Business & Industry Previous Award Winners
2023
Business of the Year Award: BCI Burke
Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Service: Cellar District
Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Manufacturing: Ledgerock Distillery
Community Collaboration: Kurt Wismer, Teacher, North Fond du Lac School District
Economic Development: SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital
Special Achievement Award: Fond du Lac Soccer Association
International Business Achievement Award: STgenetics
George Becker Business Spirit Award: Tom Herre, former Fond du Lac City Manager and Retired Army Colonel
2022
Business of the Year Award: Adam Rupp, President, Wisconsin Lighting Lab (WiLL)
Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Paul Reetz of Integrity Saw
International Business Achievement Award: Allen Sass, Wisconsin Spice, Inc.
Community Collaboration: Amy Loof, St. Vincent DePaul, the Solutions Center & Drexel for the St. Katharine Drexel Homeless shelter.
Economic Development: Jeff O’Brien, Legacy Express, LLC
Special Achievement Award: Randy Hopper, KFIZ
2020
Business of the Year: Baker Cheese Company
Entrepreneur of the Year: Sam Meyer
Economic Development Award: Faris Gourmet Popcorn and Treats, United Manufacturers, Inc.
Community Collaboration Award: The Boyke/Grinstead Family
George Becker Business Spirit Award: Stephen M. Peterson
2019
Business of the Year: Holiday Automotive
Entrepreneur of the Year: Eric Kurtev
Economic Development Award: EAA
Community Collaboration Award: City of Fond du Lac and Fond du Lac County
Special Achievement Award: Aaron Sadoff
George Becker Business Spirit Award: Louis Andrew
2018
The Business of the Year award: C.D. Smith Construction, Inc.
Community Collaboration award: Bob Roehrig, Dr. James Sebert, and Pat Smith for their work on the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) Career Academy at Fond du Lac high school
Economic Development Award: Green Bay Packers Titletown District
Entrepreneur of the Year award: ModTruss Inc.
International Business Achievement Award: Marchant Schmidt, Inc.
Special Achievement Award: Sandi Roehrig
George Becker Business Spirit Award: Dr. Darold Treffert.
2017
The Business of the Year award: Grande Cheese Company
Economic Development Award: ACH Foam Technologies
Entrepreneur of the Year award: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
International Business Achievement Award: Mercury Marine
Special Achievement awards: James Eden and Thomas Schneider
George Becker Business Spirit Award: Sr. Mary Mollison, C.S.A. (posthumously)
2016
Economic Development Award: Drexel Building Supply
Entrepreneur of the Year: Gilles Frozen Custard
Special Achievement Award:
- Individual: Ron Emanuel
- Organization: The Arc of Fond du Lac
Business of the Year: Mid-States Aluminum Corporation
2015
Economic Development Award: LaClare Farms
Entrepreneur of the Year: Advanced Tooling Inc.
Special Achievement Award: Agnesian HealthCare Community Health and Wellness
Business of the Year: Excel Engineering
George Becker Business Spirit Award: John Korb (posthumously)
2014
Business of the Year: Alliance Laundry Systems
Entrepreneur of the Year: wisnet.com, LLC
Economic Development: Con‐Way Freight
Special Achievement: Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac
Special Achievement: THELMA Sadoff Center for the Arts
George Becker Business Spirit: Gary M. Smith (posthumously)
2013
Business of the Year: Sadoff Iron & Metal
Entrepreneur of the Year: Kelley Country Creamery
Entrepreneur of the Year: Brown Boots Interactive
Economic Development: Manitowoc Tool and Machining, LLC
Special Achievement: Drunk Busters of America, LLC
George Becker Business Spirit: Mike Shannon
2012
Business of the Year: ACUITY
Entrepreneur of the Year: Sonex Aircraft, LLC
Economic Development: Commonwealth Companies
Special Achievement: Michael Mentzer
George Becker Business Spirit: Gary Sadoff
2011
(Fall)
Business of the Year: New Glarus Brewing
Entrepreneur of the Year: Ripon Printers
Economic Development: Kondex Corporation
Special Achievement: CD Smith Construction
George Becker Business Spirit: Robert Fale
(Spring)
Business of the Year: Festival Foods
Entrepreneur of the Year: Mark and Patty Trepanier
Economic Development: Mayville Engineering Company, Inc. (MEC)
Special Achievement: Fond du Lac Family YMCA and Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac
George Becker Business Spirit: David Klumpyan
2010
Business of the Year: Oshkosh Corporation
Entrepreneur of the Year: Orion Energy Systems
Special Achievement: Mercury Marine, Community & Government Partners Regional Media Media outlets covering the Mercury story
George Becker Business Spirit: Wayne Matzke
2009
Business of the Year: J.F. Ahern Co.
International Business: Schneider National Inc.
Entrepreneur of the Year: Broadjam.com
Economic Development: New North, Inc.
Special Achievement: United Hearts for Health
George Becker Business Spirit: Peter E. Stone
2007/08
Business of the Year: Marchant Schmidt, Inc.
International Business: Manpower Inc.
Entrepreneur of the Year: The Wreath Factory / Otter Creek
Economic Development: Fond du Lac Association of Commerce
Special Achievement: Fond du Lac Symphonic Band
George Becker Business Spirit: Sister Judith Schmidt
2006
Business of the Year: SC Johnson
International Business: Alliance Laundry Systems
Entrepreneur or the year ‐ Service: The H.S. Group
Entrepreneur of the Year: Ariens Company Manufacturing
Regional Media: InSpire Magazine
Special Achievement: Langdon Divers
George Becker Business Spirit: Richard Kleinfeldt
2005
Business of the Year: RB Royal Industries, Inc.
International Business: Johnson Controls, Inc.
Economic Development: Berbee Information Networks Corporation
Regional Media: Lake Winnebago B2B
George Becker Business Spirit: Virginia Duncan Gilmore ’98
2004
Business of the Year: Quad/Graphics
International Business: The Manitowoc Company
Regional Economic Development: Agnesian HealthCare /Froedtert Hospital
Entrepreneur of the Year ‐ Service: Wisconsin Physicians Service
Entrepreneur of the Year ‐ Retail: Supple Restaurant Group
Special Achievement: Milwaukee Irish Fest
Regional Media: The Post‐Crescent
George Becker Business Spirit: Dr. Michael Strigenz
2003
Business of the Year: Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (M & I Bank)
International Business: Appleton
Regional Economic Development: Green Bay Packers
Entrepreneur of the Year ‐ Manufacturing: Grande Cheese Company
Entrepreneur of the Year ‐ Service: Grant Thornton LLP
Entrepreneur of the Year ‐ Retail/Recreation: Destination Kohler
Special Achievement: Oneida Nation
Special Achievement: West Bend Mutual Insurance Company
George Becker Business Spirit: Jim Hubbard
2002
Business of the Year: Bergstrom Automotive
International Business: Sensient Technologies
Economic Development: Road America
Entrepreneur of the Year ‐ Manufacturing: BCI Burke Co.
Entrepreneur of the Year ‐ Service: Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin
Entrepreneur of the Year – Individual: Shelly Stayer
Special Achievement: Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Regional Media: The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee
2001
Business of the Year: Michels Corporation
International Business: Oshkosh Truck Corp.
Economic Development: Fond du Lac Country Corp.
Entrepreneur of the Year ‐ Manufacturing: Baker Cheese
Entrepreneur of the Year ‐ Service: Schenck Business Solutions, Fond du Lac
Special Achievement: John Korb
Regional Media: Trails Media Group /Corporate Report
George Becker Spirit: Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes
