Sponsorships are available! Contact Lisa Owens for more information (253) 845-6755 or lisa@puyallupsumnerchamber.com.

Below are your 2024 Champions of Commerce Finalists!

Please join us at the Champions of Commerce Gala on Friday, February 21, 2025. Doors open at 5:30 PM. A heartfelt expression of gratitude goes out to all the individuals who took the time to submit their nominations for the Champions of Commerce! Your participation has been instrumental in making this event a success. Without further adieu, we are thrilled to announce the much-anticipated Gala finalists for the year 2024.

COMPANY CULTURE HERO: The buzz in town is this is the place to work. Employees are valued and encouraged to actively participate in the growth and vision of the company. All employees feel appreciated and are provided with the opportunity to grow.
Finalists:
-Harnish Auto Family
-Salon Ish
-Fat Zach's Pizza
-MadCap Marketing + Creative
-Knutson Farms Inc

EXCEPTIONAL BUSINESS ADVOCATE: This organization or individual understands the value of advocacy and supporting business-friendly policies that will remove barriers prohibitive to growing business.
Finalists:
-The Lazy Ballerina
-Julian Estates
-The Puyallup Food Bank
-Red Canoe Credit Union
-The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse

COMMUNITY BUILDER: Recognizing that we all play a role in creating a vibrant community, this organization or individual flexes their muscles for the greater good of the community.
Finalists:
-Renée Muir, Newell Hunt Furniture
-Brandon Simmons, Skoolie Foundation
-Kim Field, All Things Fun Sports!
-Mark Crosby, Cruise Puyallup
-Barb Patterson, Windmill Bistro

NEWSWORTHY NEWCOMER: This is a newer business (opened in our community within the past two years) that has achieved quick success while generating lots of buzz.
Finalists:
-Catffeinated
-The Cat & Rabbitt Cake Shop
-Inta Vintage
-Valley Social Wine Bar and Tasting Room
-Skoolie Foundation

SUSTAINABILITY STEWARD: This prestigious accolade honors a business that demonstrates unparalleled leadership in championing responsible utilization of our invaluable natural resources. Celebrating a commitment to environmental conservation and pioneering sustainable practices, this award acknowledges exemplary dedication to fostering a greener, more sustainable future.
Finalists:
-Keurig Dr Pepper
-Northwest Trek Foundation
-Puget Sound Energy
-Waste Connections / Murrey's Disposal
-REI

EQUITY ADVOCATE: This award honors an organization for its meaningful efforts to foster an inclusive and accessible culture or an individual for their work in promoting awareness and implementation of initiatives that create a more welcoming and equitable local business community.
Finalists:
-Puyallup Main Street Association
-The Lazy Ballerina
-Commencement Bank
-Sumner-Bonney Lake School District
-WorkForce Central
-Comcast Business

OUTSTANDING VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS: This distinguished accolade celebrates an outstanding veteran-owned business that exemplifies resilience, leadership, and exceptional contributions to the business world. Recognizing the courage, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit of veterans, this award highlights the positive impact of their businesses on the community and economy.
Finalists:
-F45 Training South Hill
-Catffeinated
-Kanon Electric Inc
-Tacoma Trophy
-Wave Lending Group

CHARITABLE CHAMPION (NON-PROFIT): This accolade recognizes a non-profit organization whose unwavering commitment and exceptional efforts have significantly contributed to making a positive impact on communities through fundraising and charitable initiatives.
Finalists:
-Arts Downtown
-Skoolie Foundation
-St. Francis House
-See Ya Later Foundation
-Care Net of Puget Sound
-Sumner Community Food Bank

CHAMBER CHAMPION OF COMMERCE: This organization or individual is an all-around Chamber Champion of Commerce, supporting the Chamber and embodying the pioneering spirit of our community.
Finalists:
-Daffodil Bowl
-MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital
-Pierce Transit
-South Hill Mall
-SignDog
-Keurig Dr Pepper

Chamber Select Awards: The following awards are also presented at the Champions of Commerce Gala, with finalists and winners selected entirely by the awards committee.

AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR: This award recognizes that you take pride as an Ambassador to the Chamber and you display extraordinary commitment to volunteering whenever, and however, and are dedicated to helping membership retainment, recruitment and promotion.
Winner of Ambassador of the Year will be announced at the Gala.

JOHN PORTER MEMORIAL AWARD: This award recognizes exceptional leadership of a cause, program or project, which makes a significant impact on the community and reflects the spirit of community pride and progress.
Finalists:
-Kathy Hayden, Mayor, City of Sumner
-Kerry Yanasak, Executive Director, Puyallup Main Street Association
-Monica Ricarte Powers, Executive Director, MultiCare Good Samaritan Foundation
-Luke Korum, Vice President, Bill Korum's Puyallup Nissan
-Dave Radcliffe, CEO, The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse

ABOUT CHAMPIONS OF COMMERCE
In 2019, the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce re-vamped its Rising Stars awards program with a new name, new dinner/gala format and new categories, and Champions of Commerce was born! The event debuted in November 2019 at Farm 12 with more than 200 people who celebrated, dined and danced with us.

Our 2020 Champions of Commerce became the Celebrate Resilience Awards, as we honored businesses that demonstrated resilience during the pandemic at a modified gala held in February 2021.

In February 2022, we brought back our Champions of Commerce Gala with a grand celebration at Pioneer Park Pavilion, and the following year, we proudly carried on the tradition. Mark your calendars—our next Champions of Commerce Gala is set for February 21, 2025, at Pioneer Pavilion. This event will also serve as our annual meeting, previously held at the Economic Forecast Luncheon.