PHOENIX – Southwest Airlines and ASU Gammage have been named the large and small/medium Businesses of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) during the 30th Annual IMPACT Awards held Wednesday, May 10 at The Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort.
Large Business of the Year: Southwest Airlines
“We are very excited and this is a great honor for Southwest Airlines. This is an opportunity to represent to the community exactly what Southwest Airlines is,” said Craig Drew, senior vice president air operations/director of operations for Southwest Airlines. “I just want to say thank you to the 4,400 Southwest Airlines employees who work here in Phoenix who have made this possible.”
Small/Medium Business of the Year: ASU Gammage
“It’s such an honor to be named Business of the Year. So many amazing business were recognized today at the IMPACT Awards that to be considered among them is tremendous,” said Victor Hamburger, senior director of marketing & communications for ASU Gammage. “I was so elated, it’s tremendous. It reflects so well on all the work our team has done to bring the best of Broadway to the Valley.”
Southwest Airlines and ASU Gammage react to being named 2017 Businesses of the Year
The two companies were selected for the honors from eight local companies which are recipients of the Chamber’s 30th Annual IMPACT Awards, honoring the accomplishments of small and large Valley businesses and the positive influences they have on the business community and economy.
“This year’s IMPACT Awards recipients are a testament to the success that can be achieved through dedication to leadership, innovation and community,” said Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Sanders. “These businesses and organizations will continue to drive the growth of the Greater Phoenix region for years to come.”
See the 30th Anniversary IMPACT Awards event photos
Watch these videos to meet the 2017 IMPACT Award recipients:
Large Business Category (More than 250 employees):
2017 Arizona Advocate – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
2017 Community Champion – Southwest Airlines
2017 Economic Driver – EPCOR Water USA
2017 Exceptional Innovator – Sonora Quest Laboratories
Small to Medium Business Category (250 employees or fewer):
2017 Arizona Advocate – Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation
2017 Community Champion – Crisis Response Network
2017 Economic Driver – ASU Gammage
2017 Exceptional Innovator – Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc.
IMPACTful Nonprofit Award
In addition to honoring exceptional Valley businesses, the Chamber added the IMPACTful Nonprofit Award last year to recognize the outstanding work of Valley nonprofits. Congratulations to 30th Anniversary IMPACTful Nonprofit Award recipient Duet: Partners in Health & Aging. The IMPACTful Nonprofit Award recipient is chosen by popular vote of the community. Duet was chosen this year from these deserving finalists, all of whom exemplify hard work and dedication to our community.
IMPACTful Nonprofit Award finalists:
American Red Cross of Greater Phoenix
Arizona Community Foundation
Arizona Forward
Duet: Partners in Health & Aging
Sentinel Awards:
The Chamber recognizes three outstanding elected officials with the Sentinel Awards, which highlight the great things that can be accomplished when business and government work together.
This year’s recipients are:
Arizona House Speaker J.D. Mesnard
Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery
Phoenix City Councilman Daniel Valenzuela
More information about each IMPACT Award award recipient follows:
Large Business Category (More than 250 employees):
2017 Arizona Advocate: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, one of the 10 busiest airports in the nation for passenger traffic, has a $79 million daily economic impact including serving more than 120,000 passengers, 1,200 aircraft and 800 tons of cargo each day. The rapidly growing airport embraces an excellent customer service culture to continue to earn the nickname “America’s Friendliest Airport.”
Location: Phoenix | Website: www.skyharbor.com | Phone: 602.273.3300
2017 Community Champion: Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest air carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. Southwest differentiates itself by offering exemplary customer service delivered by more than 53,000 employees to more than 100 million customers annually. Southwest serves a network of 101 destinations across the United States and eight countries with more than 3,900 departures daily during peak travel season.
Location: Phoenix | Website: www.southwest.com | Phone: 1.800.435.9792
2017 Economic Driver: EPCOR Water USA
Phoenix-based EPCOR Water USA is a trusted provider of safe, high-quality drinking water and wastewater services to more than 350,000 people across 31 communities, nine counties and three states. EPCOR, with a proud 125-year history in the business and care of water resources and systems, is the largest regulated water utility in Arizona and New Mexico. EPCOR Water USA entered the U.S. market in June 2011 with the acquisition of Chaparral City Water Company in Fountain Hills.
Location: Phoenix, Anthem, Sun City+ | Website: www.epcor.com | Phone: 1.800.383.0834
2017 Exceptional Innovator: Sonora Quest Laboratories
Sonora Quest Laboratories is the market share leader in clinical laboratory testing in Arizona with 3,125 employees serving more than 23,000 patients every day, statewide. The company performs more than 60 million diagnostic tests per year and offers a local comprehensive test menu which encompasses routine, molecular, prescription drug monitoring, cytogenetic, and pathology testing services. The company applies rigorous quality processes at all of its laboratories to minimize testing variability and maximize reliability.
Location: Statewide | Website: www.sonoraquest.com| Phone: 602.685.5000
Small to Medium Business Category (250 employees or fewer):
2017 Arizona Advocate: Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation
The Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI) is a business incubator dedicated to supporting Phoenix-area entrepreneurs developing disruptive technologies with a commitment to quality job creation for the region. CEI houses early-stage high-technology companies focused in bioscience, medical device and clean technology industries.
Location: Phoenix | Website: www.ceigateway.com| Phone: 602.286.8950
2017 Community Champion: Crisis Response Network
Crisis Response Network (CRN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring people and empowering transformation from hope to health through a continuum of crisis services. The organization helps more than 25,000 crisis callers and 11,000 Warm Line callers per month, serving 77 percent of Arizona’s population in central and northern Arizona. CRN has been a consistent and committed crisis service provider in Arizona for nearly 10 years.
Location: Tempe | Website: www.crisisnetwork.org| Phone: 602.427.4600
2017 Economic Driver: ASU Gammage
ASU Gammage is a world-class arts presenting organization, which brings to Arizona the best of the performing arts in multiple disciplines from Broadway and across the globe. Although part of Arizona State University, ASU Gammage is self-sustaining. Ninety percent of its funding comes from its Broadway series and 10 percent comes from philanthropy. This business model, driven by private support and ticket sales with no funding from the university or the state, runs like a business, but with the heart of a nonprofit.
Location: Tempe | Website: www.asugammage.com| Phone: 480.965.5062
2017 Exceptional Innovator: Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc.
Glendale-based Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., a leading provider of traffic safety technology in North America, is committed to improving roadway safety in conjunction with other enforcement and engineering efforts. Best known for operating life-saving photo enforcement programs, the company partners with municipalities to reduce red-light running, speeding and myriad other dangerous driving behaviors that impact public safety.
Location: Glendale | Website: www.redflex.com| Phone: 866.703.8097