Business Digest – May 27, 2011

OPENINGS

Solectria Renewables LLC, a photovoltaic inverter manufacturer based in Lawrence, Massachusetts, opened a sales office in Louisville. John Shaw will operate the office from his home. Phone is 303-913-4656.

Boulder-based Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe opened a 6,305-square-foot store at 14644 Orchard Parkway in the Orchard Town Center in Westminster. Grandrabbit’s, founded and owned by Lynne Milot, has operated a specialty toy store in Boulder since 1977.

BRIEFS

Boulder-based Catapult PR-IR, a public and investor relations firm for technology companies, was ranked as Colorado’s top PR firm focused exclusively on technology by O’Dwyer’s 2011 PR Firm Rankings based on audited, annual net billings. This was the fourth consecutive year that Catapult was recognized with the top ranking for the technology sector, and it ranked 43rd nationally among technology PR firms.

Lafayette-based Aegis Analytical Corp., a provider of manufacturing and process intelligence software, announced that Shire Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, will deploy Aegis’ Discoverant as its data analysis, management and reporting solution for product scale-up and production. Shire will use Discoverant to help manage its relationships with contract manufacturing organizations by simplifying collaboration and data sharing.

Rockingham County, North Carolina selected data-storage equipment made by Longmont-based Dot Hill Systems Corp. The county bought Dot Hill’s AssuredSAN 3920 array, a commercial off-the-shelf storage system that scales to handle growing storage needs.

Garrett Ammon, artistic director of Broomfield-based Ballet Nouveau Colorado, received a 2011 Livingston Fellowship totaling $25,000 from the nonprofit Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. $20,000 will be used to enhance leadership skills, and $5,000 will support related development activities.

Denver-based Bellco Credit Union will offer its clients discounted access to EstateLogic, an online toll for estate preparation developed by Louisville-based Executor’s Resource Inc.

EstateLogic is an online organizer that helps users catalog and store legal documents like wills, tax returns and birth certificates, and also personal information like photos, social media accounts and videos. The program also provides action plans, checklists and suggestions to help people personalize estate planning. Bellco members will receive a discount on EstateLogic, and pay anywhere from $3.65 to $12.85 per month, a 20 percent discount.

Purchasing and interior design firm Benjamin West in Boulder has wrapped up work on its 500th Marriott-branded property – the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, California. The furniture, fixture and equipment project was part of a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of the hotel.

CONTRACTS

Boulder-based Continental Technologies LLC will build a lab to make jet biofuel for Avjet Biotech Inc. in North Carolina. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. A lab facility is to be built at North Carolina State University to integrate all of the school’s biofuel processing steps into one facility. Continental will work on one scale of operation that produces about 20 liters of biofuel per hour; and another scale of operation that would generate 40,000 gallons per month as part of the agreement.

Longmont-based Parascript LLC, an image analysis and pattern recognition technology provider, announced that Austell Gas System, a natural gas distribution company in Georgia, has implemented Aperta’s Visual Remittance and Payments Application, which incorporates Parascript’s check and form recognition software. The software allows the automatic processing of payment stubs and checks, as well as charitable donations from customers electing to give $1, $3 or $5 on top of their bill to a local nonprofit organization.

Broomfield-based Level 3 Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: LVLT) was selected by HBO to be a provider of content delivery network services supporting the HBO GO mobile-app delivery initiative. The application, which launched on May 2, gives HBO subscribers access to HBO programming on their Apple, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch as well as select Android devices.

Boulder-based Transformance Advisors was hired by Volvo Powertrain to assist with its lean manufacturing efforts within its engine and transmission facility in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Boulder-based language service provider Lanza Language Inc. received a federal contract from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to translate its 1,050-page safety manual into Spanish.

VOCO Creative, a full-service marketing, brand strategy and public relations firm located in Denver and Boulder, was hired by Denver-based White Girl Salsa and Golden-based Alpine Remediation.

Boulder-based Organic Vintners, seller and importer of wines made from 100 percent certified organically grown grapes, has appointed Boulder-based Compass Natural as its public relations and communications agency of record. Compass Natural will provide strategic marketing, communications and public relations to help further brand awareness and increase sales of Organic Vintners’ wines.

SERVICES

Boulder-based Benjamin West, a global purchasing firm for furniture, fixtures and equipment and operating services and equipment for the hotel industry, FF&E purchasing services on its 500th Marriott-branded property with the anticipated completion of the multimillion -dollar refurbishment of the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, Calif. The company has been involved in the construction or refurbishment of more than 100 Courtyards by Marriott, more than 100 Fairfield Inns & Suites and more than 100 Residence Inns, in addition to numerous hotels under the flags of Springhill Suites, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, TownePlace Suites, Renaissance Hotels and more than a dozen Ritz-Carlton hotels.

Boulder-based Pike Research launched its Energy Management Advisory Service, a subscription-based information tool that provides market intelligence and strategy insights for companies seeking to more efficiently manage the energy consumption of their own organizations, as well as those looking to leverage information technologies and managed services for enterprise energy management applications.

Front Range Community College in Longmont will offer a GED preparation class evenings and Saturdays from May 31 to Aug. 8 that includes classroom instruction and 24/7 online lessons.

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