Denver-Based FloWater Wins Gold Stevie Award for Thought Leadership

DENVER, CO, August 17, 2026 — FloWater, the Denver-based drinking water company, has been named a Gold Winner in the 23rd annual International Business Awards®, part of the Stevie® Awards, earning recognition as Thought Leadership Organization of the Year – Business Services.

As an 80-person challenger brand taking on some of the biggest issues facing drinking water today, FloWater has built a voice that extends well beyond its Refill Stations. While much of the water industry focuses on marketing products, FloWater has focused on educating people about what is in their water, the growing challenges facing drinking water quality, and how we can build a better alternative to bottled water.

Since making thought leadership a formal business strategy in 2024, FloWater has worked to establish its executives as trusted voices on PFAS, microplastics, drinking water quality, hydration and sustainability.

FloWater CEO Rich “Raz” Razgaitis has appeared on more than 35 television broadcasts nationwide, including Scripps News, and has earned national coverage from FOX Business. He has also brought his perspective on the future of drinking water to major stages, including NYC Climate Week and the Sun Valley Forum.

FloWater has paired that national conversation with action in communities. Through a partnership with the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, founded by Stephen and Ayesha Curry, and the Oakland Unified School District, FloWater installed Refill Stations to expand access to healthier drinking water for students.

Separately, FloWater announced a permanent clean water infrastructure investment for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, reinforcing the company’s commitment to expanding access to trusted drinking water.

The company also reached a major environmental milestone, surpassing one billion single-use plastic bottles eliminated from oceans, rivers, lakes and landfills through the use of FloWater Refill Stations.

Education has played a role as well. FloWater supported the publication of Razgaitis’ children’s book, Clean Water is Awesome, No Really, and helped bring its message about clean water and sustainability to students and families.

“This award validates what we’ve believed from the beginning: building authority and building a brand go hand in hand. By leading important conversations around drinking water, we’re building trust in FloWater and creating real value for the business,” said Shay Trukov, VP of Marketing at FloWater.

FloWater’s approach has turned media coverage into customer credibility, speaking engagements into partnerships, and education into a way to build greater trust in drinking water.

“Our mission has always been bigger than building a better water dispenser. We want to fundamentally change the way people think about drinking water and ultimately make trusted, great-tasting water accessible to everyone,” said Rich “Raz” Razgaitis, CEO and Co-Founder of FloWater. “We’ve now eliminated more than a billion single-use plastic bottles, expanded access to better drinking water in schools and communities, and helped bring issues like PFAS and water quality into the national conversation. We’ve made meaningful progress, but we’re just getting started. The opportunity in front of us is to change drinking water for good.”

About the Stevie® Awards

Founded in 2002, the Stevie Awards are widely recognized as the world's premier business awards programs, honoring outstanding achievements in the workplace worldwide. The name "Stevie" is derived from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning "crowned."

The Stevie Awards include nine international business awards programs:

● Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards

● German Stevie Awards

● Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards