BACKGROUND

The Economic Contribution Award was first awarded in 1973 and is regarded as the Chamber’s most prestigious award.

CRITERIA

To that person who has contributed through his/her individual effort and promoted the objectives of the Fort Atkinson

Area Chamber of Commerce  in the area of economic and social development of the community”.

AWARD

The award is an elegant engraved plaque presented at our Annual Dinner.  The nomination process is much more formal with requests for nominations going out to the membership in the early part of December.  The selection group is made up of all past presidents.

BACKGROUND

The Small Business Person of the Year was developed in the 1980s following the guidelines from Small Business Association Awards. 

Small Business "Person of the Year" Award Background and History

General Qualifications

• Must be an independently owned, profit-making business enterprise, for at least the past five years.
• Must employ fewer than 50 full-time people
• Must be physically located in the Fort Atkinson area
• Must be a Fort Atkinson Chamber member in good standing

Selection Criteria

• Business Growth (increase in employees, square feet, revenue, or customer base)
• Innovation (new technology, creative sales and marketing approach, different product lines)
• Staying Power (length of time in business, proven record of success)
• Community and Chamber Involvement

Small Business Person of the Year Award History

1980      Doug Hartel       

               Bill Weh              

1988      Ted Batterman   Spacesaver

1990      Barb Congdon    Robin’s Nest

1991      Jim Vos               Sentry

1992      Tom Goyer          Ace Hardware

1993      Tim Humphrey   Humphrey Floral

1994      Randy Marion    Fort Vision Clinic

1995      Tom Gobel          Gobel & Bender

1996      Frank Brown       Badger Press

1997      Fred Negus Sr.   Wisconsin Packaging

1998      Helmut Ajango  Helmut Ajango Architect

1999      Daryl Spoerl        Havill-Spoerl

2000      John Anderson & Steve Wiesmann            W&A Distribution

2001      Tom & Coral Becker        Subway

2002      Lee Jonas            Jonas Office Products

2003      Don & Bill Hausz               Hausz Bros.

2004      Mark McGlynn   IPEC

2005      Jack Blodgett      Blodgett Garden

2006      Jack & Sharon Logan       Blackhawk Sr Residence

2007      Harry Bos            Bos Design Builders

2008      Lee Moldenhauer             Wood Design

2009      Vince Kent           Abendroth Water

2010      Jon Tuttle            Tuttle’s Pharmacy

2011      Randy Schopen  Capn’s Steakhouse

2012      Kurt Chapman    Sport N Spine Clinic

2013      Dan Lecher         Frostie Freeze

2014      Jim Goyer            Ace Hardware

2015      Mike Bender       Bender, Kind & Stafford DDS

2016      Tammy Meinel   Beauty and the Bean

2017      Paul and Marsha Krueger              Krueger Jeweler

2018      Jim Hedrick         Badger Basement Systems

2019      Eli Cloute             Cloute, Inc.

2020      Erin Patterson    Paddy Coughlin’s Pub

2021      Lisa Tuttle Woods            Tuttle’s Hallmark

2022      Dave Stotesbery             Effortless Elegance LLC 

BACKGROUND

The Tourism Counts award was developed at a time (20 years ago) when the Chamber was on a campaign to educate the locals on the economic value of tourism.

CRITERIA

The Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce “Tourism Counts” Award is presented to an individual, business or organization that, through their leadership and efforts, have made a difference in the development of tourism in our area.  The name of the award reflects the chamber’s desire to impress upon the community that tourism does count in the bigger economic picture, and that it does impact the vitality of our city.

AWARD

The engraved plaque is presented at our Fall Banquet every year.  Nominations are solicited from the membership and the Tourism Committee.  The past presidents are involved in the selection process.

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