Last Monday evening was all about business at the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet.

The theme of the night was Rock and Roll, and the banquet room of Kilkarney Hills Golf Course was packed with members, guests, local officials and dignitaries enjoying camaraderie, bidding on silent auctions and the famous dessert auction and honoring businesses who won awards. At the dessert auction, auctioneer extraordinaire Jack Hines inspired thousands of dollars in donations in exchange for tasty and intricate dessert selections.

Main award winners were Small Business of the Year – Loberg Law Office, Large Business of the Year – Quinn Motors and Community Leader of the year – Jennifer Thatcher of the Pierce County Hunger Prevention Council.

Becky Beissel of the chamber welcomed guests to the event.

“Way deep down inside, I feel like Ellsworth is on the cusp of some very big things. Does anyone else feel that way?” she asked to a big round of applause.

She predicted a lot of community growth, which means new businesses coming to town and new competitors. She urged business owners to use that as motivation to make their business even better.

“You have to see competition as motivation. You have to offer the best community experience and product and be the employer of choice. Be the one the community loves the most. Use that as motivation,” she said, then introducing fellow chamber exec Kim Beebe.

“I wanted to give credit where credit is due and thank everyone who make this lovely evening possible. We could not do this without the sponsors of this event,” she said.

She credited the hard work of the chamber board of directors and ambassador’s club for their work to make the chamber the success that it is.

“These people put in so much time, and they’re the ones inspiring so much positive change within our organization,” she said.

Chamber President Paul Bauer of the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery looked back on the year’s successes in his remarks, noting that the chamber was able to get a grant to help with “revitalization of the East End and quite frankly the entire community.”

The chamber worked to promote the Popup Ellsworth program that brought four businesses to vacant East End buildings, and one will open this spring in the building it “popped up” in.

“That’s one thing we want to do more with,” Bauer said of the pop-up program. “We have plenty of buildings that need tenants, and we’re going to hopefully see the whole concept expand.”

Bauer pledged that the chamber would continue to work hard for the community this year.

“Our chamber is in a good spot. We think we can get it in even a better spot,” he said. “It’s really a direct result of everyone in this room. Thank you for a great year.”

A welcoming community was a common theme in remarks made by the two business of the year winners.

Beebe introduced the Loberg Law Office, where Bob and sons Lars and Jens work hard for the community.

She noted that the nomination form encouraging Loberg Law Office to be honored referred to the Loberg family team as “knowledgeable, professional, friendly and down to earth. She said that ultimately, everyone is going to need legal help at some point in their life, and the Loberg’s are personable and dedicated to their clients.

Bob Loberg said more than four decades ago, he thought he could work in Ellsworth for maybe a year. He met his wife Spring, and they have three children and eight grandchildren.

Bob invited his family to the front to help accept the chamber honor.

“I thank the board and the members for this honor. More importantly, I would say I appreciate it. Forty-four years ago, I came into Ellsworth on a 1972 Triumph. I had worked for a judge in Hudson for two years. He said there’s this fellow in Ellsworth who is looking for an associate to take over his practice,” Loberg said.

He put down family roots, and is grateful for it.

“We pride ourselves on being a familyowned business,” he said. “You notice I’m not talking about the law practice. The most important thing really in life is family. We’re very appreciative of what we have. I’m very appreciative of the welcome we’ve received from this community. I was 23 years old when I came to Ellsworth. I had such a wonderful welcome from the community. If you can imagine being 23 years old and someone is entrusting their legal services to you, oh my goodness.”

Bauer had the honor of presenting Quinn Motors with the large Business of the Year award.

The chamber noted that the firm has “a history in Ellsworth that as of last year spans three Quinn generations and 100 years. Quinn Motors has earned a reputation for trust, service, longevity and dedication to community.”

“This past summer, in celebration of the Legacy Park project and 100 years in business, the dealership invited the community to a week-long celebration unlike any Ellsworth had seen,” including dedication of the Legacy Park at the dealership’s west side.

“The Quinn family has a lot of heart and soul into the community, and they keep giving back and putting into the community and that’s awesome,” said Bauer. “I’m proud that they’re part of the long heritage of Ellsworth.”

Charlie and Meghan Quinn Kummer accepted the awarded on behalf of the family business.

“The more you look at the businesses in this community, the way the community embraces these businesses, it really means a lot to us,” said Charlie, who noted the positive energy of the family-friendly community.

“This community really embraces family,” he said. “The things that are done at our dealership couldn’t be done without this community. We wouldn’t have done those things if we didn’t feel the love, the energy and the community embracing us.”

Beissel said Thatcher was the perfect choice for the Community Leader of the Year Award.

“Jennifer strives to make our community a better place. Her commitment to finding funding and resources to keep our local food pantries going is commendable,” she said. “She makes opportunities align.”

She spoke of the Ellsworth Food Pantry moving into a larger location that Thatcher negotiated.

“Jennifer makes our community a better place,” Beissel said.

“This is quite the honor you guys,” said Thatcher. “I would like to say I can’t do this without each of you.”

The “Best Of” community awards voted upon by the community went to:

Best New Business – YB Urban?

Best Restaurant, Bar and Tavern – Common Man Tap & Table

Best Tourism Destination – Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery

Best Health and Wellness Business –

Shaw Family Dental

Best Professional Home Services –

Reuvers’ Nursery

Best Professional Service – WESTconsin Credit Union

Best Non-Profit Organization –

Ellsworth Public Library

Best Customer Service – Brush Strokes.