Evenings Porch, an assisted living community in Bayfield, received a "Durango Rocks" award from the Durango Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 19.
It was named small business of the year at the annual event.
"There were a lot of great businesses and individuals honored that I admire and respect," said Erin Youngblood, the administrator of Evenings Porch. "We appreciate being in their league. It was one of the greatest moments of my professional life."
Knowing they were one of three finalists for the award, the facility had about 20 employees and friends on hand for the big night.
Evenings Porch opened in October of 2014. It has 11 rooms and can have as many as 16 people living there. The business belongs to the chambers of commerce in Bayfield, Durango and Pagosa Springs. Evenings Porch also donates employee time and donations to different charitable organizations in the area.
Another honoree from Bayfield was Krii Black, a wedding coordinator for LePlatt's Pond Wedding and Events. Black was honored as the Young Professional of Durango member of the year.
Also honored on Jan. 19 were Steve Short as citizen of the year, Seasons Rotisserie and Grill as business of the year, Mark Thompson of Phoenix Recycling as entrepreneur of the year, Durango Adult Education Center as non-profit of the year, and Laura McKinney as the "Bill Mashaw" volunteer of the year.
Other honorees included Stephanie Moran, who received the Morley Ballantine Award, Tara Kiene for the Barbara Conrad Award, Mitch Dye as the Durango Diplomat of the Year, and Cream Bean Berry, which won the Green Business Leadership Award.
