Everything you want to know about business and personal insurance. Michael Janzen of American Family Insurance shares a wealth of information with Colorado Springs Business Journal Publisher Amy Gillentine in this Community Conversation held October 29, 2021.

Topics include how the pandemic-related supply chain challenges are impacting insurance rates, why we need insurance agents, and what to look for when choosing an agent for commercial insurance. Did you know Colorado has one of the highest property damage rates in the country due to our wind and hail? Or that the state's laws are very favorable for litigious plaintiff's attorneys? Michael also gives us an inside view of how insurance companies calculate rates.

Thank you to Intergy Private Wealth for sponsoring this series.

Community Conversations are free, live lunchtime webinars hosted by the Colorado Springs Business Journal. For registration and information, visit https://www.csbj.com/events.

LINKS:

Colorado Springs Business Journal https://www.csbj.com/

Michael Janzen Agency – American Family Insurance https://www.amfam.com/agents/colorado/colorado-springs/michael-janzen

Intergy Private Wealth https://intergywealth.com/

About Peak Town Square: Join us in the town square! Colorado Springs' movers and shakers take the mic to share what's happening in our city. Politics, art, culture, recreation, business, food and health – everything is on the table. These partner organizations contribute episodes:

Colorado Springs Business Journal

Colorado Springs Independent

Southeast Express

Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs

Don't miss an episode. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode:

Is inflation skewing the projected income numbers for Colorado Springs? Does tourism cause headaches for Colorado Springs in the future? What are the draws for new businesses? The 30th street buildout. A bargain or ........................ Is Colorado Springs trying to emulate Denver and should it? Is the fire department prepared for high rise structures being planned for downtown? What are the attendant costs associated with growth?

Running a non-profit is not all heart and no head, as Teddy Rosendo says in this conversation about managing non-profits and philanthropy in today's climate. The panelists offer their candid take on a variety of management issues in this Community Conversation hosted by the Colorado Springs Business Journal on October 22, 2021.

Sponsor: Intergy Private Wealth https://intergywealth.com/

Moderator: Bryan Grossman, Editor in Chief of the Colorado Springs Business Journal

Panelists:

Teddy Rosendo of Spur Philanthropy https://spurphilanthropy.com/

Lisa Amend James, Executive Director of the Give Campaign https://indygive.com/

Community Conversations are free, live lunchtime webinars hosted by the Colorado Springs Business Journal. For registration and information, visit https://www.csbj.com/events.

LINKS:

Colorado Springs Business Journal https://www.csbj.com/

About Peak Town Square: Join us in the town square! Colorado Springs' movers and shakers take the mic to share what's happening in our city. Politics, art, culture, recreation, business, food and health – everything is on the table. These partner organizations contribute episodes:

Colorado Springs Business Journal

Colorado Springs Independent

Southeast Express

Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs

Don't miss an episode. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode:

What do local medical experts have to say about safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, masking, mandates and especially hesitancy to get vaccinated? Southeast Express and KOAA convened this Coffee Connect panel to get some answers. This panel discussion took place on September 29, 2021.

Moderators:

• Marcus Hill of Southeast Express Alasyn Zimmerman of KOAA-TV

Panelists:

• Dr. Robin Johnson, El Paso County Public Health Dr. Elisabeth Vanse, Peak Vista Community Health Centers Dr. Richard Vu, Matthews-Vu Medical Group

Sponsors:

El Paso County Public Health Department https://www.elpasocountyhealth.org/

Matthews-Vu Medical Group https://www.matthewsvu.com/

Peak Vista Community Health Centers https://www.peakvista.org/

LINKS:

CDC: Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Near You https://www.vaccines.gov/

Southeast Express https://www.southeastexpress.org/

About Peak Town Square: Join us in the town square! Colorado Springs' movers and shakers take the mic to share what's happening in our city. Politics, art, culture, recreation, business, food and health – everything is on the table. These partner organizations contribute episodes:

Colorado Springs Business Journal

Colorado Springs Independent

Southeast Express

Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs

Don't miss an episode. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode:

Is there really long range planning for the budget? Are the forecast assumptions real? Is a 5% sales tax growth rate real? What about inflation? Is enough being allowed for operating expenditures and capital outlays? What's that $1.7B needed? Should this area be more robust? Allowing for a 1.0% increase? Isn't this getting into Smoke & Mirrors territory?

What are the risks to Colorado Springs? What are the opportunities for Colorado Springs? Should the city be bonding like other communities to get projects completed in a timely manner? There's a Colorado Springs Utilities increase coming your way. Can CSU help it?

How are area school districts addressing staffing and budget challenges, COVID protocols, politics, diversity and other divisive social issues? The Colorado Springs Business Journal convened this panel of superintendents, the people in charge of steering students to business and workplace success. It's a candid and hard-hitting discussion, moderated by Helen Robinson, Managing Editor of the Colorado Springs Business Journal.

Presenting Sponsor: Kaiser Permanente https://thrive.kaiserpermanente.org/

Sponsors:

GH Phipps Construction Company https://www.ghphipps.com/

Harrison School District 2 https://www.hsd2.org/

OfficeScapes https://www.officescapes.com/

RTA Architects https://rtaarchitects.com/

Wember https://wemberinc.com/

Careers in Construction https://www.buildcolorado.com/cic-0

LINKS:

Kaiser Permanente Arts Integrated Resources http://www.artsintegratedresources.org/

Women of Influence November 4 https://www.csbj.com/events

Colorado Springs Business Journal https://www.csbj.com/

About Peak Town Square: Join us in the town square! Colorado Springs' movers and shakers take the mic to share what's happening in our city. Politics, art, culture, recreation, business, food and health – everything is on the table. These partner organizations contribute episodes:

Colorado Springs Business Journal

Colorado Springs Independent

Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs

Don't miss an episode. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode:

Is the city spending your money wisely? But before you vote checkout the spending measures. What is really needed to run the city? Is the $400.6M enough to provide all the needed services including police and fire protection? ? Should it be more? Can Home Owner's Associations file appeals or is it up to individuals? What does a city council meeting and discussion look like? Councilman Bill Murray takes you through step by step.

Councilman Bill Murray is interviewed by the Wall Street Journal about evacuation procedures and processes for Colorado Springs. This is a timely subject that needs immediate attention. Is Colorado Springs prepared for the next catastrophic emergency? Are the plans and procedures in place? Does Colorado Springs have the necessary equipment and manpower currently in place?

Are evacuation maps available to the citizens? What's Fleet Modeling? Should Colorado Springs quit building? I s Colorado Springs already overbuilt? What is Colorado Springs all about? Would you call the new apartment complexes in Down Town Colorado Springs "Affordable Housing?" What is WUI?

These and other topics are discussed by Councilman Bill Murray's guests: Dana Duggan, Richard Smith, Jim Shirey, and Bill Wysong.

What should Colorado Springs do with the money it's getting from the American Recovery Plan Act and the State, Local, Fiscal Recovery fund? Will it be treated like a Slush Fund? Should the mayor have complete control over its distribution or should city council have a say? What should be done with Infrastructure & Jobs Act money when it arrives?

A shuttle system? Roads & Bridges? Replenishment of LART funds? A sprinkler system? Pick winners in certain businesses and let the losers go?