An enthusiastic crowd braved snowy conditions to gather in Denver March 10 as finalists were announced in the 2022 Colorado Manufacturing Awards (CMAs). The seventh annual program recognizes manufacturers and people across multiple manufacturing industries.
Bart Taylor, CompanyWeek publisher and co-presenter of the CMAs along with Colorado MEP Manufacturer’s Edge, welcomed the gathering by noting that two years ago in March, CMA finalists and alumni convened at the same event, one clouded by COVID-19. “This was the last event many of us attended before the lockdown. It feels like we had one foot out the door,” said Taylor.
Taylor mentioned “bookending the pandemic” with this year’s feat, and brought back two Colorado manufacturers interviewed in 2020 — Left Hand Brewing’s co-founder Eric Wallace and Allosource CEO Tom Cycyota — to speak with the group about a tumultuous two years and the path ahead.
Cycyota’s Allosource was also named a finalist in the Bioscience Manufacturer of the Year category, after clawing back losses from a direct, COVID-related hit. Allosource anchors a deep Bioscience category, with last year’s winner, Englewood-based Leiters, also a finalist alongside Fort Collins-based Tolmar.
The Colorado Manufacturing Woman of the Year finalists are Diana Hall, ActivArmor; Heather Bulk, Special Aerospace Services; and Karen Hertz with Holidaily Brewing Co.
Northern Colorado again flashed its manufacturing bona fides, with about one third of all finalists hailing from Boulder County and northward.
CompanyWeek will preview all of the finalists in the lead up to the April 7 Winners Reveal & Gala in Denver — open to all Colorado business enthusiasts and stakeholders.
REGISTER HERE for the 2022 CMA Winners Reveal & Gala.
Here are the finalists in all categories:
Advanced Machining & Manufacturing Award
Sundyne, Arvada
Hirsh Precision, Boulder
Focused on Machining, Louviers
Colorado Manufacturing Woman of the Year
Diana Hall, ActivArmor
Heather Bulk, Special Aerospace Services
Karen Hertz, Holidaily Brewing Co.
Innovative Product of the Year
Veil Intimates, Denver
ROXBOX Containers, Denver
Geyser Systems, Montrose
Consumer Brand of the Year
Tailwind Nutrition, Durango
Xero Shoes, Broomfield/Denver
Mountain Racing Products, Grand Junction
Building/Construction Manufacturer of the Year
Studio Shed, Louisville
ROXBOX Containers, Denver
MODSTREET, Durango
Aerospace Manufacturer of the Year
S&DC Corp. / MBK Machine, Longmont
Barber-Nichols, Arvada
Armite Lubricants, Lafayette
Bioscience Manufacturer of the Year
AlloSource, Centennial
Leiters, Englewood
Tolmar, Fort Collins
Industrial/Equipment Manufacturer of the Year
Snaptron, Windsor
Wire Experts Group / Rubadue, Loveland
Right Stuff Equipment, Denver
Energy/Transportation Manufacturer of the Year
Solid Power, Louisville
Wire Experts Group / Rubadue, Loveland
Lightning eMotors, Loveland
Food Brand/Co-Packer Manufacturer of the Year
Trisco Foods, Colorado Springs
Bobo’s, Boulder
Meati Foods, Louisville
Colorado Winery of the Year
Carboy Winery, Littleton
Sauvage Spectrum, Palisade
atōst, Golden
Craft Distillery of the Year
Laws Whiskey House , Denver
Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse, Denver
Copper Sky Distillery, Longmont
Cannabis Manufacturer of the Year
ECS Brands, Boulder
NuVue Pharma, Pueblo
Craft Brewery of the Year
Sanitas Brewing Company, Boulder
Denver Beer Company / Cerveceria Colorado, Denver
Crooked Stave, Denver
Holidaily Brewing Co., Golden
The Colorado Manufacturing Awards are co-sponsored by JPM Chase, IMA, Kaiser Permanente, Moss Adams, Neenan Archistruction, Benchmark Commercial, the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, and H2 Manufacturing Solutions.