Voting for Best of Mile High Is Underway

Voting for the Best of Mile High Awards is underway, and there’s still time to make your voice heard.

The moment is here. Voting for the Best of Mile High Awards is officially open, and this is when the Denver community gets a say in recognizing the businesses that truly stand out.

From longtime favorites to trusted local service providers, voting is your opportunity to support the companies that consistently deliver great experiences.

Voting dates

Voting is open February 24 through March 12.

During this time, residents can visit our website and vote for their favorite businesses across multiple categories.

How voting works

Voting is simple, but meaningful:

• Each person may vote once per category
• Voting must remain fair and cannot be incentivized
• Votes are combined with Google reviews from the past 12 months

Together, these factors help identify the businesses that have earned trust, loyalty, and strong community support.

Nominees: time to spread the word

If your business is an official nominee, now is the time to let your customers know.

Helpful ways to encourage participation include:

• Sharing your nomination on social media
• Using the complimentary voting graphics in your dashboard
• Mentioning your nomination in store or during appointments
• Sending a short email or text thanking customers and inviting them to vote

Support local. Make it count.

Voting is open now. Visit our website and make your voice heard before voting closes on March 12.

We’re officially in countdown mode. In just a few days, voting for the Best of Mile High Awards will open, one of the most important stages of the entire program.

If your business is an official nominee, now is the time to prepare. If you’re a supporter of local businesses, get ready to make your voice heard.

When does voting open?

Voting runs February 24 through March 12.

During the voting stage, Denver area residents can visit our website and vote to support the businesses they believe truly stand out. Voting is combined with Google reviews from the past 12 months to help determine which nominees rise to the top.

Voting must remain fair and cannot be incentivized, but nominees are encouraged to spread the word. A little preparation now can make the voting period much more impactful.

Here are a few effective ways to prepare:

• Share a post letting customers know voting is opening soon
• Download and use the complimentary voting graphics in your dashboard
• Mention your nomination during customer interactions
• Plan a short email or text reminder once voting opens

Voting opens soon, and this is when the Best of Mile High community really comes together. Whether you’re preparing to share your nomination or planning to vote, now is the time to get ready.

The Best of Mile High community has spoken, and our team has completed the review process. Businesses selected as official 2026 Best of Mile High nominees earned their place through a strong combination of nominations and Google reviews from the past 12 months.

Why it’s trusted:

• It’s a free-to-enter program—no fees to join, and sponsorship doesn’t influence outcomes.
• Not a popularity contest—small businesses have just as good a chance as larger ones.
• Decisions come from the community, not a judging panel—residents nominate, vote, and review.
• Built-in fraud protection through proprietary technology.
• Winners are confirmed with credible sources like BBB ratings and online reviews.

How it all comes together:
From fair participation to data-backed results, the process ensures that winners truly earn their titles.

Freshly Faded Barbershop is more than a place for a sharp fade—it’s the vision of two Latina entrepreneurs, Erica Hernandez and Monica Delgado, who turned years of hard work, shared values, and faith into a space of their own. As Hispanic women and working mothers in a male-dominated industry, they’ve created not just a business but a statement: representation matters, and women can lead with strength and purpose.

Their journey began in 2011 at Floyd’s 99 Barbershop in Westminster. Erica had already been there since 2007, while Monica was just joining the team. They met behind the chairs and quickly bonded. Both were young mothers taking early shifts to balance work with school pickups, navigating an industry where women—especially Latinas—were rarely in the spotlight. That shared experience created a natural connection, one built on hustle, resilience, and a shared desire for something more.

Over the next decade, they worked side by side. Erica, who started cutting hair in the early ’90s, and Monica, who joined the field in the early 2000s, pushed each other to keep growing. They kept up with trends, invested in continued education, and sharpened their craft. But more than that, they built trust with each other—and the early spark of entrepreneurship began to grow. They wanted greater freedom, not just to be creative, but to own their time, their work, and their future.

Leaving Floyd’s was a big step, but with strong client support, they moved on to rent chairs at a shop in Olde Town Arvada. It was a chance to work independently while still leaning on each other. For five years, they ran their own stations and built their brands, but the idea of going separate ways never felt right. Their partnership worked, and it was clear that the next move had to be one they made together.

That next move came sooner than expected. Erica had an appointment to view a potential shop space and invited Monica to join. After meeting with the leasing rep, they both felt it might be the one. Later that same day, the broker called with surprising news: another salon in the same center had just terminated its lease. It was larger, fully built out, and available immediately. They didn’t overthink it—they signed the lease and got to work.

Freshly Faded Barbershop opened soon after, entirely self-funded with no outside investors. The name came naturally, reflecting their style, professionalism, and commitment to clean, consistent service. Staying in Arvada was never up for debate. This was their community, where they built their careers and earned the trust of their clients. They brought their team with them, six talented barbers who shared their vision and wanted to be part of something bigger—including Erica’s daughter, who proudly joined them in the next chapter of their journey.

As a Latina- and women-owned barbershop, Freshly Faded brings a new perspective to an industry still dominated by men. Erica and Monica didn’t just create a business, they built a space where people feel seen, respected, and welcomed. Their leadership reflects the values they live by: hard work, community, and showing up every day with purpose.

Throughout it all, their faith in God has given them the confidence to keep moving forward. They’re deeply grateful for their journey, their growth, and every client who helped them get here.

Opening day was filled with support from friends, family, and longtime clients. One customer walked in, looked around, and said, “This place feels like a blessing.” It was a simple moment, but one that captured everything they had built.

For Erica and Monica, Freshly Faded isn’t just a shop. It’s the result of years of dedication, a reflection of who they are, and a reminder of what’s possible when women bet on themselves—and believe in something greater.

At the heart of it all is their motto: “Freshly Faded, with respect and integrity.” It’s more than a tagline—it’s how they work, how they lead, and how they treat every person who walks through their doors.

The nomination period for the Best of Mile High Awards is now closed. We’re grateful for the support we received as the Denver community nominated their favorite local businesses and helped kick off another exciting awards season.

What happens behind the scenes

With nominations complete, our team is now reviewing each submission to determine which businesses will move forward in this year’s program. Because only a limited number of companies can advance, not every nominated business will become an official nominee.

During this stage, we carefully review each business to ensure:

• It aligns with the appropriate category
• Business information and locations are accurate
• Google reviews from the past 12 months reflect a consistent customer experience

This step takes time, but it helps keep Best of Mile High competitive, fair, and meaningful.

What’s next

Once the review process is complete, we’ll announce the official Best of Mile High nominees. After that, the program moves into the voting stage, which runs February 24 through March 12.

Thank you for being part of Best of Mile High. We’re excited to share what’s next.

When awards feel fair, they mean more—and here’s why:

• Everyone Has a Shot
  There’s no cost to participate, and it doesn’t matter how big or small your business is. Anyone can be nominated.
• It’s Driven by Locals
  The public decides. Nominations and voting come straight from the community—no panels or politics.
• Voting Is Kept Honest
  One person, one vote per category. If someone votes more than once, only the last vote sticks. It’s a clean, fair system.
• Reputation Counts
  Beyond voting, businesses are evaluated based on their customer reviews and Better Business Bureau standings.
• Balanced Scoring
  A custom formula blends together the number of 5-star reviews, average star rating, and votes. This keeps the playing field level and the results trustworthy.

The Best of Mile High awards stand out because they focus on real feedback, fair voting, and genuine reputation—not hype.

Hospitals aren’t known for being warm or inviting—just white walls, cold metal, and the steady hum of machines. In one quiet room, Trish Bonney was preparing for surgery, her mind drifting. A nurse asked her a simple question: “What are you looking forward to after the surgery?” At first, Trish didn’t have a clear answer. Her career at the time didn’t bring her joy or fulfillment. Instead, she shared that she had always dreamed about pursuing something creative and artistic. When she woke up from surgery, the nurse had a surprise—she had scheduled a meeting for Trish with the Denver Art Institute. Two weeks later, Trish was enrolled in their interior design program, ready to turn her dream into a reality.

In 2016, Trish founded TAB Interior Designs, a company built to create spaces that reflect each client’s unique needs and desires. Her passion for serving others began early in her career during her time in the United States Air Force. The core values of Excellence in All We Do and Service Before Self continue to guide her work today, driving her to constantly seek improvement and give her best in everything she does.

Trish’s values have manifested throughout the framework of TAB Interior Designs, as it is not just another design service. In addition to curating the space, Trish and her team offer personalized advice and consultation for extra touches to liven up their homes. The company offers a wide array of products such as custom bedding, furniture, cabinetry, and so much more to add a lasting final touch to the space. This eliminates extra work for the customer and ensures every client is truly happy with the results.

The growing demand for TAB Interior Designs’ services led Trish to envision new ways to provide other services her clients were seeking. In 2022 she started a design-to-build company. Two years later, however, the company began to fail, bringing a deep sense of disappointment. At that moment, Trish realized she had two choices: give up completely or start over. Remembering the impact TAB Interior Designs had on her customers, she chose to pick herself up and refocus her energy on making TAB Interior Designs the best it could be.

It takes resilience to pick yourself back up after a challenging time, and by doing so, Trish demonstrated her deep commitment to her clients. With Excellence in All We Do as a core value in her life, Trish understands that mistakes are part of the journey—they serve as learning experiences that help you return stronger than before. This mindset has been essential in fine-tuning TAB Interior Designs to ensure it consistently exceeds customer expectations.

Trish’s path to founding TAB Interior Designs wasn’t a straight line, but it gave her the opportunity to gain valuable experience and combine it with her lifelong passion for creative pursuits, ultimately building a company that stands out. Her resilience through challenges and her dedication to serving others remain the guiding principles behind TAB Interior Designs, driving the unmatched level of service she and her team provide.