Chamber announces nominees for annual awards

The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Awards Gala and Fundraiser event on Thursday, Jan. 23, beginning at 4:30 p.m, at The Pines Event Center. 

The event will feature heavy appetizers, drinks, silent auctions, raffles and the announcement of many community award winners, chamber officials said.

This year’s theme is “A Night Among the Stars.”

This nominees are:

Small Business Excellence (1 to 20 employees)

• Heather Collins Photography

• Northland CPAs

• Tom’s Drawing Board

Business Excellence (21 employees or more)

• Blain’s Farm and Fleet

• Nicolet College

• Ripco Credit Union

Community Service Award

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization whose activities have resulted in a significant community enhancement and/or positive contribution to quality of life among local community members.

• Hodags 10s

• Oneida County Humane Society

• Rhinelander Area Silent Trails Association

Community Enhancement Award

This award recognizes a business or organization that significantly enhanced the community by initiating a new business development or expansion; business rehabilitation or renovation; and/or environmental, sustainable, health, culture, identity, or economic contributions to the community

• Aspirus  Rhinelander

• Culver’s Rhinelander

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Company Culture Excellence Award

This award recognizes an organization that has seen success in their efforts to better their company culture, employee development and engagement and exhibit the traits of one of the community’s “Best Places to Work.”

• Briar House

• Charter Next Generation

• Trig’s Rhinelander

Entrepreneurial Achievement Award

This award recognizes an entrepreneur or start-up business that has developed ideas, products, and/or services into a viable, competitive business while positively impacting the community within the last 5 years.

• Cutz with Connection

• Northwoods Bricks

• Wally’s South 17

Community Volunteer of the Year

This award recognizes an individual who, through his or her professional and civic deeds, provides an invaluable, unpaid service to the community and has greatly enhanced the area’s quality of life.

• Kerry Bloedorn

• Krystal Fochs

• Amy Vanney

Spirit of the Hodag Award

This award recognizes an individual for protecting and supporting the unique and important culture of the Rhinelander community. They embody the spirit of the community.

• Lexi Allen

• Eric Burke

• Janet Jamison

Fab 5 (40 and over)

• Eric Burke

• Cecily Dawson

• Kate Ferrel

• Lloyd Gauthier

• Linda Krebsbach

• Darlene Machtan

• Bill Vancos

• Geoff Weller

Each individual is judged on three categories: business success; mentorship and leadership; and their civic or philanthropic activities. Five winners will be named.

Fantastic 5 Under 40

• Ricky Cropley

• Ben Hauser

• Steven Jopek

• Tiki Krueger-Boehm

• Stephanie Laska

• Michael Lodholz

• Grace Nash

• Di Wu

Individuals are judged on three categories: business success; mentorship and leadership; and their civic or philanthropic activities. Five winners to be named.