If I’ve learned anything at all after working nearly 25 years as editor of a business journal, it’s that some businesses not only do well, but also do good.

By that I mean businesses do well in supplying better products and services. They do so less expensively or more quickly. They find out what their customers need, then meet those needs. The end result is usually profitable operations.

At the same time, businesses do good in helping their communities. They generously support philanthropic organizations and efforts with money as well as the time of owners and employees.

It’s been my experience those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, one usually has everything to do with the other. That’s especially true in smaller cities and towns like those in the Grand Valley where customers often support the businesses that support communities.

All this is my long-winded way of congratulating the latest winners of awards recognizing businesses and individuals who not only do well, but also do good.

The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce presented five of those awards at its annual banquet. Janie VanWinkle received the Citizen of the Year award and her family ranching operation received the Small Business of the Year award. Fisher’s Liquor Barn received recognition as the Large Business of the Year. Diane Schwenke received the Lifetime Achievement award and Andrea Lopez was named Young Professional of the Year.

The Fruita and Palisade chambers will recognize more worthy businesses at their upcoming banquets.

I’ve been so fortunate over the years to write stories about Janie VanWinkle and the VanWinkle Ranch as well Brandi Fisher-Pollock and Fisher’s Liquor Barn. I spent a good portion of a day with Janie VanWinkle — she was under her cowboy hat at the time, of course — to see her family’s ranching operation up close and in person. I’ve followed the remarkable growth of Fisher’s Liquor Barn and all that business does to support local causes. Until her retirement as president and chief executive officer of the Grand Junction chamber, I worked for decades with Diane in covering chamber events and programs and other efforts.

Here’s what I can report about these remarkable business leaders — about most entrepreneurs, actually. They’re passionate about what they do and indefatigable in doing it. In addition to caring deeply about their operations and employees, they care just as much about the communities in which they do business.

I suppose there’s some measure of truth to complaints about businesses that priotize profits above everything — customers, employees, the environment, you name it. The pejorative of robber baron perhaps applies in some cases.

But nearly all the business owners and managers I’ve interviewed aren’t like that. They want to do well, of course. Their operations depend on it. But with few exceptions, they also want to do good.