Colorado Small Business Leaders Are Shaping the Future of the Front Range Economy
Colorado’s small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy. According to the SBA Office of Advocacy’s 2025 Colorado State Profile, small businesses make up 99.5% of all Colorado businesses and employ nearly 1.2 million people — roughly half of the state’s private workforce.
These businesses generate billions in local revenue, anchor neighborhood commercial corridors, and produce a disproportionate share of new jobs. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce found that small businesses generated over $225 billion in total economic output in Colorado, anchoring neighborhood commercial corridors and driving a disproportionate share of new job creation.
Small businesses power local economies, spark new ideas, and create real opportunities for people who live and work here. They also rely on leaders who can navigate uncertainty while keeping an eye on what’s possible. The Denver Business Journal’s 2026 Leaders in Small Business Awards celebrate those people along the Front Range who are helping small businesses do exactly that.
Craig Spalding Named a 2026 Small Business Leader by the Denver Business Journal
After working for small businesses in Colorado for over a decade, I’m genuinely honored to be named one of this year’s Leaders in Small Business by the Denver Business Journal, and deeply grateful to work alongside the incredible team at Vermilion every day.
After previously being a client of Vermilion’s, I joined the team in 2019 and immediately set to work on formalizing our new-client business discipline and revamping our marketing and outreach efforts. I designed full-funnel strategies to enhance brand visibility, deepen client relationships, and position the agency as a category leader for purpose-driven organizations. Today, I also lead Vermilion’s B Corporation certification, impact tracking, and ESG-aligned initiatives. My career has been defined by connecting creative marketing with corporate responsibility.
Because I firmly believe that business growth and social good can, and should, advance together.
Meet the 2026 Leaders in Small Business
I’m especially excited to share this honor with a few friends and peers:
- Jason Sharpe, CEO of Namaste Solar, steers the fellow B Corp and mission-driven solar company that expands access to clean energy while sharing ownership and impact with its team. Namaste’s worker-ownership model is as much a part of the brand identity as the panels themselves, and Jason’s leadership keeps both the mission and the margins moving in the right direction. (added bonus… Vermilion refreshed their logo!)
- Amanda Yates, Co-founder and Financial Operations Director at STONE Strategy & Design, brings financial clarity and stability to a fellow creative firm that supports CPG brands. Her work is a reminder that the most mission-aligned organizations still need someone who can read a balance sheet, and that the two roles are far more complementary than they are in conflict.
- Gertie Harris, CEO and Co-founder of Fireside at Five, built a creative community platform that connects people, ideas, and experiences in meaningful ways. She has a talent for building spaces, physical and conceptual, where collaboration feels organic and where people leave more inspired than when they arrived. In short, she brings the party.
I’m proud to be in great company among fellow ambitious and effective leaders on Denver Business Journal’s 2026 list of Leaders in Small Business:
- Haroun K. Cowans, Founder and CEO of Goshen Development, drives community-centered real estate projects that create opportunity and long-term value in Denver neighborhoods. His work centers equity at every stage of development, from land acquisition to community engagement, ensuring that growth serves the people who have long called those neighborhoods home.
- Matt Fargo, Managing Partner at Kurtz Fargo, helps small and mid-sized companies navigate complex financial decisions with a forward-looking, relationship-first approach.
- Chris Fontes, Founder and CEO of High Spirits, brings fresh energy and innovation to a growing Colorado-based beverage brand. He’s built a company culture that mirrors the product itself: spirited, approachable, and rooted in the distinctly Colorado enthusiasm for craft and quality.
- Yoni Gruskin, Partner at Ulysses Development Group, helps deliver thoughtful, community-minded housing that supports inclusive growth along the Front Range. His projects balance the practical demands of real estate development with a genuine commitment to creating neighborhoods where diverse residents can afford to stay and thrive.
- Teal Heath, Founder and Principal of Equinox Healthcare IT, helps healthcare organizations modernize their technology systems while keeping patient care at the center.
- Sierra Herrera, Director of Operations at Hydrate IV Bar, is successfully scaling operations and customer experience as the company expands its wellness footprint across Colorado.
- Lila Kopelioff Kimel, Owner, Founder, and Clinical Psychologist at Kimel Psychological Services, leads a practice that expands access to compassionate, evidence-based mental health care. Her commitment to making quality psychological services more accessible reflects a broader understanding that community health and business sustainability are deeply intertwined.
- Mike McCabe, CEO of Folsom Custom Skis, champions locally made, high-performance skis and a hands-on approach to serving Colorado’s outdoor community. He runs a business that embodies the maker ethos: every pair of skis is a statement that craftsmanship, locality, and performance don’t have to be in tension.
- Joseph McDermott, COO and Co-founder of Carma, brings operational rigor and innovation to a growing company focused on improving everyday transportation experiences.
- Corrie Morley, Owner of Koala Insulation of Denver, helps homes and businesses improve comfort and efficiency through better insulation. She’s turned what might seem like a straightforward trade business into a mission-driven operation, helping Colorado homeowners reduce energy costs while lowering their environmental impact.
- Andrea Monath Schumacher, Founder and Interior Designer at Andrea Schumacher Interiors, leads a design studio known for high-touch service and spaces that elevate how people live and work.
- Wayne R. Smith, President and CEO of Vertex Innovations, guides a telecom services firm that supports critical infrastructure projects across the region.
- Mark Woodard, Co-founder of Geotrek Vans, turns a passion for the outdoors into a growing business that helps people explore the West in thoughtfully built adventure vans. He’s tapped into something real: the desire for slow, intentional travel, and built a product and brand worthy of the landscapes his customers are heading toward.
Why Colorado Small Business Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Together, these fellow leaders show how small businesses can be resilient and deeply rooted in their communities, especially when guided by purpose-driven leaders.
Their work reminds me that when local businesses thrive, so do the people, places, and ideas that make Colorado such a wonderful place to live and work. I’m proud to be counted among them.
Connect With Craig Spalding at Vermilion
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