The Helpers — Colorado Companies to Watch 2023

This year’s 50 Colorado Companies to Watch winners represent most of the state, with headquarters in at least 20 Colorado cities and operations in 77 locations in the state. They come from seemingly every industry imaginable: aerospace, architecture, engineering, construction, health and wellness, food and beverage, outdoor gear, to name just a few. 

The Companies to Watch program was created by the Edward Lowe Foundation to recognize and celebrate the achievements of second-stage companies that might otherwise go unnoticed or underappreciated on a statewide level. This year’s winners were judged the best out of more than 1,150 nominations, so it’s a select group indeed.

Read on to learn more about our favorite Helpers.

360 Engineering, Inc. 

Golden 

360 Engineering, Inc. is a full-service mechanical engineering firm that leads complex mechanical renovation projects and provides high-quality design that adapts to clients’ changing needs. 

The woman-owned company, which is celebrating 20 years in business, works on projects around the country. Its engineers are licensed in more than 35 states, including Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, and can obtain licensure as needed in additional states.  

The company’s engineers have a wide range of experience in designing HVAC, plumbing and fire protection systems in multiple industries, including municipal, government, education, science and technology and commercial buildings. 

The company is the engineer of record for the new Denver Public Schools’ Ceylon School, where a fully electric, high-efficiency mechanical system produces minimal carbon. Other clients include Open Table, Exclusive Resorts, Denver Athletic Club and the Denver Botanic Gardens. 

“We strive to make complex projects simple to understand, instill confidence through expertise and provide client-specific solutions,” 360 Engineering President Denise Dihle said. “The firm’s resiliency through the economic ups and downs has been sustainable based on our long-standing relationships with architects and owners.” 

Aneka Interiors, Inc. 

Englewood 

Aneka Interiors designs middle-market and high-end senior living communities at all care levels, including active adult, independent living, assisted living and memory care.  

The company offers a design aesthetic geared toward baby boomers who want a luxurious, hospitality-focused environment that’s comfortable and cozy. Aneka has projects in eight states and continues to grow organically as its development partners move into other parts of the country. Aneka is projecting record 50% year-over-year growth for 2023. 

While the company’s strength is new construction design for senior living, it also handles renovations, community refreshes and repositioning and procurement of furniture, fixtures and equipment. 

“The communities we design are vibrant and engaging with residents who are excited to be living in a community that feels like home yet offers the safety and assurance of 24-hour care,” said Aneka Kerlin, the company’s principal and founder. 

By 2060, the number of Americans older than 65 is expected to hit 98 million — double the number of 65-plus adults in the country today. 

“This generation of baby boomers is like none the world has ever seen,” Kerlin said. “They have experienced the world, traveled and are comfortable and familiar with technology. They have seen the world change in so many ways, and their expectations for retirement are higher than ever.” 

Ascent CFO Solutions

Boulder  

Businesses that want a professional chief financial officer and supporting services are increasingly turning to companies like Ascent CFO Solutions to avoid the high cost of hiring a full-time professional.  

Ascent CFO provides the strategic financial expertise of a CFO without adding to a client’s headcount. The company ensures all parts of a business are reflected in its financial plan and develops custom dashboards that provide a complete, real-time look at the company to help leaders make more informed decisions and reach their goals.  

Businesses of any size can use Ascent CFO’s cash flow forecasting, financial modeling, fundraising and mergers and acquisitions support. 

“There is an increasing acceptance of fractional professionals in all kinds of companies, whereas it used to be mostly technology companies before,” said Courtney Gilcrest, Ascent CFO’s marketing coordinator. “This is especially true in the finance and accounting arena. More and more companies are realizing that hiring a fractional CFO and other fractional professionals is an efficient way to get the job done with a high-caliber team, and it’s very cost effective.” 

The company was founded nearly 10 years ago by Dan DeGolier, who has experience as a certified public accountant with a global accounting firm and was a full-time CFO with multiple private companies.  

Connects Workspace

Golden 

Colorado Companies to Watch Winner: Connects Workspace ft seminar weith audience in bleachers.

Connects Workspace provides membership-based private offices, coworking, conference room and event space in a setting that encourages community, connection and creativity.  

With COVID creating an opportunity for more remote work flexibility, the growth of the coworking industry accelerated. Coworking spaces are expected to double within the next year, Connects Workspace founder and CEO Jennifer Thoemke said.  

The company offers two membership levels. Coworking starts at $200 per month, and a reserved desk is $400 per month.  

A coworking membership includes access during business hours, two guest passes per month, two hours per month of meeting space and a $15 printing credit per month.  

A reserved desk includes 24/7 access, a dedicated desk, four guest passes per month, five hours per month of meeting space, mail service, a $25 printing credit per month and a private filing cabinet.  

Both membership levels include high-speed Wi-Fi, parking permits at the Golden location, complimentary notary services and virtual assistance starting at $20 per hour. 

But Connects Workspace offers more than just office space.  

“We curate community and devote time and resources to member experience,” Thoemke said. “We are poised for growth with a robust and seasoned leadership team. We are looking to grow our model through management agreements with building owners.” 

GolfForever 

Aspen  

GolfForever is a golf fitness and wellness system that uses an intuitive app and key training equipment to virtually deliver golfers world-class workout plans, recovery programs and performance coaching. 

The company has submitted multiple patent applications, led by the GolfForever Swing Trainer. The Swing Trainer package includes a resistance training bar, light and medium resistance bands that can be anchored anywhere and handles to use the bands without the training bar. The company’s intellectual property includes physical training products, mobile application and a digital library of content.  

“We are revolutionizing the idea of fitness in the golf industry,” said Jon Levy, vice president of communications and strategic partnerships. “We have created an approachable solution for every golfer that is helping thousands of people not only improve their golf games but improve their health and lives off the golf course.” 

The company’s system personalizes exercise and recovery programs to each use. It appeals to the mass market of golfers as well as the world’s best players.  

The company has large retail partners such as the PGA Tour Superstore that are building holistic fitness initiatives in their stores around the GolfForever Training System.  

“Our explosive growth and brand awareness has led us to creating a new segment of the golf industry that is truly innovative,” Levy said.  

Innovest Portfolio Solutions 

Denver 

Innovest Portfolio Solutions helps clients achieve their goals by providing custom investment solutions, fiduciary protection and a high level of service.  

The nationally recognized firm is one of the few independent companies like it in the country as the industry consolidates. Investment advisers providing services to retirement plans, wire house brokerage firms, wealth management firms and insurance brokerages have acquired retirement plan advisory practices in recent years.  

“With the purchase price on these deals being at astonishing amounts, it raises questions about how the acquiring firms will generate sufficient revenue to justify the large acquisition investments they have made,” said Kristin Grayner, an analyst assistant at Innovest. “Several firms have reported employing a concerted effort to turn retirement plan participants from retirement plan clients into wealth management clients, which tend to be far more lucrative.” 

Innovest has declined offers from advisory aggregators and Wall Street firms and remains one of the few fiduciary advisory firms in the U.S. that adheres to an objective, transparent and conflict-free approach to retirement plan and investment consulting, Grayner said.  

“We are not just an investment firm. We are thoughtful stewards responsible for our clients, professionals and community.” 

Everest Mechanical  

Longmont  

Colorado Companies to Watch winner: Everest Mechanical truck parked outside with logo

Plumbing, HVAC and refrigeration services contractor Everest Mechanical was formed in January 2019 with the asset acquisition of a similar Estes Park business, followed by the acquisition of a similar company in Loveland in the fall of that year.  

The company is developing bot-related software and technology tailored to its particular needs rather than buying it off the shelf and weaving it together.  

“This has been a lengthy process but gives us IP in this space that is unique to us,” Everest CEO Rahul Kumar said.  

As a young company in 2019 before the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Everest hasn’t really had a “normal” year in business yet. After the market shut down in 2020 with the onset of COVID, it started opening up in 2021 but was hit by labor shortages and supply chain issues. Last year brought rising interest rates that are a continuing theme into 2023.  

“As a result, we are seeing project closures taking longer and also a few project cancellations come through on the back of financial viability in a rising rate environment,” Kumar said. “With COVID, we have also seen a larger push towards adoption of technology in the industry and a slow move toward consolidation.” 

LeafTech Consulting 

Englewood 

Managing IT involves much more than telling the user to try turning off, then turning on, their device when it’s not responding. LeafTech Consulting is a Managed Service Provider (MSP) that recommends strategy, provides network monitoring and support, and helps businesses increase productivity. LeafTech’s IT consultants lead clients’ digital transformation through careful planning and effective execution of the outlined IT strategy.  

The firm assists with enterprise architecture, digital strategy and optimizing the technology portfolio. In the current economic environment, clients look to leverage their technologies to be more efficient. LeafTech Consulting also offers managed services, IT compliance, cloud services, and more. The team strives to make itself the experts in every facet of IT services, so that clients don’t have to be.    

Cybersecurity has become a focal point for many businesses, and LeafTech’s cybersecurity solutions have helped the business grow while keeping costs down for clients. The team provides threat evaluation, real-time detection, and active prevention. LeafTech’s IT experts build relationships with clients that have enabled them to succeed and driven the growth of LeafTech in an ever-changing industry.  

Moser Aviation 

Englewood  

Here’s another industry that gained popularity during the pandemic: private jet travel. Moser Aviation is an on-demand, private air charter that is certified by the FAA to fly throughout the 48 contiguous United States, Alaska, Canada and Mexico. The company offers luxury and convenience for people who would rather not fly on someone else’s schedule. The focus is on creating value for the people who fly and for the companies that serve them.  

“Our clients value their privacy, but include professional athletes, globally recognizable entertainers, cabinet level politicians and Fortune 500 executives,” says CEO and founder Martin Moser.  

A sister company, Sentinel Data Analytics, developed proprietary software and data analytics tools that help on-demand, private airlines sell more flights and maximize fleet utilization. “We believe the whole market for private flights is inefficient,” says Moser, who founded the company in 2009. “Technological innovations, like what we’ve invented with Sentinel Data Analytics, will create the dominant on-demand private airlines of the future.” 

Point b(e) Strategies, LLC 

Denver  

The consulting firm Point b(e) Strategies helps nonprofits and social-change organizations get the support they need. Many nonprofits had to lay off staff at the start of the pandemic, and then the George Floyd murder drove an increased need for diversity, equity and inclusion training. Point b(e) Strategies offers several services, such as training and team development for staff and boards of directors; grant writing to help develop effective proposals and help the organization think critically about its work; strategic planning processes that range from half-day to two-day sessions; and program development and evaluation.  

The firm’s catalysts, or consultants, have spent their careers supporting the social change sector in various capacities in nonprofits, as board members, executive directors and consultants. This broad spectrum knowledge has allowed Point b(e) Strategies to offer a holistic approach to clients. The firm has increased staff levels in recent years to meet the need for top-notch consulting for the social-change sector in Colorado, and will continue to adapt as the sector’s needs shift while maintaining a focus on equity.  

Point b(e) Strategies helps nonprofits do everything from complete their to-do lists to clarifying their vision to changing the world.  

REATA Engineering & Machine Works Inc 

Englewood 

Colorado Companies to Watch Winner: Reata Engineering Halter Robotic Arm Engineering Team

Machine shops have gone high-tech. Reata Engineering is a technology-driven company that provides contract manufacturing such as precision machining and assembly services. Its clients represent industries including aviation and aerospace, health care, semiconductor capital equipment, defense, retail and industrial products. The company is investing in robotics, cloud-based quoting and estimating software, CNC machine programming software, CNC machine monitoring and metrics software, automated quality inspection systems and a paperless ERP system.  

 

All of this gives Reata a competitive advantage and is the driving force behind its mission of elevating the customer experience. The technology enables it to run parts more efficiently at lower costs. Investments in new machinery, along with technology and automation, have increased Reata’s overall capacity without it having to increase its footprint or add additional shifts. Automation provides opportunities for employees to learn new skills and advance within the company, earning higher wages and adding value to the overall process and final product. 

President and CEO Grady Cope founded Reata in 1993 by using a credit card to purchase a used manual lathe and mill for $6,000. The following year Reata added its first CNC mill and has consistently added equipment and people since. 

Shift Workspaces 

Denver  

Small businesses that are trying to lure their workers back to the office have to offer more than free coffee. Shift Workspaces has three coworking spaces in Denver, and each is designed to promote workplace happiness. Local real estate investor Grant Barnhill launched the coworking operator in 2012, with the belief that people respond positively or negatively to their environment‚ views are preferable to walls, light is preferable to dark offices, and working outdoors brightens everyone’s days. 

Shift Workspaces provides deluxe spaces with amenities such as high-speed internet, bike storage, outdoor seating, fitness studios and more. The furnishings and aesthetic are intended to replicate a boutique hotel or resort stay, to foster workplace wellbeing. By infusing an element of ease into the workday, Shift helps teams work productively. The workplace provider caters to mid-career professionals in need of office suites for teams of two to 10 people.  

Being a good environmental citizen is also important, and Shift Workspaces has recycling, intelligent HVAC controls, LED lighting, and a zero carbon footprint goal. Two locations are in Denver on Corona Street and Bannock Street, and one is in Littleton in Old Town on Main Street.  

Tierra Group International, Ltd. 

Lakewood  

Tierra Group International provides engineering design and consulting services to the mining industry. There has been much focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) on the mining industry’s potential liabilities associated with tailings dams around the world, which has accelerated the demand for Tierra Group’s expertise and fueled its growth over the past several years. 

Matthew L. Fuller, an engineering geologist, and Peter E. Kowalewski, a principal engineer, founded Tierra Group in 2012. They had worked together in various small and large engineering firms, and decided they wanted to provide high-quality customer service with a smaller team-oriented professional group.  

One of the keys to providing strong customer service is to maintain good employee relations. Fuller says Tierra Group extends its entrepreneurial roots through a novel business model that distributes company profits to every full-time employee throughout the firm, without requiring the employees to make a financial investment such as a stock purchase. The approach fosters and rewards teamwork, and builds camaraderie and pride of ownership.  

“Tierra Group’s rewarding culture, unique business approach and continued growth is best captured in its company credo,” says Fuller, who is founding principal. “Our clients are first, the tea

The Techies — Colorado Companies to Watch 2023

This year’s 50 Colorado Companies to Watch winners represent most of the state, with headquarters in at least 20 Colorado cities and operations in 77 locations in the state. They come from seemingly every industry imaginable: aerospace, architecture, engineering, construction, health and wellness, food and beverage, outdoor gear, to name just a few. 

The Companies to Watch program was created by the Edward Lowe Foundation to recognize and celebrate the achievements of second-stage companies that might otherwise go unnoticed or underappreciated on a statewide level. This year’s winners were judged the best out of more than 1,150 nominations, so it’s a select group indeed. Read on to learn more about them. 

Read on to learn more about our favorite Techies.

10x People 

Littleton 

10x People builds software for more than 50 clients in the telecommunications industry. The company’s products allow for number porting, acquisition, inventory and intelligence and are designed to keep pace with the changes in the way telephone numbers are used as they have evolved into unique identifiers. 

The company has created products to provide recurring revenue to cover its costs without taking on outside consulting work. The company projects it will reach $12 million in recurring revenue at 75% profitability in 2024. “We will continue to invest in bringing innovative SaaS (software as a service) solutions to the market and adding new local employees as needed,” CEO Lisa Marie Maxson said. 

10x People is committed to listening to the needs of its customers and prospects; remaining agile in product development and implementation; automating and streamlining business practices; and investing in the development of new products and services in its target market. 

“We continue to innovate to help our customers fight fraud in the marketplace,” Maxson said.  

Common Knowledge Technology

Englewood 

Common Knowledge Technology ensures business owners have the most reliable and professional information technology (IT) service possible.  

The company has invested in automation, so it has more time to spend developing relationships with clients. Accounts are managed by technical employees who are responsible for getting clients what they need and keeping them running.  

The company, which specializes in small- and medium-sized businesses, offers managed IT services, cloud computing and virtualization. Common Knowledge does not require long-term contracts and provides answers to clients’ questions in easy-to-understand terms so it becomes “common knowledge.” 

With ransomware, attacks and data theft on the rise, cybersecurity should be a priority for organizations, and Common Knowledge has the expertise and strategies to provide the best cybersecurity protection possible while keeping a business’ budget in mind. 

“Cybersecurity and compliance are driving many new requirements,” Common Knowledge President Peter Horewitch said. “COVID has taken nearly all customers hybrid to some degree. Many IT firms have been rolled up in big M&A plays. IT talent is hard to find. Artificial Intelligence is bringing new risks and opportunities.” 

The company has increased its net profit percentage of sales over the last 10 years by more than 600%. 

“I believe we have reached a maturity to the point we are beginning to scale,” Horewitch said. 

DevReady

Englewood 

DevReady is a global community of software developers working through an on-demand engagement model and forging partnerships for long-term technology growth.  

Software developers and end clients increasingly prefer to hire a remote, contract team rather than hire full-time, in-office employees to handle their needs.  

“As that demand continues to increase, we continue to match up the best developers in our community to companies needing support,” DevReady Vice President of Marketing Bob Clary said. “We’ve been hyper-focused on growing our community of elite tech talent throughout the world.” 

Traditional staffing solutions haven’t worked for many companies — nearly half of traditional placements fall short of expectations, and projects are not completed on time or within budget.  

But DevReady’s developer engagement model helps the community thrive and keeps DevReady’s developers ready and able to take on client projects as they come up. The flexible model allows for three- to five-day project placement times and gives clients perfectly matched developers to start working on their project needs almost immediately. 

FusionAuth

Denver

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FusionAuth is an authentication and authorization platform built for developers by developers. For technical leaders creating products for external users, FusionAuth tames the risk and complexity that comes with typical identity systems and scales to millions of users across thousands of applications.  

The company’s self-hosted or cloud options, extensive documentation and no-hassle process helps developers meet authentication feature and compliance requirements so they can focus on building their applications.  

The company has had more than 10 million downloads from developers on six continents. “Our strengths are our incredible product, the strong community engaging with our software, our tremendous support team and our commitment to continuous improvement, FusionAuth Marketing Manager Blair Ewalt said. “Our capacity for growth is only limited by our revenue and profit growth, which has continually been trending upwards since the advent of FusionAuth.” 

Innate.ly

Colorado Springs

When Innate.ly CEO Tyson Hartshorn founded Innate.ly, he had a mission to intelligently leverage technology to preserve horse culture and elevate the equine sport.  

Innate.ly provides high-end enterprise registry and performance-tracking applications that streamline, innovate and revolutionize the horse show and racing industries. Innate.ly tracks everything that makes a horse valuable, connecting breeding records to performance data. This preserves the integrity of the sport and allows associations to refocus resources on efforts that add value and enhance their members’ experience.  

With 214% growth from 2021 to 2022, Innate.ly’s platform will continue to grow as the software as a service (SaaS) tech startup sets out to capture its share of the $650 million global market.  

The equine industry is poised for global consolidation, but current operational and technological practices make it impossible, Hartshorn said.  

“We are paving the way for something similar to what the American Kennel Club has done in the canine industry,” Hartshorn said. “This would unite the current $650 million industry and create new possibilities for a younger generation to get involved.” 

Founded in 2014, Innate.ly has been funded primarily by Colorado-based angel investors and was selected to participate in the Exponential Impact Accelerator program, which it completed in 2021. 

True Anomaly 

Englewood 

Someone has to keep space safe. Amid geopolitical conflicts, climate events and natural disasters, space systems are more critical than ever for ensuring economic prosperity and global security. However, today’s systems are outdated and highly vulnerable to both physical and cyber threats. True Anomaly is protecting the freedoms and interests of the U.S. and its allies by developing full-stack, mission-driven technologies. The firm has seamless satellite, navigation and data capture technologies to provide national security capabilities to meet a rapidly evolving space environment.  

The leadership team has more than three decades of experience in the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Command, and large government contractors. They have expertise in high-performing software, design, engineering, AI capabilities and mission strategies.  

Founded in 2022, the fast growing space company delivers a fully integrated technology platform that combines training and simulation tools, advanced spacecraft manufacturing infrastructure and autonomy systems. True Anomaly’s clients include the Department of Defense, as well as the commercial space market. In its first year, True Anomaly – the phrase is a celestial mechanics term – designed its first spacecraft, the Jackal Autonomous Orbital Vehicle, opened a 35,000 square foot factory, and hired 57 employees. 

The Fixers — Colorado Companies to Watch 2023

B-Line Construction Services, Inc. 

Denver 

Whether it’s building a custom home or remodeling an existing residence, B-Line Construction Services listens to its clients to ensure it manages the construction process efficiently and delivers a high-quality project.  

B-Line, a Certified Passive Home contractor, provides full-service residential construction solutions for all phases of construction. Passive Home is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building that reduces the building’s ecological footprint. The company works with builders and developers to educate homeowners on the construction process. 

In addition to building and remodeling homes, B-Line handles community management. The company maintains, renovates and repairs single-family and multifamily communities. 

“While the residential construction market is being shaped by high costs and limited availability of materials and labor, B-Line’s systematic approach to growth will allow it to scale in the future,” company President Bryan Williams said.  

“We work on the front end to create systems to track and monitor quality in our projects to turn around a happy client and to limit warranty callbacks,” Williams said. “We also rely on systems to create a muscle memory approach to construction. This approach allows us to be both scalable and sellable in the future.” 

Brothers Plumbing, Heating & Electric 

Denver  

Brothers

Brothers Plumbing, Heating & Electric has been serving metro Denver for more than 40 years.  

The longtime contractor has built a reputation in the community and the industry for being honest and committed to customer satisfaction. Its mission is to develop lasting relationships with team members, clients and the community.  

The company offers two-hour appointment windows from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily with no overtime charges. Through its Precise Price program, Brothers’ clients approve the cost of the work before it starts. 

The company also offers membership to Brothers Home Care Club, which includes an evaluation of its customers’ home heating, cooling and plumbing annually and electrical systems every other year to identify potential problems before they become emergencies. 

Brothers recognizes that the home service business is changing with a decreasing labor force that’s the result of skilled tradesmen retiring and fewer people entering the trades. But Brothers is battling that challenge by establishing a culture that ensures the team enjoys coming to work.  

“We have a training program to develop new team members and continue to have a growth plan for apprentices so that they can become technicians,” Brothers President Lynn Tomasek said. “We also have a full-time recruiter to help find new talent and a culture coordinator to help with retention of current team members.” 

 

Citrine LLC 

Denver 

Citrine 3

Citrine is a consulting firm that specializes in engineering design, construction administration and commissioning services.  

The company’s owning principals have a strong network of industry professionals; client relationships that lead to other business opportunities; and a track record working the U.S. government.  

“Citrine has a GSA (General Service Administration) Schedule, which allows the federal government to purchase off a pre-negotiated contract, and Citrine has made significant contacts in the U.S. federal government market,” said Linda Andrews, senior counsel and director of business affairs. 

Among the company’s projects are the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) design for the Boys and Girls Club expansion in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; airport generating stations in Pueblo and Cheyenne, Wyoming; and conceptual design and project estimating services for electrical project upgrades at the Carrolton Water Plant in New Orleans. 

Citrine also provided engineering and project management services related to the cooling facilities for Keystone XL pipeline in Calgary, Alberta. 

The company’s pricing is competitive with large consulting firms.  

“With a very low overhead structure, Citrine can always be price competitive while still maintaining attractive margins,” Andrews said. “Citrine’s strengths will help it capitalize on emerging opportunities.” 

Hydrate IV Bar 

Denver 

Hydrate IV Bar is a collection of IV therapy spas promoting wellness from within by delivering high-quality products and services administered by experienced professionals in a spa-like atmosphere.  

Clients visit Hydrate IV for the therapy but stay for the atmosphere, which features comfortable chairs and soothing music.  

“Hydrate IV Bar spas are a place to relax, recharge and refresh your routine,” said Katy McIntyre, the company’s director of marketing. 

Hydrate IV Bar’s menu of vitamin-infused IV therapy cocktails are tailored to meet a variety of needs, including recovery, jet lag, immunity, altitude sickness, athletic performance, anti-aging and general health and wellness.  

Clients can book appointments for individual treatments or become members for $139 per month, which allows them to enjoy one IV therapy cocktail, one b12 injection, 30% off NAD+ injections, 30% off additional visits and ad-ons, 10% off retail products and Friends with Benefits passes.  

Hydrate IV also offers The Shot Pass for $50 per month, which gives clients access to 50% off all injections all the time.  

MODSTREET 

Durango  

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When outdoor dining exploded during the pandemic, restaurants and other entities turned parking spots into comfortable spaces with tables and chairs. MODSTREET, founded in 2020, manufactures parklets, which are steel-fabricated, custom, modular spaces for restaurants, retailers, events and other uses by businesses and municipalities.  

The barricades, enclosures and parklets have durable powder-coated and composite finishes, and conform to local regulations such as removable floors for utility access and cleaning, latched panels for fire access, ADA-compliant ramps, and frames that are clear of the ground to allow for free stormwater flow. The clip-based assembly needs no tools and can be set up in 30 minutes.  

MODSTREET recently moved into a 5,000-square-foot facility that will allow it to double its capacity. The company is helping communities revitalize town centers and make downtowns pedestrian friendly. That’s a loftier goal than building a quick, temporary platform for outdoor dining during COVID-19. “Regulations and fees are increasing, which is forcing our traditional customer base to look for street solutions that are higher quality than what were used during the pandemic,” says CEO Roger Zalneraitis. “We have been diligent at monitoring regulatory trends and adapting our product to meet these new, higher standards.”  

SAFE Engineering 

Monument 

There are entire categories for how things can go wrong in engineering. SAFE, a woman-owned applied research engineering firm, specializes in developing and implementing novel solutions to a wide range of engineering problems. SAFE’s expertise encompasses various fields, including root cause failure analysis, aircraft structural repair development, and the certification of additive manufacturing processes for structural applications. 

SAFE has developed test methods, relevant sample designs, and demonstration parts for determining the applicability of additive manufacturing processes such as cold spray in aircraft components, which is of paramount importance for national defense. In the context of FAA certification, SAFE employs sophisticated fatigue and damage tolerance, linear and nonlinear fracture mechanics approaches to ensure appropriate aircraft structural repairs.  

The engineers at SAFE have in-depth working knowledge of all aspects of the DoD research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) effort; basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, demonstration/validation and engineering/manufacturing development. SAFE also does engineering research for the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension (CAStLE). The firm is growing as the commercial, government and personal aviation industry is also growing.  

The Foodies — Colorado Companies to Watch 2023

This year’s 50 Colorado Companies to Watch winners represent most of the state, with headquarters in at least 20 Colorado cities and operations in 77 locations in the state. They come from seemingly every industry imaginable: aerospace, architecture, engineering, construction, health and wellness, food and beverage, outdoor gear, to name just a few. 

The Companies to Watch program was created by the Edward Lowe Foundation to recognize and celebrate the achievements of second-stage companies that might otherwise go unnoticed or underappreciated on a statewide level. This year’s winners were judged the best out of more than 1,150 nominations, so it’s a select group indeed. Read on to learn more about them. 

Read on to learn more about our favorite Foodies.

Fast Fit Foods 

Colorado Springs 

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Fast Fit Foods helps more than 10,000 people per year achieve their health goals by providing them with individually portioned meals that taste great.  

The company recently expanded into new business lines, including corporate dining where it provides all dining and catering services to 2424 Garden of the Gods — one of the largest multitenant commercial buildings in Colorado Springs — and 555 Middle Creek.  

Last year, Fast Fit Foods began catering for artists at Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium and in the past has catered at Red Rocks Amphitheater. It’s on the verge of being awarded a contract to supply eight schools in the Denver and Fort Collins areas and expects to add up to 18 new full-time employees to handle the work.  

Founded out of a commissary kitchen, Fast Fit Foods serves nearly 1,000 people a day in corporate dining in addition to the 10,000 people in its core business.  

“We just love food, love good operations and have created a different culture than most food businesses,” Fast Fit Foods CEO Tillman Huett said. “Restaurants and chefs have a bad reputation for toxic work environments, low pay and bad hours. We strive to flip that on its head so we pay above market, hire almost exclusively full-time employees who have benefits, including health insurance, and work normal business hours. 

“That allows us to have a staff that comes to work with real enthusiasm, and we believe that is the reason we continue to put our competitors out of business.” 

Lily’s Toaster Grills 

Denver 

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It turns out one can put cheese sandwiches in the toaster. Founded in 2019 by four women, Lily’s Toaster Grills developed a grilled cheese sandwich that could be heated in the toaster without falling apart or burning the outside and leaving the inside cold. The team spent months developing the product, which is now available in major supermarkets. Simply remove the sandwich from the plastic wrap, microwave for 30 seconds, then toast the sandwich in the toaster for one cycle.  

The frozen food market enjoyed much growth during the pandemic, but many food companies are now struggling with rising prices. Lily’s has comfort food and innovation as competitive advantages. Few things are more familiar than a hot grilled cheese sandwich, and Lily’s has a U.S. patent that protects its manufacturing process technology.  

Led by a management team with years of packaged foods experience, the high-growth frozen food company has invested heavily since 2020 to build a manufacturing plant in Denver. All employees are based in Colorado. Lily’s donates sandwiches, as well as bread and sandwich meat, to meal programs that provide nutritious meals for kids and families, through the nonprofit LuvFromLily.  

MenuTrinfo, LLC 

Fort Collins 

Menutrinfo

In the food business, “free from” is huge these days. Food-related businesses must make sure customers with allergies and sensitivities do not inadvertently receive food that contains gluten, nuts, or other unwanted ingredients. MenuTrinfo is an expert in food allergies, intolerances, sensitivities, celiac disease and lifestyle diets, and provides training and certification so that food manufacturers and food-service professionals know what foods they can safely serve to customers.  

The offerings include online allergy and gluten-free training, with courses that are accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and meet state-specific training mandates. The coursework includes classes for food handlers and managers, and there are classes available in English, Spanish and Simple Chinese.  

MenuTrinfo also offers Certified Free From Food Allergy Certifications, which the company says strengthens soft claims made by a kitchen or manufacturer. The certification indicates that the establishment follows a set of standards that include regular testing, annual audits, and ongoing ingredient reviews. It is available for K-12 and college and university dining, industrial and corporate dining, consumer packaged goods, and other settings.  

Founded in 2010, MenuTrinfo began as a nutritional services and training business. The company still offers menu labeling, gluten-free menus, and nutritional help desk services.  

Occasions Catering 

Englewood 

Founded in 1970, Occasions Catering is the Denver area’s longest serving catering company. Formerly Occasions by Sandy, the company focuses primarily on larger events, corporate and nonprofit clients, big weddings and kosher catering.  

“The Denver event market is maturing to become more like other major cities, with larger and more complex events and the opportunity for caterers to specialize more than ever before,” says Jeremy Bronson, president and owner. He adds that the company has a low rate of employee turnover. “Our secret sauce is the culture we’ve developed and how our core values translate into a widely distributed display of employee commitment to quality and beneficial outcomes for clients, guests and the company.”  

Its other competitive advantage is that Occasions has built enduring partnerships with venues and top event industry vendors. COVID-19 had a dramatic downward impact on the catering industry in general, but Occasions has bounced back and is hiring people as it grows. In 2022, the caterer entered into a partnership with History Colorado to cater events at History Colorado Center, which can hold up to 1,500 guests for receptions. 

Trisco Foods LLC 

Colorado Springs 

Trisco Foods is a five-generation Australian family-owned and operated business. The food manufacturer makes products for food service, bakery, retail and industrial settings. The company produces sweet and savory syrups, sauces and dips.  

For the senior dining food-service business, Trisco offers SimplyThick, a beverage thickener that provides nutrition and hydration. The product is designed to meet the needs of aged-care residents diagnosed with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. SimplyThick is a liquid formulation, so it is easy to mix and does not form a powder clump.  

In 2019, Trisco Foods opened a U.S. factory in Colorado Springs. The plant uses industrial automation touchscreen monitors to guide staff through most critical operations step-by-step, leading to increased job safety and quality control. Trisco obtained an AA score, the highest score one can receive, on its first audit in 2020 and every audit since, with the globally recognized food safety and quality system BRC. 

Trisco encourages a work culture that values innovation and ideas from all levels of staff. Many ideas for improvements to the manufacturing process come from production workers, and the company offers continuing education including LEAN systems. 

Communicators & Educators — Colorado Companies to Watch 2023

This year’s 50 Colorado Companies to Watch winners represent most of the state, with headquarters in at least 20 Colorado cities and operations in 77 locations in the state. They come from seemingly every industry imaginable: aerospace, architecture, engineering, construction, health and wellness, food and beverage, outdoor gear, to name just a few. 

The Companies to Watch program was created by the Edward Lowe Foundation to recognize and celebrate the achievements of second-stage companies that might otherwise go unnoticed or underappreciated on a statewide level. This year’s winners were judged the best out of more than 1,150 nominations, so it’s a select group indeed. Read on to learn more about them. 

Read on to learn more about our favorite Communicators & Educators.

ERO Resources Corporation 

Denver 

ERO Resources specializes in natural and environmental assessment, planning and permitting. The company is recognized for its technical expertise, regulatory knowledge and ability to provide effective and creative solutions.  

ERO is a recognized leader in National Environmental Policy Act compliance, environmental planning, biological resources, cultural and historic resources and environmental due diligence and remediation.  

The company provides innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges in multiple market sectors, including transportation, water, utilities, infrastructure, development energy and mining. It serves an array of federal and state agencies, municipalities and private clients.  

Projects it has worked on include helping Eagle County Open Space develop a long-range management plan for a newly acquired ranch property adjacent to Eagle, Colorado; assisting Douglas County, Castle Rock, Larkspur and Parker develop the Douglas County Regional Habitat Conservation Plan; and updating a space management plan for four properties in Colorado Springs. 

“The environmental consulting services market has grown exponentially over the past few years as the country works to rebuild and update its infrastructure,” said Marketing Coordinator Alexus Kelley. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been a major influence in this growth as it has infused over $350 billion into water, transit, solar, roads, bridges and internet projects.” 

Kitcaster 

Denver 

Design Track

Kitcaster is a booking agency that schedules interviews for founders, entrepreneurs, C-suite executives and other high-achieving people on the world’s top podcasts.  

The company’s clients lead some of the world’s fastest-growing technology and venture capital-backed companies. Kitcaster’s campaigns build brand awareness, web traffic and improve search engine optimization.  

“There is no better way to gain authority within your market than to make appearances on the well-respected podcasts your customers are already listening to,” said Mallory Kassoy, Kitcaster’s communications manager. “Our mission is to celebrate good conversation.” 

The average podcast listener listens up to seven hours per week, and 80% of the time, they listen to the whole episode. 

The podcast industry is booming, and many people are turning to them for information and entertainment. Businesses and brands are harnessing the power of podcasting, sending their leaders on interviews and using airtime for advertising opportunities.  

“We provide resources to the podcasting community with no expectation of reciprocity,” Kassoy said. “We are small, but our competitors are ripping copy from our website verbatim.” 

Garlic Media Group

Denver 

Garlic Media Group is a full-service video production house and marketing agency that uses its proprietary system to create high-end videos at an affordable rate.  

The Emmy Award-winning company has created nearly 10,000 videos for more than 1,200 clients. The company works with clients to integrate its systems with theirs and adapt to what they are used to. It produces all varieties of videos, including shows, commercials, social media content and live productions. It also advises and implements video marketing strategies for some clients.  

“Garlic Media’s core strength is providing cutting-edge services to businesses in an accountable and dependable manner,” Garlic Media CEO Will Feldman said. The company’s clients range from small- and mid-sized businesses to national brands across many industries.  

“Whether we are working on a national commercial, TV show, documentary or local social media campaign, our team is dedicated to getting the best possible results for our clients,” Feldman said. “We have a unique niche with production. We have top-tier talent and incredible diversity of people and skills. We have competitors in parts of what we do. However, there is no one like us in the scope of what we can accomplish.” 

Nymbl Science 

Denver 

Nymbl 8

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in four adults (28%) in the U.S. age 65 and older report falling each year. In Colorado, that figure is closer to one in three (30.5%), or nearly 239,000 adults. To help prevent falls, Nymbl Science offers a digital, evidence-based mobility platform that users can access on their smartphones or tablets.  

Traditional balance training programs rely on in-person classes, or a streaming class or a video call that rural adults in Colorado cannot access due to the lack of high-speed internet. Nymbl closes this gap by offering a balance training program that is engaging and convenient, while avoiding the need for high-speed internet or expensive direct clinical care. 

Nymbl partners with organizations such as Medicare Advantage plans, at-risk providers, and Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to offer the platform, which addresses both the physical and cognitive aspects of balance. The patented program requires only 10 minutes per day for a few weeks, all in the privacy of the home. The end result is a 35% reduction in fall-related claims in the first year alone, and the cost savings that provides.  

Path2Response 

Broomfield 

What do consumers really want? Path2Reponse can help answer that. The firm helps brands by leveraging real-world consumer spending behavior to create custom-built marketing audiences. Instead of third-party aggregated data that infers consumer behaviors, Path2Response provides a unique dataset that enables it to build targeted audiences, so the marketers can reach responsive consumers. 

Path2Response’s proprietary technology uses website visitation data to capture buying signals, generating an ideal audience of target purchasers. The innovative technology allows this data to be continually refreshed, producing optimized audiences for deployment more quickly and efficiently than competing audience providers. 

The marketing firm, founded in 2015, has more than doubled its revenues since pre-pandemic. This growth has been driven mainly by strong customer retention and net growth from current clients. The firm works with agencies, brands and nonprofits. Whether it’s an outdoor brand seeking shoppers who are most likely to buy apparel for an epic adventure, or a nonprofit hoping to expand its donor pool, Path2Response taps into its dataset of billions of individual-level consumer behaviors to deliver the right audience that outperforms those found with other targeted efforts. 

Terra Ferma, LLC 

Colorado Springs 

Soleris 1

Terra Ferma designs and manufactures technology that improves and secures communication systems in the military, government, and private sector. The Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business was founded in 2015 to develop and manufacture power products for remote and diverse applications. In 2018 the company began development of Power over Ethernet (PoE) Injector cards, and introduced its first version of the Rugged!+ PoE Injector. PoE refers to delivering electric power along with data over an ethernet cable. Since then Terra Ferma increased output power of its PoE Injectors and introduced more products.  

The military is a big customer for Terra Ferma, and for the Power over Ethernet product line, communication systems are becoming more demanding for reliability and effectiveness, and more sensitive to cybersecurity implications. Traditional WiFi creates a visible and traceable RF signal, which threatens the safety of personnel in the field. Light Fidelity (LiFi) technology creates a connection that cannot be detected or hacked. 

Last year, Terra Ferma was selected as exclusive licensee of LiFi technology because of the company’s demonstrated technical prowess and ability to bring new technology to market through its existing sales channels. The company’s Rugged!+ power and communications products are designed and made in the U.S.  

The Organizers — Colorado Companies to Watch 2023

This year’s 50 Colorado Companies to Watch winners represent most of the state, with headquarters in at least 20 Colorado cities and operations in 77 locations in the state. They come from seemingly every industry imaginable: aerospace, architecture, engineering, construction, health and wellness, food and beverage, outdoor gear, to name just a few. 

The Companies to Watch program was created by the Edward Lowe Foundation to recognize and celebrate the achievements of second-stage companies that might otherwise go unnoticed or underappreciated on a statewide level. This year’s winners were judged the best out of more than 1,150 nominations, so it’s a select group indeed. Read on to learn more about them. 

Read on to learn more about our favorite Organizers.

Concurrent HRO

Broomfield  

Concurrent HRO is a full-service professional employer organization (PEO) that provides payroll, human resources, benefits administration, worker’s compensation, retirement and compliance solutions.  

In addition to its primary PEO services, Concurrent HRO provides drug testing, background checks and employee training.  

The PEO industry is competitive, and new companies consistently enter the market to capitalize on a fluctuating economy in which many businesses outsource administrative tasks. 

Concurrent HRO does not take a one-size-fits-all approach to serving clients. All its services are customizable based on the needs of clients and their employees. 

“We pride ourselves on localized and customized customer service,” said Ashley Rosen, the company’s marketing and special projects manager. “We do not use offshore processing or toll-free lines. There is always another person answering the line when a client calls us, providing a personalized touch.” 

Concurrent HRO is looking to grow by adding more clients and expanding its national presence. It added a new outside sales consultant in Missouri and is looking to add more outside sales consultants in other states. 

The company understands the importance of keeping clients in compliance and has the resources to keep up with changes in that realm.  

“Laws and regulations are constantly changing on the local, state and federal level,” Rosen said. “It can be a tedious task for businesses to manage these changes and reflect them in their company policies and handbooks. PEOs will notify businesses of these new changes and will help update any necessary policies and handbooks.” 

Photobucket

Denver

Photobucket

Cloud storage company Photobucket has been trusted by more than 70 million people to store and manage their 17 billion selfies, vacation pics and awkward family photos. According to the creative advice website Photutorial, the average person in the U.S. takes 20.2 photos per day and has 2,100 photos on their smartphone. Whether they are building a personal photo album or setting up a blog or ecommerce site, people want to save these digital memories.  

“Photos and videos are more relevant than ever,” says CEO Ted Leonard. “At no point in history did everyone walk around with a camera in their pocket.” Photobucket online photo and video storage has various price plans, based on factors such as the amount of storage space the customer needs and whether they want web hosting.  

Photobucket encrypts and removes personal data from every photo and video to maintain privacy. “Security and usage of personal data is becoming more and more important,” Leonard says. “Groups of people still want to collaborate via videos and photos, and they’re looking for an alternative to social media and big tech.” The company was founded in 2003; revenues have quadrupled since 2019.

Makers & Suppliers — Colorado Companies to Watch 2023

This year’s 50 Colorado Companies to Watch winners represent most of the state, with headquarters in at least 20 Colorado cities and operations in 77 locations in the state. They come from seemingly every industry imaginable: aerospace, architecture, engineering, construction, health and wellness, food and beverage, outdoor gear, to name just a few. 

The Companies to Watch program was created by the Edward Lowe Foundation to recognize and celebrate the achievements of second-stage companies that might otherwise go unnoticed or underappreciated on a statewide level. This year’s winners were judged the best out of more than 1,150 nominations, so it’s a select group indeed. Read on to learn more about them. 

Read on to learn more about our favorite Makers & Suppliers.

Axe and the Oak Distillery 

Colorado Springs  

Ever-changing liquor laws that benefit large chain retailers, new products and a growing trend toward sobriety are impacting the market for spirits, but Axe and the Oak Distillery’s strategy of building community is helping the company succeed. 

Launched in 2013 by friends Jason Jackson, Casey Ross and Eric Baldini, Axe and the Oak’s spirits have won more than 40 awards from around the world. Its spirits include Colorado Mountain Bourbon Whiskey, Incline Rye Whiskey, Pikes Peak Hill Shine, Citra Gin and First Stake Cask Strength Bourbon. 

The Axe and the Oak Whiskey House uses only its flagship spirits to create its handcrafted seasonal cocktails, which feature a variety of house-made infusions and liqueurs, freshly squeezed juices and hand-carved ice. 

Axe and the Oak spirits are in eight states. Baldini said great banking, strategic relationships and national distribution is allowing the company to expand outside of Colorado. It plans to launch in 17 more states over the next five years.  

“Our strength is in the people we hire, the passion behind our products we produce and the out-of-the-box partnerships we have created,” Baldini said. “Our success has been directly associated with how we build community and individuals that support our brand.” 

Cultivate 

Boulder  

Most corporate gifts miss the mark, with employees and clients receiving generic items they have no use for.  

But through Cultivate, businesses can let their employees and clients select the gifts they want through pop-up shops onsite or its online gifting platform, which is designed to help companies deliver appreciation to people’s inboxes while leveraging data, technology and tools to track and measure their Return On Appreciation.  

Allowing people to select their gifts ensures everyone receives something they’ll love and use — and remember who gave it to them and why. 

“Now, we have a unique opportunity to offer a variety of gifting solutions to our existing clients, new markets and the $240 billion corporate giving industry in the U.S.,” Cultivate Director of Marketing Jenny McGee said. 

Cultivate’s gifting experts work with a growing portfolio of Fortune 1000 clients, including IBM, Verizon, Boeing and Charles Schwab.  

“We challenge our clients to think about value and measure appreciation in a new way,” McGee said. “We are not a team of order takers. We are consultants who help their clients deliver unforgettable appreciation.”  

KadyLuxe 

Edgewater 

Women no longer have to wear ill-fitting men’s garb to support their favorite sports teams thanks to apparel manufacturer KadyLuxe.  

The company has proven there’s a market for high-quality female fan wear at the college level and now is turning to professional sports.   

KadyLuxe is a licensee for the Dallas Cowboys, NBA, NHL and more than 70 NCAA universities across the U.S., including the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Locally, you can find exclusive Denver Nuggets and Avalanche product collections from KadyLuxe at Ball Arena. 

“Our successful program for the last three years with the Dallas Cowboys is making a case for us to earn the entire NFL league license and open up a multimillion-dollar channel,” said KadyLuxe founder and CEO Kady Zinke, a former NBA dancer. “The same goes for MLB and potentially women’s soccer. Female fans are outpacing male fans in many markets, and retailers are trying to find solutions. Retailers need more choices for their female fans. Sports teams are wanting to partner with female founders.” 

“The company’s proven track record with royalties and licensing gives it the strength to grow with other powerful licenses such as Disney or Marvel,” Zinke said. 

Låda Cube 

Grand Junction  

Låda Cube is a wall system engineered from the ground up as a solution to sustainable interior and exterior construction.  

Founded in 2013, the company designs and manufactures modern solutions for retail, residential and any business needing innovative solutions with acoustical control, fast buildout and high-level energy efficiencies.  

Its walls are pre-engineered and pre-manufactured, giving clients flexibility and function.  

“With the current traditional construction environment, the processes are very inefficient, wasteful and plagued with costly overruns and delays,” Låda Cube CEO John Fay said. “Productivity has been flat for decades. By contrast, manufacturing productivity in other sectors has nearly doubled over the same period. ESG (environmental, social and governance) scores and green building requirements are also accelerating the growth of new innovations such as Låda Cube.” 

The company has established manufacturing operations worldwide, including in Cape Town, South Africa, and Guadalajara, Mexico. 

NULASTIN 

Boulder 

Nulastin 8

After spending much time outdoors, Leah Garcia searched for a way to protect her skin against the elements. Garcia assembled a team of microbiologists and clinicians and developed NULASTIN, a skin care regimen that is performance-based, results-oriented, and ethically derived. The team brought NULASTIN to market in 2016, and today the brand has an expanding line of elastin replenishment lash, brow, hair, and skin products. 

NULASTIN has various influencers, A-Listers and celebrities using the product, including Billy Idol and Jamie Lee Curtis. The brand leverages social media to help it stand out in a large, crowded category. 

“The skincare market and beauty industry as a whole are seeing a push for scientifically backed products,” says Garcia, NULASTIN’s founder and CEO. “Unfortunately, many companies in the space are claiming science without the evidence, thus turning it into a marketing play rather than an actual guarantee of quality and results.” NULASTIN’s claims are based on science and evidence, and the company’s board consists of scientists and experts in the space. 

“The NULASTIN team is quickly growing,” Garcia says. “We are hand-selecting the best in the industry to lead us to the next phase of the business.”  

Quicksilver Scientific, Inc. 

Louisville 

Natural products company Quicksilver Scientific has 18 years of experience as a global innovator in functional supplements and integrative health. The company says its delivery systems represent the future of dietary supplements, combining nature’s nutrients with science to pioneer solutions designed to meet modern health goals. Bioavailability is an important challenge in the supplement industry, and the company’s proprietary nanoparticle technology has led to a sophisticated liposomal delivery system that solves the problem by allowing nutraceutical absorption to begin as soon as the product is ingested.  

Quicksilver Scientific’s offerings include more than 60 products, protocols and kits across 11 categories: Cellular, Cognitive, Detox, GI, Hormones, Immunity, Inflammation, Longevity, Metabolism, Sleep, and Vitamins and Minerals. In 2022, the company launched Apricō, offering Quicksilver’s nanoemulsion delivery technology to consumers in a more accessible, great-tasting plant-based supplement line.  

The company was able to avoid supply chain issues because it focuses on in-house innovation and manufacturing. All products are created on-site at Quicksilver Scientific in Louisville. As a cGMP certified company, Quicksilver Scientific manufactures health supplements according to cGMP regulations and strict quality control guidelines. Many batches also undergo third-party testing to ensure that the safety, quality and potency of products uphold the company standards. 

Roofnest 

Boulder 

Avid outdoor adventurer Tim Nickles knows that the right gear can help enthusiasts enjoy their active lifestyle. That includes camping, and Nickles set out to develop gear that made sleeping under the stars more comfortable. He designed a rooftop tent for his car, which gave him the advantage of not having to set up poles, fight for a camping spot, or look for a flat spot on the ground.  

Nickles borrowed $8,000 from his mother – he has since paid her back – and launched Roofnest in 2017. The company’s mission is to make camping accessible, convenient and comfortable for outdoor explorers of every experience level by designing, manufacturing and selling durable and easy-to-use hard shell rooftop tents. Roofnest has design patents on its proprietary tent designs and has developed several new products. The tents attach to the car’s crossbars like a ski rack or storage box, and range in size to accommodate two to four adults, or two adults plus a dog or child, or other combination. The tents are available in various styles, pop up in a minute and include a ladder. 

Sales and employee counts grew dramatically during the pandemic, when customers embraced the outdoors even more than usual.  

Shinesty 

Denver 

Ski

The apparel company Shinesty has a mission to make the world take itself less seriously. The irreverent direct-to-consumer brand specializes in underwear, and has other clothing with themes such as a Pride Collection, retro ski suits and holiday outfits.  

The e-commerce company is in the process of expanding into brick and mortar retail through partnerships with other retailers. There is also a popular subscription business model, which enables customers to automatically buy underwear monthly, quarterly or annually. The brand gained attention when Al Roker mentioned the underwear on the “Today” show a few years ago, and since then Shinesty has built nontraditional partnerships. Earlier this year it announced it had signed a deal with Clemson University basketball player Brevin Galloway, who had suffered a groin injury. Also this year, Shinesty paid the bail and court fees of a streaker who had been arrested after interrupting the PGA Waste Management Phoenix Open while wearing Shinesty’s denim-print swim trunks.  

By entertaining and selling, Shinesty has built a strong consumer brand with customers who love the products and the brand’s voice. Revenues and employee counts have been gaining steadily since the company was founded in 2014.  

Sauvage Spectrum 

Palisade 

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In 2019, winemaker Patric Matysiewski and grape grower Kaibab Sauvage formed a partnership, with a goal to create a new breed of estate winery. They launched Sauvage Spectrum, and the first release was Sparklet, a fruit-forward, affordable sparkling wine. The founders knew that sparkling wines were starting to trend nationally and were underrepresented in Colorado. They also wanted to highlight the area’s premium high desert fruit.  

To keep the wine affordable, Sauvage Spectrum uses a proprietary tank method, and lower priced grape varieties that are perfect for sparkling wine. The screen-printed bottle is sealed with a beer bottle-like crown cap, which is easier to open than a traditional cork and cage. The wine is available in a white, pink rosé and a Lambrusco-inspired sparkling red wine that received a Double Gold in 2021 at the Colorado Governor’s Cup Winemaking Competition. 

Sauvage Spectrum is a 100% Estate winery, which means it produces wine only from the grapes and fruit it grows. To promote Colorado wine, the business hosts events such as Vino and Vinyasa yoga classes, Sip into Spring: A Celebration of Colorado Wine in Palisade, and the Ouray Winter Wine Festival at the historic Wright Opera House. 

THiN AiR Brands 

Parker 

The mission for THiN AiR Brands is to make awesome toys that will teach, entertain and inspire, and to make the toys available at every major retailer worldwide. The company offers toys in several brands designed for kids 2 years and older. Nature Bound Toys, such as the Bug Vacuum, are for the exploration of nature. Dr. STEM Toys, such as the Dr. STEM Talking World Globe with Interactive Stylus, are educational. Anywhere Sports, such as Anywhere Three Ball set for football, soccer and basketball, are designed to improve athletic skills in children. 

“Innovative toy design is one of our core strengths,” says founder and president Mike Searls, who founded the company in 2014. “We create unique and innovative products that inspire and educate kids across the country.” 

The company has had steady growth over the years. Sales were very strong during the pandemic, as e-commerce exploded and in-store displays and promotional advertising increased too. The meaning of the company name, Searls says, “is that great ideas come out of thin air.”  

Vitality 

Denver 

Founded in 2018, Vitality is a woman-owned and family-founded company that creates athleisure clothing for people in sizes XXS to XXXXL. The brand’s mission is “Inspired athleisure designed for everyBODY in their pursuit of a purposeful existence.” The brand uses social media platforms and brand ambassadors to showcase each new collection, and pieces sell out quickly 

The company was called Balance Athletica until 2022, when it announced a brand refresh and new name. The change to Vitality represents the opportunity to elevate and evolve nearly four years after its founding by CEO Taylor Dilk, COO Steve Dilk and Chief of Design Chloe Chamberlain. The company began out of Chamberlain’s garage and quickly grew to more than 50 employees and expanded into a 35,000-square-foot headquarters and distribution center in Denver.  

The three co-founders have created a community reflective of the founding principles they built the brand on: inclusivity, empowerment and giving back. They prioritize giving back to causes, helping those in need, and advocating for inclusivity and equality for all. What started out as small donations to local families in need has grown into more than $500,000 donations to nationwide nonprofit organizations so far. 

Watson Mills and Design 

Lafayette  

Watson Mills designs, manufactures and installs architectural woodwork for luxury residences, or what the company calls the Monumental Market. The work includes design and engineering, sourcing, project management, lumber processing and more.  

The company, founded in 2011, has more than doubled revenues over the past few years and added employees to support revenue growth and internal infrastructure. It expanded its capacity to process raw lumber with the purchase of Schacht Mill Works in 2019 and maintains end-to-end control of the shipping process by delivering with company-owned trucks. “Projects are getting larger and more complicated,” says owner Todd Palmer. “This is helpful for us as we continue to expand our capabilities.” 

Palmer says the company’s strength is producing woodwork at a very high level of quality. “We walk alongside the design and construction teams to achieve one-of-a-kind designs and products,” he says. “Our passion is creating a generational impact by bettering the lives of the people who choose to work with us.” 

Women to Watch: Trio Design

Women in Colorado are making an impact in every industry, enterprise and workplace role imaginable. They are CEOs, startup founders, strategists and irreplaceable employees who not only are instrumental in their own organization’s success; through their daily actions and achievements, they set a precedent of possibilities for the next generation of women in business to build upon. Every woman in business has her own story, and we present a few of them in this special advertising section with profiles specifically designed to show the person — the face, if you will — behind the business or organization that she has helped build or nurture.

Women to Watch: Trio Design

Named one of Interior Design magazine’s Top 100 Giants four years running, Denver-based TRIO is one of the fastest-growing design and visual merchandising firms in the nation. With women making up 85% of our leadership team, TRIO is shaking up the construction and interior design industry. From operations and design direction to business development and marketing, this team of talented and innovative women leaders helps guide TRIO’s collaboration on all aspects of master-planned communities, model homes, 55 + resort-style living, clubhouses, sales centers, commercial projects, and multifamily apartment communities.

triodesign.com
303.663.1285

Colorado Companies to Watch 2022: Makers and Suppliers

Since 2009, the Colorado Companies to Watch program has sought to recognize second-stage enterprises from around the state. These companies often fly under the radar of awards programs of this type, yet they play an enormous role in fueling Colorado’s economy. 

From an economic-development perspective, the importance of recognizing second-stage companies — those beyond the startup stage but still developing — is obvious: As these companies grow, not only do they employ an increasing number of people, which benefits their local economies and quality of life; they also create a need for outside services, and thus opportunity for other businesses, from restaurants to accounting firms to pet boarders, to flourish. The ripple effect on the economy is sizable, to say the least.

This year, more than 1,100 companies from industries ranging from biosciences to fitness to food and beverage submitted nominations. A judging panel made up of business and economic-development leaders throughout the state whittled those candidates down to the finalists, and finally to this year’s select cast of 47 Colorado Companies to Watch winners. 

Read on to learn more about our favorite Colorado Makers and Suppliers.

Applewood Seed Company 

Arvada 

Applewood2
Gene Milstein, founder, and his wife, Dee Milstein, former co-owner of Applewood Seed Company

Who knew there’s a national flower-seed giant nestled in the Denver suburb of Arvada? Indeed, there is. Applewood Seed Co. is one of the nation’s largest open-pollinated flower seed wholesalers, with a vast and varied customer base that includes landscapers, highway and park departments, government agencies, golf courses, nursery and garden markets, farms and ranches, professional growers, and pollinator habitat growers.

The company, founded in 1965 and 100% employee-owned since 2021, contracts flower production fields both domestically and internationally with farmers of all sizes. Part of Applewood’s success lies in its emphasis on quality, customer education, and employee appreciation.

“First, we focus on seed and seed mixture quality, starting at our trial gardens and production fields, to lab testing, and to the final packaging received by the customer,” says CEO Norm Poppe. “Second, we educate customers and growers on the ecological and ornamental applications of wildflowers, including their effects on pollinator conservation and their natural beauty. Additionally, we believe our newly created Employee Stock Ownership Plan is a differentiator in employee retention, improves team member engagement, and strengthens our company’s overall vision.”

Applewood’s priorities have paid off. Since 2018, the company’s workforce has increased by 30%, and revenues have grown by 40% in that time.

Dave & Matt Vans 

Gypsum 

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Dave & Matt Vans custom campervan conversion

Dave & Matt Vans converts vans into fully livable lifestyle vehicles, also known as campervan conversions, for sale or rent, at some of the most affordable prices on the market. 

The company has pioneered a modular build system that allows customers to customize some aspects of their vehicle while maintaining efficiency on the manufacturing side. This has enabled Dave & Matt Vans to create one of the most affordable and accessible campervans on the market. 

Founded in 2019 by Dave Ramsay and Matt Felser, the company has grown from five employees in 2019, to 20 in 2020, to 27 in 2021. Sales have climbed accordingly, from $1.1 million in 2019, to $3.5 million in 2020, to $11.9 million last year.  

This year, even with factory delays in chassis procurement, the company expects to deliver 250 vehicles by year-end, a 50% increase over last year. As for 2023, the company expects growth to upwards of 600+ van deliveries for the year, with an estimate of more than $50 million in revenue. 

Dave & Matt Vans recently opened a new 39,000-square-foot production facility in Rifle that is projected to increase the production staff by eight to 10 this year. The expansion and increased production capability comes none too soon for a public eager to hit the road. 

According to the RV Industry Association, demand for RV units grew month-over-month throughout 2021, breaking all previous wholesale shipment records. A recent survey by RVIA also reported that 72 million Americans plan to go RVing in an RV they own, rent or borrow over the next year, up from 61 million in a survey done last fall. 

Fancy Tiger Crafts Co-op 

Denver 

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Fancy Tiger Crafts Co-op’s featured cloth fabrics

Fancy Tiger Crafts Co-op is Denver’s premier location for fiber crafters. Founded in 2006 and profitable for 15 of its 16 years, the company believes that making things is good for people, community and the planet. 

“We are dedicated to bringing the best, most interesting and most sustainable craft supplies from around the world,” Fancy Tiger President Christina Patzman says. “We also offer a range of classes from beginners to advanced in many types of crafting skills.” 

As with so many businesses, particularly in the retail sector, the company faced considerable adversity brought on by COVID-19. During the first 15 months of the pandemic, Fancy Tiger Craft’s in-person retail on Broadway was closed. Add to that the general uncertainty of the economy. But the company has bounced back in 2022 with a projected revenue increase of 15 percent over last year. 

Part of Fancy Tiger Crafts’ winning formula has been to seek out and offer new and interesting ways to practice traditional textile crafts, striving to offer both classic and innovative supplies as well as instruction for those eager to learn. 

“Since many folks who are becoming interested in crafts no longer have older family members who practice these crafts, we are persistently offering and expanding our classes, and ensuring that they are accessible to future crafters and those expanding their horizons,” Patzman says. 

As an employee-owned cooperative, Fancy Tiger Crafts is able to harness the skills and experience of all its employees, not just a small group of owners. Decisions are made democratically, and the variety of voices present helps the company spot potential shortcomings and issues. 

“We are also all crafters ourselves,” Patzman points out, “and we love to share our own love of making things.” 

Gameboard 

Denver

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Gameboard tabletop gaming system

Gameboard tabletop gaming system bridges the tactile and interpersonal experience of physical games with the expansive connectivity of digital content and online communities. For example, players can use real game pieces (like a chess set) on the surface of the Gameboard, allowing simple, nostalgic games to take place. 

Launched in 2019, Gameboard has grown rapidly, with a workforce of 23 in 2021 that it expects to increase to 37 employees this year. The company’s concept brings board games to life digitally, with touch technology and a library of games that enables play anytime, anywhere and with anyone. As Gameboard Social Media Manager Robb Woods puts it: “Think Netflix meets Peloton for board games.” 

Founder and CEO Shail Mehta says Gameboard’s technology has what similar products in the past lacked: a smooth, unlimited touch technology, network play, community-based features like Gameboard’s companion app, and the ability to support online parties. 

“Our machine learning algorithm also continues to evolve as we become the standard in physical and digital play,” Mehta says. 

Halfdays 

Denver 

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Halfdays women’s ski wear

Halfdays is a women’s ski wear brand that aims to make the outdoors a more welcoming and accessible place for all — starting with approachable, technical products and an inclusive community. 

“We work very closely with our technical fabric manufacturer to develop new waterproof materials for our fashion-forward, technical garments,” says CEO Ariana Ferwerda, who founded the company in 2020. “For example, our puffer jacket is one of the most waterproof puffer jackets on the market, due to construction innovations that we were able to make with our manufacturer, designer and fabric vendor.” 

Ferwerda believes there is a push, influenced by society at large, to make the ski and outdoor industry more inclusive, diverse and women-led. “We feel that there are a variety of small, independent brands that are leading the charge in this change. We also believe that Halfdays has been at the forefront of the new wave of outdoor brands.” 

Halfdays’ growth in less than two years since its founding helps make Ferwerda’s point. The company more than tripled its number of employees from year one to year two, and it expects to more than double its number of full-time-equivalent employees this year. Meanwhile, sales rose nearly fourfold from year one to year two, and they are projected to more than quadruple year-over-year in 2022.    

“Our capacity for growth is marked by the fact that we have over 9,000 women on our waitlist, waiting for our next collection to launch in the fall of 2022,” Ferwerda says. “We’ve actually had so many large wholesale orders placed that we’ve had to turn many of them down due to the current size of our team and capital resource limitations.” 

Kokopelli 

Longmont 

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Kokopelli inflatable kayak

Kokopelli creates inflatable, packable kayaks it says are the world’s lightest so that outdoor enthusiasts can explore nature in its most serene settings. 

The company offers five packraft models that can accommodate one or two people and weigh between 4 and 13 pounds. The company’s goal is to further develop the markets in the 12 countries where its products are sold. 

“Our vision is to be the most-recognized brand in the packraft industry worldwide,” Kokopelli President Kelley Smith says. 

Kokopelli also helps its customers learn how to use their packrafts and teaches them techniques that will keep them safe on the water. In addition, it helps them find trips they can take in their area.  

“Our company was founded on the single principle of innovation,” Smith said. “In the early years, this meant we were solely focused on innovating our packrafts. As we expanded, this has grown into a focus of innovating the sport through three foundational pillars: performance, education and community.” 

Performance represents the continual development of high-end packrafts made from cutting-edge materials with design and user experience as the primary focus. The company seeks to grow the sport responsibly through proper education and safety training, and it builds relationships on and off the water with the paddling and packrafting community.  

“COVID-19 has influenced people to get outdoors more since people couldn’t travel, so we have seen a significant increase in new customers and people wanting to get outside and be on the water,” Smith says. 

LEVO 

Denver 

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LEVO oil infuser in action

LEVO believes consumers should be able to control the ingredients in their food, so it’s created a countertop appliance that lets them make everything from oil-infused gumdrops to infused butter garlic shrimp.  

LEVO’s sells oil infusers and all the accessories, mixes and other products required to make infused creations at home. Its patented technology is designed for infusing botanicals into oil and butter.  

The company also offers edible kits and mixes for creations ranging from gummies and magic brownies to Ghee clarified butter and a coconut and avocado oil blend. 

Herbal infusion has been used for centuries among some of the world’s earliest civilizations. Today, it’s often the secret sauce of restaurant chefs and popular skincare brands. But store-bought products marketed as natural often are over-processed contain additives or solvents of some sort.  

The company also hosts a platform that lets its customers share their creations.  

“We know how to engage our community and promote ‘infusiasm,’” LEVO CEO Christina Bellman says. 

Pact 

Boulder 

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Pact’s organic cotton clothing

 

Pact’s organic cotton clothing, bedding and towels are derived from sustainable crops grown on organic farms and colored with chemical-free dyes. 

The company’s commitment to the environment is evident in everything it does.  

Pact teamed up with an eco-tech company so its shoppers have the ability to offset the carbon footprint of their shipments. The technology calculates the shipment’s distance, the carbon footprint created and the cost to offset that carbon locally through things like purchasing wind energy credits.  

Pact also runs a clothing donation program that enables its customers to donate their gently used clothing to nonprofits. They can pack the items into Pact boxes used to deliver the items they purchased and send them back to the company.  

The company uses paper envelopes made from 100% post-consumer recycled paperboard and cardboard boxes made with 98% post-consumer recycled materials. Both are 100% recyclable, and the bag inside the packaging that protects clothing is made with biodegradable plastic.   

“Consumers are shifting to e-commerce and are increasingly focused on sustainability,” says Drew Cook, the company’s chief financial officer.  

QuikrStuff 

Grand Junction  

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QuikrStuff CEO, Bryan Wachs

QuikrStuff’s modular, aluminum hitch bike racks have proven so popular that there’s a six-month waiting period for them to be shipped to customers.  

The racks — 100% made in the U.S. — have add-ons that enable them to carry up to four bikes. They can be quickly installed on a hitch receiver without the use of any tools. 

Despite shipping delays, QuikrStuff keeps its customers abreast of its progress with transparent communications and live access to our production progress queue. 

“Our design, engineering and manufacturing teams have years of experience in aerospace, oil and gas, and the outdoor recreation sectors,” CEO Bryan Wachs says. “Our management team has many years of experience running, consulting and marketing across different verticals with much success.” 

But similar to other manufacturers, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to shut down multiple times when it couldn’t get the materials it needed to make the racks.  

“We have struggled to survive as a startup on the bottom of the totem pole of aluminum extrusions,” Wachs says. “Our network of mentors and advisers, including the Telluride Venture Network, has given us feedback during these tough times.” 

ROLL Recovery 

Boulder 

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ROLL Recovery team photo

Athletes at all levels are replacing foam rollers with ROLL Recovery’s patented deep tissue massagers.  

The company’s R8 applies deep-tissue massage force while the user is sitting, standing or laying down. The massage roller improves circulation and reduces inflammation as it breaks up muscle adhesions for myofascial release. Using the device speeds athletes’ recovery so they can get back to doing the sports they love. 

The device can be used on IT bands, hamstrings, quads, glutes and calves. The R8 can even be used on arms. 

Registered with the Food and Drug Administration, the R8 is used and recommended by therapists and practitioners as an effective tool that can be used routinely.  

“We own multiple utility and design patents and several foreign patents in the EU, Australia and Japan,” ROLL Recovery founder Jeremy Nelson says. “We design and develop unique products unlike anything else in the world. We are exploring developing a line of footwear to complete our current product lineup.” 

In addition to the R8, ROLL Recovery makes the StretchMat, the R3 Orthopedic Foot Roller and the R4 foam roller. 

Sheets & Giggles 

Denver 

Since shipping its first box of sustainable bedding from a cold warehouse in late 2018, Sheets & Giggles has shipped more than 100,000 boxes and achieved $1 million in gross monthly sales.  

The company is famous for its eucalyptus lyocell bedding, which has been featured twice on “Good Morning America” and won Good Housekeeping’s Best overall Sheets designation.  

Sheets & Giggles lyocell fabric is made from high-quality eucalyptus wood pulp, a sustainable and renewable natural resource. The company doesn’t harvest wood from ancient or endangered forests. Instead, its eucalyptus trees are grown on sustainably managed biodiverse farms. And for every tree harvested, two more are planted. 

Sheets & Giggles continues to grow rapidly and is introducing sustainable mattresses, pillows, mattress protectors, apparel and towels in 2022. In 2023, the company will release sustainable curtains, underwear and rugs.  

“We are already a mainstay in the bedding industry, and have strong national recognition,” CEO Colin McIntosh says. “Sheets & Giggles has potential to be a household name in just a couple more years.” 

The company also tries to do good. It donated $40,000 to Colorado COVID-19 relief in 2020 and $28,000 to cancer charities in 2021. Its reforestation efforts have resulted in tens of thousands of new trees planted around the United States. 

Sherpa Equipment Co.  

Berthoud 

With the COVID-19 pandemic prompting more people to get outdoors for camping and off-roading, manufacture

Finalists announced for 2021 Colorado Companies to Watch Award

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Colorado Companies to Watch (CCTW) today announced the finalists for its 2021 Colorado Companies to Watch Award. The CCTW Award honors 50 high-performing second-stage companies from across Colorado for their contributions to the state’s economy through job and revenue creation, innovative products and services, and philanthropic efforts.

A second-stage company is one that has moved from the startup phase and into a period of growth. This year’s awards program attracted 1,100 nominees from throughout the state. The program was founded in 2009.

“The 2021 Colorado Companies to Watch Finalists reflect the state’s most creative and influential enterprises,” said Toby Armitage, CCTW Chairman of the Board. “We are excited to be awarding these exceptional 2nd stage companies and support their continued growth and prosperity. It is important that the accomplishments of these companies, and their contribution in generating the majority of economic growth throughout Colorado, be recognized and applauded.”

The finalists represent Colorado’s diverse economic landscape. Combined, they have a significant impact on the state’s economy, providing millions of dollars in revenue and creating thousands of jobs. Award-winning companies will play an important role as the state recovers from the COVID-19 economic downturn.

A select panel of volunteer judges will choose the 50 award-winning teams from the list of finalists. CCTW will announce the winners later this summer at its 13th Annual Gala Awards Ceremony.

2021 CCTW FINALISTS

8z Real Estate
Aerosol Devices, Inc.
AiA Industries, LLC dba Dalyte
Angler’s Covey
AppIt Ventures
Aspen Technology Group
Banner Signs and Decals
Barn Owl Tech, Inc.
BillingPlatform LLC
Black Swift Technologies
BridgeView
Caliola Engineering
Cloud Campaign
Cloudrise, Inc.
Crusoe Energy Systems
Cusa Tea and Coffee
Dietrich Partners
Discount Dumpster
Double Helix Optics
EGS Inc.
Eon
Espinoza Consulting Services
Fluid Truck
GavinHeath
GoJo Auto
Green Goo by Sierra Sage
GROWL Agency
Harrison Home Systems
Hayden Outdoors, LLC
Holidaily Brewing Company
House of Revenue
Insight Designs Web Solutions LLC
Intelligent Demand
Kanso Software
Kickfurther
Lobo Logistics
ManagedMethods
MLS Senior Care LLC
Nosh Delivery
On Beat Digital
Packaging Express, Inc.
Phoenix Haus
PickNik Robotics
PIN Business Network
Pit Liquor by Distilled Bath and Body
Printfection
Pub Dog Colorado
Quandary Consulting Group
Realvolve, Inc.
Rodwin Architecture
ROLL Recovery
ROXBOX Containers
Rule4
Sam’s Meat Market
Semantic Arts
Skywriter MD
SmartTab
Sospes, LLC
Soulvation Society LLC
Sports VTS
STAQ Pharma, Inc.
StratusIQ
Stream.io
Sugarwish
The Child and Family Therapy Center of Denver
The Dough Bar
Timberleaf Trailers
Workit Health

Colorado Companies to Watch is an awards program that honors second-stage companies headquartered in Colorado. The awards program has honored 600 companies since the program’s inception. Award-winning companies demonstrate high performance in the marketplace and/or innovative products or processes. The award program seeks businesses from a wide range of industries throughout the state, not just the major metropolitan areas. The 50 companies selected each year make an astounding impact on Colorado’s economy by collectively providing thousands of jobs and contributing millions of dollars in revenue. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) launched the program in 2009 in conjunction with the Edward Lowe Foundation and valuable community partners from across Colorado.