Get Into Grinnell Blog

Award Winners

We had a wonderful Wednesday evening recognizing a variety of businesses, groups and individuals with awards at our Annual Celebration. Nominations are sought from the public, with the final recipients chosen by a selection committee comprised of chamber of commerce members. Thank you to those of you who were able to attend our event.

You can see all the photos from the night on our Facebook page.

There were many deserving nominees, which made the selection process difficult. It goes to show just how many people are doing outstanding things in our community. Congratulations to the following 2016 award recipients:

Business of the Year: Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company

Retail Business of the Year: Bates Flowers By DZyne

Restaurant of the Year: Relish Grinnell

Service Business of the Year: Grinnell Community Day Care & Preschool

Economic Impact Award: Mayflower Community Watertower Square

Community Betterment Award: Poweshiek County Dental Coalition

Outstanding Tourism Experience: Grinnell College

Public Servant of the Year: Dave Popp, City of Grinnell Public Service Director

Volunteer of the Year: Ann Brau, Grinnell Farmers Market Volunteer Manager and owner of Compass Plant CSA

Entrepreneur of the Year: Craig Cooper, owner of Bikes to You and Cooper Real Estate

One To Watch Awards:

1. 1.     Jennifer Collins, Grinnell Area Arts Council Arts Education Coordinator
2. 2.     Elyssa Halstead, Beau*ty Hair & Nail Studio owner
3. 3.     Matt Karjalahti, RE/MAX Partners Realty owner and broker
4. 4.     Deb Shearer, Bill's Jewelry owner
5. 5.     Rob Whitham, Brown's Shoe Fit Grinnell manager/owner

20 Under 40 Awards:

1. Lisa Behrends, Grinnell College
2. Tyson Brandt, Wes Finch Auto Plaza
3. Crystal Burch, Beau*ty Hair & Nail Studio
4. David Counts, Gamers
5. Jarrod Diehm, 1854 Deli
6. Kyle Jaeger, Bikes to You
7. Megan Jensen, Grinnell Regional Medical Center
8. Whitney Jensen, Jensen Optometrists
9. Cara Kenkel, Grinnell Regional Medical Center
10. Lisa Klenk, T.L. Baker & Co., LLP
11. Austin McKenney, Crisis Intervention Services
12. Holly Pettlon, Grinnell Regional Medical Center
13. Rochelle Ragusi, Genesis Development
14. Nicole Sexton, Grinnell College & Chloe & Isabel
15. Melissa Ulrickson, Crisis Intervention Services
16. Briana Vande Stouwe, Community 1st Credit Union
17. Devin Wells, Grinnell State Bank
18. Katy Wells, Double You Marketing
19. Kaitlyn Wilcox, Grinnell College
20. Kyle Wilcox, Grinnell Regional Medical Center

Thank you to Grinnell Regional Medical Center for sponsoring the evening! And a thank you to Grinnell Mutual for hosting us at their new conference and education center. It was a great night!

~Emily & Rachael