Gary Slane, owner of Minuteman Press, was the unanimous choice for 2025 Arnold Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year, said Courtney Sokolis, chamber executive director.
“Gary has just gone above and beyond for not only multiple members of the chamber but business owners throughout the community,” Sokolis said. “He donated to multiple things throughout the community with raffle items or logo items. He has just been a bright beacon, and every time we turned around, Gary was present.”
Slane, 71, received the award in December during the chamber’s Christmas party.
“I was very honored and very shocked,” he said. “I feel very privileged to be recognized, and very thankful.”
Sokolis said three business owners were nominated for the award, and the members of the chamber’s Board of Directors selected the winner.
“We kept hearing thank yous at Coffee Connections and luncheons for different things (Slane) was doing for us at the chamber and other chamber members and businesses,” she said. “We just felt that he has stepped up.”
Melissa Lintner, a chamber member and former board president, said she was one of three people to nominate Slane for the award because of the numerous positive stories chamber members shared about Minuteman Press.
“During our member meetings, we do what is called ‘member shoutouts,’ and members will stand up and if they had a great experience with another member, they talk about that experience,” she said. “It was consistent with Gary. Everybody just talked about his customer service and how he goes above and beyond.”
Slane said he opened Minuteman Press, 531 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold in July 2024. He said one of the main goals for the printing and marketing company is to help other companies grow.
“When companies continue to grow, that helps us continue to grow,” he said. “In order to do that, we have to make sure they are happy with whatever their needs are.
“The company’s tagline is, ‘We design, print and promote … you!’ I think that is what we try to do. We try to promote our customers by the services that we provide.”
Brad Cary, the chamber’s board president, said it is impressive that Slane won the award after opening the Arnold store just more than a year ago. He said Slane became an active chamber member right after opening his business.
“I was ecstatic for him to win,” Cary said. “When you talk about a company jumping into the chamber and stepping up for everybody else, he is that guy. We had a couple of board members step away, and he has become a board member. You name it, and he is there for the chamber to help out at events and support others.”
Slane said his name is on the award, but he believes it is a company award. He said he would not have received the recognition without the work of customer service representatives Stephanie Tompkins and Pam Wakefield and graphic designer David Hollenberg.
“It is a team that makes things happen,” Slane said.
Minuteman Press specializes in full-color printing, copying services, graphic design and finishing services, according to the company’s website, minuteman.com.
Some of the printed products the company produces include letterhead, brochures, business cards, invitations, postcards, decals and raffle tickets.
Some of Minuteman Press’s marketing services include graphic design, direct mail, promotional products and custom QR codes, and some of its bindery and finishing services include collating, laminating, folding, stapling and spiral binding.
Margie Sammons, another chamber board member who nominated Slane for the Business Person of the Year award, said she nominated him because he is personable and his business provides quality products and service.
“He is very accommodating to meet your needs of whatever you are wanting to create and do,” she said. “He is very professional. He definitely is supportive of chamber members and making sure their businesses are thriving. He is just a great asset to the community.”