Business Recognition Awards Ceremony & Annual Meeting

The 2022 Business Recognition Award Ceremony & Annual Meeting Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Honor Credit Union returns Thursday, February 24th at 7:00 a.m.! Join us in-person or virtually for a full celebration of success from of our peers, and all the growth that is happening in Michigan's Great Southwest in 2021!

Proudly sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Honor Credit Union, Comcast Business, Sturgis Bank St. Joseph Banking Center, Mid-West Family Southwest Michigan, MoodyOnTheMarket.com, 1st Source Bank, Kruggel Lawton CPAs, Horizon Bank, Waterfront Framing & Design, Lake Michigan College Mendel Center, and United Federal Credit Union.

Congratulations to our Winners (highlighted in yellow) and Nominees:

Best New Business

The Brick House
Dallas Commercial Cleaning
Happy Poochie Eatery
Local Pour
The Market
State Street Meats

Economic Impact Award

B&L Information Systems
GT Independence
United Federal Credit Union

Small Business of the Year Award

Advanced Family Eye Care
LEO + LAINE
MailMax
Waterfront Framing & Design

Non-Profit Excellence Award

Berrien County Historical Association
Citizens Mediation Services
Junior Achievement
Region IV Area Agency on Aging

Rising Star Award

Rhiannon Cizon, Berrien County Historical Association
Chris Mason, Watermark Brewing
Nick Shelton, City of Niles Mayor & Shelton’s Farm Market
Ashley Slack, Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency

The Pat Moody Award

Bob Burch, Sturgis Bank & Trust
Gayle Olson, Mid-West Family Southwest Michigan
Roger & Pam Seely, Roger’s Foodland

Keynote Speaker: Jim Holcomb, new President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, which will include an economic outlook for 2022. Holcomb first joined the Michigan Chamber in 2008 to lead its Business Advocacy Team which he designed, coordinated and implemented strategies to enact the Chamber’s legislative agenda and advance policies. From there, he jumped to Executive Vice President and General Counsel, then in January of 2022 Holcomb officially assumed the role of President & CEO. During his tenure at the Michigan Chamber, Holcomb is credited with strengthening Michigan’s business and economic competitiveness and has earned the Chamber repeated top honors as the “Most Effective Association” in a biennial survey of Michigan capital insiders.

**At this time, we are planning for a hybrid event, we will continue to monitor all things COVID and will shift to being fully virtual if needed. Per Lake Michigan College's policy, masks are required to access the venue, while moving around inside the building, and when not eating/drinking.