A joyous crowd filled JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa Thursday night for Az Business magazine’s 2018 Industry Leaders of Arizona Awards.

“John Quincy Adams once said, ‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader,’” said AZ Big Media Publisher Cheryl Green. “Tonight, we are recognizing organizations that are doing just that by driving innovation, carrying out visions and producing success in a way that stands out from the competition.”

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Photos by Mike Mertes and Bruce Anderson

Companies were honored as Industry Leaders of Arizona in five key industries: 

• Healthcare Support Services

• Food and Beverage

• Aerospace and Defense

• Software Firms and Data Support

• Commercial & Residential Service Contractors

Making the evening possible as sponsors were Arcadia Capital Partners, Clark Hill, Cresa, Lovitt & Touché and Merestone.

“All the finalists tonight are innovators who excel, who are passionate about making Arizona a better place to do business, a better place to live, a better place to play and, most importantly, who help create a better place to stay,” Green said.

Here are those who were honored:

Healthcare Support Services

Winner: Pinnacle Transplant Technologies

Finalists: Arizona’s Children Association, Circle the City, Homewatch CareGivers, Sonora Quest Laboratories, Southwest Human Development       

Food and Beverage

Winner: Stern Produce

Finalists: Café Valley, Jennifer’s Catering and Events, Isagenix, M Culinary Concepts, Sprouts Farmers Market

Aerospace and Defense

Winner: GECO Incorporated

Finalists: Able Aerospace Services, AvAir, Aerospace Contacts, Cutter Aviation, ITS

Software Firms and Data Support

Winner: Digital Air Strike

Finalists: FacilitySource, Ipro Tech, JDA Software, Mobivity, Vixxo

Commercial and Residential Service Contractors

Winner: Goettl Air Conditioning

Finalists: AAA Landscape, Azpro group, California Pools and Landscape, Canyon State Electric, DP Electric, Goettl Air Conditioning, Sun Mechanical, Wilson Electric

In addition, two special awards were presented:

• Breakthrough Award, which recognizes the adversity that often needs to be overcome to become successful in business: Café Valley

• Founder’s Award., which is presented to a company whose founder has impacted Arizona’s business community: AAA Landscape