 Welcome to the new members who joined our business community in October 2025:
 The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber gathered hundreds of business and community leaders for our 2025 Annual Meeting, an evening dedicated to celebrating leadership, innovation, and the spirit of Pierce County business. Held at the Silver Cloud Hotel Point Ruston, the event highlighted a year marked by growth, resilience, and collaboration across the region. Interim President & CEO Tom Pierson opened the program with a land acknowledgment honoring the Puyallup Tribe, followed by recognition of our gold sponsor Alaska Airlines, silver sponsor KeyBank, and bronze sponsors Lightcurve, and U.S. Bank. This year’s keynote address was delivered by Jamie Strayer, founder of CU Strategic Planning and executive producer of the PBS series Opportunity Knock$. Strayer’s remarks focused on the power of storytelling and innovation to create economic opportunity and strengthen communities. Passing of the Gavel The Chamber recognized outgoing Board Chair Kierra Phifer, Senior Manager, Northwest Public Engagement at Doordash for her leadership in 2024-2025, and welcomed Chyna Willman, Owner of Grit City Wellness, as the new Chair of the Board of Directors for 2025-2026. Willman emphasized the Chamber’s mission to advocate for business, foster connection, and drive economic growth across Pierce County. Spotlight on Business Awards A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2025 Spotlight on Business Awards, which honor organizations that exemplify leadership, creativity, and community impact. This year’s award categories reflected the evolving drivers of Pierce County’s economic success, recognizing excellence in civic leadership, environmental stewardship, creative entrepreneurship, small business resilience, and industrial innovation. We invite you to learn more about the finalists and winners of the 2025 Spotlight on Business Awards in our previous post. The evening concluded with closing remarks from Board Chair Chyna Willman, who thanked sponsors, members, and attendees for their continued support and partnership. The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber extends gratitude to all finalists, judges, sponsors, speakers, staff, and guests who made the event possible. Together, our work continues to power a strong, connected, and resilient Pierce County.  The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Spotlight on Business Awards, our dedicated program recognizing the innovation, leadership, creativity, and resilience that power our regional economy. Each year, the Spotlight on Business Awards honor organizations that go beyond success to make a lasting impact on our community. These winners represent the very best of Pierce County’s community, from civic leadership and creative excellence to sustainability and small business ingenuity. The winners were revealed during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront, where members of the business community gathered to celebrate collective progress; heard from keynote speaker Jamie Strayer, CEO, Creator & Executive Producer of Opportunity Knocks;and connected with regional leaders. 2025 Finalists & Winner by Category Civic Leader The Civic Leader award organizations that actively support civic engagement, economic development, and public policy efforts that strengthen Pierce County. These leaders champion collaboration between the business community and public entities. The finalists are:
The winner of the Spotlight on Business Civic Leader award is The New Tacoma Neighborhood Council. Its team has been building civic connections for over 25 years. Their work represents true grassroots leadership, bringing neighbors, businesses, and public agencies together to shape Tacoma’s future. They’ve hosted community forums on homelessness and housing, contributed to the Tideflats Subarea Plan, and supported the Downtown Tacoma Block Party to foster pride and participation citywide. In partnership with Pierce County, the Downtown Tacoma Partnership, and Tacoma on the Go, they’ve influenced infrastructure planning, urban revitalization, and resource allocation. And their restoration of Peace Plaza at Thea’s Park — through the Buy a Brick campaign — turned public space into a lasting symbol of community ownership and renewal. Industrial Innovator The Industrial Innovator award celebrates businesses using advanced manufacturing technologies or emerging solutions to scale operations, enhance customer experiences, and redefine industry standards. The finalists are: The winner of the Spotlight on Business Industrial Innovator award is Aquagga. This startup is tackling one of the toughest environmental challenges of our time: forever chemicals. From its home base in Tacoma, Aquagga developed Hydrothermal Alkaline Treatment, or HALT, a patented process that destroys PFAS — the toxic compounds that persist in water and soil for generations. Unlike traditional filtration methods that only capture these contaminants, Aquagga’s system eliminates them, breaking them down into harmless byproducts like water and salts. Their containerized “Steed Series” reactors can be deployed anywhere — from industrial sites to military bases — allowing for on-site cleanup without costly transport or disposal. Through partnerships with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, and global environmental leaders, Aquagga is proving that clean technology can be both powerful and practical, making them and our region a leader in cleantech manufacturing and sustainable remediation. Creative Champion The Creative Champion award honors businesses and organizations driving growth and innovation in the creative economy from design and media to arts, architecture, and marketing. These honorees turn originality into impact through economic contribution, cultural influence, and community connection. The finalists are: The winner of the Spotlight on Business Creative Champion award is Creative Colloquy. Its team has spent more than a decade cultivating Tacoma’s storytelling culture. What began as a single open-mic night has grown into a regional literary movement that brings writers, readers, and listeners together through monthly gatherings, near-weekly workshops, and the annual Creative Colloquy Crawl, a downtown literary festival that draws hundreds of attendees and energizes local businesses. Creative Colloquy publishes both digital and print works by South Sound authors and amplifies diverse voices that reflect our community’s heart. Their events activate local venues, fill restaurants and bookstores, and inspire empathy through shared stories. In a city known for authentic creativity, Creative Colloquy stands as Tacoma’s living proof that stories connect people and storytelling itself is a catalyst for cultural and economic growth. Force Multiplier The Force Multiplier award highlights small-but-mighty businesses with one to ten employees that have built thriving enterprises while maintaining a lean structure. These organizations embody resilience, adaptability, and innovation in service and operations. The finalists are: The winner of the Spotlight on Business Force Multiplier award is HOTWORX University Place. This innovative studio combines infrared heat, isometric exercise, and virtual instruction to deliver results-driven workouts in less time. HOTWORX members enjoy 24/7 access, dozens of class formats, and a supportive community that’s growing fast — from 240 members at launch to more than 600 today – all while maintaining a perfect five-star Google rating. When a major flood forced a full studio closure earlier this year, the team acted fast. Within five days, they partially reopened, and by day 13, they were fully operational, a testament to their dedication and adaptability. HOTWORX embodies the power of innovation with limited resources, turning technology, efficiency, and customer care into a scalable model for wellness success. Environmental Steward The Environmental Steward award recognizes organizations leading the way in sustainability and environmental responsibility. These businesses set measurable goals to reduce impact, improve efficiency, and inspire a greener future for Pierce County. The finalists are: The winner of the Spotlight on Business Environmental Steward award is Pierce Transit. This organization has been driving sustainability for nearly half a century. From pioneering compressed natural gas buses in the 1980s to launching a zero-emission strategy today, Pierce Transit continues to set the pace for green mobility in the region. The agency has reduced total emissions by 19 percent since 2017, transitioned its fleet to renewable natural gas and R99 renewable diesel, and aims for a 100 percent zero-emission fleet by 2042. But their environmental leadership doesn’t stop there. Pierce Transit’s Youth Ride Free program has already provided more than one million free rides to young people, reducing car trips and promoting a generation of transit users. At their facilities, wastewater has been cut by 90 percent through upgraded systems, and new designs ensure full stormwater infiltration so that nothing harmful leaves the site. By combining technology, infrastructure, and education, Pierce Transit demonstrates that sustainability isn’t a department; it’s a spirit and lens that moves people forward. Celebrate with Us Online Jump on to your social networks and celebrate the organizations to spread the news and engage with both the finalists and winners of this year’s Spotlight on Business Awards. Each one demonstrates that you don’t have to look far to find organizations and people are collaborating, creating, and executing initiatives to make our business and broader community not only better, but ultimately stronger. |
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