Finalists have been named in six categories for the annual Durango Rocks event to be held Jan. 17 at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
The event, presented by the Durango Chamber of Commerce, honors community service, philanthropy and business development among Durango residents and culminates with the naming of Citizen of the Year.
Linda Mannix, co-founder of Snowdown and the Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering, was named Citizen of the Year in 2018.
Besides the six categories in which nominees were named, several other awards will be presented, including the Morley Ballantine Award, named after longtime chairman of the board and editor of The Durango Herald, Leadership La Plata “Barbara Conrad” Award, Young Professional of the Year Award and Diplomat of the Year Award.
Here are the three finalists named Thursday in six Durango Rocks categories:
Business of the Year: Durango Dermatology, Glacier Club and Ore House Restaurant.
Small Business of the Year: April’s Garden, Durango Outdoor Exchange and Pet Haus.
Nonprofit of the Year: Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado, Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center and Southwestern Colorado Area Health Education Center.
“Bill Mashaw” Volunteer of the Year: Jeff Givens, Zeb Smith and Ashleigh Tarkington.
Spirit of Durango Award: Manna soup kitchen, Payroll Department and Star Liquor.
“Ed Morlan” Entrepreneur of the Year: Christina Rinderle and Chris Bettin (Durango Land and Home), Jessika Buell (Marketing Concepts Squared) and Julie Dunn Brown and Paige Denier (ReLove Consign and Design).
The event will include a multimedia presentation, featuring all the finalists.
Tickets, which are $30 each, are available at the Durango Chamber of Commerce offices, 2301 Main Ave.; by calling the chamber at 247-0312; or online at www.durangobusiness.org.
Tickets are also available at the Community Concert Hall Box Office at the Welcome Center, 802 Main Ave.; by calling 247-7657; or online at www.durangoconcerts.com.
A pre-awards reception will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The awards show will begin at 6:30 p.m.
