Ex-Bronco Barry elected Black Chamber chairman
Odell Barry, a former Denver Broncos football player and president of the club’s alumni association, has been elected chairman of the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce.
“We think we’ve put together an exciting team that is poised and ready to lead the chamber through its next evolution,” Barry said. “As we look at ways to build on the growth and momentum initiated by past board chairman Darrell Nulan (Trimble, Tate, Nulan & Evans) and former president/CEO Bill Willis, we are optimistic about the future of this very important organization.”
Barry, who served as mayor of Northglenn, is vice president of the Denver Convention Hotel Authority and is chairman for the University of Northern Colorado Foundation Inc.
Other new chamber officers include Pinkey Sullivan, Kaiser Permanente, first vice chairman; Rich Lewis, RTL Networks, second vice chairman; Darrick Brown, Wells Fargo Bank, third vice chairman; Les Townsend, Townsend Management, treasurer; and Kayleen Hollines, Community Banks of Colorado, secretary.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Doss wins $3 million Air Force contract
The Air Force has awarded Colorado Springs-based Doss Aviation a $3.3 million contract to operate a pilot-training school at Pueblo Memorial Airport.
Doss, which already has a contract to maintain aircraft at the Air Force Academy, will screen between 1,200 and 1,700 Air Force officers per year as part of the Initial Flight Screening Program, set to begin Oct. 1.
SANTA FE, N.M.
Commission rejects Qwest settlement deal
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has rejected Qwest’s $85 million settlement offer in an investment dispute, saying the telecommunications giant didn’t follow procedures.
The Denver-based telephone service provider and the PRC have gone to court over a 2001 commission order that Qwest must invest $788 million in New Mexico’s aging telecommunications system by next month.
DENVER
Federal Reserve Bank names new directors
The Denver Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City on Wednesday announced the appointments of Bruce K. Alexander, president and chief executive of Vectra Bank Colorado, and S. Diane Leavesley, president of Mercy Loan Fund, to director, a three-year term.
The branch also designated Thomas Williams, president and CEO of Williams Group LLC in Golden, as chairman of the board for 2006.
CHICAGO
United Express flights connect Colo., Tenn.
United Express, a unit of Chicago-based UAL Corp., said it is starting daily flights between Denver and Knoxville, Tenn., with service on its larger regional “explus” jets.
The flights, which started Wednesday, are on 66-seat Canadair RJ-700 planes with first class, economy plus and economy classes. United flies about a dozen routes from Denver that provide only explus service.
“We’re looking to bring more flights to Denver at some point this year,” said United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski.
WASHINGTON
Feds to talk pension with United workers
The federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. plans to meet next week with United Airlines workers and retirees who are covered by pension plans it took over in 2005, to explain the federal pension program and answer questions. United terminated its pension plans and turned them over to the PBGC, which guarantees basic pension benefits.
Meetings will be held from Tuesday to Feb. 16 at the Holiday Inn, Denver International Airport. The meetings are not intended for participants in the United pilot pension plan, who will meet later.
DENVER
Women’s chamber to meet, give award
The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting today, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Marriott City Center Downtown.
The chamber will present its Athena Award for excellence and community service to a woman who exemplifies excellence in her community business or profession and assists women in developing leadership potential.
SEATTLE
Air Canada to beef up Boeings’ technology
Air Canada announced it plans to install the Boeing Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag on new Boeing 777s and 787s it has ordered. The Class 3 electronic flight bag includes electronic flight charts, manuals, a moving map and other data and tools integrated into the plane’s avionics. The package uses software developed by Boeing and its Arapahoe County-based subsidiary, Jeppesen.
NEW YORK
Bank’s “sell” rating another dent in GM
General Motors Corp. shares fell Wednesday after the company received more bad news – this time from Deutsche Bank, which advised shareholders to sell the stock because of continued uncertainty over the company’s financial future.
Rod Lache, an analyst with Deutsche Bank, issued a rare “sell” rating and lowered his price target on GM shares to $17 from $22. The stock lost 82 cents, or about 3.6 percent Wednesday, to close at $21.99.
NEW YORK
$1.6 billion settlement expected from AIG
Federal and state regulatory authorities are expected to announce a $1.6 billion settlement today with American International Group Inc., which has been accused of involvement in an insurance bid-rigging case and the use of deceptive accounting practices, according to people familiar with the settlement.
The settlement will be split by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which will receive about $800 million to compensate injured investors, and New York regulators who brought a civil case against AIG.
NEW YORK
Nine big radio groups targeted by Spitzer
New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said Wednesday he has subpoenaed nine of the nation’s largest radio conglomerates in his “payola” investigation of major artists and songs that he claims got air time because of payoffs by recording companies.
“A lot of the major songs have been implicated in this, and it showed how pervasive the payola infrastructure had become,” Spitzer said.
