Businesses honored for contributions, innovations
Nine businesses, local governments and civic groups were honored Wednesday at the Colorado Springs Regional Economic Development Corp.’s sixth annual Excellence in Local Industry Awards.
The event honors contributions to the community by employers, innovators and entrepreneurs, and their supporters. The recognition took place during a reception at The Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs.
In addition, six businesses and individuals were honored with the Celebrate Technology Awards, which recognize technology-based companies and leaders in southern Colorado. Celebrate Technology is part of the Peak Venture Group, a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote local emerging entrepreneurs and established middle-market executives.
EDC Excellence in Local Industry Awards
• Corporate Social Responsibility Award, honoring businesses that go beyond philanthropy and compliance in their operations: Delta Solutions and Strategies and the O’Neil Group Co. Delta, a defense contractor, has a workforce that assists more than 50 local charities and nonprofits. The O’Neil Group, an asset management, development and construction firm owned by Kevin O’Neil, Maury Keller and Suzanne Cechini, was recognized for its commitment to downtown revitalization, including its recent acquisition of a building that houses the Colorado Springs Conservatory.
• Business Climate Award, recognizing organizations that improve the climate for new and existing employers: Colorado Springs Utilities, which was honored for reliable power and business rates that assist local economic development efforts.
• Pioneer Award, honoring a longtime primary employer: The Harloff Co., a 60-year-old Springs business that has evolved from designing and manufacturing the world’s first maid service product cart to its current line of crash carts, medical carts, storage carts and security products for the health care industry.
• EDC Company to Watch Award, recognizing up-and-coming employers headquartered in the Pikes Peak region: Janska, a clothing designer whose products are now carried in more than 500 upscale boutiques nationwide, and Versi-Panel Enclosures, a leading provider of reusable shipping containers, collapsible shelters and portable coolers.
• Local Industry Chairperson Award, honoring organizations that demonstrate a commitment to the business community through partnerships and collaboration: Qualtek Manufacturing, a custom metal fabrication business, and Blue Star Recyclers, which specializes in electronics recycling and data destruction services. Qualtek owners Tony and Mary Fanant made a personal financial investment in Blue Star, which allowed CEO Bill Morris to transform the for- profit recycling business into a nonprofit that provides jobs for people with developmental disabilities.
• Chairperson Award, honoring individuals, businesses or organizations that have made unique and exceptional community contributions: The Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Despite orchestra failures around the country, the Springs professional orchestra has survived and prospered with assistance from the El Pomar Foundation and under the leadership of CEO Nathan Newbrough.
Celebrate Technology Awards
• Entrepreneur of the Year Award, recognizing an individual who started a local company and demonstrated significant growth: Lyle Small, president of Chromatic Technologies, which manufactures custom special-effects inks and coatings and whose products are used by Coors Light, Lexus, Duracell and several other well-known companies.
• Inventor of the Year Award, honoring achievement by someone who recently developed a technology that has potential for economic or societal impact: Eddie Sturman and Benjamin Grill of Sturman Industries. Commissioned by the Coors brewing company, Sturman, his wife, Carol, and Grill developed and commercialized “Tap a Draft,” a carbonating beverage dispenser. The product allows consumers to have draft beer on tap in their homes.
• Security and Defense Technology Company of the Year Award, recognizing a Pikes Peak region company that develops products to support the military, homeland defense or space industries: Braxton Technologies. Braxton owns a line of ground-system products that are used to operate satellites and provide engineering and support services. The company also provides technical support to Air Force satellite programs, among other programs and services.
• Bioscience/Biomedical Company of the Year Award, honoring a company in the health care or biological sciences industry with a potential for revenue growth and job creation: CEA Technologies. CEA designs and manufactures disposable and reusable electro-mechanical devices; the company has provided product development and product assembly and packaging services to the medical industry for more than 22 years.
• Information/Communication Technology Company of the Year Award, recognizing an outstanding company in the software or information technology arena: DSoft Technology. The company — a service-disabled, veteran-owned software development and systems engineering firm — provides information technology, engineering and program support for clients that include federal, state, and local governments, the private sector and Christian ministries.
