BEMIDJI — The Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce recognized area storm helpers during its 21st annual Awards of Excellence luncheon Tuesday, May 19.
Nearly a year after a devastating windstorm caused widespread power outages and damage, the Chamber gathering recognized businesses for their response in a difficult time.
“Crews faced long, hot days, difficult and dangerous conditions, and pressure of knowing that thousands of people were counting on them,” said Pinnacle Marketing Group’s Kimberly Smerling.
With 30 nominees between five award categories, 265 were seated in the South Shore Hotel event venue. It may go down as the most well-attended luncheon to date, with a chicken dish served possibly for the 21st time.
The business of the year award went to two recipients: Beltrami Electric Cooperative and Ottertail Power. Pinnacle was the presenting sponsor for the award.
Triple C Excavating won new business of the year. It spent its first weeks in operation assisting homeowners and businesses with storm recovery.
This year’s keynote speaker was Erik Hokuf, the founder of Aircorps Aviation.
He described the decision to build the company in Bemidji rather than the Twin Cities, saying it was based on the natural manufacturing talent forged here in the North.
“Snowblowers that won't start, trucks that need a jump. You learn early that nobody is coming, so you figure it out,” Hokuf said. “[We have] hands-on families, garages and shops are the classroom and tools are toys. The default assumption was that if something broke, you fixed it.”
Other winners include the aptly named Bearded Hauler Jason Grauman as entrepreneur of the year and Pinnacle Marketing Group for a healthy workplace.
Amid changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, government shutdowns and the shuttering of Ruby’s Pantry, the Bemidji Community Food Shelf earned the Community Impact Award.
The Charlie Naylor Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the retired CEO and president of Paul Bunyan Communications Gary Johnson. Johnson started as a computer programmer at the cooperative in 1989 when it was known as Paul Bunyan Telephone, being part of the organization’s internet journey until his retirement last year.
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