For four decades, the Chamber has brought these leaders and groups together to honor those who have helped promote our strong economic and social progress.
2023
Virginia Patterson Business Leader of the Year: Danica Powell, Founder | Trestle Strategy
Rising Star Award: Perla Delgado, Ph.D, CEO and Executive Director | I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County
Innovative Business of the Year Award: Rook Capital
Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Lane Hornung, Founder | 8z Real Estate + zavvie
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement Award: Philip DiStefano, Chancellor | University of Colorado Boulder
Impact Award: Conscience Bay Company
2022
Virginia Patterson Business Leader of the Year: Brian McCudden – Corden Pharma
Rising Star Award: Tatiana Hernandez – Community Foundation Boulder County
Startup of the Year: Chris White – Shinesty
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement Award: Catherine Allegra – IHS Markit
Impact Award: CU Boulder and the City of Boulder for their successful negotiation of the CU South Annexation Agreement.
2021
Virginia Patterson Business of the Year: Jill and Eric Skokan - Black Cat
Innovative Business of the Year: David Cohen and David Brown - Techstars
Rising Star Award: Katrina Miller - Blackat Productions
Startup of the Year: Aaron Clark - Equity Solutions
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement Award: Peter Salas - Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County
Special COVID-19 Impact Awards:
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- Boulder County Public Health Response Network (Avista Adventist Hospital, Boulder Community Health, Boulder Community Health Foundation, Boulder County Public Health, Longmont United Hospital, SCL Health, UC Health)
- The Boulder Chamber’s partners in the Boulder Business Response and Recovery Alliance (Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau, Boulder County, Boulder Small Business Development Center, Community Foundation Boulder County, City of Boulder, Downtown Boulder Partnership, and the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County)
2020
Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award: Kevin Daly, Mountain Sun Pubs & Breweries
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement Award: Bryce Isaacson, Western Disposal
Impact Award: Jonathan Lev, Boulder JCC
Innovative Company of the Year: HomeCare of the Rockies
Rising Star Award: Gerry & Nicole Wienholt, Yoga Pod
Startup of the Year: Rule4
2019
Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award: Ariel Solomon, Premier Mortgage Group
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement Award: Larry Gold, SomaLogicCommunity Impact Award: Mardi Moore, OUT Boulder County
Innovative Company of the Year: St. Vrain Valley School District
Rising Star Award: Alyssa Harding, Justin's
Entrepreneur of the Year: High Precision Devices
2018
Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award: Scott Green, Google Boulder
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement Award: Steve Bosley, BolderBOULDER
Community Impact Award: Doyle Albee, MAPRagency
Innovative Companies of the Year: Black Lab Sports and Terrapin Care Station
Rising Star Award: Sharon Matusik, Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder
2017
Virginia Patterson Business People of the Year Award: Dirk Friel and Gear Fisher, Peaksware
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement Award: Jon Kottke, Kottke & Brantz
Community Impact Award: Tamil Maldonado-Vega, Barrio E' and Jose Beteta, Boulder Latino Chamber of Commerce
Innovative Business of the Year: Techtonic Group
Rising Star Award: Boulder Organic Foods
2016
Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award: Gerry Agnes, Elevations Credit Union
Franny Reich Local Business Heroes:
Liz Hanson, City of Boulder
George Karakehian, Art Source International
Community Leadership Awards:
Ken Hotard, Boulder Area Realtor Association
Will Toor, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
Chamber Champion: Dianna Rands, Chill Digital Marketing
2015
Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award: Judy Amabile, Product Architect/Polar Bottles
Industry Leadership Award: Zayo Group
Franny Reich Local Business Hero: Ron Secrist, Boulder Community Health Foundation
Community Leadership Award: The Yes on 2A Campaign
Chamber Champions: Elvira Ramos, The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County
Barb Truan, Renaissance Management
2014
Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award: Ryan Martens, Rally Software
Franny Reich Local Business Hero: Dave and Dee Hight, McGuckin Hardware
Community Leadership Award: Nick and Helen Forster, eTown
Chamber Champion: Ro Medina, University of Colorado Career Services/BYP Chair
Industry Leadership Award: The Brewers
2013
Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award: Frances Draper, University of Colorado
Franny Reich Local Business Hero: Richard Polk
Business Innovator of the Year: Blake Jones
2012
Members of Distinction
John Regur, Dutch Creek Financial
Christina Savage, iSupportU
Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award: Brad Feld, Foundry Group
Key Contributor of the Year: Bob Noun, NREL
B2140 Young Business Person: Lee Shainis, Intercambio
Best Place to Work: Gnip
Community Sustainability Leader: Boulder Community Hospital
2011
Members of Distinction
Brent Hultman, Taggart Insurance
Jan Autry, Without Bounds
Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award: Lou Dellacava, LJD Enterprises, Inc.
Key Contributor of the Year: Susan Connelly, Colorado Chautauqua Association
B2140 Young Business Person: Shaun Oshman, iSupportU
Best Place to Work: Western Disposal
Community Sustainability Leader: University of Colorado Boulder
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement: Frank Day, Craftworks Restaurant
2010
Members of Distinction:
Elayne Oligschlaeger, The Pampered Chef
Peggy Altschuler (Goehringer), Home Based Business
Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award: George Karakehian, Art Source
Key Contributor of the Year: Rich Wobbekind, CU Leeds School
B2140 Young Business Person: Matt Kolb, Pedal to Properties
Best Place to Work: Namaste Solar
Community Sustainability Leader: Elevations Credit Union
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement: Tom Eldridge, Tom’s Tavern
2009
Members of Distinction
Barb Batt, U Creative Group
Lawrence Cunningham, Buffalo Sports Properties
Jim Lieberman. Array Biopharma
Business Person of the Year: Bob Morehouse, Vermilion
Volunteer of the Year: Karen Pickering, Hix Insurance Associates
2008
Members of Distinction
Benjamin Reed and Tyson Brawley, Goozmo, LLC
Chris Ratay, RE/MAX Alliance
Business Person of the Year: Stephen Tebo, Tebo Development Company
Volunteer of the Year: Dan King, Boulder Outlook Hotel
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement: Virginia Patterson
2007
Members of Distinction:
Melissa Dunning, Megalo Software Systems, Inc.
Cathi Hight, Hight Performance Group
Scott Monette, Flagstaff House
Business Person of the Year: Ken Hotard, Boulder Area Realtor Association
Volunteer of the Year: Susan Osborn, Empowered for Life
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement: Bob Charles, B & J Enterprises
2006
Members of Distinction
Theresa Pickner
Debbie Thornholt, Silver Star Printing
Business Person of the Year: Clair Beckmann
Volunteer of the Year: Michael Deragisch, University of Colorado
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement: Lane Earnest
2005
Member of the Century: Ed Regal
Business of the Century: Roche Colorado
Franny Reich Lifetime Achievement: Denis Nock
2004
Member of Distinction: Barb Truan
Business Person of the Year: Steve Miller, Puddle Car Wash
Volunteer of the Year: Wendy Reynolds
Small Business of the Year: Illegal Petes
2003
Members of Distinction
Joan Tallman, Colorado Business Bank
Judi Schulte, Inn on Mapleton Hill
Rich Wobbekind, CU Boulder
Business Person of the Year: Bill Reynolds
Volunteer of the Year: Cathi Hight
Small Business of the Year: Nuf Said Advertising
2002
Members of Distinction
Mike Noesen, US Bank
Craig Reynolds, Lord & Reynolds
Clair Beckmann
Karla Collins-Friar, Aegis Staffing
Business Person of the Year: Frank Day
Volunteer of the Year: Ed Regal
2001
Members of Distinction
Jean Atwood, Atwood Company
Carlo Beuf, Rocky Mountain RAM
Barry Frangipane, Consume, Inc.
Business Person of the Year: Alexander “Sandy” Bracken
Volunteer of the Year: John Tayer
2000
Members of Distinction
Catherine Bedell, Adopt a School Program
Barb Truan
Pat Engstrom
Doreen O’Donovan
Ken Hotard
Business Person of the Year: John McFerran
Volunteer of the Year: Joanne Wheeler Smith, Granny Smith’sBarry Cohen
1999
Members of Distinction
Josie Heath
Libby Cook & Michael Gilliland
Don Schmidt
Business Person of the Year: Colleen Conant
Volunteer of the Year: Theresa Pickner
1998
Members of Distinction
Deborah Rosenberger
Bill Reynolds
Bruce Rose
Business Person of the Year: Virginia Patterson
Volunteer of the Year: Bob Charles
1997
Members of Distinction
Gary Beels
Bill Hayes
Ed Regel
Jim Ziegler
Business Person of the YearBob Greenlee
Volunteer of the Year
John Mozeliak
1996
Business Person of the Year
Carol Riggs
Volunteer of the Year
Diana Royce Smith
1995
Business Person of the Year
Denis Nock
Volunteer of the Year
Kris Urbonas