Springs & Co.

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 26, 2006

COMING AND GOING

Friendlyway Corp. has moved its corporate headquarters to the Springs from San Francisco after merging last month with locally based Pantel Systems Inc. Publicly traded Friendlyway has taken the Pantel name and applied to take the stock symbol PSIC.

Pantel sells self-service kiosks that dispense cash, sell money orders, handle electronic bill payment, etc.

Omni Medical Holdings Inc. is moving its headquarters from the Springs to Littleton. Omni sells information-technology systems.

BIG DAYS FOR BIGARI

Steve Bigari's groundbreaking work with Colorado Springs-based America's Family to create a network of benefits for the working poor continues to draw attention.

America's Family is one of two finalists for a grant worth as much as $5 million from New Profit, an organization of social entrepreneurs.

Also, because of his work with America's Family, the former Mc- Donald's franchisee is a nominee for the Fast Company Social Capitalist Award for entrepreneurs who are "using the disciplines of the corporate world to tackle daunting social problems."

The winner of the New Profit grant is expected to be announced in September. The social capitalist awards will be disclosed in late fall.

KURT GABEL, 1929-2006

The advertising industry in the Colorado Springs area mourns the death last week of Kurt Gabel at 77 after a lengthy illness.

Gabel Advertising Inc. dominated the local industry for more than 20 years, employing 23 in three offices to handle accounts including the city's largest bank and the local Mc-Donald's franchise before shutting down in 1990.

"When we started our company in 1970, Kurt WAS advertising in Colorado Springs. Alumni of his agency are at virtually every local agency, including ours," said Nechie Hall, owner of Praco Ltd.

A celebration of life is planned at 2 p.m. July 7 at First Christian Church, 16 E. Platte Ave.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Wayne Heilman, Jim Bainbridge