Briefcase February 8, 2013

ANNIVERSARIES

Thompson Valley Preschool is celebrating its anniversary with Step Up for Step Two, the Thompson Valley Preschool 40th Anniversary Gala Celebration, hosted by its board of directors. The event is at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Loveland Elks Club and will feature dinner, dancing and raffle. For more details or to purchase tickets, go to www.thompsonvalleypreschool.org or call executive director Gail Yant at 970-667-6552.

KUDOS

SPONSORED CONTENT

Empowering communities

Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP), part of the UnitedHealthcare family, has pledged its commitment to uplift these communities through substantial investments in organizations addressing the distinct needs of our communities.

The Loveland Sculpture Invitational Show and Sale presented $10,000 to the Thompson School District’s art education programs at Centennial Elementary School library in January. The $10,000 was raised directly from the 2012 Loveland Sculpture Invitational held last August.

Fitch Ratings has affirmed its ‘AA+’ rating on the Fort Collins wastewater utility enterprise sewer revenue bonds, and has assigned them a stable rating outlook. The bonds, valued at approximately $33 million, were issued in 2009 for the Mulberry Water Reclamation Facility rehabilitation. This rating is part of ongoing monitoring by Fitch Ratings; the bonds are secured by and payable from a first lien on the net revenues of the wastewater utility. Fitch Ratings said the wastewater utility’s financial profile continues to be strong, highlighted by solid DSC levels and high cash balances, as well as manageable capital costs.

NEW LOCATION

University of Colorado Health broke ground Jan. 17 on an $11-million, 30,000-square-foot cancer center in Fort Collins. All diagnostic, treatment and recovery services will be offered within the center rather than in multiple locations. More than 100 cancer survivors, oncology clinicians and community members helped design the center.

Loveland Urgent Care moved to a new office on the second floor of its building in north Loveland in January. The urgent care clinic, which has been renamed Colorado Health Medical Group Urgent Care, is located at 3850 N. Grant Ave. The urgent care is a part of Colorado Health Medical Group, formerly Poudre Valley Medical Group. It offers urgent care services for adults and children in need of care for minor injuries or illnesses.

Fort Collins-based architectural and interior design firm Oglesby Design LLC announced the opening of a new branch office in the Boise, Idaho metro area. Oglesby specializes in hospitality and corporate design projects. Recent projects include corporate offices for OtterBox and Eldon James Corporation.

NEW NAME

To reflect its broader focus, the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, a research consortium including Colorado School of Mines, CSU, the University of Colorado Boulder and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has adopted a new name: the Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory. Since its launch in 2007, the Collaboratory has focused its research efforts in biofuels and biorefining, photovoltaic energy generation and wind power. The Collaboratory is now adding carbon management and energy systems integration to its research portfolio.

Fort Collins-based multimedia communications company Visible Productions announced in January that is has changed its name to Visual Health Solutions. The new name reflects the company’s expansion in clinical knowledge transfer and patient education. Visual Health Solutions focuses on advancing communication between patients and their healthcare providers, enhancing patient self-management and engagement, improving patient outcomes and reducing the cost of healthcare.

New West Bank, with locations in Greeley and Eaton, has signed an agreement to be acquired by Bank of Colorado. New West Bank has total assets of $179 million. The bank will become part of Bank of Colorado’s 33-branch network. The transaction is anticipated to close in April of 2013, pending regulatory approval. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Aims Community College is now offering Career Academy, a program in which high school students at participating schools can get career training in career and technical education programs such as automotive service technology, collision repair, audio production, graphic design, med-prep and oil and gas technology. All costs are covered, including lab fees and books. Eligible participants may qualify for a certificate in the program of his or her choice. An open house and orientation is scheduled on Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Aims Automotive and Technology Center in Windsor for students interested in automotive service and collision.

The full-service marketing agency White Glove Marketing Group opened for business in January under partners Jenny Fischer and Kate Forgach at 148 W. Oak St. in downtown Fort Collins. The team, which also includes seven associates, offers services from SEO Web design and development to videography, graphic design and media relations. Associates include editor Dallas Heltzell, writer Michelle Venus, designer Clay Hibbitt and videographer Craig Evans.

CSU has a new online certificate for developing a safe food business. It is designed for those selling foods created in the home on a small or large scale. This safe food-handling certificate will help entrepreneurs navigate the government regulations and requirements involved. The course will cover two topics a week for eight weeks, and the first section of the course starts March 24. Registration is open now. To learn more about this certificate program, visit www.online.colostate.edu/certificates/food-safety or contact Mike Macklin, student services representative for the program, with any questions at 970-491-7583 or michael.macklin@colostate.edu.

The Marketing Department Worldwide announced in January that the company has opened its newest office in Fort Collins located at 123 N. College Ave. Suite 200. It is the company’s seventh U.S. location. Fort Collins resident Konan Hauser has been named managing partner, and the location has already signed several clients including: Construct ONE, Fort Collins Storm Soccer Club, Elevations Real Estate and jobZology. Hauser is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in advertising and marketing. To contact Hauser, call 970-219-1564 or khauser@tmworldwide.com.

If you have an item to share about name changes, new products or business news of note, e-mail it to Maggie Shafer at mshafer@ncbr.com, or mail it to Briefcase at NCBR, 155O E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525.