For nearly five decades, the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation (Sports Corp) has helped shape what is now one of Southern Colorado's most significant economic drivers - a sports economy generating nearly $300 million annually, supporting more than 2,000 jobs, and creating an estimated $38 million in state and local tax revenue.

Founded to help secure the relocation of the U.S. Olympic Committee from New York to Colorado Springs in 1978, Sports Corp has remained at the forefront of advancing Olympic City USA, attracting premier sporting events, promoting sports tourism, and strengthening the region's quality of life through community engagement.

On this edition of Business Digest Radio, host Dirk Hobbs sits down with Sr. Director of Sports Tourism and Olympic Engagement, Davis Tutt and Director of Marketing & Communications, Rands Keasler for an inside look at Sports Corp's signature events and strategic vision for the remainder of 2026. Together, they discuss how the organization continues to attract world-class competitions, expand sports tourism, and create lasting economic opportunities throughout the Pikes Peak region.

The conversation also highlights several of Sports Corp's marquee events, including the 50th Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off, the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow, the Rocky Mountain State Games, the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame, and other events that continue to reinforce Colorado Springs' reputation as one of America's premier destinations for sport, competition, and community.

Whether you're a business leader, community partner, sports enthusiast, or simply interested in the future of our regional economy, this is a conversation that showcases why sport has become one of Southern Colorado's most powerful engines for growth.

Learn more about Sports Corp and their events here: https://sportscorp.org | EVENTS: https://www.coloradospringssports.org/events/

On Business Digest Radio, host Dirk Hobbs sat down with Mike Grady, Senior Vice President of Western Markets for Wings Credit Union (formerly Ent Credit Union), and Annie Snead, Vice President of Community Outreach, to discuss the strategic merger between the two respected credit unions—an integration many in the financial sector have described as a model for merger success.

Grady and Snead shared insights into how the transition is unfolding for members, employees, and leadership teams, emphasizing a deliberate focus on culture, communication, and continuity of service. Both noted that preserving member trust while aligning systems, operations, and organizational values has been central to the process.

The conversation also highlighted the importance of maintaining strong community engagement across Colorado, ensuring the combined organization remains deeply invested in the people and businesses it serves while positioning for long-term growth and expanded impact.

https://wingco.com | https://socodigest.com/#radio

#BusinessDigestRadio, #WingsCreditUnion, #EntCreditUnion, #CreditUnions, #FinancialServices, #CommunityBanking, #Leadership. #BusinessLeadership, #SouthernColorado, #ColoradoBusiness

In our recent Business Digest interview, JW Roth offered an unflinching look at the future of Venu Holding Corporation.

He acknowledges that VENU’s luxury live-entertainment model is extraordinarily complex and capital intensive, requiring massive upfront investment, patient capital, and flawless execution across development, hospitality, ticketing, and operations. With shares down roughly 75% over the past year and near 52-week lows, skeptics are plentiful.

Yet Roth remains resolute: “Don’t bet against us.” Backed by strategic partners including Troy Aikman and Dierks Bentley, Roth believes VENU is building something rare—premium, experience-driven destinations positioned to redefine live entertainment for decades to come.

VENU is an NYSE publicly traded company. Learn more: https://investors.venu.live/overview/

Author and Speaker, and former senior sales executive at Cisco, Salesforce and Dell, Paul Yankey, MBA joins host Dirk Hobbs on this week's Business Digest Radio program. Paul outlines how a strong marketing foundations and expectations can drive an organization's top and bottom lines and set sales teams up for great success.

His book Free - The Only Way to Sell, challenges business leaders to rethink what they expect from marketing, not as a cost center, but as a measurable growth engine. Yankey argues that too many companies tolerate vague promises, vanity metrics, and activity without accountability. Business owners and executives should expect marketing teams - whether in-house or outsourced - to clearly understand the company’s strategic goals, ideal customer, competitive landscape, and revenue objectives.

Effective marketing partners should deliver more than impressions, clicks, or social engagement; they should connect marketing efforts to tangible business outcomes such as qualified leads, customer acquisition, retention, and brand trust. Leaders should demand clear KPIs, transparent reporting, consistent communication, and proactive strategic recommendations.

Yankey emphasizes that strong marketers function as growth partners, not order takers. They should challenge assumptions, bring market intelligence, and help leadership make better decisions. Ultimately, marketing should create clarity, credibility, and sustainable business momentum - not confusion or dependency.

Learn more about Paul and how you can bring Paul's expertise to your conference or organization: https://paulyankey.com/ Get Free on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Free-only-sell-Paul-Yankey/dp/B0F83VJ5Z9

Don’t miss this week’s Business Digest Radio with Host Dirk Hobbs, featuring Melissa Eickhoff, CEO of the The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb by Gran Turismo.

Hear the story behind the legendary Race to the Clouds as Melissa shares the rich history of this iconic event, race week highlights including Fan Fest in downtown Colorado Springs, and how elite teams prepare for the 104th running. We also dive into the race’s global audience, marketing power, and major economic impact—showcasing why this world-class event is a powerful asset for Southern Colorado.

TICKETS: PPIHC.ORG

More Business Digest Radio Shows:

#PikesPeakInternationalHillClimb #Motorsports #ColoradoSprings #PikesPeak #GranTurismo #MelissaEickhoff #DirkHobbs #BusinessDigestRadio #SpencerPenrose #TheBroadmoor

WEBSITE: FLYCOS.COM

During a recent conversation with Colorado Springs Airport Aviation Director Alex Kovacs, one message stood out clearly: the Colorado Springs Airport (COS) is far more than a transportation hub-it is a critical economic development asset for Southern Colorado.

Serving more than 2.4 million passengers annually, COS functions as a front door to our region for business leaders, investors, tourists, military personnel, and residents alike. The airport's connectivity supports business recruitment, workforce mobility, tourism, conventions, defense operations, and overall regional competitiveness.

What makes COS unique is convenience. Travelers benefit from easy access, affordable parking, short security lines, modern concourse improvements, new passenger amenities, and a growing lounge experience-all without the congestion associated with larger airports. The ongoing ElevateCOS modernization project continues to enhance the customer experience while positioning the airport for future growth.

Perhaps most importantly, the airport's success depends on us. Every time Southern Colorado travelers choose to fly from COS, they help strengthen passenger demand that supports existing routes and encourages airlines to add new destinations. Those choices directly influence the level of air service available to businesses and residents throughout the region.

For Southern Colorado's economy to remain competitive, we must continue viewing our airport as essential infrastructure. Whether traveling for business or leisure, using Colorado Springs Airport is an investment in the region's economic future, helping sustain the air service, connectivity, and opportunities that keep Southern Colorado growing.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Colorado Rural Development - State Director, Sallie Clark joins host Dirk Hobbs to reveal how Colorado's rural communities are partnering with the USDA for major projects.

The former El Paso County Commissioner and Colorado Springs City Councilwoman explains how the USDA is uniquely positioned to serve rural communities (communities with 50K or fewer residents), play a critical role in strengthening rural communities through loans, grants, technical assistance and infrastructure investment. The agency supports affordable housing, business growth, broadband expansion, water systems, healthcare facilities and workforce development projects that help drive economic prosperity, improve quality of life and sustain long-term growth across rural Colorado.

Learn more about the USDA and how to collaborate with the office to apply for grants to strengthen and build key infrastructure, affordable housing solutions, healthcare and education facilities and programs, and more at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/co

Watch this an other podcasts on the So Colorado Business Forum & Digest main page: https://socodigest.com/#youtube

Founder of Upward Treasury Partners, Becky Limoge, Certified Treasury Professional and her partner and fellow senior bank executive Jared Schmidt join Business Digest Radio host, Dirk R. Hobbs to discuss how the business banking experience should be viewed and used as a surgical instrument - an operational tool for the business.

And for the Bank Executive: How your institution can optimize business performance for your accounts and win customers for life. What you're leaving on the table...

Upward Treasury website: https://upwardtreasury.com

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