23-03-2025
Pueblo native named U.S. Navy occupational therapist of the year and more business news
Pueblo's Industrial Constructors/Managers, Inc., just increased its steel fabrication capacity by up to 75% thanks to a new beamline machine that will help the licensed general contractor create fast, consistent and accurate products.
The new beamline machine, manufactured by BeamCut, automates the cutting, drilling, coping, notching, and etching process used to produce steel for industrial and commercial purposes, according to a press release from Industrial Constructors/Managers.
'The beamline is a huge benefit for us because it automates a lot of our procedures and reduces the man hours required to fabricate steel,' said Dustin Mincic, vice president of operations. 'Now we can produce steel a lot quicker, whether we're working with 2 inches of steel, 16 inches of pipe, or a 60-foot long beam.'
The company designs and builds equipment for a wide range of industries ranging from aerospace and airports to mining and power generation companies. A video of the beamline in action can be seen at
The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce is set to host its Business Awards Luncheon from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 10, at the Colorado State University Pueblo Occhiato Student Center Ballroom, 2200 Bonforte Blvd.
The Business of the Year Award will be presented to H.W. Houston Construction, a local builder that launched 71 years ago providing commercial work from modest remodels to massive projects. Scott Robb is the president while Louis Nazario, Mike Ingo and Ernie Garcia are the vice presidents each in charge of their own sector of work. They currently have 65 employees.
The Business Leader Award will be presented to Darrin Smith, president of UCHealth Parkview. Smith started out in Pueblo as employee relations manager at Trane Company where he worked for 14 years. He left Pueblo for a short time to open up a new Trane location in Florida.
When he returned to Pueblo, Smith became the vice president of human resources at Parkview Medical Center in 2005. In 2023 he was named the president and chief executive officer of the hospital.
Tickets for the event are $40 per person. For reservations, contact Terri Kallish at terrik@ or 719-542-1704.
April 15 is the deadline for Pueblo students to apply for the Credit Union of Colorado Foundation college scholarships.
The foundation will provide a $5,000 scholarship to 10 students, donating $50,000 in tuition assistance for the 2025/2026 school year.
'For over 10 years, Credit Union of Colorado Foundation has provided financial support to college students from communities across Colorado,' said Phil Smith, board chair.
Scholarship eligibility is extended to students who are Colorado residents enrolled in, or scheduled to enter, an accredited college or university as an undergraduate taking at least 12 credit hours per semester. Applicants must maintain a minimum 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale in high school or during the previous 12 months as a college undergraduate. Students must also submit an essay that explains their financial need for the scholarship assistance.
To access this year's application, go to
Pueblo native Lt. Jeff Bazanele has been named the U.S. Navy's Occupational Therapy Officer of the Year for his work at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Bazanele serves as the division officer for the occupational therapy program which helps patients with acute or chronic injuries.
'On a personal level, (this honor) feels good, but on a bigger level, I hope this helps validate and reinforce the role of occupational therapy and the impact it brings to Navy medicine,' Bazanele said. 'My biggest goal is showing by example why occupational therapy is required in an operational or deployable setting.'
The Latino Chamber Foundation is set to host its 20th annual Joe Ulibarri Tostada from 6-9:30 p.m., May 9, at the Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.
The light-hearted event honors a local leader who is mildly insulted, amused, embarrassed, and generally highlighted by friends and acquaintances as they recall old stories, jokes, appearances, and miscues over the years. This year's honored roastee is Yanera McCulley-Sedillo, also known as La Madrina de Bessemer.
Cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m. and includes complimentary appetizers, a cash bar, and entertainment. The program and dinner will follow at 7 p.m.
Suggested attire for this year's event is business casual or godfather/godmother-like. The cost is $65 per person and tickets are available online at
More Pueblo County business news: Replacing Desert Hawk Golf Course sprinklers could cost $2 million more than expected
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo native named U.S. Navy occupational therapist of the year
