Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers and his wife, Janet, are not known as business people. But they still play an important role in supporting the local business community.
Sutters was honored Saturday as the 2022 Business Citizen of the Year by the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC at the organization’s annual gala held at The Broadmoor Hotel.
The award, the business group’s highest honor, recognizes businesses that contribute to the growth and prosperity of the local economy, the Chamber and EDC announced. It also honors individuals who strive to improve the community through civic engagement and who demonstrate a willingness to help with business and community projects.
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“Mayor John Sutters and Janet Sutters have made a significant impact in Colorado Springs,” Johnna Reeder Claymeyer, president and CEO of the Chamber and EDC, said in a news release. Investing in and focusing on future public safety has made our future safer and stronger.”
John Sutters “initiated historic infrastructure improvements to the city’s roads and stormwater system, greatly improved communication between the executive and legislative branches of government, and oversaw the renaissance of the Colorado Springs Airport and downtown Colorado Springs,” said Chamber and EDC.
Launched in 2013, the business group has credited the Chamber and EDC with overseeing the completion of the city’s championship projects, which have generated millions of dollars in local economic impact and tourism.
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The Sutters helped launch and support a campaign to have the city — the headquarters of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee — designated as an “Olympic City USA,” according to the Chamber and the EDC. Janet Suthers has raised nearly $1 million for the effort, helping thousands of kids play soccer through the Colorado Springs Sports Office, according to the organization.
John Sutters He was elected mayor in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. He is term-limited and will leave office next year. He has also served as the Colorado Attorney General, the US Attorney for Colorado, and the 4th Judicial District Attorney. Janet Suters spent her career working for Hewlett Packard and served on various local boards and commissions.
At Saturday’s gala event, the Chamber and EDC presented three businesses with Excellence in Industry Awards.
• Company of the Year: BlueStack. Last year, the defense technology contractor won a $280 million contract to develop a database of objects in space. This year, the state’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade awarded BlueStack $5.6 million in job growth incentive tax credits.
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• New and Growing Business of the Year: Beauty Bar. The hair, skin, nail and body treatment facility now has two locations and provides a space to advertise and promote businesses while customers use the salon’s services. Beauty bar owner Yuen Le recently appeared on personal finance company NerdWallet’s national podcast and offered advice on growing a brick-and-mortar business.
• Community Investment of the Year: Solid Rock Community Development Corp. Solid Rock, a partner of Solid Rock Christian Center, is investing in housing, small businesses and infrastructure and working to address food access barriers. This year, Solid Rock broke ground on a four-story, 77-unit Southeast Side apartment project that will provide housing for tenants earning 30 percent to 60 percent of the area median income.
