Boston Market is Catering for the Cure

The Golden-based Boston Market restaurant chain has launched a program called Catering For The Cure, which will donate $2 from every catering order, with a minimum annual donation of $250,000, to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Funds raised will be used for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.

Colorado Springs has two Boston Market locations, at 6964 N. Academy Blvd. and 1015 N. Academy Blvd. "Our communities support us every day of the year, and this is just one way we can give back," said Sarah Brown, vice president of catering for Boston Market. "Many people have had their lives touched by breast cancer, and we’re pleased to be able to contribute to finding a cure."

Boston Market’s catering services are available for groups of 10 or more people and cover every event need from grab-and-go box lunches and hot buffets to full-service and wedding packages. Boston Market also supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure through the annual summer sale of its Certificate Books, which sell for $1 and historically have offered guests nearly $40 in savings on some of Boston Market's most popular meals.

Boulder Street coffee shop changes owners

Former deputy city manager Dave Nickerson and his wife, Marilyn, have sold the family-run Boulder Street Coffee Roasters after 10 years to enter retirement. New owners Iwao and Tina Greene don't expect to make a lot of changes at the 332 N. Tejon St. shop, continuing the poetry readings and acoustic jam nights.

Rising Professionals kick-off event drew in a crowd

More than 260 people attended the inaugural event of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce's Rising Professionals on Jan. 17. The group is targeted at people age 21-39.
Young professionals can sign up at www.coloradospringschamber.org. and also http://www.myspace.com/rising.
Events are scheduled throughout the year.
The next is a luncheon on Feb. 21 at the Phantom Canyon. The topic is “Building a business community that connects you to your market, gives you counsel and supports your goals.” Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch and the presentation at noon.
Cost is $20. RSVP to 575-4383.

Day at the legislature

The Quality Community Group is hosting Day at the Legislature for local business people and community leaders at the Capitol 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 1
The Quality Community Group is a partnership between the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp., the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors.
The Day at the Legislature is intended to give local business people an opportunity to learn about business issues important to the economy and meet many of the state legislators.
A chartered bus will leave for Denver at 10 a.m. A luncheon with keynote address by Andrew Romanoff, speaker of the house begins the afternoon, followed by briefings at the Capitol. Then, the Governor’s administration, members of the Colorado General Assembly and state agency heads are invited to a reception with the local group.
Cost for the entire trip is $100. For information, contact Stephannie Finley, 575-4331, stephannie@cscc.org.

United shortfalls because of snow falls

United Airlines, although it posted a profit for the third consecutive quarter in the fourth quarter, lost an estimated $40 million because of snowstorms that hit main hubs in Denver and Chicago during December, the company reported in its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings Tuesday. The airline cancelled about 3,900 flights due to these storms.

Life in the Fast Lane

Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, the local convention and visitors bureau, invites the public to "Breakfast in the Fast Lane" 7:30 a.m. Jan. 30 at the Clarion Hotel, 314 W. Bijou St.

Guest speaker Bill Badger, COSMIX project spokesman, will be there to speak about the COSMIX project and take concerns and questions. Cost $20. RSVP by Friday Jan. 26 to Christy Long at 635-7506 ext. 141 or e-mail at CLong@ExperienceColoradoSprings.com.

All attendees will receive a COSMIX Car Survival Kit.

For more information click here or visit www.experiencecoloradosprings.com.

Chambers diversity awards luncheons Wednesday

The Pikes Peak Coalition of Chambers (made up of the Black Chamber, Hispanic Chamber, Southern Colorado Women's Chamber and the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce) will host the Diversity Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, January 24 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Sheraton, 2886 S. Circle Dr.
The luncheon celebrates companies that embrace and practice diversity in the workplace and the community.
The keynote speaker is Jody Alyn and she will be discussing "ASPIRE to create Positive Cultural Change".
The cost is $30 for an individual and $400 for a corporate table of 10. To RSVP go on line at http://www.coloradospringschamber.org/ and click calendar of events or call 575-4387.

Falcon-Peyton planning effort needs volunteers

A plan that guides the residential and business development of the fast-growing Falcon and Peyton areas in central and eastern El Paso County is getting a facelift, and county officials are seeking help with the process. The El Paso County Commission wants 10 to 12 volunteers to serve on a committee that will assist the county Development Services Department and a consultant in assembling a major update to the Falcon/Peyton Small Area Master Plan. The plan will include land-use recommendations for unincorporated Falcon and the town of Peyton. The updated plan will be presented to the county Planning Commission for adoption by the end of 2007. Committee members, who will meet twice a month for about 10 months, will provide input, offer ideas and review draft planning documents, among other duties. Meeting dates, times and locations will be determined; the county hopes to have committee members who represent the interests of property owners, homeowners and businesses, among others. County commissioners will begin interviewing and selecting volunteers in February and complete the process by March. Volunteer applications can be found online at http://www.elpasoco.com/; click on the “volunteer boards" link. Applications, including mailing addresses and daytime phone numbers, and any letters of interest or resumes, can be faxed to: 520-6397, emailed to: webmaster@elpasoco.com, or mailed to: Board of County Commissioners, Attn: Fran St. Germain, Executive Assistant to County Administration, 27 E. Vermijo Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2208. More information: contact Carl Schueler, Long Range Planning Division Manager at 520-6316 or carlschueler@elpasoco.com.

Washington pizza chain coming to the Springs

Garlic Jim’s Famous Gourmet Pizza of Everett, Wash., has signed a sub-franchise agreement to open 25 stores in Colorado Springs and Denver by 2011. Solomon Franchise Development Inc. will open its first Denver store in May and sub-franchise the remaining 24 units to other operators. "Through my experience in the pizza marketplace, I've identified Garlic Jim's as a company that will be successful, and I want to be a part of it," said Valerie Solomon, president of SFD. From 2004 to 2006, Garlic Jim’s has grown from two to 36 units, and the company has 93 units under development or contract.

Can you hear me now?

Last Monday’s Business article about how businesses answer the phone produced lots of calls to my phone.

“Most people would rather talk to a human than a machine, and sometimes I wonder if enough people complain companies would stop with the machines,” said reader Dottie Davis.

She’s particularly upset about Comcast/Adelphia’s customer service line for high-speed Internet.

“I found myself screaming my phone number to the machine. It seemed like I had to do it 10 times. I thought I’d land at a mental hospital.”

Another reader left this message on my answering machine at my desk: “Your greeting annoys me just like your article. When I get disgusted I punch all the buttons until I get somebody. Then I ask them what I want and get a private number for the next time I need to call. It works very well.”

One reader said the situation with automated phone machines is worse than people think. “Sometimes you have to answer all kinds of questions to a machine but you never get your question answered,” he said.

Financial institutions are his pet peeve. “They ask for your account number and social security number over and over and over,” he said. And calling the Air Force Academy hospital resulted in him being hung up on after being on hold for a while. “After several rounds of automation, they say the extension is invalid and you get disconnected.”

Other readers expressed frustration about not being able to reach live people at retail mega stores, defense-type companies and others. "Sometimes they don't seem like they want to help you at all," one reader said.