For Immediate Release – April 10, 2024

Contact:
Brian Otten, Marketing Director
Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce
715-848-5947 | botten@wausauchamber.com

Chamber names Small Business of the Year Award recipients

WAUSAU — The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce named the recipients of the 2024 Small Business of the Year Awards at a program held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Rib Mountain on Tuesday, April 9. Eight businesses and organizations had been named as finalists in two categories.

The Small Business of the Year Award recognizes business growth, community involvement and innovative efforts in the Wausau region and is a part of the Chamber’s annual Business Month. Erik Mrotek and Sadie Fisher of WAOW were the emcees for the event.

The 2024 Small Business of the Year Award recipients were Van Ert Electric Company Inc in the Business-to-Consumer category and Christmas in July Charity in the Charitable Non-Profit category.

The finalists in each of the categories were:

Business-to-Consumer Award Finalists: Health In Motion - Wausau, Kreger's Bakery, Restlawn Memorial Park LLC and The Unglitch

Charitable Non-Profit Award Finalists: Habitat for Humanity of Wausau - ReStore and Healthfirst Network Inc

A replay of the awards program can be viewed on the WAOW.com. Each of this year’s finalists were also interviewed last month, with the videos available on the Chamber’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The recipients of the 2023 Small Business of the Year Awards were Patriot Auto Repair in the Business-to-Consumer category and the Never Forgotten Honor Flight in the Charitable Non-Profit category.

"I first heard about Van Ert Electric on a father and son fishing trip to Alaska,” said Robert Van Ert, President of Van Ert Electric. “I turned 12 on that trip and thought that was a pretty bold plan. My father knew what he was doing, though, and opened the year after. On May 20 we’ll have been in business for 60 years.”

“The main goal of our organization is to help bring smiles and comfort to children and families who are enduring hospitalizations and medical treatment,” said Greg Cemke, Santa with Christmas in July Charity. “We are honored to be recognized for this work.”

The Chamber’s Business Month programming continues on Thursday, April 18 with Business EXPO 2024 at the Central Wisconsin Convention + Expo Center in Rothschild. The Business EXPO is the largest Chamber expo in the nation, with more than 280 booth spaces already filled. The EXPO features an exhibitor-to-exhibitor time from 9 a.m. to noon, before opening to the public from noon to 5 p.m. Admission to the event is free with a business card or $10.

The Business EXPO will once again feature a mascot parade at 1 p.m. and a Best in Show awards competition for recognizing exceptional exhibitors in four categories. The recipients of these awards will be named at 3 p.m.

The EXPO will be followed by the Fun@EXPO networking event from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Rothschild. Fun@EXPO is the region’s largest business networking event of the year, offering a unique opportunity to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Cost is $20 with wristbands available for purchase at either the EXPO or at the door. Food and beverages at the event will be supplied by the following Chamber members:

• 2510 Restaurant
• The Bar
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• CHAR Grillhouse
• Fun Factory Sweet Shoppe'
• Fuzzy's Taco Shop
• Helene's Hilltop Orchard
• Jersey Mike's Subs
• Lil' Ole Winemaker Shoppe LLC
• Mosinee Brewing
• Noodles & Company
• Osso Buco
• Papa Johns Pizza – Wausau
• Red Robin Burgers and Brews
• Stevens Point Brewery
• Sweets on Third
• Timekeeper Distillery

The sponsors for the 2024 Business Month are The Dirks Group at the platinum level, Ho-Chunk Gaming – Wittenberg, Northwest Tool & Manufacturing Co., Inc., Rhyme - Wausau, Ruder Ware LLSC and Wausau Smiles Dental LLC at the gold level, and American Family Insurance – David J. Cooper Agency Inc, REI Engineering Inc, TDS Telecom – Wausau and Yach’s Body & Custom Inc at the silver level. Media sponsors for the week include Midwest Communications – WDEZ/WIFC/JACK FM/WSAU/The Game, The Business News and WAOW Newsline 9. The EXPO sign sponsor is Graphic House Inc and the EXPO award sponsor is Fully Promoted. The printed program and map sponsor is RotoGraphic Printing Inc.

For more information on the 2024 Small Business of the Year Awards, including a list of past recipients, or to register for any Business Month events, visit WausauChamber.com.

Caption for CNP2024: Christmas in July Charity was named the 2024 recipient of the Small Business of the Year Award in the Charitable Non-Profit category by the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Caption for B2C2024: Van Ert Electric was named the 2024 recipient of the Small Business of the Year Award in the Business-to-Consumer category by the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

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The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce is the source for business information in the Wausau Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The organization has earned a 5-Star Accreditation, one of only two chambers in the state with that designation. The Chamber strengthens member businesses and enhances the region by building business success. For more information on the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce, visit us online at www.wausauchamber.com or call 715-845-6231.