Movers & Shakers: New hires, promotions, honors, new businesses [Gazette, The (CO)]

- BBVA Compass has appointed Gregory Welch as senior vice president for the bank's commercial banking group. Based in Colorado Springs, Welch is responsible for developing and managing commercial lending relationships, providing clients with diverse product offerings and assisting clients with depository services, treasury/ cash management products, investment planning and insurance. Active in civic and community organizations, Welch is on the legislative committee for the Colorado Association of School Boards. He is also the board chair for the Small Business Development Center, as well as a board member of the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, the City of Fountain Economic Development Committee and a member of the Southern Colorado Economic Forum Committee. He earned his bachelor's degree in economics at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and completed the Graduate School of Banking program at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

- JoeAnn Gordon, a family child care business owner in Colorado Springs, has been awarded national accreditation from the National Association for Family Child Care. NAFCC offers accreditation to providers across the country, aiding them in raising their standards of quality care and gaining them the respect and recognition they deserve for their commitment to quality and children. Gordon has been providing care in her home for 14 years, serving children newborn through school age. She is a member of the Pike Peak Region Family Child Care Association.

- Mike Gibbore has opened a Growth Coach franchise offering business coaching services in Colorado Springs and Monument. Gibbore has spent more than three decades working in a variety of industries, including as chief financial officer for Provident Pharmaceuticals. More information at www.thegrowthcoach.com.

- William C. Sanden, a director with the Colorado Springs accounting firm SSA, has been appointed to the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority by Gov. John Hickenlooper. Sanden is a certified public accountant in Colorado and Utah and is on the board of the Bank at Broadmoor. He's held several positions with the Colorado Society of CPAs and the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, and has been treasurer for Court Appointed Special Advocates. CECFA helps nonprofits access low-cost financing for the development and construction of educational and cultural facilities.

- Laura McGuire, CEO of Colorado Springs-based Saligent, tops the Sales Lead Management Association's list of the Most Influential People in Sales Lead Management in 2011. A vote by association members and non-members determined the rankings. Saligent works with aspiring U.S. companies to establish proven processes in sales lead management. McGuire is an expert in database marketing.

- CEA Technologies, a global contract manufacturer of critical care medical devices, announced the promotion of Eric Sherraden to vice president of manufacturing services. For more than 13 years, Sherraden has served in a variety of key positions with escalating responsibilities at CEA, most recently as director of Colorado manufacturing. His new duties will include overseeing the engineering, manufacturing, project management, supply chain and tool fabrication departments.

- Carlos Araujo, associate dean for research and development and professor at the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, will be honored as a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Araujo is being recognized as a pioneer in the development of ferroelectric memory technology, which is used in semiconductors that retain information without power. His designation as an IEEE Fellow is effective Jan. 1.

- Earthen Artisan House has opened at 2611 W. Colorado Ave. in Old Colorado City. Owned and operated by Erica Buelow, the boutique features original art creations of metal, glass, wood, stone, leather, pelts and other media by local and regional craftsmen and artisans. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

- Pet Sitters International announced that Debi Greenway, a representative of NBS Home in Colorado Springs, has earned the designation of Certified Professional Pet Sitter. The CPPS designation indicates that an individual has acquired the knowledge necessary to make vital assessments on pet health and nutrition, canine and feline behavior, separation anxiety, pet loss and more.

- Arctic Spas of Colorado Springs was honored as the U.S. Dealer of the Year during the international dealer seminar recently held in Las Vegas. It is the third such award for the dealership in the past four years.