Description

We are now accepting applications and nominations for our Business Legacy Award, Business Excellence Award and Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award! Deadline for submissions is 5:00 PM, May 31, 2023. All applicants will be reviewed by a committee in June. Winners will be presented with their awards at our Celebration of Excellence on November 16th, 2023 at Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake (save the date!).

Every year we recognize a larger (more than 20 employees) outstanding business for its entrepreneurial spirit and accomplishments. The Business Excellence Award, sponsored by Hy-Tec Construction, shines the spotlight on one Brainerd Lakes Chamber, Crosslake Chamber or Pequot Lakes Chamber member who has displayed our values in the following ways: Leadership, Innovation, Employee Investment, and Community Service. 

Award Eligibility Criteria
The business needs to be a member of the Brainerd Lakes, Crosslake and Pequot Lakes Chambers and have more than 20 employees.

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)

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber and RiverWood Bank will present its highest honor to an individual who has achieved exceptional business success in his or her lifetime. We seek to recognize inspiring leadership that transcends business and leaves a legacy of community and economic vitality for generations to come.

Award Eligibility Criteria
The individual must be a current or retired Brainerd Lakes Area business leader whose lifetime contributions span a minimum of 30 years. They must be a current or past member of the Brainerd Lakes, Pequot Lakes, and Crosslake Chambers.

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)

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce and Cub Foods will recognize a small business (less than 20 employees) that personifies the spirit of entrepreneurship, pride and success that forms the backbone of our local economy. The recipient will possess the following attributes: Leadership, Innovation, Employee Investment and Community Service.

Award Eligibility Criteria
The business must be a member of the Brainerd Lakes, Crosslake and Pequot Lakes Chambers and have less than 20 employees.

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)

ATTEND

Join us for a Rockin' Celebration of Excellence presented by ____________, our largest signature event of the year for our 1,000+ members! Party On as we celebrate our award winners and their amazing accomplishments. Also receiving recognition will be our Leadership Class of 2023.

Gather your crew and join this epic rock fest of the Brainerd Lakes business community at our biggest night of the year!

THE THEME

Stay tuned for more details about this year's theme!

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE GRADUATION CLASS OF 2023

Inducted into the Blue Ox Business Academy's Leadership Experience Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame will be the Class of 2023. 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 538 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 2023: 
Aaron Baseman, Revolv Manufacturing; Amanda Small, Central Lakes College; Amanda Fox, Lexington Manufacturing; Amy Hendrickson, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union; Andrew Liljegren, Pequot Manufacturing; Andrew Semo, Lexington Manufacturing; Annmarie Lacher, ISD 181; Beth Goerges, CliftonLarsonAllen; Blake Thelen, Thelen Heating & Roofing; Brady Bussler, Widseth; Brandon Hedlund, Woods to Water Real Estate; Caleb Tautges, Hy-Tec Construction; Cassandra Clarken, B. Johnson & Associates; Garrett Haglin, LINDAR Corp./Avantech/Tri-Ven; Greg Sigler, Hubbard Radio & 2060 Digital; Jamie Fischer, Xtona; Jason Mellenthin, US Bank; Jayme Steele, Weizenegger-Engel Insurance; Jeff Bailiff, Avantech; Jennifer Podsiadly, CRMC; Jessica Noonkesser, Essentia Health; Joe Herberg, Anderson Brothers Construction; Jordan Yira, Woods to Water Real Estate; Julie Henne, Revolv Manufacturing; Justin Jansen, Pequot Manufacturing; Kathy Gustafson, Lexington Manufacturing; Kevin Denny, The Teehive; Kirsten Shaw, CTC; Kristin Dupre, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union; Lucas Bollig, Pequot Manufacturing; Matt Means, RiverWood Bank; Sarah Patton, Essentia Health; Scott French, Widseth; Shawn Long, Lexington Manufacturing; Shawn Rasmussen, CTC; Trisha Reilley, Brainerd Lakes Chamber; Vanessa Lane, Premier Choice Senior Management Solutions.

SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES

Presenting Sponsor: $5,000 (1 available)

• Receive a Diamond table & dinner for 8
• Receive backstage passes for 8
• Receive a pre-set bottle of wine or bucket of beer at your table
• Provide a spokesperson and the welcome the night of the event
• Logo included with all event marketing
• Logo included on all of the award video credits

Backstage Sponsor: $2,500

• Receive a Platinum table & dinner for 8
• Receive backstage passes for 8
• Provide 2 greeters for the Backstage Lounge
• Logo included with event marketing

Entertainment Sponsor: $2,500

• Receive a Platinum table & dinner for 8
• Receive backstage passes for 8
• Logo included with event marketing

TABLE & SEATING OPTIONS

Diamond Record Table: $1,295 (9 available)

• Includes a reserved table located in the two rows closest to the stage
• Plated dinner for 8
• 1 pre-set bottle of wine or bucket of beer (your choice) at your table
• Backstage passes for 8

Platinum Record Table: $995 (14 available)

• Includes a reserved table located in the 3rd and 4th rows / middle section
• Plated dinner for 8

Gold Record Table: $795

• Includes a reserved table
• Plated dinner for 8

Rock Star: $89

• Includes reserved seating and dinner for 1 individual
• Reduced fee for Leadership Class of 2023 ($75)
  
  
  

KEEP YOUR NIGHT ROCKIN' WITH THESE ADD ONS

Pre-set Bottle of Wine at Your Table: $55

• Wine Options-

Pre-set Bucket of Beer at Your Table: $X / x beers

• Beer Options-

Backstage Pass: $25

• VIP pass to the pre-party and 2 drink tickets

WHAT TO WEAR

More details coming soon. What to wear are recommendations not requirements. We want all of our guests to feel welcome and comfortable. Business attire is also acceptable. 

EVENT SCHEDULE

4:00 - 5:00 PM

• Backstage Party hosted by _______________
  • Invitation only for Presenting Sponsor, Award Sponsors, Diamond Table Sponsors, Award recipients and their guests, and individuals who purchased seperately
  • Attendees will receive 2 drink tickets
  • Location: Bear Trap Lounge at Cragun's Resort

5:00 - 6:00 PM

• Social Hour
  • Cash Bar
  • Appetizers
  • Professional Photos by _____________________

6:15 - 8:30 PM

• Welcome by ___________________, Presenting Sponsor
• Blue Ox Business Academy Class of 2023 Leadership Experience Graduation
• Invocation by ___________________
• Plated Dinner
• Let's Rock!
• Recognition of volunteers, committees, and retiring board members
• Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award Presentation, Sponsored by Cub Foods
• Business Excellence Award Presentation, Sponsored by Hy-Tec Construction
• Business Legacy Award Presentation, Sponsored by RiverWood Bank
• Thank you for attending
  
  
  

ABOUT THE AWARDS

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber will present three awards at its tenth-annual Celebration of Excellence on November 16th - 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 is announced in April 2023. After the deadline passed at the end of May, a volunteer selection committee independently scored and discussed each applicant before choosing the recipients.

PHOTOS FROM 2022 CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE: 'TEAM UP'

VIEW THE ENTIRE PHOTO ALBUM