CRITERIA
To that person and/or business that has contributed above and beyond usual service by providing special assistance to the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce.
Friend of the Chamber Service Award Background and History
The Friend of the Chamber Award originated in 1991 when Joel Winn was Chamber President. The board of directors developed this award because there were so many people who deserved recognition for what they did for the chamber and most of them would not qualify for our three major awards: Economic Contribution Award, Small Business Person of the Year Award, Tourism Counts Award
In 1991, the award was a commemorative pottery bowl from Rowe Pottery. It was presented to the following recipients at the Fall Outing in Bi-Centennial Park.
Jefferson County Advertiser: was recognized for giving a professional image to our annual meeting, our senior seminars and countless special functions. The Advertiser has been one of the “unsung heroes” of the chamber for providing composition time and programs at no charge for chamber events during the past 21 years.
Daily Jefferson County Union: Winn said “The Chamber believes that our enviable recognition as an outstanding Wisconsin chamber and a leader within Fort Atkinson is the result of our valued relationship and endless cooperation from our daily newspaper. W.D. Hoard and Sons has supported chamber efforts and positions in the media as well as financially and has provided volunteers on chamber committees and on its board of directors. All of this represents untotaled financial dollars to chamber projects and programs and inches and inches of free publicity, as well as budget-stretching rates for promotional advertising.
Opportunities, Inc: Another long time provider of printing and volunteer leadership to the chamber. They should be applauded for their contribution to the economic stability of the handicapped and public service to other area organizations. They were also recognized for their involvement in the Senior Class Seminar, Eighth grade Business Awareness Program, ambassador organization and chamber board of directors.
WFAW: Thanked for providing public relation exposure for the chamber through news, talk shows, special promotional spots and ongoing financial and volunteer help. Remote broadcasts from special chamber functions have provided big time publicity, benefiting numerous events from sales promotions, bridal shows, dairy breakfasts, candidate forums and others. WFAW volunteers have served on chamber committees and manned the retail committee’s brat stand on Fridays during the annual July Carnival Days.
Gordy Day: The chamber recognized Day for his continuing support of our chamber goals, projects and service on endless committees, as well as his insight on community needs and good suggestions for how our organization can best address them.
Al Haukom: was feted for giving his time promoting the economic growth of Fort Atkinson as a chamber member and committee person.
The award was not given again until 1997 when the board of directors determined that the award should be reinstated. Committee members were Donna Abel, Tom Goyer, Joni Schultz, Gregg Patrick and Dianne Hrobsky.
They used the same rationale that this award would be a way to recognize people who do much for the organization but might never qualify to receive one of the chamber’s 3 top awards.
Nominees were presented to the committee by chamber staff and board members. As the years went on, nominations came from the chamber’s many committees, board members and staff. Staff works with each president on the recognitions.
1997 John McKenzie – For years of work to bring a health insurance program to our chamber.
1997 Steve Seaman- For designing the chamber’s first web site.
1997 Roger & Denise Kriedeman – For years of volunteer efforts in Tourism
1998 Steve Zimmerman – Education projects leadership & facilitating Project LEAD
1998 Mary Heagney – Dairy Breakfast leadership
1998 Sheldon Mielke – Partnering with chamber on economic development
1998 Vickie Raatz – Dairy Breakfast leadership
1998 Bob Martin – cooperation and partnership (city/chamber)
1998 Vern Falk – Dairy Breakfast leadership
1999 Don Schink – Development of tourism/room tax
1999 Shirley Brown – Dairy Breakfast leadership
1999 Leo Roethe – help with chamber history
1999 Tom Goyer – Dairy Breakfast leadership
1999 Tom Belzer – Song writing and performing for chamber
1999 EDUCATOR – Jerry McGowan for facilitating Project LEAD (2 years)
1999 EDUCATOR – Jerry Keiser for facilitating Project LEAD (2 years)
2000 Carolyn Burtch – Wedding Fair leadership
2000 Vince Kent – Home Show leadership
2000 Joni Schultz – Education projects leadership
2000 Mark Maas – Plowing parking lot every year @ no charge
2000 Harley Peterson – Golf outing leadership
2000 EDUCATOR - Melody Wachter for partnership with 8th Grade Project Business
2001 Chamber’s new Quality of Life Book (completely done in house)
Brian and Heidi Saunders
Al Haukom
Eve Horton
Sally O’Brien
Gary Gramley
2001 Kim Patrick – Christmas Parade leadership
2001 Jim Vance – Contributions in numerous chamber projects that insure success
2001 EDUCATOR – Jeff Zaspel for facilitating Project LEAD (2 years)
2002 Bob Selberg – years as treasurer converting our big black ledger book
2002 Gary Moen – LEAD Facilitator
2002 Mark Zastrow – LEAD Facilitator
2003 EDUCATOR – Rick Looze for working with us on numerous projects over his career
2004 EDUCATOR – Vern Jordan for partnering with chamber on school to work initiatives
2005 Jim Callies – for assistance with computer technology, etc.
2006 Lynn Forseth – MATC for assisting with our school/business and training programs
2007 Dr. James Fitzpatrick – for assisting with our school/business efforts & Project LEAD
2008 Cynthia Holt & Beth Gehred – for coordinating the Farmers Market
2008 Joel Winn – appeared in Buckskinners video for Discover Wisconsin
2009
2010 Tony Bolz – LEAD Facilitator
2011
2012 Helen Rose – Administrative Secretary for the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation
2012 Elene Wagner – for chairing the Holiday Parade for 10 years
2012 Dan Lansing – for assisting with the Chamber Brat Stand, FBLA, Rhythm on the River, Wine & Stein
2013 Maria Perez
2014
2015 Jim Callies, CompuFort – for assisting with all our computer problems
2016 Michael Clish – for being a constant promoter of Fort Atkinson
2017 Chris Brown – for all his years as stage manager at Rhythm on the River
2018 Chris Scherer – for all the technology, music, and entertainment he provides at chamber functions
2019 Brandon Housley – for recruiting four new members and being a super volunteer at our farmer's market
2020
2021 Alisha Bade - Fort Farmers Market
2022 Tammy Schwartz - for mentoring new staff and providing accounting advice