For more than 40 years, the Durango Chamber of Commerce has been honoring our community leaders and businesses during the Chamber’s annual awards ceremony, and it’s been my pleasure to be part of this great celebration as the emcee for the past 14 years. On May 3, we’ll host our annual Durango Rocks awards ceremony to recognize leaders, businesses and organizations because without them, our town would not be what it is today.
The reason we are so passionate about producing the Durango Rocks awards event is because it’s a perfect opportunity to not only acknowledge those who have made a substantial impact in our area, but it’s also a chance to bring people together and build a sense of community pride.
Durango has proved time and time again how resilient our leaders and businesses are. Our awards night gives the Chamber the ability to reward excellence and highlight the efforts of those who may not always receive the spotlight. We want our businesses, organizations and leaders to know that they are appreciated for their efforts, and we want to share this with the overall community.
During this event, we celebrate rising stars who are forging new ground, innovative companies that have grown into an iconic local brand, organizations that are making an impact on our community and leaders who transform their passions into reality. All of these awards have a common theme – they are presented to those who provide vast benefits to support our community and economy.
Being nominated is an honor in its own right, and the award selection process is not taken lightly. We have a committee made up of community leaders, and they review all the nominations before making very deliberate decisions on finalists and recipients. All of those who are named as finalists should be congratulated, and those who receive the award should be celebrated as they rose to the very top.
Durango would not be what it is today if it weren’t for these individuals and businesses – they make up the fabric of our community and contribute to our quality of life. They are the driving force behind the vibrancy of this place we call home, providing leadership and support to our employees and families.
We invite you to come together to celebrate our local businesses and community at 5 p.m. May 3 at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College when we recognize those who have made a difference in our lives here in Durango. This year, we’re partnering with iAM MUSIC to kick off the event with student band, Cruz & the Castaways, featuring a variety of music from pop, to soul, to funk. We’re excited to honor last year’s recipients along with this year’s winners during the event since we hosted a virtual awards presentation in 2021.
Buy your tickets by April 19 to save with early bird pricing. Simply visit DurangoBusiness.org to reserve your seat and join us to build unity this event creates by celebrating those who are inspiring, empowering and resilient and embody the true spirit of Durango.
Jack Llewellyn is executive director of the Durango Chamber of Commerce. Contact him at jack@durangobusiness.org.
