Tempe Businesses & Leaders Recognized at 2024 Business Excellence Awards

Pictured: Jodi Polanski (left), Lisa Rehurek; Photo by Pablo Robles

The Tempe Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce the winners of the prestigious Business Excellence Awards, presented by Southwest Airlines, honoring the exceptional accomplishments of local businesses within the Tempe business community.

The following awards were presented:

• Micro Business of the Year Award – The Peak Fleet
• Small Business of the Year Award – Hundred Mile Brewing
• Large Business of the Year Award – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• Spirit of Tempe Award – Gary Johnson
• Volunteer of the Year Award – Wendy Bates
• Nonprofit of the Year Award – Lost Our Home Pet Rescue
• Tempe Leadership Award – Roseline Cristanelli
• Doing Well by Doing Good: Legacy of Service Award – Raveen Arora
• President’s Award – Vic Linoff

Pictured: Mayor Corey Woods (left), Raveen Aurora (right); Photo by Pablo Robles

This year, the Chamber awarded Raveen Arora, owner of The Dhaba, with the Doing Well by Doing Good: Legacy of Service Award. This award recognizes an individual who has had a profound, long-term impact through service to both the business and residential communities. It recognizes those who see the importance of “doing well” overall, by “doing good” in the community where their business resides. Over the years, Arora has supported entrepreneurs in launching their businesses at his Apache Boulevard Plaza, organized water and food drives and volunteered his time with several community groups. Mayor Corey Woods was in attendance with a proclamation to name June 14th as the Legacy of Service Recognition Day in Tempe, Ariz.

A new award was added to the event, the President’s Award, and was presented to long-time chamber member Vic Linoff. This award recognizes a member who has significantly impacted the Chamber by providing exceptional support to the Chamber president.

The event was held at Tempe’s Culinary Dropout on June 14th with OneTen Entertainment’s Ray Rodriguez serving up Tempe Trivia. The presenting sponsor was Southwest Airlines.