Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC Wins Four Best in Business Awards
By: Darci Miller
(Colorado Springs, CO) – On Thursday evening, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC was honored with four awards from the Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest Best in Business Awards during an event highlighting the business community at COS City Hub.
The Chamber & EDC earned the following awards:
Gold
- Best Chamber of Commerce
- Best Corporate Networking Event (Business After Hours)
- Best Local CEO/Head of Business (Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer)
Silver
- Best Nonprofit Event (Annual Business Snapshot, Presented by Underline)
“It is an honor to be recognized for the Best in Business Awards,” said Craig Carle, Chamber & EDC Vice President of Membership. “We work hard to make our membership a valuable cornerstone of our business community, but what’s even more rewarding is watching our members build the inviting, collaborative, and inclusive culture we have at the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. Our members make this chamber what it is and create the incredible networking events that bring our community together.”
The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC has grown to a membership of more than 1,100 member businesses across the Pikes Peak region, including 189 new businesses in 2024. Driving regional growth, the Chamber & EDC has advanced key projects in aerospace, technology, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing, strengthening the local job market and attracting significant private investment. Initiatives like the Titans of Economic Development Council and the Site Readiness Program keep the region competitive, while talent efforts such as Find Your COS and Innovate Pikes Peak expand the workforce pipeline. Strong advocacy, such as shaping 52 state bills in 2025 to support employers and reduce regulatory burdens, helps maintain a pro-business climate, while small-business services through the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center, networking events, a Chamber-endorsed 401(k) plan, and the Chaymber mobile app deliver clear value to members and the wider economy.
Recognized as the Best Corporate Networking Event, Business After Hours is the Chamber & EDC’s evening networking event that allows professionals to mix, mingle, and grow their networks in a lively, laid-back setting. The 2025 event series has continuously sold out at 200+ participants with events held so far this year at locations including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Weidner Field, Falcon Stadium and an upcoming Halloween-themed event on Oct. 29 at Atomic Cowboy.
Named Best Local CEO/Head of Business, Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer has served as the President and CEO of the Chamber & EDC since 2022. Under her leadership, the Chamber & EDC has brought 5,902 jobs and $1.8 billion in capital investment to the Pikes Peak Region and continually advocated for pro-business legislation as well as childcare, senior and workforce development bills.
Held in January, the Annual Business Snapshot, presented by Underline, received silver medal honors for Best Nonprofit Event. This year’s event featured Governor Jared Polis as the keynote speaker and highlighted the significant achievements of 2024 and looked ahead to 2025 with a crowd of more than 350 attendees.
In addition, the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center, hosted by the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, won gold for Best in Business – Start Up Resource.
“Small business is vital to the identity of any community, and here at the Pikes Peak SBDC, we’re intentional about creating classes like ‘Start Up Day’ and offering resources that meet entrepreneurs where they are,” said SBDC Executive Director Brandon Eldridge. “This recognition is really about the spirit of the entrepreneurs we serve and the incredible resilience they bring to our ecosystem every day!”
The SBDC helps new and existing businesses grow and prosper in the Pikes Peak Region by providing free and confidential advising and no- or low-cost training programs, combining information and resources from federal, state, and local governments with those of the education system and private sector.
In 2024, the SBDC served 674 businesses, with 2004 hours of free client sessions, hosted 106 educational events, and achieved $8mm of capital infusion, demonstrating the scope of its impact on small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the Pikes Peak region.
Determined by a public vote earlier in the year, the Best in Business Awards recognize outstanding businesses that contribute to the economic prosperity of our region.
The Chamber & EDC also extends sincere congratulations to the following member organizations for taking home a combined 94 awards.
Gold
ADD Staff (Staffing Firm)
AdPro (Advertising Agency)
Amnet (Cybersecurity, IT Firm)
Bank of Colorado (Bank, Commercial Lender)
BBB (Professional Association)
Bryan Construction (General Construction, Commercial Developer)
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Non Profit)
Classic Homes (Homebuilder)
Ent Credit Union (Mortgage Lender, Credit Union, Small Business Loan)
Garden of the Gods Club (Private Members Club)
Garden of the Gods Resort & Club (Conference and Meeting Facility)
Griffis Blessing (Commercial Property Management)
Jan-Pro Cleaning (Office Cleaning)
Lockheed Martin (Department of Defense Contractor)
Mackenzies Chop House (Business Dinner)
Minutemen Press (Printing Services, Promotional Products)
Neon Pig (Graphic Designer)
O’Neil Group (Private Sector Employer)
OfficeScapes (Office Equipment Supplier)
Olive Real Estate (Commercial Real Estate Brokerage)
Olson Plumbing & Heating (Commercial Contractor)
Pasley Interiors (Commercial Interior Design)
Phantom Canyon (After Work Bar)
Phil Long (Auto Dealer)
Picnic Basket Catering (Caterer)
Pikes Peak Workforce Center (Business Consultant)
Raymond James & Assc. (Financial Advisor)
Sorren (Accounting Firm)
Southwest Airlines (Airline Business Travel)
StratusIQ (Telecommunication Company)
Timberline Landscaping (Commercial Landscaping Provider)
Two Men & A Truck (Relocation Moving Company)
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (National Sports Association)
UCHealth (Healthcare Facility)
Urban Egg (Business Breakfast)
USAA (Casualty Insurance Provider, Insurance Broker)
Xfinity/Comcast (Cable Fiber Company, Internet Service Provider)
Silver
Adams Bank and Trust (Bank, Small Business Loan)
Air Academy Credit Union (Credit Union)
Bank of Colorado (Mortgage Lender)
BlueStaq (Cybersecurity)
Bobby Hill Designs (Commercial Interior Design)
The Broadmoor (Business Dinner)
Challenger Homes (Homebuilder)
Classic Homes (Private Sector Employer)
Colarelli Construction (General Construction)
Colorado Springs Sports Corp (National Sports Association)
CommonSpirit (Healthcare Facility)
Edward Jones (Financial Advisor)
Employers Council (HR Firm)
Financial Talent Group (Staffing Firm)
Flying Horse (Private Members Club)
GE Johnson/DPR (Commercial Developer)
Higginbotham (Casualty Insurance Provider)
Integrity Bank and Trust (Commercial Lender)
Mackenzies Chop House (Business Lunch)
Northrup Grumman (Department of Defense Contractor)
Olive Real Estate (Commercial Property Management)
The Pinery at the Hill (Conference and Meeting Facility)
Simpleworks (IT Firm)
StratusIQ (Cable Fiber Company, Internet Service Provider)
YMCA (Non Profit)
Bronze
Adams Bank and Trust (Commercial Lender)
Art C Klein Construction (General Construction)
Atomic Cowboy/Denver Biscuit (Business Breakfast)
Biggskoffard (Accounting Firm)
The Broadmoor (Conference and Meeting Facility, Private Members Club)
Covington Homes (Homebuilder)
CTL Thompson (Engineering Firm)
Firma IT Solutions (IT Firm)
FirstBank (Mortgage Lender, Small Business Loan)
Garden of the Gods Café (Business Lunch)
Graze Craze (Caterer)
Higginbotham (Insurance Broker)
Hoff & Leigh (Commercial Property Management, Commercial Real Estate Brokerage)
Integrity Bank & Trust (Bank)
Northwestern Mutual (Financial Advisor)
Peak Vista (Healthcare Facility)
Senger Design Group (Commercial Interior Design)
Sparks Wilson (Law Firm)
Underline (Cable Fiber Company)