December Workshops at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center

Colorado Springs, CO – The Pikes Peak Workforce Center encourages job seekers to learn new job search tips and techniques by attending one of its December workshops or networking groups. There is no charge to attend, but attendees must register with Connecting Colorado, the state job search database. (www.connectingcolorado.com).

Please note that PPWFC will be close at noon on Wednesday, December 23 and will be closed all day on Thursday December 24 and Friday December 25, 2009 in observance of the Christmas holiday. PPWFC will also be closed on Thursday December 31, 2009 and January 1, 2010 in observance of New Year’s Day.

NETWORK GROUPS: Ongoing job search and support on trends and leads!

· Job Search Group: Mondays, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. No registration required.

· 50+ Job Seekers Group: Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon. No registration required. PPWFC will be closed December 24, 25, 31 and January 1.

· Veterans: Regular sessions on December 1 and 8 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; Federal Job Search workshop on December 16 or 23, check website for times. Register online at www.ppwfc.org for Veterans sessions.

Live Orientation: Overview of PPWFC services with Q&A

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. No registration required. PPWFC will be closed December 24, 25, 31 and January 1.

Online Job Search and Basic Resume

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon

Beginners will learn how to write a resume, complete online job applications and set up a free email account. No registration required. Walk-ins welcome. PPWFC will be closed December 24, 25, 31 and January 1.

Managing Stress

Tuesdays, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Learn tips and techniques for dealing with stress. No registration required. Walk-ins welcome.

Job Shop: Interview Skills and Network Techniques

Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon.

Learn to mine and network for leads; prepare to interview, negotiate salary and more! Register online at www.ppwfc.org or call 719.667.3790.


Résumé ‘Righting!’ – Résumé and Portfolio Design

Mondays, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Wednesdays, 10:00a.m. to 12 noon. No registration required.

Resumes often are a report of past accomplishments when they should be an advertisement of future potential. Job seekers who are over or under-qualified struggle with how best to present themselves. Attendees will learn the latest trends in resume design and content. No registration necessary, but please arrive on time.

There is no charge to attend these workshops; however, registration is required for most. Register at www.ppwfc.org, click on the workshops under Employment and Careers or call 667-3790. All workshops are held at the main office, 2306 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, 80909.

About PPWFC

The Pikes Peak Workforce Center supports business and promotes employment by providing connecting employers and job seekers. PPWFC helps businesses solve their workforce-related business problems and helps residents with career transition. More information about the Pikes Peak Workforce Center can be found online at www.ppwfc.org.

THE COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT WORKSHOP - 12/3/2009, Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO (Seiko Tran) – Too busy to always keep up with the latest ins and outs of the workplace? Interested in creating and quickly implementing proven processes for increased productivity and efficiency? Feel like you are “compliant” but just want to be sure?

Join the experts for a complimentary & informative discussion on current best practices in the workplace on Thursday, December 3rd from 2:00-4:00 PM at the offices of Strategic Financial Partners located at 1755 Telstar Drive, Suite 501, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. This special workshop is brought to you by Tim Watson of Strategic Financial Partners, Tom Voake of Effective Choices Inc., Lili Tran & Marissa Walker of Human Capital Group and Meike Alberts of Perquest Payroll.

Topics discussed will include:

Human Resources

· Analyzing documents and evaluating current policies, practices & programs

· Investigating management philosophy & current HR practices

· Mitigating risk by developing a solid action plan

Employee Benefits

· How to establish a benefits “check up” outside of your annual renewal

· What is benefits audit? Will you be ready when the DOL calls?

· Learn the difference between a basic and in-depth audit

Payroll

· Proper recordkeeping practices

· Understanding the IRS Lookback Period

· Employee vs. 1099 – Proper Classification


Retirement Plans

· Fee Transparency – Do you know and understand what you are paying?

· Fiduciary Awareness for Plan Sponsors

· Creating and monitoring an Investment Due Diligence Process

Lili Tran of Human Capital Group said, “Marisa and I have teamed up with Perquest Payroll, Strategic Financial Partners, and Effective Choices, Inc. for a complimentary overview presentation on auditing your HR, payroll, benefits and retirement programs. The event will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2009, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Strategic Financial Partners offices. If you have any questions, please contact me (649-8170) or Marisa (964-2399) at marisa@humancapitalgroup.net. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your seat early. We hope you can join us for this information session.”

Human Capital Group, LLC, is a women-owned human resources management consulting company based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

For more information on Human Capital Group, LLC, please go to www.humancapitalgroup.net, call (719) 649-8170 or 964-2399, or email info@humancapitalgroup.net.

Designated Driver of Colorado Springs calls for New Year's volunteers

Hi Everyone,

Designated Driver of Colorado Springs is rapidly approaching our one year anniversary. Over the last few months I have been asked many times if we would still be around in 6 months or a year. Well, as I said each time I was asked, failure at this thing has never been an option. So, here we are over 1800 rides later and going strong. In fact, we have some REALLY exciting things going on. For now, I will just say keep your ears open because you will be hearing lots of good things about us very soon. Of course, you have been hearing good things all along J, but things just keep getting better and better.

As many of you know, we gave our first ride on New Years Eve of this year. And with New Years Eve not so far away, we are gearing up for what we anticipate will be an incredibly busy evening. That being said, I am writing this email and asking you all to help us out by passing it along to everyone you possibly can. Our typical Friday and Saturday nights have been requiring approximately 10 teams out each night. Our busiest night was Halloween, a total of 35 rides were given that night. So, if Halloween was that busy we are sure New Years Eve will be much busier than that.

We are looking for additional volunteers to help us through the entire holiday season starting after Thanksgiving. Of course New Years Eve being our biggest need. We will be needing both drivers and help with dispatch. If you can all pass this along and give me a call with any ideas or input you might have that would great. We continue to get an incredible response out in the community and I am confident we will be prepared to keep everyone in our community safe this holiday season and year around. Thank you all in advance.

Nonie Rispin
Designated Driver of Colorado Springs
www.noduicosprings.com
719-650-3450

The Bank at Broadmoor hosts Care and Share Drive-Up Donation Event

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Bank at Broadmoor in conjunction with Christmas Décor by Timberline will host an evening Care and Share Drive-Up Donation event on Friday, November 20, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at 155 Lake Avenue.
The Bank at Broadmoor has collected canned food for Care and Share for the past several years in all four lobby locations. To help increase this year’s donations, Christmas Décor by Timberline has decorated the Lake Avenue bank with thousands of lights to bring attention to the event. Christmas Decor and The Bank at Broadmoor staff volunteers will accept cash and food donations for the Care and Share Food Bank.
To make it convenient to donate, citizens will be directed into the bank parking lot. Volunteers will be on hand to accept the donations and provide holiday treats, all from the comfort of their car!

This event provides another convenient drop-off area for the Care and Share Turkey Drive taking place on November 20th at several locations throughout the city. In addition, all four locations have drop boxes in the lobbies for donations.
The Bank at Broadmoor, www.bankatbroadmoor.com, is a locally owned and operated community bank with overall deposits in excess of $160,000,000. The four convenient locations are 155 Lake Avenue, downtown at 501 S. Tejon Street, north at 440 Chapel Hills Drive and on the Westside at 3216 West Colorado Avenue.

Memorial Health System and Penrose-St. Francis Health Services Honored as 2009 Co-Champions of Community Health

Colorado Springs, CO - Peak Vista Community Health Centers held its fifth annual Breakfast of Champions (featuring Wheaties) today at the Broadmoor’s International Center. Mark Spitz, nine-time Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming, provided the keynote address to more than 800 attendees. The annual event raised more than $150,000 for primary medical, dental and behavioral health services for working families in the Pikes Peak Region. Raising awareness of the organization and its contributions to this community, the event also served to recognize the many champions associated with Peak Vista, especially volunteer physicians and dentists, and community partners.

El Pomar Foundation served as Breakfast of Champions Presenting Sponsor with Kathy and Bill Hybl recognized for being co-founders of the event. According to BJ Scott, president & CEO of Peak Vista. “While Mark had numerous healthcare resources to tap during his training, many of our patients have little to none when a healthcare need arises. Peak Vista is there for the many working families of El Paso and Teller counties when they have health-related needs…in essence, we serve as a champion for the 55,000 patients we care for each year.”

Peak Vista’s Breakfast of Champions recognized Memorial Health System and Penrose-St. Francis Health Services as its 2009 Co-Champions of Community Health for their partnership and ongoing support of Peak Vista’s initiatives. Nominees for the award must 1) exhibit outstanding advocacy for issues which directly impact our community’s health or 2) contribute financially to a measurable community health-related initiative or solicit significant funding for the same. Margaret Sabin, President and CEO of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and Dr. Larry McEvoy, CEO of Memorial Health System accepted the awards on behalf of their organizations.

Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide exceptional healthcare for people facing access barriers. Established in 1971, Peak Vista annually offers primary medical, dental, and behavioral health services to more than 55,000 El Paso and Teller residents…most from working families without health insurance. To support Peak Vista financially or to learn more about Peak Vista, visit www.peakvista.org.

Mental Health Clients Artwork Featured in 2010 Calendar

“Expressions of Hope,” the 2010 Art Calendar featuring paintings by consumers of Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group, is now on sale online and at local stores.

The artists are participants in the Art Therapy program. All proceeds from the sales will go back to the program. The calendars are $10.

“Sometimes people associate mental illness with crazy ideas; treat it as a negative,” said art therapist Kim Nguyen. “But (the clients) are full of creativity and an abundance of beauty. With the right direction, they can flourish.”

Such was the case with Tisha Gutierrez. For several years, she battled the stigma and denied herself treatment out of fear of retribution and losing her four children. After a nervous breakdown in 2004, Gutierrez started treatment at Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group and one of her most effective treatments is paint and canvas.

“Once I get it out on the canvas, it’s not trapped,” she says. “It’s put on the wall and not stored away in my mind.”

Gutierrez’s work is featured in the 2010 Calendar. It can be purchased and viewed online at www.ppbhg.org. The calendars also are available at several Downtown Colorado Springs stores, including Poor Richard’s Bookstore and Colorado Co-op along Tejon Ave.

For more information about the art therapy and other Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group programs, contact Nguyen at (719) 572-6244

PuebloFinder.com Debuts as Pueblo Colorado’s Newest Consumer Directory and Resource Online

Pueblo, CO - (BouyancyDigital.com) – Internet advertising firm Buoyancy Digital, LLC is
pleased to announce the beta launch of www.pueblofinder.com, the newest and most
progressive directory of information, content and listings published by and for the
people of Pueblo, Colorado.

The PuebloFinder.com site, still in its first phase of operations, will serve as a
resource for consumers, professionals and students alike to find what Pueblo has to
offer online, no matter what format, all with a local flavor.

On the business side, Pueblo businesses which have been used to paying hundreds
to thousands of dollars per year on advertising campaigns that reach a generally
focused audience, will be able to self-publish relevant targeted ads seen by users
who are seeking what your web site and business actually offers. Registered users of
the PuebloFinder.com site have the ability today to publish searchable web listings
which may be linked to videos and pictures, classified listings, categorized banner
advertisements, and for the aspiring writers in the community, the ability to publish
articles of general or genre-specific interest.

According to Mr. Rabinowitz, site manager for PuebloFinder.com, “As a consumer, I
have found it difficult to find various kinds of Pueblo focused info and local site
listings easily. PuebloFinder.com addresses the need with a human-edited directory,
meaning that actual folks who live here have a hand in shaping what gets published
to the site, now and forever.”

“On the business side, local companies need cost effective solutions to reach the
targeted audiences available online who are interested in buying their goods and
services. Beyond being an advertising specialist, I am a Pueblo business owner and
have seen what the large national media companies’ charge, the level of service
offered, and the level of economic return they provide for businesses in Pueblo and
Colorado Springs for internet advertising. The next evolution for local business
advertising is to be found where your potential new customers are looking, at a
reasonable cost, and most importantly, where you can clearly see a return on your
investment with tools to measure the results that people in any line of work can
easily understand.”

The PuebloFinder.com team at Buoyancy Digital has been in the field of internet
advertising and web site traffic management for over 10 years. The company mission
is to provide cost effective web site support and advertising services to meet the
needs of local business. The PuebloFinder.com web site reflects this focused
commitment to support the consumers of Pueblo and local merchants alike.
For more information, please visit us online at www.pueblofinder.com