ABOUT THE ANNUAL BUSINESS AWARDS SHOW

The South Metro Denver Chamber Annual Business Awards Show honors Chamber member organizations and individuals who made a big impact during the prior calendar year. ​Nominees in seven of the nine award categories are nominated by other Chamber members, making it a community-driven process. Winners in three award categories (Rising Star, Brian Vogt and Legacy Award) are chosen by the Chamber rather than being nominated by Chamber members. ​Winners are selected by an objective Chamber Awards Selection Committee based on their evaluations and ratings of the nominees' submissions. Nominee finalists and the winner in each category are revealed at the event - most of the staff don't even know the winners until the envelopes are opened! The event is held every Spring and attracts hundreds of Chamber members. Join the Chamber and you may be recognized for a future award!

CONGRATULATIONS TO 2026 BUSINESS AWARDS WINNERS

Message from Vectra Bank, 2026 Presenting Sponsor

1. Large Business of the Year: Academy Bank

2. Small Business of the Year: Branch & Barrel Distilling

3. Minority / Women Owned Business of the Year: Cencalli Taqueria

4. Nonprofit of the Year: Grace Counseling

5. Rising Star Award: Discover Strength

6. Ambassador of the Year (Individual Award): Matt Diehl, Academy Bank

7. Chamber Champion of the Year (Individual Award): Peggy King, Vectra Bank

8. Brian Vogt Community Leader of the Year (Individual Award): Jandel Allen-Davis, Craig Hospital

9. Legacy Award 1: Stephanie Piko, Former Mayor of Centennial and Executive Director of the Centennial Arts and Cultural Foundation.
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10. Legacy Award 2: Brian Vogt (posthumously), SMDC Past President and CEO of the Denver Botanic Gardens

2026 AWARD NOMINEES BY CATEGORY

Nominees are nominated by Chamber members, or have nominated themselves. All nominees are evaluated for their performance throughout 2025. Nominees are eligible if they have been Chamber members since January 2025. The Selection Committee chose the winner in each Award Category, and Nominee Finalists were recognized during the event. NOMINEE FINALISTS ARE AT THE TOP OF EACH LIST!

Large Business of the Year

• Academy Bank - FINALIST
• AdventHealth - FINALIST
• Vectra Bank - FINALIST
• Canvas Credit Union
• CommonSpirit Health
• iHeart Media
• John Elway Dealership Group
• Lockheed Martin Space
• Rodizio GrilL

Small Business of the Year

• Branch & Barrell Distilling - FINALIST
• FarmBox Foods - FINALIST
• K4CO Radio - FINALIST
• Blush
• Centennial City Lifestyle
• City of Castle Pines
• Clothes Mentor
• Eagle's Nest Home Group
• Elevated Auto Hail Repair
• Elevated Title
• Guardian Pest Management
• Hoff House Health
• K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel
• Lothric Labs
• Metrum Community Credit Union
• moxYcello
• NorthStar Benefits
• Oddo Group - Luminate Bank
• Olinger Mortuary - Chapel Hill
• PostNet - Centennial
• Thrive Workplace

Minority - Women Owned Business of the Year

• Cencalli Taqueria - FINALIST
• moxYcello - FINALIST
• Red Stiletto - Get to the Point - FINALIST
• Blush
• Clothes Mentor
• Colorado Family Acupuncture
• Hoff House Health
• Legacy Sign Studio
• Pink Poppy Media
• Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe
• Trinity Commercial Roofing

Nonprofit of the Year

• Grace Counseling - FINALIST
• SECORCares - FINALIST
• Warrior Bonfire Project - FINALIST
• Denver Metro South Rotary
• Ember Center
• Make Mental Health Matter
• Nourish Meals on Wheels
• The Right Step

Chamber Champion of the Year (Individual)

• Donna Riccardo, Red Stiletto - FINALIST
• Ian Iringan, Lerch Bates - FINALIST
• Peggy King, Vectra Bank - FINALIST
• Christina Hoffeld
• Jack Gelley
• Krista Simonson
• Marissa Firstenberg
• Megan De La Rosa
• Mike Sutherland
• Travis Bockenstedt

Brian Vogt Community Leader of the Year Award (Individual)

• Carrie Warren-Gulley, Arapahoe County - FINALIST
• Jandel Allen-Davis, Craig Hospital - FINALIST
• Mike Montgomery - FINALIST
• Bob and Gerri Sweeney
• Sabrina Wright-Hobart

Ambassador of the Year (Individual)

• Donna Riccardo, Red Stiletto - FINALIST
• Marissa Firstenberg - FINALIST
• Matt Diehl, Academy Bank - FINALIST​
• Michele Apodaca - Meadow & Moss Essentials

Rising Star (New Member Nominees)

• Discover Strength - FINALIST
• Golf Haus - FINALIST
• Mauzi's Fine Jewelry - FINALIST
• Collective Health Society
• Crossland Contruction
• Hilton Garden Inn DTC
• Navigate Health Chiropractic
• Pella Windows and Doors of Denver and NoCo