Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber awards local businesses

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber has announced five outstanding businesses and organizations as recipients of a 2024 Spotlight on Business Awards. Honorees are celebrated across five categories, highlighting contributions to economic vitality, community engagement, and inclusivity in the South Sound. To be eligible, businesses must be active members of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber. 

“We’re honored to spotlight businesses and organizations that drive progress in Tacoma and Pierce County,” said Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Andrea Reay. “This year’s winners exemplify the values of our community, and their dedication inspires us all to build a brighter future.” 

The winners are – Business Champion: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium; Small Business Champion: Downtown Tacoma Partnership; Non-Profit Impact: Mi Centro; Business Supporter of the Military: Buffalo Soldiers Museum; and Women-Owned Business Excellence: Maxwell Synové Photography.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (pdza.org) is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest. The 29-acre zoological park was established in 1905 and attracts about 700,000 visitors a year. It is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, which ensures rigorously high standards of animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation, education and more. The Zoo sits within 700-acre Point Defiance Park, offering spectacular views of Mount Rainier, the Olympic mountains and Puget Sound. PDZA is operated by Metro Parks Tacoma, the oldest independent park district in Washington.

Led by a volunteer board of directors made up of property owners and their representatives, the Downtown Tacoma Partnership is a collection of downtown stakeholders who care passionately about the future of our city. Its Clean Team works to keep downtown vibrant and fresh by removing graffiti and cleaning the streets, and its Safety Team helps make sure everyone in downtown Tacoma feels safe and comfortable, from addressing nuisance behaviors to providing security escorts 24/7. Learn more at downtowntacomapartnership.org.

Mi Centro (micentrowa.org) is a community-based non-profit that works with Latino and Indigenous native families through its educational programs, crisis intervention, family outreach services, arts and culture programming, and advocacy efforts that concern our city’s families and community. Mi Centro believes strongly that when our communities are given the conditions to thrive, it benefits us all, and that its work is not finished until every Latino and Indigenous individual in every part of Pierce County is safe, healthy, well-educated, and supported, regardless of immigration status, gender, religion, sexual orientation, language ability, or neighborhood of residence.

The Buffalo Soldiers Museum (buffalosoldiertacoma.org) serves as a community resource encompassing a significant – and all too often overlooked – facet of American history. The museum presents varied accounts of the many challenges and triumphs of the brave African American men who served their country and helped to build and strengthen the Western Frontier with integrity, devotion and pride. The museum is a space that fosters the exchange of historical education, identity and culture, making it a practical link to a stronger community. This common good engages scholars and the public.

Maxwell Synové Photography is a budding enterprise with boundless enthusiasm and rooted in the strong foundation of family values and collaborative effort. Its heart lies with star photographer and co-owner Krystian, the spirit and the narrative behind every shot. As a proud U.S. Army Veteran and a company firmly grounded by Black, LGBTQ women, Maxwell Synové Photography brings a perspective that’s as unique as the memories it helps capture, specializing in branding, portrait, glamour, headshots, and event photography. Visit maxwellsynove.com.

The Chamber’s Spotlight on Business Awards underscores its commitment to fostering a thriving business environment that uplifts diverse and resilient enterprises in the South Sound. Nominees for the Spotlight on Business Awards were submitted by businesses and community members, underscoring the collaborative spirit that defines the Chamber’s work.