Staying connected indispensable, tiring
Most corporate big shots wouldn’t dream of life without a cellphone. A new study of chief financial officers helps explain why.
“The latest cellphone technology combines the best of both worlds, including e-mail and Internet access,” said Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources.
According to a nationwide survey of CFOs conducted by Robert Half Management Resources, cellphones topped the list of “most indispensable portable technology devices,” with 44 percent of the response.
Laptop computers came in a close second with 39 percent.
Robert Half Management Resources, a corporate staffing firm with offices in Denver, polled 1,400 CFOs from a random sample of U.S. companies.
But the firm cautioned that although cellphones seem like a necessity, they can keep us connected to work around the clock.
“Turning off a cellphone even for brief periods, particularly on nonworking weekends, allows executives to fully enjoy a break from business,” McDonald said.
Qwest answers call for disaster assistance
Qwest usually does not rank up there with the likes of Toyota, Johnson & Johnson and Wal-Mart, except when it comes to making substantial donations to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
Qwest’s foundation last year donated $240,000 to the fund. This year’s grant, announced Thursday, is $265,000.
Qwest also helped the Red Cross last year set up its first disaster-related communications center.
The center, in downtown Denver, handled thousands of calls shortly after Hurricane Katrina. “They are still being inundated with many, many calls,” said Ric Padilla, Qwest’s vice president of corporate social responsibility.
Qwest has matched $250,000 out of the $480,000 in Katrina funds donated by its employees to the Red Cross.
The Denver-based phone company also gave away $200,000 worth of calling cards and set up phone banks, Internet and television at nine Katrina evacuee centers.
Last week, Qwest’s 40-person disaster response team was gearing up for Hurricane Rita.
As with Katrina, Qwest must route critical network traffic around the storm and move workers and equipment into affected areas.
“It’s about allowing that much-needed communication to take place,” Padilla said.
Hotel Teatro lapping up Forbes review
Forbes has gone dog-wild over Denver’s Hotel Teatro.
The business magazine featured the downtown boutique hotel in its “destination of the week” travel column last week.
The story focused on the architectural history of the Denver Tramway building and on the services it offers to guests’ four-legged friends, including canine massage and water bowls filled with Fiji bottled water and ice.
“All discerning guests are coddled in creature comforts at Hotel Teatro,” the story states.
Hotel Teatro hopes the Forbes piece will boost its reputation among business travelers, who now account for roughly half of its guests.
“We’re just tickled with the article,” said general manager Coni Thornberg. “I think it really will enrich our business travel.”
