2007-06 lydia's style magazine

CitiGroup SmithBarney

Jim Sprout on retirinG GraCefully

Five dollars

June 2007 : : BuS ineSS to BuS ineSS : : www.StylemaGazineColorado.Com

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2Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

You plan to retire from work, not LIFE.

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years to come. For more information, contact The Hartman Group at Smith Barney

Clayton E. Hartman Senior Vice President- Wealth Management Senior Investment Management Consultant

Wayne C. Jamerson Financial Advisor

Financial Planning Specialist

Brian P. Sullivan First Vice President- Wealth Management

Senior Investment Management Consultant

400 E. Horsetooth Road, 1st floor, Fort Collins, CO 80525

(970} 223-0414 or (800} 627-4888 www.fa.smithbarney.com/hartman_groupsb

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SMITH BARNEY ©2006 Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Member SIPC. Smith Barney is a division and service mark of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and its affiliates and is used and registered throughout the world . CITIGROUP and the Umbrella Device are trademarks and service marks of Citicorp or its affiliates and are used and registered throughout the world .

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The advertised annual percentage rate* is a variable rate and is based on the High New York Prime minus .75%; the rate is subject to change daily. Approval is subject to the bank’s normal credit underwriting standards. Advertised rate is .50% higher without automatic deduction for monthly payment from a Home State Bank account. Advertised rate is for a 5-year home equity line of credit up to 80% loan to value. Other rates and terms available. Subject to a minimum credit limit of $25,000. Rate will not exceed 18% APR; minimum rate is 6%. For existing home equity line of credit customers, a minimum $10,000 increase is required. Certain restrictions may apply. This offer is limited to owner-occupied dwellings and certain property types may be excluded. Property insurance is required. $50 annual fee, waived for the first year. Closing costs for lines over $150,000 range from $900 to $2000. Consult your tax advisor regarding deductibility of interest. Offer good until June 30, 2007.

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KENDALL PRINTING 6

Member FDIC

Think big Bank small

The advertised annual percentage rate* is a variable rate and is based on the High New York Prime minus .75%; the rate is subject to change daily. Approval is subject to the bank’s normal credit underwriting standards. Advertised rate is .50% higher without automatic deduction for monthly payment from a Home State Bank account. Advertised rate is for a 5-year home equity line of credit up to 80% loan to value. Other rates and terms available. Subject to a minimum credit limit of $25,000. Rate will not exceed 18% APR; minimum rate is 6%. For existing home equity line of credit customers, a minimum $10,000 increase is required. Certain restrictions may apply. This offer is limited to owner-occupied dwellings and certain property types may be excluded. Property insurance is required. $50 annual fee, waived for the first year. Closing costs for lines over $150,000 range from $900 to $2000. Consult your tax advisor regarding deductibility of interest. Offer good until June 30, 2007.

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HS-1997 Home State Bank, HELOC#2- Lydia’sFull page w/bleed (8.375 x 10.875”) 4c Sam Cooper Design (07hs453) proof - 04/16/07

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sty le media and design, inc.| 970.226.6400 |

w w w. s t y l e m a g a z i n e c o l o r a d o . c o m

Publisher/eDiTOr Lydia J. DodycreaTive DirecTOr Austin J. LambassisTaNT eDiTOr Corey Radman

GraPhic DesiGNersScott Prosser, Marianne Provenza

sales MaNaGer Saundra Skrove (970) 217-9932

aDverTisiNG sales eXecuTivesJon Ainslie (970) 219-9226

Karen Christensen (970) 679-7593Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400

Jeff Reichert (970) 219-0213

Office MaNaGer Ina Szwec

accOuNTiNG MaNaGer Karla Vigil

DaTa eNTry Betty Frye

cONTribuTiNG WriTersLynn Dean, Marti DiTaranto, Julie Estlick, Clayton

Hartman, Kevin Houchin, Wayne Jamerson,Corey Radman, Jim Sprout, Brian Sullivan, Ina Szwec

cONTribuTiNG PhOTOGraPhersLydia Dody, Austin Lamb, Dana Milner, Ina Szwec

affiliaTiONsFort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce

Loveland Chamber of CommerceGreeley Chamber of CommerceWindsor Chamber of Commerce

2007 style MagazinesJanuary-Loveland/Greeley Medical & Wellness

Magazine and DirectoryFebruary-Building & Remodeling

March-Family, Community & PhilanthropyMarch-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

April-Business of Northern ColoradoMay-Home & Garden

June-Business to Business June-Building & Remodeling

July-Fort Collins Medical & WellnessMagazine and Directories

August-Women & BusinessSeptember-Home Interiors & EntertainmentOctober-Women’s Lifestyle Health & Beauty

October-Northern Colorado Medical & WellnessNovember-Holiday

December-Winter/Wedding December-Northern Colorado Christian Business

Magazine and Directory

style Media and Design, inc. magazines are free monthly publications direct-mailed to homes and businesses in Northern Colorado. Elsewhere, subscriptions for 16 issues cost $24/year free magazines are available in stands at 75 locations throughout Northern Colorado.

For ad rates, subscription information, change of address, or correspondence, contact: style Media and Design inc., 211 W. Myrtle, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. Phone (970) 226-6400.E-Mail: [email protected]

©2007 style Media and Design inc. All rights reserved. The entire contents of Style Magazine is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. style Media and Design inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. All manuscripts, artwork, and photography must be accompanied by a SASE. The views and opinions of any contributing writers are not necessarily those of style Media & Design inc.

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We Welcome your commentscontact us

By phone: 970.226.6400By fax: 970.226.6427

By email: [email protected]

Attentive WritersWe, the team at Lindgren Landscape & Irrigation Inc., were thrilled with how the article ‘Water Wise Landscapes’ turned out. Your assistant editor, Corey Radman, was very attentive as we discussed Xeriscape, and comprehensively captured its principals in an easy to understand manner. Thanks for highlighting our company in your magazine!

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9contriBute to our legAcy

Dear Lydia,I really appreciated your column in the most recent Style publication. Like you, I've lived in Fort Collins for many years and have been a part of the growth, the changes, the pluses of living in such a community. I especially thank you for the challenge you gave to each of us: "To do something to contribute to our quality of life for the health of our area and the continuing healthy legacy we leave for our children." Many have preceded us and your charge to each of us to continue such a tradition of personal commitment is heartwarming.

~ Warmest Greetings,Mims Harris

A greAt resource!While visiting the Front Range Pain Medicine Clinic my mother and I discovered Style Magazine. My mother and I were very impressed with the magazine especially as we read about the doctor she was about to see, Dr. Girardi. We love Style and have used it many times as a reference as well as our family and friends. My mother even found a Rheumatologist from the doctor’s directory for her husband’s stepson who has been successfully treated him. Thank you for creating a great resource for the Front Range.

~ Vonn Burnett-Greeley, ColoradoMarilyn Goldade-Wheatland, Wyoming

A Big Dollop of compAssionHello Lydia,You don’t know me, but I’m a local musician and a fan of yours. My family has been receiving Style for many years. We feel you do indeed bring style and panache to our hometown, but in a welcoming and easy way, with a big dollop of compassion and care on the side. Thank you for that. Know that many of us appreciate what you are offering very much.

~ Ellen Roos

575% returnDear Style Magazine,WOW! I have never experienced the kind of response that our ad and your review have generated for my business. Just banquet business alone has returned 575% of my investment with you. Working with your staff has been easy and professional. Mr.Reichert’s attention to our account has been exceptional and is truly appreciated. I look forward to our continued partnership.

~ Scott ManningOwnager, Manno’s Grille

Publisher’s Letter

Celebrating our community and its people on the pages of

Style is closely tied to celebrating small business. Our country was built on the hard work

and innovation of these small business men and women and

our area is no different. We have to agree that before we

had the influx of big box retail, HP, Kodak and related major

employers, the backbone of our region was small business and

business owners being there to take care of us, their customers.

Business is Great!

Fort Collins had fewer than 30,000 residents when I moved here in 1966 to start my first retail store. Foothills Mall didn’t exist, the Fig Leaf location (Bowling’s Furniture for years) was nearly out of town, and you had to drive past the city limits for a drink. It was a small town where people spoke on the street, business owners knew each other and there was a real sense of community.

It is an understatement to say that I have seen a lot of changes through the years, but despite the tremendous growth, Fort Collins and our neighboring towns still exude a very special sense of community. They still have that friendly caring spirit of a small town.

It is in this spirit of honoring family tradition and passing the business torch that we are featuring Davidson-Gebhardt Chevrolet on our cover. Family photos dating back to 1946 showing the Gebhardt family’s first dealership grace the walls of their brand new showroom at Centerra Motorplex. It was espe-cially fun to feature the Gebhardts because I’ve known Jacque since she worked in my clothing store, the Other Half, in Campus West, when she was in college and I was just a few years older. And, today she is just as beautiful and vibrant as she was then!

The Davidson-Gebhardt auto family is in the company of several other very well respected automotive families in our area; the Dellenbachs, Markleys and Petersens all continue the same tradition of serving our region with integrity, and give back to our communities in numerous ways!

Our area’s economic and business health is trending up again with financial markets at all-time highs, retail sales improving, real estate recovering, unemployment down and consumer confidence up. Busi-ness is good and this Business issue of Style discusses many informative and interesting topics. Learn tips on how to start a business in So You Wanna Start a Business, learn about office opportunities in Suite Life, how technology is advancing in Why FRII, read up on financial guidance in Long Term Strategy, what gifting options are available in Gifting Assets, and what to do in case of an auto accident in Car Accident. What Now? Because it has been so newsworthy, read our professional’s overview in Foreclosure on the Front Range. And, be sure to see our fashion section featuring our playful bankers as “Charlies Angels” modeling professional dressing at the beautiful Advantage Bank. Thanks to Stephanie, Lisa and Jackie for your hospitality and for the time you spent with us.

Our Northern Colorado Front Range continues to still be a little slice of heaven as far as I am con-cerned. We are so blessed to live and work here. And, to keep our local businesses thriving, don’t forget to shop here first.

Thank you for your continued support of Style Magazine, now in its 23rd year. We couldn’t live in a better place!

Blessings to each of you!

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MEET THE MODELS

Stephanie ShawverStephanie Shawver is Advantage Bank’s Vice

President. She loves music, camping, hiking and spending time with her family: Daren, Madison, and Hannah. “It was very fun! When I was a teenager and the belief that I could do and be anything ran intensely through my veins, this was one of those things! I never thought I’d be 30-Something when it happened, so really it was a dream come true.

The staff at Style were amazing and very en-couraging. I enjoyed all of them. I’m glad they pick local people and businesses for models. It brings a sense of community that is enlightening. Thank you very much to Lydia’s! Now I can check another box off my list!”

Jackie MihalchickJackie Mihalchick is Marketing Director at Ad-

vantage Bank in Loveland. She and her husband, Steve, are parents to Zach & Erin. She enjoys be-ing outdoors and loves to read. Being a model for Style was “a new and pleasant experience. Everyone was kind and a blast to work with. Hair at ‘Ohana’s and make up from Lori at Merle Nor-man were nicely done. The clothes were great! I liked the outfit from Threads so much, I bought it! Thank you!”

Lisa BeardLisa Beard is Advantage Bank’s Cash Manage-

ment Officer. When not advising clients about their banking needs, she loves to ride her Harley with husband David. “This was a wonderful ex-perience! Being not very confident in getting my picture taken, I was a little uneasy about doing this. The photographer, Lydia, and everyone made this a fun, very easy experience. The two women I work with are amazing. So doing this with them brought our team together even more. Designs and Threads provided us with beautiful clothes to wear, which added to the fun of it all. It was an amazing time!”

lisa beard Jackie mihalchick stephanie shawver


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14 Gifting AssetsCiti Smith Barney.

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1632 42ON THE COVERThree generations of car experts show off a hot six-speed, 400 HP, 2007. Pictured are Gregg, Matt, Jacque, and Joe Gebhardt with Nick Davidson, Jacque’s father and the dealership’s founder.

Cover photography by Dana Milner on location at Davidson-Gebhardt Chevrolet Showroom.

May 2007 :: Business to Business

20 Foreclosure on theFront RangeMortgage professionals assessmarket changes.

29 First ImpressionsDressing with Style.

columns

36 Long Term StrategyThinking long term for your small business.

features

38 Why FRII?FRII goes wireless in Old Town.

40 Suite LifeThe Executive Center in Fort Collins.

34 So You Wanna Starta Business?Tips for success.

9 From Our Readers

10 Publisher’s LetterBusiness is great!

11 Meet The Models

44 About TownCommunity Foundation Luncheon, Pink Rocks Luncheon, Pink Boa Run, Taste of the Nation, Community Classic Bike Tour.

42 Car Accident. What Now?Insurance and repair tips.

16 It’s All in the FamilyAt Davidson- Gebhardt Chevrolet.

www.stylemagazinecolorado.com

32 How’s YourRetirementality?Plannng for successful returement.

50 Business Directory

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14 Gifting AssetsCiti Smith Barney.

20 Foreclosure on theFront RangeMortgage professionals assessmarket changes.

36 Long Term StrategyThinking long term for your small business.

38 Why FRII?FRII goes wireless in Old Town.

34 So You Wanna Starta Business?Tips for success.

42 Car Accident. What Now?Insurance and repair tips.

32 How’s YourRetirementality?Plannng for successful returement.

13I Dellenbach

CHEVROLET & CADILLAC

3111 S. College (at Swallow) 970.226.2438

request a quote at dellenbach.com

Gifting Away Assets During Your Lifetime

Giving away your financial assets can be more complicated than just writing a check. If you want to engage in lifetime gifting, you should be aware of certain rules.

The annual gift tax exclusion amount is $12,0001 per year per person in 2006. The lifetime federal gift tax exclusion amount is currently $1 million, and it will remain at that level through 2010.

The top federal gift tax rate will be incrementally reduced from 46% in 2006 to 45% by 2007. In 2010, the top gift tax rate will equal the top individual income tax rate (currently 35%). Any portion of the gift tax exclusion used will reduce dollar-for-dollar your estate tax exclusion available at death. You should consider some creative lifetime gifts:

The GranTor reTained annuiTy TruST (GraT)

A GRAT allows you to pass assets you believe will appreciate in value to family members at discounted levels. You contribute assets to a trust and receive a fixed annuity payment stream for a specified period of years. At the end of the trust term, the remaining assets and their appreciation (if any) are distributed to your beneficiaries. Since the value of the gift is reduced by the present value of the annuity payments, you could structure a payment schedule and amount that could result in a minimal gift tax value. However, if you die before the end of the specified term, the trust property would be included in your estate and subject to estate taxes.

Life inSuranceYou could use life insurance to help replace your estate and gift tax liabilities. Life insurance often provides a substantial benefit for relatively small premium dollars. It may be used by itself to increase the size of your estate, creating an “instant” estate. Or, it may be used for liquidity and paying estate taxes cost effectively. And, the proceeds of life insurance are typically income tax-free to the beneficiary. With careful planning, these proceeds may also be received estate tax-free.

The LiMiTed LiaBiLiTy coMpany (LLc) or faMiLy LiMiTed parTnerShip (fLp)An LLC or FLP may help reduce the size of your estate for transfer-tax purposes. The LLC or FLP is made up of managing or voting interests and nonvoting interests, and you could gift the nonvoting interests to your children and grandchildren . Since the non-voting interests gifted to your children and grandchildren2 lack voting rights and are not readily marketable, they might be discounted for gift tax valuation purposes3.

The dynaSTy TruSTA Dynasty Trust could allow you to establish a source of funds for multiple generations. Here’s how it generally works: You would fund the trust with an amount up to your and your spouse’s lifetime gift tax exclusions. The trust assets, including any growth, will remain free of federal

clayton hartman, Brian Sullivan, and Wayne Jamerson of Smith Barney, a division and service mark of citigroup Global Markets inc.

By Clayton Hartman, Brian Sullivan, and Wayne Jamerson

Like many of us, you may want to provide for your family’s financial future. at the same time, you may want to decrease the size of your estate to reduce any estate taxes that could be due in the future. in any case, you want to make sure that you are gifting your financial assets in the most tax-efficient manner.

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transfer taxes (i.e., estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes) for as long as they remain in the trust. In certain states, such as South Dakota, the trust may theoretically last forever. And the planning could be designed so that any distribution from the Dynasty Trust would be free of gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes.

Income or principal from the trust may be distributed to your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as specified in the trust document. The provisions could tie those distributions to incentives, such as maintaining gainful employment, and permit distributions for funding businesses or purchasing homes for the use of beneficiaries or other activities. There also may be provisions in the trust document to gift a percentage of the assets directly to a charity or family foundation. Assets remaining in the trust are protected from creditors and divorce judgments.

creaTe your eSTaTe pLanDiscuss your estate planning objectives and concerns with your Financial Consultant and your tax and legal advisors. Together, you can develop an estate plan that addresses your unique financial and family situations so that you can effectively transfer wealth to your beneficiaries.

Citigroup Inc., its affiliates, and its employees are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any tax-related statements are not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used or relied upon, by any such taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties. Tax-related statements, if any, may have been written in connection with the “promotion or marketing” of the transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed by these materials, to the extent allowed by applicable law. Any such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer’s particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

Smith Barney is a division and service mark of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Member SIPC.

1. This amount may be adjusted annually for inflation.

2. You should consult with your legal or tax advisor about LLC or FLP planning and the potential tax consequences. The IRS may challenge this planning and take the position that gifted LLX or FLP interests and/or underlying LLC/FLP assets are includable in the donor’s estate.

3. You should consult with a qualified appraiser to determine the appropriate amount of the valuation discounts.

clayton hartmanSenior Vice President – Wealth Management

Sr. Investment Management Consultant

Brian SullivanVice President – Wealth ManagementSr. Investment Management Advisor

Wayne JamersonFinancial Planning Specialist

Financial Advisor

citi Smith Barney400 East Horsetooth Road, First Floor

Fort Collins, CO 80525970-223-0414


15

The sleek showroom out at the Centerra Motorplex still smells new, a bit like the cars strategically parked throughout the building. But still, there’s a definite sense of warmth, of welcoming, of history. It’s a feeling that carries throughout the showroom and into the office of Davidson-Gebhardt Auto Group President, Joe Gebhardt.

Family photos of Gebhardt, his wife Jacque and their three chil-dren Matt, Greg and Chris dot the surfaces of his office and track the growth of the three boys through the years. Later pic-tures include Matt’s wife, Sarah, Greg’s wife, Haley, and Chris’s fiancé, Suzy. Large photos on an adjoining wall celebrate the

boys’ exploits as college athletes. An old family photograph hides in the back corner of the office. Taken in the early part of the last century, it features Joe’s grandfather and his extended family.

Family is what Joe Gebhardt is all about. Family and community. It’s also what the Davidson-Gebhardt Auto Group is all about. Throughout the new showroom, pictorial ‘family trees’ trace the early history of the dealership and the people who worked there back in the beginning, in 1960, when founder Nick Davidson, Gebhardt’s father-in-law, first opened Davidson Chev-rolet (originally Knox Chevrolet) on 4th Street in Loveland. Even back then, Nick Davidson brought a lot of experience to his new dealership which soon moved in 1963 to its longstanding location on Lincoln Avenue in Loveland.

He had practically grown up in the car business and had worked in Davidson family dealerships, which were established in 1924.

Joe Gebhardt also grew up on car lots, working first at his father’s import auto dealerships– the Gebhardt family of dealerships date back to 1946– be-fore coming to Davidson Chevrolet in Loveland. “I’ve always grown up in the car business,” says Gebhardt. “Jacque and I were married in 1975, we lived in Boulder at the time, and I was involved in our family business there.

I made the move in 1982 to learn the domestic side of the car business from Nick Davidson.”

After years of pitching in summers- washing cars, stocking parts, and do-ing various sundry tasks- two of Joe’s sons have now joined him at the dealer-ship making Davidson-Gebhardt a four generation family business. “It’s been really neat to see them learn and grow and earn the respect of the people they work with by virtue of their work habits,” says Gebhardt. “They appreci-ate the efforts of the people they work with and they don’t feel as though they’re entitled. I’m proud of the boys. I know they have a good work ethic and a deep respect for other people.”

by Lynn M. Dean

Joe and Matt Gebhardt discuss the finer points of this Chevy Monte Carlo SS with Jason Hutt.

FAMILYIt’s all in the

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FAMILY

17"On my jobsite, we're all business partners with the same goal:' We believe that every Heath employee and subcontractor who walks onto our jobsite is a partner who deserves our respect, support and an opportunity to succeed. Together, we've been

successful for 30 years.

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Heath construction

All you imagine.

1946 Gebhardt family’s first dealership, owned by George Gebhardt (Joe’s grandfather) in Manchester, Iowa.

1954 Davidson Motor Company (Nick Davidson’s Hudson dealership) on South Broadway in Denver.

Today

Yesterday

Davidson-Gebhardt Chevrolet at the Motorplex at Centerra, Loveland.Davidson-Gebhardt Subaru of Loveland.1818 Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

1963 Davidson’s first day open for business on North Lincoln Ave. in Loveland.

1954 Davidson Motor Company (Nick Davidson’s Hudson dealership) on South Broadway in Denver. 1967 Paul Gebhardt’s store in Washington, Iowa.

“I don’t think any of us intended to be in the car business,” Gebhardt shares. “But it’s addictive. It’s challenging, frustrating, re-warding and fun. Cars are fun! They’re always changing. There’s new technology. It’s an ex-citing and enjoyable business.” Joe adds that it’s a business where you can make friends. “When people come back and buy from us again and again, that’s really rewarding. We recognize that people have choices and we realize that we need to make this the best place to do business so that people will want to come and shop with us.”

“This isn’t just pulled off by family mem-bers,” Gebhardt continues. “The staff we’ve assembled– some of them have been with us for over 30 years.” He added that when people can deal with the same staff person each time they visit over the years, it adds a degree of comfort. “There’s a level of trust that’s associated with an operation such as ours.” He emphasized that newer staff also add value, bringing new energy and enthusi-asm with them.

Gebhardt considers these employees part of the Davidson-Gebhardt family. He feels the same about his customers. “One of the biggest advantages of a local, family owned dealership is that we’re really invested in the community,” he said of Davidson-Gebhardt and all of the other locally owned family deal-erships in Northern Colorado. “We grow up in the community- we’re part of the commu-nity.” He added that he and his wife Jacque are involved in numerous local organizations and community efforts.

“We’re not some big conglomerate,” he stressed. “We’re in it for the long haul. We care about our customers and we care about whether or not they come back time and time again. I think this gives us a big advan-tage over other dealerships. People learn to trust the company that’s been around for a long time and we have a sincere interest in satisfying our customers.”

So when it became necessary to relocate the dealership in order for it to grow and meet manufacturer expectations, Gebhardt considered the move, and the alignment with other dealerships very carefully. After all, they would, in essence, become family.

“Chad McWhinney and I had talked for

several years about an automall,” says Geb-hardt. He explains that General Motors’ and other manufacturers’ expectations for dealer-ships have been evolving. “Today, most man-ufacturers are very insistent that they have their own showcases- their own buildings,” he explained. “General motors also wanted Buick, Pontiac and GMC brands housed with-in the same dealership.”

This meant two things for Davidson-Gebhardt. There was no room for expansion at the downtown Loveland site. Therefore, the dealership could not meet the separate building requirement there. It also meant that they would have to realign brands with another dealership. “Rex King approached me about aligning the GM brands. Eventually we came to an arrangement and in 2004 we made a deal to exchange some of the fran-chises. Now, Davidson-Gebhardt has Chevro-let and Subaru and King has Buick, Pontiac and GMC.”

When the Motorplex opened late last year, both Davidson-Gebhardt and King moved to the new location at Crossroads Boulevard and I-25. “All of the dealers at the Motorplex– the King organization, Co’s BMW, Ferrero’s Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge - we’re all family owned dealerships. That’s what’s important about us. We’re not some big or-ganization.”

With the move to the new location on the east side of Loveland, Joe Gebhardt didn’t want to lose that comfortable, welcoming hometown feeling at Davidson-Gebhardt that comes with a dealership that is family owned and operated and has been serving the community for nearly 50 years. “We tried to make the new store inviting, but not over the top. We wanted to give the feeling that this isn’t your typical car dealership.”

And while the dealership may have left behind the place where they were located for so long, they brought with them their sense of family and of community. And whether you’re a new customer or one returning for the umpteenth time, when you walk into Davidson-Gebhardt you’ll feel at home. And welcome. And you’ll come back again.

Lynn M. Dean is a freelance writerliving in Timnath


Filings increased 31% from 2005 to 2006 and, barring major changes in economic conditions, the report projects that, based on extrapola-tions from the first quarter of 2007,

filings in Colorado will increase another 25%. The most significant activity is on the Front Range with Adams and Weld Counties leading that pace. While statewide, the foreclosure rate is 1 in 385 households, in Adams, 1 in 98 households are predicted to be in foreclosure this year. The Weld number sits at 1 in 124.

Although experts in the field maintain there are many contributing factors, blame has been publicly placed on several specific doorsteps. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA) recently issued subpoenas in an investiga-tion of possible misconduct by real estate apprais-

ers. Recent media discussions have also portrayed appraisers as a major contributor to the foreclo-sure situation, says Julie O’Gorman, a certified general appraiser and president of Front Range Real Estate Consultants, Inc. in Loveland.

She takes exception to that casting of stones. “In any group, there are people who don’t follow the rules and who do participate in misconduct but now the entire appraisal community is be-ing attacked and that’s unreasonable,” she says. “Appraisers are professionals. We don’t just make prices up. Appraisals are based on the market rate and selling prices of similar homes in the area.”

A shift in the market can also change the worth of the house so that a previous appraisal may have been on target at the time. “In many cases, it’s not that they were over appraised, it’s that prices were higher then. Now, everyone’s house is worth less than it was three years ago.

You just can’t blame the entire situation on ap-praisers.”

Mortgage lenders have also been cast as the bad guys in the picture. Some of that may be jus-tified, says Steve LaForest, a mortgage planner with Mortgage Services, LLC at Advantage Bank in Greeley. “There are number of bad apples just looking for a loan and not looking out for the cli-ents’ best interests. Most of them are on 100% commission. It’s greed and it’s a shame. Buyers need to take more precautionary measures.”

The mortgage business has changed, he says. “It’s not what was 30 years ago. When the mar-ket went up, a lot of people with no background knowledge entered our business.”

Sub-prime lenders, those who loan to people with less than perfect credit, saw it as an opportu-nity, he says. “They could make money when the rates were higher but, then, everything imploded.

Caught in an intricate web of circumstances, over 28,000 Coloradans succumbed to foreclosure in 2006. And, according to a recently released Colorado Division of Housing report, another 36,000 are estimated to fall into that spidery trap in 2007.

Front rAnGeF o r e c L o s u r e

Appraisers are professionals. We don’t just make prices up. Appraisals are based on

the market rate and selling prices of similar homes in the area.

- Julie o’Gorman -president, front range real estate consultants, inc.

o n t h e

by Kay Rios

20


They got all this business and, as a result, we saw poor underwriting standards and lender fraud. Then the downturn in the market hurt sub-prime lenders and we’ve seen many of them go out of business.”

Regulation of the industry didn’t exist in Colo-rado until January 1st of this year, LaForest, who’s been in the mortgage business for 28 years, says. “We’re the last state to require mortgage brokers to be licensed. Now, a bond has to be posted, the broker has to register, and there’s a background check. Before, someone could literally be working out of the trunk of the car.”

A booming market and public perception actually paved the way for that scenario, says Doug Dodds, owner of Empire Real Estate School and broker with Coldwell Banker in Fort Collins. “We’ve just gone through five years of unprec-edented sales and it’s created what American economist Alan Greenspan would call unreason-able exuberance. And it created an entitlement mentality. People began to believe that everyone is entitled to own a home in America. But hom-eownership is not an entitlement,” he stresses. “It is a privilege you earn.”

LaForest adds, “Because, as a society, we felt that everyone should have the opportunity to buy, lenders came up with a number of different op-tions. Ten or twenty years ago, you had to put 20% down.”

Some of the new programs eliminated the down payment requirement and opened the door to 100% financing. “Not only were lenders making loans to people who didn’t have a good credit record, they were effectively putting them in homes with loans equal to the amount of the house,” LaForest says.

That was compounded when buyers didn’t bring any money to the table, Dodds says. “Not

there are number of bad apples just looking for a loan

and not looking out for the clients’ best interests.

- Steve Laforest -Mortgage planner, Mortgage Services, LLc


21

only did they put nothing down, they wrapped the closing costs into the mortgage. Now, the loan is actually at more than the value of the house. While it’s legal, it has the net effect of inflating the value of the home. And the buyer starts out in the hole.”

In those creative financing packages, adjust-able rates lurked, says Mike Brouwer, a certified residential specialist, certified negotiations spe-cialist, and broker with Coldwell Banker in Fort Collins. “Interest rates have been rock bottom so, if you were renting, you could pay less and buy a house. Our rental vacancy rate was extremely low and rents were high. If someone could get into ownership at 3% for a 2, 5 or 7-year period, they thought ‘why not?’ But, at the end of that period, the adjustable interest rate can jump as high as 7% and payments climb significantly.”

Don Tennessen, managing broker and partner in The Group Inc. in Greeley, adds, “Suddenly they find themselves in homes they can’t afford and they can’t manage the payment.”

The economy certainly played into the sce-nario, he says. “Real estate is a lagging economic indicator. When there is job loss or job gain, you see the effects in the real estate market 12 to 18 months later. Going back a couple of years, we saw the loss of high tech jobs and mid-range pay-

We’ve just gone through five years of unprecedented sales and it’s created what

Greenspan would call unreasonable

exuberance.- Doug Dodds -

Owner, Empire Real Estate School; Broker, Coldwell Banker

22


ing jobs in the Greeley market. Those 2002 and 2003 job losses show up in the real estate market in 2005 and 2006. We’re now seeing job growth in Weld County for several quarters and we’re an-ticipating a growth in the housing market.”

Gordon Peterson, mortgage consultant/co-owner of Great Southwest Mortgage in Loveland, sees the job issue from another angle. “Northern Colorado is hurting in terms of core employers (companies that do at least 50% of their sales outside of the area.) They tend to pay a decent salary and offer benefits. People are coming to live in Northern Colorado but they are working for less than they were before and they’re clas-sified as underemployed. Underemployment in Loveland is between 30 and 35% and it’s about the same for Northern Colorado.”

But that figure isn’t considered in the unem-ployment rate, he says. “That’s one of the reasons core employers are not being attracted. Northern Colorado’s 3.6% unemployment rate discourages big name employers because they think we have no work force. It’s very misleading.”

Job loss, a lagging economy, liberal lending practices and uneducated buyers have all played a part in foreclosure scene and, as some buyers hit the financial wall, they also found chang-ing practices and fluctuating markets working

Interest rates have been rock bottom so, if you were renting, you could pay less and buy a house.

- Mike Brouwer - certified residential Specialist;

certified negotiations Specialist;Broker, coldwell Banker


23

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against them. “When the foreclosures started, lenders made

the regulations stronger,” Peterson says. “They raised the FICO requirement from 620 to 680 for someone to get a 90% loan.” (FICO credit scor-ing is a method of determining the likelihood that credit users will pay their bills.)

“For example, I had a gentleman come in with a 661 score and I had two loans set up but they cancelled because the criteria was raised. He couldn’t qualify for a conventional loan,” Peter-son says.

Refinancing became impossible for many of those looking to get out from under the heavy payments and selling also became difficult. “Builders of new homes are making such fantastic offers, there’s no reason to buy an existing home when you can buy new with air conditioning and amenities. That drops the value of your existing home and you have more trouble selling it.”

And, as homes foreclosed, values again de-creased. “Every time there is a foreclosure, the price of the house will drop at least $10,000. Appreciation is based on comparable prices of the neighborhood and a foreclosure will take the average down,” Peterson says. “The person with 100% financing now has two problems. Fi-nancing criteria has gone up and the value of the house has gone down. It’s a double whammy.”

Locked into a no-win situation, some buyers gave up. Dodds says, “Some of these buyers got in without ever writing a check so when things went sidewise, they turned around and walked out. And I’m not saying they do it without pain but it’s more likely to happen if they don’t have any skin in the game. People with equity in homes are not the ones walking away.”

What advice do these experts give on how to stay out of the foreclosure trap? First, before buying, face facts, Tennessen says. “Know what you can afford and be realistic about monthly ex-penses and monthly income.”

LaForest adds, “The real question is ‘what is your comfort level – what can you handle per month with all of your responsibilities?’ Only 36% of gross income should go to housing expense and longterm debts.” That’s a comfortable place to be, he says.

Second, plan for emergencies, Tennessen says. “Create a reserve. People get in trouble be-cause things happen. They may be unplanned, but they are not truly unexpected because we know things happen all the time. A 60 to 90 day reserve of expenses goes a long way to covering emergencies.”

Brouwer agrees, “Things happen and if you don’t have the resources to cover those, you can end up in trouble. Owning a home is a good way to build wealth but can work against you if you are not ready.”

Third, when you are ready, use reputable people, they all say. “Know your agent,” Brouwer says. “It’s important for a first time buyer who has no experience to have an experienced agent for a counselor and to help educate them.”

Investigate before you lock in, LaForest says. “See a mortgage lender, and maybe more than one, before you even look at homes. Check their reputation. Get referrals from friends and family or from your realtor. Ask how long they have been in the business. Can they give you names of previ-ous clients they have closed loans for?”

And, the big one, Tennessen says: “Focus on


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fixed rate financing.”O’Gorman echos that: “Never, ever, ever get an adjustable rate mortgage. When people over extend

themselves financially, they eventually have to pay their dues.”Good advice for those looking to buy, but what about those who on the brink of disaster? “Immedi-

ately call the lender,” Brouwer says. “I honestly believe lenders don’t want to foreclose and if people were more honest and open right away, there might be a way they can work together to find a way out.”

If you have to sell, talk to a Realtor right away, Tennessen says. “If you have to sell, the sooner you talk to your Realtor, the better chance we have of finding a buyer.”

Even with foreclosure rates at an all time high, there’s optimism in the field. “This is the part the me-dia has missed,” Tennessen says. “Foreclosure is a tragedy and we don’t minimize that for a minute. But if you look beyond that, there’s a positive side in that there is a buyer out there for virtually every one of these foreclosures. They are selling very quickly and at prices that would surprise most people.”

Tennessen says that about 75% of bank-owned properties are selling to investors who are either renting or fixing them up to sell. “We have a tendency to only judge the real estate market from a seller’s point of view. But this is a phenomenal time for buyers.”

In real estate, as in the economy, there are cycles, he says. “Those cycles are fairly predictable and smart consumers understand those cycles. When the cycle flattens, smart buyers buy and when it peaks, they sell. It’s unfortunate that some people are forced to sell at a time that’s not perfect but the point is that there are now opportunities in the market.”

Dodds agrees that there are opportunities but he adds, “It will take awhile before we get out of this high foreclosure rate. Supply and demand has to stabilize and the values need to stabilize. They are all over the board right now. The price of the property has to reflect the true market sales and the true value of the property. The integrity, across the board, has got to be sterling.”

Kay Rios is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at Colorado State University.

We’re now seeing job growth in Weld County for several quarters and we’re

anticipating a growth in housing market.

- don Tennessen - Managing Broker and partner, The Group inc.

Northern Colorado’s 3.6% unemployment

rate discourages big name employers because they think we have no work

force. It’s very misleading.

- Gordon peterson - Mortgage consultant/co-owner,

Great Southwest Mortgage


27

Photography by Dana Milner Art Direction by Lydia Dody Hair by ‘Ohana Salon Makeup by Lori Moore of Merle Norman On location at Advantage Bank, 4532 Mcmurry Ave. Fort Collins

First Impressions

Photography by Dana Milner Art Direction by Lydia Dody Hair by ‘Ohana Salon

Makeup by Lori Moore of Merle Norman On location at Advantage Bank, 4532 McMurray Ave. Fort Collins

28


Photography by Dana Milner Art Direction by Lydia Dody Hair by ‘Ohana Salon Makeup by Lori Moore of Merle Norman On location at Advantage Bank, 4532 Mcmurry Ave. Fort Collins

FASHION

First Impressions

StyleDressing with

Photography by Dana Milner Art Direction by Lydia Dody Hair by ‘Ohana Salon

Makeup by Lori Moore of Merle Norman On location at Advantage Bank, 4532 McMurray Ave. Fort Collins

29

pg. 29Shapely lime zip front jacket, $98, layers atop a fun floral

flirty tank, $56. Coordinating crop pants, $69, all from Tribal. Funky chain necklace, $48, & earrings, $17, from

Alexia Crawford add panache. Courtesy of Threads Clothing, Etc., Fort Collins.

pg. 30Luxuriously soft leather jacket from Neto, $561, has ruching & side buckles. Colorful Alberto Makali floral

knit, $166. Flattering brown Margaret M gauchos sport an inverted pleat, $110. Strappy bronze wedge sandals

by Olivia Rose Tal, $86. Necklace from local artist, Linda Kelley, $130. Courtesy of Designs, Fort Collins.

Head-to-toe power suit from Margaret M: 3/4 jacket, matching slacks from Margaret M, $337 & $123; black & taupe stretch shell from an Alberto Makali set, $209;

black & gold bead necklace, $108, earrings, $62; Olivia Rose Tal black shoes, $215. Courtesy of Designs,

Fort Collins.

pg. 31, leftTailored black blazer sets a professional tone, $110 &

white cami adds a touch of brightness, $36, with matching crop pants, $56, all from Tribal. Alexia Crawford silver link

& glass tile necklace, $48, & earrings, $22. Courtesy of Threads Clothing, Etc., Fort Collins.

Black all-in-one halter top/shirt adds texture without the fuss of layers, $56. Snappy black check pants with black pocket detail, $48. Both from Tribal. Courtesy of Threads

Clothing, Etc., Fort Collins.

pg. 31, rightDressed for success sporting Alberto Makali black and white crinkle jacket, $196; Margaret M skirt with asym-

metrical pleated hem, $105; Padora Match necklace, $78; Suruchi purse $66. Courtesy of Designs, Fort Collins.

Snappy

Suiting

30Lydia’s STYLE Magazine30

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CoordinatesClassic31Business to Business

31

32


how’s Your retirementality? by Jim Sprout

Making a successful transition into the next life stage is both challenging and exciting and will require many adjustments,

planning and some serious soul-searching. The failure to recognize and consider the many possible implications of this life-changing event could result in stress, financial difficulties, health problems, family relationship and communication issues, and possibly a loss of personal identity and self-esteem. For some, making the transition is easy and untroubled at least early on. Others struggle, worry and find this new life painfully difficult, without purpose, or somewhat of a disappointment.

Although, retirement is much more than an economic event, many people face a series of new financial risks. A frequent problem is setting unrealistic expectations and in some cases being unprepared regarding investment performance, sustainable living expenses, unexpected family needs, longevity and health related issues, and the long-term potential impact of higher tax rates and inflation. With some basic planning you can usually come pretty close to projecting your financial needs if you use reasonable assumptions, monitor the many variables on an ongoing basis, and have a “margin of safety” or financial cushion when things don’t go as planned. For example, as we all know, family circumstances can change and a child or spouse might need unexpected financial resources. Also, another potential problem is being too conservative or too aggressive with your financial resources. Having the right level of investment risk and diversification as well as the proper amount and use of debt will increase the probability of your success.

Often times when people reach a life-changing event such as retirement, they have not discussed or developed a realistic spending objective. It can be a difficult transition from living off a regular paycheck or salary to living off your savings and investments. Even when there is a surplus or abundance of assets, developing a cash flow plan can be a work in process. Also, it is easy, particularly in the early years of retirement, to overspend possibly to keep up with friends, for a vacation home, remodeling or your changing life style. In some cases this results in converting productive assets into personal or use assets, which ultimately puts more financial pressure and risk on the probability of achieving long-term goals.

Another important issue to consider is who controls and manages the finances in the family. At this stage in life, it is important for each spouse to become more involved in the financial decisions as well as having an understanding and working knowledge of their total financial affairs. Probably a good step in making this happen is to prepare an overview or financial assessment of your situation. In addition, to providing some structure, organization and a system for keeping your affairs in balance, this type assessment will create the opportunity for bringing each spouse as well as family members up to speed on the big picture and will help tie up loose ends. This approach can also be particularly helpful for second marriages where to two sets of children are involved.

Couples at this stage should also give attention to non-financial issues such as estate and fiduciary

Jim Sprout, chairman of first Western Trust, anticipates retirement with pleasure.

author Mitch anthony has coined the phrase “new retirementality.” essentially, his point is that retirement today will require a shift in not only how we manage our resources but also how we plan our lives. Being financially prepared is a necessary first step but by itself is no assurance that a person or family will make a smooth transition from actively working to a more unstructured work-life balance to full retirement.

...approach a life-changing event in advance much like you would a new

business or investment opportunity or career change. Begin to work on a life plan for the next stage, possibly

designed in five-year increments.

- Jim Sprout - Chairman, First Western Trust


33not a right solution. What I am learning is that it is usually best if this is an intentional and gradual process of letting go of the past and setting goals and expectations for the future. In other words, try to develop a vision for the next stage of your life. This is not always an easy task.

Each person must find the solution that meets his or her unique needs as well as the needs of a spouse or companion. This could include many things such as volunteering, missionary work, travel, art, music, hobbies, reintegrating old relationships, family, sports, school, part-time work and possibly starting a new business. Some are in the fortunate position of only having to modify or adjust their present work situation to meet their changing life transition objectives. However, at some point in this next stage of life a time for reflection on the past and a letting go of the old seems necessary. I have observed from

friends and clients that when this letting go can be combined with the discovery of a new passion, purpose and vision, or possibly the realignment of present commitments. This next stage in life can be uniquely full and satisfying.

A suggestion might be to approach a life-changing event in advance much like you would a new business or investment opportunity or career change. Begin to work on a life plan for the next stage, possibly designed in five-year increments, that will help guide and deliver the financial, family and social impact as well as the leisure and freedom you desire.

Jim Sprout is Chairman of First Western Trust Bank of Northern Colorado and is looking forward to his next stage in life.

planning, and legacy or inheritance planning for children or their social or charitable interests. Probably the two biggest mistakes in this area are not having the right family fiduciary designations or team in place and not communicating your plan to this team and key family members. The fiduciary role in your financial and estate plan becomes more and more critical and important at this stage in your life. Who will help protect not only your assets but also your spouse, children and the values you respect? How will important decisions be determined and managed in your absence? For many family situations this is a very complex and time-consuming process that requires expertise not only in financial management and tax-related areas but also family dynamics. Often times, very little thought and practical insight is used in developing the appropriate fiduciary plan for a family and their varied interests.

So, in summary, being financially prepared for retirement is really about making good decisions and choices. Be realistic about matching your lifestyle and your resources. Identify potential risks before they become problems. Then, implement and manage your chosen investment strategy, which allows for contingencies. A thoughtful fiduciary plan uses debt properly, if at all, and focuses on the important relationships in one’s life.

Now that you have prepared financially, how do you make the emotional transition from a structured and intense working life to a more unstructured retirement life? It’s about creating a new life plan. For many people, work drives their self-esteem, their personal identity and their social network. Since I have not actually made this transition, I can only say from my reading and experience in working with clients that there is

so You Wanna start a Business?by Kevin E. Houchin

here We Go: defauLT poSiTion = LLc

Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is always my default position for new companies. The reasons for this position are that:

As the name says, you limit your personal liability to the investment you’ve made in the business. In other words, if your associates or employees mess up and end up bankrupting the business, you won’t lose your house. Of course, if YOU mess up, for instance you have a car accident on company business, you’re still liable to lose your personal (non business) assets, but this is true no matter what form of business you create. So, one of the biggest reasons to incorporate historically, has now been equaled in an easier, more flexible business form.

Forming an LLC is relatively easy. It only costs

$25 to file with the Colorado Secretary of State and it can be done online in about 15 minutes, assuming you do not have more than a handful of initial “members” (owners of the LLC).

You can operate the business relatively informally, like a partnership, and save a bunch of organizational overhead–which translates into more time to run your company, and less time in the lawyer’s office creating necessary paper work.

You have flexibility to creatively allocate profits and losses between the members. For instance, if one of the initial investors is really looking for some losses to offset other income and lower her tax bill, an LLC offers that flexibility.

Finally, an LLC is a “pass-through” entity for tax purposes, meaning that the income or loss from the business operations isn’t taxed at the

business level, and then again at the individual level (as in a standard corporation), thus avoiding “double-taxation.”

One important thing to remember is that if you have “members” (owners) of an LLC that you’re not married to, it’s VERY important to create an “Operating Agreement.” Think of forming a business with someone else as a marriage, and the Operating Agreement of an LLC, or the By-Laws of a corporation, as the pre-nuptial agreement. It’s best to figure out what happens when you split up or sell out while everyone is still in love with the idea of hooking up. Crafting the Operating Agreement is one of the key reasons to hire a lawyer.

LLCs are OWNED and usually MANAGED by the “members” as would happen in a partnership, without a Board of Directors getting

not long ago, if you wanted to go into business with someone and not lose your house if your associates made a bone-headed move, you had to form a corporation. Today you have options, but options don’t necessarily make decisions easier. Just think about the menus at different restaurants, options are great, but they can be confusing and sometimes overwhelming. forming a business can be the same way, but if you follow these steps, life will be a lot easier. i’m not going to be able to go through aLL the variables in the space of this article, so think of this article as the “daily special” menu at your favorite lunch joint, and be sure to ask your server (that would be your lawyer) about how to modify the dish to your particular taste.

Kevin houchin, putting the

“arts” back in arts lawyer.

34


in the middle. The Operating Agreement spells out how this works, and most importantly, how ownership interests in the company change hands–voluntarily or otherwise.

So, why would you even consider forming a corporation? The easy answer is that corporate “shares” are generally easier to buy and sell then membership in an LLC. So, if you plan to bring in outside investors, it’s best to get started as a corporation right off the bat. The start-up costs are going to be about the same, but you’ll save time, headaches, and money down the road.

Initially you’ll probably want to form a “Subchapter S Corporation” or “S-Corp” for short. This classification is based on Section 1361(b) of the Federal Tax code and limits the pass-through eligibility to corporations with 75 or fewer shareholders, prohibits more than one class of stock, and limits permissible shareholders to individuals, estates and certain types of trusts and tax-exempt organizations. It also prohibits any nonresident alien shareholders. A lot of companies start out as S-Corporations, and then drop the status and become “normal,” “C-Corporations” as they grow.

Venture capitalists are used to working with C-Corporations, so if venture investment is key to your plan, get used to the idea of “corporate formalities,” because they’ll be part of your life.

One of those formalities is that a corporation is OWNED by the shareholders, but MANAGED by a Board of Directors. There are many rules here, generally to protect the shareholders and make sure the Board of Directors is acting in the best interests of the shareholders, rather than in the best interests of themselves (as in the case of Enron, WorldCom, and the other scandals). If you only have a handful of owners, and they all work in the business, this level of formality is probably overkill. If you’re planning to take the company public, and will probably need several rounds of capital investment, this level of formality is very necessary.

If you decide to form a corporation, you will need to draft “by-laws” instead of and “operating agreement.” You will actually issue “shares.” If you’re not concerned about S-Corporation taxation, then you might actually issue several “classes” of shares that can be complex, or relatively simple. You will need to elect a Board of Directors including a President, Secretary, and Treasurer. You’ll need to document your meetings formally and keep a record book of Board meetings.

In summary, the first goal of business formation is to limit liability, which is accomplished through either LLC or Corporate form. The next consideration is taxation; you want to get the pass-through status if you can qualify to avoid “double-taxation.” After that, things get a little more complex and reflect your short and long-term capital needs. Working through these complexities is why you pay an attorney.

Kevin E. Houchin principal of Houchin & Associates, PLLC - a copyright, trademark, arts & entertainment, business development, and branding firm located in Fort Collins, Colorado. To contact Kevin, call 970-493-1070,visit www.guidingvalue.comor [email protected].


35

Long term strategy for small Business

by Deborah A. Moeck

as a business owner, you probably find that your job combines the duties of a ceo, cfo, personnel director, sales director and manufacturing operations manager. When you wear so many hats, just keeping up with day-to-day business concerns is more than a full-time job. This makes it difficult to find time to address broader financial issues. however - having a long-term strategy is essential to your company’s success.

Deciding on a retirement plan used to be easy. Today there are so many choices it is dif-ficult for a business owner to wade through the sea of

retirement plan options to pick the one that meets their particular needs. For example, there is the SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), Roth 401(k), Owner only 401(k), Safe Harbor 401(k), 403(b), Defined Benefit, Profit Sharing, Stock Purchase – just to name a few! For most small, closely held business owners, a SEP or SIMPLE IRA are two of the most cost-effective and easiest plans to implement. A SEP IRA is funded by the em-ployer only – there are no employee contribu-tions allowed. A SIMPLE IRA allows employee contributions with a matching contribution by the employer. Contribution limits are differ-ent for both plans. As the business grows - a defined benefit, profit sharing, 401(k), or non-qualified deferred compensation plan may best suit your needs. With a 401(k) – there can be employee and employer contributions. Each plan has advantages and is suitable for one

business and not necessarily another. Because there are so many options, it is

important to work closely with a qualified fi-nancial professional. The first step is to identify exactly what your goals are in implementing a retirement plan. Working with a professional will help prioritize your goals and concerns and meet them with the correct plan. When you consider the benefits, a well-designed retire-ment plan can be surprisingly cost-effective.

Strategic Compensation is another area to consider. Business owners must evaluate the pros and cons of various savings and ben-efits strategies, including nonqualified deferred compensation plans, individual life insurance as a “key person” benefit, group term life insur-ance, individual and group disability insurance, long-term care insurance, and workplace 529 college savings plans. The business’s most valu-able asset is usually the owner. It is important to have adequate life and disability insurance coverage so that the business will continue in the owner’s absence. There is no “one size fits all” benefits solution. Your financial profes-

deb Moeck, cerTified financiaL pLannerTM, is an associate Vice president of investments

for a.G. edwards in Loveland.

there is no “one size fits all” benefits

solution. Your financial professional must take the time to listen and provide ideas tailored

to each business’s unique situation.

- deborah a. Moeck -associate Vice president of investments

for a.G. edwards in Loveland

36


Questions youshould consider are:

1.How much does the business want to contribute – if at all?

2.What are the requirements of

each plan?

3.What are the maximum/minimum contributions

allowed under each plan?

4.What is the cost of each plan?

5.Do you want to have pre-tax

and/or post-tax contributions?

sional must take the time to listen and provide ideas tailored to each business’s unique situation.

Managing cash investments – for example monies waiting for an upcoming project - is an easily overlooked detail, but can make a signifi-cant difference in a business’s bottom line.

It is important for business owners to develop a successful transition plan for their business. Will the business be transferred during your lifetime or upon your death? Will the business be sold or passed on to family members? Whatever your ob-jectives may be, developing a retirement plan with a financial professional will assist you in finding and implementing strategies that fit your needs.

You can see that 401(k)’s are not the only consideration in business retirement planning. A broad and comprehensive approach is necessary to meet the various needs of business owners today. Working with a financial professional will assist you in developing a retirement plan to help turn your goals and dreams into a reality.

Deborah A. Moeck is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM and Associate Vice President of Investments for A.G. Edwards in Loveland.


37

You sit with your laptop in the park enjoying the day while still working on that big project that is due tomorrow. Best of all possible worlds, right? But wait! You’re starving and you are downloading a really big file. No problem. With FRII’s meshed wireless network you can continue the download as you walk down the street, changing between wireless access points as you go, exactly as your cell phone does. The file is still streaming as you

are in line for your chicken burrito. By the time you sit down to work again, the file is done, you have sustenance, and you saved time doing both. Cool, huh?

Why FrII?For the solutions, of course

by Corey Radman

This reality can be yours in Old Town Fort Collins this July 2007, courtesy of FRII (Front Range Internet, Inc.). A meshed wireless network for computers is a concept that has been around and in use in many metropolitan areas for a while but is uncommon in smaller suburban cities. Through collaboration with the City of Ft. Collins, FRII is mounting a network of wireless access points that look like little gray pagodas atop selected light poles. According to FRII’s Chief Operations Officer, Brad Ward, “We’re excited because the quality of this product beats DSL or cable! Plus speeds are fast and costs are low.” Chief Technical Officer, Andy Neely, adds, “It will have Ethernet-like capabilities via a wireless network.” Neely explains that through redundancy the network will be, “rock solid.” At any given time your computer should be within range of at least three access points, thus guaranteeing uninterrupted service.

no coffee requiredCurrent wireless users are still tied to their

office, home, or favorite coffee shop. FRII hopes to change all that with this pilot network in Old Town Fort Collins. “Coffee will no longer be required for internet access outside of your home or office!” jokes FRII Marketing Director, Amy Madden Copp. If all goes as planned, the pilot will prove the model and open the door for further discussions with City of Fort Collins for a broader network in the future. FRII is also currently negotiating with the Town of Windsor for a wireless network that is scheduled to go live in summer 2007.

“We’re excited to bring this new technology to Northern Colorado,” says Neely. He predicts that FRII will ultimately serve many of their clients, both business and residential, primarily via their wireless service. “It’s an excellent solution for businesses with employees who work outside the office and need remote access to the company network,” says Brad Ward. With FRII, it will be like those employees have never left their desk. Brad Ward adds that this option is a fantastic solution for people who move a lot, like college students. “No need to re-order Internet service every time you move down the block. By using wireless you’ll always have the same connection, anywhere your computer is.”

Long-term residents will enjoy a new freedom as well. No longer bound to big telecom companies, families can choose to cut the wires entirely. Imagine a world where your only phone is your cell, your only computer is a laptop (that has Internet access anywhere), and even your TV comes to you wirelessly, via satellite. Best of all, you never have to sit on hold for 45 minutes waiting for an uninspired customer service agent in Timbuktu to take your call. Now that’s freedom. When was the last time you called a technology customer support center and spoke with a person in the United States? With FRII, their call agents are local. They are your neighbors, literally.

Copp explains the anticipated pricing structure for the wireless service. “You don’t have to be an existing FRII customer to use the wireless. It will be available by the hour at around $3.95 or by the day at $7.95 or you can sign up by the month and we’ll have a variety of business and residential packages for monthly service. If you’re in one of our wireless areas, you’re connected!”

While FRII offers many telecommunications

access. Over dinner with Brad’s dad, Bill Ward, a business plan was hatched. “The first few months in business totally blew our expectations out of the water. Within two months, we had requests from thousands of customers. We re-planned the company and have experienced dramatic growth since then,” says Bill Ward.

Bill and Brad Ward, and Andy Neely all say without exception that the company’s success is due to the fantastic staff that they work with. Says Brad Ward, “The core of FRII has always been ‘the family.’ We’ve always wanted to extend that feeling to all of our staff. I always craft policies with the thought, ‘How would I want my family to

frii’s founders ready the company to launch a wireless network in old Town using access points like the one pictured here.

38

38

solutions at competitive prices, their customer support is a distinguishing draw. “It’s better service at a better price point,” says Brad Ward.

prioriTieSThat commitment to service is exactly what

distinguishes FRII from the rest of the ISP’s (Internet Service Providers). “Sure, we’re a technology company but if people knew just how much is taken care of ‘by hand’ here, they would be surprised,” says Copp. “Everything is handled by a real live person. Every customer issue is treated with good old fashioned customer service.”

The work force is a matter of great pride for the leadership at FRII. Bill Ward, Chief Executive Officer says, “Everybody here is an extension of family.” The first five or six people who started with the company are still there, twelve years later. And even in the call center, where the industry standard is about 3 months, FRII’s turnover is quite low. “You are likely to talk to the same person if you call back, even a year later,” says Bill Ward.

The story of FRII’s evolution is so representative of a small, home-grown company. It is to their credit, that they have kept the same level of service as they have grown. In 1995 the company started with no assets and has grown exponentially all along. Today FRII is worth nearly $6 million and employs about 50 people. Bill Ward is clearly proud of the company’s growth as he explains the steady growth since their inception. “We have never had a down year. Even in the tough years between 2000 and 2003 [the dot com bust], we continued to grow.”

GeneSiSThe idea to built an Internet service provider

was born when Brad Ward and Andy Neely were leaving college and about to loose their free CSU

everybody here is an extension

of family.- Bill Ward -

chief executive officer

CONTINUED ON PAGE 45

39

39

40


The Suite Life at The Executive Center

When the Opera Galleria in Fort Collins was built, most of the workforce was made up of farmers, factory workers and small mom and pop operations. Office space was not in great demand then but the theater thrived. Today, the old Galleria is a step back in time with its sweeping staircase and original detailing. Office space is at a premium with workers needing a variety

of office solutions. The Executive Center, encompassing most of the second floor of the grand old building, has a variety of options from a virtual space to a tangible business establishment.

by Marti DiTaranto

From large corporations to a small one man show, The Executive Center is breaking new ground in terms of affordable and flexible office solutions. “We have office space starting at $50 a month!” exclaims Viveka vonRosen, General Manager of The Executive Center. “You can basically walk in, sit down, plug in your computer and get to work.”

With amenities such as full time reception, state of the art phone and network systems and the prestigious 123 North College address, many workers are choosing the cost effective system of The Executive Center over purchasing or leasing an individual space. When you take into consideration rent, insurance, utilities, phone, administrative support, and cleaning “leasing your own space can cost, conservatively about $12,000 or you can spend $450 with us,” says vonRosen. “If you look at all the cost involved, there really is no comparison.”

The level of service your business needs is up to you as well. At the top rung of officing options is the Professional level. Renting space at this level gets you a private windowed office with administrative assistance that includes answering the phones and setting appointments. The all inclusive package covers parking to broadband – and everything in between! Cole Thompson, CEO of The Westen Group and part-time artist rents space at the Center on a full time basis. “We don’t have to take care anything,” says Thompson. “We are able to focus completely on the business.”

This focus on business is the philosophy that vonRosen is dedicated to. “My heart is in growing businesses,” she says. The Center encompasses a variety of businesses including lawyers, accountants, counselors, and marketing groups – just to name a few. With much of the overhead headaches taken care of by The Executive Center, clients have more time to focus on their individual businesses. “The infrastructure is all in place,” says Thompson. “I don’t want to spend my time dealing with (rental) issues; I want to spend my time making money.”

Making money is a large reason why most of us work. But what if you are a small operation and can’t afford or don’t need all the amenities of the Professional level? The Executive Center has a solution for mobile workers and frustrated work from homers as well. With five virtual suites and packages starting at under $100 even the most strapped of new companies can enjoy a professional office environment. Susan Pfeuffer, a marketing consultant for Fig Street agency utilizes The Executive Center as a part-time remote worker. “It had become increasingly difficult to work from home,” she says. “But I couldn’t justify spending a monthly lease for twenty hours a week.” The mother of twin boys, Pfeuffer is able to utilize the private virtual suite as a quiet haven to complete her assignments. She also has access to the large and comfortable conference room when meeting with clients or members of her team. Reception services are available on an as needed basis as well. “I really like their staff,” she says. “They are courteous and friendly, even for those of us here on a limited basis.”

Even the virtual offices are available to suite different needs. For example, for a mere $50 a month you can book an hour a day in the “Huddle” room, a stylishly furnished suite equipped with high speed internet and a state of the art phone system. This provides a safe yet professional

Viveka vonRosen, General Manager of The Executive Center; Tiffany Kasmar, receptionist;

and The Executive Center client, Susan Pfeuffer


41environment to meet with clients. “Many of our clients are counselors or personal coaches,” says vonRosen. “You can meet in a professional area without endangering yourself.”

Depending on the nature of your business you may only be in need of a professional address or an occasional meeting space for clients. The Center has options available for this level of service as well. With a mere mailbox rental, the staff can also receive and sign for packages. This level also provides you with access to one of their three conference rooms. These rooms can accommodate anywhere from four to fifteen people and have amenities such as a large plasma television, conference phones and white boards.

The need for small office space, whether bricks and mortar or virtual, has exploded over the past several years. In keeping with demand,

Marti DiTaranto is a freelance writer who lives in Windsor and is contemplating a virtual space of her own!

the executive center is breaking

new ground in terms of affordable and flexible office

solutions.The Executive Center recently expanded and added twenty new executive suites. Each office is 100 square feet and has access to an additional administrative area equipped with live phone and data ports. With more people transitioning into a remote working situation The Executive Center is dedicated to meet the constantly changing needs of the clients utilizing the Center.

From a full time office environment to a part time virtual space, The Executive Center is constantly evolving to meet the needs of their clients. As more workers transition into a remote working situation the need for flexible office space is increasing. The Executive Center is poised to meet this demand with their flexible office options, phenomenal staff and a flair for excellence in the workplace.

car Accident. What now? by Julie Estlick

pete Weeks, owner of import auto Body, can repair both foreign and domestic cars.

Consider this scenario: You’re driving down College Avenue looking for a parking space when someone pulls out in front of you and – crunch – there’s a collision. The adrenaline is pumping now and thoughts frantically race through your mind. What do I do? Who do I call? Will my car ever be the same? What will this cost me?

Farmers Insurance agent Jim Waite of Fort Collins suggests following these six steps after an accident:

ensure the immediate safety of everyone

involved. if anyone is injured, call 911.

Move the cars out of the road and warn other drivers to prevent further damage. Set flares or signal with a flashlight at night.

notify the police.

Gather the facts. exchange contact information – name, phone number and address of everyone involved – including any witnesses. (also get contact information for the vehicle owner if different from the driver.) Get the driver’s license number and state, plate number and state, description of the vehicle, insurance information including policy number and expiration date, and the agent’s name and phone number if possible.

do noT admit responsibility and be care-ful what you say.

report the claim to your insurance com-pany as soon as possible.

The main thing is to make sure you feel safe, particularly when collecting information, Waite says.

According to state law, you must file a police report as soon as possible if you’re in an accident that results in vehicle damage. An officer might not come to the scene if there are no physical injuries and alcohol and drugs are not involved. In that case, says the Fort Collins Police, go to the police station and fill out a “counter report” in person.

Next, you need to contact your insurance provider. Many insurance companies, including Farmers, have a 24-hour claims line that you can call toll-free for immediate assistance rather than waiting to reach your agent.

“Our HelpPoint claims center is a conve-nient service for people who are in an acci-dent and it’s won several awards for excellence from J.D. Power and Associates,” Waite says.

repairinG The daMaGe OK, so you’ve filed a claim and the coverage

is verified. Now comes the tricky part – where to take your car for repairs?

It’s important to know that you can always choose which repair shop will fix your car. Insur-ance providers can make suggestions, but should never insist you go to one place for the work or get more than one estimate.

“It’s unethical for an agent or insurance com-pany to tell you where to take your car,” Waite says. “Look for a repair facility that has a good reputation, acts professionally and gives you a good feeling. Ask if you can talk to former clients about their experience.”

Farmers Insurance does offer a “Circle of De-pendability” (COD) direct repair program to make the process quicker that is backed by a lifetime guarantee while you own the car. All of the fa-cilities in the program have state-of-the-art equip-ment and training in collision repair. Basically, you go to a COD dealer, they write up an estimate

42


Always check with your agent after getting an estimate because if the repair cost isn’t much more than the

deductible, they may tell you to pay for it out of pocket and not file a claim.- Jim Waite of farmers insurance -

for the cost of repairs and schedule the work. No claims adjuster is involved.

At Import Auto Body, one of three Farmers COD dealers in Fort Collins, virtually everything is handled for you from the moment the car is driven onto the lot. When you walk in the door, members of the professional office staff greet you and a clean and comfortable courtesy lounge awaits.

“We want people to come in and feel com-fortable and confident that we will fix their car properly,” says owner Pete Weeks. “We handle all the documentation and deal directly with the insurance company. We feel it’s our responsibility to make the process easy and get your car back to pre-accident condition.”

The 27-year-old company is one of the larg-est collision repair facilities in Northern Colorado. The shop handles both domestic and foreign cars as well as mechanical repairs on most makes and models. All of the technicians and most of the of-fice staff are I-Car certified (Inter-industry Confer-ence on Auto Collision Repair).

Import Auto Body repaired over 2,200 cars

last year, 85 percent of which were in collisions. “We strive to keep all our technicians trained

on the newest techniques for repairing the exotic metals, different kinds of plastics and aluminum used to build cars now,” Weeks says. “You can’t just take it to Joe’s auto body anymore – they may not know it’s aluminum until they’ve destroyed it.”

Customers receive a written estimate of the damages and a time frame for completing repairs. Weeks emphasizes that an estimate is just that – once technicians disassemble a car they often find hidden damage and the cost goes up. The extent of the damage generally dictates how long your car will be in the shop.

“It’s just the way cars are made these days. Things can’t be seen until the external parts are removed. We document what we’ve found and give the customer and the insurance company a supplement to the estimate.”

payinG for iT The car repairs are underway. Next on your

mind is who pays? And will my insurance pre-

mium go up? It all depends on the situation, says Waite.

If an accident is found to be your fault and you have a $200 deductible, you pay that $200 to the repair shop and they bill your insurance for the rest. If the other driver is clearly at fault and has insurance, their insurance company will pay for all the damages.

An underinsured or uninsured driver is an-other matter. In that case, you pay the deductible regardless of fault and the insurance company will attempt to recoup your costs.

Your insurance rate may also go up in the next term if you caused an accident, Waite says. “Al-ways check with your agent after getting an es-timate because if the repair cost isn’t much more than the deductible, they may suggest you pay for it out of pocket and not file a claim.”

That way your rates, at least, are unaffected.

Julie Estlick is a freelance writer and copyeditor living in Fort Collins.


43

Why frii?CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39about townCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN COLORADO LUNCHEON

May 10Marriott hotel :: fort collins

The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado bestowed hon-

ors of excellence to Gene Markley and Respite Care, Inc., at their

sold-out annual luncheon. More than 500 of the community came

to recognize and honor Gene Markley as he received the Founders’

Award in recognition of his service to the community and long-

time support of the Community Foundation and Respite Care as

they received the Agency of Distinction Award for their excellence

in nonprofit management. Respite Care provides short-term care

to children with developmental disabilities and respite to their fam-

ilies. Established in 1975, the Community Foundation of Northern

Colorado helps people achieve philanthropic dreams and build a

better community. Photos courtesy of Community Foundation of

Northern Colorado & Blacktie Colorado.

Mike Dellenbach, Doug Markley, Gene Markley, Ann Hanson

Mike Demma, Robert Bisetti, Ken Schrader

Cathy Schott, Sherry Pelton Terri & Mark Burke, Becky Joyce

Norma & Lynn Hammond, Ardeth Nieman

Paula Edwards, Annette Geiselman, Muriel Hach

Lori & Troy McWhinney

Becky & Doug Johnson, Lacy Edwards

Krishna & Rathna Murthy

Mayor Doug Hutchinson, Chris Wood, Tom Livingston

44


return the confidence in their passion for and dedication to their work.

FRII’s key strengths are their technical expertise and their exceptional service. People know them for this, and soon they’ll know FRII for the freedom of wireless. Because they are small they can be quick to adapt to changing needs. The company provides custom-tailored Internet solutions using: high speed broadband, T-1 to OC-12, fiber, VoIP, class-A data center, web design and hosting, spam and virus filtering, Internet security, consulting services, and data storage and backup.

We’re excited to bring this

new technology to northern colorado.

- andy neely - chief Technical officer

- Brad Ward - chief operations officer

We are Internet experts.

“We don’t always know what we’re doing,” Brad Ward laughs. He fine-tunes the point by explaining that Internet technology evolves so fast that it takes a special company to be able to adapt readily. He elaborates, “We’re not constrained by saying we always know the answers. We do have the broad expertise and capability to be flexible and respond to customer requests or industry changes.” Because they have been in the Internet business since 1995, they have experienced every aspect of it. “We are Internet experts,” says Brad Ward.

Why frii?FRII is a company that understands who it is

and why it has been successful to this point. It’s still young at 12 years but is grounded in its identity. It is financially solid, flexible, and its energized work force is poised to take FRII to a new level with wireless. It’s a no brainer, why not FRII?

Corey Radman is Assistant Editor at Style Magazine.

Why frii?CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN COLORADO LUNCHEON


45

about townPINK ROCKS! WOMEN’S CANCER AWARDS LUNCHEON

May 15Marriott hotel :: fort collins

More than 200 individuals representing area health care

providers, women's health advocates, women's reproduc-

tive cancer survivors, business and civic leaders, city and

state government representatives, and philanthropic organi-

zations attended the luncheon to recognize five individuals

that have made a difference in Larimer County in the arena

of breast cancer. This inaugural event was presented by the

Women’s Resource Center whose goal is to improve access

for low income, underinsured and other at-risk women to

affordable and quality health care through a continuum of

services. Photos courtesy of Rick Stahlin Photography.

Kevin Unger, Lisa Poppaw, Peggy Reeves, Angela King, Ester Gonzalez, Paolo Romero, Lydia Dody

Elsa Burciage, Dina Gomez, Paolo Romero, Ester Gonzalez, Lupe Harbison, Melissa Selby Billie Miller, Barbara Schneider

Lydia Dody, Nancy Haboush, Angela King

Kevin Unger, Jeanne Lambert, Ruth Lytle-Barnaby

Jen Lowe, Michelle Scherger, Angela Penland, Susan Stockton

Standing: Austin Lamb, Scott Charpentier, Lydia Dody, Jeff Reichert, Jon Ainslie, Corey Radman; Seated: Sondy Skrove, Karen Christensen, Ina Szwec, Karla Vigil

46


about townNIGHT OF OLD BLACK MAGIC

apriL 13Marriott hotel :: fort collinsHighly sought after Frank Sinatra-style

crooner, Steve Lippia, brought his magic

to Fort Collins for a “Night of Old Black

Magic”. Top hats graced many men and

the ladies cradled empty cigarette holders,

as over 300 guests danced the night away

to the big band sounds and tapped their

toes to jazz. The evening was enjoyed by all

and helped to benefit the Fort Collins Sym-

phony. Photos courtesy of Mishelle Baun.

Marta Farrell, Steve Lippia, Kevin Unger Ben Loeffler, Jill Shoemaker

Joanne DeLeon, Shannon Velasquez, Pam Pettigrew

PINK ROCKS! WOMEN’S CANCER AWARDS LUNCHEON about townHOPE L IVES! P INK BOA RUN

May 19runners roost, drake Market center :: fort collins

Perfect weather greeted 450 community members from survi-

vors to supporters, sported their pink boas as they gathered at

the starting line. This was more than a race; it was a chance

to celebrate life and survivorship with family, friends and sup-

porters while enjoying lunch, a beer garden, music, prizes and

soaking in the sunshine. Participants helped to raise over $6,000

for Hope Lives Breast Cancer Support Center and their programs

offering services at not cost to women battling breast cancer.

Luke & Suzanne Cronin with Mojo, Patrick Garcia

Arlis Jansen, Debbie Lloyd

Marta Farrell, Steve Lippia, Kevin Unger

Wayne & Phyllis Schrader

Karin Swisher, Lydia Dody, Mary Hallauer

Rachel Anderson, Kacey Doner, Meghan Mosebar,

Debbie Doner

Laine & Murel Connolly, Courtney Huston

Jennifer Schrader, Sheena Samuelson

Laura Gelesko, Amanda Henderson, Julia Chenoweth, Brandi Hollingsworth

Rehannon Pekny, Christin Randall, Winter Jojola-Palvurt, Laurel Grauss


47

about town“SHARE OUR STRENGTH” TASTE OF THE NATION

apriL 28hilton hotel :: fort collinsThe most common words spoken at the 13th annual preeminent

culinary benefit were, delicious, melts in my mouth, superb, tasty

and of course ymmmm. Nearly 50 local restaurants, wineries and

breweries tantalized the tastebuds of over 800 guests with their

creative samples. Live jazz entertainment added to the ambience

as guests strolled and viewed over 150 silent auction items in-

cluding the Palette of Plates. Proceeds from the full and popular

evening benefit the Food Bank of Larimer County, Neighbor to

Neighbor and Share our Strength and their collective missions to

help end hunger and homelessness in Larimer County.

about townCOMMUNITY CLASSIC BIKE TOUR

Steven Pickelner, Amy Pezzani, Rick Arneson, Wendi Robinson, Rachel Higginbotham, Elizabeth Carroll

Marie Evans, JJ & Terri Gerard

Cyndi & Stephen Schroeder

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Ta

nya

Cha

limon

czyk

.

Anthony Petrone, Paul Knight

Jennifer & Mike Guerriero, Daniella & Brett McClintock

Ina Szwec, Jon Ainslie, Lydia Dody, Jeff Reichert, Austin Lamb

May 19McKee Medical center :: LovelandAn absolutely beautiful day greeted nearly 1000 bicyclists from

all over Colorado and surrounding states at the 20th annu-

al Community Classic Bike Tour. Four different scenic routes

started at McKee and wound through the foothills of Larimer

County providing a challenging ride for different skill levels.

Aid stations and a score of volunteers supported riders and a

hearty breakfast of famous cinnamon-wheat pancakes (flipped

by the Big Thompson Kiwanis) awaited all. Over $58,000 raised

will benefit Pediatric Trauma Care in the Emergency Depart-

ment of McKee Medical Center.

Liam & Shannon Feighny, Donna Yantis Janna & Gerry Thiel Eldon Haines

Stacy & Dennis Prinster Marty & Dave Grohusky Ed Dragon

48


“SHARE OUR STRENGTH” TASTE OF THE NATION

Nicole & Jarrel Ferrara

Cheryl Nickerson & Mike Dellenbach

Jim & Melissa Corr

Eldon Haines

Robin Juneau, Anthony Smith, Michelle Cail

Lee & Stan Podolski


49

APPARELDesigns970.484.3443164 N. College Ave., Old Town FC

Threads Clothing Etc.970.484.8167153 N. College Ave., Old Town FCthreadsclothingetc.net

AUTOMOTIVEBullhide 4x4 Auto Accessories970.224.22885817 S. College Ave., FCbullhide4x4.com

Davidson-Gebhardt970.667.39503880 Test Circle, Lovelanddavidsongm.com

Dellenbach Motors970.226.24383111 S. College Ave., FCdellenbach.com

Import Auto970.484.3657 407 Riverside Ave., FC

Pedersen Toyota970.223.31004455 S. College Ave., FCpedersentoyota.com

BANKINGAdvantage Bank970.613.9382 Northern Coloradoadvantagebanks.com

Centennial Bank of the WestNorthern Coloradocentennialbanks.com

Home State Bank970.203.6100Northern Coloradohomestatebank.com

BEAUTY Le Salon970.226.44943600 Mitchell Dr., #60, FClesalon.lbu.com/index.html

‘Ohana Salon970.232.15642126 Milestone Dr., FC ohanasalon.com

BUILDING/REAL ESTATEFort Collins Mortgage 970.484.5626 6712 S. College Ave., FC fortcollinsmortgage.com

Front Range Real Estate Consultants 970.669.9161 1215 N. Cleveland Ave., Loveland frreci.com

Heath Construction970.221.4195141 Racquette Dr., FCheathconstruction.com

DENTISTRYJohnston & Johnston970.493.51202001 S. Shields St., Bldg. E-200, FCjohnstondentistry.com

Stephen J. Koehler - DDS970.223.61014745 Boardwalk Dr., Ste. D-102, FCsmilefortcollins.com

Overton Center for Dental Arts P.C.970.223.66771220 Oak Park Dr., FCovertoncenter.com

DINING & ENTERTAINMENTBas Bleu Theatre Company970.498.8949401 Pine St., FCbasbleu.org

Canyon Chop House970.493.9588211 Canyon Ave., FCcanyonchophouse.com

Chipper's Lanes970.226.6327217 W. Horsetooth Rd., FC 830 N. College, FC

Fort Collins Country Club970.482.1336 1920 Country Club Rd., FCfcgolf.org

Greeley Country Club 970.353.24314500 W 10th St., Greeley

Greeley Stampede1.800.982.BULLgreeleystampede.org

Manno's Grille970.223.24781441 E. Horsetooth Rd., FCmannosgrille.com

Union Colony Civic Center970.356.5000701 10th Avenue, GreeleyUCSTARS.com

FINANCIALRBC Dain Rauscher970.206.1174155 E. Boardwalk Dr., # 310, FC

Smith Barney-Citigroup970.223.0414400 E. Horsetooth Rd., 1st Floor, FCfa.smithbarney.com/hartman_groupsb

HEALTHCARENorth Colorado Medical Center970.352.41211801 16th St., GreeleyBannerHealth.com

Center for Spinal Disorders1.303.287.28009005 Grant St., Ste. 200, Denvercenterforspinaldisorders.com

Columbine Health Systems970.482.0798 1.800.718.2224columbinehealth.com

Greeley Quick Care970.351.81812928 W 10th Ave., Greeley

INTERIORS

Design Gallery at Sutherlands 970.226.1000 2701 S. College Ave., FCsutherlandsdesigngallery.com

Showcase Window Fashions 970.226.1050, FC/Loveland970.686.9489, Windsor/GreeleyNorthern Colorado

JEWELRY Silpada Sterling Jewelry Tracie Amen Representative970.506.1205/970.324.3371mysilpada.com/tracie.amen

Jewelry Emporium 970.226.5808124 E. Monroe Dr., FCjewelryemporiuminc.com

Sartor Hamann970.226.2917Foothills Mall, FCyourbestring.com

Weiss Jewelers970.352.6580955 52nd Ave., Ct., #200, Greeleyweissjewelers.com

LIMOST.L.C. Limos LLC970.227.5590Northern Colorado

OFFICE SUITESThe Executive Center970.212.4700123 N. College Ave. #200, FCtheexecutivecenter.com

PETSTail Waggin’ LLC970.631.4411

PRINTINGKendall Printing 970.330.88953331 W. 29th St., Greeleykendallprinting.com

RECYCLINGColorado Iron & Metal 970.482.77071400 E. Mulberry St., FCcoloradoironmetal.com

SERVICESMaid Smart 970.226.6055Northern Coloradomaidsmartinc.com

Eliminate the Clutter 970.481.4805Northern Colorado eliminatetheclutter.com

SIGNSDaVinci Sign Systems Inc.970.203.92924496 Bents Dr., Windsordavincisign.com

TECHNOLOGYFRII 970.212.07003350 Eastbrook Dr., FCfrii.com

DirectoryBusinesstoBusiness

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