Markley Motors leaders receive Fort Collins chamber's prestigious Collins Award

The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday honored four community members at its annual celebration at The Ranch in Loveland.

Building on its theme of Building Community Through Business, about 500 chamber members attended the event to recognize individuals who have made an impact on the chamber and the Fort Collins area.

"Business is the cornerstone of the community," Chamber President and CEO Ann Hutchison said in a statement. Weld and Larimer County businesses create $35 billion in economic activity that is passed on to local businesses, government, nonprofits and others, she said.

Here are the chamber honorees:

Collins Award: Carrie (Markley) Baumgart and Cindy (Markley) DeGroot of Markley Motors won the Collins Award, the chamber's highest honor, which is given to an individual or family with a longstanding contribution to the community.

Markley Motors, which started in Fort Collins in 1935, is now owned by the fourth Markley generation, including Baumgart and DeGroot, who are the first generation of women to lead the company.

"Whether it is out front in a prominent position of leadership or quietly working behind the scenes within our community, the Markley family has made a multigenerational impact" on the area for decades, chamber board chair Ryan Schaefer said.

Valerie Arnold Volunteer of the Year: Diane Jackson, director of physician relations at UCHealth Northern Colorado, was named volunteer of the year. She began working with the chamber on its first Moving Fort Collins Forward! campaign in 2010 and continues to lead a volunteer team. She also serves on the chamber's Local Legislative Affairs Committee.

The award was renamed in 2020 for Valerie Arnold, a past volunteer who died in February 2020.

David May Advocacy Award: Sandra Hagen Solin, founder and president/CEO of Capitol Solutions, was awarded the David May Advocacy Award. Solin helped establish the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance in 1992 when the boards of the Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley chambers wanted to have an influence on regional, state and federal policy about issues important to Northern Colorado.

Solin was a key resource when the chamber advocated for expansion of north Interstate 25 to three lanes from Fort Collins to Longmont by 2025. Solin "has been a tireless and highly effective champion for the Northern Colorado business community for many years," Schaefer said.

Her award recognized "the many positive impacts she's had on our region, which will continue to benefit our community for years to come," he said.

The award is named for David May, the longtime chamber president and CEO who retired in 2020.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce gives out annual awards