The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the 27th Annual Sterling Awards before a capacity crowd of 450 on Tuesday, November 13th at the Chaparral Suites Resort Scottsdale. The Sterling Awards were emceed by Scottsdale Chamber President and CEO Rick Kidder.
Four winners were selected from among twelve finalists for the coveted Sterling Award: The winners are:
- Micro Business: Amplify U
- Small Business: McDowell Village
- Big Business: Scottsdale Healthcare
- Non-Profit: STARS
Micro Business Award Presented by Epcor Water
Honoree: Amplify U
The Sterling Award for Micro Business recognizes an emerging business exhibiting success through innovation, creativity and collaboration. (1-6 Employees)
About Amplify U
Amplify U is a personal and professional leadership development training company based in Scottsdale, Arizona. They provide powerful, experiential two-and-a-half day leadership training that improve the lives of their students. Their training provides sustainable and lasting results that their students can utilize for the long-term. To achieve mastery, students complete a series of three weekend classes: 101, 202 and 303. These classes give individuals and businesses the opportunity to gain more confidence, enthusiasm, passion, clarity, purpose and focus through a series of processes that the students are led through. Alumni explain their experience as “life-changing” and “one of the best weekends of their entire life,” time and time again; because of the tools and confidence they gain in becoming better leaders in their workplace, in their home life and in their community. Amplify U trainers deliver the programming with a commitment to giving their best every weekend to their students and their support team is committed to providing a five-star customer experience throughout the process. Students also have the opportunity to gain additional support through on-going coaching, and opportunities to return to Amplify U for additional classes and graduations that they can take advantage of as a guest.
Small Business presented by COX Media
Honoree: McDowell Village Senior Living
The Sterling Award for Small Business recognizes a small company demonstrating innovation, quality, professionalism and commitment to community. (7-99 employees)
About McDowell Village
McDowell Village is an apartment style retirement community for seniors who need a little more support and amenities then what they can get on their own – some are “independent” and some need “assistance”. McDowell Village provides food, shelter, transportation, activities, fitness, care support and entertainment, but they do a lot more than that. The staff of McDowell Village are the cheerleaders for a resident population living out the final phases of their life. Their mission every day is to make them feel safe, important, comfortable, respected and happy. They do that by hiring people who share their passion for seniors, by getting to know their residents, by providing a fun and invigorating environment that challenges their minds, bodies and souls. At McDowell Village they are not old, they are not slow, they are not forgotten. They are George and Edna and Bill and Louise – and they have their own stories and their own personalities and their own strengths and issues just like all of us. So they don’t treat them like old people; they treat them like people – people they like a lot.
Big Business presented by DMB Associates
Honoree: Scottsdale Healthcare
The Sterling Award for Big Business recognizes a large company making a significant impact on the lives of its employees and the economic fabric of the community. (100+ Employees)
About Scottsdale Healthcare
After Winfield Scott settled in what is now known as Scottsdale, he envisioned a hospital someday serving the community. City Hospital of Scottsdale, now known as Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, opened in 1962. Today, Scottsdale Healthcare has grown into an economic anchor for Scottsdale and a leading nonprofit health system with three hospitals, the Valley’s first major cancer center, outpatient services and a wide range of community benefit programs. An integral part of Scottsdale for the last 50 years, Scottsdale Healthcare provides world-class patient care for our community. Through its facilities, Scottsdale Healthcare meets the healthcare needs of individuals throughout their lives—from maternity and pediatrics to emergency, heart, vascular, orthopedic, neurology, bariatric, diabetes, minimally invasive surgery and pain management services. The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare provides comprehensive cancer care and research through Phase I clinical trials, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support services in collaboration with leading researchers and community oncologists — all in a single location. The seeds sown by Chaplain Scott in the 1880s for an oasis of health did indeed bear fruit, and like those century-old olive trees Scottsdale Healthcare remains firmly rooted in our community.
Non-Profit Award presented by APS
Honoree: STARS
The Sterling Award for Non-Profit recognizes a charitable organization contributing to the social, cultural and educational well-being of its constituents. (501C3)
About STARS
STARS was founded in 1973 by a group of Scottsdale parents seeking social, developmental and vocational opportunities for their adult children. Formerly known as the Scottsdale Foundation for the Handicapped, STARS has been providing services for individuals with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, traumatic brain injuries and a wide array of other cognitive and developmental disabilities. Today, STARS serves teens and adults and our reach extends beyond Scottsdale as we serve individuals from the neighboring communities of Fountain Hills, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler and East Phoenix. Throughout our 40 year history, STARS has strived to provide lifelong opportunities and support for those we serve and their families. By providing a variety of integrated services, STARS’ participants have access to tools and resources which match their abilities, interests, and personal goals. STARS’ goal is to ensure 100% of participants are connected to the most appropriate services in order to meet his or her goals. STARS also provides monthly community workshops on a variety of topics relating to disabilities including benefits, financial and legal planning, housing options, job/work force development programs, and advocacy. STARS offers services at two locations in Scottsdale; the Osborn Campus and at the Cholla Special Needs Community Campus in north Scottsdale.
About the Sterling Awards
Celebrating 27 years of business excellence, the Sterling Award is one of the most coveted business awards in the Valley, with a rigorous application, judging and selection process. Four teams of judges each conduct an initial review of all applications and narrow the field to three finalists in each category. Once the finalists are identified, the judging teams visit those companies to conduct a personal interview and get a behind-the-scenes look at the operations. Once that step is complete, each judge independently casts a set of points for the finalists based on their embodiment of the award criteria. The points are tallied and the results remain secret until the day of the event. One of the highlights of the Sterling Awards Celebration is the highly anticipated video presentation of each of the 12 finalists. Only members of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce are eligible to apply for the Sterling Award.
