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Restaurant company is the Business of the Year

P.J. Berg, center left, and Missy Dejourno, center right, of Roadhouse Hospitality, accept the Vail Valley Partnership's Business of the Year award in Eagle-Vail on Friday. Vail Valley Partnership Vice President Jill Lammers, left, and President Chris Romer, right, presented the award.
Townsend Bessent | Townsend@vaildaily.com |

EAGLE-VAIL — There’s a little glitter on the boots at the valley’s Dusty Boot restaurants.

The Vail Valley Partnership on Friday named as its Business of the Year the Roadhouse Hospitality Group, which owns, among other restaurants, the Dusty Boot locations in Beaver Creek and Eagle, as well as Luigi’s pasta restaurant in Eagle and The Metropolitan restaurant in Beaver Creek. The announcement was made at the Vail Valley Partnership’s 12th annual Success Awards event, held this year at the Eagle-Vail Pavilion.

Just after the awards, P.J. Berg, the company’s director of personnel, was quick to credit company president John Shipp for his work in building the company and its reputation.



“He’s the real winner of this,” Berg said.

Other nominees for Business of the Year — awarded to a valley business with 11 or more employees — were East West Resorts and the Steadman Clinic.

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The Small Business of the Year award went to Bonfire Brewing Co. in Eagle. Accepting the award, company president Andy Jessen said winners and others understand that “to be successful, it’s about relationships.”

Relationships were a recurring theme during the awards ceremony.

Vail Economic Development Director Kelli McDonald, honored as the Partnership’s Tourism Professional of the year, said her individual award is a credit to the team at the town.

“This one’s for all of us,” she said.

The Success Awards also honors the valley’s top nonprofit groups.

“It’s a real credit to the Vail Valley Partnership’s recognition of nonprofits,” Walking Mountains Science School Director Markian Feduschak said after that group earned the award for Nonprofit of the Year.

That support, Feduschak said, is part of the reason “it’s an exciting time to be in the nonprofit community.”

This year’s award winners were chosen by a nominating committee made up of last year’s winners: Ruthie Carlson, Group 970; Rob Crawford, SOS Outreach; Mick Daly, Eagle Chamber; Tina DeWitt, Edward Jones; Kristen Hartel, Active Energies; Magda King, Antlers at Vail; Holly Loff, Eagle River Watershed Council; Joel Rabinowitz, Vail Recreation District; and Brent Rimel, RA Nelson.

Here’s the full list of winners:

Chairman’s Award: Ceil Folz

Chosen by the board chairman of the Vail Valley Partnership, Mike Brumbaugh, for her leadership and contributions to the Vail Valley economy through the efforts of the Vail Valley Foundation.

Member of the Year: Crazy Mountain Brewing Co.

Chosen by Vail Valley Partnership staff members for their continuous engagement and support of Partnership efforts.

Customer Service Award: Ski Butlers

The company received the highest scores on their Platinum Service Program secret shopper evaluations.

Actively Green 2015: The Wren

The company was chosen from all Walking Mountains Actively Green certified business for promoting a community culture of sustainability.

Spirit of the Valley: Seth Ehrlich

The SOS Outreach director was chosen as an individual who has contributed to the public good through programs, funding, volunteerism and generally giving back to the community.

Healthy Workplace: Town of Gypsum

The town was selected from all HealthLinks — Healthy Business certified businesses for promoting and encouraging a workplace of health and wellness.

Best Place to Work: Bravo! Vail

The music festival was honored as an organization that supports professional growth and development for employees, as well as rewards employees through additional or unique benefits, incentives, flex-work schedules or other employee focused efforts.

Young Professional of the Year: Andy Jessen

The Bonfire Brewing president was chosen for demonstrating a high level of entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, perseverance and creativity.

Small Nonprofit of the Year: Education Foundation of Eagle County.

The foundation was chosen from all registered 501(c) organizations with fewer than five employees for demonstrating outstanding contributions to the community with services that set the organization apart.

Nonprofit of the Year: Walking Mountains Science Center

The center was selected from all registered 501(c) organizations with six or more employees for demonstrating outstanding contributions to the community with services that set the organization apart.

Tourism Professional of the Year: Kelli McDonald

McDonald was honored for exceptional professional performance that consistently goes above and beyond in customer service, sales or operational leadership.

Small Business of the Year: Bonfire Brewing Co.

Chosen as a business with 10 or fewer employees that demonstrates ethical business practices, professionalism, a strong community involvement and a positive social and/or economic impact on the region.

Business of the Year: Roadhouse Hospitality Group

Chosen as a business with 11 or more employees that demonstrates ethical business practices, professionalism, a strong community involvement and a positive social and/or economic impact on the region.


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