CHAMBER AND EDC FINALIZE NEGOTIATIONS TO FORM THE GREATER COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER AND EDC

Colorado Springs, CO (December 15, 2011) – The boards of the The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Springs Regional Economic Development Corporation today formally agreed to unify as one organization to be known as The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC, effective February 1, 2012.

The respective boards submitted nominations and voted to appoint the following slate of fifteen directors to form the new governing board of The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC: Chris Blees (Biggs Kofford), Frank Caris (dpiX), Debbie Chandler (Colorado Springs Health Partners), Toby Gannett (The Palisades at Broadmoor Park), Steve Helbing (Wells Fargo), Chris Jenkins (Nor’wood Development Group), Mike Jorgensen (Red Noland Cadillac, Inc.), Dan Malinaric (Atmel), Tom Neppl (Springs Fabrication, Inc.), Kevin O’Neil (The O’Neil Group), Sherri Newell (Colorado Springs Utilities), Dave Palenchar (El Pomar Foundation), Doug Quimby (La Plata Communities, Inc.), Venkat Reddy (UCCS), and General “Gene” Renuart, Jr., USAF, (Ret.). The Board comprises five members from each of the Chamber and EDC boards and five at-large members. The Chair of the new board will be appointed at its first official meeting after February 1, 2012. The respective Chamber and EDC boards have directed the newly appointed board to serve prior to February 1, 2012, as the “transition team” planning the merger and effecting its implementation.

This concludes the work of the Unification Committee, led by Tom Naughton, that negotiated the overall objectives and structure of the new organization with subsequent approval by the Chamber and EDC boards. “The process leading to today’s formalization of the unification of the Chamber and EDC has been both challenging and rewarding,” commented Tom Naughton. “I would like to commend each member of the Unification Committee for their passion and commitment to getting this done which was clearly motivated by a strong desire to improve the economic future of our community.” Naughton added, “This is, indeed, a watershed moment for our business community.”

“The local and national economies have illustrated that we are in unusual times and that business as usual will not cut it,” commented Doug Quimby, EDC Board Chair. “The new organization will harness the energy and focus of the business community enabling us to be far more effective in achieving our collective goals.”

A Search Committee has been established to conduct a national search for the CEO of the new organization. It is anticipated that the CEO will be in place within the next three to four months. The Search Committee is co-chaired by Chamber board Chair Bill Hodgkins and EDC board Chair Doug Quimby.

“The potential for capturing economic opportunities for our city is enormous and demands all hands on deck,” stated Mayor Steve Bach. “Our new direction requires a collaborative effort between our city team and The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC in attracting and retaining business. I am pleased to work hand in hand with this new organization to bring critical jobs and increased business to Colorado Springs.”

“Colorado Springs’ collaborative new approach to economic development is an ideal complement to Colorado’s Bottom-Up Economic Development Plan,” commented Governor John Hickenlooper. “The new organization, built on a solid foundation of the two groups, will strengthen our collective efforts and help to advance a strong recovery for our state and the southern region.”

While economic development and job creation will be at the forefront of the new organization, it is anticipated that the membership programs and services of both organizations will remain the same with any modifications or changes done so in concert with the investors and members. The leadership and staff of the Chamber and EDC are committed to providing more value and relevant programs for small, medium and large size businesses as well as continuing support for the region’s military and defense sector.

“It has been an honor to serve as the Chair of such a solid, vital organization as the Chamber,” commented Board Chair Bill Hodgkins. “I wait with great anticipation to see the tremendous strength of these two organizations coming together as a single, influential voice in helping this community realize its full potential.”

The leadership and staff of the Chamber and EDC are profoundly grateful for the support that has been shown by the members, investors and community partners during this unprecedented time and are confident that the new organization will provide the leadership required to propel the region’s economy forward.

The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce strengthens the economic vitality of the Pikes Peak Region to benefit our members and to promote the common interests of our stakeholders. www.coloradospringschamber.org.

The mission of the Colorado Springs Regional Economic Development Corporation, a private not-for-profit corporation, is to attract, retain and create quality jobs and investment in the Pikes Peak region. It does so by providing economic development services that result in the current and future retention and attraction of primary jobs which provide for economic diversity, replacement of lost jobs and create job opportunities for those entering the workforce for the first time. www.coloradosprings.org.

CONTACT:
Julie Boswell jboswell@csedc.org
Stephannie Finley Stephannie@cscc.org.

About dpiX
dpiX LLC is a privately held company and the market leader in digital X-Ray sensors for medical, security and industrial digital X-Ray devices. The company’s digital sensors are incorporated in products by Varian Medical Systems, Philips Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare, Thales Components and Trixell. Applications include radiation therapy, medical radiology for hospital, dental and veterinary X-Ray products, bomb detection, industrial testing, and much more. dpiX technology enables systems ranging from single digital X-Ray images to sophisticated medical applications where real-time X-Ray images are critical. The company currently employs 250 people at two production sites in Colorado Springs, CO and Palo Alto, CA.

For further information contact:
Karen Stone
Tel: 719.457.7714
email: karen.stone@dpix.com