Awards of Excellence

View the presentation here: https://youtu.be/ReSW12T_ZJE?si=1wAXdlsNDa5z9jom

The Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of the 2024 Awards of Excellence during its 26^th Annual Awards of Excellence celebration Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at the WYO Theater.

The recipients were selected by the Chamber’s membership via on-line ballot.

The awards presented and the recipients are:

Community Champion Award

This award honors a Chamber member individual, business or organization that has made a significant impact in Sheridan County. Understanding that a community thrives when those in it invest and contribute to its success, the nominees demonstrate vision, ambition and drive to address needs in the community and strive for the betterment of the local area.

2024 Recipient: Sheridan Police Department

From 1885 to 1906, safety and security for the “Town of Sheridan” was provided by a town marshal. In 1906, the Sheridan Police Department was established, and throughout its long tenure of providing safety and security for the City of Sheridan, it has undergone many changes as technology and demands have dictated. The Sheridan Police Department focuses on seven strategic priorities that improve the livability and attractiveness of Sheridan through an improved quality of life and a safe environment for all.  The city has one of the lowest crime rates in the United States thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement officers and the partnerships they have created within the community. These partnerships allow the department to better identify and address the concerns and needs of the community so that the community can concentrate on tasks at hand, whether they are family, business or recreation oriented, without a personal fear for their safety.  This makes Sheridan a fantastic place to work, live and play.

Strength of Sheridan Award

This award honors a Chamber member business or organization that has a distinguished tenure of 20 or more years in the community. This business or organization demonstrates consistent service, continually invests in the community, meets challenges with innovative solutions and demonstrates sustained quality performance.

2024 Recipient: Sheridan County Public Library System

The Sheridan County Public Library System consists of the Fulmer Library in Sheridan as well as three branch libraries in Clearmont, Ranchester and Story. The Public Library System offers a variety of programs, events and services including materials that may be checked out such as books, audio books, DVDs, eBooks and other electronic content. They also offer computer and printer use, children’s collections, story time and children’s events, homebound delivery and holds across the system. Each year, the youth librarian plans the Summer Reading Program which serves 100+ children with a variety of book-themed events and prizes to motivate children of all ages to keep reading all summer long. Last summer over 400 kids participated in the program. Last year, the library’s community engagement manager received two grants to help fund the Creative Aging series of programs conducted over six to eight weeks in the spring and fall. The program takes participants through a progressive curriculum in a different artistic medium or skill each time. The Wyoming Room has become a widely-used resource for historical and genealogical information not just in Sheridan, but also throughout the west. The Wyoming Room team works closely to archive materials and assists patrons with research and projects to keep the history of the west and the local community alive and accessible. This year, each of the branch libraries are projected to be remodeled. The plan is to revitalize the buildings in a way that will offer more options for the community to utilize the library to meet their needs now and in the future.

Business of the Year

This award honors a Chamber member business that positively impacts the economic health of the Sheridan area through exceptional business practices, customer service and innovation. This business shows steady growth and consistent strong performance, excels in community relations, practices exemplary business conduct, responds positively to adversity and shows proven business achievement.

2024 Recipient: D.B. Smart Homes & Security

After choosing Sheridan as his home, Daniel Baker wanted to offer the skills and services he had been honing for more than 15 years in the security and smart home industry to the community at an affordable price. In 2020, D.B. Smart Homes & Security was born. A low voltage security company, D.B. Smart Homes & Security provides services for homes and businesses. These include alarm systems, alarm monitoring, video surveillance and smart home products such as multi-room audio products, surround sound systems and data networking. Daniel’s goal is to ensure that the company provides the highest quality customer service and support to its customers along with the latest technology to offer better safety, peace of mind and convenience. Starting out as a mobile, home-based business, D.B. Smart Homes has grown significantly over the past four years. Known for their outstanding customer service and quality products, the business continues to attract new customers and has hired additional staff. Last year was very exciting for the company as they opened their first office space on South Sheridan Avenue. Daniel looks forward to continued growth in the community and further development of strong relationships with the people who need the company’s services. D.B. Smart Homes & Security’s priority to provide a fast, dependable, efficient service will remain the company’s goal.

Business Person of the Year

This award honors a Chamber member business person(s) who shows outstanding business acumen and strong leadership in business and community efforts. This person is a champion for economic development, strives to exceed customer expectations, delivers industry leading standards of service and quality and exhibits innovation in business development.

2024 Recipient: Irving Robinson, M.D., Sugarland Walk-In Clinic

Dr. Irving Robinson served as an emergency medicine doctor for many years. In that position, he realized that while he enjoyed the medical part of his job, he wanted more autonomy over scheduling and what he would be seeing. Dr. Robinson opened Sugarland Walk-In Clinic in September 2017. The clinic provides urgent care seven days a week as well as an Occupational Medicine branch that is open five days a week. At Sugarland Walk-In Clinic, Dr. Robinson and his staff strive to provide immediate and reasonably priced services to the community. The clinic offers wellness blood draws, where patients can choose what blood tests they need from a select list and pay a cash price to have those done immediately. This helps patients to quickly have results for their own use or upcoming doctors’ appointments. The clinic also offers sports physicals throughout the year, which is a well-used option for kids who forget they need a sports physical to participate or for people who suddenly decide to play a sport. The clinic staff note that he provides care for anyone who walks through the clinic doors, often going above and beyond to ensure patients receive all the care they need no matter their financial status. Last year, Sugarland Walk-In Clinic partnered with the Big Horn Medical Imaging Center, which will provide a location to get CT scans, X-rays and MRI imaging. Sugarland Walk- In Clinic also has become the only occupational drug-screening center in Sheridan.

“The Awards of Excellence celebration is a fantastic evening dedicated to honoring the businesses, organizations and individuals who are making a positive impact in our community, driving innovation in their industries and demonstrating exceptional leadership,” said Chamber CEO Teresa Detimore. “It’s one of our favorite events because it allows us to showcase the incredible work happening in Sheridan County—it’s truly inspiring.”

Each recipient is featured in the Chamber’s newly released 2025 Community Guide and Membership Directory. The guides are produced in partnership with The Sheridan Press and are available at both the Chamber’s and the Press’ offices, newsstands, the Visitor Information Center on Fifth Street and many additional locations throughout Sheridan County.

For more information about the Awards of Excellence or the Chamber’s Community Guide and Membership Directory, contact the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce at (307) 672-2485.