Katalyst Ko Sponsors Awards at Visit Mesa’s 2026 Annual Summit

Being part of Mesa’s business community means showing up for the people and organizations helping it grow. On September 22, 2026, Katalyst Ko Printshop attended Visit Mesa’s Annual Summit at Delta Hotels Phoenix Mesa, where we had the opportunity to create and sponsor the awards presented to two deserving community honorees: Rose Hanne and Mesa Arts Center.

The morning brought together community partners, business owners and local leaders to discuss Mesa’s visitor economy, celebrate contributions to our city and look ahead at the opportunities taking shape here. For us, it was a chance to contribute our work to an event focused on the community we call home.

Recognizing the People and Organizations Investing in Mesa

One of the most meaningful parts of the summit was seeing the awards presented. Recognition matters, especially when it celebrates people whose work reaches beyond their own organization and benefits the broader community.

Rose Hanne: Mike Whalen Spirit of Community Service Award

Rose Hanne received the Mike Whalen Spirit of Community Service Award. Visit Mesa recognized her volunteer leadership and involvement across Mesa, including her work with the Mesa Arts Center Foundation and Rotary Club of Mesa.

We created a personalized glass award with a red-and-black sculptural design and a plate identifying the award, recipient and event date. It was an honor to help provide a lasting reminder of that recognition.

Mesa Arts Center: Mesa Visitor Industry Champion Award

Mesa Arts Center received the Mesa Visitor Industry Champion Award, recognizing its contribution to Mesa’s visitor experience through arts and culture.

For this recognition, we created a multicolored sculptural glass award with a personalized plate. Seeing the finished piece presented to the recipient brought the project full circle: from preparing the award to watching it become part of a community celebration.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Are Connected to Mesa’s Future

A major theme throughout the summit was strengthening tourism, arts and culture in our community. Those conversations have a practical connection to local businesses. The experiences people have here help shape how they remember Mesa, what they tell others about it and whether they return.

Restaurants, cultural venues, events and local businesses all contribute to that experience. Together, they help give a city its identity. For a Mesa business like ours, hearing that broader conversation was a reminder that the work happening across different industries is connected.

We also appreciated the attention given to the changes ahead. New development, continued building and increasingly competitive markets create opportunities, but they also require businesses and community partners to think carefully about how Mesa grows and what makes it distinctive.

A Broader View of Mesa’s Visitor Economy

The summit’s panel offered diverse perspectives on Mesa’s growing tourism market. The discussion explored how visitor experiences connect with economic development, talent, quality of life and community investment.

Topics included how tourism shapes perceptions of Mesa, how visitors can develop a deeper connection with the city, and how investments in the community can benefit residents and businesses alongside travelers.

One takeaway for us was the importance of thinking beyond a single visit or transaction. A positive experience can become the beginning of a longer relationship with a place. That idea applies to a destination, and it also resonates with how we approach serving our clients.

Whether someone is visiting Mesa for an event, exploring its arts and culture, or considering a future here, the details of their experience matter. Local businesses have a role in making those experiences welcoming, consistent and memorable.

Custom Awards With a Meaningful Purpose

At Katalyst Ko Printshop, we get to help organizations put their identity and appreciation into something tangible. Sometimes that means apparel for a team or promotional products for an event. In this case, it meant creating awards that recognized service and contribution to Mesa.

An award becomes personal through the details: the recipient’s name, the recognition being given and the occasion it represents. Those details deserve care because the finished piece may remain on display long after the event ends.

This project was especially meaningful because we were able to attend the summit and see the awards presented. We were grateful to contribute to that moment and celebrate alongside the community.

Thank You, Visit Mesa

Thank you to Visit Mesa for bringing community partners together and giving Katalyst Ko Printshop the opportunity to sponsor these awards. Congratulations to Rose Hanne and Mesa Arts Center on their recognition, and thank you for the work you do for Mesa.

We’re proud to be a local business serving this community and look forward to continuing to support the organizations, events and people helping it grow.

Planning an awards presentation, community event or employee recognition program? Katalyst Ko Printshop can help with custom awards, personalized engraving, branded apparel and promotional products. Reach out to discuss your project and request a quote.