Re/Max co-founder makes History Channel

Dave Liniger, co-founder of Denver-based Re/Max International, addressed the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce in early November. Now, he's appearing before a bigger audience. "History's Business," a weekly half-hour series on The History Channel, has completed an episode that discusses the launch and growth of Re/Max. The broadcast will air at 6 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. Liniger, chairman of Re/Max, was interviewed in The History Channel's studios by program host Geoff Wawro. Liniger explained Re/Max's start in 1973 as a small office and how it's grown to a global real estate franchise network, with offices in more than 65 countries. In addition to telling the story of Re/Max, Liniger discusses his philanthropy efforts and his adventures as a NASCAR driver, balloonist and pilot. Liniger and his wife, Re/Max co-founder Gail, oversee day-to-day operations of the organization. Additional broadcasts of the Re/Max episode of "History's Business" will be listed on the cable channel's web site, www.history.com.

Big 5 opens at Uintah Gardens

Big 5 Sporting Goods has opened a store at 1810 W. Uintah St. in the Uintah Gardens Shopping Center. It becomes the third Big 5 store in Colorado Springs and is in a former Walgreens. Walgreen vacated the building to build a free-standing store. Big 5 Sporting Goods has 360 locations across 11 Western states.

Economic census coming

This year, the holiday season is also the census season for businesses.
More than 4 millionU.S. businesses, including about 9,700 in the Colorado Springs area, will receive economic census forms in December.
The economic census is taken every five years and provides key source data for the gross domestic product and other indicators of economic performance.
Census forms are sent to all but the smallest businesses in every industry and geographic area of the country. Most businesses with five or more paid employees, and a sample of smaller ones, will receive a census form.
Companies are asked to report information such as employment, payroll and the value of goods and services sold. Questions about franchising, outsourcing and health and pension benefit expenses were added to selected forms this year. The answers, the U.S. Census Bureau assures, are kept confidential. Only aggregate industry data are published.
Forms must be returned to the Census Bureau by Feb. 12. Companies that toss the census form or squirrel it away in a drawer and forget it could be in trouble. The law provides for penalties of up to $5,000 for failure to report and $10,000 for intentionally providing false information.
For more information, go to www.census.gov/econ/census07.

Audi of America sponsors ski competitions

Audi of America has been selected as the official automotive sponsor of the U.S. Ski Team, supplying vehicles to the U.S. Ski Team in the United States and Europe for all its teams. Those include alpine, cross country, freestyle, nordic combined and ski jumping.

Audi also will be the title sponsor of the women's World Cup in Aspen, Dec. 7-9, and the automaker will be associate sponsor of the men's World Cup races in Beaver Creek, Nov. 28-Dec. 2.

The U.S. Ski Team said it chose Audi because its vehicles with a permanent all-wheel-drive system are reliable and safe.

A player piano with an Internet twist

Jazz pianist Sue Downs, who played with the Roger Williams and Red Skelton orchestras, will show off the latest in Disklavier technology Thursday at the just-opened Piano Gallery, 7790 N. Academy Blvd. Yamaha introduced the Disklavier, a concert-quality piano that also serves as a modern-age player piano, more than 20 years ago. The latest twist is Disklavier 2.0, new technology that allows Mark IV series pianos to access and play music from Disklavier Internet radio stations. Downs will be available to answer questions about the technology at 4 p.m. and will perform at 7 p.m. RSVPs are requested for the performance; call 447-9999.

Real estate group convenes economic forecast breakfast Jan. 24

Want to know the outlook for the local economy and real estate market in 2008? The Southern Colorado chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management will hold its 17th annual economic forecast breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 24 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly the Sheraton), 2886 S. Circle Drive on Colorado Springs' south side. The breakfast, usually attended by several hundred business people, will include a look at Colorado Springs' economy as well as the commercial, single-family and apartment markets. Speakers include Mike Anderson, assistant Colorado Springs city manager and a longtime local economist; Doug Carter, a commercial broker with Sperry Van Ness and who specializes in the apartment market; Brian Maecker, a real estate agent with the Maecker Team and Re/Max Advantage; and Kent Mau, a commercial broker with Sierra Commercial Real Estate. The cost is $35 before Jan. 16; afterward, the cost is $45. More information: Linda Littlefield at the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors, 633-7718, ext. 110 or http://www.irem53.org./

Actress Olivia Hussey at One World 2 U

Actress Olivia Hussey will bring a little star power to this weekend’s One World 2 U warehouse sale. One World 2 U, located at 1120 Elkton Drive, Unit E, sells furniture, artifacts and art from India and is open only on select weekends throughout this year. Hussey will be there from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to sell items from her collection of Indian tunics and kaftans. The Golden Globe-winning actress was 15 when she gained fame as Juliet in 1968’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Bargain on snowmobile insurance

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies is expanding coverage and cutting rates up to 40 percent for snowmobile insurance in Colorado and nine other states.

The insurance covers the rider anywhere and features accessory coverage up to $3,000 of aftermarket equipment and accessories, roadside assistance and various discounts.

For more information, see http://www.progressive.com/.

Banking 'on the go'

FirstBank, Colorado's largest locally owned bank with $8.6 billion in assets, is offering what it calls a new tool to help shoppers and travelers manage their money during the holiday season.

Internet banking customers now can check account balances and transfer funds across accounts using their mobile phones, including while waiting in line at the mall or waiting for a flight at the airport.

The mobile banking feature is available to AT&T Wireless customers, and Verizon customers are expected to gain access in December. FirstBank provides the service at no charge, although connectivity and usage rates may apply.

A six-digit PIN is required to access account information, for security reasons, and the information is not stored in the phone.