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:

    • 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

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