Beatrice Area Chamber recognizes award winners, at 2024 Annual Banquet

BEATRICE – The Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce honored award winners at the organization’s 2024 annual banquet Friday night, held at the Countryside Event Center west of Beatrice.

Michael Zarbynicky of Homestead Land Company takes over as Chamber Board Chairman for this year. Beatrice Community Hospital CEO Rick Haraldson chaired the board in 2023.

Chamber Executive Director Angie Bruna said he chamber is instrumental to the community’s success.  "Our organization allows opportunity for our members to create connections, to show community support, to band together in support and expand our commerce base. It's my goal as chamber director to help you, our members....thrive...to strengthen, sustain and grow our local economy. I'll be seeking to work with our board of directors and various committees, to increase our member involvement, because the more involved you are, the more you get out of your chamber membership."

Bruna said the chamber picked up 22 new members this year and had an 89-percent member retention rate. "We were the recipient of three different awards. We were named the Nebraska Chamber event of the year with our Holiday Lighted Parade. We were named the Friend of Four-H...and we received the Mid America Chamber Executive's marketing campaign award. There was a lot of great work not only to promote ourselves locally, but also regionally."

This year, the chamber combined its annual banquet with its member awards program.

Named the Best New Business Image was Envision Landscapes Garden Center. The Outstanding New Business of the Year was the Big Blue Bike Company. The nonprofit Business of the Year was the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Gage County.

The chamber’s Young Professional of the Year was Megan Wicht of Gage Area Growth Enterprise. The Business Person of the Year award went to Trevor Chadwick of Brown’s Shoe Fit. The Business of the Year honor was presented to Beatrice Community Hospital.

There were 29 nominees for the various awards.

Laura Koch of Blue Valley Behavioral Health was the Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year award winner.