Brummert, Executive Director at the Audubon Society of Greater Denver. Brummert added, “Spending time with children, really getting to know the birds who share the habitats in our community, is a wonderful pastime for families. Any habitat and any season is good for birdwatching. Even watching bird behavior can provide great enjoyment.” Volunteers from the Audubon Society of Greater Denver will be available on select days in the waiting rooms at the hospital to assist visitors with identifying the birds that visit the feeders in the courtyard and talking about why birds are an important part of our environment. “We are thrilled to partner with the Audubon Society of Greater Denver and bring a unique and educational activity to our South Campus location. We appreciate their expertise, passion and generosity to make this opportunity possible for our patients, families and staff,” said Christy Dobson, director of Corporate and Community Relations at Children’s Colorado. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be hosted by Children’s Colorado South Campus in Highlands Ranch. We invite guests to join us on Thursday, March 22 at 1:00pm for the event. The ribbon cutting will be a perfect kickoff to the first week of spring.  The City of Centennial is currently accepting applications to fill openings on the Planning & Zoning Commission. Terms are for a 3-year period for which a stipend of $25 per meeting will be paid to each attending committee member. The Planning & Zoning Commission reviews land use, rezoning and variance applications, and other land use matters. Meetings are the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Centennial Civic Center located at 13133 E. Arapahoe Road.
Applications may be obtained on the City website or from the City Clerk by calling 303-754-3324. Application deadline: Friday, April 6, 2018 at 5 p.m. Construction is under way at the Wings Over the Rockies' Exploration of Flight/Boeing Blue Sky Aviation Gallery campus at Centennial Airport. Progress can be tracked at https://explorationofflight.org! To help commemorate the opening, and have a little fun along the way, Wings Over the Rockies is collaborating with Launch Pad Brewery in Aurora to create a special “Wings Beer” for our Blue Sky Opening event. The beer, called “Remove Before Flight”, will be an orange/honey Belgian ale. This easy-drinker is a fun way to engage with a community partner and is one of the only museum/brewery collaborations that we are aware of! It just makes sense in the “State of Craft Beer”. “Remove Before Flight” will be tapped during the Blue Sky Gallery’s opening weekend and available at Hops in the Hangar on August 11th. Watch the video of our brew here - https://youtu.be/BmVg2Ne9pmw   |
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