February 2012 Newsletter

Thanks to All for the Special Evening

 

The Salida Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and The Vaqueros want to sincerely congratulate this year’s winners of our Community Awards, presented on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the Salida SteamPlant. They are: Bill Murphy, Conerstone Award, Brad & Sandy Love, From the Heart Award, Past and present FibArk Boards, Wanted Alive Not Dead Award, Lisa Marvel, Woman of the Year, Bob Grether, Man of the Year, and Amicas Pizza & Microbrew, Business of the Year. Congratulations and thanks for making Salida such a great place to live.

 

In addition, The Chamber wishes to thanks all the folks that helped to make “A Class Act”, such an incredible success: The Chamber Events Committee and Board of Directors, Lori Roberts, Terrie Brewer, Margy Brown and Neva Brekke, Michael Varnum and the entire staff of the SteamPlant, Kathryn Wadsworth and Kelly Landau of Incite Consulting, Dennis & Skye Ridley, Brady’s West, Michelle Gap & Kalamatapit Catering, Cecil Hogarth, David Tipton and Chaffee Printing Center. Kudos for all the hard work.

 

A special thanks goes out to our sponsors who made the evening possible: Monarch Investment & Management Corporation, Heart of the Rockies Radio, Collegiate Peaks Bank, Anderson & Hughes,P.C., Xcel Energy, Schultz & Associates, High Country Bank, Columbine Manor, ReMax Mountain River, Middleton Photography, Roxy’s Bottle Shop, Pinon Real Estate Group, Pinon Development Corporation, Mt Princeton Hot Springs Resort, Kalamatapit Catering, First Colorado Land Office, Scanga Meat Company, Amicas Pizza & Microbrew, Salida Flower Shop, Boathouse Cantina, & Dogman.

 

Thanks to all our after-party door prize donors: Rocky Mountain Eye Center, Wal-Mart, Comcast, Party Spirits, PakMail, TLC Pet Supplies, Valley Home Furnishings, ArkAnglers, Echo Canyon River Expeditions, Heart of the Rockies Internet Solutions, A Platinum Memory, Simple Foods, Accent USA, Merlin & Meryl Trefethen, Hampton Inn & Suites, First Street Café, CenturyLink, & Colorado Central Magazine.

 

Congratulations to our winners and thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who helped honor the finest of Salida.

 

John Engelbrecht
Executive Director
Salida Chamber

Business After Hours

Business After Hours for February - Wednesday - 8th

Join us for BAH at Collegiate Peaks Bank - 540 W. Hwy 50

Network, Socialize and have a bite to eat ~

5-7 pm., $7 food & drinks

Hope to see you there!

Salida Chamber Health Plan: Affordable coverage for local businesses

The Salida Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce an affordable health benefit option to its Chamber members and their employees whose businesses are located in Chaffee, Saguache or Fremont Counties.  Your Chamber membership is the key in providing your employees with access to affordable health care at a cost your employees and your business can afford.

Through collaboration with Colorado Choice Health Plans, a non-profit carrier, the Salida Chamber of Commerce brings you a product to meet your health care needs and provide local business owners and their employees’ access to choices in quality health coverage at an affordable price.  Clearly demonstrating the Chamber’s commitment to it’s members.

Salida Chamber Health Plan Highlights - Benefit features include:

• Exclusive rates with customized plan options
• 4 different plan designs to mix and match
• Separate dependent coverage option
• Different levels of deductibles available
• More lenient participation and contribution level requirements
• Access to a broad network of providers throughout Chaffee County and across the Front Range

Who Can Enroll In The Salida Chamber Health Plan

The Chamber Health Plan is available to Salida Chamber members that have a business located in Chaffee, Fremont or Saguache Counties.  Though geared to small businesses to offer solutions to the problem of escalating health care costs without having to sacrifice employee benefits, any size employer located in these counties that is a member of the Chamber can choose to enroll in the Chamber Health Plan.

How Do I Find Out More
To find out more about the Salida Chamber Health Plan, call us at the Chamber at 539-2068.

Business of the Month

Monarch Mountain was named Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce January Business of the Month Friday during a ceremony at the ski area.

"Monarch has been a member of the chamber of commerce as long as I can remember. It was owned by the City of Salida through the 1950s and may have been around before the chamber was formed," Rich Moorehead, Monarch Mountain chief executive officer, said after the ceremony.

Monarch Mountain was officially opened in 1939 under direction of Salida Winter Sports Club using $26,000 of New Deal money contributed through the Works Progress Administration.

The area was turned over to the City of Salida for management until 1955 when it was sold into private ownership.

Management of the ski area has changed hands several times during the area history, but Monarch Mountain maintains a continued effort to give back to the local community.

The business employs more than 300 people during peak holiday weekends and high traffic days such as spring break.

In addition to sponsoring local school programs, community fund-raisers and events, the area started Monarch Community Outreach as a nonprofit branch offering aid to other community nonprofit organizations.

Greg Wolfgang, manager of lift operations at Monarch, a continued outreach board member, said the program was started eight years ago and to date has given more than $65,000 in donations to other local organizations.

Wolfgang said money is raised throughout the year. There is an employee option to donate to community outreach during each pay period and Monarch Mountain matches all contributions.

Money raised is allocated to community programs and nonprofit groups during monthly board meetings, he said. Meetings are held throughout the year, and Wolfgang said board members are uninfluenced by other ski area management.

"Year in and year out, Monarch has been foundational to our collective recreation and economic stability. Monarch not only provides jobs, but also takes a genuine interest in supporting our community charitable organizations.

"Monarch Outreach Program has donated thousands of dollars to organizations in need. Great skiing and great community involvement are an unbeatable combination," chamber director John Engelbrecht said.

New Chamber Member - Little Cambodia

Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Phanny Jones, owner of Little Cambodia, to membership.

Little Cambodia serves Asian cuisine and Jones said the goal is to serve fresh, healthful food, in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere.

She said employees pride themselves on “fast service and delicious food in a clean environment.”

Raised in Cambodia, Phanny learned traditional recipes and techniques of cooking southeast Asian fare first-hand.

The menu is a blend of Vietnamese, Thai, and Cambodian food with a few surprises. Jones said Fresh ingredients are paramount. Restaurant employees use locally raised beef and pork products.

Little Cambodia is at 135 N. F St. next door to Victoria Tavern. The restaurant offers dine in and take out. The phone number is 539-6599.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and closed Wednesday.

Welcoming Little Cambodia to Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce recently are, from left front, Karin Naccarato, Judee Nuechter, Lisa Rankin, Carrie Nally; Phanny, Phoebe and Mike Jones; Dave Chelf and Donna Coupland. Back: Pete Rans, Jason Gobin, Jennifer Scanga, Charley Alexander, Sandy Rhoades, Julie Nutter and Sam Johnson.

New Chamber Member - Ski Albritton

In early January, Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce welcomed Ski Albritton to membership.

Comprised of home grown, hard core skiers, the Ski Albritton team has designed and is marketing its specialty ski for people who want the best.

Ski Albritton prides itself on building the highest quality products possible. Skis are handcrafted. The company is a boutique ski brand with intentions of putting Salida on the map, highlighting proven skis on proven terrain at Monarch Mountain.

The company mission is to explore uncharted territories and have endless endeavors and help the local economy every way possible.

Officials said, “We want skiers to be proud of being Monarch loyalists; just like we hope those not from here desire to come ski at our home-town hill.

We look forward building immense positive relationships in Salida.”

Learn more at www.skialbritton.com or 719-221-4239 or 813-541-3817 or email brett at brankin@skialbritton.com.

Representatives of Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce join owners of a new manufacturer, Ski Albritton, to celebrate company membership during a recent ceremony at Monarch Mountain. Present are, from front left: John Engelbrecht, Raedell Trueblood, Donna Coupland, Brett Rankin, Alex Santa, Justin Prince, Caleb Charbonneau, Terrance Campbell, Terry Deveney, Dave Chelf and Lisa Rankin. Back: Jason Gobin, Art Gentile, Ken Leisher, Dave Potts, Charley Alexander, Maureen Schultz and Brett Haydin.

Upper Arkansas Area Development Corporation

Small Business Development Center

Leading Edge Entrepreneurs Course

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Inc.

SANGRE DE CRISTO ELECTRIC SENDS STUDENTS ON THE 2012 YOUTH TOUR TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

Sangre de Cristo Electric has selected Carson Colgate, a junior from Custer County High School, and Makenzie Jacobs, a junior from Buena Vista High School, to represent SDCEA at the 2012Youth Tour held June 15 - 21 in Washington, D.C. They will join students from around the state in Denver for a day to get acquainted and learn about rural electric systems in Colorado before flying off to our nation’s capital.

Students from all over the United States, sponsored by their local rural electric cooperatives, meet to tour the sites around the D.C. area and to meet with energy industry and government officials. Over 1,400 students attended the event in 2011. A full day is spent on Capitol Hill meeting with the Colorado congressional delegation and eating lunch in the cafeteria with congressional staffers. The students are introduced to issues faced by rural electric cooperatives on a state as well as national level.

The trip is all-expenses paid and the winner(s) are selected based on an essay of at least 300 words regarding a topic related to the electric utility industry and an application they submit. “Sangre de Cristo Electric is proud to have such fine young adults represent us at the 2012 Youth Tour” said CEO Paul Erickson. “We believe the Youth Tour is a wonderful way for young people to learn about the electric utility industry and our government. It is part of our commitment to the communities we serve.”

The Youth Tour is open to all area high school juniors whose parents are members of Sangre de Cristo Electric. The contest takes place each December. Application packets are mailed to the guidance counselors at all local high schools, are available at our headquarters in Buena Vista, or available for download from our website www.myelectric.coop . For more information contact Linda in Member Services at (719) 395-4589, (800) 933-3823, or by email at nyberg@myelectric.coop.

Tenderfoot Cancer Climb

Middleton Photography - Creative Product Photography

Credit Bureau of the Rockies

TLC Pet Supplies & Services

TLC Pet Supplies & Services pamper your pets as if they were ours! Make your appointment for grooming, pet wash, overnight boarding and doggie daycare. We can customize a package for you! Let us know what we can do for you!   February is a HUGE month for us. On Valentine’s Day, we are giving away chocolate roses, homemade pet treats and dress your dog in a costume and win a gift certificate. It is our way to say thank you for making our first year a successful one!   Mardi Gras is Feb 21st this year! This is one of my favorite days. We are celebrating by giving away beads and homemade pet treats. Again bring yourself and your pets in costume and win a gift certificate. I’ll see you soon.   We still have a few clearance items left. Check out our website for more info.   We now sell bulk treats and food!

Overnight Boarding area

We are located at 8100 W HWY 50 in Salida. 719-539-7777. www.tlcpetsupplyservices.com. We are open from 7am-7pm 7 days a week. We have a great parking in front of the store and a HUGE selection of mesh harnesses, Step In Harnesses, leashes, collars, head collars, treats for dogs and cats, flea control, dog and cat beds, cat litter and pans, Furminator, and toys! Check us out!

Sunflower Insurance Group is now Assurance Partners

Sunflower Insurance Group is proud to announce that we are changing our company name to Assurance Partners effective Feb. 1, 2012. Why a new name and brand? We want a name that both describes the professional service we provide and the nature of the relationships we hold with our clients. Our commitment to providing our customers with high quality risk management and risk transfer services remains constant. Since 1969 we have been dedicated to taking special care in identifying the individual needs of our clients and assisting them in managing their risk through a variety of methods. As we move forward as Assurance Partners we are passionate in our efforts to elevate our level of service and the peace of mind for our customers as they manage risk in their lives.

You will find us on the web at www.yourassurance.com Our new website contains enhanced features that will simplify your business processes and allow you to transact business on your mobile device. Assurance Partners is located at 230 West 16th Street in Salida and can be reached via telephone at 719-539-7667.

Please allow us the opportunity to thank you for standing by us as we transition to our new identity. We look forward to strengthening the relationships that we have enjoyed with you over many years.

For additional information, contact, Heather Neal, Sunflower Insurance Group, Inc. 2090 S. Ohio, Salina, KS 67401 - hneal@sunflowerinsurance.com - 1-800-563-1871 - www.sunflowerinsurance.com

Jugalicious

Salida Elks - Sweetheart Dance

Angel of Shavano Recycling

Rachael A. Walke CPA., P.C.

Our Sponsors light up Tenderfoot Mountain throughout the entire year!

First Colorado Land Office   RE/MAX Mountain River   Woodland Motel   SBA   The Salida Fire Department

January 1- January 30, 2012 SalidaChamber.org website statistics

Total Unique Visitors - 4,109
Total Pageviews - 14,056
Average Pages viewed per Visit - 2.78
Average Time per Visit - 2:15 minutes

Top Traffic Sources
Google.com - 3,253
Direct (bookmarks, typed address) - 551
Bing.com - 210
Salida.com - 104

Yahoo.com - 144

Visitors from:
Colorado - 2.483
Texas - 396

California - 188

Kansas - 145
New Mexico - 119

Thank you to our renewing members!

Past Chamber Newsletters

• January 2012 Salida Chamber Newsletter
• December 2011 Salida Chamber Newsletter
• November 2011 Salida Chamber Newsletter
• October 2011 Salida Chamber Newsletter
• September 2011 Salida Chamber Newsletter
• August 2011 Salida Chamber Newsletter

Browse our complete chamber membership

Join the Salida Chamber of Commerce