Past Accolades Recipients
2016 Ingrid Richter
2015 Trudy Strewler Hodges
2014 Jan Erickson
2013 Kathy Boe
2012 Lynne Telford
2011 Megan Harmon
2010 Zelna Joseph
2009 Stephannie Finley
2008 Joy Love
2007 C.J. Moore
2006 Sallie Clark
2005 Mary Lou Makepeace
2004 Martha Barton
2003 Donna Bertram
2002 Jan Weiland
2001 Debbie Shackelford
2000 Renita Wolf
1999 Laura Muir
1998 Sandy Taylor
1997 Debra Siverson
1996 Karen Delorenzo
1995 Mary K. Helsaple
1994 DeeDee LeGrand
Business Leader of the Year
Laura Neumann
Owner, LN Business Consulting LLC
Frequently cited as a community-building strategist, Laura’s career has successfully traversed tourism, city-building and public service. Her impact on Colorado Springs has been broad, most recently through her role as senior strategist for Weidner Apartment Homes, including development of Weidner Field, their new mixed-use communities as well as their investments into myriad philanthropic engagements. Laura is the incoming chair of the COS Chamber & EDC and serves on the board of Pikes Peak United Way, the Downtown Development Authority, and Manitou Springs Community Foundation. Her previous roles include chief of staff for the city of Colorado Springs, managing director of Garden of the Gods Resort and vice president of Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Her dedication earned numerous accolades — an official Resolution of Appreciation from the City of Colorado Springs, the Brava Donna Award, and the Women of Influence Legacy award.
Minority Owned Business of the Year
Julissa Soto
Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consultant
Young Professional of the Year
Alana Lipscomb
Lipscomb Programming
Don Brown Entrepreneur Award
Torie Giffin
Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort
Member of the Year
Stephen Matich
Perfect Cloud Solutions
Prior Years Winners
Minority Business
Owner of the Year
2023
Uyen Le
Beauty Bar
2022
Priscilla Marie Williams
Heart to Heart Academy
2021
Jessica Fierro
Atrevida Beer Co.
2019
Elizabeth Mota
2018
Barbara Myrick
B&M Construction
2017
Nohemy Montes
Young Professional
of the Year
2023
De’Aura Lemus
The Resource Exchange
2022
Liza Cuttingham
iHeartMedia
2021
Erin Heberlein
Childrens Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs
2019
Whitley Crow
El Paso County Centennial Hall
2018
Erin Miller
Catalyst Campus
2017
Krithika Prashant
2016
Rebecca Decker
2 R/D Ltd.
2015
Dana Barton
Don Brown
Entrepreneur Awards
2023
Dr. Christi Bundukamara
Mentally STRONG
2022
Jessica Fierro
Atrevida Beer Company
2021
Allison Jencson
Frontline Floor Coating
Member
of the Year
2023
Travis Bockenstedt
Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care
2022
Cara Chaftez
Bank of Colorado
2021
iHeart Media
2019
Kari Reyner
fab’rik Colorado Springs
2018
Terry Zarsky
PPLD
2017
Tamara Moore
Relevel
2016
Doug Kelly
LegalShield