Strong communities don’t happen by accident. They’re built over time by people willing to invest in a place, take risks, create opportunity, and stay engaged, even when (especially when) it’s hard. In the Vail Valley, that responsibility falls heavily on our business community.

Local businesses do far more than provide goods and services. They employ our friends and neighbors, support nonprofits, sponsor youth sports, engage in workforce development efforts, collaborate with local organizations, and help define the character of the valley we all value. Yet too often, the role of business is taken for granted. Or worse, discussed as if business and community are somehow separate things.

Spoiler: they’re not.

That’s why the Vail Valley Partnership hosts the Vail Valley Success Awards each year. The awards exist to recognize the businesses and individuals who are contributing meaningfully to our economy and quality of life and to push back, just a bit, on the myth that success in the Vail Valley happens on its own.

Spoiler: it doesn’t.

The Success Awards aren’t about flashy growth or perfect balance sheets. They celebrate leadership, innovation, workplace culture, community impact, and resilience. They recognize employers who invest in their people, entrepreneurs who choose to build something here despite real challenges, and businesses that continue to adapt in an increasingly complex environment.

And yes, you can nominate yourself. You not only can, but you should. Use this opportunity to toot your own horn and share your successes with the community.

That suggestion makes some people uncomfortable. Many business owners would rather keep their heads down and get back to work. But humility shouldn’t mean invisibility. If we want a more honest conversation about the value businesses bring to this valley, those stories must be told, especially by you: the people living them.

Small businesses are the backbone of the Vail Valley economy. They make up the majority of employers and play an outsized role in everything from workforce stability to community giving. When small businesses struggle, the impacts show up quickly. When they succeed, the benefits ripple outward in ways that are easy to overlook and hard to replace.

Ignoring that reality doesn’t make it go away.

Context also matters right now. We’re living in a moment defined by polarization, mistrust, and a lot of loud opinions from people far removed from the day-to-day realities of running a business. In contrast, local businesses remain among the most trusted institutions in society.

People trust the employer who signs their paycheck, the business owner who knows their family, and the business leader who is visible, accountable, and invested in place. That trust carries weight and responsibility.

A strong business community brings practical, solution-oriented leadership to challenges like workforce shortages, housing, sustainability, and infrastructure. It tends to focus less on ideology and more on outcomes. It understands that progress usually comes from collaboration and pragmatism, not confrontation.

That perspective is needed now more than ever.

The Success Awards are one way we reinforce those values. They recognize excellence, but they also send a clear message: business is not a side note to community life. It is a central part of how this valley functions and moves forward.

So, if you own a business, manage a team, launched something new, navigated a difficult year, or invested in your people and this place, I encourage you to participate. Nominate yourself or someone you respect. Share your story.

Because if we want a strong, resilient Vail Valley, we need to be willing to say - out loud - that strong businesses matter.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, a 3-time national chamber of the year. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com