Yuma County Chamber of Commerce hosts 2026 dinner gala

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Business and community leaders from across Yuma County gathered for an evening of celebration, reflection and recognition at the annual dinner gala event held at the Pivot Point Conference Center.

Hosted by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, the event marked a symbolic turning point - closing one chapter while welcoming the opportunities of the year ahead.

Nearly 200 attendees filled the venue to celebrate individual and group accomplishments from the past year, while also recognizing the incoming board of directors. Executive Director Carrie Zaragoza said this year’s board represents a diverse cross-section of the local business community.

“This year’s board, we’re just super excited about it, because they are from small business owners to big business - either owners or higher execs within their organizations - and it’s such a good, broad mix,” she said.

Throughout the evening, several awards were presented to honor standout contributions to Yuma County’s business landscape including Chamber Champion, Ambassador of the Year, Small Businessperson of the Year and Member of the Year. The most anticipated recognition of the night was the Chamber’s Business of the Year award, given to a company that exemplifies the very best of the local community.

“Our big award is our business of the year, and that’s a business that exemplifies all the best of Yuma County,” Zaragoza said.

After competing among several nominees, Imaginary Friends Design Studios was named Business of the Year.

Owner Jon M. Perry said the recognition felt especially meaningful because it came from the community his company serves.

“It feels amazing. We’ve won design awards that are recognized nationally, and that’s amongst peers. This is completely different because this is the recognition of my community and having them kind of recognize the work we do,” Perry said. “Seeing the work that we put out there and seeing it come back for us is really, really rewarding.”

As the evening concluded, attendees left not only celebrating the achievements of the past year, but also turning their attention toward new goals and continued growth in 2026.