A Literary Life

Portfolio of Kate Jonuska

Browsing the archives for the Portfolio category.

Home & Style: Aspen View Homes

Phenomenal down-market success paints even brighter future
By Kate Jonuska

The real estate market has struggled under a cloud the last few years, and yet with the right combination of quality product, ideal price and customer service, Aspen View Homes has proven that a bad economy can’t keep a good builder down – or from continuing upwards with incredible success, for that matter.

“From 2008 to 2009, we grew 35 percent, and then we’re projecting to grow between 80 and 100 percent from 2009 to 2010,” says Aspen View’s division manager Bruce Martin. “The first six months of 2010, we’re probably going to triple our closings from last year to this year.”

Currently active in three communities, Aspen View is more than 90 percent sold in Country Side North and 60 percent sold in Freedom Heights, both near Fort Carson. Near the Black Forest in their Forest Meadows neighborhood, building is entering its third phase of development, offering 60-foot spacious frontages, mountain views, park-adjacent lots and walking trails.

“Our success has really improved our ability to offer great customer service. We’ve been able to hire more people to stay on top of the building process and follow our customers through the process of signing the contract all the way to handing them their keys,” says Martin. With more resources to devote to buyers, he knows their impressive customer satisfaction figures in the 90th percentile and the 30 percent of customers who are personal referrals will only increase.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the March 7, 2010 Springs Home & Style.

Home & Style: Aspen View Homes was published on March 7th, 2010, under the Portfolio, Real Estate category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Jobs: ADD STAFF


Local staffing firm celebrates 25 years of success
By Kate Jonuska

In 1984, one woman with a passion for helping people find work took out a loan to start a locally owned and operated staffing agency. Twenty five years later, ADD STAFF founder and president Cari Shaffer is rightfully proud of and excited by the independent company’s success.

“We’ve employed more than 38,500 individuals since 1984,” says Shaffer, who started with mainly accounting and administrative staffing, and then expanded into technical, executive and direct hire arenas – recently introducing allied medical staffing, as well. “When we made it to five years, we were elated of course, but I was sure not to rest on those laurels … Turning 25 made me think it’s been such a quick 25 years. It’s a fast ride, but it’s been so much fun.”

Along with a team of dedicated, mostly long-term employees, Shaffer has built ADD STAFF into the best locally based, independent staffing agency in Colorado Springs by focusing on creating relationships and serving the needs of both hiring companies and job seekers, considering both to be clients deserving of top notch treatment.

“We effect a huge piece of a person’s life, because you spend so much time at work,” she explains. “On the other side of the coin, companies also spend a lot of time with their employees, who can be truly negative or positive to their business. So if you can place an employee with an organization where they fit happily, they bring so much to the table.”

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this story, which published in the Feb. 28, 2010 Spring Jobs.

Jobs: ADD STAFF was published on February 28th, 2010, under the Portfolio, Special Sections category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Jobs: Regis University

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By Kate Jonuska

0221jobs-insetCareer dissatisfaction often stems from a feeling that something is missing, whether that’s time, self expression, financial reward or personal fulfillment. The beauty of pursuing a continuing education in a helping field such as counseling is that you might not only find and fix the source of your own unhappiness, you’re also equipped to try to improve the lives of others, which might ultimately be the larger reward.

“I’ve never done anything as fulfilling as counseling in my life,” says JoLynne Reynolds, assistant dean of the School of Education and Counseling, a division of Regis University’s School of Professional Studies. “There’s a sense that you’re honoring the humaness in all of us, meeting people where they are and not judging them, but helping them examine their lives and find ways to be more happy and fulfilled.”

Offering masters of arts degrees in counseling (which leads to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor) as well as marriage and family therapy (designed for aspiring Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists), Regis finds that many students are drawn toward counseling’s physical benefits. The median salary is $45,000 to $50,000, for instance, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts employment of mental health counselors will grow by 30 percent through 2016.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the Feb. 21, 2010 Springs Jobs.

Jobs: Regis University was published on February 21st, 2010, under the Portfolio, Special Sections category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

GO!: Switchfoot in concert

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By Kate Jonuska

switchfoot-insetAfter three albums underneath Christian music giant Sparrow records, followed by three albums with Columbia Records/Sony BMG, alternative rock band Switchfoot abandoned solid corporate ground to found their own label, lowercase people records. Judging from the burst of creativity that followed, the gutsy move was exactly the catalyst Switchfoot needed to move forward.

“It feels like a new chapter for us. It’s like starting the band over again,” says Tim Foreman, bass guitar and vocals, noting that the band produced four albums worth of material during that period of inspiration. “It really led to a prolific time of exploring what is possible for Switchfoot to do, of exploring our boundaries.”

The first fruits of this inspired new material emerged in November 2009 with the release of “Hello Hurricane,” with others sure to follow. Foreman says the title speaks to the individual and collective storms Switchfoot has weathered over the years, “that we can’t predict when these storms will occur or what they will destroy, but we can decide how we respond to them. We want to be singing into the storm and not running away.”

It’s a positive message that no matter how the group evolves, Switchfoot fans will recognize: The band has a long history with the Christian music scene and doesn’t shy away from speaking of their personal Christian faith.

“For us, it feels very natural to include faith in our music. Our songs aren’t afraid to tackle big issues or say we don’t have it all figured out,” says Foreman, who believes that faith and art are inseparable. “You can go places in a song you can’t go in a conversation. In a song, everything is fair game.”

Even so, the band eschews the label of “Christian rock,” explaining that Christianity is a faith rather than a genre.

“That label is a marketing question of where people rack the CDs. Our music belongs in bigger pond than that,” says Foreman. “As a band we’ve tried to stay outside a specific scene and make music that appeals to everyone, that doesn’t isolate people in boxes.”

Instead of singing only to one group or type of people, instead Switchfoot instead focuses on singing their hearts out, putting all their passion into making each live show unique, a strategy for which “Hello Hurricane” is ideally suited.

“This is an album where we were really focused on how it would translate live, and therefore it’s probably our favorite album to play live,” says Foreman. “Right now we have a renewed excitement for making music. It’s a great time to be a band, and we’re really thankful that we get to do this every night.”

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the GO! section of The Gazette on Feb. 19, 2010.

GO!: Switchfoot in concert was published on February 19th, 2010, under the Arts and Entertainment, Portfolio category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Gazette: Air Force Athletics aims for air guitar record

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By Kate Jonuska

air-guitar-insetApparently, the people over at Guinness World Records take the playing of imaginary instruments quite seriously, or so found the Air Force Academy Athletics department as they planned their most recent and rather wacky promotion: Rock for the Cure, an attempt to break the world record for largest air guitar ensemble during half time of the Air Force Women’s Basketball game against New Mexico on Feb. 20.

“The record is 1,436 held by a university in Canada,” says athletic marketing assistant and event organizer Matt Swearingen, who says the Falcon Athletic Center’s capacity exceeds 5,000. “We’d love to pack the place, just blow the roof off the building and crush the record, so we can be sure we’ll hold it for a long time. We’ve got to get (the record) back to the United States.”

The world-record attempt was conceived as a way of boosting attendance at the Feb. 20 game, which the AFA has dedicated to breast cancer awareness, providing information about early detection and cancer support organizations and offering free admission to all comers clothed in pink. The female-friendly theme seems fitting seeing that Feb. 20 is National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and AFA coaches are hosting a free clinic for female athletes in eighth grade and younger before the game.

“There’s so much going on in people’s lives that’s serious, so you need to take some time to be a little goofy and get out there with your friends,” says Swearingen. “We thought anybody could lay down a riff on the air guitar.”

Turns out that everybody can play, but not just anyone can take home the record. Guinness World Records has strict guidelines for hopeful air guitar ensembles, including that each participant must sign a ledger – witnessed by two people – and the group must be led by an air guitar expert, someone with experience in recognized air guitar competitions.

In addition, the group must play their invisible guitars in unison for at least three official air guitar moves. Yes, there are official moves, such as The Who’s windmill and AC/DC’s Angus Young duck walk.

“There’s all kinds of documentation, 15 pages of guidelines we need to follow,” says Swearingen. “It’s kind of a big deal if you’re going to be in the record book next to the woman with 8-foot-long fingernails or the world’s the tallest guy. You have to earn it.”

Anyone interesting in participating can log on to Air Force Athletic’s Facebook page (search “Go Air Force Falcons”) to choose the perfect song to pretend to play to. Wear pink for free admission, or log on to www.goairforcefalcons.com to purchase tickets. As for potential expert leaders, the choice is still up in the air and Air Force athletics would love to hear from any experienced air guitarists in the Pikes Peak Region ready to help bring the record home.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in The Gazette on Feb. 19, 2010.

Gazette: Air Force Athletics aims for air guitar record was published on February 19th, 2010, under the Arts and Entertainment, Portfolio category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Jobs: University of the Rockies

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By Kate Jonuska

0214jobs-insetReorganizing your resume, practicing your interview skills and polishing your professional appearance are all vital ways of marketing yourself for a new position or new promotion, but those with true ambition and drive realize that often education and only education can get your foot in the door of your dream office.

“In an intellectual society like ours and a service economy like ours, education becomes a huge benefit to those that have it and a detriment to those that don’t,” says Dr. Ernest Price, provost of the University of the Rockies, a psychology-focused graduate school based in Colorado Springs. “Less than 30 percent of Americans have any degree at all – and that’s a big number – but that means 70 percent don’t. Once you get down to masters and doctoral numbers, which are the programs we offer, it becomes less than 2 percent.”

Among that 2 percent of graduate degrees, Price believes one of the most valuable across many fields is the study of organizational leadership, which is a great extension of the university’s specialization in psychology.

“It’s a great adjunct to the clinical (psychology) program, which is concerned with the ways individuals act and think,” he explains. “But organizational leadership lends itself to those that want to focus within organizations, looking into the minds and behavior of people as a group. It’s analyzes why people and therefore why organizations behave as they do, and then gives you the ability to guide that organization toward its goals.”

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the Feb. 14, 2010 Springs Jobs.

Jobs: University of the Rockies was published on February 14th, 2010, under the Portfolio, Special Sections category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Home & Style: G.J. Gardner Homes

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By Kate Jonuska

0207hs-insetWhen it becomes clear that you want to build your next home, the first choice you’re forced to make is between national and custom builders, as if they’re two diametrically opposed sides of a scale. On one side lies choice and personalization, while cost and convenience weigh heavily on the opposite. But with a unique method of operation, honed over decades of building experience,

G.J. Gardner Homes had found a way to bridge the gap, offering completely customizable homes in an efficient and cost-effective manner – astonishingly cost effective, starting in the high $100,000s.

“We bring all the good things about an international builder to the table, things like proven systems, scheduling, buying power,” says Brook Swientisky, who directs G.J. Gardner’s Colorado operations, explaining that each office of the international company is a local franchise. “There are a lot of efficiencies builders like us have, but then we partner up with local builders, growing locally owned and operated businesses, too.”

When the Colorado Springs G.J. Gardner opened almost two years ago, it was 25-year veteran of custom building in El Paso County Dennis Wheets who took the helm, along with his wife and family.

“In the last two years, I still haven’t built the same house twice, not even close,” says Wheets, who teamed up with the company because “they built their reputation on custom building, and that is what I was doing in my work, so it’s a really good partnership. The G.J. Gardner systems that they have in place have helped me tremendously with things like scheduling, supervising, advertising, but I don’t have to change anything about the quality of service I offer.”

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the the Feb. 7, 2010 Home & Style.

Home & Style: G.J. Gardner Homes was published on February 7th, 2010, under the Portfolio, Real Estate category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Featured Home: Bringing Skyway down to earth

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Charming vintage rancher a hot ticket into a great neighborhood
By Kate Jonuska

Many of the properties that grace the cover of Springs Houses are lavish, upscale homes because, honestly, they’re pretty fun to read and dream about, but in addition to luxurious amenities, such homes come attached to high-end price tags. Therefore, this week’s featured property is a breath of fresh air, an adorable and attainable 1950s rancher in Skyway that’s sure to awaken the real estate dreams of families with limited resources but big plans.

“Skyway is one of my favorite neighborhoods. Many young families are discovering the area, moving into the classic ranchers and revamping them,” says Eric Scott of the Stuart Scott Limited Group at ERA Shields, who lists the three-bedroom, three-bath rancher for $273,500. “To get into (School) District 12 and the Skyway neighborhood at this price point – especially in a single-family home in a mature neighborhood – is a great opportunity. District 12 has won numerous awards and it’s had the highest CSAP scores in the state since 2006.”

With its brick exterior and bright white shutters, the home charms from the outset. Surprisingly open plan for a home built in 1956, the original hardwood floors lead through a living room with a bay window and a refinished natural stone fireplace into the dining area. Completing the circle is the kitchen, which offers black and stainless steel appliances, including a flat-top range.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the Feb. 6, 2010 Springs Houses.

Featured Home: Bringing Skyway down to earth was published on February 6th, 2010, under the Portfolio, Real Estate category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Featured Home: Modeling the lifestyle

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Families can experience ideal Colorado living in model-quality Monument home
By Kate Jonuska

In real estate, you usually begin describing a home at the front, because obviously that’s where you begin to experience it. This week’s featured property, however, is best done in reverse, starting just past the backyard fence with the lovely mountain view.

“The best feature, of course, is the the view. Pikes Peak, Mount Herman, the Air Force Academy, it’s all there, and the air shows looks fabulous from here,” says Kathryn Newman of The Platinum Group Realtors, who lists the six-bedroom, four-bath home for $454,670. “The home was really built around the views,” she continues. “I often tell clients to come here in the evening to watch the sunset from here. It’s pretty stunning.”

Such thoughtful planning is certainly why the view is best enjoyed from the heart of the home, a great room with a combined bayed informal eating area, the kitchen and a soaring two-story living room. The latter includes a floor-to-ceiling wall of windows, a gas fireplace, built-ins, and several art niches and shelves. The kitchen appliances have been recently upgraded to stainless steel, adding to features such as a five-burner flat-top range, cherry cabinets and custom tile counter tops with a leather-like finish.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the Jan. 30, 2010 Springs Houses.

Featured Home: Modeling the lifestyle was published on January 30th, 2010, under the Portfolio, Real Estate category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

Jobs: GCM Lincolnshire Arbora

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By Kate Jonuska

0124jobs-insetEvery career requires you to become an expert in something, whether that specialty is working with people, sales, research, design or predicting the stock market. But the trained and talented professionals at career-management firm GCM Lincolnshire Arbora specialize in careers themselves, other peoples’ careers and how to improve them.

“Most people have never been taught what to do to maximize their careers to where they want to be. They basically let the company take care of it or let chance take care of it,” says GCM CEO Mark Renn. “What we do is empower people to move in the direction they want. That can mean getting a certain position, but it can also mean getting to another level or moving laterally. We do everything from career transitioning to maximizing their position in the industry they’re already in.”

GCM’s certified career counselors are more than head hunters, more than human resource professionals. Instead, much like actors and athletes have agents, a career manager is the person in your corner, representing your best interests. By charting your career path, they’re able to pin down your passions and talents, maximize your marketability, find the best opportunities and even negotiate terms to your best advantage.

“In today’s world, we find everyone is doing a job search incorrectly in different ways, in some way. We have a very strong, quality process that makes things happen for our clients,” explains Renn, who says GCM’s clients are getting jobs very quickly despite a slower job market. “People should really check into our services to see if it’s right fit for them, because frankly, if we can shorten that job search even one month or two – and they will with us – that’s a tremendous amount of money to recoup.”

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the Jan. 24, 2010 Springs Jobs.

Jobs: GCM Lincolnshire Arbora was published on January 24th, 2010, under the Portfolio, Special Sections category. There are currently no comments on this article so far.

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