Every year, Moffat County United Way works with the Craig Chamber and the city to award an outstanding local volunteer.

During the State of the Community event hosted by the Craig Chamber on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Pavilion, Chris Nichols was honored as this year’s winner.

“Total surprise,” Nichols said of being named Volunteer of the Year. “You don’t join these organizations and volunteer for the recognition, so I was just blown away. You try to make a difference in the community we live in, and that’s why we do what we do.”

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Nichols, who was elected to Craig City Council in 2017, was honored for his volunteerism, as well as his advocacy for small businesses and economic development, and for serving the general public while working to be a voice for the people of Craig.

Nichols also serves as a commissioner for the Craig Urban Renewal Authority and on the Craig Housing Authority board. He is also a volunteer board member with the Craig Chamber, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Colorado and the Craig Fire department, where he has filled many roles over the years including chief.

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According to Dana Duran, executive director of Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Colorado, Nichols takes on some of the most difficult work at the club, including painting, cleaning and changing lightbulbs, in addition to fundraising and focusing on how to serve more children with a greater impact.

“Chris has been a driving force in making the Craig Chamber of Commerce an amazing and vibrant asset in our community,” Randy Looper added in nominating Nichols. “He has worked tirelessly to provide the support systems that are currently in place for our small businesses.”

Nichols also volunteers to groom trails at Loudy Simpson Park, so people can enjoy skiing and snowshoing over the winter. He and his wife are also frequent volunteers at signature events in the community. During those events, Nichols has been credited for being the first to show up, the last to leave and always willing to put in the hard work to make a difference in the community and in the lives of others.

Announcing one of the most anticipated awards of the night, Craig Chamber Assistant Director Brittany Young revealed West Twin Cinema as the Business of the Year.

“They have sponsored many different events to provide free movie showings, partnering with the Senior Social Center, Partners for Youth and many more,” Young said. “They have taken on an older building in Craig, and have put the work into making it something great while still honoring the history of it.”

The award was accepted by Victor and Amy Updike, and Andrea and Dale Camp. After the ceremony, Andrea Camp said they were honored to have won the recognition, especially among such a strong lineup of nominees.

“We are very appreciative of the award, being nominated and it was a nice surprise,” she said.

Additionally, 31-year-old Olivia Scheele was honored with the Changemaker Award for her efforts to elicit change in the community, both before the pandemic, throughout it and now. Scheele has also started her own business with her husband and is credited for contributing to the health of the community in many, many different ways.

“I was not expecting to win,” said Scheele, later adding that she thinks “it takes the younger generation to make the difference.”

“A lot of younger generations like mine, they don’t always have the will or the want to get involved, and I think it’s those of us who have to take it by the reins and do the work,” Scheele said.

Craig Chamber Executive Director Jennifer Holloway also gave a Special Recognition award to the Northwest Colorado Chapter of Parrotheads.

Rob Schenck and Krista Boatman accepted the award on behalf of the Parrotheads. During her remarks, Holloway talked about the Parrotheads’ amazing inclusivity, as well as the group’s efforts to provide musical instruments for children, their cleanup work and their support for special events.

“But the reason they’re here tonight is because we, as a chamber, felt they went out of their way for about a decade to get the Yampa River Project the city is working on,” Holloway said, adding that the project “is a perfect example of what we need to use for our community to move forward.”

The Bank of Colorado won the Best Customer Service award. Introducing the award nominees, Craig Chamber Assistant Director Brittany Young said hundreds of businesses qualify for the annual award and selecting a winner was an extremely difficult decision.

“If you are looking for a place where they won’t make you feel clumsy when you drop your change all over the service counter, a place that will rally at school events and help with booster clubs, a place that won’t wait for the city, the county or even the chamber to do a shop local, but will do that task on their own, then you want to know about our great, local, homegrown folks at the Bank of Colorado,” Young said.