Night of 100 Stars: CO—100 Gala Celebrates America's Best Small Businesses of 2026

On October 20, 2026, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Night of 100 Stars, a gala event celebrating the businesses that made this year's CO—100 list.

This annual list recognizes 100 of the best and brightest small and mid-sized businesses in America. A panel of judges, including U.S. Chamber members, small business experts, and experienced entrepreneurs, selected this year's honorees from over 1,250 applications based on the innovation, growth, and ingenuity they've demonstrated in their local communities and beyond.

The gala was part of the 2026 CO—100, a multi-day small-business networking event held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Washington, D.C., and sponsored by ADP, American Express, Google, Oracle NetSuite, Oscar, T-Mobile for Business, and Walmart Business. Emceed by Broadway star Christopher J. Hanke, Night of 100 Stars brought together business owners, industry leaders, and supporters to celebrate the achievements of this year's honorees.

CO—100 2026 Top Honorees

Each business ("Honoree") on the CO—100 list is placed into one of 10 distinct categories based on the nature of their companies and achievements. Throughout the event, the top-ranked business in each category, dubbed each category's "Top Honoree," was announced.

Culture Champions Top Honoree: Beetle's Plumbing Solutions

North Royalton, Ohio-based Beetle's Plumbing Solutions was named the Top Honoree in the Culture Champions category. This category recognizes businesses that have cultivated strong workplace cultures that attract, engage, and retain dedicated employees.

Beetle's Plumbing Solutions stood out for its commitment to building a family-oriented workplace centered on mentorship, education, and professional development. The plumbing company invests in paid training, advanced certifications, and individualized career support to help employees achieve their goals.

[Read our full profile on Beetle's Plumbing Solutions]

Community Champions Top Honoree: IN Food Marketing & Design

Minneapolis, Minnesota-based IN Food Marketing & Design was named the Top Honoree in the Community Champions category. Businesses in this category have made a significant impact on their local communities through service, charitable initiatives, and meaningful engagement.

IN Food Marketing & Design was recognized for its long-standing commitment to fighting hunger. The marketing agency dedicates 5% of its annual profits to hunger relief and provides selected nonprofit organizations with financial contributions, pro bono marketing services, and employee volunteer hours.

[Read our full profile on IN Food Marketing & Design]

The Disruptors Top Honoree: Joe & Bella

Joe & Bella was named the Top Honoree in The Disruptors category. This category celebrates businesses that challenge traditional industry practices through groundbreaking products, services, and business models.

Joe & Bella was selected for its innovative approach to adaptive apparel for older adults and individuals with changing physical or cognitive abilities. Rather than sacrificing style for functionality, the company incorporates discreet adaptive features into fashionable, everyday clothing and develops its products with input from older adults, caregivers, and senior living communities.

[Read our full profile on Joe & Bella]

Micro-Business Leaders Top Honoree: Jovy Cosmetics

Jovy was named the Top Honoree in the Micro-Business Leaders category. This category honors small businesses that have achieved impressive growth and success with teams of just one to five employees.

Founded by a mother seeking safer makeup for her daughter, Jovy stood out for developing the first EWG VERIFIED® play makeup brand designed specifically for children. The family-owned company has grown through its commitment to ingredient transparency, product safety, and customer trust.

[Read our full profile on Jovy]

Tech Innovators Top Honoree: MorTrack

Littleton, Colorado-based MorTrack was named the Top Honoree in the Tech Innovators category. This category recognizes businesses that have leveraged new technologies and automated solutions to improve operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth.

MorTrack was recognized for bringing digital chain-of-custody technology to the deathcare industry. Its software replaces paper-based documentation with real-time tracking, digital signatures, timestamps, and location data to help funeral homes and service providers maintain accountability throughout a decedent's journey.

[Read our full profile on MorTrack]

Enduring Businesses Top Honoree: Rab's Country Lanes

Staten Island, New York-based Rab's Country Lanes was named the Top Honoree in the Enduring Businesses category. This category celebrates businesses that have achieved long-term growth and sustainability while successfully navigating changing markets and customer expectations.

Rab's Country Lanes stood out for its ability to continually reinvent its family-owned bowling and entertainment center while preserving its deep community roots. Over the last 30-plus years, the business has expanded its offerings to include arcade entertainment, dining, special events, and community programming. 

[Read our full profile on Rab's Country Lanes]

Growth Accelerators Top Honoree: Resort Life Carts

Central California-based Resort Life Carts was named the Top Honoree in the Growth Accelerators category. This category recognizes businesses that have achieved exceptional growth through creative strategies, strategic investments, and innovative approaches to expansion.

Resort Life Carts was selected for its rapid evolution from a startup with six used golf carts into a full-service dealership offering new and pre-owned golf carts, street-legal Low-Speed Vehicles, rentals, service, and commercial fleet solutions. Since launching in 2022, the company has expanded to two locations and developed new revenue streams through customer-driven initiatives, including a rental program that was carefully tested before scaling.

[Read our full profile on Resort Life Carts]

Global Stars Top Honoree: SpecOps Biosciences

Colorado Springs, Colorado-based SpecOps Biosciences was named the Top Honoree in the Global Stars category. This category celebrates businesses that have successfully expanded their international footprint while navigating the complexities of global markets.

SpecOps Biosciences was recognized for expanding its scientifically engineered blister-prevention and wound-care products beyond the United States into Canada and Europe. Its international expansion has been supported by e-commerce distribution, regulatory planning, and educational partnerships with athletic training professionals. 

[Read our full profile on SpecOps Biosciences]

Customer Champions Top Honoree: Trade Design Build

Ithaca, New York-based Trade Design Build was named the Top Honoree in the Customer Champions category. Businesses in this category are recognized for delivering exceptional customer service and building strong, lasting client relationships.

Trade Design Build stood out for its collaborative, transparent approach to residential and commercial design-build projects. By integrating architecture, general contracting, project management, and custom fabrication under one roof, the firm provides clients with a single point of accountability throughout the construction process.

[Read our full profile on Trade Design Build]

Champions of Adaptability Top Honoree: Xtreme Fabrication

Leitchfield, Kentucky-based Xtreme Fabrication was named the Top Honoree in the Champions of Adaptability category. This category honors businesses that have demonstrated exceptional resilience and resourcefulness in overcoming significant challenges.

Xtreme Fabrication was recognized for navigating two major disruptions: the loss of a customer responsible for approximately half its sales and a devastating fire that caused roughly $5 million in damage. The custom metal fabrication company responded by diversifying its customer base, prioritizing existing relationships, and rebuilding its operations with upgraded equipment and expanded capabilities.

[Read our full profile on Xtreme Fabrication]

2026 CO—100 Top Business: Trade Design Build

At the end of the evening, Trade Design Build was named the CO—100 Top Business of 2026. The 2025 Top Business awardee, Dwayne Myers of Dynamic Automotive, announced the win and invited the company’s three owners, Gideon Stone, Michael Barnoski, and Chris Willett, on stage to accept the $25,000 grand prize.

Stone acknowledged the Trade Design Build team’s role in the business’s success, noting that they are “only here because of the people that we have in our company.”

“Day in and day out, we’ve got designers, carpenters, people working in our woodshop [who] come in and do such extremely hard work, with so much soul, so much commitment, so much pride,” said Stone “This [award] is really a testament to that.”

Willett also highlighted the importance of the highly skilled workers and businesses in the trades.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the valued experience and the trust that we have in the tradesmen that we work with,” Willett said.

CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.