Two dozen local businesses were recognized Thursday evening as Our Town Matters celebrated entrepreneurship during its fifth annual Small Business Awards at the Holiday Inn & Suites.
Business owners, community leaders and supporters filled the venue for the cocktail reception and awards ceremony, where 24 businesses were honored after being selected through a community nomination process that generated more than 90 nominations this year.
See more photos from the Small Business Awards in our flipbook publication here.
Our Town Matters founder and CEO Tonya Maddox opened the evening by recognizing the work and sacrifice behind small business ownership, calling entrepreneurs “the heartbeat of this community.”
“We’re not talking abstractions here,” Maddox said. “We’re talking about the coffee shop where you have your first morning meeting of the week. We’re talking about the boutique where you find the perfect gift. The accountant who’s been doing your books for 15 years. … These are our neighbors. These are the people who sponsor the Little League team. They donate to school auctions and sports. They help keep the lights on, both literally and figuratively, in the heart of this town.”
Maddox said small business owners take risks that often go unseen but ultimately strengthen the entire community.
“Entrepreneurs take risks that most people won’t,” she said. “They bet on themselves when nobody else will. They fail. They adapt. They try again and again and again. And when they succeed, that success ripples out and lifts up everyone around them.”
The awards program recognized businesses spanning a wide range of industries, including restaurants, retail, health care, construction, automotive services, professional services and hospitality.
This year’s recipients were:
• 970 ROAM Party Bus
• Alpen Confections
• Balance Integrated Health
• Buckendorf, Haynes CPAs
• Busted Knuckle Towing & Service
• Compass Medical Center
• Counseling Connection
• El Rinconcito Restaurant
• EVOO Montrose
• Iron INDAstries
• Magnolia Salon
• Montrose Martial Arts
• Peace Of Mind Dog Boarding
• SheShe Boutique
• Stronghold Tree Care
• Team Valerie Meyers
• The Campers Hub
• Tim’s Auto Glass
• Unrivaled Plumbing & Heating
• Vybe Med Spa
• Western Slope Appliance
• Western Slope Party Rentals
• Wicked Mobile Garage
•Wild Merrion Boutique
Throughout the evening, Maddox shared personal anecdotes about many of the businesses as they accepted their awards, highlighting the relationships they have built within the community and the impact they have made beyond their respective industries. Representatives from presenting sponsor Central Bank joined Maddox in presenting the awards, while guests enjoyed appetizers catered by The Stone House, cocktails and live music.
As the ceremony concluded, Maddox encouraged entrepreneurs to continue investing in their businesses despite the inevitable challenges of ownership.
“There are so many times that entrepreneurs give up,” she said. “But tonight is not that night to give up. Tonight is a night to be encouraged.”
The Small Business Awards began in 2022 and have grown into one of the region’s signature celebrations of local entrepreneurship. Nominations for the 2027 awards opened the day after this year’s ceremony.
Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.
