Businesses and Individuals Honored at 2026 Chamber Annual Meeting & Business Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 27, 2026
Contact: Taylor Pedersen, President/CEO
Taylor.pedersen@superiorchamber.org
715.394.7716 x103 (office)
Superior/Douglas County businesses and Individuals honored at the 2026 Chamber Annual Meeting and Business Awards
(Superior, Wis.) — Two outstanding area businesses and two outstanding business professionals were recognized at the 72nd Chamber Annual Meeting and Business Awards presented by Culver’s on April 23rd, 2026 in the Yellowjacket Union on the University of Wisconsin-Superior campus.
The Chamber Annual Meeting and Business Awards is an annual event hosted by the Superior-Douglas County Area Chamber of Commerce to bring the business community together to celebrate the past year of hard work, look forward to the year ahead as well as to honor outstanding businesses and individuals in our community. This year’s event included a keynote address Fraser Industries given by Fraser Industries CEO Patrick Kelly.
A sell-out crowd of more than 240 community members, business leaders, elected officials gathered to honor the business community and the following award winners.
-Love Creamery, winner of the New Business of the Year Award
-Downs Life Celebration Center, winner of the Outstanding Business of the Year Award
-Joscelyn Skandel from Superior Water, Light & Power, winner of the Business Professional of the Year Award
-Steven Woods from Lake Superior YMCA, winner of the Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award.
More information on each awards category:
New Business of the Year Award
To be eligible for the New Business of the Year Award, a business must have opened or moved to Superior or Douglas County within the 2025 calendar year. Nominees were asked to describe why they decided to open or relocate their business in Superior or Douglas County. Nominees were also asked to describe how they utilize technology to run their business, and how they are innovative above others in their industry. Finally, nominees were asked to demonstrate how the local community has supported their business in their first year.
Outstanding Business of the Year Award
For a business to be nominated in the Outstanding Business of the Year Award, they must be a member of the Chamber and have operations within the Douglas County community. They included a brief history of the business, and their contribution to the community. Some of the specific topics that were evaluated by the judges were: Organizational performance and integrity, treatment of employees, community impact, overall safety and quality of leadership.
Business Professional of the Year
Qualified candidates for this award must either live or work in Douglas County, and were located here during the entire awards year. Applications touched on the following qualifications such as the impact the person has on day-to day operations of their organization, demonstration of leadership in and out of the workplace while maintaining professional integrity, professional success, philanthropic endeavors, community involvement and community advocacy.
Chamber Ambassador of the Year
The Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award goes out to a member of the Chamber Ambassador committee. They are involved in their Chamber and the community and are a professional in the organization they work for.
Sponsors for the 2026 Chamber Annual Meeting and Business Awards included:
Title Sponsor: Culver’s
Platinum Partner: The University of Wisconsin-Superior
Gold Partners: Cenovus Energy Superior Refinery, Centricity Credit Union, The City of Superior, Dave Evans Transports, Inc., The Development Association, Enbridge, Essentia Health, Frandsen Bank & Trust, ImOn, Kwik Trip, Lakehead Constructors Inc., Members Cooperative Credit Union, National Bank of Commerce, Northwood Technical College, Superior School District, Super One Foods and Superior Water, Light & Power
Silver Partners: Benson Electric Company, Koehler Insurance Solutions – Rachel Nelson, Krech Ojard & Associates, Superior Choice Credit Union, Superior Lidgerwood Mundy and Tamarack Health Superior Clinic
Bronze Partners: Campbell Lumber & Supply, LHB
Event Partners: DSC Communications, Embark Supported Employment, and Nummi Jewelers
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About The Superior-Douglas County Area Chamber of Commerce
The Superior-Douglas County Area Chamber of Commerce works daily to advocate and advance business interests and community growth throughout Superior and Douglas County. The Chamber provides its approximately 400 members and the business community at large opportunities for networking, professional development and a platform to showcase their organization in a variety of ways. The Superior-Douglas County Area Chamber of Commerce has two other entities under its umbrella, including the Superior Douglas County Visitor Bureau Inc., known as Travel Superior, which promotes tourism in Superior and Douglas County; as well as the Chamber Foundation, which promotes youth education and development as well as connecting employers to area school districts.
