Yeehaw! Saddle up for the 2024 Celebration of Excellence as we tip our hats to the business legends and outlaws of the Brainerd Lakes Area. Gather your posse and ride along with more than 600 cowboys and cowgirls recognizing the true grit of our honorees. Proudly presented by CLA, this upscale hootenanny is the biggest event of the year and IT WILL SELL OUT. Reserve your table or seats today!
We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award winner: Weizenegger-Engel Insurance! Sponsored by Cub Foods, this prestigious award recognizes a small business that personifies the spirit of entrepreneurship, pride, and success that forms the backbone of our local economy.
Past Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award recipients: Jack Pine Brewery (2018); Brainerd General Rental (2019); Close Converse (2021); Kavanaugh's Sylvan Lake Resort (2022); Weizenegger-Engel Insurance (2024).
Joining the list of legendary Business Excellence Award winners is Waste Partners! Sponsored by Hy-Tec Construction, this prestigious award recognizes a business that embodies leadership, innovation, employee investment and community.
Past Business Excellence Award recipients: Widseth (2012); Crosswoods (2013); Grand View Lodge (2014); Ultra Paws (2015); Just for Kix (2016); CTC (2017); Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (2018); 3 Cheers Hospitality (2019); Lexington Manufacturing (2021); LINDAR-Avantech-Triven (2022); Hubbard Radio & 2060 Digital (2023).
The crowning glory for the 2024 Celebration of Excellence will be the presentation of the Business Legacy Award by the Brainerd Lakes Chamber and RiverWood Bank to the Quisberg family! As owners of multiple well-known businesses in our area, including Brainerd and Baxter Cub Foods, Pequot Lakes Supervalu, and Holiday Stationstores. The Quisberg family are a shining example of leadership, generosity, and good business. Their many contributions to our community will leave a legacy of economic vitality for generations to come.
Past Business Legacy Award recipients: Stewart C. Mills Jr. (2016), Arnie Johnson (2017), Paul and Lynn Hunt (2018), Dutch and Irma Cragun (2019), Ron and Al Lindner (2021), Bob Spizzo (2022), and Reggie Clow (2023).
Rancher Table: $1,500 (SOLD OUT)
Wrangler Table: $1,100 (SOLD OUT)
Rustler Table: $850 (SOLD OUT)
Individual Seat: $95 (3 SEATS AVAILABLE - Contact Sue Galligan sue@brainerdlakeschamber.com to purchase or purchase online)
RSVPs RECEIVED
We invite attendees to put their best boot forward and embrace the wild west with us for a night of cowboy glam! Please remember that guests are NOT required to dress up to the theme for this event. Business attire is also acceptable. We want our guests to feel welcome and comfortable.
Inducted into the Blue Ox Business Academy's Leadership Experience will be the Class of 2024. The Leadership Experience is a ten month program (11 full days) that is designed for emerging leaders and high-potential employees to develop essential skills and insights into their leadership character. The Brainerd Lakes Chamber is proud to have 575 graduates from the Leadership program that originated in 1999. Several of our alumni have grown and developed into some of our area's most influential leaders!
Join us in celebrating this year's Leadership Experience Class of 2024: Aaron Kriens, Hy-Tec Construction; Austin Mau, Brainerd General Rental; Barb Thesing, LINDAR Corporation; Bill Volbert, The Teehive; Brett Pikula, Magnum Research; Daniel Hood, CTC; Dave Maile, Lexington Manufacturing; Jennifer Caughey, Lakes Printing; Jess Vogt, Brainerd Lakes Chamber; Jessica Richau, Curated Closet; Jill Haugene, Growth Zone; Jodi Bedard, Cuyuna Regional Medica Center; Joel Falenschek, Essentia Health; Joey Froelich, Crow Wing County; Josh Wever, BLA Clean; Kelly Masberg, CTC; Kelsey Fabro, RiverWood Bank; Lael Dornself, Bridges of Hope - Common Goods; Leah Campbell, American National Bank of MN; Leah Morrow, Lexington Manuracturing; Mac Gruber, Nor-Son Construction; Marc Williams, Crow Wing Power; Mel Schermerhorn, City of Menahga; Melissa Kraklau, Lexington Manufacturing; Molly Rannevik, CliftonLarsonAllen; Naomi Berndt, Frandsen Bank and Trust; Nichole Heinen, Pequot Lakes Chamber; Nicole Goodwin, Just For Kix; Nolan Michaelson, Magnum Research; Paul Augustinack, Woods To Water Real Estate; PJ O'Brien, T.C.B.X. Trucking; Ryan Koslofsky, Pequot Manufacturing; Scott Whittemore, Nor-Son Construction; Shawna Reed, Essentia Health; Shelby French, Magnum Research; Stacey Harting, Hubbard Radio & 2060 Digital; Stefanie DeVries, Brainerd Public Schools Foundation; Tess Taylor, Hubbard Radio & 2060 Digital.
VIP Party Sponsor: $2,000 (SOLD)
Entertainment Sponsor: $2,000
Skip the Line with Pre-set Bottles of Wine at Your Table: $55
Skip the Line with Pre-set Buckets of Seltzer at Your Table: $60 / 8 Seltzers
Skip the Line with Pre-set Buckets of Beer at Your Table: $60 / 8 Beers
VIP Party Pass: $25
4:00-5:00 PM: VIP Party Sponsored by Amazon Hub
4:00-6:00 PM: Photo Opp with Action Entertainment's stagecoach and horses (near the Sports Centre entrance)
4:30-5:50 PM: Social Hour
6:00-8:30 PM: Awards & Dinner
Thank you for attending
**Parking shuttle service provided by Cragun's Resort and Ole's Shuttle Service
The Brainerd Lakes Chamber will present three awards at its twelfth-annual Celebration of Excellence on November 21 - the traditional Business Excellence Award, which goes to an outstanding local business, the Business Legacy Award, which celebrates individual lifetime achievements as well as community and economic contributions and the Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award which will recognize a small business that personifies the spirit of entrepreneurship in the Brainerd Lakes Area! For all three awards, a nomination/application process was announced in April 2024. After the deadline passed at the end of May, a volunteer selection committee independently scored and discussed each applicant before choosing the recipients.
Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake
Individual Cowboy / Cowgirl: $95 (3 SEATS AVAILABLE - Contact Sue Galligan sue@brainerdlakeschamber.com to purchase or register to attend online)
ADD-ONS
Skip the Line and Have Pre-set Bottles of Wine at Your Table: $55
Skip the Line and Have Pre-set Buckets of Beer at Your Table: $60 / 8 beers
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