Business of the Year 2000: Double K Specialty 2001: MJ OʼConnor, Inc. 2002: Bissen TV & Appliance 2003: Hy-Vee Food Store 2004: Golden Tress 2005: Perkins 2006: 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 2011: Quiznos 2012: Hormel Foods Corp. 2013: Smyth Companies Inc. 2014: T ‘N G Plumbing 2015 Small Business of the Year: Home Federal Savings Bank 2015 Large Business of the Year: U.S. Bank —The awards changed last year to begin awarding small and large business of the year; the New Business of the year award was discontinued.
Project of the Year 2000: Main Street-Sterling Drug 2001: Hormel Foods - Spam Museum 2002: Cooperative Response Center 2003: Collision Specialists Inc. 2004: USEM Inc. 2005: Our House 2006: Jimʼs Supervalu 2007: B&J Bar 2008: The Hormel Institute 2009: Hormel Historic Home 2010: McDonaldʼs 2011: Clasen-Jordan Mortuary 2012: Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin 2013: I.J. Holton Intermediate School 2014: Cedar Valley Services 2015: Torge’s Live
‘A good year for business in Austin’ and three are up for awards this year, including: the Sandy Forstner saw a lot Spam Museum with its new of good things happen for facility at 101 Third Ave. NE, Austin business in 2016: big Austin Utilities’ new Service projects were completed or and Operations Center, and started, retail sales were The Hormel Institute, Unistrong and many versity of Minnebusiness sectors sota for its expanshowed growth, he sion. said. But Forstner not“I think 2016 was ed the banquet isn’t a good year for busijust about the big ness in Austin,” said projects, as he notForstner, the Austin ed “it’s important Area Chamber of to say thank you” Commerce’s executo all the chamber’s tive director. members and volForstner The chamber will unteers. celebrate these accomplishThe chamber will give out ments at its annual banquet several awards: Mower ReThursday at the Holiday Inn freshed business of the year, Austin Conference Center volunteer of the year, amstarting with a 5 p.m. social bassador of the year, team of hour, a 6 p.m. dinner and a the year, project of the year, program starting around small business of the year 6:30 to 6:45 p.m. (up to 15 employees) and Austin saw some major large business of the year (15 projects completed last year, and above).
By Jason Schoonover
jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com
Comedian added to chamber’s banquet
The Austin Area Chamber of Commerce is adding a bit of humor to it’s annual banquet on Thursday. Stand up comedian Tommy Ryman will give a roughly 30-minute performance starting at around 7:10 p.m. during the chamber’s banquet. “Very, very funny,” Executive Director Sandy Forster said of Ryman. “You’re gonna like him.” Ryman was a semifinalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” he was featured as one of the “Twin Cities’ Funniest People” by Metro Magazine and he won the title of Best in the Midwest at the prestigious Gilda’s Laugh Fest, along with other honors. He has released two albums on StandUp! Records. His act has been described as absurdist and clever. —Austin Daily Herald
2017 Business of the Year award nominees • Belles & Beaus Bridal & Formal Wear • Damel Corporation, Morem AgriLawn • First Farmers & Merchants Bank • The Joseph Company • Weis Landscaping
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD – BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
• Schammel Electric • El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant • Willow Pet Hospital • Austin Daily Herald • The Hormel Institute-University of Minnesota
• Fraternal Order of the Eagles • Austin Area Commission for the Arts • El Patron Mexican Grill • Austin Utilities • Sweet Reads • Spam Museum
2015 Business of the Year award recipients
•Mower Refreshed Business of the Year: Quality Pork Processors Inc. •Volunteer of the Year: Barry Irish, Sterling State Bank president •Ambassador of the Year: Randy Arhart, Hormel Foods Corp., and Brenda Landherr, Austin Daily Herald •Team of the Year: Sharon Alms, Austin Public Schools WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017
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