Nominations open for Chamber awards

George Althoff
Executive Director

Nominations are now being accepted for the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce annual business awards that will be given out at our annual dinner on Thursday, Jan. 22, at Baraboo Arts Banquet & Convention Center.
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.
• 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. 12.
  Board President Shelley Mordini 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. 15.
• 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 Mordini) 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, see below.
  If you have questions about this or any other chamber matter, please contact me at director@baraboochamber.com or 608-356-8333.

Awards criteria and recent winners

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:

• 2024 – MBE CPAs
• 2023 – SSM Health/St. Clare Hospital
• 2022 – Teel Plastics
• 2021 – Baraboo State Bank

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:

• 2024 – Al’s Fox Hill RV Resort & Campground
• 2023 – Sauk County
• 2022 – Shelley Mordini, Baraboo Tours
• 2021 – Tumbled Rock Brewery & Kitchen

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:

• 2024 – First United Methodist Church
• 2023 – Beyond Blessed Pantry
• 2022 – Hope House of South Central Wisconsin
• 2021 – Boys and Girls Club of West Central Wisconsin

Nonprofit of the Year (new category in 2024)
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.
Recent recipients:

• Sauk County Giving Tree

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:

• Danna Klicko, The Frenchie Press
• 2023 – Baraboo Children’s Museum
• 2022 – Seth Taft, Downtown Baraboo Inc.
• 2021 – Ski-Hi Fruit Farm

President’s Award
This award is given at the discretion of the board President to honor a deserving chamber or community member.
Recent recipients:

• 2024 – Baraboo Bluffs ATV/UTV Club
• 2023 – Pulse Fitness & Training
• 2022 – Sherri Schaaf, Ogden Glazer + Schaefer
• 2021 – Ana Cecilia Torres Pozada, Las Milpas Restaurant and Grocery

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:

• 2024 – Yengkong Thao, Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells
• 2023 – Lori Witt, Wisconsin River Title Consultants
• 2022 – Bill Hays, RE/MAX Grand (first year for the award)