“Get the Most ‘Bank’ for your Buck” will be presented by Bank of Colorado’s Teri Simmons, vice president of commercial lending, and Mark Horn, senior vice president, at noon Dec. 11 at First National Bank of Durango, 259 W. Ninth St.

The cost is $10 for Durango Chamber of Commerce members and $20 for nonmembers. Participants will learn tips about how to make the loan process easier for business owners, find out what information banks expect from their customers, learn what a bank can and cannot do in today’s markets under government regulations, learn what to expect to pay for a loan and more. Reservations are required.

To register, visit www.durangobusiness.org or call 247-0312.

Pinnacol Assurance awards local companies

Pinnacol Assurance, a workers’ compensation insurer, recognized the recipients of the company’s sixth annual Circle of Safety Awards this month.

These Durango-area companies received the Circle of Safety Award: Durango Electrical Services and Nice Electric; and Durango Urological Associates P.C. The award recognizes that exceptional risk management is the result of a circle of many people working together. Pinnacol policyholders were eligible to receive the award if they met these requirements: Pinnacol policyholder for at least four years; .85 or less Experience Modification Rating each policy period; combined four-year loss ratio of 25 percent or less; 80 percent or more of all claims reported within 48 hours; designated providers each year; two or less notices of cancellation each year; no non-compliant audits; must currently hold the State of Colorado’s Cost Containment Certification; no fatalities; and an approved return-to-work program.

For more information and a list of winners, visit Pinnacol.com.

Jennifer Scholfield completes licensing

Jennifer Scholfield, investment and wealth strategist at Scholfield Wealth Management, has completed the state of Colorado licensing requirements for life and annuity insurance.

The focus of Scholfield’s practice is wealth management for entrepreneurs, business owners and businesswomen. She has evolved a wealth legacy and values based methodology to help clients make informed choices for investments, trusts, tax, insurance, and business/employee and estate planning options. Additionally, she has cultivated a team of experts in fields of retirement, tax law, medical practice specialists, insurance consultants and estate law to draw upon as needed. Previously, as executive coach, organization development and business strategy consultant, Scholfield worked at Fortune Top 50 companies.

For more information, visit www. DurangoWealthStrategies.com or call 385-1788.

First Southwest Bank announces promotion

First Southwest Bank announces the promotion of Shawn Candelaria to regional president.

With 22 years of banking experience, Candelaria now oversees the Cortez, Durango and Pagosa Springs markets. Candelaria has spent the last three years of his career growing the bank and the past 14 serving Durango. Candelaria also is a board member of the United Way of Southwest Colorado, 100 Club of Durango, Trails 2000 and Durango Wine Experience.

For more information, call 375-1100.

Durango Brewing Co. awarded beer medals

Durango Brewing Co. was recognized Nov. 2 with two gold medals at the All Colorado Beer Festival in Colorado Springs.

This marks the second year in a row that Durango Brewing won a gold medal. More than 90 beers were judged in 10 categories. Its Dark Lager was recognized as the best in the American Lager and Ales category. Also recognized as the best in the Pale Ale category was Durango’s Pale Ale, an American Pale Ale brewed with fresh hops grown in Western Colorado.

For more information, visit www.durangobrewing.com or visit the tasting room at 3000 N. Main Ave.

Herald Staff