Downtown Boulder Partnership Hosts Annual Awards Luncheon on February 21st to Honor Community Champions, as well as to Celebrate the Business Community and Last Year’s Accomplishments
Boulder, CO [January 29, 2025] – The Downtown Boulder Partnership invites the community to its Annual Awards Luncheon, set for Friday, February 21, 2025 at the St Julien Hotel & Spa. Attendees will enjoy lunch, networking, and heartfelt recognition of the leaders who contribute to the vitality of the district.
Starting at 11:30 am, the event will celebrate the outstanding businesses, organizations, and individuals whose dedication and achievements help make downtown Boulder a thriving and vibrant destination. “The Downtown Boulder business community thrives on innovation and collaboration,” said Bettina Swigger, CEO of Downtown Boulder Partnership. “This year’s winners exemplify the spirit of passion, creativity, and commitment to excellence that make our downtown community vibrant and welcoming for all. We are thrilled to celebrate them and share our organization’s impact at this year’s event.”
This year’s honorees include:
Virginia Patterson Business of the Year - OZO Coffee Company
During her lifetime, Virginia Patterson fiercely advocated for downtown businesses. She brought a positive energy to all her work and committed her life to making Boulder a better place. In the late 1970s, it was Virginia who persuaded many business owners to remain downtown following the 1976 construction of the Pearl Street Mall. Virginia was also actively involved in advocating for the creation of a business improvement district, which was eventually formed in 2000.
OZO Coffee Company, founded and owned by Justin and Rebekah Hartman 18 years ago, is the proud recipient of the 2024 Business of the Year award. Built on the core principles of service, quality, community, and sustainability, OZO Coffee has grown into a beloved local institution. While all their locations contribute to the city's vibrant coffee culture, their downtown cafés stand out, strategically bookending Pearl Street on the east and west. These spaces serve as dynamic hubs where business meetings, studying, and casual conversations unfold throughout the day. What truly sets OZO Coffee apart is its unwavering commitment to exceptional service, fostering a loyal customer base that enhances downtown’s vitality. Their dedication to the community shines through their volunteer commitments, generous donations, fundraisers, and sustainability initiatives. Beyond Boulder, their culture of community extends globally through ethical sourcing and strong relationships with farmers. This spirit of integrity and care is also reflected in their staff, who embody the company’s core values and appreciate the Hartmans' dedication to excellence.
Rising Star Award - Bitty & Beau’s
The Rising Star award is presented to a business that demonstrates a notable innovative approach to enhancing the downtown atmosphere by creating a distinctive and memorable experience for visitors.
This year’s honor goes to Bitty & Beau’s Boulder - owned and managed by the Fetzer Family including Jeff, Julia and Nicolas. Bitty & Beau’s made an immediate impact upon opening in the summer of 2023. More than just a coffee shop, Bitty & Beau’s is a human rights movement, providing meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Here, diversity isn’t just appreciated—it’s celebrated. Guided by this mission, the Fetzers embarked on a community-focused hiring process, bringing on board familiar faces that customers have known and cherished in other roles. Seeing these individuals thrive in their new professional capacities has been a source of joy for the community. Their commitment extends beyond their own doors, as they actively contribute to downtown as engaged business neighbors and dedicated volunteers. As a rising star, Bitty & Beau’s has navigated the many challenges of launching a business, but the Fetzers’ combined expertise in operations, marketing, and management helped them overcome obstacles with determination and teamwork. That same collaborative spirit is evident the moment you walk into the café, where they work side by side with their staff to create a warm and welcoming experience.
Nonprofit Organization of the Year - The Boulder International Film Festival
The annual recipient of the Nonprofit Organization of the Year award is a downtown organization that has distinguished itself through its significant impact on the overall well-being of the downtown community.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, BIFF brings upwards of 25,000 film enthusiasts, media and industry people to the heart of Boulder every year. Shining the spotlight on the downtown district, sisters Robin and Kathy Beeck - and their small but mighty staff and team of volunteers - have forged incredible relationships with the downtown business community - hosting several events related to the festival in locations throughout downtown. BIFF has worked hard to incorporate students into the creative process hosting an annual Teen Short Film Competition. Students are also invited to immerse themselves in the festival throughout the weekend and learn through beyond-the-scenes elements highlighting producing an artistic, technical and public media experience. Through the Cinema 2 Schools, filmmakers take part in panel discussions and interactive Q&A sessions - bringing their knowledge and experience to students in the classroom.
Ambassador of the Year - James Van Irvine
This year, the DBP team is excited to recognize the hard work and dedication of the Downtown / University Hill Ambassador Program. In July 2021, the Downtown Boulder Partnership, in collaboration with the City of Boulder, launched a robust Ambassador Program to provide cleaning, safety, and hospitality services within the 49-block Business Improvement District (BID), the city’s Civic Area, and later expanded these services to the University Hill business district through a partnership with the University of Colorado. Operated under the nationally recognized Block by Block program, the team of Ambassadors works tirelessly year-round—rain, snow, or shine—to keep these districts clean, safe and welcoming.
This year, James Van Irvine has been named the program’s first-ever Ambassador of the Year. A member of the Boulder community since 2008, James spent over a decade as a doorman at various downtown bars before joining the Ambassador Program as Team Lead at its inception. He now oversees operations on University Hill, earning a strong reputation for his hard work, willingness to help, and friendly demeanor. His kindness and dedication make him an exemplary role model for current and future Ambassadors, welcoming residents and visitors alike with a smile every day.
George Karakehian Community Service Award - Lori Call, CU Boulder
Since opening Art Source International in the 1970s, George Karakehian has been a force in downtown Boulder, contributing much of his personal time and energy to making Boulder a special place to live and work.
The 2025 Community Service award honoree is Lori Call, CU Boulder’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Local Government and Community Relations. Lori serves on the DBP Board of Directors and also takes part in the Boulder Connectors group. She has provided invaluable leadership and partnership as downtown works to forge a strong connection with the University Hill business district. In 2025, Lori assumed the Board Chair for the Boulder Chamber. With over two decades of local government and business leadership, Lori is a strong advocate and ally for the downtown district.
Ron Porter Special Achievement Award - Chuck Hunker, Boulder SBDC
Ron Porter, a well respected and beloved attorney in the 1970s, walked the Pearl Street Mall every day, stopping to say hello to local business owners or to play a game of chess outside Art Source. He was one of the biggest champions of the downtown Boulder community and a dear friend to everyone he met. Whether he was offering legal advice to business owners or working with city officials on parking, Ron dedicated his life to improving the downtown experience.
This year, Chuck Hunker will be the recipient of this special honor to recognize his lifetime dedication to the downtown district. In the late 70s, Chuck and his wife Jody owned and operated the Applause retail store which was located for a time at what is now The North Face (1129 Pearl Street). Ever since, Chuck has been a strong advocate and volunteer for the downtown business community - serving on the board of directors for the Business Improvement District and also chairing the board of Downtown Boulder, Inc. (now known as DBP). Currently, Chuck works as a Consultant for the Boulder Small Business Development Center. He spends time helping small retail business owners in a multitude of ways to ensure their success and sustainability. In a similar fashion to Ron Porter, Chuck is a much loved and respected part of the downtown landscape. It is an honor to recognize him for nearly five decades of support of the downtown district.
For more information:
General public: 303-449-3774 | info@downtownboulder.org
Press: Terri Takata-Smith
303-449-3774 (office)| terri@downtownboulder.org
About Downtown Boulder Partnership
The Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP) is a 501(c)6 membership-based organization that relies on membership revenue to help promote the civic, economic and commercial vitality of downtown Boulder - while helping preserve its historic and cultural environment as the heart of the greater Boulder community. DBP supports downtown businesses through public policy advocacy and provides some funding for staffing and administration to implement the mission of DBP along with those of the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District (BID) and Downtown Boulder community Initiatives (DBCI).
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