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2025 Accolades

Since 1994, the Accolades Business Leader of the Year Awards has celebrated and highlighted the accomplishments of remarkable women in the Southern Colorado business community.

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2025 Accolades

Tuesday, August 12, 2025
11:00am – 1:30pm
The Doubletree by Hilton

Past Recipients

Learn all about our 2024 Accolades recipients and see our full list of past Business Leaders of the Year.

Have a Nominee?

Please take some time to nominate a professional you think deserves to be recognized once nominations open.

Meet Our Finalists!

Get to know the remarkable women who are being recognized for their incredible contributions to the Southern Colorado community.

Past Recipients

Learn all about our 2024 Accolades recipients and see our full list of past Business Leaders of the Year.

Silent Auction

Donate to Our Accolades Silent Auction Benefiting the SCWCC Foundation

Our Speaker

Connie Podesta, MS, CSP, CPAE

Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker & Award-Winning Author

Topic: Life Would Be Easy If It Weren’t For Other People

Connie is a game-changing, revenue-building, sales-generating ball of fire whose rare blend of laugh-out-loud comedy, killer take-away strategies, and interactive, no-power-point delivery style have made her one of the most unique and memorable speakers on the stage today. 30 years. Two million people. 1,000 organizations. Hall of Fame speaker. Award-winning author. Ten books. Former Radio/TV personality. Therapist. Expert on the psychology of sales, leadership, change, accountability, and engagement. Amazing ROI. Plus (what we all could probably use in today’s crazy world )… a Comedienne.

Imagine what you could accomplish if you could decode the mystery of human behavior and truly understand what makes people do what they do and say what they say (including yourself!). Research shows that the #1 key to SUCCESS in any industry or organization is the ability to get along with other people, personally and professionally. Now that’s something to really think about, right? That means with a deeper understanding of human behavior you could lead better. Communicate better. Sell better. Parent better. Live better. Negotiate better. The list goes on and on.

With laugh-out-loud humor, killer take-away strategies, powerful pops of psychology, and her amazing insights into others (including a few who “drive you crazy”). Connie Podesta, an Expert in the Psychology of Human Behavior, will take you right inside the minds and personalities of the people you connect with every day both at work and home such as bosses, colleagues, partners, customers, significant others, friends, and family — so YOU can ACT, rather than REACT to whatever situations or people throw your way. In other words, you’ll be able to read between the lines, making navigating conversations and negotiating your needs a thousand times easier. Want the secret communication insights and rare psychological know-how to build, maintain, and grow your relationships and business to a whole new level? Then this is totally the session for you!

Stay After the Luncheon for an Exclusive Deep Dive with Connie Podesta: Unlocking StandOut Leadership

Following the energy and inspiration of Accolades, this exclusive deep dive session with Connie Podesta offers a rare opportunity to explore leadership at a whole new level.
 
StandOut Leadership… Like You’ve Never Heard It Before
 
Leadership today requires more than making decisions. It’s about being the calm in the storm, the role model for resilience, and the visionary who inspires accountability and action.
 
Connie Podesta, an expert in psychology, leadership, and human behavior, brings her signature blend of humor, direct insight, and real-world strategies to help you:
  • Turn negativity into motivation
  • Transform entitlement into accountability
  • Replace complacency with unstoppable productivity
  • Inspire ownership and engagement in any organization
This interactive, high-impact session is designed for those who want to lead with confidence, communicate with influence, and create a culture of excellence—no matter the industry, market, or economy.

Come ready to challenge your perspective, gain game-changing strategies, and leave with the tools to elevate your leadership.

Take home proven success strategies from Connie’s best-selling books:
  • Leadership… Like You’ve Never Heard It Before
  • 10 Ways to Stand Out From the Crowd
  • Life Would Be Easy if it Weren’t for Other People
  • Happiness is Serious Business
Advance your leadership. Secure your spot today.

Thank You to All of Our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors