This Friday, the Tucson Metro Chamber – in partnership with Wells Fargo – will present the Copper Cactus Awards, celebrating the accomplishments and successes of Southern Arizona businesses.

Located at Casino Del Sol Resort in Tucson and starting at 5:30 p.m., the Copper Cactus Awards will recognize finalists across six award categories, including workforce development, office environment, technological innovation, charity, and business growth.

All nominees are locally-owned and operated businesses, have operated for more than two years, and have 200 or fewer employees. Across all six categories, the competition accumulated almost 400 nominations.

The Cox Business Growth highlights small businesses that address and overcome marketplace challenges. The competition has eight finalists from a wide variety of industries, such as HVAC, pain management, and staffing.

“Small businesses represent the lifeblood of our community and Cox Business is there every step of the way making sure work gets done fast online or over the phone in a secure environment so our small business partners can focus on what they do best. Congratulations to our finalists,” said Michael Young, senior sales director of Cox Business.

The first service finalist is Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing, which provides air conditioning, plumbing, and heating services throughout Southern Arizona, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Goettl has been around since 1939, but it has recently experienced significant jumps in revenue and employee growth, which increased by 11 percent and 32 percent, respectively, in 2018.

Silverado Rooter & Plumbing is another finalist that offers plumbing services. What sets Silverado apart from its competitors is accessibility; their services are available 24/7 and range from leak detection to backflow services to waterline repair.

A third finalist that specializes in home repair and cleaning equipment is Hotsy Industrial Systems, which delivers air compressors and outdoor cooling to Southern Arizona residents – crucial services for residents of the sweltering Arizona heat. Hotsy is a woman-owned firm that has provided Southern Arizona with industrial cleaning equipment for over 20 years.

Serving those who love to create and clean, Cathey’s Sewing & Vacuum specializes in the sale of sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. Founded by a couple in Tucson in 1954, Cathey’s has become a Southern Arizona leader in brick-and-mortar sales. Last year, the company’s employment numbers grew by 14.3 percent.

Among the finalists are companies that help consumers thrive physically, as well. The Pain Institute of Southern Arizona features physicians who are all board-certified in pain management. The Pain Institute has over 25,000 patients, making it the premier location for rehabilitation and physical medicine.

Martin Taylor Dentistry has been cleaning and repairing Southern Arizona’s teeth for over 40 years. The firm is a jack-of-all-trades, specializing in preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. Last year, they experienced revenue and compensation growth of 14.2 and 9.6 percent, respectively.

The competition features finalists that help other firms grow, as well. Oschmann Employee Screening Services delivers drug and alcohol testing services, background checks, and DNA testing for employers. Oschmann features a Tucson-based drug testing site as well as mobile collection services around Arizona.

The last finalist is Staff Matters, a recruiting and staffing firm that matches employers with professionals in information technology, engineering, manufacturing, finance, and more. The company had exceptional growth last year, seeing revenue, employees, and compensation jump by 30.6 percent, 22.2 percent, and 26.7 percent, respectively.

On Friday, Cox will determine a winner among the eight outstanding finalists. The awards ceremony is open to the public, and tickets are still available on Tucson Metro Chamber’s website.

 

This story was originally published at Chamber Business News.