2024 Waseca Business of the year goes to...

The Mill Event Center was abuzz with activity the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 29 for the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce 2024 Business & Industry Celebration. Organization executive director Ann Fitch acted as emcee for this event which celebrates the accomplishments and dedication of Waseca Chamber Members who contribute to making Waseca great.

Selected for the Young Entrepreneur Award was Dr. Jay Bulfer of Growing Roots Chiropractic located at 1800 North State Street. His somewhat emotional acceptance speech drew attention to the shared leadership of his wife, Lyndsea Bulfer. “Thank you to the chamber, thank you to Waseca. This has been an incredible year, we’re excited to be here and I can’t go further–” there was a slight pause here–“without recognizing my wife.” His words were met with applause.

Next up was the Social Media Rising Star Award, which went to Larry Johnson, the “Minnesota Mortgage Man,” at Minnwest Bank located at 200 Second Street NE. His acceptance speech took a humble approach, “This is really undeserved when I see what everyone else is doing. We wanted people to get excited about banking and finance, so one day my daughter suggested TikTok. We started making videos and it blew up from there.”

The Chamber’s “Impact Award" goes to an organization or business that consistently gives back to the community through service or donations. This year’s winner is Diane Beckmann of Thrivent Financial located at 201 Second Street NE. “We have friendly competition when we all play well. We give back to the less fortunate because you’ve been blessed, I’ve been blessed. Thank you,” said Beckmann.

The Legacy Award is reserved for a business that has been ongoing for 50 years or more. This was awarded to Rick and Sheila Morris of Waseca Floral located at 810 North State Street. Said Rick, “You just go to work every day, and you wake up and all these years have gone by. I want to thank my wife and all of you. Please, when you’re out and about and you get the urge, stop in and say hi once in a while.”

Said Fitch, “The People’s Choice Award is the only award that we have the public vote on. This allows the community to tell us which chamber member they feel is important to them. This chamber member continually shows up for their community. Our winner joined the grind of being a family business in 2016. They have seen thousands of delighted customers pass through their doors every year as core memories are created each weekend. People come to them to celebrate their nuptials, to gather after laying a loved one to rest, or just catch up with friends over a bean bag tournament. Leaning on the broad shoulders of their family and the deep core of their faith to carry them through when times were uncertain, they have persevered when too many of their industry colleagues shuttered their doors in 2020 and 2021. Their giving nature has made them a favorite of their community. They have a very difficult time saying ‘no’ when asked to donate; in fact they are making a donation right now. They donated the space we are sitting in tonight. Our People’s Choice Award Winner is The Mill. Please come forward Hoehn Family.” Abbe Hoehn, manager and daughter to owners Joe and Deb Hoehn, accepted the award on behalf of The Mill, “Thank you, guys, I have no words, this is all a huge team effort. From me, my staff and family, thanks.”

The Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce Business & Industry Celebration 2024 was catered by The Boathouse and included appetizers such as: steak crostini, shrimp cocktail dip, margarita flatbread pizza and antipasto skewers. There was also a cash bar provided by The Mill.