Osprey Packs\u2019 decision to move its distribution center and 18 employees from Cortez to Ogden, Utah, last year caught many off guard, but as CEO Tom Barney explained to Montezuma County business and government leaders on April 29, it was a strategic decision that allowed it further invest the business\u2019 growth overall and in its Cortez headquarters.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouthwest Colorado is simply not a distribution hub for the U.S. We needed interstates, airports, FedEx,\u201d said Barney at the annual Montezuma County Economic Development Association meeting.<\/p>\n
The change positioned Osprey\u2019s domestic fulfillment near the national rail network, which allowed the company to better fill shipments to its retailers in more environmentally friendly way. It also places distribution in a transportation hub while focusing most other company functions in Colorado.<\/p>\n
\u201cOsprey will save $450,000 in transportation costs by using rail. \u2026That pays for a lot of things,\u201d said Barney.<\/p>\n
One of those things is an updated headquarters in Cortez.<\/p>\n
Now that distribution has moved, the company is spending $2.5 million to revamp its offices at the Cortez Industrial Park and will have hired 22 new employees in sales, marketing, administration and information technology by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo what you can here and maybe do the other things elsewhere; be willing to experiment with contractors from around the country,\u201d said Barney. \u201cBe as scrappy in every way possible. \u2026 That\u2019s what it takes to make it work in a rural environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barney also touched on the importance of promoting the unique Southwest Colorado lifestyle to aid in recruiting quality employees for positions. He said that for Osprey, the screening process involves more than just ensuring a candidate\u2019s professional background matches up with the company needs. It also entails ensuring that the employee is comfortable with some of the sacrifices that come with living in a beautiful but remote part of the county.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hire very carefully to make sure they really want to live here; we\u2019ve been doing that and our retention rate is really high,\u201d said Barney.<\/p>\n
Barney suggested other area businesses as well as local government entities really \u201ctap into that cool Colorado experience\u201d when promoting the area to people considering relocation.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people that don\u2019t stick around are people not willing to put up with things like transportation hassles; having to go to Durango to fly; we all know there is so much more here. You have to convince folks of that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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