Since being purchased by Betty Oxley in 1993, Lupita’s Restaurant has been a delicious destination for thousands of diners who visit the historic East Colfax Avenue corridor.  Located within walking distance of the Fitzsimons campus in a newly renovated space, the restaurant offers a variety of delectable dishes with a distinct Peruvian flair.

In addition to fantastic food, the restaurant has become known for delivering superior customer service.  When Oxley isn’t mingling with Lupita’s customers, she and her hard-working staff are preparing special dishes for regular restaurant customers, or conceiving discount programs for seniors, police officers, and members of the armed forces stationed at nearby Buckley Air Force Base.  

Lupita’s warm and inviting ambience extends beyond its front door. In 2001, Oxley worked with the City of Aurora to invest more than $100,000 to refurbish the property—making a dramatic improvement to the site and the surrounding area. 

Established in 1995, Padgett Business Services provides financial reporting and tax consultation to thousands of the city’s small businesses. With more than 75 percent of the company’s clientele coming from Aurora, the local Padgett Business Services office has become the company’s 10th largest franchise in the nation. 

In 2006, Padgett already has facilitated more than $1 million in tax filings—capping a period of growth that has seen the company’s revenues increase by more than 50 percent, and its employee base surge 66 percent.  The franchise’s success has earned numerous honors for owner Craig Ward and his staff, including the company’s 2004 Award of Excellence.

Even while enjoying the sweet rewards of success, Padgett Business Services has never lost sight of the importance of being a part of the community.  Each year, the company provides a college scholarship to the child of an Aurora small business owner.  Ward and his staff also are active participants in the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and other locally based civic groups.

Founded on the Fitzsimons Health Sciences campus in 2001 by Drs. Michael Browning, Andrew Czernik and John Haycock, PhosphoSolutions LLC is a biotechnology company that is developing products to benefit the health of millions worldwide. The company produces phosphoprotein-specific antibodies that facilitate the research of proteins.  Since proteins play a central role in the life of an organism, Phospho’s products are instrumental in the development and production of target-based drugs. Its ‘products’ give health scientists and researchers insight into how proteins regulate important bodily processes, such as cell division in cancer and neuronal communication in Alzheimer’s disease.
..Both inside and outside of the lab, Phospho Solutions is achieving astounding results. The company’s revenues have climbed at least 20 percent every year, and its employee base has grown right along with its profit margin. Moreover, the company also is playing an important role in the development of the Bioscience Park Center on the Fitzsimons campus—currently utilizing more than 6,000 square feet of the complex and poised to expand even more.