ESSENTIALS: Promotions, honors, new hires, new businesses

HONORS
• Kristen McGee was named the 2010 Emerging Fundraising Professional and Brinah L. Vincent was honored as the 2010 Outstanding Fundraising Executive at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Summit on Philanthropy. McGee is the development and communications director at Northern Churches Care. Vincent is a founding member of the AFP Southern Colorado Chapter and a local trainer on topics related to nonprofit excellence.

EDUCATION
• University of the Rockies, a graduate school specializing in psychology programs at the master’s and doctoral levels, announced the promotion of Stephen Kirkpatrick to vice president for publications. Kirkpatrick will continue to also serve as dean of the School of Organizational Leadership. He has more than 35 years of experience in industrial and organizational psychology.

DIRECT SALES
• Direct-sell fashion jewelry company lia sophia recently announced top honors for its Excellent Beginnings Program Achievers for their outstanding sales accomplishments and professionalism. They include Jill Gandy, Liz Magur and Angie Chatman of Colorado Springs. The company also announced the promotion of Leslie McKiernan from Adviser to Unit Manager.
• James and Becky Brewster, of Colorado Springs, recently joined thousands of entrepreneurs at the 2010 Shaklee Goblal Conference in Anaheim, Calif. At the event, Shaklee Corp. announced it has surpassed $5 billion dollars in commissions paid to its more than 1.2 million Shaklee Family members worldwide. Shaklee is a leading provider of natural nutrition products, personal care products and environmentally friendly home care products.

OTHER INDUSTRIES
• Griffis/Blessing announced its selection by the Rosenbaum and Dean Companies to provide property management services for its three shopping centers: Market at Chapel Hills East, Market at Chapel Hills West and Woodmen Commons Shopping Center. Suzan Parra, assisted by Taryn Nelson, will manage the centers.
• Bob Gualtieri of Play It Again Sports of Colorado Springs recently returned from the sporting goods franchiser’s annual summer trade show in Minneapolis.
• Kristy Milligan is the new executive director of Citizens Project, a grass-roots organization with the mission of providing a voice for diversity, inclusion and religious freedom in Colorado Springs. Milligan is a Colorado Springs native with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
• JE Dunn Construction recently celebrated the ribbon cutting of the new Weikel Elementary School at Fort Carson, along with administration, school staff and community members. JE Dunn served as general contractor on the 13-month, $13 million project.
• Colorado Springs-based Hi-Point Home Builders and G.J. Gardner Homes have joined forces as G.J. Gardner Homes-Northgate. This creates the second G.J. Gardner franchise in El Paso County.
• Security Service Federal Credit Union is accepting scholarship applications from area college-bound high school seniors graduating in the spring of 2011. Fifteen outstanding seniors will each be awarded with a $1,000 one-time scholarship to assist them in paying for a college education. Students can download the application online at ssfcu org. The deadline for submitting applications is Jan. 31.
• Stockman Kast Ryan + Co., the largest locally owned certified public accounting firm in southern Colorado, announced the hiring of Chuck Anderson as audit consultant.

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