Line of fast-acting powdered medications
1592_ 7/28/14 - UrgentRx is a Colorado Companies to Watch 2014 winner! And a Mountain Desert Region EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist. Here we are speaking with Jordan Eisenberg, founder and CEO of UrgentRx. Early on, Eisenberg learned that he was much better suited for creating a new kind of ladder than climbing the corporate one. He, is an entrepreneur to the core. Jordan gave up the 'climb the corporate ladder' mindset more than a decade ago while seeking out opportunities to create and build companies where he could personally make a difference. We asked about advice Jordan's received and/or offered to another entrepreneur. "I've given and received a lot. One that really resonates, It's really only about 10% the idea, and about 90% execution. I meet so many people focused on getting the perfect business plan. Just focus on the execution. I think that's the best advice you can give. It's more about doing than thinking." Listen for more...
RELATED LINKS: UrgentRx || EY Finalist Reception Slideshow || EY Entrepreneur of the Year Program || EY 2014 Finalists || Economy Builders || Blog || KEYWORDS: Jordan Eisenberg, UrgentRx, Medical Device, Fast-Acting Powdered Medications, Ernst & Young Denver, Governor's Mansion, Entrepreneur of the Year, Finalists Reception, bytes=3197704
LISTEN TO: Jordan Eisenberg, Founder/CEO, UrgentRx

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COCTW 6th Annual 50 Companies to Watch Gala Dinner
1569_ 6/23/14 -

Colorado Companies to Watch Winner’s Orientation
1547_ 5/12/14 -
Check Out the Photos and Watch a Slide Show "This year's Colorado Companies to Watch winners show the impact small business has on our economy and demonstrate why Colorado is one of the nation's leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship," said Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. "We want to congratulate each of these companies and wish them continued success."

Regulations shaping the global economy
1520_ 3/24/14 - Larry and other top executives are very involved with the growing and expanding organization, Colorado Companies To Watch. Lyle Wallace is on the COCTW sponsor board and Larry and Lyle decided they would like to meet and discuss their career focus. Lyle Wallace, with Baker Hostetler, serves as corporate counsel to regional and national privately held companies with a focus on mergers and acquisitions and securities. He has particular experience representing clients in the manufacturing and distribution, professional services, and building materials and construction industries. With an understanding of the business and legal issues facing his clients, Lyle takes a practical and proactive approach to their corporate concerns. "Our firm was founded on three core principles: to develop and sustain mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with each of its clients; to provide timely, responsive, and high quality legal services; and to be generous with both time and money to the communities where we work. We have consistently nurtured a collegial approach among our lawyers, assuring effective teamwork in handling client work, while maintaining a culture of providing exceptional legal counsel with a clear focus on value. We are committed to the continuous development of our people and of the resources essential to delivering effective and distinctive legal services worldwide." Listen for more...
RELATED LINKS: BakerHostetler || Colorado Companies To Watch || CCTW Channel || w3w3 Blog || KEYWORDS: Lyle Wallace, Baker Hostetler, Colorado Companies To Watch, COCTW, Law Firm, Litigation, Business, Employment, Intellectual Property, Tax, Legal Services Worldwide, bytes=5165874
LISTEN TO: Lyle Wallace, Baker Hostetler

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Shared mission to build companies, a strong state and country
1506_ 2/17/14 - Through expertly facilitated discussion, What to do? becomes What to do. Perspective is achieved, a definitive plan of action is determined. In subsequent meetings, progress is checked and accountability ensured. We are speaking with Bob Carrothers, Vistage Chair and sponsor of Colorado Companies to Watch. Larry asked Bob why Vistage was a sponsor. "Because", he said, "our mission is the same. Helping to build successful companies is part of building a successful country, a successful state." Put 12 or so high performing business executives in a room and the potential is enormous. The role of a Vistage Chair is to question answers, not simply answer questions, so the core of an issue is exposed, clarity is achieved, and a forward path is charged. Vistage members control businesses with annual sales ranging from $1 million to over $1 billion, representing the most vital component of the economy. Around the world, Vistage-member companies generate nearly $300 billion in annual revenue and employ approximately 1.8 million people. In a recent analysis, Vistage CEO member companies significantly outperformed the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of the average Dun & Bradstreet U.S. company from 2005 to 2009.
RELATED LINKS: Vistage Chair || CCTW || CCTW Channel || PodCast Directory || KEYWORDS: Bob Carrothers, Vistage Chair, Colorado Companies to Watch, Shared Mission, Build Companies, Executives, Entrepreneurs, bytes=5541201
LISTEN TO: Bob Carrothers, Vistage Chair

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Colorado Company to Watch - Tradavo
Celebration, November 13, 2013

Colorado's Top 50
Companies to Watch
Fueling the Economic Fire

This program is a perfect example of public/private partnership
1259_ 8/13/12 - We're talking to Sam Bailey the Relationship Manager for the Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade. That means he primarily works in business retention and expansion, helping existing businesses grow and expand their businesses. Sam is also the new program director for Colorado Companies to Watch, which is now four years into the program with 200 companies highlighted and close to, if not over a thousand finalists. Sam said, "We have really seen a lot of companies and communities come out and support these businesses - highlight them, recognize them - so the program has grown to quite a prestigious honor. This year alone we had a wonderful geographical diversity across the state of Colorado. We had companies from rural and urban communities - communities that we haven't seen on stage before. So this has been a banner year for COCTW. We're looking to continue that through outreach to our community partners across the state. It's important to note this is not a program just for the Front Range. It's for the entire state; we have companies from Durango, Carbondale, Craig, and Holly." Listen for more...
Related Links: Colorado Companies to Watch || Colorado Companies to Watch Channel || w3w3.com Blog || Gala Event || Keywords: Sam Bailey, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, OEDIT, Colorado Companies to Watch, COCTW, Colorado, Second Stage Companies, Lowe Foundation, bytes=6226236
LISTEN TO: Sam Bailey, Program Director, COCTW

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Helping existing businesses grow and expand
1180_ 3/19/12 - We're talking to a very popular guy, he works for the Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade as a relationship manager. That means he primarily works in business retention and expansion, helping existing businesses grow and expand their businesses, but also working to keep businesses here in the State of Colorado. In addition to this, Sam Bailey is also the program director for Colorado Companies to Watch. Sam says they're really the sales team for the State of Colorado, selling Colorado, promoting and really making this a great place not just to live and play, but also to conduct business. Larry asked, "Sam you run into and see all different kinds of businesses not only with CCTW, but obviously with OEDIT. With all the things we've been through in the last couple of years, can you give us a handle on the challenges businesses might be facing this coming year?" Sam pointed out, "One of the big issues that we're seeing is access to capital. Companies want to grow, but they are really looking for that backing to help them grow, grants, small business loans, venture capital. Banks are still at that point where they're still evaluating the risks, are not lending as much as they used to. So companies are really struggling to find that liquidity or access to capital to help expand, make capital investments in their company, acquire new equipment - So that's one issue that we've seen. Another issue is workforce, and that's throughout the state. Issue that there is a skills mismatch. We've got jobs here in the state, but having a trained, skilled workforce to fill those jobs is hard. So we're working with local institutions, higher education, community colleges, other industry associations to identify how can we be better at training our workers here in the state of Colorado so they can fill those positions with workers here in the state. Sam described the focus of Colorado Companies to Watch. "We're focused on second stage companies. In Colorado these are privately held, headquartered in Colorado, have between six to 99 employees, and have revenues between $750k to $50M. These are full startup companies, so they're really set to take off. The reason we focus on these companies is they make up roughly 8% of Colorado's economy, yet they account for almost 35% of all the jobs created." There's more...
Related Links: Colorado Companies to Watch || Colorado Companies to Watch Channel || PodCast Directory || Gala Event || Colorado OEDIT || Keywords: Sam Bailey, Colorado Companies to Watch, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Edward Lowe Foundation, COCTW, Nominate, Second Stage Companies - bytes=5377779
LISTEN TO: Sam Bailey, Program Director, Colorado Companies To Watch

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2014 ...6th Annual + Interviews!

Driving growth and attracting new customers
1516_ 3/17/14 - Larry is very involved with the growing and expanding organization, Colorado Companies To Watch and has met a wide variety of senior level executives. Jim Berman, Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits for GCG Financial, originally joined GCG in 1989 with the responsibility of building GCG's Employee Benefits Division in Illinois. After 13 years of leading the firm to tremendous growth in the Employee Benefits area he decided to try his skills on the Carrier side of the business. In 2003 Jim joined United Healthcare as Vice President of sales for Colorado and New Mexico. His responsibilities included developing and managing a large sales and support team, developing marketing strategies for new products and services, and driving growth in membership and profitability. In 2006 Jim was promoted to a Regional and National role in Large Accounts with the responsibility of creating and launching new products around consumer driven strategies. Jim returned to GCG in August 2009 after a five year run at United Healthcare. Jim said, "We believe in being contributing members of the communities we serve. Through our Generous Community Giving program, GCG advisors and staff participate in community service activities. Each month a team from GCG selects and participates in a worthy local charitable project. Our culture rewards teamwork. Whether we are working for you or helping in our communities, we do it together."
RELATED LINKS: GCG Financial || Colorado Companies To Watch || CCTW Channel || PodCast Directory || KEYWORDS: Jim Berman, GCG Financial, Generous Community Giving, Colorado Companies To Watch, COCTW, Employee Benefit Division, Productivity, Bottom Line, bytes=4694834
LISTEN TO: Jim Berman, CGC Sponsor -COCTW

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2014 ...6th Annual

Nominations Open
50 Colorado Companies to Watch
on w3w3® Media Network

Submit your winning nominations now...
1489_ 1/20/14 - COLORADO COMPANIES TO WATCH ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS Colorado Companies to Watch recognizes second- stage companies that are developing valuable products and services and creating quality jobs. They are currently accepting nominations for the 2013 Colorado Companies to Watch award. Companies may apply without being nominated. The nomination deadline is January 27, 2014. To learn more, please click here. This program is a perfect example of public/private partnership. We're talking to Sam Bailey, ‎Business Development Manager for the Governor's Office of Economic Development & International Trade and Program Director for (COCTW) Colorado Companies to Watch. That means he primarily works in business retention and expansion, helping existing businesses grow and expand their businesses which is now five years into the program with over 200 companies highlighted and close to, if not over a thousand finalists. Sam said, "We have really seen a lot of companies and communities come out and support these businesses - highlight them, recognize them - so the program has grown to quite a prestigious honor. This year alone we had a wonderful geographical diversity across the state of Colorado. We had companies from rural and urban communities - communities that we haven't seen on stage before. So this has been a banner year for COCTW. We're looking to continue that through outreach to our community partners across the state. It's important to note this is not a program just for the Front Range. It's for the entire state; we have companies from Durango, Carbondale, Craig, and Holly." Listen for more...
RELATED LINKS: Colorado Companies to Watch || Colorado Companies to Watch Channel || Nomination Link || Blog || Gala Event Photos || KEYWORDS: Sam Bailey, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, OEDIT, Colorado Companies to Watch, COCTW, Nominations, Colorado, Second Stage Companies, Lowe Foundation, bytes=6226236
LISTEN TO: Sam Bailey, Business Development Manager Program Director, Colorado Companies to Watch

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Sam Bailey, Perfect example of public/private partnership
Sam Bailey, Program Director, COCTW 12/19/2012
Ben Budraitis, CEO/Pres., iTruss Solutions & Founding Board Member COCTW
Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper, Small Business Impacts Economy
Penny Lewandowski, Edward Lowe Foundation
Stephanie Steffens, COCTW 11/21/2011
David Tolson, Capital Value Advisors, Presenting Sponsor 2012

Meet the Winners 2012-2013

Index of CCTW Interviews - 2012-2013

Agloves, Jennifer Spencer, President/CoFounder
AppliedTrust, Trent Hein & Ned McClain, Co-CEO/Founder
Birko Corp, Kelly Green, Owner & Mark Swanson, CEO
CourAgent, Bob Nuttall, CEO/Founder
LEC Global, Avram Saunders, President/CEO
NIMBL LLC, Yosh Eisbart, CEO/Founder
SoundTraxx, Nancy Workman, CoFounder

Index of CCTW Interviews - 2011-2012

They contribute about 86% of the employment in the state
1227_ 6/18/12 - We're talking with David Tolson, Managing Director at Capital Value Advisors investment banking firm, and they're involvement with a community project that we think is very special. Larry said, "Give us an overview of Capital Value Advisors." Dave said, "We are an investment bank which is basically a fancy term for our focus on valuations, mergers and acquisitions, both buy side and sell side representation, as well as capital raises. And we really focus on mid market, privately held businesses, anywhere between $5-$50 Million in terms of revenue." We are all really excited about the annual Colorado Companies to Watch event coming up this week, Friday, June 22, 2012. Capital Value Advisors is the presenting sponsor. David tells us they became involved about three years ago, they attended the very first Gala. It was right in the darkest depths of the economic recession. What they saw was amazing and very compelling. And that was a lot of second stage companies with great ideas, that were growing very rapidly, that were adding employees. It was such a stark contrast to what you were hearing in the news at the time, not only regionally and locally but also nationally. We looked at this and said these are the types of companies we need to support not only as a company, but quite frankly as a community need to support. Because these companies while they represent only about 8% of the overall companies in Colorado, they contribute about 36% of the total employment in the state of Colorado. So it's a wonderful place for experienced people to go and develop their business and continue to grow their business. Colorado Companies to Watch focuses on and celebrates second stage companies and really the alums who have been past winners and this year's current winners are part of a community that includes sponsors like Capital Value Advisors, community partners, media relations partners like w3w3®, as well as a host of other government and community resources that are working towards the success and trying to help these second stage companies continue to grow and prosper." Tickets are still available to attend the gala...we'll see you there...
Related Links: Capital Value Advisors || Colorado Companies to Watch || Edward Lowe Foundation || YE (Your Economy) || Colorado Companies to Watch Channel || PodCast Directory || COCTW Gala 2010 || Keywords: David Tolson, Capital Value Advisors, Edward Lowe Foundation, Colorado Companies to Watch, Gala Event, COCTW, Second Stage Companies, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, bytes=4462448
LISTEN TO: David Tolson, Managing Director, Capital Value Advisors

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Colorado companies that are making a big impact
1225_ 6/18/12 - The Edward Lowe Foundation and the Companies to Watch Program were started by Edward Lowe in Michigan. His claim to fame was that he invented Kitty Litter. With that he made his fortune and then decided he wanted to put part of that fortune back into an organization that would help make the life of an entrepreneur a little easier than what he had. So that was the genesis on which the foundation was started. Penny Lewandowski tells us "What they do is work with communities and help them understand what we call their second stage growth businesses. We help them understand those businesses and their special needs as they grow their companies, what kind of programs can be put around those companies -[ the foundation has developed a significant number of those programs] - and Companies to Watch is one of those." Larry said, "The second stage companies that you work with have such a tremendous impact on the state of Colorado." Penny replied, "You're right and I've got some numbers for you. We have a database called 'Your-Economy-dot-org'. Existing, expanding companies contribute most to U.S. job creation. In fact, from 1990 to 2008, existing companies generated 71 percent more new jobs than startups." We're talking with Penny Lewandowski, Director, Entrepreneurship & Development, Edward Lowe Foundation, about a very interesting event we have coming up on June 23rd, here in Denver. Pat and I along with lots of celebrities and well known business people will be looking for you at the Colorado Companies to Watch Gala and Award Celebration. There are plenty of good reasons for you to be there and that's why we've cornered Penny, to give us a little background about this program and why it's so important to all of us. Companies to Watch is really centered around recognizing second stage companies. "Those are companies between 6 and 99 employees with $750K to $50 Million in revenue. And these are companies that have both the intention and capacity to grow. We pay a lot of attention to them because they are huge job creators, so they are making a big difference in their communities in a lot of different ways." There's much more and we are looking forward to seeing you there on June 23rd.
Related Links: Colorado Companies to Watch || YE (Your Economy) || Edward Lowe Foundation || YE (Your Economy) || Colorado Companies to Watch Channel || PodCast Directory || Gala Event 2011 || Keywords: Penny Lewandowski, Edward Lowe Foundation, Colorado Companies to Watch, Gala Event, COCTW, Second Stage Companies, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, bytes=4359212
LISTEN TO: Penny Lewandowski, Edward Lowe Foundation

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