2025 Elevate Business Awards showcase the best in the business
Story by: RCBJ Staff. Photos by Bailey Sadowsky
Elevate Rapid City held its fourth annual business awards celebration on June 10 at The Monument. With more than 300 people in attendance, the celebration featured 9 award presentations.
The time-honored George Award was established by the Chamber of Commerce in 1981. Named after George Weedman, the award recognizes an outstanding community leader who has gone above and beyond throughout their life to bring about positive change and impact on the Rapid City community; they didn’t “just let George do it.” This year’s honoree was Dr. Mark Harlow.
Elevate presented a second time-honored Chamber Award, the Granite Award, to Liberty Superstores. This award is given to a business that is an asset to the area and is a pillar of our community. To be selected, they must be instrumental in the overall economic well-being of our community and have been in business for longer than 10 years.
Elevate presented seven additional awards to honor and recognize the Rapid City business community. The winners were:
- Small Business of the Year – Black Hills Adventure Tours
- Large Business of the Year – Coca-Cola High Country
- Non-profit of the Year – YMCA – Rapid City
- Young Professionals Best Place to Work – Ketel Thorstenson, LLP
- Emerging Business of the Year – Black Hills Running Company
- Beautification Award – Casey Peterson
- Business Expansion of the Year – RESPEC
“The Rapid City business community truly embodies what it means to elevate the region for all,” said Tom Johnson, Elevate Rapid City President & CEO. “This event was about more than awards, it was a celebration of the hard work, passion for service, and people that make this a place people want to be.”
The event was sponsored by SDN Communications, Black Hills Energy, and NDN Collective.
Nominations for the 2026 awards will begin in February with a celebration to be held June 9, 2026.
