Pinnacol Assurance

Kaiser Permanente

J & S Audio Visual

The Ohio Center for Broadcasting

Mile High Newspapers

ActionCOACH Business Coaching

Village Roaster

Enstrom Candies

Thank you to Blu Hartkopp with Blu Iron Photography for capturing the event for us! Photos may be seen at http://blog.bluironstudios.com/2012/01/30/west-chamber-2012-chairmans-inaugural-celebration/

The event honored local businesses and individuals for their exceptional performance in 2011.  Awards were given to the Business of the Year (over 50 employees), Small Business of the Year (Under 50 Employees), Young Professional of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, Elected Official of the Year and Ambassador of the Year.

High Point Financial Group, LLC was honored at the event and stated, "The team at High Point is honored to receive this award from the Chamber.  Being an active member in building a successful community is a shared goal between the Chamber and High Point Financial Group.   We look forward to our continued partnership with the Chamber and deepening our relationships with each of its members."

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design received Business of the Year (over 50 employees), and High Point Financial Group, LLC was awarded Small Business of the Year (under 50 employees).  Elected Official of the Year went to  from the Lakewood City Council Member, Adam Paul, while Red Rocks Community College Foundation was honored as the Non-Profit of the Year.  Chamber member Andi Erpelding with Re/Max Professionals was the Chamber’s Young Professional of the Year, and Mel Archer was given the Ambassador of the Year award. 

Finalists for each award included: Red Rocks Medical Center and St. Anthony’s Hospital for Business of the Year with over fifty employees; Shear Productions and Mears Interactive for Business of the Year with under fifty employees;  Lakewood City Council Member, Cindy Barroway and Jefferson County Commissioner, Don Rosier for Elected Official of the Year; the Ralston House and CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties for Non-Profit of the Year; Jeff Mostek with Roper Insurance and Shane Robert with Green Vine Marketing for Young Professional of the Year; and Anne Cucchi with Re/Max and Kay Ehalt with Dream Baskets by Kay for Ambassador of the year. 

Brian Willms, President of The West Chamber stated, “The Chairman’s Inaugural Celebration is a testament to the dedication and strength of the Jefferson County community.  Over 300 community leaders, business owners and elected officials attended our event to recognize and support local business, as well as the Board of Directors for our Chamber. I am proud to be affiliated with such an outstanding group.  The businesses and individuals that received awards today are all shining examples of why Jeffco is a great place to live and work. “

Please Pre-Register at http://members.westchamber.org/Events/details/business-after-hours-february-2012
 
Celebrate The West Chamber’s February Business After Hours at Red Rocks Medical Center, West Metro’s premier new medical facility. Come and discover a different kind of medical facility where each practice works with one another, so that the patient truly comes first. 
 
This inviting, 117,000 square foot, three-story, state-of-the-art center is home to some of the region’s most renowned surgeons and physicians from 17 different practices and a not-for-profit foundation, The Red Rocks Cancer Center.   Enjoy delicious snacks, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages (including Red Rocks Medical Center’s own specially- blended tea) at the February Business After Hours on Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Red Rocks Medical Center, 400 Indiana Street, Golden, CO.
 
 Tour these unique offices and check out Kickin’ Cancer in the Kitchen, where cancer patients learn to connect nutrition with wellness through hands-on cooking classes. So, have you scheduled your annual mammogram,, a skin check-up, prostate exam or even an eye exam yet?
 
This unique center offers a renowned group of surgeons and physicians under one roof including: Accent Dermatology and Laser, Colorado Retina Associates, Foothills Urology, Mountain Blue Cancer Care Center, Peak Ear, Nose, Throat & Voice Center, Physiotherapy Associates, Red Rocks Cancer Center, Red Rocks Radiologists, Rocky Mountain, Ophthalmology, Surgical Specialists of Colorado and Western Oncology Hematology.
 
In addition, several of the practices at Red Rocks Medical Center are partnered with HealthONE’s Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center including Breast Care at Red Rocks, PET/CT at Red Rocks, Imaging Center at Red Rocks, Radiation Oncology at Red Rocks, Surgery Center, LLC at Red Rocks and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children –Orthopedics.

Non-Profit of the Year
Red Rocks Foundation – Awardee
Ralston House – Runner Up
CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties – Runner

Business of the Year
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design – Awardee
Red Rocks Medical Center – Runner Up
St. Anthony Hospital – Runner Up

Business of the Year (Under 50 employees)
High Point Financial – Awardee
Mears Interactive – Runner Up
Shear Productions – Runner Up

Elected Official of the Year
Adam Paul – Awardee
Don Rosier  – Runner Up
Cindy Barroway – Runner Up

Young Professional of the Year
Andi Erpelding – Awardee
Jeff Mostek – Runner Up
Shane Walton – Runner Up

Ambassador of the Year
Mel Archer – Awardee
Kay Ehalt – Runner Up
Anne Cucchi – Runner Up

To land a new customer or client you must first make a great impression.  Joni Inman, business coach and consultant with more than 20 years experience advising upper level executives and elected officials, can help you navigate through almost any business situation in a professional, friendly, polite, smooth manner that will "give them something to talk about," in a positive way.

Understand the differences between:

· casual, business and formal business attire

· whether to be seated or wait for your dining companion at a business lunch if you're the first to arrive

· how to make a proper introduction

· where to sit at a business meal, when to start eating, who pays the bill and how

· stand or stay seated during introductions

· is it okay to hug?

All these questions and more will be answered in this hour-long, interactive, often fun presentation on Basic Business Etiquette. January 12, 11:30 am – 1pm at Lakewood's Heritage Center.  click HERE to register!

Max Bryant, Chairman of the Board, said “Brian has deep roots in Jefferson County and brings with him valuable chamber leadership experience, a passion for business and a true vision for the future of our organization”.

An accomplished chamber professional, Willms utilizes his expertise in management, sales, marketing, public affairs and banking to effectively identify and execute the needs of the business community. Prior to assuming his role at the Loveland Chamber, Willms served as the Director of Member Services for the Portland Business Alliance, the Greater Portland Area’s Chamber of Commerce in Portland, Oregon. He also worked as a corporate trainer for Liberty Savings and US Bank, in addition to owning his own mortgage company. A native of Colorado, Willms attended Regis University and Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Willms is no stranger to Jefferson County.  “I rented my first apartment in Lakewood, bought my first house in Edgewater and my eldest daughter is a sophomore at Green Mountain High School.” He is eager to work for the West Chamber and credits the Chamber’s strength to its members, and the leadership of the Chamber board, staff and past president, Amy Sherman.  He said, “The development of FasTracks into the Western Corridor, having NREL based in Golden when a new energy economy is beginning to flourish and developments like Solterra are just a few reasons why businesses and individuals are looking to make Jefferson County their new home. I believe Jefferson County is positioned for a renaissance.”

About the West Chamber

The West Chamber is considered a regional chamber, and serves Jefferson County. The Chamber started in 1947 as the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. In 1990 the group merged with the Wheat Ridge Chamber of Commerce to be the West Chamber Serving Jefferson County.

Chamber Mission
The West Chamber is in business to help build a stronger local economy, to promote the community, to provide exclusive benefits, to advocate for our businesses with government, and to provide leadership and collaboration.

The West Chamber Serving Jefferson County exists for the success of businesses, supporting and promoting members and providing opportunities for growth.  The West Chamber advocates on behalf of its members to influence local, state and federal policy on issues affecting businesses in the county. For more information about the West Chamber, please call 303-233-5555 or visit www.westchamber.org.