A highlight of the Chamber Annual Banquet is the recognition of businesses and individuals who make a difference in our community. This year’s winners are:
Business of the Year Community Hospital
Three doctors with a dream and a building that had once housed a café began Community Hospital in 1946. Since that time the facility has continued to grow and change on 12th Street. But in March of this year, Community Hospital will be moving into a new $50 million home housing 44 private rooms and a host of hospital services on G Road and 23 ½ Road. Last year in addition to providing over $4 million of charity care, Community Hospital provided over $350,000 of cash and in-kind support to local non-profit organizations including Strive, Riverside Educational Center, Museum of Western Colorado, Partners, Hilltop, Business Incubator Center, John McConnell Math and Science Center, American Red Cross, GJEP, Colorado Mesa University, Girls on the Run, March of Dimes, Grand Mesa Nordic Council and Colorado Riverfront Foundation.
Small Business of the Year Bud’s Signs
Two recently married teens moved to Grand Junction in 1980 and began a business that today encompasses close to 20,000 s.f., employs 22 people and serves clients across the Western United States. Over the course of those 36 years, the company has helped many nonprofit organizations in the community. They long ago lost count of the endless numbers of banners, golf tournament signs, posters, vehicle wraps and, of course, cash that has been donated to groups like Grand Mesa Little League, Partners, American Red Cross, Grand Junction Lions Club, Shriners, Mesa County Junior Football League, Rocky Mountain Elk, Base Camp 40 and the NRA. While he is a passionate drag racer, Bud has been key to the Western Colorado Drag Racer’s Association. He is in his seventh year on the Board and he spends countless hours all year long working with other board members and racers on the betterment of the club and the facility. His financial help which includes sponsorship signs, shirts, hats and equipment for maintenance of the lighting and scoreboards is vital to its continued existence.
Citizen of the Year Gregg Kampf
Described by Sister Karen Bland of Grand Valley Catholic Outreach as a servant leader and hidden pearl Gregg Kampf, an attorney with Hoskin, Farina and Kampf, has quietly been serving many groups and individuals throughout the Grand Valley for over 40 years. He has served as a board member and often president of many organizations including St. Mary’s Hospital, the American Red Cross, CMU Foundation, Grand Junction Symphony, Mesa County Public Library Foundation and the Effective Parents Project. As a leader with Grand Valley Catholic Outreach his contribution to the organization has been significant…leading the way to the construction of a 24-unit apartment for the chronically homeless living with mental and physical disabilities. Many of those apartment residents consider Gregg their personal attorney as he does pro bono work for them. He takes the time to see them whenever they show up at his office and need him…most of the time without appointments. When there is a memorial service for one of them, he is there…likewise he is there to share in the joy of their celebrations. He is indeed worthy of the title Citizen of the Year.