For the past 26 years, the South Metro Denver Chamber has recognized small businesses for their outstanding entrepreneurial achievements. Small businesses are the driving force behind Colorado’s economy, accounting for over 95-percent of the state’s businesses.
Each year, the Chamber presents the Small Business Leadership Awards to honor companies that continue to excel and grow. The emphasis of the recognition is on leadership in keeping with the Chamber’s principle of Leadership in Motion.
Award Categories
• Small Business of the Year: Company with 5 to 250 employees (or equivalent FTEs), and in business five years or more.
• Emerging Business of the Year: Company with 5 or more employees (or equivalent FTEs) and in business one to four years.
• Community Leader of the Year: Individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the Chamber and the South Metro Community at large. Those eligible include owners or employees of a business, non-profit or government agency.
Nomination Forms must be submitted to Lisa D'Ambrosia, Committee Chair
by Wednesday, February 15th
SAVE THE DATE!
Tuesday, May 1st for the
27th Annual
Small Business Leadership Awards Celebration!
Comedy Works South
5345 S. Landmark Place, Greenwood Village
2011 SBY Winner: Ouray Sportswear
Ouray Sportswear was founded in 1965 by Bill and Dee Musselman with an initial product offering consisting of ski accessories and knit hats. In November of 1997 the Company changed its brand name to Ouray Sportswear and over the past 10 years Ouray has established a well recognized and respected brand in the decorated sportswear industry. In 2007, Ouray Sportswear's assets were purchased by a private equity group named Jalex Holdings. With a renewed focus and adequate resources to move the company to the next level, Ouray Sportswear, LLC was born.
"The company ran into some difficult times, but had the right set of investors, management, team and product line to turn it around and create jobs again," said Chamber President & CEO John Brackney. "It's a real sense of accomplishment."
Previous Small Business Leadership Award Winners:
Small Business of the Year
2010 - Blu Sky Restoration Contractors
2009 - Felsburg Holt & Ullevig
2008 - Designs by Sundown
2007 - South Denver Cardiology Associates
2006 - Floyd's 99 Barbershops
2005 - ETI Professionals, Inc., Susan Holland, President
2004 - Nest Fresh Eggs, Cyd Szymanski, CEO/Founder
2003 - e2M, Inc., Joe Merino, CEO & Michael Cassio, President
2002 - Arapahoe Acres, Wayne Anderson, President & Mike Gilsdorf, CEO
2001 - Red Bird Farms, Mareo Torito & Richard Knabel
2000 - Connect: The Knowledge Network, Maureen Clarry & Kelly Gilmore
1999 - AVID, LLC, Wayne & Renate Lumpkin
1998 - The Temporary Connection, Vicki & Joe Alfano
1997 - Swingle Tree Company, Tom Tolkacz
1996 - Gerber Systems, Curt Gerber
1995 - Rocky Mountain Desk Corporation, Bill Heringer
1994 - Cottrell Limited, Chuck Cottrell
1993 - MIACO, Shari Leigh
1992 - The Denver Salad Company, Ed Morton
1991 - Tony’s Meats & Specialty Foods, Tony Rosacci
1990 - Mission Trujillo, John Trujillo
1989 - Benchmark Surveying, Dave DiFulvio
1988 - Arapahoe Acres, Carl Anderson
1987 - Alpine Trophies, Craig Bailey
1986 - Allred Fisher Architects, Jim Allred
1985 - Dawson & Company, John Dawson
Emerging Business of the Year
2011 - Bye Energy
2010 - ecoprojex
2009 - Luna Roasters Gourmet Coffee & Tea
2008 - DBA Knowledge, Inc.
2007 - The Passionate Palette
Brian Vogt Community Leader of the Year
2011 - Gayle Dendinger
2010 - Karen Samuels-Jones
2009 - Joseph A. “Bud” Ahearn
2008 - Mary Bradford
2007 - Darrell Schulte
