By Craig Marx, Editor

On Tuesday evening, the Antigo/Langlade County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 4th Annual Banquet, where Chamber members had a chance to meet and greet each other while learning about the workings of the Chamber itself. The winners of the organization’s different awards, determined by business class, were also distributed.

For the 2016 Large Business of the Year, local financial staple CoVantage Credit Union took the top prize; for Mid-Size Business of the Year, Lakeside Market would claim the award; in the Small Business category, the Antigo Daily Journal was the recipient; and lastly, for the Hometown Business of the Year, Pampered Paws Pet Grooming was top dog.

Attendees were treated to dinner and had a chance afterward for dessert – at a price. Desserts donated by local businesses were raffled off to each table of members, including boozy mint cakes and ornately decorated yet edible model houses.

Chamber members gave their thanks to departing board member Toni Schneider while later the 2017 Board of Directors was introduced. Drew Lundt, a Chamber board member, spoke about the 2016 year in-review and the many positives that both the community and the organization could draw from this past year, including the addition of seven new Chamber members and the increase of the group’s continued use of social media.

Before the awards ceremony began, Pat Slaats, a general manager at the Harley-Davidson plant in Tomahawk, gave an interesting, retrospective look back at the history of the storied motorcycle company and how its attention to detail and passion for progression apply not only to its past success but can also be used as a model for the future of business ethics and practices.

Special thanks to Deena Grabowsky, executive director of the Chamber, for providing the photographs for the Antigo Times and banquet itself for its members.