New category added to awards program
By George Althoff
Executive Director
The Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner is just weeks away, and that means it’s time to begin the selection process for our annual business awards. The dinner is set for Thursday, Jan 23, 2025, at the Baraboo Arts Banquet & Convention Center. The highlight of the evening is honoring several members for their commitment to the Chamber and community during 2024.
A new category for 2024 will be Nonprofit of the Year. The award will be given to a Chamber member nonprofit organization that exhibits outstanding work toward improving the quality of life in the Baraboo area, or that works to improve the lives of its clients or customers through results-driven programming.
Here are the details of the nomination process:
• Nominations are now open for Business of the Year, Tourism, Community Service, Nonprofit of the Year, and Rising Star awards. The criteria for those awards can be found below. A link to the nomination form can be found here.
By early January, the selection committee will consider the nominations and decide the recipients for each of the five awards. The identities of the recipients will NOT be announced prior to the annual dinner.
In addition to the five previously mentioned categories, two other awards will be given out – the President’s Award (given at the discretion of President Szydlowski) and the Chris Anderson Ambassador of the Year Award (determined by myself and Marketing and Tourism Coordinator Ben Bromley). Recent award recipients are included with the criteria below. For a complete list of past recipients in all categories, click here.
As always, your feedback on this matter – and all things related to the Chamber – is welcome. You can contact me at director@baraboochamber.com or 608-356-8333.
Any member in good standing is eligible to nominate another member business or individual for any of the awards. A member also can self-nominate in any of the categories.
If you do submit a nomination, please drop me a confirmation email at
director@baraboochamber.com.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, Dec. 13.
Board President Teddie Szydlowski will appoint an awards selection committee and the names of those committee members will be made public prior to the nomination deadline.
The names of the award nominees will be communicated to all members the week of Dec. 16.
Annual awards criteria
Business of the Year Award
This award is presented to a Chamber member business that has demonstrated the ability to overcome adversity, has grown during its existence, and contributes to the community and the Chamber.
Recent recipients:
- 2023 – SSM Health/St. Clare Hospital
- 2022 – Teel Plastics
- 2021 – Baraboo State Bank
- 2020 – None awarded
- 2019 – Coffee Bean Connection
Tourism Award
The tourism award is presented to a Chamber member business, organization, or individual that makes outstanding contributions to our local thriving tourist industry.
Recent recipients:
- 2023 – Sauk County
- 2022 – Shelley Mordini, Baraboo Tours
- 2021 – Tumbled Rock Brewery & Kitchen
- 2020 – None awarded
- 2019 – Devil’s Lake State Park
Community Service Award
This award recognizes a Chamber member business or individual that demonstrates considerable support of service organizations, projects, and activities that improve the quality of life and/or the economy in the Baraboo area.
Recent recipients:
- 2023 – Beyond Blessed Pantry
- 2022 – Hope House of South Central Wisconsin
- 2021 – Boys and Girls Club of West Central Wisconsin
- 2020 – None awarded
- 2019 – Baraboo Young Professionals
Nonprofit of the Year (New category)
This award honors a Chamber member nonprofit organization that exhibits outstanding work toward improving the quality of life in the Baraboo area, or that works to improve the lives of its clients or customers through results-driven programming.
Rising Star Award
This award honors an “up and coming” Chamber member business or individual that has shown a commitment to the work of the Chamber and the betterment of our community.
Recent recipients:
- 2023 – Baraboo Children’s Museum
- 2022 – Seth Taft, Downtown Baraboo Inc.
- 2021 – Ski-Hi Fruit Farm
- 2020 – None awarded
- 2019 – Balanced Rock Winery
President’s Award
This award is given at the discretion of the board President to honor a deserving chamber or community member.
Recent recipients:
- 2023 – Pulse Fitness & Training
- 2022 – Sherri Schaaf, Ogden Glazer + Schaefer
- 2021 – Ana Cecilia Torres Pozada, Las Milpas Restaurant and Grocery
- 2020 – None awarded
- 2019 – Raegen Trimmer, RE/MAX Grand
Chris Anderson Ambassador of the Year
This award is given at the discretion of Chamber staff to an Ambassador who over the course of the year has exhibited the dedication shown by the late Chris Anderson in his many years of service to the organization.
Recent recipients:
2022 – Bill Hays, RE/MAX Grand (first year for the award)
2023 – Lori Witt, Wisconsin River Title Consultants
