Denver Nuggets Sign Free Agent Torrey Craig

Colorado-based real estate developer Darwin Horan served as the president of D.R. Horton’s Denver Division and as the president of Writer Homes’ North Division. He currently leads Ventana Capital, Inc., as its president and CEO. In his free time, Darwin Horan enjoys watching sports, especially of such teams as the Denver Nuggets.

Recently, the Denver Nuggets announced that they signed Torrey Craig to a multi-year contract. A free agent, Craig played for the team during the 2017-18 season after signing a two-way contract. This type of contract places players on an NBA roster for a specific amount of time. Once that time is up or if the player doesn’t work out, they are sent back to G League, the NBA equivalent of the minors, for the remainder of the season. Players do receive an NBA salary, but only for the days that they are on the NBA roster.

Prior to that, Craig spent several seasons playing in the Australian National Basketball League. He was with the Brisbane Bullets for the 2016-17 season and named the Most Improved Player and Australian NBL Defensive Player of the Year. He joined the Australian National Basketball League in 2014 after going undrafted by the NBA following his time in college. As a collegiate player, he earned NABC All-District First Team honors several times and was the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year.

The Role of a Land Developer

Since studying business at Arizona State University, Darwin Horan served in executive capacities for major home builders in Colorado. With more than 20 years of experience as a land developer, Darwin Horan now functions as the president and CEO of Ventana Capital, Inc., which he owns.

Ideally, a career in land development starts with a business or civil engineering degree. A land developer works with local authorities, building companies, and architects to transform his or her vision for an empty plot into a home, a shopping mall, or an office building.

In detail, the responsibilities of a land developer range from acquiring land to overseeing the construction to be carried out upon it. Upon land acquisition, a land developer determines lot sizes, street layouts, and other factors that can affect the project. With a completed layout and local government assistance, he or she ensures that the project complies with the zoning ordinances, construction regulations, and environmental restrictions.

Once permits and approvals are in place, construction commences, during which a land developer supervises the installation of building pads and both sewer storm water and utility systems connections. Sidewalks, traffic signs, and even landscapes may also fall within a land developer’s purview.

Popular Fly Fishing Destinations in Colorado

An accomplished Colorado land developer and home builder with more than two decades of experience, Darwin Horan leads Ventana Capital as CEO and president. Outside of work, Darwin Horan enjoys fly fishing.

Colorado is home to more than 200 rivers, making the state a great place for fly fishing. Here are several of Colorado’s popular fly fishing destinations:

- South Platte River: Popular among locals and visitors, the river is located near Denver and has 15 public access points where fishers can cast a line. The South Platte is full of carp, bass, cutthroat trout, and rainbow trout.

- Gunnison River: Feeding into Blue Mesa Reservoir, this river gives anglers plenty of opportunities to catch trophy-sized trout. However, fishing in some areas of the Gunnison is challenging and may require the help of an experienced guide.

- Animas River: One of the best fly fishing locations in Colorado, this river runs through Durango and can be accessed easily from town. The Animas has been producing world-class trout for several years.

- Grand Mesa Lakes: Ideal for fishers searching for a variety of species, these waters consist of more than 100 natural reservoirs and lakes near the municipality of Delta. Not every lake allows boat fishing, so fishers need to follow the signs.

Judo Throws in Jiujitsu

The owner of Ventana Capital, Darwin Horan enjoys many sports and outdoor activities. Darwin Horan participates in jiujitsu, which has become one of the most popular martial arts in the West, focusing primarily on fighting a grounded opponent.

Getting an opponent onto the ground is essential in jiujitsu, but achieving it requires the effective use of throws. Jiujitsu borrows many of its throws from judo, a martial art that specializes in takedowns. The “reaping throws,” or gari, are some of the most effective.

In the first throw typically learned in judo and jiujitsu, called the osotogari or major outer reaping, the practitioner grabs at the collar and sleeve and forces the opponent to lean to the sleeve side. Once this is accomplished, the practitioner takes a step past and hooks a leg behind the target's leg while pressing forward on the upper body, achieving a quick takedown.

A more advanced technique, the ouchi gari or major inner reaping, takes advantage of the wide stances often used in jiujitsu. Ouchi gari starts from the same position as the osotogari, but instead of stepping past the opponent and hooking from the outside, the practitioner collides head-on, slides a leg through the space between the opponent's legs, and hooks from the inside.

A Look at the 2018 Denver Broncos Regular Season Schedule

An experienced land development and real estate executive, Darwin Horan serves as president of Ventana Capital, where he controls more than $200 million in assets and oversees one of the largest real estate portfolios in Colorado. When he isn't working to expand the company's portfolio, Darwin Horan enjoys following his favorite National Football League (NFL) team, the Denver Broncos.

After winning the Super Bowl in 2015, the Broncos have failed to qualify for the playoffs in the last two seasons and have a combined win-loss record of 14-18. However, with a new season comes renewed optimism, and the Broncos' 2018 schedule favors an improved season. Only four of Denver's 16 regular season games are against teams that made the playoffs in 2017; the Broncos play the Kansas City Chiefs twice and also play the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers at home in week 6 and week 12, respectively. 

The season begins on September 9 with a home game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Broncos last hosted the Seahawks in 2010, when the team scored a 31-14 victory. Denver's bye week is week 10, following which it closes out its season with a seven-game stretch that includes games against the Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and two against the Los Angeles Chargers. Combined, the Broncos 2018 opponents posted a 122-134 record in 2017, which gives the team the fifth-most favorable schedule. The Houston Texans have the weakest schedule with a combined opponents record of 116-140.

The Challenge Foundation Summer Program

An accomplished real estate executive in Englewood, Colorado, Darwin Horan balances a busy career as CEO and president of Ventana Capital with a commitment to a range of philanthropic initiatives. Among other nonprofit groups, Darwin Horan supports the Challenge Foundation.

Founded by Colorado businessman Don McFall, for more than two decades the Challenge Foundation has provided academic support and opportunities for children from underserved communities as a way to break the cycle of poverty. Since its successful launch in Denver, the program has expanded to serve hundreds of students in locations such as El Paso, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona. 

One of the Challenge Foundation’s most successful initiatives is its annual summer program, a required component for middle-school-aged recipients of the foundation’s services. For several weeks each summer, participants receive rigorous academic training in subjects such as reading, writing, and math. 

Additionally, program counselors conduct enrichment activities such as outdoor adventure trips, sports programs, and campus visits to area colleges. These life experiences provide participants with a sense of the possibilities in the wider world while developing skills such as teamwork, leadership, and community building.

Denver Broncos Sign Quarterback Case Keenum

A business alumnus of Arizona State University, Darwin Horan resides in Englewood, Colorado, where he serves as president of Ventana Capital and holds positions on numerous metro district boards. Beyond his professional pursuits, Darwin Horan is a fan of the National Football League's (NFL) Denver Broncos. 

NFL free agency opened on March 14 and the Broncos made waves by signing quarterback Case Keenum to a two-year, $36 million contract. A native of Abilene, Texas, Keenum was signed by the Houston Texans as a college free agent in 2013. The Texans lost all eight games he started that season, while Keenum had nine touchdowns and six interceptions to go along with a 54.2 completion percentage. He was slightly better in his two-year stint with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, but only established himself as a premier quarterback this past season with the Minnesota Vikings.

Keenum started 14 games with the Vikings in 2017 and led the team to a win-loss record of 11-3, while throwing for 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also had a career-best 67.6 completion percentage and a quarterback rating of 98.3. The 30 year old is projected to start next season for the Broncos, but the team also has a top-five pick in the upcoming NFL Draft which it might use to select a promising collegiate quarterback like Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, or Sam Darnold.

Denver Nuggets Acquire Devin Harris in Three-Team Trade

A Colorado-based investor with more than 20 years' experience in home building, Darwin Horan presides over Ventana Capital, which controls more than $200 million in assets and has the largest real estate portfolio in the state. When not working to grow the firm's portfolio, Darwin Horan follows Denver sports teams including the NBA Nuggets.

In contention to make the playoffs for the first time since 2013, the Denver Nuggets basketball team acquired veteran guard Devin Harris from the Dallas Mavericks prior to the February 8 trade deadline in a three-team deal that also included the New York Knicks. The Mavericks received Doug McDermott from the Knicks, while the Knicks received former Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay. The Nuggets and Knicks also agreed to swap second-round picks in the 2018 NBA Draft.

The fifth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, Harris has played for four teams throughout his 14-year career and averaged 11.2 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game. Since joining the Nuggets, he has averaged 7.3 points per game on 35 percent shooting. Mudiay, meanwhile, appeared to have a bright future with Denver, but lost his starting position to Jameer Nelson and was later passed on the depth chart by 2016 draft pick Jamal Murray. He averaged 8.5 points per game in a limited role this season.

What is a Comprehensive Plan and Why is it Important?

A talented leader in the land development and homebuilding industry, Darwin Horan serves as the president and CEO of Ventana Capital, Inc., in Colorado. Prior to this, he was president of the Denver Division of D.R. Horton, the largest homebuilder in Colorado, and the North Division of Writer Homes. Through this positions, Darwin Horan became experienced in many of the steps involved in homebuilding and land development, such as comprehensive planning.

Also known as land-use plans, comprehensive plans present the future vision, objectives, and goals for a community. These goals are usually based on current and future conditions of a community and follow some of the best planning practices in the country and world. They are also long-term goals and provide communities with guidance for up to 30 years.

With a comprehensive plan in place, communities function much more efficiently. Whenever a land-use issue arises, community leaders can refer to the plan to figure out how to solve their problem. Further, comprehensive plans include information about local resources, such as woods and agricultural lands, thus allowing the community to easily see what it needs to protect.

Comprehensive plans aren’t just good for improving efficiency. They also help communities protect public investments and balance private interests. Good plans create rational and orderly development patterns that help communities see how individuals’ actions on their property can affect the community. These development patterns also save the community money by finding affordable ways to provide public services to residents and preventing public works mishaps, such as tearing up a new road to lay down a new sewer pipe.

Three Denver Broncos in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

A former president of the North Division of Writer Homes, Darwin Horan is a Colorado-based real estate and development executive who serves as president and CEO of Ventana Capital. When he isn't raising funds for large-scale development projects, Darwin Horan enjoys following his favorite National Football League (NFL) team, the Denver Broncos.

There are nine players and coaches in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who have, at one point in their careers, been affiliated with the Broncos. However, only these three Hall of Famers suited up with Denver for over a decade. 

1. John Elway - A two-time Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Elway was the first-ever Bronco inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He retired as the league's all-time leader in wins by a quarterback with 148 and currently sits seventh in touchdown passes with 300. 

2. Floyd Little - A five-time Pro Bowl running back, Little retired in 1975, but wasn't inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame until 2010. He led the Broncos in rushing every season from 1967 to 1973. His career-best season was in 1971, when he led the league in rushing yards (1,113) and yards from scrimmage (1,388). 

3. Shannon Sharpe - A veteran of 14 NFL seasons, 12 of which he spent with the Broncos, Sharpe is a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the best tight ends of all time. He retired as the all-time leader in receiving yards (10,600), receiving touchdowns (62), and receptions (815) for his position.

Trey Lyles Thriving in First Season with the Denver Nuggets

A former president of the North Division of Writer Homes and the Denver Division of D.R. Horton, Darwin Horan currently serves as president and owner of Ventana Capital, where he controls over 12,000 acres of land and 180,000 square feet of office space throughout Colorado. Beyond his endeavors in the real estate sector, Darwin Horan is an avid fan of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets completed a draft night trade that looked potentially disastrous at the outset of the 2017-18 season. The team dealt the 13th overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft to the Utah Jazz in exchange for the 24th overall pick and forward Trey Lyles. The Jazz drafted Donovan Mitchell, who has established himself as one of the most exciting and promising rookies in the league, while the Nuggets used their 24th pick on Tyler Lydon, who has played in only one game this season. 

Lyles, however, has been a pleasant surprise for the Nuggets. The 22-year-old native of Saskatoon, Canada, played in only six of the team's first 15 games but has since become a fixture in the lineup. Through 35 games Lyles is averaging career-highs in minutes (19.6), points (10.7), rebounds (4.9), and steals (0.5) per game. His biggest improvement has been his three-point shooting efficiency. Last season, Lyles made 65 of 204 three-point attempts for a 31.9 percent success rate, but that number has jumped to 46.7 percent this season as he has made 50 of his 107 attempts.

Broncos Bring in Three New Position Coaches

With more than 20 years of experience in residential real estate development, Darwin Horan manages over $200 million in assets through his role as president of Ventana Capital. Outside of his professional endeavors, Darwin Horan enjoys following the National Football League's (NFL) Denver Broncos. 

The Broncos missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season after posting their lowest win total since 2010. Consequently, changes were made to the team's coaching staff. While Vance Joseph will continue to serve as the team's head coach next season, he will be assisted by new quarterbacks, running backs, and offensive line coaches Mike Sullivan, Curtis Modkins, and Sean Kugler, respectively.

A 15-year coaching veteran in the NFL, Sullivan worked the past two seasons as offensive coordinator to the New York Giants and previously held the same position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, Modkins brings 23 years of coaching experience to his role as running backs coach and has worked in a variety of roles with the San Francisco 49ers, the Buffalo Bills, the Detroit Lions, and the Chicago Bears. Finally, Kugler is returning to the NFL after a five-year stint as head coach of the University of Texas at El Paso. Throughout his career, he has coached NFL offensive line stars and collegiate prospects such as Ryan Clady, Maurkice Pouncey, and Will Hernandez.

The Early Career Success of Nikola Jokic

A former business student at Arizona State University, Darwin Horan serves as president of Englewood, Colorado's Ventana Capital, where he raises capital for land development in the commercial, residential, and oil and gas sectors, among others. Outside of his professional pursuits, Darwin Horan follows the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets received a major boost to their lineup for their December 15 contest against the New Orleans Pelicans when third-year center Nikola Jokic returned after missing more than two weeks due to a swollen left ankle. He recorded 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in just 22 minutes as he helped the Nuggets beat the Pelicans 117-111. 

A native of Sombor, Serbia, Jokic has been a rising star for the Nuggets in the past two seasons. Selected 41st overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, he joined the team for the 2015-16 season and was named to the All-Rookie team after averaging 10 points, seven rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He improved upon those numbers in the 2016-17 season, averaging 16.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while recording an impressive 57.8 field goal percentage. 

While he has averaged slightly fewer points and assists per game this season, Jokic is averaging a career-high 10.6 rebounds and has improved his shooting efficiency from the three-point range, which stands at 40.8 percent, up from 32.4 last season.