Design-Build Merit Award Given to Little Ajax Affordable Housing in Aspen

Aspen, CO – The Design-Build Institute of America awarded the Little Ajax Affordable Housing project in Aspen, Colorado with a Merit Award for General Design-Build Under $10 million dollars.

The affordable housing project was built with a $3.9 million dollar subsidy from the City of Aspen. The project team included, Peter Gluck and Partners (Architect), GK Construction (Design-Builder), KL&A (Structural Engineers), Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers (MEP Engineers) Walsh Environmental (Environmental Engineers), CTL Thompson (Geotechnical) and Joe Wells (Land-Use).

Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers (BGCE), provided mechanical and electrical engineering and construction administration services for this 14-unit affordable housing development.

"We designed a highly efficient, low-cost building systems solution for this project,” said Dan Koelliker, Principal in BGCE’s Avon office. “This project is the model of a successful affordable housing development and we were excited to be part of it.”

BGCE is proud to be an industry leader in energy, LEED, commissioning, mechanical, electrical, lighting and technology engineering from offices in Sacramento and Truckee, California; Vail, Denver and Fort Collins, Colorado; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sustainable design for reduced operating and maintenance costs is fundamental to the firm’s practice. Since inception in 1991, BGCE has grown to over 50 staff members, of which 86% are LEED Accredited Professionals. For more information, please visit www.bgce.com.

New Book Celebrates Area Craft Brewers, and their Dogs

Dogs, Beer and Colorado: New Gift Book Showcases All Three

BrewDogs is a photographic tribute to Colorado craft brewers and the dogs they love.
Colorado is well known for its geographic beauty---mountains, rock formations, alpine streams and wildflowers. Of almost equal stature is the staggering number of craft beer breweries dotted throughout the state. Over 100 microbreweries turn out enough beer to make Colorado one of the largest beer-producing states in the nation. As a result, the Great American Beer Festival makes its yearly home here. Regardless of the numbers, there’s one statistic that’s true almost across the board: where there is a craft brewer, there is usually a brew dog at his side. As a playful tribute to those brewers and their canine companions, The BrewDogs of Colorado was born, just in time for the gift-giving season.

The book, a high quality, 152-page hardbound edition with images of over 70 brew dogs and over 200 color photos of breweries throughout Colorado, was produced by a Colorado Springs family. “While the idea was not exactly born over a beer, the connection between beer and dogs is not too far ‘fetched’”, said co-authors Brian and Becky Bennett. “We realized that not only are most Colorado breweries dog-friendly, but a lot of beers are named after dogs.” As canine lovers themselves, the idea of a book to celebrate this relationship came to fruition, and turned into a summer long project involving the whole family, including daughters Lauren and Kristen. “With over 100 breweries in Colorado, it wasn’t hard to find an award winning craft beer, and a dog to go with it.”

John Hickenlooper, Mayor of Denver and a Colorado brewpub pioneer, contributed the foreword and a photo of his own brew dog. Slated to hit the bookstands on December 15, The BrewDogs of Colorado retails for $29.95 and is an ideal gift with appeal for both dog and beer lovers alike. It can also be ordered online at www.brewdogsbook.com. Place online orders by December 20 for delivery by Christmas. Several booksignings have been scheduled at breweries and bookstores; check the Brew Dogs website for dates and venues.

About WoofMedia, LLC:
WoofMedia, LLC, is a family-owned business. Brian and Becky Bennett are long-time residents and active members of the Colorado Springs community. Co-authors and daughters Kristen and Lauren Olson are also involved as managers and photographers. Brian is an active community volunteer in Colorado, serving on various non-profit boards and committees, including current service as Chairman of the Better Business Bureau Foundation. Stay tuned for future publications. www.woofmediallc.com.

Manhard Consulting Forms Partnership with Carroll & Lange

Press Release courtesy of Shannon Marketing Communications

Merger creates new firm with expanded presence in the mountain region

Denver and Winter Park, Colorado – Manhard Consulting (www.manhard.com), a civil engineering firm with offices nationwide, has entered into a regional partnership with Denver-based Carroll & Lange, Inc., a respected civil engineering firm with a long history in the Colorado market. The new firm will operate in Colorado as Carroll & Lange-Manhard (CLM) (www.clmanhard.com) beginning immediately.

“We continue to look for strategic relationships with exceptional firms around the country,” said Donald Manhard, Jr., P.E., president of Manhard Consulting. “Our partnership with Carroll & Lange expands our presence and expertise in one of the more dynamic land development markets in the country. Their experience and ‘make it happen’ approach to engineering and customer service are a perfect fit for the culture at Manhard Consulting.”

Founded in 1984, Carroll & Lange has built its reputation on responsible and environmentally conscious land development in communities across Colorado and throughout the intermountain region. With the merger, CLM and its clients gain access to in-house water resources management engineers, water and wastewater engineers, environmental scientists, construction managers, LEED-certified professionals, and the rest of the nationwide Manhard Consulting network.

“Adding Manhard’s national water resources management expertise to our existing portfolio is especially valuable to our clients in Front Range and mountain communities,” said Richard Weed, P.E., Area Manager of Colorado Operations for CLM. “And with Manhard’s environmental engineering and green-building resources, we feel we’re especially well-positioned to bring tremendous assets to projects of any size across the region.”

To learn more, please contact Mr. Richard Weed in Colorado at (303) 880-6591 or rweed@clmanhard.com, or call Manhard Consulting toll-free at 866-MANHARD (866-626-4273).

About Manhard Consulting
Manhard Consulting, Ltd. has been named one of the Top 500 Design Firms in the nation by Engineering News Record, a McGraw-Hill Construction publication and one of the largest trade publications in the engineering and construction industry. The Top 500 Design Firms listing is a comprehensive survey that ranks the 500 largest engineering, architectural and environmental consultants in the United States based on annual revenue. The firm provides civil-sanitary engineering, surveying, water resources management, water and wastewater engineering, environmental sciences, construction management, land planning, landscape architecture, supply chain logistics, and other services to over 6,000 clients from its offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, and Virginia. The firm’s corporate headquarters are in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

Santa Claus is Coming to Lone Tree, CO, November 21, Fire and Ice Spectacular, December 5!

Park Meadows greets Santa Claus in style!
Santa’s Welcoming Parade

Lone Tree, Colo. (360 Media) – Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Park Meadows Drive. Santa Claus is coming to town—Lone Tree that is. Arriving on a shiny fire truck, Santa Claus will land in style at the Vistas on Saturday, November 21st at 9 am.

“Our Santa has traditionally come by Fire Truck to Park Meadows. The idea and nostalgia of a hometown parade has always made it a special event. We are very excited that this year's parade will be the biggest in our history,” states Denae Duesler, the Common Area Coordinator of Park Meadows Retail Resort.

Line the streets underneath Borders, relax and enjoy the free event that welcomes Santa Claus in a parade filled with holiday excitement. Channel 2’s “Everyday” news anchor, Natalie Tysdal, kicks off the jolly celebration with Rocky from the Denver Nuggets, live reindeer and other local mascots. Evidence of vast community support for the event includes appearances by the City of Lone Tree’s Fire and Police Departments, color guards and bands.

Parents who attend this family event will receive goody bags filled with exclusive offers from Park Meadows’ retailers and restaurants. Kids can sip hot chocolate and apple cider while participating in merry sing-alongs followed by cookie decorating fun.

Following the parade, Park Meadows Retail Resort will launch its first year of the Santa’s Express pass. The pass will enable children to chat with, give a wish list and have their picture taken with Santa Claus in The Vista Court. Santa’s Express pass, providing kids with a 20-minute wait time for their Santa visit, will free up parents to finish holiday shopping in a timely, stress free fashion.

Celebrate the holidays with flare!
Park Meadows’ Fire & Ice Spectacular

Lone Tree, Colo., (360 Media) – In celebration of the holiday season, Park Meadows presents the Fire and Ice Spectacular on Saturday, December 5, 2009 beginning at 3pm.

The event will engage every member of the family with an array of entertainment featuring a mixture of “fire and ice” elements. Playing off the “ice” theme will be ice carvers, an ice princess entertaining families and live mannequins “freeze modeling” the season’s most exciting fashions from stores such as Lucy, Brook Brothers Country Club and more. As darkness falls, the “fire” dynamic will light up the night with fire-eaters, flame throwers and a fireworks extravaganza over The Vistas.

"Park Meadows, our stores and restaurants felt it was a priority to bring a fun, interactive and free entertainment venue catering to all ages to brighten this Holiday season," states Pamela Schenck-Kelly, Senior General Manager of Park Meadows Retail Resort.

In addition, shoppers can take in the splendor of holiday décor throughout the center while enjoying samples from a variety of Park Meadows’ restaurants including California Café, La Sandía and Grand Lux Café, along with strolling entertainment and live music. Outside in The Vistas, guests will enjoy complimentary hot chocolate as well as complimentary carriage rides, in addition to the fire performers and fireworks display at 7:30pm. Details, including a schedule of events, are available at www.parkmeadows.com.


About Park Meadows Shopping Center

Park Meadows is owned and/or managed by General Growth Properties, Inc. GGP currently has ownership interest in, or management responsibility for more than 200 regional shopping malls in 44 states, as well as ownership in master planned community developments and commercial office buildings. The Company’s portfolio totals approximately 200 million square feet of retail space and includes over 24,000 retail stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.ggp.com.

FASHIONISTAS TURN RECESSIONISTAS!

In these economic times combining two successful businesses to take advantage of years of experience seems to make sense. That is exactly what two local Denver women have done!

Lana Phoenix, owner of Twice as Haute, a well-known and established women’s consignment boutique located at 600 Downing Street and Evelyn Stephens, owner of RunwayClothesConsignment.com, a website that specializes in selling new and pre-owned women’s designer clothing and accessories, decided to combine their extensive experience in the retail industry to bring the best selection of women’s designer ready-to-wear and accessories to the Denver market and globally on the world wide web!
Phoenix has the brick and mortar store; Stephens had the website. Both knew that discerning women today want to buy designer clothing and accessories, but are very sensitive to the limitations the current economy has brought to bear on the luxury market. Together, they offer a superb selection of women’s designer clothing and accessories at prices up to 75% below their original retail price.

Among the items offered are new and pre-owned inventory from designers such as Armani, Oscar de la Renta, Escada, Gucci, Prada, Manolo Blahnik, Chanel, St John, Rena Lange, Donna Karan, Douglas Hannett, Akris, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Valentino and Jimmy Choo, among others. Ms. Phoenix and Ms. Stephens offer women an alternative to ‘shopping the sale rack’ at a store where the best values are available all day every day and customer service is paramount!

“We offer incredible values” says Stephens, whose website motto is, “One Gals Castaways are Another’s Treasures.” And treasures they are! On her site, and now at Twice as Haute, you can find both vintage and current designer clothing and accessories; many are new, with their original price tags still attached!

At Twice as Haute, the store with “labels you want at prices you love” you will also find an exceptional selection of better and designer label apparel and accessories as well as selections from bridge designers and specialty stores. Phoenix has developed an extensive client base that consigns their ‘gently worn’ designer items, and has relationships with boutiques that provide beautiful overstock. Over the past 11+ years, she has built a reputation of providing exceptional values for your wardrobe dollars with high quality inventory and outstanding customer service in a warm, friendly shopping environment.

Lana Phoenix
Twice as Haute
600 Downing Street
Denver, CO 80218
303 753-6003
lana@twiceashaute.com

or
Evelyn Stephens
www.runwayclothesconsignment.com
evelyn@evelynstephens.com
703 362-4481

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, LLC LAUNCHES CUTTING-EDGE ONLINE SUPPORT SERVICE

Company Press Release

Using the Internet, Company Offers Bigger Image, Low Rates to Business Clients

Business owners can now outsource administrative and other support functions to a "Virtual Assistant" and concentrate on what matters – growing their business.

Castle Rock, CO ----November 2009 --- Kim Hamilton, a Castle Rock entrepreneur, announced the opening of Professional Business Solutions, LLC, a virtual support practice devoted to helping business owners handle administrative tasks so they can free up their time to focus on growing their business and at the same time help them save money. Using the Internet and email with other mainstay communications tools, businesses are now able to pass along the routine but important tasks without having to hire employees or temporary help.

Hamilton explains that Professional Business Solutions, LLC aids business owners by handling such tasks as administrative services, word processing, bookkeeping, database management, data entry, mailings, transcription, notary services, information/internet research, event planning, concierge, and travel, as well as managing voice and email and other day-to-day, non-core matters.

Kim Hamilton is one of a growing number of home-based "Virtual Assistants," (VA) leveraging the Internet to launch practices around the world. These professional administrative assistants represent a broad cross-section of society, including single parents, seniors, college students, people with disabilities, downsized executives, and many others with skills and expertise essential to small or large businesses.

Hamilton explains, "Virtual Assistants are the ideal staffing solution for the new breed of 'wired' business owners. Without requiring more office equipment or space, and without the hassles associated with hiring employees, Virtual Assistants offer expert support on an as-needed basis -- billing only for time-on-task. Since Virtual Assistants themselves are also business owners, they have a direct interest in making sure their clients are happy with their performance, and better understand the business arena than either employees or temps."

The business owner with a VA can have administrative needs handled "transparently," with the client unaware that the assistant is hundreds or even thousands of miles away. "Business owners can pick up the phone in their car or at the airport and delegate work to their VA in 'real time,' knowing that the work will be completed professionally and on time, and at a reasonable fee," says Hamilton.

When you work with a VA, you get a partner, not an employee. In this virtual world, your assistant can be anywhere! The wonderful benefit of a VA is the working relationship is tailored to fit your needs!

Contact information: Kim Hamilton, Owner, Virtual Assistant, Professional Business Solutions, LLC, Probusinesssolutions@bgenmedia.com, 303-663-6616.

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