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[Dubuque, Iowa] – The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce honored businesses and individuals at its annual dinner held on August 24, 2017 at the Grand River Center. The Chamber Annual Dinner, themed this year as, "There's No Place Like Your Chamber", is a celebration of the successes of the past year, as well as a forecast of what the upcoming year may bring. It is also a passing of the torch from our current Chair of the Board to the incoming Chair and awarding Chamber members who have excelled in different aspects of business, innovation, economic impact and customer service.
The Chamber had a total of 18 nominees in six categories; Chamber Friend of the Year, Customer Service of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Most Promising New Business, Economic Impact, and Business of the Year, along with a special award that is presented by our outgoing Board Chair.
The following people were recognized for Chamber Friend of the Year; Kurt Strand, CEO of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager for the City of Dubuque and Pamela Mumm, owner of Pamela | Mumm. Norm Granback, Holiday Inn, took the stage and announced Teri Goodmann as this year's Chamber Friend of the Year.
Customer service is the backbone of any business. This year the Chamber acknowledged Flowers on Main, Family Beer & Liquor and Richardson Motors for exemplary customer service. Tony Pfohl, Hotel Julien Dubuque, presented the award to Family Beer & Liquor.
Dubuque has become home to several new businesses over the last 12 months. For Most Promising New Business, the Chamber recognized Vertical Jump Park, Dubuque Bier Co. and Gigantic Design. Amy Gilligan from Telegraph Herald called Dubuque Bier Co. to the stage to receive the award.
Betty Janes Candies, Five Flags Center/SMG and Convivium Urban Farmstead were all considered as innovators during this past year with the strides they are making to introduce new methods, ideas and products. Mike Vondran, TAG Communications, announced Five Flags Center/SMG as the Chamber Innovator of the Year.
Economic Impact is based on factors such as job growth, investment, facility expansion, and financial effect. Mark Dickson, John Deere Dubuque Works, listed Diamond Jo Casino, Flexsteel Industries and Q Casino in this category with Flexsteel Industries taking home the award.
The Chamber’s Business of the Year Award goes to a company that shows outstanding leadership, long-standing contribution to our business community, and demonstrates significant community efforts. The three nominees in this category included Theisen’s Home-Farm-Auto, John Deere Dubuque Works and The Telegraph Herald. John Tallent, Medical Associates, was happy to recognize John Deere Dubuque Works.
Our Chairman's Award is gifted to an individual by our immediate past Chair. This year our 2016-17 Board Chair Richard Launspach, Kennedy Mall Merchants Association, gave the award to Tonio Mario Bertolini, owner of Mario's Italian Restaurant, which has been a staple in Dubuque for the last 40 years. Mario passed away in June of this year. The award was accepted by Mario's family.
The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to another year of helping our members succeed and representing the best interests of the business community.
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