Cushman & Wakefield in the Springs

Cushman & Wakefield, the New York City-based international real estate services firm, is opening a commercial office brokerage in Colorado Springs. Greg Phaneuf (right), formerly of Sierra Commercial Real Estate in Colorado Springs, will head Cushman & Wakefield's local brokerage. "Colorado Springs is such a vibrant market that we saw the need to service our clients in that area more directly," said Sherman Miller, executive managing director and west regional manager for Cushman & Wakefield of Colorado, based in Denver. The firm already has a property management operation here, which oversees Palmer Center (Wells Fargo bank tower and Holly Sugar Building) in downtown Colorado Springs.

Business Citizen of the Year award

The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce is looking for nominations for its most prestigious award of the year, Business Citizen of the Year.

Nominees will be judged on the following criteria: business stature, community involvement, cooperation, leadership and support. The award will be presented at an awards banquet Nov. 3.

Past winners include: Joel Midkiff (Sinton Dairy), Rick O’Connell (Penrose-St. Francis), Brenda Smith (BKD, LLP), and Doug Stimple (Classic Companies).

To obtain a nomination form, or information, contact Jenifer Furda, jenifer@cscc.org, or 575-4313 or visit http://www.coloradospringschamber.org/.

Real Estate Development 101

Developing Colorado Springs real estate isn't necessarily for the faint of heart or the weak of pocketbook. A one-day seminar for attorneys, business executives, real estate agents, contractors, engineers and others whose work involves real estate development will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Antlers Hilton Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs.

The seminar is intended as one-stop shopping to provide information on the city of Colorado Springs' planning and development process; land-use rules; financing of projects; and construction and legal issues, among other topics.

Speakers include Colorado Springs Planning Director Bill Healy, deputy city attorney Wynetta Massey, Boulder attorney Richard Nehls and Denver contractor and real estate broker John Yelenick. The event is being sponsored by Lorman Education Services, a Wisconsin-based continuing education provider. More information on the seminar and costs: (866) 352-9539 or www.lorman.com.

BBB warns consumers about seminars

The Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado is warning consumers who attend a series of "free" Internet seminars in Colorado Springs hotels Oct. 5-7 that the presenters will promote products and services that are for sale. Internet Marketing Conference mass mailed invitations to Colorado Springs residents offering a free 90-minute conference on how to make money on the Internet. Attendees at these conferences are then urged to sign up for a one-day workshop, which requires a fee. The company has a history of complaints with the Better Business Bureau serving Utah – 329 complaints in the last three years – and has an unsatisfactory record with the bureau. Based in Orem, Utah, Internet Marketing Conference also does business as Galaxy Mall Inc., Storesonline Inc. and Imergent Inc.

Regional Retail Rumblings

The Chuck E Cheese restaurant at 5156 N Academy Blvd. is just about done with its interior remodeling and plans to reopen on Friday Sept. 29.

... Windsor Hospitality Group has just completed its $8.5 million renovation of the Embassy Suites Colorado Springs at 7920 Commerce Center Drive, complete with copper roof and a new clock tower.

... Sperry Van Ness has completed the sale of the last building available at Ridgeview Marketplace and the Powers Boulevard shopping center is now 100 percent leased.

... The Brew Me Coffee Lounge opened earlier this month in a downtown house at 22 E. Monument, sharing space with Peak Health Chiropractic and Key Therapeutics. Owner Jamie Chaffin is hoping to attract Colorado College students and workers in nearby businesses.

Colorado Tech to attend IT forum in Korea

Colorado Tech University will send two top officials to Daedeok, Korea on Oct.12-14 for a forum to promote global partnerships in information technology education. Richard Kettner-Polley, chancellor of CTU's Institute for Advanced Studies, is scheduled to speak at the conference and will be joined by Wally Astor, vice president of academics. Colorado Springs-based CTU will be one of two American schools respresented at The International Forum for Presidents on Information and Communication Technology Education. Nicholas Negroponte, professor from the Massuchusetts Institute of Technology, is a keynote speaker.