What does it take to keep utility service reliable as Colorado Springs grows? Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Travas Deal joins Dirk Hobbs on The Business Signal for a wide-ranging conversation about the decisions behind customer bills and the infrastructure the region will need in the years ahead.

The discussion covers electric rates and fuel costs, the proposed 2027 budget, and how Utilities weighs reliability, affordability and growth when planning major investments. Hobbs and Deal also examine the proposed Williams Creek Generating Station, the demands of large power users, and the question of who pays when new capacity is needed.

Water is part of the equation, too. The episode turns to Colorado River uncertainty, local storage, conservation and the work required to protect the region’s long-term supply. For households and employers alike, this conversation offers a closer look at the choices shaping essential services in Southern Colorado.

Questions or Want to Understand Your Bill Better? 719.448.4800

Learn How CSU Serves El Paso County: https://csu.org

#TheBusinessSignal #ColoradoSprings #SouthernColorado #Infrastructure #Business #ColoradoSpringsUtilities #Water #ColoradoRiverPack #NaturalGas #PowerGrid #Electricity #TravasDeal

Building Business Through Relationships with Brandon Eldridge

Executive Director of the Small Business Development Center - Pikes Peak Region Brandon Eldridge joins host Dirk Hobbs on The Business Signal for a thoughtful conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership and the importance of building meaningful professional relationships.

Eldridge discusses lessons individuals and teams who aer aspiring to open a business can learn:

• The value of connecting people with opportunities
• The importance of trust, service and consistent engagement
• How the SBDC plays a role in vetting the business concept before spending time and resources
• Connecting with area subject matter experts who can lend insights into how to prepare for the rigors of running a business.

The conversation also explores the realities of professional growth, developing an authentic leadership style and remaining open to the relationships and experiences that can shape a business career.

It is an engaging discussion for entrepreneurs, business leaders and professionals who understand that long-term success is rarely achieved alone—it is built through people, purpose and community.

LEARN MORE: https://sbdc.colorado.gov/pikespeak

Colorado Springs is at a consequential point in its economic development and Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer says the region must approach it with confidence, facts and intentional growth. In this episode of The Business Signal, the president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC joins host Dirk Hobbs to examine a number of active conversation and efforts in the community:

First out of the gate: The proposed Project Taurus data center, the safeguards surrounding it and what the City Council decision could signal to companies and site selectors considering the region. (9/17/2026)

The conversation widens to Colorado Springs’ competitive strengths on a national level: A highly educated workforce, a substantial veteran population, quality-of-life assets and a nationally significant aerospace and defense ecosystem. Kleymeyer explains how primary employers generate broader opportunity across construction, retail, healthcare, education and professional services - and why advanced manufacturing, space, national defense and support infrastructure remain central to the region’s future.

She also discusses retaining existing employers, reducing regulatory burdens, developing local talent, and investing ahead of growth.

Her closing challenge is direct: business leaders cannot remain on the sidelines. They must enter the arena, engage elected officials and help shape a region that grows intelligently while preserving what makes Southern Colorado exceptional.

https://coloradospringschamberedc.com

Join us as Angela Seals, Executive Director of the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region or COPPR, visits with host Dirk Hobbs on the region's creative industry sectors and how businesses can get involved to support our thriving talent.

https://www.culturaloffice.org/

CommonSpirit Health Greater Colorado and Kansas Market President Pete Powers joins host Dirk Hobbs on the Business Signal for a candid conversation about the rapidly changing health care landscape across Southern Colorado.

Powers discusses CommonSpirit’s commitment to its southern Colorado regional hospitals, the importance of maintaining access to quality care, rural health access and the role of technology, and the realities of operating a complex health system amid rising costs, workforce pressures and growing community needs. He also addresses the role of Penrose, St. Francis and CommonSpirit’s other regional facilities, while explaining how the organization evaluates services, investments and opportunities for future growth.

The conversation moves beyond hospital operations to examine how CommonSpirit as a major health care systems can partner with southern Colorado employers directly to help lower overall costs for area organizations and their workforce.

CommonSpirit is also a major regional employer, economic driver and essential community institution. Powers shares his leadership perspective and explains why trust and a clear sense of mission remain central to delivering effective care and maintaining strong relationships with physicians and other key strategic partnerships.

Listen for an informative discussion about where Southern Colorado health care stands - and where it may be headed next.

https://mountain.commonspirit.org

https://socodigest.com/#radio

Listen on SPOTIFY, iHEART and Apple Podcast: Search "Business Digest Radio".

#CommonSpirit, #healthcare #healthcarecosts #ruralhealth #kvorAM740 #SoCoBusinessDigest

In this episode of The Business Signal, Dirk Hobbs speaks with InBank Founder, president and CEO Ed Francis about InBank’s ($1.4B) proposed merger with FNBO ($35B) and what the next chapter could mean for customers, employees and communities across southern Colorado and New Mexico. The merger is still pending approval which is estimated to be finalized January 1, 2027.

The conversation examines the importance of preserving InBank’s emphasis on personal relationships, local decision-making and experienced banking teams while gaining access to FNBO’s broader resources and what triggers banks such as FNBO look at markets like southern Colorado for investment. The completion of this merger will extend FNBO's Colorado footprint to 30 locations - nine of which represent the southern Colorado offices currently branded InBank. FNBO's current Colorado locations are in north Denver, Ft. Collins and northern Colorado.

Customers are expected to see no immediate changes (until mid 2027), while the completed merger, would eventually provide expanded mortgage, credit-card, private-banking and wealth-management services- as well as greater lending capacity for commercial clients.

Francis will continue leading InBank’s existing markets following the merger. It is a timely discussion about growth, culture and what business owners should expect as two deeply rooted banking organizations prepare to come together.

https://inbank.com

https://fnbo.com

Joe Aldaz, president of the Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber, joins Dirk Hobbs for a conversation about the organization’s work, the needs of Hispanic-owned businesses, and the value of stronger connections across the regional business community.

Aldaz discusses the chamber’s role in helping entrepreneurs gain access to relationships, information, resources, and opportunities that can support long-term growth. He also reflects on leadership, representation, and the importance of ensuring that Hispanic business owners have a meaningful voice in Southern Colorado’s economic future.

The discussion examines both the progress being made and the practical challenges that remain for small and emerging companies. Throughout the interview, Aldaz emphasizes collaboration rather than isolation, explaining why chambers, established employers, community leaders, and entrepreneurs all benefit when they work together.

The episode offers listeners a grounded look at the chamber’s mission, its developing influence, and the broader economic contribution of Hispanic businesses throughout the Colorado Springs region.

https://cshispanicchamber.com

Child care is not simply a family issue—it is workforce and economic infrastructure. In this episode of The Business Signal, host Dirk Hobbs speaks with SherryLynn Boyles, president and CEO of Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families, about the shortage of affordable child care across the Pikes Peak region.

Boyles explains how limited capacity affects parents’ ability to work, employers’ ability to recruit and retain talent, and children’s long-term development. The conversation also explores Joint Initiatives’ collaborative model, bringing agencies, educators, providers, employers, and community leaders together to reduce fragmented access to services.

Listeners will learn why solving the crisis requires more providers, stronger support for the early-childhood workforce, sustainable funding, and greater employer involvement. The message is direct: businesses cannot treat child care as someone else’s problem. Employers, policymakers, providers, and residents all have a role in building a system that allows families—and the economy—to thrive.

Engage - Learn - Be a difference maker!

https://jointinitiatives.org

https://kidsstongstart.org