Chamber Awards

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Celebrating our community & businesses!

The Independence Area Chamber of Commerce holds an Annual Awards Celebration to recognize community and business accomplishments of the prior year. Awards are bestowed in the following categories to recognize the outstanding spirit, passion, and dedication that businesses, organizations, and/or individuals have for our community.

Business of the Year

A business whose owners and/or employees have demonstrated outstanding initiative in the community through volunteer efforts, projects, and/or donations.

2022 ★ Precision Plumbing, Heating & Air

2021 ★ The Brick Kitchen

2020 ★ R&R Cafe

2019 ★ Geater Machining & Manufacturing Co.

2018 ★ BankIowa

2017 ★ Pipestone Veterinary Services

2016 ★ Pink PolkaDot Studio

2015 ★ Fareway

2014 ★ Signs & More, LLC

2013 ★ Fusion Forward, LLC

2012 ★ Dunlap Motors

2011 ★ Larson Construction

2010 ★ BankIowa

2009 ★ Geater Machining & Manufacturing Co.

2008 ★ Okoboji Grill

2007 ★ Bachman Tool & Die

2006 ★ Q3 Innovations, LLC

2005 ★ Buchanan County Health Center Therapy & Wellness Connection

2004 ★ BankIowa

Entrepreneur of the Year

An individual who has excelled in their business field and has benefited, or will benefit the community.

2022 ★ n/a

2021 ★ Nate & Shelly Whited

2020 ★ Angie Andersen

2019 ★ Steve Slessor

2018 ★ Andrew Higgins

2017 ★ Kriss McGraw

2016 ★ Angie Schares & Erin Maurer

2015 ★ Mark Nielsen

2014 ★ Tim Reed

2013 ★ Dr. Dan Kegler

2012 ★ Doug Cue

2011 ★ Dick Curry

2010 ★ Angie Manson

2009 ★ Joe Olsen

2008 ★ Dr. Carrie Hamilton

2007 ★ Ron Hearn

2006 ★ Brian Eddy & Chad Ronnebaum

2005 ★ Shawn Phelps

2004 ★ Brian Lillie

2003 ★ Robert Hearn

2002 ★ n/a

2001 ★ Scott Geater

2000 ★ Connie Brown

1999 ★ n/a

1998 ★ Bret Kivell

1997 ★ Bonita Davis

1996 ★ Jeff Orvis

Educator of the Year

An outstanding educational provider who continues to and goes above and beyond to push his or her students to achieve their highest goals. The individual creates a fun and productive learning atmosphere for our youth and is dedicated to encouraging learning and growth.

2022 ★ Trish O'Loughlin

2021 ★ Darci Young

2020 ★ Matt Miller

2019 ★ Sue Henkes

2018 ★ David Lang

2017 ★ Jenny Beatty

2016 ★ Julie Flickinger

2015 ★ Helen Lukes

2014 ★ Lori Dietzenbach

2013 ★ Connie Weber

2012 ★ Kay Reidy

2011 ★ Cheryl Hand

2010 ★ Pat Thomas

2009 ★ Susan Harper & Gary Buresh

2008 ★ Joanne Alessio

2007 ★ Tim Nichols

2006 ★ Marilyn Freeman

2005 ★ Connie Sorg

2004 ★ Bob Bainbridge

2003 ★ JoAnn Crain

2002 ★ Rhonda Sheets

2001 ★ Deb Dutler

2000 ★ Jacquie McTaggart

1999 ★ Richard Krone

1998 ★ Gene Ficken

1997 ★ Harriet Short

1996 ★ Charlene Ortner

1995 ★ Wanda Goins

1994 ★ Ed Trullinger

Jeannie Nealey Mentor of the Year

2022 ★ n/a

2021 ★ Bonnie O'Brien

2020 ★ n/a

2019 ★ Diana Muchmore

2018 ★ Daryl Roberts

2017 ★ Mike Smock

2016 ★ Denise Hawker

2015 ★ Kitty Myers

2014 ★ Marty Ives

2013 ★ John Klotzbach

2012 ★ Lois Thedens

2011 ★ Lois Temeyer

2010 ★ Norma Gates

2009 ★ Donna Harms & Burt Van Horn

2008 ★ Julie Miller

2007 ★ Joe Olsen

2006 ★ Wilbur Tiffany & Cole Thompson

2005 ★ Dr. Doug Peterschmidt, Stephany Harvey, and (Jacob Freeman) & Mary Ellen Earles

2004 ★ Richard Schillinglaw

Project of the Year

An outstanding civic, community, church, or organizational project that has benefited, or will benefit the community.

2022 ★ n/a

2021 ★ Downtown Historic QR Tour

2020 ★ Champs Feeds the Mustangs

2019 ★ Operation 11th Hour

2018 ★ Buchanan County Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign

2017 ★ Buchanan County Health Center Expansion

2016 ★ Independence Aquatic Center

2015 ★ Brandon Park

2014 ★ RAGBRAI

2013 ★ Independence Junior/Senior High School

2012 ★ Wapsipinicon Mill Roof Project

2011 ★ Multipurpose Facility

2010 ★ Buchanan County Fair Association & Independence Motor Speedway

2009 ★ Operation Family Pack

2008 ★ Independence Public Library

2007 ★ RAGBRAI

2006 ★ Brew-B-Q

2005 ★ Heartland Acres Agribition Center

2004 ★ Independence Day Celebration

Volunteer of the Year

An individual whose volunteer actions and/or community support have been extraordinary in nature, and those actions have greatly benefited the community.

2022 ★ Margaret Ownby

2021 ★ Michelle Ohrt

2020 ★ Gina DeBoer

2019 ★ Rick Wendling

2018 ★ Anna Mae Pentecost

2017 ★ Tracy Belle

2016 ★ Shalon Frye

2015 ★ Rick Wulfekuhle

2014 ★ Pete & Terry Gaumer

2013 ★ Joe Olsen

2012 ★ John Behan

2011 ★ Keith Donnelly

2010 ★ Emmett Donnelly

2009 ★ Kriss & Steve McGraw

2008 ★ Sue Ann Raymond

2007 ★ Leonard Schmidt

2006 ★ Bill Stamper

2005 ★ Mike McGill

2004 ★ Jon Holland

2003 ★ Craig Johnson

2002 ★ n/a

2001 ★ Gene McBridge

2000 ★ Carolee O’Brien

1999 ★ Tom Magner

1998 ★ Bill Hickey

1997 ★ Jerry Barske

1996 ★ Maurice “Tex” Pentecost

1995 ★ John Evers & Jeanette Randall

1994 ★ Dolph Leytze

1993 ★ Art Finnegan

1992 ★ Stan Slessor

1991 ★ Brenda Ristvedt

1990 ★ Vickie Kegler

1989 ★ Lorraine Mochal

1988 ★ N. Clark Madison

1987 ★ Wilbur Tiffany

1986 ★ Frank Brimmer

1985 ★ Jim Hughes

1984 ★ Shirley Erdman

1983 ★ Mary Kay Blin

1982 ★ Larry D. Kane

1981 ★ Elizabeth McSweeney

1980 ★ Dale White

1979 ★ Mary Klotzbach

1978 ★ Paul Soener

1977 ★ Robert Blakesley

1976 ★ Dr. P.J. Leehey

1975 ★ Leanne Harrison

1974 ★ Al Hynes

1973 ★ Jim Martin, Sr.

1972 ★ Ed Harberts

1971 ★ Oliver Greenley

1970 ★ Reeves Hall

1969 ★ Don Parrish

1968 ★ Carl Kuempel

Hall of Fame

Induction into the Hall of Fame is bestowed upon an individual(s) who has demonstrated outstanding community involvement and leadership. The inductee should be a person who has freely given their time and talents for numerous community events and fundraisers.

2022 ★ Judy Olsen

2021 ★ Lans Flickinger

2020 ★ John Klotzbach

2019 ★ Juan Rodriguez

2018 ★ Rob C. Robinson

2017 ★ Vicki McClintock

2016 ★ Joe Olsen

2015 ★ Jon Holland

2014 ★ LeRoy Greenley

2013 ★ Dr. Bhasker Dave and Don & Connie Brown

2012 ★ Judy Scott and Jim & Karen Connell

2011 ★ Frankie Bowden & Wanda Goins