Douglas County Honors Local Businesses with 2024 Business Spotlight Awards

During the 32nd annual Critical Issues Conference—hosted by the Business Council of Douglas County—four local businesses were recognized with the 2024 Spotlight Award. This year’s awards were held September 17 at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline.

This year’s Spotlight Awards recognized businesses in the following special categories:

• Giving Back - Regularly gives back to the community or the public sector as part of its operating model or culture
• Preservation/Culture & History - Reflects a strong historical presence or invests in revitalization efforts, including preservation of Douglas County culture and history
• Partnership - Demonstrates a strong partnership with the public sector or business community toward the furthering of community plans, programs, goals, and/or projects
• Innovation or Expansion - Designated to exceptional individuals who engage in the ongoing growth of their organizations through innovative measures or expansions. Recognizing the accomplishments of those who continue to flourish their businesses to greater heights

The following businesses received the 2024 Douglas County Business Spotlight Awards:

Coffee on Main – Giving Back

“One of the best parts of Coffee on Main are the relationships we have forged with our customers, and the community as a whole. We have watched children grow up, graduate, go to college. We’ve loved and felt losses with our customers over the years. We feel privileged by this and giving to local fundraisers and non-profits is our way of giving back and showing our thanks!”

Eddy Street Vintage Market – Preservation/Culture & History

“Meredith Fischer—owner of Eddy Street Vintage Market, The Warehouse, and Heritage Preservation Company—is a native Nevadan raised in Carson Valley and a 2004 graduate of Douglas High School. Following in her family’s footsteps, preservation of historic buildings in the downtown area has always been a priority for Fischer. This award would not have been possible without the amazing circle of family and friends who believe in Fischer’s vision and trust the process even when the end results are not always easily visible.”

Vail Resorts – Partnership

“Our dedication to community support is integral to our success and the success of the region. We are so thankful to all of our team members that support this program including the Ski and Ride School team, the Epic Promise teams as well as the dedicated parents and volunteers who contribute their time and energy to make this program thrive. Thank you everyone who made this possible and thank you Douglas County for being great partners.”

Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority – Innovation or Expansion

“The Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority, a Nevada public agency, was created by the Nevada Legislature in June 1997 with the passage of Assembly Bill 616 (The Tahoe-Douglas Visitors Authority Act). The Authority was created to address the problems and needs of the Tahoe Township, which had been experiencing a decline in tourism and tourism revenues before the Act's adoption. Tahoe Blue Event Center is an indoor arena located in Stateline, Nevada in the United States. It is home to the Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL ice hockey league. It has a capacity of 5,000. Grand Opening occurred on September 23, 2023. It is owned by the Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority.”

“I’m so proud of how Douglas County’s business community continues to pave the way for a prosperous future,” said Nikki Rudelbach, Douglas County Economic Vitality Manager. “This award symbolizes not just accomplishments, but also the relentless effort, creativity, and commitment that push our local businesses to excel.”

Each winner received an engraved lantern with a glowing flameless candle symbolic of keeping the Economic Vitality torch lit in creating a “Community to Match the Scenery.”

The selection process for this year’s award remained the same as in previous years. Recommendations were made based on input from business community organizations such as the local Chambers of Commerce, Main Street Gardnerville, the Nevada Small Business Development Center, and the Business Council of Douglas County.

Check out the Douglas County YouTube channel for videos of the 2024 Spotlight Award winners!

About Douglas County, Nevada
Douglas County, Nevada, a community to match the scenery, is centrally located just 15 minutes south of Nevada’s state capital and borders Lake Tahoe. Located on Nevada’s western border, the community is framed by the Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada to the west and the Pine Nut Mountains to the east. The community offers miles of open space, expansive ranches and farms, many historical sites and displays, along with numerous outdoor recreation activities. Douglas County is the fifth most populated county in Nevada with approximately 48,000 residents and seasonal populations that can exceed 65,000, due to its proximity to Reno, Carson City and northern California. Douglas County is governed by a five-member elected Board of Commissioners. The County is comprised of ten functional areas – general government, judicial, public safety, public works, sanitation, health, welfare, cultural and recreation, community support and utilities. For more information, visit Douglas County online at DouglasCountyNV.gov.

TITLE VI Notice:
Members of the public who are disabled, require special assistance or accommodations or an interpreter are requested to notify the Douglas County Manager's Office in writing at Post Office Box 218, Minden, Nevada 89423 or by calling 775-782-9821 at least 20 hours in advance of the meeting.