The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated Grand Valley business on, Friday, March 3rd at the Annual Banquet. This evening was filled with lively attendees, exciting networking, and wonderful silent and live auction items, but most importantly – we celebrated and recognized four amazing community members and businesses throughout the Valley who continue to promote economic growth and build our strong community. The award winners included:
Business of the Year (25 Employees or Less): Country Elegance Florist has been serving the Western Slope of Colorado for over the past 20 years. A family approach is what makes this business stand apart from its competitors, ensuring each experience results in the highest quality of service and special touches that truly make memories.
Not only has this business remained committed for two decades to giving exceptional moments, but they are also truly generous with its support of the community and the organizations within it. With over 45 examples of different organizations, clubs, and causes that receive contributions and support from this small business, we can’t help but consider this the perfect example of great things coming in smaller packages – or in this case, glass vases. The business epitomizes the character, determination, and strength that defines our business community in this valley and we couldn’t be prouder to recognize them tonight in front of many who have enjoyed their talents and generosity.
Business of the Year (25 Employees or More): HopeWest Established in 1993, this organization quickly developed a mission to give when families needed it most. Serving 81 families in its first year, now 30 years later, this organization serves an average of 2,500 each year through their hospice, PACE, Palliative, and Grief and Bereavement Care.
In addition to an excellent standard of care, the organization has been named a “Best Place to Work” from Modern Healthcare in 2021, showing investment and attention to the 330 who are currently employed at their facilities. In the words of the nomination “Our community would not only feel the loss of this organization in all corners of our Valley, and our community would not be the way it is today without it.”
Young Professional of the Year: Mathias Mulumba grew up as a street kid in Kampala Uganda. He has overcome many obstacles including homelessness, poverty, immigration, racism, and the natural ups and downs of founding and directing an international non-profit organization. If you know him, you know that he is not defined by the obstacles he has faced but is instead defined by the incredible victories he has seen through perseverance, faith, and contagious joy.
In addition to being a busy husband, father, and student, he founded Father to the Fatherless and has become a prominent member of our community. Father to the Fatherless, known as F2F is an international non-profit and ministry based out of Grand Junction with operations in Namagunga Uganda. Serving street kids, orphans, and widows through schooling, church, clinic, water, agriculture, and farming programs and by stimulating the local economy through work opportunities.
Citizen of the Year: Vance Wagner From the moment he chose to make the Grand Valley his home, he has left a memorable impression on anyone who has the chance to meet him. Since moving to Grand Junction in 2010, our citizen of the year has stood out as an exemplary leader within his organization, but also within our community. His true understanding of giving back through civic engagement, serving on a variety of boards consecutively over the past 13 years, and his thoughtful approach to what is good for both our community and the businesses at its foundation has led to positive change and true impact.
Some of his most notable contributions have been his participation on the St. Mary’s Hospital Board, Downtown Development Authority, Grand Junction Air Service Alliance, Rotary, and the Grand Junction Chamber Board. His passion has also taken shape through the combination of one of his favorite hobbies and supporting a cause near and dear to his heart. With his support and encouragement, the Western Slope Triple Play has become one of the largest women’s golf tournaments in the state, resulting in over $50,000 being contributed to the Latimer House annually for the past few years which supports victims of domestic abuse here in our community.
Each nomination mentioned his strength of leadership, his desire to promote our community, and his passion for supporting others to ensure we are thriving from all corners of the Valley.
Every year, we are continually thankful for our local business community, and we wouldn’t be able to continue the work we do without the community. Businesses should take pride in what they bring to the community, in fact, without businesses and commerce there is NO community.