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Tag: The Dough Bar

Who Will Be Crowned ‘CEO Of The Year’ in 2022? — Meet Your Finalists

ColoradoBiz has announced the 10 finalists for our 2022 CEO of the Year, awarded annually to the head of a Colorado company who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, vision, company success and community involvement. Nominees from around the state were judged by a panel made up of the magazine’s editorial board.

The CEO of the Year winner will be revealed and profiled along with the other finalists in the upcoming Winter 2022 issue of ColoradoBiz, slated for delivery to subscribers Dec. 1.

In previous years, we’ve had the honor of featuring incredible business professionals, owners and CEOs during our annual ColoradoBiz Winter Print edition, and 2022 is no exception. Sure, being crowned CEO Of The Year is a special accolade that should evoke a sense of pride in every CEO that’s considered for this outstanding award. However, the ColoradoBiz staff feels just as honored to spotlight the incredible Colorado business community and the remarkable leaders that represent the entrepreneurial spirit of our Centennial state.

Curious about past candidates and winners of our CEO Of The Year award? Click here to access our digital catalog and discover Colorado’s most promising business leaders.

The Dough Bar is thriving under Marquez Fernandez’s leadership

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Marquez Fernandez

The Dough Bar | Fort Collins

In 2018, Marquez and his wife and business partner Ondrea made the decision to move their headquarters from the prohibitively expensive Bay Area of California to Colorado. They also took the opportunity to bring production in-house, retain (rather than the co-packer) they used in California.

The transition itself would turn out to be tough. Expenses added up much quicker than expected due to unforeseen repairs and costs. The company was forced to borrow funds to keep operating.

Fast-forward a couple years and the Dough Bar, billed as “a healthy alternative to the average donut,” is thriving under the 36-year-old Marquez’s leadership. Sales were up 75% over the first quarter of 2020. With 42 employees, Dough Bar boasts three retail storefronts and plans to open another three in the coming months.

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This article is part of ColoradoBiz magazine’s 2021 CEO of the Year feature. Read more about this year’s finalists: 

CARLOS ABISAMBRA | TODD BOWLING | SCOTT FARRELL | MARQUEZ FERNANDEZ | TIFFANY GRUNERT | CRAIG HENDERSON | ROBIN THURSTON | MARTHA WEIDMANN | ASHLEY WILLIAMS