Vail Resorts (NYSE: MTN) was named one of the world’s 50 Most Innovative Companies for 2016 by Fast Company magazine on Feb. 16. Not only was Vail Resorts the only Colorado company to make the list, but it was also selected as one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the travel sector.

“On behalf of our more than 25,000 brave, ambitious and passionate employees, we are incredibly honored to be recognized by Fast Company for our efforts to re-imagine every aspect of the mountain experience for both our guests and our employees,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts in a statement. “Our success has been made possible because of our people, who lie at the core of all innovation, and all of the time and effort everyone at Vail Resorts commits to developing leaders at all levels of our organization.”

The company was recognized for its expansion of the Epic Season Pass, the introduction the EpicMix application in 2010, personalized marketing and sustainability efforts in the use of wind power to offset energy use.

Polis releases statement on FBI demand to decrypt iPhones

Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., released a statement on Tuesday in response to a U.S. Department of Justice order that Apple develop new software to allow the FBI access into an encrypted iPhone. The government has cited the All Writs Act, a law dating back to 1789, in order to access information on a phone belonging to one of the San Bernadino shooters.

“The federal government’s demand to force a private company to develop new decryption software for its own device in the name of national security will produce the exact opposite results,” Polis said in a statement. “This case has implications far beyond allowing the federal government to crack one iPhone. Creating any type of a backdoor will impact users and businesses, ultimately making our data less secure and more vulnerable. The courts should overturn this misguided decision and leave the debate over encryption to the proper venue in Congress.”

LOCAL REALTOR RECOGNIZED FOR ANNUAL SALES PRODUCTION

Laurie Williams, with RE/MAX Properties of the Summit, qualified for the RE/MAX Chairman’s Club on Feb. 10. The honor is for agents who have earned at least $500,000 in commissions in the past year.

Williams has worked in the real estate industry for more than 12 years, and is ranked in the top 100 individual RE/MAX brokers in the U.S.

“Winning this award is a tremendous accomplishment,” RE/MAX branch manager Lisa Angell said. “Laurie continues to raise the bar in real estate, making us, and this community, proud.”

BRECKERNIDGE FINANCIAL CONSULTANT RECEIVES EXCELLENCE AWARD

Breckenridge Bank of the West financial services consultant Margaret Martinez was awarded the Central Rocky Mountain Region’s Award of Excellence for 2016 in early February. One employee is selected from the mountain region for the award each quarter.

“It was very surprising and a nice honor,” Martinez said. “I was definitely very excited.”

Martinez has lived in Breckenridge for seven years, after moving to the county from Arizona.

FRISCO MORTGAGE LENDER RECOGNIZED STATEWIDE

Darlena Marmins, a Frisco-based mortgage banker, was recognized by Colorado State Bank and Trust on Tuesday as the company’s highest producing mortgage banker statewide for the seventh consecutive year. In addition, she was the top-producing mortgage banker in the eight-state region for BOK Financial in 2015.

“We are extremely happy for Darlena and pleased for her clients, too,” Christopher John, CSBT manager of mortgage operations in Littleton said in a statement. “With her vast industry experience and certified public accounting background, she’s a great resource for homebuyers in Frisco and the surrounding area.”

Colorado State Bank and Trust Is a division of BOK Financial (NASDAQ: BOKF), a top-25 U.S. bank.