Rhinelander chamber to host 100th annual awards gala and fundraiser

Preparations are underway for the 100th annual Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce awards gala and fundraiser to be held Thursday, January 25, at The Pines Event Center in Rhinelander.

According to a chamber press release, the festivities are to begin at 4:30 p.m. and the event will feature heavy appetizers, drinks, silent auctions, raffles and the announcement of many community award winners. Formal attire is encouraged.

Tickets for the event were already sold out, as of Friday morning, Jan. 5.

One of the announcements to be made at the gala is this year’s list of Top 10 Under 40 honorees.

“Nominations were collected in November/December. Due to the growth in nominations we have seen, our judges’ panel has narrowed the nominee list to 15 finalists,” chamber officials stated in a recent Facebook post.

This year’s finalists are:

• Alison Pichowski - Nicolet College

• Andrew Egan - Inspire Digital Studios

• Ben Gauthier – Indian Health Service

• David Mannikko - Boyd Financial Services, LLC

• Emily Popp – Mel’s Trading Post

• Ernesto Vargas – Nacho’s Mexican Grill

• John LaChapelle – School District of Rhinelander

• Kaitlin Edwardson - Aspirus Rhinelander

• Kayla VanCleve – Compassus Home Health

• Lexi Allen - School District of Rhinelander

• Mandy Hein – Northland CPAs

• Randy Ostrom – Ponsse North America

• Sarah Morris – NRG Media

• Stevie Radzinski – Heck Capital Advisors

• Tiki Krueger-Boehm – Park City Credit Union.