Pinnacle Award Recipients

The Pinnacle Awards Program recognizes individuals who embrace principled leadership, strategic thinking, balanced workplace values and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. Individuals have a unique blend of vision, energy, perseverance and skill and have demonstrated outstanding achievements in operating businesses as well as leadership in the community.

The Fox Cities Chamber is proud to recognize these individuals for their many contributions to the community. They have dedicated themselves as professionals and volunteers to the well-being of the Fox Cities.

Awards DISTRIBUTED:

ATHENA® Leadership - Awarded to a woman who has achieved the highest level of professional excellence. This individual contributes time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the Fox Cities community, and actively assists others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.

Business Leader Hall of Fame - The Business Leader Hall of Fame is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated personal and business success, business leaders who have gained recognition and honor for outstanding achievement in their industry, who have been dedicated to the economic vitality in our community, and are role models for future generations.

Champion of the Chamber - Awarded to an individual who, through his/her on-going volunteer efforts within the Fox Cities Chamber, helps strengthen the local economy through innovative leadership, workforce development, and community and business development. This individual influences both members and non-members to become more involved in the Chamber.

Entrepreneur of the Year - Awarded to an individual who, through his/her own risk and initiative, has established a thriving and successful business.

Gus A. Zuehlke Distinguished Service - This award is named in honor of Gus A. Zuehlke, a past Chairman of the Board of the Fox Cities Chamber. In the spirit of Gus' passion for serving his community, this award honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions through leadership in business and service during his/her years as a Chamber member. This business leader has been a job creator through business endeavors, and has made significant contributions as a driver of economic growth in the Fox Cities. The recipient of this award will have a $5,000 award/grant donated in his/her name to the charitable organization of his/her choice.

Joyce Bytof Exceptional Mentor - Awarded to an individual who is proactive in the advancement of others by sharing time, talent and business experience for the purposes of promoting growth and opportunity in the Fox Cities Community.

Young Professional of the Year - The Fox Cities has thousands of young professionals who excel within their places of employment and in the community. This professional excels in his/her respective field and positively influences the quality of life in the Fox Cities. This individual has a hand in attracting and retaining young talent to the area. This Future 15 recipient was chosen based on dedication, a strong sense of vision for the Fox Cities and understanding of the importance of volunteering and giving back.

PINNACLE AWARDS: Celebrating Business Leader Excellence

Congratulations to our previous award recipients!

ATHENA® LEADERSHIP AWARD

2018 - Patti Habeck - President, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
2017 - Donna Gehl - President, Image Studios
2016 - Jean Long Manteufel - Owner, A-1 Moving & Storage
2015 - Lisa Cruz - Owner, Red Shoes PR
2014 - Margaret LeBrun, Insight Publications
2013 - Beth Davis, Community First Credit Union
2012 - Monica Vomastic, Landmark Staffing Resources Inc.
2011 - Kathi Seifert, Katapult, LLC

BUSINESS LEADER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

2018 - Walter Keller - Founder (retired), Keller, Inc.
2017 - Debra Michiels - Owner, Fox Banquets & Rivertyme Catering (retired); Thomas Prosser - Partner, Dunsirn Partners, LLC
2016 - Cody Splitt - Attorney (retired); Walt Rugland - Executive Vice President, Thrivent Financial (retired)
2015 - John Bergstrom - Chairman and CEO, Bergstrom Corporation; Richard "Dick" Bergstrom - Vice Chairman, Bergstrom Corporation
2014 - John Bykowski - SECURA Insurance; Leota Ester - Landmark the Staffing Resource; Dave Voss - Miron Construction
2013 - Oscar C. Boldt - The Boldt Company; Catherine Tierney - Community First Credit Union
2012 - Paul Hoffman - Hoffman; Bob Keller - J.J. Keller & Associates; Kathi Seifert - Katapult, LLC
2011 - William R. Bassett - Chairman of the Board, Bassett Mechanical; Joyce Bytof - Chairman & CEO, Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group, Inc.; John Pfefferle - Chairman, Pfefferle Companies, Inc.

CHAMPION OF THE CHAMBER AWARD

2018 - Scott Jensen - Director of Marketing & Digital, Wisconsin Herd
2017 - Richard Parks - Regional Director, Modern Woodmen of America
2016 - Patrick Minskey - Advisor, Edward Jones
2015 - Les Van Ornum - Founder, Merchants' Choice Card Services, LLC
2014 - Dennis Jochman - Bechard Group
2013 - Ron Zahn - Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group
2012 - Debra Michiels - Fox Banquets Rivertyme Catering
2011 - Tim Higgins - Owner, ChiRho Services

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

2018 - Kimberly Stoeger - Owner/Clinical Nutritionist, Nutritional Healing, LLC
2017 - Doris & Alice Ng - Co-owners, GingeRootz Asian Grille
2016 - Dave Willems - CEO and Principal, Willems Marketing and Events
2015 - Brian Gottlieb - Owner, Tundraland
2014 - Jim Bere - Alta Resources
2013 - Debra Michiels - Fox Banquets Rivertyme Catering
2012 - Rollie Stephenson - Faith Technologies, Inc.
2011 - Kevin Eismann - Owner, Epiphany Law, LLC

GUS A. ZUEHLKE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

2018 - Catherine Tierney - President/Chief Executive Officer, Community First Credit Union
2017 - Kathi Seifert - President, Katapult, LLC
2016 - Richard Batley - President, R.B. Batley Hospitality
2015 - Jon Stellmacher - Retired Senior Vice President, Thrivent Financial
2014 - Walter S. Rugland - EVP, Thrivent Financial (retired)
2013 - John Bykowski - SECURA Insurance
2012 - O.C. Boldt - The Boldt Group
2011 - John F. Bergstrom - Chairman & CEO, Bergstrom Automotive

JOYCE BYTOF EXCEPTIONAL MENTOR AWARD

2018 - Joanne Fischer - President, Telecom Insites LLC
2017 - Donald Herrmann - President, Herrmann Advantage Consulting, LLC
2016 - Tom Wiltzius - President, Wiltzius Associates
2015 - Tony Busch - Managing Member, Priora Cash Flow Management, LLC
2014 - Kathi Seifert - Katapult, LLC
2013 - Kathy Westover - SOFTSPAN
2012 - Beth Davis - Community First Credit Union
2011 - Mary Harp-Jirschele - Executive Director, J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

2018 - Brad Cebulski - President, BConnected, LLC
2017 - Nathan Litt - Account Director, Quill Creative
2016 - Alison Mayer - Corporate Communications Specialist, US Venture
2015 - Robyn Gruner - Director, External Affairs, AT&T
2014 - Jason Henderson, Orchard Financial, LLC
2013 - John Weyenberg, Greater Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity
2012 - Kip Golden, Miron Construction Co., Inc.
2011 - Sarah Schneider (was with Schenck at the time)

2018 Pinnacle Awards - Award Nominator Videos

Business Hall of Fame - Walter Keller (Nominated by Beth Davis)		ATHENA Leadership Award - Patti Habeck (Nominated by Nora Langolf)


Champion of the Chamber - Scott Jensen (Nominated by Rick Parks)		Entrepreneur of the Year - Kimberly Stoeger (Nominated by Kerry Evers)


Gus A. Zuehlke Distinguished Service Award - Catherine Tierney (Nominated by John Bergstrom)		Joyce Bytof Exceptional Mentor Award - Joanne Fischer (Nominated by Cindy Reinhold-LeClair)


Young Professional of the Year Award - Brad Cebulski (Presented by Nikki Hessel)