We live in a place where natural beauty surrounds us, outdoor adventure calls us, and world-class resorts put us on the map. But if you ask me what makes Eagle County special — it’s not the mountains. It’s not the rivers. It’s not the ski lifts.

It’s the people. And it’s the local businesses, the entrepreneurs, the nonprofit leaders, and the unsung heroes working every day to make this valley more vibrant, connected, and resilient. It’s innovative and responsive public and private sector leaders. It is everyone dedicated to making Eagle County a great place.

Local business is not just a part of our economy — small businesses in many ways are our economy. Over 90% of Eagle County businesses have fewer than 20 employees. They are our retailers, our restaurants, our service providers, our guides, our creatives, and our community builders. They are the dreamers who took the risk to open their doors. They are the ones who create jobs, fuel innovation, support our nonprofits, and sponsor our youth sports teams.

While it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of running a business (meeting payroll, navigating seasonality, hiring staff, managing supply chains, and dealing with macro and micro-economic trends) it’s also important to pause and celebrate success.

That’s exactly what we’ll be doing on May 8 at the 22nd Annual Vail Valley Success Awards.

The Success Awards is one of my favorite nights of the year. It’s our community’s biggest celebration of business excellence, innovation, and community impact. It’s not just another gala or rubber-chicken dinner (although yes, there will be food). It’s a chance to honor those who are moving our community forward — those who lead with integrity, creativity, and resilience.

This year’s list of finalists is nothing short of inspiring. From Business of the Year to Nonprofit of the Year; from Small Business of the Year to the Emerging Business Award; from Best Place to Work to Community Impact Awards — we’ve seen nominations that highlight the incredible diversity and strength of our business community.

There are stories of businesses reinventing themselves to meet changing customer needs. There are leaders investing in their teams and creating exceptional workplace cultures. There are nonprofits stretching every dollar to make a difference in people’s lives. There are innovative startups carving new paths in industries as diverse as our business community.

And there are people - real people! - behind these organizations. People who show up early, stay late, say yes when it would be easier to say no and pour their hearts into making this valley a better place.

That’s worth celebrating.

When we celebrate success, we’re not just handing out trophies. We’re shining a light on what’s possible. We’re reminding ourselves that entrepreneurship, innovation, service, and community matters. We’re reminding ourselves that community leadership matters. That hard work, creativity, and collaboration matter.

I hope you’ll join us on May 8 at the EagleVail Pavilion for the Success Awards celebration. Come cheer on your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Come get inspired. Come support the heartbeat of Eagle County - our local businesses, nonprofits, community leaders, and partners.

As Ferris Bueller once said, "Life moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”. In a world where challenges are always around the corner, it’s more important than ever to pause and say: Well done. Thank you. Keep going.

Please join us in celebrating the best of the Vail Valley.

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