A recent JBG Meeting

On Thursday February 2^nd, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers will address the JBG (Jewish Business Group) at its monthly breakfast meeting at the Westin Westminster. The meeting is from 7:30 am – 9:00 am.

Mr. Suthers will discuss significant current lawsuits of interest to Coloradans including the National Health Care Lawsuit that headed to the Supreme Court. The presentation will be followed will by a Q & A.

The February meeting promises to be very informative in understanding the challenges of the National Health Care debate as it heads to the Supreme Court in the spring.

The JBG offers professionals, CEO’s and entrepreneurs an opportunity for business networking, expanding business skills through informative and empowering presentations and Jewish social interaction. The JBG gathers monthly and is open to the entire community regardless of affiliation.

“The Jewish Business Group has really worked for me” says Mrs. Sharon Prager-Wortham owner of Custom Made Fitness a business that helps businesses introduce healthy lifestyle in their work environment and at home. “I have made quite a few new contacts by attending the meetings and have enjoyed the presentations immensely.”

Meetings are open to employers and employees of the business and professional community. Retirees are also welcome.

A $15 fee covers a buffet breakfast. For more information and to RSVP please call 720-984-5805 – email milehighchabad@aol.com or visit www.JewishBusinessGroup.com

About Mr John Suthers

Mr. John Suthers, Colorado Attorney General

John W. Suthers has served the citizens of Colorado as District Attorney, presidentially-appointed U.S. Attorney and now as Colorado’s 37th Attorney General, having just been reelected to his second term. He also served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Corrections under Governor Bill Owens. As Attorney General, he represents and defends the interests of all Coloradans and is chief legal counsel and adviser to state government and its many agencies, boards and commissions. In his tenure as Attorney General, Mr. Suthers has initiated successful programs to protect children from Internet predators, reduce mortgage and foreclosure fraud, and combat methamphetamine abuse in Colorado.

Come and hear motivational speaker and humorist Scott Friedman at the Jewish Business Group monthly breakfast meeting this coming Friday morning January 6^th 7:30 am -9:00 am at the Westin Westminster, located at NE corner of 104th Ave and the Boulder Turnpike.                                                                                                       

Scott Friedman, CSP, (Certified Speaking Professional), 2004-05 President of the National Speakers Association, is the author of two books and co-author of four others. His presentation will be on his newest book, “The Celebration Factor”, to be released in May of 2012.

Celebration is one of the most effective ways to honor your employees, create a culture of authenticity and innovation, and a way to brand your organization internally and externally. In this entertaining, interactive session, we will explore celebration in both your personal and professional life. You will discover that the road to happiness is paved with celebration!

Mr. Friedman spends 30% of his time speaking throughout Asia. His international clients include Singapore Airlines, the Singapore Government, Gold Fields of South Africa, Young President’s Organization, Hyatt Asia, and many of the Fortune 1000 companies.

The new year offers businesses a pause to reflect on how to improve productivity and success,” says Mr. Edward Rothschild chairman of the Jewish Business Group, “Having a caliber speaker like Scott Friedman address the group and offer his unique perspective is the perfect way to start a 2012.”

Participants are asked to RSVP ahead my visiting www.JewishBusinessGroup.com or by calling 303.429.5177.

There is a $15 cover fee that includes the presentation and a buffet breakfast.

SAVE THE DATE
We have scheduled Colorado Attorney General John Suthers as our speaker for Friday February 3rd meeting.

More about Scott Friedman

Scott Friedman, CSP, (Certified Speaking Professional), 2004-05 President of the National Speakers Association, is the author of two books and co-author of four others. His newest book, “The Celebration Factor”, Creating Connected Cultures will be released in May of 2012.

An internationally recognized professional, Scott speaks on a variety of topics over 80 times a year. Scott’s varied experience has brought him success in many industries including: hospitality, meetings, real estate, insurance, health care, education, telecommunications, government and just about any association.

In 1998, Scott started working in Singapore and now spends 30% of his time speaking throughout Asia. His international clients include Singapore Airlines, the Singapore Government, Gold Fields of South Africa, Young President’ s Organization, Hyatt Asia, and many of the Fortune 1000 companies. He offers to all of his clients a global and culturally sensitive perspective on how to get more out of work and out of life. He is always sure to do his homework to ensure that all groups feel at home no matter where they might be. You can visit his website at www.funnyscott.com

Previous Business Meeting with Dr. Gill Heart

The first meeting will be held this Friday December 2^nd  and will feature Rabbi Levi Brackman, author of the bestselling book, “Jewish Wisdom for Business Success.” The presentation will discuss: Real tools to find your inner passion to succeed at business.

The Jewish Business Group meetings are held monthly at the Westin Westminster from 7:30 – 9:00 am. Each meeting is a chance to interact with other Jewish professionals from the community and enjoy a great lecture and breakfast. The cover fee is $10.

To RSVP  visit www.JewishBusinessGroup.com. Feel free to bring a colleague or associate to the meeting.

Other upcoming meetings are on Friday January 6^th with motivational humorist Mr. Scott Friedman and Thursday February 2^nd with Colorado Attorney General John Suthers.

Mr. Edward Rothschild of Alpha Graphics in Arvada is pleased that the group is reconvening.

The meetings provide an important opportunity to network with other Jewish business professionals” says Rothschild. “Couple that with the informative presentations at each meeting it’s a great way to begin your day”.

Rabbi Levi Brackman

Rabbi Levi Brackman is lead author of the bestselling book, “Jewish Wisdom for Business Success” which has been translated into more than five languages including Serbian, Indonesian and Japanese. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Youth Directions an organization that helps youth find their unique passion, purpose and direction in life. Rabbi Brackman also serves as spirtual leader at Evergreen’s Judaism in the Foothills Synagogue which he founded together with his wife Sheindy in 2004. He has a Masters degree from University College London and lives in Evergreen, Colorado with his wife and four young children.

Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to connect with Boulder’s most innovative Jewish minds and those who want to know them. This networking happy hour, sponsored by the ADL, Boulder JCC, and the Boulder Jewish News, is designed to connect the entrepreneurial world of Boulder with the innovative world of Jewish Boulder. We are incredibly grateful to be included in the Boulder Startup Week Events.

More than 50 people have already RSVP’d via Plancast. Here’s the link, just click “count me in.”

Prior to joining CSBT, Miriam (“Mimi”) practiced law for 14 years with the Boulder firm of Frascona, Joiner, Goodman and Greenstein, P.C.  Her practice focused exclusively on estate planning and trust and estate administration. Currently, she is co-chair of the Boulder County Bar Association Section on Taxation, Estate Planning and Probate.

Colorado State Bank and Trust has a history of providing financial services to Colorado communities dating back to 1908. The bank is a division of BOK Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:BOKF). CSBT offers a full range of bank products and services for individuals and businesses and is one of the largest Trust providers in Colorado. CSBT has 13 Front Range locations including the Boulder branch.

Boulder Jewish News is in on the action too, with Boulder J Deals. We aim to help local businesses that support the Jewish community, as well as provide an opportunity for non-profits to get in on the fun.

When you participate in one of the offers as a buyer, you’ll get a great offer and possibly exposure to a business or organization you hadn’t tried yet.

Today’s offer is a 2 for 1 deal: you pay for 1 item, but you’ll get 2. The deal is for Mishloach Manot – Purim gift boxes, and the deal is offered by Congregation Bonai Shalom. These boxes start with a variety of organic, kosher items supplied by Boulder’s Best Organics – a locally-owned Boulder business. Each box also includes an assortment of kosher hamentashen, a few other kosher natural goodies and even coupons for local businesses (including ice cream, coffee and organic produce).  One box for your family and one to give away – who can resist? With $30 of value in each box, you’ll be getting a $60 value for only $30. Your purchase supports the organization and the Boulder Jewish News too (thank you in advance!) while making it easy to fulfill more than one Purim mitzvot (commandments): giving gifts of food to friends and giving tzedakah (money). It’s a double 2-fer!

Here’s how it works:

1. Click here to go to the online deal
2. Read through the offer (we think we answered all the main questions)
3. Click the big blue “Buy Now” button
4. That will take you to a secure payment page (https) where you can complete the transaction online.
5. Print your confirmation email and bring it to Bonai Shalom (1527 Cherryvale) at one of the specified times for pick up.

It’s that easy!

Boulder J Deals is working with the kind folks at MoxieDeals and DealCoop.com to make this happen. One of the ways to support local Jewish businesses and organizations is to sign up for deal alerts by clicking on this link. You’ll only get an alert email from us when there’s a deal offered by Boulder J Deals. Some of the deals are limited (only a certain number available) – and these deals may appear on other partner sites, so to be sure you don’t miss one, please sign up!

If you would like to chat about how this type of deal can work for your business or an organization you are involved with, please contact us.

Got a comment? Let us know!

What’s BottleHood all about?

BottleHood is all about keeping glass out of local landfills, creating jobs & stimulating the Colorado retail environment with locally-made, environmentally-sound products. We collect glass — beer, wine, soda and liquor bottles from bars, restaurants, breweries and homes and repurpose it into useful, fun household items. We turn your favorite beverage bottle into a glass, vase, light fixture, candle or even jewelry.  BottleHood was started in San Diego by Steve Cherry & Leslie Tiano, family friends, and now there are three BottleHoods, soon to be many more. We hope to expand to New York and Chicago by the end of the summer. There are so many ideas and amazing things that you can do with glass, our product line is always growing and expanding to all different areas. We have something for everyone.

Is there a Jewish connection to BottleHood?

While growing up in a Jewish entrepreneurial household, I knew that after college I wasn’t going to what most people do and get a job at the bottom of the totempole at a big corporation. I knew that I wanted to do something more meaningful to me, the community and the world. Being Jewish every year growing up we did big mitzvah projects helping out the less fortunate & I never wanted to go initially, but in the end I always felt more fulfilled. BottleHood is similar in the sense it is very fulfilling in all aspects of my life and I truly believe that together we can make a difference. My Jewish values help me in repairing the world through upcycling!

Can the community get involved?

Yes! BottleHood is good for your neighborhood. You can find all of our upcoming events on our blog www.bottlehoodcolorado.com. Start saving your bottles (full list wanted is on the blog) and get paid.  Be Green, Earn Green. We will be collecting bottles at all of our local events.

How did participating in birthrightisrael impact you?

Birthright Israel was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I met the most amazing people, friends I will have for a lifetime, got to experience Israel in a unique way that gave me a bond with Israel that I didn’t know existed. It is a remarkable, enriching homeland and I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate it for all that it is worth if I didn’t get to experience it on Birthright. I loved it so much, I led a trip a couple of summers later. I recommend it to everyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of going.

For Boulder Jewish News readers! Use promo code: Earth Day & receive 5% off orders on the BottleHood website.  Check out the blog: www.bottlehoodcolorado.com. Find BottleHood here: 4949 N. Broadway #124, Boulder, CO 80304. Follow us on Facebook & Twitter @BottleHood, and watch for local events!

Interested in an interview? Have a startup you’d like to share with the community? Contact us!

How does Vacation Rental Partner work?
Vacation Rental Partner offers great deals on last minute vacation rentals, delivered to your inbox.  It’s a bit like Groupon; we send a weekly email to travelers with discounted places available for the coming weekend.  It’s a really great way to spur spontaneous weekend getaways, and for owners to fill last minute vacancies.

Travelers can sign up here: http://vacationrentalpartner.com/last-minute

Vacation rental owners can sign up here: http://vacationrentalpartner.com/owners-last-minute

Additionally, we offer a number of other services to vacation rental owners to help them get more bookings and make it as easy to rent their home as it is to book a hotel.

Everyone loves a deal – when are the best times for vacation rental deals?
Right now!  Seriously, as we get to the end of the peak ski season here in Colorado, bookings begin to drop off in the mountain towns so owners & managers are willing to offer discounts to keep their places filled.  With record snowfall this winter, the spring skiing is going to be fantastic.  I can’t wait for the warm, sunny days and soft spring snow!

In general, any time during the low season, midweek or at the beginning/end of peak seasons are great times to find good deals but it’s highly dependent upon the destination.

What brought you to Boulder?
I moved to Boulder last May when Vacation Rental Partner was accepted to the TechStars program.  We had a fantastic summer – there are so many people here who are really helpful and generous with their time.  My team and I really love the collaborative nature of the Boulder entrepreneurial community, so we decided to stay.

How do you connect Jewishly?
For me, Judaism is a lot about cultural heritage and community.  I view it as part of what makes me who I am, and what’s shaped my family’s values.  I also really enjoy being part of the Jewish Community; Ignite Chanukah showed me that it’s thriving here in Boulder.

Interested in an interview? Have a startup you’d like to share with the community? Contact us! Disclosure: we met Michael’s mother at the TechStars demo day last August. It’s a small world.