Joe Kroeger, the managing partner at the Law Offices of Snell & Wilmer, talks with attorneys Ben Hawkins, left, and Lindsay Pearson. The firm won the Copper Cactus Gibson Employer/Employee Development Award.

 Grace Trejo, Arizona Daily Star

Copper Cactus Awards: The winners of the Tucson Metro Chamber’s 27th annual Copper Cactus Awards have been announced, celebrating the achievements of Southern Arizona small businesses and recognizing their contributions to the region’s economic growth and innovation.

Here are the winners:

  • BIPOC-Owned Business: Regal Fierce Media
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Best Place to Work: Youth On Their Own (three to 50 employees); Higher Ground A Resource Center (51 to 300 employees)
  • Business Growth: OOROO Auto
  • CopperPoint Small Business Leader of the Year: Jeremy Sharpe of Rancho Sahuarita
  • Diversity & Inclusion Champion: Southwestern Fair Commission Inc. β€” Pima County Fair
  • Gibson Employer/Employee Development: Snell & Wilmer
  • IT Solutions Innovation: Community Investment Corporation
  • Tech Parks Arizona Start-Up of the Year: Macula Vision Systems
  • Tucson Metro Chamber Shirley Wilka Perseverance Award: Nohemy Hite of The Erik Hite Foundation
  • Tucson Electric Power Social Impact: Children’s Advocacy Center of Southern Arizona (up to $2 million revenue); Tohono Chul ($2,000,001 and up revenue)
  • Woman-Owned Business: Let All Thrive Counseling

Diamond Children’s: Hyundai Hope on Wheels awarded Banner Health Foundation a $100,000 Imagine Grant to support pediatric oncology patients and families at Diamond Children’s Medical Center.

The funds will be used to host a survivorship event, purchase video game consoles for patient rooms and to upgrade decor.

Long Realty: Long Realty associate broker and Realtor Heather L. McClaren has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who.

Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field were taken into consideration.

University of Arizona: Multiple programs from the UA Eller College of Management made the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings list.

The Eller management information systems program came in at No. 2 overall and No. 1 among public universities.

Here’s how other programs ranked:

  • No. 24 overall (tied), No. 8 public in entrepreneurship
  • No. 27 overall (tied), No. 17 public (tied) in undergraduate business programs
  • No. 29 overall (tied), No. 15 public in accounting
  • No. 51 overall (tied), No. 21 public (tied) in undergraduate economics programs

Schools were evaluated on student engagement, faculty credentials, as well as services and technologies.

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Submit items to business@tucson.com; please use ‘Biz Awards’ in the email subject line. To be considered for the Arizona Daily Star’s other weekly business features Moving Up, which recognizes promotions and new hires of Tucsonans, or Giving Back, which highlights charitable donations by local business or nonprofits, email business@tucson.com.