Description

Join us as we come together as a business community to celebrate our local businesses and take a look into what 2026 holds for Mill Valley.

• 12:30 pm  Reception with appetizers and complimentary drinks
• 1 pm  - 2 pm Guest Speakers
• Welcome / Stacey Lamirand, Chamber President   
• Doing Business in Mill Valley / Todd Cusimano, City Manager
• 2026 Business Outlook / Clay Jones, President & CEO Heritage Commerce Corp
• Business Awards Presented by Stephanie Moulton-Peters, Marin County Supervisor 
  • Up and Coming Business
  • Most Valuable Employee
  • Most Innovative Business
• Closing Remarks / Peter Schumacher, Co-Owner Buckeye Roadhouse
  
• Networking

Presenting our 2026 Award Recipients

Best Up and Coming Business | Woander :   Matthew Purdon's Woander has engaged our community in myriad ways, from the Memorial Day Parade, the Mill Valley Music Fest, 125th, Winterfest, thrilling hikes into and around our amazing Mt. Tamalpais, at Winterfest, all while engaging with both kids, adults and families. Watching Woander's characters light up faces, all to engage, he and his team have shown up constantly, not just Mill Valley, but spanning from Old Mill Park to the Mill Valley Film Fest and much more.  

Most Valuable Employee | Maria Hoppe : Every dynamic organization needs a captain. Ever since Maria Hoppe arrived in town in 2021, she's been seemingly everywhere, several steps ahead, navigating hurdles beyond her, and our larger 94941 community. She's made the Sweetwater more than a great live music venue, but also a gathering place. Maria Hoppe is indeed a Most Valuable Employee.

Most Innovative Business | The Poet and the Bench: When we first met Bonnie Powers and Jeffrey Levin upon their arrival on Locust Ave. in 2016, it was clear from the jump that they were very much not the kind of artists that needed to flail about and find out where they might fit into Mill Valley. It was actually quite the opposite. They were the rare duo that seemingly had it all dialed in, not just in terms of their aesthetic, but also that they were ready and willing to deeply connect with their business neighbors to establish long-term synchronicity. 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Congratulations to ALL of our Nominees

BEST UP & COMING BUSINESS NOMINEES : Angela's Organic Ice Cream · Anthony Meier Fine Arts · Art Barn · BFT · Cameron Cressman Photography – The Mill Valley Studio · Club Evexia · Corner Bar · Cypress Apparel & Home Goods Shop · Drawing Room · Hot Yoga Republic · Madrona Bakery · Esqueleto · Makers Market · Mama’s Luncheonette · Marin Conservatory of Dance · Mill Valley Pasta Co · MNTSTUDIO · Modica · Mystic · Passion Flowers · Peet's at The Sweetwater · Poet & the Bench · TANTRUM · Team PRO Event, Inc. · The Dapper Dog Salon · The Depot Cafe · The Portal · Upside

MOST VALUABLE EMPLOYEE NOMINEES: All the wait staff at Le Marais · Andrea de Francisco at Mystic · Dave Boston at the Outdoor Art Club · Andres Bota Bungalow 44 · Barb Nivens at the Throckmorton Theater · Beba at Benefit · Bonnie, Poet and Bench · Calvin at Woander · Carina Rivera of Spot Pet Care · Carly Phillipie, Honeygirl Beauty · Christina Penniman, FitWise Pilates · David Castro – The Cantina · Fabien Rety, Eddy Bar & Bottle · Francisco – The Dapper Dog Salon · Ged Robertson, Watershed · Gemma at Madrona Bakery · Jennifer of Mill Valley Market · Jose at The Depot · Jules Mercer at Vintage Ruse · Kat Blair – Club Evexia · Kelly at the Mill Valley Pet Clinic · Kelly the butcher from Mill Valley Market · Lisa Smith at Smith and Co. Real Estate · Lucas at Sophia Jewelry · Maria Hoppe – Sweetwater · Matthew Purdon · Max Marasa – Mamahuhu · Nina Jolie at Ultimate Fitness · Paola Arandia at Bank of Marin · Paul Lazzareschi · Rico at Joes Taco Lounge · Ronnie at The Store · Sophie Priolo, Sofia Jewelry · Steve Bajor · Tim, La Ginestra · Tino Aversa, La Ginestra · Tomas Ruiz, Sweetwater Music Hall · Toni at The Goods · Angelo Marmol, Equator Coffees at Proof Lab

MOST INNOVATIVE BUSINESS NOMINEES: Bungalow 44 · Corner Bar · Equator Coffees on Miller Avenue · Flour Craft Bakery · Hot Yoga Republic in Mill Valley · Iodyne (Miller Ave) · Karen at Mill Valley Baking Company · Lulu Designs Jewelry · Makers Market ·Mamahuhu · Marin Dad · Mill Valley Murals · Mystic · Passion Flowers · Poet & the Bench · Practice San Francisco · Spot Pet Care · Stefano's Pizza · Steve Bajor · Strength Den · Sweetwater · The Cantina · The Goods · The Junction · The Portal · Woander · Woodlands Pet Food and Treats · Vintage Ruse · Woander.