Did you know?  Colorado ranks #2 behind California for being the most onerous for employers in regards to compliance and requirements to employ, legislative burden, and yet, our business economy is chugging along nicely. So what does that tell you? Employers want to be here, but they will not keep coming if we keep piling on the requirements for employment.

Tyler Johnston, Sr. Partner and VP of Sales for Vida HR and Vida Benefits offerings pearls of experience into the realm of human resource outsourcing. Serving businesses in nearly every vertical, Vida HR helps small to midsize employers to navigate the complex landscape of human resources and all our current at-will state (Colorado) requires. Tyler helps listeners with the dos and don'ts and the formal processes required to properly create compensation plans, onboarding, training, payroll, compliance, retention, off-board employees, and so much more...

Learn about the efforts to change legislation in Colorado from an "at-will" state to a fixed term employment agreement state that would be cost-prohibitive and to detriment of employers who would otherwise like to explore investment and/or expansion in the state's business ecosystems.

Learn about this unique Colorado Companies which has been on of Colorado Companies to Watch and how they can serve your organization for a fraction of the cost of in-house HR.

Website: https://www.vidahr.com

Aside from the "big three" - aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and cyber, there are several industry  sectors in southeast Colorado that continue to show signs of hiring for Q2, 2025: 

Traci also discusses something called an LER - Learned Education Record. These are the skills we learn along the way that are transferable from one industry to another. 

Learn more about these topics and far more at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center website: https://ppwfc.org/ 

Host Dirk Hobbs meets up with founder Trent Urban and his son, Gavin Urban to showcase one of the region's top Home Services businesses, WireNut on this week's TrueNORTH and The So. Colorado Business Digest. 

Learn the origins of the company as a family business that is this year, celebrating it's 20th anniversary. Keeping our home's core mechanical systems in tip top shape can help avoid costly repairs downstream and even keep our home values up when resale time comes around. 

Looking for an opportunity? Hear about their desire to develop a locally based workforce in Pueblo. 

Website: https://thewirenut.com/ 

Colorado Springs banking executive Brett Wyss discusses the rise of Integrity Bank from the early 2000s through the 2008 recession, covid and post-covid markets, and other hallmark seasons in the Colorado economy. 

Brett explains the wisdom and disciplines gained through the more difficult seasons of banking and how those lessons shaped his leadership and keeping Integrity Bank strong for their customers regardless of external influences. 

Wyss also shares some of his perspectives on the current economic climate, as well as the next 12-18 months for interest rates, the housing market, and more. 

Website: https://www.integritybankandtrust.com/ 

Our mission is to provide innovative technologies, information and services that improve the quality and reliability of airline travel. In the event that something goes wrong, FlightHound will offer support for travelers, airlines and other parties involved to reach a fair and cost-effective resolution.

FlightHound will provide airline passengers with an efficient, transparent disruption claims process and improve their overall travel experience.  Providing immediate accurate delay compensation options will reduce financial consequences for passengers.

FlightHound will provide airlines with real-time, quantifiable visibility to disruption analytics. Our claims submission process will give airlines immediate access to real-time actionable analytics.  This “service forward” strategy will bolster corporate responsibility, improve customer satisfaction and mitigate disruption impacts.

FlightHound will provide online travel agencies(OTAs) disruption claim services creating additional revenue opportunities. Partnering with FlightHound will be highly advantageous to growing their customer base and offerings.

https://flighthound.app/about-us

A deep dive into several Colorado House Bills that are in this legislative session. Several of which have an impact on the physicians and health practices as explained from the lens of Legislative Action leaders from the El Paso County Medical Society, Dr. Brian Kilmartin and CEO, Natalie Myers. 

Website: https://epcms.org 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) as we know of it today is here and touches nearly every aspect of our lives in some way, shape or form.

But AI is not new when you look back at the tools we've used over the past half century. However, the kind of AI we talk about today does have far wider reaching implications than the "problem solving" and automation AI of the past. 

Enter Motis OneAI - led by Dr. Rick Beaton and Dr. AnneMarie Artzen. Motis OneAI is a Strategy Consulting firm specializing in Human-Centered Change Solutions for workforce efficiency.

​We work with senior leaders to leverage the Power of AI, while integrating their Business, Technology, and Human Systems to improve productivity and optimize performance.

This rich conversation will provide powerful insights into how organizations can prepare themselves for the intended and unintended consequences and change dynamics associated with the the installation of various artificial intelligence tools.  

Motis OneAI. Experts in Business & People.

Website: https://www.motisone.ai/ 

Optum Heath's Michael Harper, DO - Family Medicine, and Kendra Robison, MD - Senior Medical Director for Primary Care, discuss the ability to identify and manage the symptoms associated with seasonal depression. 

Feeling blue and sluggish during the winter months for more than a few days may indicate you fighting seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD). But there are available solutions to help mitigate and even avoid intense bouts with SAD. 

Listen in as Harper and Robison provide validating insights into how you may be feeling during the longer winter nights and mornings, and ideas to help manage the disorder to help improve work and home life interactions. And we'll also understand where the disorder may be an indication of something more substantial in your mental health. 

Website: https://optum.com/colorado 

Vance Brown, founder of Colorado Springs' Exponential Impact (XI) named Max Cupp as Executive Director for one of the region's top business accelerators.  

“From the first cohort in 2018 to today, XI has taken a holistic approach to creating community and a culture of innovation & collaboration. We develop founders and startups by equipping them with resources and expertise, then strengthen their connections to create exponential growth & enduring impact for their business. ”

This informative interview with Cupp expounds on what XI is positioned to do for early stage companies located in the region. Here, we'll learn more about XI Accelerator offers multiple rigorous, holistic 12-week programs to support founders at every stage for emerging technology startups, from start to scale. At XI, we don’t just value profit - we value people., and XI Survive & Thrive a funding, mentorship, and programming for Colorado Springs-based entrepreneurs. To date, XI has infused $4 million into local businesses to spur economic growth in our region.

Website: https://www.exponentialimpact.com/ 

Colorado’s second-stage companies are high-performing, innovative trailblazers, driving economic growth across every industry sector and region of the state. These companies not only provide thousands of high-quality jobs but also contribute billions of dollars back to our local economies, propelling Colorado’s economic landscape to take flight.

Colorado Companies to Watch (CCTW) certifies and celebrates these transformative contributions. Since its inception, CCTW has honored nearly 800 companies, generating billions of dollars in economic impact and helping businesses soar to new heights of success.

Launched in 2009 by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) in partnership with the Edward Lowe Foundation, community partners, and dedicated volunteers, CCTW continues to elevate its alumni network. By fostering collaboration, strategic partnerships, and leveraging vital resources, CCTW ensures these exceptional companies continue to grow, thrive, and take flight in shaping Colorado’s vibrant economic future.

Business Digest Weekly welcomes guest, Jon-Michael Horst, Program Manager for CCTW to how CCTW is intentionally seeking out Stage II companies located in El Paso and Pueblo counties to create and develop further momentum for southeast Colorado business ecosystem.  Learn more about the Pikes Peak Chapter of Colorado Companies to Watch and how to get involved. 

WEBSITE:  https://coloradocompaniestowatch.org/