ARVADA, Co, March 13, 2024 – The Arvada Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2023 Man and Woman of the Year, Pioneer Award, and Image Award winners. Recipients of these awards will be honored at the May 9, 2024, Arvada Chamber of Commerce 73rd Annual Awards Luncheon from 11:30-1:00 pm at Arvada Center Event Spaces.
The Man and Woman of the Year Awards are a long-standing tradition in Arvada recognizing outstanding men and women in the community for their amazing community involvement, generosity and overall impact on Arvada. Nominations for these awards and the Image Award are reviewed and selected by a committee made up of previous winners.
The 2023 Man of the Year is Keith Sorci. Keith has been involved in bettering the community for over 20 years as president of the Arvada Gardeners, a volunteer with the Arvada Historical Society, working with the local schools, and distributing food. In addition to his volunteer work, Keith Keith works for the Jefferson County Justice System, training crews to be polite and helpful, as they do volunteer work around the community. He is very dedicated to the community of Arvada and wants to help get the jobs done in the best way possible.
The 2023 Woman of the Year is Karen Miller. Karen is a dedicated and longtime volunteer, especially in Olde Town Arvada. She served on the HOTA Board for many years and was instrumental in the creation of the Business Improvement District for Olde Town in 2014. Karen has volunteered countless hours at events including the Harvest Festival, St. Patrick’s Day, Festival of Scarecrows, A Chocolate Affair and Flicks in the Square. Karen currently serves on the Arvada Historical Society Board and manages the Arvada Flour Mill. Karen is an outstanding leader, has been a huge asset to our Arvada community and is known for her passionate and dedicated contributions.
The Pioneer Award is not given out every year, only when a past winner of the Man or Woman of the Year has continued to do amazing work in the community. The 2023 winner of the Pioneer Award is Mark McGoff, a man who has gone above and beyond in his contributions in Arvada from serving on City Council to serving on the Arvada Fire Board, and volunteering for the Historical Society, Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis and Arvada Center. He is currently an Emeritus Board Member of the Ralston House and working on planning the 2026 250/150/50 Celebration which celebrates the big anniversaries of the Untited States, the State of Colorado, and the Arvada Center.
The selection committee also names recipients for the Image Awards, Young Professional Leadership Awards, and Rising Star Awards. Image Award winners are selected for their commitment to Arvada and the overall positive image they portray within the community. The Arvada Chamber is proud to recognize for the 2023 Image Award: Normalee Lee, Joel Folk, and Heather Fiedler.
Normalee Lee has been a fixture in the Arvada Police Department since 2006 and has dedicated countless volunteer hours throughout the PD. She wears many hats and is a past Chairperson for Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAAA). In that role and others, she has volunteered her time in all divisions within the organization. Normalee’s volunteer activities have a tremendous positive impact on the Arvada Community beyond the Police Department. This impact is highlighted in her involvement with the annual Bike Rodeo event run in conjunction with Apex Parks and Recreation District.
Joel Folk is a retired Veterinarian. In May, he will be a 30 Year Member of the Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis. Joel is an active volunteer and also a part of AWRSAY – the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth. His countless volunteer hours have helped serve the lives of the youth and the elderly in our community for many years.
Heather Fiedler has been a member of the Arvada Community Garden for over ten years and has served as the president for the past four years. She has been instrumental in developing the Garrison Garden Paseo project and teaches over 15 classes a year to over 400 attendees. She goes above and beyond in her duties and is described as adaptable, dedicated leader.
Nominations for Young Professional Leadership Awards and Rising Star Awards are open through March 31, 2024. Award winners are selected by a committee of former Young Professional Leadership Award winners. Submit your nominations at arvadachamber.org/chamberawards.
The Pioneer Award and Man and Woman of the Year will be honored with a video of their accomplishments at the Awards Luncheon. Videos and more information about the wonderful work done by each of the recipients will be released after the event. For more information on attending the awards luncheon, please call 303-424-0313 or visit www.arvadachamber.org/events.
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