2024 Celebration of Excellence

Description

Yeehaw! Saddle up for the 2024 Celebration of Excellence as we tip our hats to the business legends and outlaws of the Brainerd Lakes Area. Gather your posse and ride along with more than 600 cowboys and cowgirls recognizing the true grit of our honorees. Proudly presented by CLA, this upscale hootenanny is the biggest event of the year and IT WILL SELL OUT. Reserve your table or seats today!

We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award winner: Weizenegger-Engel Insurance! Sponsored by Cub Foods, this prestigious award recognizes a small business that personifies the spirit of entrepreneurship, pride, and success that forms the backbone of our local economy.

Past Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award recipients: Jack Pine Brewery (2018); Brainerd General Rental (2019); Close Converse (2021); Kavanaugh's Sylvan Lake Resort (2022); Weizenegger-Engel Insurance (2024).

Joining the list of legendary Business Excellence Award winners is Waste Partners! Sponsored by Hy-Tec Construction, this prestigious award recognizes a business that embodies leadership, innovation, employee investment and community. 

Past Business Excellence Award recipients: Widseth (2012); Crosswoods (2013); Grand View Lodge (2014); Ultra Paws (2015); Just for Kix (2016); CTC (2017); Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (2018); 3 Cheers Hospitality (2019); Lexington Manufacturing (2021); LINDAR-Avantech-Triven (2022); Hubbard Radio & 2060 Digital (2023).

The crowning glory for the 2024 Celebration of Excellence will be the presentation of the Business Legacy Award by the Brainerd Lakes Chamber and RiverWood Bank to the Quisberg family! As owners of multiple well-known businesses in our area, including Brainerd and Baxter Cub Foods, Pequot Lakes Supervalu, and Holiday Stationstores. The Quisberg family are a shining example of leadership, generosity, and good business. Their many contributions to our community will leave a legacy of economic vitality for generations to come.

Past Business Legacy Award recipients: Stewart C. Mills Jr. (2016), Arnie Johnson (2017), Paul and Lynn Hunt (2018), Dutch and Irma Cragun (2019), Ron and Al Lindner (2021), Bob Spizzo (2022), and Reggie Clow (2023).

Rancher Table: $1,500 (SOLD OUT) 

• Includes a reserved table located in the two rows 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

Wrangler Table: $1,100 (SOLD OUT)

• Includes a reserved table located in the 3rd and 4th rows / middle section
• Plated dinner for 8
• Add-ons available for purchase

Rustler Table: $850 (SOLD OUT)

• Includes a reserved table
• Plated dinner for 8
• Add-ons available for purchase

Individual Seat: $95 (WAITING LIST ONLY - You will be notified if there is a cancellation and an available seat)

• 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 2024 ($80; use promo code or contact Sue Galligan)

RSVPs RECEIVED

• Rancher Tables
  • Anderson Brothers Construction
  • Brainerd Lakes Chamber
  • Bremer Bank
  • Borden, Steinbaurer, Krueger, and Knudson, P.A.
  • CLA
  • Clow Stamping
  • Cub Foods
  • Frandsen Bank and Trust
  • Grand View Lodge
  • Hy-Tec Construction
  • Lexington Manufacturing
  • Pequot Manufacturing
  • Quisberg Family
  • RiverWood Bank
  • Waste Partners
  • Weizenegger-Engel Insurance (2)
  • WhiteBox Marketing
• Wrangler Tables
  • 371 Furniture & Mattress and Party Time Rental
  • Boyd Lodge and Mike O'Connell Larson Group Real Estate/Keller Williams
  • Brainerd General Rental
  • Clow Stamping
  • CTC
  • Cuyuna Regional Medical Center
  • Essentia Health
  • Holden Electric
  • Hubbard Radio & 2060 Digital
  • Jim's Electric
  • Just for Kix and The Teehive
  • LINDAR Corporation
  • Magnum Research
  • Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union
  • National Bank of Commerce
  • SCR- Northern
  • Waste Partners
  • Widseth
• Rustler Tables
  • Advantage Home Pros
  • Amazon Hub
  • BLAEDC
  • Brainerd Dispatch
  • Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation
  • Brainerd Lakes Chamber (2)
  • Brainerd Lakes Chamber Ambassadors (2)
  • Brainerd Public Schools Foundation
  • Bridges of Hope - Common Goods
  • Central Lakes College
  • Close~Converse Commercial & Preferred Properties
  • Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake (2)
  • Crow Wing Power
  • Crow Wing Power Credit Union
  • Cub Foods
  • Deerwood Bank
  • Hudson Magic
  • Jim's Electric
  • Leadership Experience Class of 2024 (2)
  • Members Cooperative Credit Union
  • Mills Automotive Group
  • Navigate North Group
  • Nor-Son Construction
  • Revolv Manufacturing
  • SCR-Northern
  • Spaces
  • W Gohman Construction
  • WAVE Young Professionals Network
  • Woods to Water Real Estate
• Individual Cowboys and Cowgirls
  • Brandon and Jill Andersen, Lonesome Cottage Furniture
  • John and Tina Angell, Angell Team / Coldwell Banker Realty
  • Sheila Avenson, The Office Shop
  • Rick Beeson, Lakeland PBS
  • Lori Bender, Penmac Staffing Services
  • Brian Berglin, Pure XHale
  • Naomi Berndt, Frandsen Bank and Trust
  • Randy Butler and Guest, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union
  • Leah Campbell, American National Bank of MN
  • Jennifer Caughey, Lakes Printing
  • Lucy and Luke Christiansen, United Way and Crow Wing Power
  • Deb and Michael Cranny, Home Instead Senior Care
  • John Davis, Brainerd Police Dept
  • Kenn Dols, Central Lakes College
  • Diane Dubej, Diane K Dubej CPA
  • Ariel and Garyck Ellingson, Ariel Home Services
  • Joe and Kelsey Fabro, First International Bank & Trust and RiverWood Bank
  • Shelby French, Magnum Research
  • Joey and Christa Froelich, Crow Wing County and St. Cloud VA
  • Alex Galligan & Lexi Nelson, Custom Boat Lift Vinyl
  • Allie Galligan, Employment Resource Services
  • Dave Galligan, Custom Boat Lift Vinyl
  • Mikki Gonnion, Tasty Pizza North
  • Julie and Tim Gowen, JAG Interior Solutions
  • Bob Gragson, Lakes Area United Way
  • Rachel Gutlovics, Brainerd Therapeutic Massage
  • Katelin and Zach Hohertz, Home Instead Senior Care
  • Shawna Knutson, Edward Jones
  • Greg and Kim Krozska, First Western Bank & Trust
  • Alyssa and Jake Lee, Vision Electrical Services
  • Randy and Kerry Martin, North Country Floral
  • Jim and Amy Meister, Custom Boat Lift Vinyl
  • Nolan Michaelson, Magnum Research
  • Bill and Evie Marshall, Retired
  • Steve and Rene Millner, Millner Estate Planning
  • Kurt and Katrina Moody, First Western Bank
  • Mike Myogeto, Mike's Electric of Crosslake
  • Barb Nelson, Lakes Printing
  • Mary Peterson, Tasty Pizza North
  • Brett Pikula, Magnum Research
  • Jessica Richau, Curated Closet
  • Lori Rubin, Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity
  • Kody and Vanessa Ruedisili, EXP Realty & Premier Choice Senior Management Solutions
  • Anastasia Schwankl, Penmac Staffing Services
  • Anne Slettom, The Body Workshop
  • Andrew and Guest Spicola, Motion 46 Media
  • Zach Tabatt, Initiative Foundation
  • Gina Teems, Tasty Pizza North
  • Kevin Thesing, Lakes Printing
  • Jim Thomson, Retired
  • Josh Wever, BLA Clean
  • Dave Wonders, The Pulse 104.3FM

We invite attendees to put their best boot forward and embrace the wild west with us for a night of cowboy glam! Please remember that guests are NOT required to dress up to the theme for this event. Business attire is also acceptable. We want our guests to feel welcome and comfortable.

Inducted into the Blue Ox Business Academy's Leadership Experience will be the Class of 2024. The Leadership Experience is a ten month program (11 full days) that is designed for emerging leaders and high-potential employees to develop essential skills and insights into their leadership character. The Brainerd Lakes Chamber is proud to have 575 graduates from the Leadership program that originated in 1999. Several of our alumni have grown and developed into some of our area's most influential leaders!

Join us in celebrating this year's Leadership Experience Class of 2024: Aaron Kriens, Hy-Tec Construction; Austin Mau, Brainerd General Rental; Barb Thesing, LINDAR Corporation; Bill Volbert, The Teehive; Brett Pikula, Magnum Research; Daniel Hood, CTC; Dave Maile, Lexington Manufacturing; Jennifer Caughey, Lakes Printing; Jess Vogt, Brainerd Lakes Chamber; Jessica Richau, Curated Closet; Jill Haugene, Growth Zone; Jodi Bedard, Cuyuna Regional Medica Center; Joel Falenschek, Essentia Health; Joey Froelich, Crow Wing County; Josh Wever, BLA Clean; Kelly Masberg, CTC; Kelsey Fabro, RiverWood Bank; Lael Dornself, Bridges of Hope - Common Goods; Leah Campbell, American National Bank of MN; Leah Morrow, Lexington Manuracturing; Mac Gruber, Nor-Son Construction; Marc Williams, Crow Wing Power; Mel Schermerhorn, City of Menahga; Melissa Kraklau, Lexington Manufacturing; Molly Rannevik, CliftonLarsonAllen; Naomi Berndt, Frandsen Bank and Trust; Nichole Heinen, Pequot Lakes Chamber; Nicole Goodwin, Just For Kix; Nolan Michaelson, Magnum Research; Paul Augustinack, Woods To Water Real Estate; PJ O'Brien, T.C.B.X. Trucking; Ryan Koslofsky, Pequot Manufacturing; Scott Whittemore, Nor-Son Construction; Shawna Reed, Essentia Health; Shelby French, Magnum Research; Stacey Harting, Hubbard Radio & 2060 Digital; Stefanie DeVries, Brainerd Public Schools Foundation; Tess Taylor, Hubbard Radio & 2060 Digital.

VIP Party Sponsor: $2,000 (SOLD)

• Receive a Rustler Table & dinner for 8
• Receive VIP Party passes for 8
• Logo included with event marketing

Entertainment Sponsor: $2,000 

• Receive a Rustler Table & dinner for 8
• Receive VIP Party passes for 8
• Logo included with event marketing
  
  

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
• Live entertainment by Jim Olsen
• Meet & Greet with the award winners and sponsors
• Held in the Canoe and Paddle Pub (formerly the Bear Trap Lounge) near the main entrance of the main lodge from 4:00-5:00PM

4:00-5:00 PM: VIP Party Sponsored by Amazon Hub

• Location: Canoe and Paddle Pub (formerly the Bear Trap Lounge; left of the main entrance of the main lodge) at Cragun's Resort
• Invitation only for Presenting Sponsor, Award Sponsors, Rancher 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 Jim Olsen

4:00-6:00 PM: Photo Opp with Action Entertainment's stagecoach and horses (near the Sports Centre entrance)

4:30-5:50 PM: Social Hour

• Cash Bar
• Appetizers
• Photo Area
• Chance to win items from the Wash Tub of Suds, Booze and Soda ($5 per spin)
• Live Band
  • Mark Mraz- Keys & Vocals
  • Mike Mraz- Acoustic Guitar & Vocals
  • Monty Mraz- Bass & Vocals
  • Mike Angland- Drums
  • Karla Jensen- Vocals
  • Dan Kuhn- Guitar

6:00-8:30 PM: Awards & Dinner

• National Anthem performed by TBD
• Welcome by ________ of CLA, Presenting Sponsor
• Blue Ox Business Academy Class of 2024 Leadership Experience Graduation
• Invocation by TBD
• Plated Dinner
  • Southwest Salad
  • Western Grilled Pork Chop with Garlic Mashed Potato
  • Strawberry Shortcake and Lemon Torte
• Main Program
• Recognition of volunteers, committees, and retiring board members
• Recognition of the Four Under 40 Award winners and Young Professional of the Year
• Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year Award Presentation, sponsored by Cub Foods
• Business Excellence Award Presentation, sponsored by Hy-Tec Construction
• Business Legacy Award Presentation, sponsored by RiverWood Bank

Thank you for attending

**Parking shuttle service provided by Cragun's Resort and Ole's Shuttle Service

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber will present three awards at its twelfth-annual Celebration of Excellence on November 21 - 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 2024. After the deadline passed at the end of May, a volunteer selection committee independently scored and discussed each applicant before choosing the recipients.