April 2009  May 2009   June 2009  July 2009  August 2009

l-r  Front row: Gloria Morin, Maegen Lewis, Laura Owens, Jessica Burke, Nancy Stevens, Spencer Johnson. 
Back row – Jennifer Kendall, Alyssa Abraham, Koalby Owens.

July's Red Carpet Award winner is the staff at Riverside Nursery they receive the "Red Carpet" pin and $25 Gift Certificate.

Red Carpet Service Award        

Red Carpet Award Winner for July is the staff at Riverside Nursery for their outstanding customer service.

Staff at Riverside Nursery received the Red Carpet of the Month for July. Nominations came from several 
anonymous individuals who indicated the staff was always helpful, friendly and easy to find. From carry out 
multiple flats of flower and hauling buckets of plants to recommending the right type of scrubs and plants for 
your yard they are ready to assist! ! The Riverside Nursery staff receives a Red Carpet Pin, $25.00 Gift 
Certificate as well as other advertising. They will be entered in the Red Carpet Person of the Year award 
contest to be presented in 2010.

If you know someone out there that has rolled out the red carpet for you, give them some well deserved 
recognition and nominate them for next month’s award! Nomination cards can be found at the Chamber office 
and also at most of the businesses.

If you were the nomination person of a Red Carpet winner please stop by the office we have a gift for you too. 
We appreciate you taking the time and effort to make sure someone’s efforts are noticed.

Lunch and Learn speaker Mayor Hank Castillon updates
the members about the Census.

Lunch & Learn    

July winners: Vicky Roth, Sweetwater County Library System, Reader Board; Newsletter Profile; Craig 
Wolffing, High Plains Physical Therapy, Radio; Mike Nelson, High Plains Physical Therapy, Radio; Terri 
Warren, The Window and Door Store, Inc.; 50/50 Raffle winner was Mayor Hank Castillon.  The Lunch & 
Learn program is held the third Wednesday of every month at noon at rotating Chamber member restaurants 
that can accommodate the meetings.  August Lunch and Learn will be held August 19^th at Don Pedros, the 
speaker will be Craig Sorensen with School District #2.

Chamber Board of Directors
and Staff

¨         Bob Saunders, Past-President  Wells Fargo   307-352-5538

¨         Michael Nelson, President    High Plains Physical Therapy  307-875-1847 

¨         Cindy Brandjord, Vice President  School District #2  307-872-3290 

¨         Bonnie Bigolin, 1st Vice-President   Print Link Ad-Specialties 307-875-6128 

¨         Robert Berg, Secretary  Artic Circle  307-875-4582 

¨         Jeff Nieters, Treasurer  City of Green River  307-872-6122 

¨         Kathy Gilbert  Green River Star  307-875-3103 

¨         Joanna Nara-Kloepper   BLM  307-352-0321 

¨         Brian Mortimer  Solvay  307-872-6508 

¨         Jeff Wilson    Desert View Eye Care Center  307-875-3399 

¨         Marie Colestock  Green River Realty  307-875-5522 

¨         Terri Cook  307-875300  

• Janet Hartford, Executive Director

• Wendy Kraft, Office Specialist

• Marci Brunette, Office Assistant

Renewals  

Green River Wild Horse Tours & Eco Safari
Richard Nobles
260 Hackberry
Green River , WY  82935
greenriverwildhorsetour.com
307-875-2923

2009 River Festival—More Fun Planned!!!

Starting a New Business….consider all the Factors



By Brett Housholder, 

Wyoming
 
Market
 
Research
 
Center

 researcher.

"I want to open a video arcade because there are no other such businesses in town. 
Since I have no competition, will this be a profitable venture?" Morgan, 

Torrington
Many people looking to start a business are encouraged when they think they have 
no competition. The natural assumption is that being the only game in town is advantageous 
because, well, you're the only game in town. But sometimes entrepreneurs overlook the fact 
that they have two types of competition: direct and indirect competition.
In the case of a video arcade, direct competition would obviously be a similar business in town. 
But it's the indirect competition that may be a bigger factor in the arcade's success. An indirect 
competitor for a video arcade is basically any other form of entertainment on which your customers 
may spend money.  For instance, your town may not have a competing arcade, but what about a 
movie theater? A mini golf course? Roller rink? On the surface, these businesses may seem quite 
different from an arcade but they are all competing for people's "fun money."  Also, do not overlook 
home video game systems. Another common misconception is that people will go "out" for much of 
their entertainment. But movie theaters compete with DVDs, restaurants compete with grocery stores 
and home-cooked meals, and so on. In tough economic times, consumers will replace their "going out" 
options with in-home alternatives whenever they can.  Let's look at restaurants a bit more closely. 
Your town may not have an Italian restaurant, but that certainly doesn't mean an Italian restaurant 
will have no competition. Indeed, it may draw many customers who enjoy Italian food.  But the point 
is that a lack of direct competitors is never a guarantee that a new business will succeed because 
there are many other indirect competitors. An Italian restaurant will still compete with Chinese 
restaurants and other chain fast-food businesses.  If you are looking to start a business in your 
town just because there are not any identical operations, do not make the mistake of thinking you 
have no competition. It may not always come in the form of direct competition but there are always 
indirect competitors that also are vying for consumers' dollars.

  A blog version of this article and an 
opportunity to post comments is available at http://www.wyomingentrepreneur.typepad.com/blog/.

The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business 
Council and the 

University
 of 
Wyoming

. To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, e-mail 
wsbdc@uwyo.edu or write 

1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922
, 
Laramie
, 
WY
 
82071-3922

.


For more information, contact Housholder at lazarus@uwyo.edu, call (307) 766-5389 or follow him 
on twitter at http://twitter.com/BrettHousholder.

Don’t tell me you got nothin’ to do!  

 

• Summer is here!  Take a jog, walk or bike ride along the Green Belt.

• Grab your towels, sunscreen and swimsuits and head down to the Splash Park at Evers Park .

• Drive up to Seedskadee and see the trumpeter swans, ducks and eagles…you may even see a deer or moose.

• World Class fishing awaits at Flaming Gorge Reservoir, take the trailer and spend a weekend in Flaming Gorge Country.

• Attend the Green River ’s Farmer’s Market every Wednesday from 4-8 pm

• Mountain Bike Riding for Intermediate/Advance Riders every Thursday, 6:00 pm , Stratton Myers.  Beginners every Wednesday, 6:30 pm , Stratton Myers.

• Grab a Yellow Bike at Stratton Myer’s or the Clock Tower and enjoy a leisurely ride, please put the bikes back in one of the bike racks.

• Float or tube on the Green River , remember to always wear a life jacket.

• Get into the “swing” of things at the Rolling Green Golf Course.

• River Festival, join us for the Annual River Festival! Cajun Shrimp Boil, Free Kids Games, Run with the Horse Marathon, Photo Contest, Lucky 13 Poker Horse Run, Street Dreams Car Show and Cruise, Concerts, Brewfest, Dog Fetching Competition, Dog Show, Extreme Trail Challenge, Great Duck Race, & More. August 21^st & 22^nd. For more information please call the Green River Chamber of Commerce @ 307-875-5711 or 1-800-FL-GORGE. WWW.GRCHAMBER.COM

• Movie in the Park, Centennial Park , @ 9 p.m.

• Picnic in the Park, August 25^th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. @ Evers Park

 

Winners at Open House!!  

High Plains Pt open house Winners: Mary Schafer and Ted Remus won 
the gift certificates and Charley Burnette won the exercise ball.

Ribbon Cutting Castle Rock Web Designs

Castle Rock Web Designs opens their doors at Mansface Plaza !

l-r Marci Brunett-Howard, Bonnie Bigolin, Terry Warren , Daena Pistono, Sherry Carpenter 
owner/operator, Kat Kolesar-Picoldi, Jose Rendon, Janet Hartford.  Back row – Tim Warren, 
Troy Pistono, Joyce Saunders, Bob Saunders

Newsletter Profile

Arthritis (an autoimmune disease with chronic joint inflammation) and/or osteoarthritis (a disease in joints 
causing cartilage loss) are two very frustrating and painful diseases that affect our daily lives or activities.   
However, as individuals with arthritis (over 100 types), we ourselves can become an integral part in the 
management of theses diseases and reduce possible functional decline.  How can we better manage arthritis?  
Here are just a few tips we can use to manage arthritis.  

1. Stay active or participate in physical activities at your own limits.
2. Respect your pain or avoid the activity that places undue stress on your joints.
3. Control your weight to avoid unnecessary stress on you back, knees, feet and hips.
4. Distribute pressure/weight to reduce stress on joints.  For instance, lift with both palms, not your 
   fingers, or carry heavy loads in your arms and not with your hands.
5. Avoid tight grips, pinching, squeezing or twisting with your hands and wrists. 
6. Use your larger muscle groups and/or joints to reduce unnecessary stress on your smaller joints.  
   For instance carry your purse or briefcase by using a shoulder strap. 
7. Use proper body mechanics for getting into or out of a chair, car or tub and lift with your legs.
8. Change body or extremity positions frequently and maintain good postures.
9. Allow rest periods during the day either at work or home and conserve energy.
10. See your physician as needed.

 In a study of the October 2008, issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, the author, Susan Murphy noted individuals 
who participated in a “structured exercise program and Occupational therapy, were able to increase their 
intensity of activity at the end of the study.”  Based on your physician’s medical evaluation an individual may 
be referred to either Physical or Occupational therapy.  Both therapy groups can help to maintain joint stability, 
range of motion and prevent functional decline.  So, keep moving!

High Plains Physical Therapy
Mike Nelson, MSPT
Craig Wolffing, OTR /L

Information Distributed by Chamber  

July 2009 Year to Date

Relocation Packets                                          4             23

Vacation Packets                                              13           153

School Kids info                                              0             19

Convention Packets                                         306        350

Wyoming Pins                                                  60           160

City of Green River Pins                                 143        143

High Desert Country Pins                               60           160

Gift Certificates                                               656        2711

Dollar Amount                          $34,442.00  $124,072.00

Brochure Racks                                                3439      9001

Bulk Brochures                                                651        6405

Chamber Kiosk                                                 798        1639

Walk ins                                                           1131      3708     

Web Site Hits                                                                230279

E-Mails                                                                         144780

Sales Tax Disbursements–July*

Sweetwater County

               County                  1,960,833
               Green River          979,259
               Rock Springs        1,576,500

Lodging Tax Sweetwater County

               County                         2,736
               Green River                 4,176
               Rock Springs               31,627  

Labor Force**

SW Co.  Employed      June 2008                           23,938 

May 2009                            23,409 

June 2009                           23,106

               Unemployed        June 2008                           587       

       May 2009                            1,221                                                                                               June 2009                           1,521  

State       Employed             June 2008                           298,035 

       May 2009                            275,241

                                             June 2009                           279,089

               Unemployed        June 2008                           8,816 

       May 2009                            14,522 

                                           June 2009                           16,982 

Housing as of  June

               Homes sold         

                              Green River          4

                              Rock Springs        13

               Residential Listings

                              Green River          198

                              Rock Springs        105

               Average Costs      $200,000

 *Wyoming Department of Revenue              

** Wyoming Labor Force Trends

180 Energy Runners
Ready To Compete

“ WYOMING !”  “Why Wyoming ?”  Why Run with the Horses?  Anehuser-Busch’s 180 Energy Runners have 
agreed to participate in a marathon that advertises a chance to run with the Wild Horses.  They are a group of men,
 women and wheelers that lead an active lifestyle and promote Anheuser-Busch’s all natural 180 Energy drink.  
“We have people on our team that range from the Olympic caliber to the just want to finish runner,”  state Jeff 
Bockhorn, Team Captain for the 180 Energy Runners.

“We are bringing some very special runners...” Bockhorn continues, “one of those runners is Zac Freudenburg.”  
Freudenburg captured the Bronze Medal at the 2006 World Mountain Championships and has recently taken the 
Silver Medal at the 2009 USA Mountain Championships.  Freudenburg is one of four members of the USA 
Mountain Running team.  “Yeah, Zac is special; we entered him in the Half Marathon.  A week before your event 
(Run with the Horses Marathon), he is running the Pike’s Peak Ascent.  You know, Zac is using this marathon and 
the ascent to help prepare him for the world championships in September.”  Last year, team USA took an 
impressive Bronze medal.  In Freudenburg's last marathon, the GO St. Louis Marathon , he was able to set the 
course record.

“We have around 20 of us attending the race.  The race directors and the entire city have rolled the red carpet 
out for us.  We can’t wait to run.” 

The 180 Energy Runners travel the United States running Marathon after Marathon after Marathon …  Mississippi 
Blues Marathon, Mardi Gras Marathon, South Carolina Marathon, Seattle Marathon, Fargo Marathon, Red Rock 
Canyon Marathon, Illinois Marathon, GO St. Louis Marathon, Pike’s Peak Marathon to name a few. 

When poised with the question, “What brings you to our race?”  Bockhorn responds, normally we go where the 
Michelob Ultra Series are held, but Anheuser Busch lets us pick out a few races on our one.  We met a person 
last year at the Pike’s Peak Marathon and he raved about how tough your course was.  This attracted us – we 
wanted to run your race!  And, the race director welcomed us!  We are ecstatic to come!”

Another 180 Energy hopeful includes David Pokorny, who is entered in the Marathon .  Pokorny set the Bataan 
Death March course record in 2008.  He ran the 26.2 mile course through the desert wearing a 35 pound backpack.

Bockhorn indicated that he and his wife are both running the marathon; when asked about his expectations, 
he said, “Well, over the pass year, this will make my 13^th marathon.  I’ve never seen a wild horse; I’d like to see 
one.”

Cruise N on the Green …. Great Success!

Local folks admire the cars on display at Warehouse Home Furnishings

Next Cruise N will be August 21^st during River Festival with Car Show at Evers Park on the 22^nd, 
no entry fee needed

Military Convoy



Sheriff Haskel presents the French group honorary Wyoming , Sweetwater County license plates.



Veteran Bill Ames was able to ride with group from Rock Springs to Green River

Full Parking lot!!!

Thanks to Union Pacific Railroad for the use of their beautiful lawn…and the Boy Scouts for 
presenting the colors!

New Skills Park Coming to Green River !!!  

Green River Parks and Recreation Department and the Sweetwater Mountain Biking Association are partnering together to bring a great new attraction to the community.  

Hilride, a group that has design several skills parks in the United States , meet with the Bike club and Parks and Recreation Department to look at the site and come up with ideas for the park. They took that information and came back with a great preliminary plan, which will provide for not just the “Black Diamond” expert bike rider but also the young—and not so young beginners!!  

The Club is looking for donations and needs help with getting the park off the ground. They and the City would like to start work on the project late August/September. If you would like to donate time and sweat equity that is need to, but they are in need of dirt and excavation donations. If you play your cards right you could just maybe get the park named after your company!!!  

WRI Serves as a National Demonstration Site for Innovative 
Business Partnership

 The University of Wyoming Research Corporation, or Western Research Institute (WRI) a non-profit research 
and development (R&D) center in Laramie , Wyoming , is the subject of an innovative business partnership to 
demonstrate how science and technology developers, including universities, can get their research results and 
intellectual property into the marketplace.

Western Research Institute (WRI), Manufacturing-Works of Wyoming, and Planet Eureka! of Cincinnati , Ohio , 
have teamed up to offer technologies developed at WRI on the USA National Innovation Marketplace (NIM).

The National Innovation Marketplace is a kind of internet “matching service” where investors, manufacturers, 
experts and companies can connect directly with university and small R&D center innovators and inventors. 
The site is operated by Planet Eureka! and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology.

The goal for Manufacturing-Works and Planet Eureka! is to demonstrate how universities and small R&D 
organizations can use the site to get their valuable technologies, ideas, and products into the realm of business 
and commerce.

 “The process helps WRI establish the monetary value of inventions and exposes our technologies to investors, 
manufacturers, and companies looking to license new technologies,” said WRI CEO Don Collins. “It gives us 
greater exposure faster in diverse market segments than we could get on our own.”

Each innovation is listed on the website in the form of a comprehensive yet simple-to-read business simulation 
report. Anyone can browse the site. A keyword system makes it easy to find a specific type of technology or 
innovation.

Chavawn Kelley, corporate communications manager for WRI, is working with Barry Bruns and Rick Rothwell 
of Manufacturing-Works to optimize the Merwyn Business Simulation Reports for WRI. Each report quantifies 1) 
how much might be sold, 2) the quality of the idea, 3) its level of technology readiness and proprietary 
protection, and 4) royalty rates that might be expected.

 “WRI can also use the reports during our development process to better allocate limited resources on the basis 
of market potential, product reality, and a profit/volume model that identifies the potential payoff,” said Collins. 
“Obtaining such quality business value financial information has been a challenge for our researchers in the past.”

According to Collins, the Institute views the National Innovation Marketplace as a low-cost, high-value business 
analysis and marketing tool. The system is new, having been launched in April 2009. Collins said that Western 
Research Institute is “excited” to have been invited to support the early development of National Innovation 
Marketplace. “The collaborative partnership has enhanced our technology transfer skills. WRI is getting ready,” 
he said, “for when the suitors coming knocking.”

Manufacturing-Works emphasizes Delivering Solutions 4 Creating Wealth in the areas of People, Processes, 
Products and Performance. Call them at 1-800-343-1423 or visit their website at www.manufacturing-works.com 
to see how they can help your business. Contact: Stan Grabowski

Manufacturing-Works 1-307-766-2817

The Chamber Membership Committee is looking for ways to stimulate business, stimulate shoppers in the community and stimulate the bottom line, with the “Chamber Stimulus Plan”. Here is how the “Chamber’s Stimulus Plan” works. Everyone time a customer comes into a participating business and buys something they will receive a “Chamber Stimulus Coupon” to another participating Chamber Members business in appreciation for shopping local. The customer gets an extra bonus for shopping local. They can then take their coupon to another Chamber Member’s business, buy something and get referred to another Chamber Member business. This way businesses are “stimulating” more spending in our community and in the long run stimulating our local economy.  

Here is a list of participating businesses…stop by and see what kind of incentives you can get! We are working on expanding participation too so watch for more businesses in the future.  

         Ace Hardware, 400 Uinta Drive
         Back in Time Antiques – 40 N. 3^rd W.
        Castle Rock Web Designs – 520 Wilkes Drive, Suite 13
        D-J’s Glass – 3700 Hwy 374, in Jamestown 520 Wilkes Drive, Suite 1 150 Uinta Drive
        The Groomers – 520 Wilkes Drive, Suite 6
        Wyoming Embroidery Works – 329 Uinta Drive
   

Workforce services releases newest version of online job
matching system  

The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services has released it’s Version 10 of its online job matching system,
Wyoming At Work. The system, originally launched in 2006, can be found on the web at
www.wyomingatwork.com.  

Wyoming at Work assists job seekers in locating jobs, and aids Wyoming businesses in finding a qualified
workforce. One unique characteristic of Wyoming at Work that sets it apart from it from other job searching sites
is that Wyoming at Work has a team of 120-plus Wyoming-based employees behind it that are available to help
job seekers and businesses meet their needs. Job seekers and Wyoming employers have a choice to either
self-serve, receive live assistance or a combination of both.  

“As our economy has changed over the past several months, the Department of Workforce Services is ready to
meet those challenges head-on,” said Joan Evans, Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.
“Our latest version of Wyoming At Work will have enhancements to help clients prepare the perfect resume,
will have some stronger security features and the system will have heightened efficiency,” Evans added.  

Sandra Janak, an Analyst for the Department of Workforce Services, said, “There are over 300 changes in Version
10. For those job seekers who would like to have the assistance of trained professionals in their job search, we
have provided many functions that will help us help them even more effectively than before. Our staff wants to
be responsive to the needs of every individual that walks through the door, and Wyoming At Work provides us
with a powerful tool to respond to those needs.”  

The Wyoming at Work system provides job seekers and employers with critical workforce tools such as: career
services where job seekers can research specific occupations, choose a new career or analyze their skills to find an
occupation that best suits them; education services where job seekers can find a suitable training or educational
program, as well as information on training providers and schools; job services that will assist job seekers in looking
for or being placed in a new job and learning how to develop effective resumes and cover letters; and an assistance
 center where Job seekers can find general assistance information about the system, such as staff listings and e-mail
contact addresses.   

Wyoming at Work services for employers include: recruitment services that allow employers to post job openings,
find qualified candidates and access a wide variety of information designed to help a business succeed; training
grants so that employers can find out if they qualify for local, state or federal training grants, like the Workforce
Development Training Fund; education services for employers to find a suitable training or educational program,
as well as information on training providers and schools; and an assistance center for employers to locate general
 assistance information about the system, such as staff listings and email contact addresses.   

“While we are making great strides to provide a powerful system for staff and public alike, we are not stopping
with release 10.  We are working closely with the people who use Wyoming At Work to find ways to make a great
tool even greater, and look forward to incorporating new ideas that will make it even more useful and easier to use,”
Janak said.  

For more information on Wyoming at Work, or to register on the system, please visit
www.wyomingatwork.com, call 877- WORK -WYO or visit the Department on Facebook and Twitter.

Let It Fly Bird Farm Ribbon Cutting & 100^th Anniversary Celebration for
Green River Livestock.



Don Schramm presents Bill Taliaferro with historic letters and correspondence
from Bill’s Grandfather

l-r front Patty Castillon, Hank Castillon , Linda and Tom Taliaferro, Oscar,
Debra, Branson, and Kelsee Barton, Brendan Faigl, Marysa Barton,
Stone Hooten, Maggie and Ramsay Taliaferro, Nicole Tedesco, William
Valdez, Sarah Tedesco, Jordan Valdez, Jared and Collin Tedesco.
 

l-r back Christina and Mark Sanders, Bill and Jan Taliaferro, Galen West,
Ed and Tara Taliaferro, Corbin, James, and Laura Pearson, D.J. Tedesco,
Brian and Brix Hooten.