Hiring, Capital, and What’s Ahead

 Practical observations on construction, workforce, and the built environment across Southern Colorado.

April 2026 • iiCON Construction

Expert Corner

Victor Granados has spent more than 18 years helping companies across the Pikes Peak region build finance and accounting teams. His perspective sits at the intersection of hiring trends, company culture, and the evolving expectations of the modern workforce.

Victor began his career in banking and mortgage in 2007 before joining Robert Half after seeking recruiting support himself. What has kept him there for nearly two decades is simple: Helping people succeed.

“Helping people build their careers and provide for their families is what makes this work meaningful.”

When asked what is shaping the finance and accounting talent market today, several themes surfaced quickly.

Key takeaways for employers and professionals:

1. Flexibility is reshaping hiring decisions.
Hybrid work expectations have become one of the most common factors influencing career moves. Many professionals are willing to make lateral salary moves if it means gaining schedule flexibility or improved work-life balance.

2. Technical skills matter, but attitude matters more.
Strong finance teams share common traits. Collaboration, open communication, and accountability across the group often matter more than individual credentials.

“You can teach technical skills, but you cannot teach reliability or attitude.”

3. Relationships still drive business in Colorado Springs.
Hiring remains deeply relationship based. Companies that stay visible in the community and build trust over time tend to attract stronger talent and stronger partnerships.

Victor’s advice for leaders was straightforward.

Hire for potential, invest in mentorship, and focus on building teams that want to succeed together.

“A rising tide raises all ships.”

From the Field

Building for 2026: Financial Forecast & Workforce Readiness

The ABC Rocky Mountain Southern Colorado Committee recently hosted Building for 2026: Financial Forecast & Workforce Readiness, a panel discussion focused on helping construction leaders better understand the forces shaping the regional market over the next 12 to 24 months.

Held at Harvey House at Catalyst Campus, the event brought together contractors, architects, engineers, developers, bankers, and industry partners from across Southern Colorado. The goal was to create a practical conversation about the signals businesses are watching as they plan for the future. Uriah was honored to moderate the discussion and grateful for the strong turnout and engagement from across the industry.

Dr. William (Bill) Craighhead, Head of the UCCS Economic Forum, opened the conversation with insights on regional population and demographic trends and how those shifts may influence long-term construction demand.

Michael Suggs, Principal and Managing Broker at NAI Highland, shared perspective on current development activity and project feasibility, while Jason T. Schneider, Principal at SVA Certified Public Accountants, discussed how contractors are increasingly focused on backlog quality, margin protection, and disciplined growth strategies. Kent Palmer, Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking at Adams Bank & Trust, provided insight into how lenders are evaluating risk and capital structures in today’s market.

Workforce development remained a central theme. Renee Zentz, President of Careers in Construction Colorado, emphasized the importance of expanding the talent pipeline and strengthening connections between industry and students pursuing careers in the skilled trades.

“It was refreshing to hear honest perspectives from across the industry,” one attendee shared. “Conversations like this help all of us think more clearly about the road ahead.”

On Our Radar

Careers in Construction Colorado Career Exploration and Hiring Fair

In April, the Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC) Career Exploration and Hiring Fair brought students, contractors, trade partners, and industry professionals together for a morning focused on career pathways in construction.

The event gave students a chance to learn directly from companies across the industry about different crafts, career opportunities, training paths, and what it actually looks like to build a future in the skilled trades. Conversations like these matter because they help students connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities, and they often create the first step toward internships, mentorship, or future employment.

The iiCON Construction team was glad to have a booth at the event, and Uriah, iiCON's Business Development, appreciated the opportunity to spend time with students and industry partners throughout the morning.

If you are not already connected with Careers in Construction Colorado, they are a great organization to know and support. Their work plays an important role in introducing students to meaningful careers in construction and strengthening the future workforce of our industry.

Learn more about Careers in Construction Colorado here

Closing Thought

Every project seems to have the same moment.

Someone leans back in the meeting and says,
“Let’s see if there’s a little value engineering.”

In construction that usually means:

“Can we keep everything exactly the same… and shave a cool 15% off the budget?” 🤦😂

The reality is that good projects come from good conversations. The earlier those conversations happen, the better the outcomes tend to be.

We will keep sharing what we are seeing along the way.

- The iiCON Construction Team