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2026 Celebration of Excellence
Thursday, November 19, 2026 (4:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
(CST)
Description
RSVP for Our Biggest Night of the Year
Join more than 600 business and community leaders for the 2026 Celebration of Excellence, presented by CLA!
To succeed in business, you need two things—fire in your belly to make things happen, and ice in your veins when the heat is on. Fire & Ice will collide in a spectacular night of sizzling surprises, cool company and unforgettable celebration. And once again, excellence will take center stage as we toast our annual honorees, the Lakes Area business community, and the Leadership Experience Class of 2026!
This red-hot event WILL SELL OUT, so don’t be left out in the cold. Reserve your table or tickets today!
Table & Seating Options
Join us for an evening of 'Fire & Ice' by reserving your table or seat TODAY!
Premier Table: $1,750 (10 available)
- Includes a reserved table located in the three rows / middle section closest to the stage
- Plated dinner for 8
- 1 pre-set bottle of wine or bucket of beer (your choice) at your table
- VIP Party passes for 8
Signature Table: $1,250 (19 available)
- Includes a reserved table located in the 4th and 5th rows / middle section / sides
- Plated dinner for 8
- Add-ons available for purchase
Classic Table: $1,000 (17 available)
- Includes a reserved table
- Plated dinner for 8
- Add-ons available for purchase
Individual Seat: $100
- These are anything but nosebleed seats! Enjoy great stage views close to the cocktails and social scene!
- Includes reserved seating and dinner for 1 individual
- Reduced fee for Leadership Class of 2026 ($55; use promo code provided to you or contact Sue Galligan)
Pick Your Vibe: FIRE or ICE?
This year's Celebration of Excellence is turning up the heat... and bringing the chill! The room will be split between two stunning themes—Fire and Ice—with half the tables glowing in fiery elegance and the other half sparkling with icy sophistication.
Here's the fun part: Coordinate your outfit with your table theme!
Will you embrace the warmth of Fire with bold, dramatic style? Or shine with the cool elegance of Ice?
Which table theme would you prefer?
We'll do our best to honor your preference based on availability.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Elevate your guest experience and marketing exposure by taking advantage of a sponsorship!
VIP Party Sponsor: $2,000 (1 available)
Be the hit of the VIP Party by greeting everyone, congratulating the award winners, and rubbing shoulders with the Presenting and Award sponsors!
- Your business logo / link will be included with event marketing
- Receive a reserved Second Level Table
- Plated dinners for 8
- VIP Party passes for 8
Entertainment & Decor Sponsor: $2,000 SOLD!
Be the hit of the party by sponsoring live entertainment, fabulous tablescapes and fun attractions!
- Your business logo / link will be included with event marketing
- Receive a reserved Second Level Table
- Plated dinners for 8
- VIP Party passes for 8
Event Schedule
4:00-5:00 PM: VIP Party Sponsored by TBD
- Location: Lakes Area Bar & Grill (near the indoor pool; use the main entrance and turn right, follow the signs at Cragun's Resort
- Invitation only for Presenting Sponsor, Award Sponsors, Top Level Table Sponsors, Award recipients and their guests, and individuals who have purchased VIP Party Passes
- Attendees will receive 1 premium drink ticket
- Live music by Andy Spoff
4:30-6:00 PM: Social Hour
- Location: Tamarack Centre, Cragun's Resort
- Professional Group Photo Op (located in the back of the room)
- Cash Bar
- Appetizers
- 'Fire & Ice' Live Band Sponsored by TBD
6:00-8:30 PM: Program, Dinner and Awards Presentation
- National Anthem sung by TBD
- Welcome by Jim Haakonson, Principal with CLA, Presenting Sponsor
- Board Chair Remarks, Colton Maher, Woods to Water Real Estate
- Blue Ox Business Academy Class of 2026 Leadership Experience Graduation
- Invocation by TBD
- Plated Dinner
- Salad
- Entree
- Dessert
- Fire & Ice- Matt Kilian, Brainerd Lakes Chamber President
- Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award Presentation, sponsored by Holiday Station Stores
- Business Excellence Award Presentation, sponsored by Hy-Tec Construction
- Business Legacy Award Presentation, sponsored by National Bank of Commerce
- Announcement of the 2027 Event Theme and Farewell
**Parking shuttle service provided by Cragun's Resort and Ole's Shuttle Service
Event Add-Ons
Skip the Line with Pre-set Bottles of Wine at Your Table: $55
- Kendall Jackson Chardonnay
- Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
- Joel Gott Cabernet
Skip the Line with Pre-set Buckets of Seltzer at Your Table: $60 / 8 Seltzers
- White Claw Lime
- Nutrl Cranberry
- Nutrl Orange
Skip the Line with Pre-set Buckets of Beer at Your Table: $60 / 8 Beers
- Jack Pine Brewery Jacktober
- Bemidji Brewing German Blonde
- Coors Light
VIP Party Pass: $25
- 1- VIP Party Pass to the pre-party and 1 premium drink ticket
- Meet & Greet with the award winners and sponsors
- Held in the Lakes Area Bar & Grill from 4:00-5:00PM (near the indoor pool; use the main entrance and turn right, follow the signs at Cragun's Resort)
What to Wear
The Celebration of Excellence is the Chamber's biggest night of the year - and our guests never disappoint! From creative costumes to team-themed outfits and even custom shirts, the energy and imagination you bring makes the night unforgettable.
Embrace this year's theme with fiery reds and oranges or cool blues and icy tones. While themed attire is encouraged, it's completely optional. Business attire is always welcome.
This Year's Fun Twist: In mid-October, you will be notified whether your table is Fire or Ice. Coordinate with your tablemates and dress to match your table's theme!
On the Guest List
TABLES
- Anderson Brothers Construction
- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
- BSKK Law
- Central Lakes College Foundation
- CLA
- CTC
- Holiday Station Stores
- Hy-Tec Construction
- Initiative Foundation
- LINDAR Corporation
- National Bank of Commerce
- Pequot Manufacturing
- Widseth
INDIVIDUALS
- Anne Slettom, The Body Workshop
- Lori Rubin, Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity
- Eric Wilcox, McLaughlin RV & Marine
- Alex Jackson, Navigate North Group
- Matthew Jackson, Navigate North Group
- Mike Myogeto, Mike's Electric
- Dave Galligan, Custom Boat Lift Vinyl
Leadership Experience Class of 2026
We’re thrilled to welcome the newest cohort into our premier leadership development program. Over the past ten months, these rising stars embarked on an 11-day journey designed to sharpen their skills, strengthen their leadership character, and unlock their full potential.
Since its launch in 1999, the Brainerd Lakes Chamber’s Leadership Experience has proudly graduated 649 professionals, many of whom have gone on to become some of the most influential leaders in our region. We can’t wait to see how the Class of 2026 will lead the way forward!
Join us in celebrating this year's Leadership Experience Class of 2026: Adam Manger, SCR - Northern; Alex Jackson, Navigate North Group; Ali Beste, Brainerd Lakes Chamber; Alison Augustinack, Essentia Health; Ariel Ellingson, Ariel Home Services; Ashley Gabrick, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union; Blake Peterson, Crow Wing County; Brad Borg, LINDAR Corporation; Brian Olson, Crow Wing County; Brock Scheving, CLA; Conor Swanson, Pequot Manufacturing; Dan Guderjohn, Clow; Dave Wonders, The Pulse 104.3 FM; Heather Stanley, Crisis Line & Referral Service; Isaac Bitter, Navigate North Group; Jackie Churack, Home Instead; Jacob Hanson, J. Hanson Real Estate Group; JD Berns, Hubbard Radio & 2060 Digital; Jesse Gordon, Central Lakes College; Kale Boomer, Hy-Tec Construction; Kelli Johnson, Crow Wing County; Kelsy Gloege, Waste Partners; Keri Kuklok, Nor-Son Construction; Kim Suhr, Trinity Lutheran Church / Trinity Children's Center; Levi Nagel, National Bank of Commerce; Lisa Olson; Maddie Herald, Deerwood Bank; Matt Giza, Essentia Health; Matt Woitalla, Anderson Brothers Construction; Michael Klinghagen, Bridges of Hope - Common Goods; Rena Bolt, Essentia Health; Ryan Visser, Lexington Manufacturing; Sam Olson, Nor-Son Construction; Sharon Carr, Confidence Learning Center; Sheila Boldt, Pine Haven Shoreline & Wetland Restoration; Shelly Netland, CTC; Talia Brodhead, MN Prevention & Recover Alliance.
About the Awards
The Brainerd Lakes Chamber will present three awards at its fourteenth-annual Celebration of Excellence on November 19 - the traditional Business Excellence Award, which goes to an outstanding local business, the Business Legacy Award, which celebrates individual lifetime achievements as well as community and economic contributions and the Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award which will recognize a small business that personifies the spirit of entrepreneurship in the Brainerd Lakes Area!
For all three awards, a nomination/application process was announced in April 2026. After the deadline passed at the end of May, a volunteer selection committee independently scored and discussed each applicant before choosing the recipients.
Sponsors
PRESENTED BY
LAKES PROUD SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Holiday Station Store - Baxter
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
BUSINESS LEGACY AWARD
ENTERTAINMENT & DECOR
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
AWARD VIDEOS PRODUCTION
Images
Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake
11000 Cragun's Drive
Brainerd,
MN
56401
United States
Held in the Tamarack Event Centre at Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake
Parking is available throughout Cragun's Resort.
Shuttle service is provided by Cragun's Resort and Ole's Shuttle.
Thursday, November 19, 2026 (4:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
(CST)
Categories
Brainerd Lakes Chamber Event
Area Events
Registered Guests
188
Powered By GrowthZone
2026 Celebration of Excellence
Thursday, November 19, 2026 (4:00 PM - 9:00 PM) (CST)
Description
RSVP for Our Biggest Night of the Year
Join more than 600 business and community leaders for the 2026 Celebration of Excellence, presented by CLA!
To succeed in business, you need two things—fire in your belly to make things happen, and ice in your veins when the heat is on. Fire & Ice will collide in a spectacular night of sizzling surprises, cool company and unforgettable celebration. And once again, excellence will take center stage as we toast our annual honorees, the Lakes Area business community, and the Leadership Experience Class of 2026!
This red-hot event WILL SELL OUT, so don’t be left out in the cold. Reserve your table or tickets today!
Table & Seating Options
Join us for an evening of 'Fire & Ice' by reserving your table or seat TODAY!
Premier Table: $1,750 (10 available)
- Includes a reserved table located in the three rows / middle section closest to the stage
- Plated dinner for 8
- 1 pre-set bottle of wine or bucket of beer (your choice) at your table
- VIP Party passes for 8
Signature Table: $1,250 (19 available)
- Includes a reserved table located in the 4th and 5th rows / middle section / sides
- Plated dinner for 8
- Add-ons available for purchase
Classic Table: $1,000 (17 available)
- Includes a reserved table
- Plated dinner for 8
- Add-ons available for purchase
Individual Seat: $100
- These are anything but nosebleed seats! Enjoy great stage views close to the cocktails and social scene!
- Includes reserved seating and dinner for 1 individual
- Reduced fee for Leadership Class of 2026 ($55; use promo code provided to you or contact Sue Galligan)
Pick Your Vibe: FIRE or ICE?
This year's Celebration of Excellence is turning up the heat... and bringing the chill! The room will be split between two stunning themes—Fire and Ice—with half the tables glowing in fiery elegance and the other half sparkling with icy sophistication.
Here's the fun part: Coordinate your outfit with your table theme!
Will you embrace the warmth of Fire with bold, dramatic style? Or shine with the cool elegance of Ice?
Which table theme would you prefer?
We'll do our best to honor your preference based on availability.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Elevate your guest experience and marketing exposure by taking advantage of a sponsorship!
VIP Party Sponsor: $2,000 (1 available)
Be the hit of the VIP Party by greeting everyone, congratulating the award winners, and rubbing shoulders with the Presenting and Award sponsors!
- Your business logo / link will be included with event marketing
- Receive a reserved Second Level Table
- Plated dinners for 8
- VIP Party passes for 8
Entertainment & Decor Sponsor: $2,000 SOLD!
Be the hit of the party by sponsoring live entertainment, fabulous tablescapes and fun attractions!
- Your business logo / link will be included with event marketing
- Receive a reserved Second Level Table
- Plated dinners for 8
- VIP Party passes for 8
Event Schedule
4:00-5:00 PM: VIP Party Sponsored by TBD
- Location: Lakes Area Bar & Grill (near the indoor pool; use the main entrance and turn right, follow the signs at Cragun's Resort
- Invitation only for Presenting Sponsor, Award Sponsors, Top Level Table Sponsors, Award recipients and their guests, and individuals who have purchased VIP Party Passes
- Attendees will receive 1 premium drink ticket
- Live music by Andy Spoff
4:30-6:00 PM: Social Hour
- Location: Tamarack Centre, Cragun's Resort
- Professional Group Photo Op (located in the back of the room)
- Cash Bar
- Appetizers
- 'Fire & Ice' Live Band Sponsored by TBD
6:00-8:30 PM: Program, Dinner and Awards Presentation
- National Anthem sung by TBD
- Welcome by Jim Haakonson, Principal with CLA, Presenting Sponsor
- Board Chair Remarks, Colton Maher, Woods to Water Real Estate
- Blue Ox Business Academy Class of 2026 Leadership Experience Graduation
- Invocation by TBD
- Plated Dinner
- Salad
- Entree
- Dessert
- Fire & Ice- Matt Kilian, Brainerd Lakes Chamber President
- Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award Presentation, sponsored by Holiday Station Stores
- Business Excellence Award Presentation, sponsored by Hy-Tec Construction
- Business Legacy Award Presentation, sponsored by National Bank of Commerce
- Announcement of the 2027 Event Theme and Farewell
**Parking shuttle service provided by Cragun's Resort and Ole's Shuttle Service
Event Add-Ons
Skip the Line with Pre-set Bottles of Wine at Your Table: $55
- Kendall Jackson Chardonnay
- Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
- Joel Gott Cabernet
Skip the Line with Pre-set Buckets of Seltzer at Your Table: $60 / 8 Seltzers
- White Claw Lime
- Nutrl Cranberry
- Nutrl Orange
Skip the Line with Pre-set Buckets of Beer at Your Table: $60 / 8 Beers
- Jack Pine Brewery Jacktober
- Bemidji Brewing German Blonde
- Coors Light
VIP Party Pass: $25
- 1- VIP Party Pass to the pre-party and 1 premium drink ticket
- Meet & Greet with the award winners and sponsors
- Held in the Lakes Area Bar & Grill from 4:00-5:00PM (near the indoor pool; use the main entrance and turn right, follow the signs at Cragun's Resort)
What to Wear
The Celebration of Excellence is the Chamber's biggest night of the year - and our guests never disappoint! From creative costumes to team-themed outfits and even custom shirts, the energy and imagination you bring makes the night unforgettable.
Embrace this year's theme with fiery reds and oranges or cool blues and icy tones. While themed attire is encouraged, it's completely optional. Business attire is always welcome.
This Year's Fun Twist: In mid-October, you will be notified whether your table is Fire or Ice. Coordinate with your tablemates and dress to match your table's theme!
On the Guest List
TABLES
- Anderson Brothers Construction
- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
- BSKK Law
- Central Lakes College Foundation
- CLA
- CTC
- Holiday Station Stores
- Hy-Tec Construction
- Initiative Foundation
- LINDAR Corporation
- National Bank of Commerce
- Pequot Manufacturing
- Widseth
INDIVIDUALS
- Anne Slettom, The Body Workshop
- Lori Rubin, Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity
- Eric Wilcox, McLaughlin RV & Marine
- Alex Jackson, Navigate North Group
- Matthew Jackson, Navigate North Group
- Mike Myogeto, Mike's Electric
- Dave Galligan, Custom Boat Lift Vinyl
Leadership Experience Class of 2026
We’re thrilled to welcome the newest cohort into our premier leadership development program. Over the past ten months, these rising stars embarked on an 11-day journey designed to sharpen their skills, strengthen their leadership character, and unlock their full potential.
Since its launch in 1999, the Brainerd Lakes Chamber’s Leadership Experience has proudly graduated 649 professionals, many of whom have gone on to become some of the most influential leaders in our region. We can’t wait to see how the Class of 2026 will lead the way forward!
Join us in celebrating this year's Leadership Experience Class of 2026: Adam Manger, SCR - Northern; Alex Jackson, Navigate North Group; Ali Beste, Brainerd Lakes Chamber; Alison Augustinack, Essentia Health; Ariel Ellingson, Ariel Home Services; Ashley Gabrick, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union; Blake Peterson, Crow Wing County; Brad Borg, LINDAR Corporation; Brian Olson, Crow Wing County; Brock Scheving, CLA; Conor Swanson, Pequot Manufacturing; Dan Guderjohn, Clow; Dave Wonders, The Pulse 104.3 FM; Heather Stanley, Crisis Line & Referral Service; Isaac Bitter, Navigate North Group; Jackie Churack, Home Instead; Jacob Hanson, J. Hanson Real Estate Group; JD Berns, Hubbard Radio & 2060 Digital; Jesse Gordon, Central Lakes College; Kale Boomer, Hy-Tec Construction; Kelli Johnson, Crow Wing County; Kelsy Gloege, Waste Partners; Keri Kuklok, Nor-Son Construction; Kim Suhr, Trinity Lutheran Church / Trinity Children's Center; Levi Nagel, National Bank of Commerce; Lisa Olson; Maddie Herald, Deerwood Bank; Matt Giza, Essentia Health; Matt Woitalla, Anderson Brothers Construction; Michael Klinghagen, Bridges of Hope - Common Goods; Rena Bolt, Essentia Health; Ryan Visser, Lexington Manufacturing; Sam Olson, Nor-Son Construction; Sharon Carr, Confidence Learning Center; Sheila Boldt, Pine Haven Shoreline & Wetland Restoration; Shelly Netland, CTC; Talia Brodhead, MN Prevention & Recover Alliance.
About the Awards
The Brainerd Lakes Chamber will present three awards at its fourteenth-annual Celebration of Excellence on November 19 - the traditional Business Excellence Award, which goes to an outstanding local business, the Business Legacy Award, which celebrates individual lifetime achievements as well as community and economic contributions and the Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award which will recognize a small business that personifies the spirit of entrepreneurship in the Brainerd Lakes Area!
For all three awards, a nomination/application process was announced in April 2026. After the deadline passed at the end of May, a volunteer selection committee independently scored and discussed each applicant before choosing the recipients.
Sponsors
PRESENTED BY
LAKES PROUD SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
BUSINESS LEGACY AWARD
ENTERTAINMENT & DECOR
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
AWARD VIDEOS PRODUCTION
Images
11000 Cragun's Drive
Brainerd, MN 56401 United States
Held in the Tamarack Event Centre at Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake
Brainerd Lakes Chamber Event
Area Events
188