ARVADA, CO, January 23, 2025 – The Arvada Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2024 Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year and more annual winners. Recipients of these awards will be honored at the Arvada Chamber of Commerce 100th Annual Dinner at Social Capitol Events on February 28, 2025.
The Business of the Year award recognizes a business that has established a reputation for providing a superior level of customer service while using ingenuity and innovation to overcome challenges. Not only does this business excel internally, but it continues to support the community by participating in local activities and partnering with non-profit organizations.
The 2024 Business of the Year: Balefire Goods
Balefire Goods has left an indelible mark on not just Olde Town but on Arvada and the NW Denver area as a whole. Founded in 2017, Balefire is a jewelry gallery and custom jeweler focused on responsibly sourced and expertly crafted wearable art. The business has been named one of America’s Coolest Stores, Best Jewelry store in Arvada Press five times, and Westword’s Best Artisan Jeweler. The impeccable reputation that Balefire Goods has built in both the art and jewelry industries has made Balefire a draw for customers from all over the front range and even internationally. Balefire has set itself apart with its focus on education and customization for their clients, garnering them a ton of great reviews, and most importantly, a strong word of mouth reputation.
Balefire has also become an important part of the local community through its support of other small businesses, focus on the arts community, and collaborations with multiple non-profits. Balefire not only creates custom work in-house but also showcases the work of other local artists and independent brands, providing many with their first brick and mortar presences. At this very moment, you can walk into Balefire and find art, ceramics, and jewelry all made right in Arvada. Additionally, Balefire has raised thousands of dollars for local and regional charities, such as Community Table, through a diversity of programs and is a regular participant in community events.
In the award’s fourth year, the Entrepreneur of the Year recognizes an individual or team’s commitment, investment, and innovation as a business owner in Arvada.
The 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year: Tom Huseas, CEO of Kratos Industries
Tom Huseas founded Kratos Industries in 2020, rapidly growing the business to nearly 200 employees. Tom has quickly transformed company into a leading power supply and control equipment manufacturer. Kratos’ success is credited to Tom’s visionary leadership, commitment to continuous improvement, strategic business development, and a proven ability to adapt and innovate in competitive markets. He is also engaged in improving the local talent system through a variety of local initiatives through the Arvada Chamber and regional talent partners.
The Non-Profit of the Year is recognized for its support of Arvada and its citizens through impactful programs, services and overall involvement within the community. Nominees are also evaluated on local partnerships and collaboration. Recipients of non-profit of the year receive a $500 award.
The 2024 Non-Profit of the Year: The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities embodies the very best of nonprofit leadership, innovation, and community impact. The Arvada Center serves the community through vibrant arts programming, education, and cultural events that engage residents across all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Its commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) is central to its mission. The Center provides accessible programming for individuals with disabilities, offer scholarships to ensure no child is excluded from arts education, and celebrates diverse voices in its theatrical productions and visual arts exhibits. Through programs like sensory-friendly performances and bilingual offerings, its team ensures that everyone feels welcome at the Arvada Center.
Despite challenges such as the pandemic’s impact on live events, the Arvada Center has leveraged ingenuity and innovation to thrive. The Center has embraced digital programming to keep the arts alive in homes across Arvada and beyond. Its recent community partnerships, such as collaborating with the City of Arvada and local businesses, have expanded access to creative spaces while fostering economic growth. The Arvada Center actively supports the local business community, hosting networking events, engaging sponsors, and creating collaborative opportunities. As a cornerstone of Arvada’s cultural fabric, the Arvada Center uplifts the community through accessible, inclusive, and innovative programming that inspires, educates, and connects us all.
The Arvada Chamber is also introducing two new awards this year: the Community Champion Award and Policy Leader of the Year.
The Community Champion Award recognizes an exceptional local organization that demonstrates an outstanding commitment to giving back and serving the Arvada community. This award celebrates an organization that provides significant support to local citizens through impactful programs, demonstrates exceptional community involvement, collaborates with local partners to create positive change and goes above and beyond in their commitment to making Arvada a better place to live, work, and thrive. The 2024 Community Champion Award goes to Apex Park and Recreation District.
Apex’s mission is to enhance the health of our community – socially, emotionally, and physically – by being a gathering place and trusted resource for a variety of activities and programs that connect people and improve their quality of life. And this is exactly what they do for Arvada and beyond. Apex is a bright spot in our community and their team works hard to make sure everyone in Arvada feels included and is taken care of. Apex offers a wide range of programs, activities and facilities to meet the needs of Arvada, and they always do it with a smile. Team Apex is always well-represented at Chamber events and other community partnerships. Apex also supports our community by providing scholarships through their Community Access Fund.
The Arvada Chamber of Commerce’s Policy Leader of the Year Award celebrates an exceptional public official demonstrating extraordinary commitment to creating a business-friendly policy environment. The 2024 Policy Leader of the Year is Tracy Kraft-Tharp.
Tracy Kraft-Tharp was a County Commissioner serving District 1 in Jefferson County, Colorado, with deep roots in Arvada and a long-standing commitment to community engagement. She was elected to her first four-year term in November 2020 after serving four terms (2013-2020) in the Colorado House of Representatives representing House District 29, which includes Arvada and Westminster. A prominent member of the Arvada Chamber’s Advocacy KAPS Council (Kick-Ass Problem Solvers), Kraft-Tharp has been actively involved in driving local business and community initiatives. As part of the Advocacy KAPS Council, she works alongside other business and community leaders to influence pro-industry legislation and create opportunities in Arvada, Jefferson County, Adams County, and Colorado. Her professional background spans education, social work, and small business consulting, with 15 years of experience helping nonprofits and small businesses build capacity through strategic planning, mentoring, and policy development. She has served on numerous boards and committees throughout her career, including the Denver Regional Council of Governments, Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, and various Arvada and Westminster Chambers of Commerce government affairs committees.
These recipients will be honored with a video of their accomplishments at the Annual Dinner. Videos and more information about the wonderful work done by the recipients will be released after the event. For more information on the Annual Dinner, please visit arvadachamber.org/annualdinner call (303) 424-0313.
Media Contact:
Kami Welch President, Arvada Chamber of Commerce
303-424-0313
kami@arvadachamber.org
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