Chamber to award top businesses T
he Austin Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Winter Banquet and Awards Program will be held Feb. 28 at the Holiday Inn and Austin Conference Center. The event focuses on member recognition, and includes presentation of three major business awards: Business of the Year, New Business of the Year, and Project of the Year. Other awards recognize outstanding
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chamber ambassadors, the chamber’s Volunteer of the Year, and, new this year, recognition of one member for an outstanding workforce wellness initiative. The 15 nominees this year, who have been submitted by customers, employees, themselves or others, are reviewed to decide which ones will win. “They fill out an application form
and they describe their business in some detail,” said Sandy Forstner, executive director of the chamber. From there, ambassadors visit the businesses, and also accept letters from customers or others who can attest to the its quality. Forstner said a number of categories decide who will win each award, including the level of customer service, growth and commit-
ment to employees. The day of the banquet, Chamber ambassadors host the evening’s entertainment under the theme “Sold on Austin.” About 300 people are expected to attend. To register or for more information, contact the chamber at 507-437-4561.
PAST WINNERS: BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Double K Speciality MJ OʼConnor, Inc. Bissen TV & Appliance Hy-Vee Food Store Golden Tress Perkins Austin Medical System (Now Mayo Clinic Health
System - Albert Lea and Austin) 2007 Anderson Memorials 2008 Davis, Thoen, Kramer & Associates 2009 Apollo Liquor & Superette 2010 Hoversten, Johnson, Beckmann & Hovey, LLP
2011 Quiznos
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—Austin Daily Herald
Norm and Marlene Blaser accepted the Business of Year award during the annual Austin Area Chamber of Commerce banquet last year at the Holiday Inn. Herald filed photo