Looking Back at the 2025 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon

Thank you to the 760 attendees who celebrated with the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce (TCRCC) at the 2025 Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, March 26 at the Three Rivers Convention Center. 

The Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon is a celebration of the accomplishments of TCRCC and its members. Click on the awards below to learn about the winners and why they were selected.

Thanks to Breshears Professional Photography for the wonderful photos and Spotted Fox Digital Marketing for the exceptional videos!

Business of the Year - Bouten Construction Company

Left to right: Dr. Steve Ashby, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL); Brandon Potts, Bouten Construction Company; Trish Herron, Tri-City Regional Chamber

Nominations for the newly established Business of the Year award opened in January. Like the New Business of Year and Small Business of the Year awards, nominees were evaluated on financial success, community involvement, innovation, and more. Unlike the other awards, this award has no qualifiers for when the business opened or how many people they employ.

​The first ever Business of the Year Award went to Bouten Construction Company. Bouten nearly doubled their revenue since 2022 and substantially increased their employee count.

They are known for building some of the region's most anticipated projects, including a new hospital in Prosser, a recovery center in Kennewick, and the upcoming aquatics center in Pasco.

Small Business of the Year - Paragon Corporate Housing

Left to right: Khurshed Sharifov, Charles Schwab; John Crook, Paragon Corporate Housing; Trish Herron, Tri-City Regional Chamber

Paragon Corporate Housing received the first ever Small Business of the Year Award. This award was intended for a business with 50 employees or fewer.
 
Paragon saw major revenue and workforce growth in 2024. Paragon was founded in the Tri-Cities in 1996 and has grown to serve Fortune 500 clients in multiple states while maintaining deep community roots.

New Business of the Year - Tee Time

Left to right: Christine Rose-Vanwormer, Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services; Reyes Gonzales, Tee Time; Amy Basche, Tri-City Regional Chamber

Tee Time received the first ever New Business of the Year Award. This award is intended for a business less than three years old that has achieved success while positively impacting the community.
 
Tee Time opened in May of 2024 and became profitable within two months. Since opening, they’ve worked with countless other businesses and non-profits with their fundraisers, including the Big Bro Joe Foundation, Hayden Homes, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Non-Profit of the Year - Benton Franklin Fair Association

Left to right: Emily Volland, Kadlec; Duane Howard, Benton Franklin Fair Association; Amy Basche, Tri-City Regional Chamber

​The Non-Profit of the Year Award, formerly the Non-Profit on a Roll Award, went to Benton Franklin Fair Association (BFFA).  
 
BFFA generates $18.5 million annually in economic impact to the region, supports youth agriculture programs, and awards thousands in scholarships. The Benton Franklin County Fair is more than an annual celebration; it’s also a mission-driven non-profit committed to strengthening the Tri-Cities region.

Spirit of Tri-Cities Award - 3 Rivers Community Foundation

Abbey Cameron, 3 Rivers Community Foundation, and Trish Herron, Tri-City Regional Chamber

The new Spirit of Tri-Cities Award is intended for a business or organization that has demonstrated exemplary leadership and community engagement to positively impact the quality of life in the region.
 
Nominations were submitted to the Chamber’s Awards and Recognition Committee. The Committee narrowed the pool down from 12 nominees to three finalists. From there, the finalists were sent to the Regional Chamber’s Stakeholder level members to select the ultimate winner.
 
The award recipient was selected because, like the Stakeholder level members, they represent the spirit of Tri-Cities.

The first-ever Spirit of Tri-Cities Award went to 3 Rivers Community Foundation (3RCF). 
 
3RCF hosts the largest grant ceremony in the region, recognizing non-profit work. Over the past 25 years, they have awarded nearly $9 million in grants.

Chamber S.T.A.R. Award - Randy Hayden

Left to right: Ava Wainhouse, NonStop Local News; Randy Hayden, Port of Pasco; Lori Mattson, Tri-City Regional Chamber

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The Chamber S.T.A.R. Award is presented to a volunteer who goes above and beyond for the Chamber. S.T.A.R. is an acronym for service, time, attitude, reliability.

Randy Hayden's leadership, dedication, and vision have propelled a major initiative forward in a truly remarkable way. As Chair of the Ag Council, he’s helped transform what was once just an idea into a tangible, game-changing opportunity for our region - an Ag Innovation Center. 

Tom Powers Ambassador of the Year Award - Lori Powell

Left to right: Thomas Drozt, Ben Franklin Transit; Lori Powell, Advocare; Lori Mattson, Tri-City Regional Chamber

Each quarter, members of the Regional Chamber's Ambassador Club earn points by attending and volunteering at Chamber functions. The Ambassador who earned the most points in 2024 was Lori Powell, making her the Tom Powers Ambassador of the Year.
 
If you have attended any ribbon cuttings, Business After Hours, or Chamber luncheons, chances are that you have met Lori. In addition to her usual Ambassador volunteering, Lori also served as a networking expert at a recent Ask the Experts workshop.

Community Impact Award - Benton County

Left to right: Brooklyn Reeder, Marsh McLennan Agency, Commissioner Jerome Delvin, Benton County; Lori Mattson, Tri-City Regional Chamber

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​The Community Impact Award is presented to the non-profit organization or government entity that provided the Chamber with the most financial support over the previous year.

Since 2022, Benton County has partnered with TCRCC to offer the Business Resource Initiative Program (BRI). Through Benton County BRI, the Regional Chamber awarded a total of $3 million in grant funds to Benton County businesses that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.​

Corporate Impact Award - Bechtel

Left to right: Lori Mattson, Tri-City Regional Chamber; Brian Hartman, Bechtel; Emilia Keener, Lourdes Health & Trios Health

The Corporate Impact Award is given to the business that provides TCRCC with the most financial support over the previous year. 
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Bechtel is a Stakeholder-level member of TCRCC – that’s the highest level possible. In addition, Bechtel is the premier sponsor of the Chamber’s largest event – the Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference. They also sponsor the Chamber’s annual report, the Elected Leaders Reception, the Tri-Cities Diversity Summit, and more.