Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s 2018 New Tacoma awards recipients announced
Businesses, organizations and individuals who make outstanding contributions to downtown Tacoma were nominated as part of the annual New Tacoma Awards.
This year, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamberhonored nominees and recipients at the Chamber Luncheon on Friday, July 13rd, 2018 at the Pacific Grill Events Center.
The 2018 New Tacoma Awards recipients are:
* Ghilarducci Award: Alma Mater Tacoma
* Popham Award: Dr. Ali Mordarres, University of Washington Tacoma
* Public Places Award: Hilltop Street Fair
* Schoenfeld Award: 7Seas Brewing
* Union Station Award: InfoBlox
– Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Tacoma’s hills are alive with the sound of changes
By Morf Morford
Tacoma Daily Index
If you think not much is going on in Tacoma lately, you have obviously not been paying attention.
I spoke to one person recently who had grown up here and, after several years, had come back for a wedding.
He had not seen Point Ruston or all the changes in the Stadium District, and the sight of all of the building cranes in downtown Tacoma was astounding to him.
Yes, those signs of development are dramatic and highly visible and certainly welcome, but for those of us who live here, the bigger, more life-changing developments are those business and opportunities that highlight what we already have here.
Each year Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber recognizes businesses with the most impact.
Large or small, established business or dedicated individual or neighborhood group, these people and organizations have lent their hand to making Tacoma a more stable, prosperous, attractive and welcoming place.
Take a look at this list of previous year’s recipients, some will be immediately recognized, some may not, some have established even deeper roots, while some have moved on or changed in some way. Some have even left and returned!
Ghilarducci Award: Recognizing new development, renovation, or beautification
2017- Titus Will/RheinHaus
2016- Old Spaghetti Factory
2015 – UWT YMCA
2014 – Foss Waterway Seaport’s Rehabilitation
2013 – Murray Morgan Bridge Rehabilitation
2012 – LeMay – America’s Car Museum
2011 – The Joy Building
2010 – Pacific Plaza
2009 – Hotel Murano
2008 – The Sirius Group
2007 – Prium Companies
2006 – Avanti Spa
2005 – Tacoma Art Museum
2004 – Thea’s Landing
Popham Award: Recognizing the individual that has done the most to build community spirit
2017- Melanie Dressel
2016- Marguerite Giguere
2015 – Dr. Debra Friedman
2014 – Justin Mayfield, Downtown Block Party
2013 – Sue Schaeffer, Tacoma Waterfront Assoc.
2012 – Tim Waer
2011 – Tammy Blount
2010 – Derek Young
2009 – Benjii Bittle
2008 – Layne Alfanso
2007 – Lisa Fruichiante
2006 – Patricia Lecy-Davis
2005 – Marty Campbell
2004 – Sondra Purcell
Schoenfeld Award: Recognizing exemplary performance of pizzazz as a retailer or restaurateur
2017- Stocklist
2016- Elemental Pizza
2015 – The Olive Branch Cafe
2014 – Tinkertopia
2013 – Dorky’s Bar Arcade
2012 – The Swiss
2011 – Harmon Hub
2010 – Doyle’s Public House
2010 – Dragonfly
2009 – hello, cupcake
2008 – Grassis Flowers and Gifts
2007 – LeRoy Jewelers and The Art Stop
2006 – urbanXchange
2005 – Aroma Coffee
2004 – heel! Shoes
Union Station Award: Recognizing a leading organization, company, or individual that has built or sustained momentum for revitalization
2017- Amy McBride
2016- Su Dowie
2015 – SiteCrafting
2014 – Children’s Museum of Tacoma
2013 – Tacoma Runners
2012 – First Night Tacoma-Pierce County
2011 – Theater District Association
2010 – Stan Selden
2010 – Tacoma Farmer’s Market
2009 – Gintz Group
2008 – Eric Cederstrand
2007 – Jim Merritt
2006 – Grand Cinema
2005 – Jon Tartaglia
2004 – University of Washington Tacoma
Public Places Award: Recognizing the best activation of a public park, open space, or area in the public right-of-way
2017-Brew Five Three
2016- Beautiful Angle
2015- Downtown Farmers Market
2014 – Downtown On the Go’s Walk Tacoma
2013 – Frost Park Chalk Off
2012 – Wright Park Sprayground & Playground
2011 – Spaceworks Tacoma
