|
|
|
Small Business Hero Award To Cukjati Design & Advertising
Small Business Hero Award To
Cukjati Design & Advertising
By John Ridge, Chamber Intern
Photos by John Ridge
The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce honors the culture of entrepreneurship and hard work that form the American Dream. Self-determination, rooted in opportunity, is at the foundation of our regional small business community.
Through our American Dream recognition program, The Chamber wishes to acknowledge the extraordinary small business owners who invest their time, passion, energy, money and other resources to create and build their businesses. Responsible for 60% to 80% of job creation in the Pikes Peak region, small businesses are one of the anchors of our economy.
The Chamber accepts nominations from the public at large which are reviewed by an Advisory Board. From this season’s exemplary nominees, Cukjati Design &Advertising has been chosen as the current Small Business Hero Award winner, and Bircham’s Office Supply, Shape Technologies, LLC, and Pikes Perk Coffee & Tea House, Downtown have been selected as award runners-up.
Think First. Create Later. For over 20 years, Cukjati Design & Advertising has served both their clients and community with award-winning marketing and advertising which brings together brand research, creative thinking, and brand management.
   Mary and John Cukjati are no strangers to recessions. During the recession starting in 1989, Mary Cukjati was laid off from her Art Director position with Digital Equipment Corporation, then the largest employer in Colorado Springs. She refused a buyout of her contract and went into business for herself. Bolstered by husband John’s Air Force income, she was able to run her business and had it running strong by its second year. The next year, John retired and joined Mary, taking care of the business end while she handled the creative aspects. After 21 years, they are still married, and still in business, even after three recessions during that time. They’ve learned to ride the ups and downs of the economy---as well as being avid trail riding enthusiasts!
Their three-step BrandMapping™ process creates a custom-fit Brand Vision for the client organization which informs the creation of future communication projects. This process is compared to giving the client an “extreme makeover”--- giving them the confidence to better connect with the customers they wish to attract.
In 2009, Cukjati Design & Advertising donated over $55,000 in pro-bono marketing services to many local Non-Profit Organizations in Southern Colorado.
For their contributions to their industry, their clients and their community, The Chamber is proud to honor Mary and John Cukjati as our Small Business Hero Award winner.
|
|
|