Southwest Colorado Rocks, a rebranded version of the Durango Chamber of Commerce’s annual Durango Rocks, debuted on Thursday with award categories for the towns of Ignacio and Bayfield.
Business leaders, elected officials and community members from across La Plata County gathered at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on Thursday for the event.
Chamber of Commerce CEO Jeff Dupont said in opening remarks Durango Rocks has celebrated Durango businesses for 40 years, but the rebranded award ceremony is a celebration of people and organizations across the region – a sentiment that was punctuated when Clark Craig, mayor of Ignacio, was named 2025 Citizen of the Year.
The new commerce celebration included new Spirit of Ignacio and Bayfield awards, and of course long-standing awards made a return, including the Bill Mashaw Volunteer of the Year, the Barbara Conrad Leadership La Plata Award, the Ed Morlan Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Morley Ballantine Women’s Leadership Award.
The ceremony ended on awards for Small Business of the Year and Business of the Year.
Dupont said the Citizen of the Year Award is the ceremony’s most meaningful tradition, and for more than four decades it has recognized “leaders whose service, integrity and commitment have helped shape Southwest Colorado.”
Mercy Hospital CEO Josh Neff announced Craig as the recipient of the award. He said Craig is someone who understands leadership isn’t just about “position,” but “presence.”
“It’s about showing up when it matters, it’s about bringing people together and community. And it’s about quietly doing the work that strengthens community from the inside out,” he said.
He said Craig has consistently chosen to take “action over recognition” and “service over spotlight.”
Craig started his term as mayor of Ignacio in 2022 and continues serving into 2026.
The Chamber of Commerce recognized Craig’s efforts to improve housing, economic growth and community relationships within Ignacio.
Craig was credited for his efforts to combat October flooding in Vallecito, during which he hauled 20 tons of gravel to help a family rebuild after the flood, and he was recognized for building a 40-foot ramp for a resident who was recovering from a stroke, according to the chamber.
Craig said the concert hall was packed with people he admires. But if there’s one person he actively tries to impress, it’s his father.
“He instilled in me the idea that he will always try to make things better and make our communities better,” he said.
Darrin Parmenter was acknowledged for his work and dedication to La Plata County with the 2025 Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award.
Parmenter has spent nearly two decades serving La Plata County through the Colorado State University Extension, according to the Durango Chamber of Commerce, mentoring master gardeners and supporting local farmers, appearing on radio programs and at public speaking events.
He was nearly brought to tears as he delivered his acceptance speech.
He said his focus at the CSU Extension has alway been on food and growing things, and he will always show up for agriculture. Food, after all, is the reason many families gather around their tables every evening.
“Food should not be only for those that can afford it. It should not be a roadblock, but it all too often is,” he said.
He said organizations in La Plata County such as Durango Food Bank, Pine River Shares, Manna soup kitchen and The Good Food Collective do so much for food equity, and he will always assist them in getting their message out.
Monique DiGiorgio, co-owner of Table to Farm Compost, was named the 2025 Ed Morlan Entrepreneur of the Year.
Kim Oyler, Durango Chamber of Commerce chief operations officer, said the award celebrates people who see opportunities where others see obstacles and innovators who “lead growth with courage and vision.”
DiGiorgio “exemplifies that old spirit and is helping shape the future of Southwest Colorado through innovation and determination,” she said.
DiGiorgio said she would not be where she is without the Table to Farm Compost team. She credited her business partner, Taylor Hanson, with encouraging her to push forward when things looked rough for the business.
She also gave thanks to planet Earth.
“We are here on Earth spinning around, and she has given us so much,” she said.
She said Table to Farm Compost’s mission is to save the planet – and as “ridiculous” as it sounds, it’s possible.
“It’s a circle that starts with us taking your food waste. We keep it out of the landfill – which, by the way, is about to fill up,” she said. “We actually take that methane that would be going into the air, we make compost. We provide jobs. And we make compost that goes back into the soil, and those microbes grow your food.”
Whole Health Family Medicine Clinic was recognized with the 2025 Spirit of Durango Award, edging out finalists Graze Colorado and Four Leaves Winery.
The primary care clinic was established in 2016 and provides comprehensive medical services to clients for a flat monthly fee, according to the Durango Chamber of Commerce.
Whole Health Family Medicine Clinic was recognized for its emphasis on personalized patient relationships and its work expanding access to affordable health care to families, individuals and employers.
The Spirit of Ignacio and Spirit of Bayfield awards debuted on Thursday, and the first-ever award recipients for each award were Rise & Shine Coffee & Burritos and Pine River Shares, respectively.
Rise & Shine Coffee & Burritos, which faced stiff competition against Ignacio finalists Jack-A-Lope Acres and Farmer’s Fresh Market, was acknowledged for its standing as a community gathering space. It donates 10% of its proceeds to local nonprofits, sponsors monthly administrative and teacher awards for Ignacio School District, donates food to the Los Pinos Fire Department and supports other community fundraisers, according to the chamber of commerce.
Pine River Shares beat out other Bayfield finalists Southwest Ag and The Community Treehouse for the Spirit of Bayfield Award. The Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado presented Pine River Shares with a $1,500 grant.
Fourteen awards were given out in total on Thursday and more community leaders from across La Plata County were recognized.
Tuggy Dunton, president and secretary of the Ignacio Creative District, took home the 2025 Bill Mashaw Volunteer of the Year Award.
Carol Blatnik, a longtime educator in Bayfield, was honored for her commitment to education and public service in Durango and Bayfield with the 2025 Morley Ballantine Women’s Leadership Award.
Manna received the 2025 Non-Profit of the Year Award.
Backcountry Experience claimed the 2025 title for Small Business of the Year. Clearnetworx followed with the 2025 Business of the Year Award.
Jason Portz of Bank of Colorado took home the 2025 Barbara Conrad Leadership La Plata Award.
Alpine Bank’s David Bratcher received the 2025 Young Professional of the Year Award.
Ryan Champion of Barrett Financial Group received the 2025 Diplomat of the Year Award.
Dupont told The Durango Herald the rebranding from Durango Rocks to Southwest Colorado Rocks was all about making the Rocks ceremony a true community celebration – and including Durango’s neighbors made sense.
“Our community leaders and businesses work across the county every day. Our economies are connected. Our families live and move throughout the county,” he said. “The Durango Chamber is fortunate to have paid staff and the capacity to pull off an event of this scale. I don’t want a capacity gap to stand in the way of Bayfield and Ignacio having the same kind of stage to recognize their leaders and businesses.”
He said the ceremony on Thursday was a “great opportunity to share the spotlight with our neighbors, and it was pretty clear they valued being a part of it.”
cburney@durangoherald.com
