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Tag: Women-owned Companies

Governor Polis Secures Woman-Owned Communications Technology Firm, Caliola, for Expansion in Colorado Springs

Governor Polis and the Global Business Development Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) formally announced today that Caliola, a 100% woman-owned communications technology firm that specializes in supporting the defense industry, has selected Colorado Springs, Colorado for expansion.

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“We’re thrilled Caliola has chosen Colorado Springs for their expansion which will create 372 new, good-paying jobs for our state,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “It is another example of the progress our administration has made to support existing companies and create new jobs across the state so that every Coloradan can thrive.”

Founded in Colorado Springs in 2019, Caliola started with 4 employees and grew to a staff of more than 40 in less than 3 years. The company supports Colorado Springs’ defense and space industry, providing innovative technical solutions and services for secure and resilient communications, including expertise in Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication (NC3); military satellite communications (SATCOM); modernized High Frequency (HF) communications; automated SATCOM planning; non-traditional cybersecurity architectures; and assured position, navigation, and timing (PNT). By selecting Colorado Springs for expansion, the company will grow its current presence in the city’s enterprise zone to support additional growth in staffing and advance research and development.

“When I began looking for a community to start Caliola, there were many qualities that brought not only my business but my family, to Colorado Springs. The welcoming community, the robust business industry—which includes many military assets that Caliola currently supports—the high-quality candidates that we employ, and the support Colorado offers small businesses have all made it a great fit. We are thrilled to expand in Colorado Springs,” said Caliola’s Founder, President & CEO, Jennifer Halford.

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In addition to growing its Colorado Springs headquarters, Caliola is considering opening a small office in the Denver area to manage a hub of employees that have been hired in the area. Overall, the company expects to create 372 net new jobs at an average annual wage of $143,247, which is 232% of the average annual wage in Jefferson County and 271% of the average annual wage in El Paso County. These positions will support engineering services, Small Business Innovative Research contracts, Department of Defense products, commercial products and executive/support roles.

“Colorado Springs is a hub of innovation for the defense industry. The company’s commitment to Colorado Springs will benefit the advancement of this vital Colorado industry and contribute to thriving local and statewide economies,” said OEDIT Executive Director Patrick Meyers.

“The Chamber & EDC is proud to play a role in assisting Caliola to achieve growth goals by leveraging our partners at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Nurturing local businesses and helping them grow is at the heart of what we do,” said Kelly Leaverton, Vice President of Defense and Economic Development, Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation.

The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved up to $3,942,340 in performance-based Job Growth Incentive Tax Credits over an 8-year period to Caliola, referred to as Project Power throughout the OEDIT review process. In addition to Colorado, the company considered San Diego, California and Tampa, Florida for their planned expansion.

About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works with partners to create a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth. Under the leadership of Governor Jared Polis, we strive to advance the State’s economy through financial and technical assistance that fosters local and regional economic development activities throughout Colorado. OEDIT offers a host of programs and services tailored to support business development at every level including business retention services, business relocation services, and business funding and incentives. Our office includes the Global Business Development division; Colorado Tourism Office; Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office; Colorado Creative Industries; Business Financing & Incentives division; the Colorado Small Business Development Network; Cannabis Business Office; Colorado Office of Film, TV & Media; the Minority Business Office; Employee Ownership Office; and Rural Opportunity Office. Learn more at oedit.colorado.gov.

Latina Attorney Seeks to Improve Community

If you have ever been in a car accident, then you are probably all too familiar with how much of a traumatizing and complicated experience it can be. The process of getting your life back to a sense of normalcy probably took years or is still ongoing. There is hope, however, as one person is trying to make this process easier and more beneficial for the individuals and families who are not at fault in auto accidents, her name is Lisandra Matos.

Lisandra Matos is the founder and principal attorney at The Matos Las Firm located in Lakewood, Colorado, which was founded in 2015. Her journey to becoming an attorney started when she was just a teenager and her family immigrated to the United States, from Cuba. Afterward, she put herself through college at Rice University in Houston, Texas where she received her B.A. in Psychology and Political Science. She went on to earn her J.D. at the South Texas College of Law. Matos is currently a member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Colorado Bar Association, and Denver Bar Association.

Matos is no stranger to the difficult world of health care coverage ever since she tore the ACL and meniscus in her right knee after a skiing accident in 2015. After six weeks of not putting weight on her right leg, she lost almost all of the muscle and it felt like her leg had died. The process to reclaim a normal feeling in her leg was long and painful but with a lot of hard work and determination, she was able to get past a physical and mental barrier that was hindering her before.

Matos said about her journey, “I felt so alive! I had overcome a huge mental, emotional, and physical challenge. It was life changing and I wanted to help other people feel that same way. I decided to start my own legal practice and empower others to keep moving forward, too.”

The Matos Law Firm is continuing down a path to be a pillar that the community can look up to and hopes to continue its practice for the foreseeable future. Matos and the rest of the law firm are proud to serve the Latino community of Colorado and hope to make the process of dealing with an injury in a car accident easier and more affordable.

Matos’ ultimate goal is for big corporations to be held accountable for their actions, and she believes that the people who place their trust in these corporations should not be held responsible for doing what is right. The role Matos offers as a personal injury attorney is to serve as an equalizer between multi-billion-dollar insurance companies and individuals who have been injured in a car accident through no fault of their own.

Matos has been involved in hundreds of cases during her time as a personal injury lawyer and has been able to get the best possible results for her clients time after time because of her specialized knowledge of personal injury law and her passion for justice. Matos also enjoys her time with the community and frequently hosts women networking events in the Denver area that are open to all women looking to expand their networks and grow their businesses.

The Matos Law Firm is continuing down a path to be a pillar that the community can look up to and hopes to continue its practice for the foreseeable future. Matos and the rest of the law firm are proud to serve the Latino community of Colorado and hope to make the process of dealing with an injury in a car accident easier and more affordable.

Another unique aspect of the firm is that it is woman-owned with an all-woman staff, which has been a great way for female attorneys to have more representation in their community and show that there isn’t a stereotype one has to follow in order to be a successful attorney.

Matos looks forward to serving the community of Colorado at The Matos Law Firm for many years to come.

 

For more information:
If you have been injured in a car accident and you want to get in touch with someone who can help, there are several options out there including The Matos Law Firm that will be able to give you assistance.

 

ScottburbackScott Burback is an intern at The Matos Law Firm, and a recent graduate from Colorado State University, receiving a B.A. in Journalism and Media Communications with a focus on media production.