Awards of Excellence
The Awards of Excellence is an annual celebration honoring Chamber member businesses and individuals who go above and beyond to strengthen our community. Businesses are nominated by their peers in the following categories: Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, New Business of the Year, Healthy Workplace, and Community Impact.
Winners and nominees are recognized at the Awards of Excellence Luncheon. In addition to the five business award categories, the prestigious Charlie Naylor Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual whose lasting contributions have made a meaningful
impact on our community.
May 2026
21st Annual Awards
of Excellence
Event Details
As we prepare for this annual celebration, your participation in the nomination process is essential. We invite you to nominate Chamber member businesses and individuals who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and community commitment over the past year.
About Nominations
If you know a Chamber member business that has gone above and beyond, we encourage you to submit a nomination. Please review the award categories and complete the nomination form.
- Nominations are anonymous
- Nominees will be contacted by the Awards Committee
- Nominees will complete a brief survey
- All nominees receive an Awards of Excellence nomination certificate
- Nominees are recognized at the Awards Luncheon and promoted across the Chamber’s marketing platforms
Award recipients will be announced and honored at the Awards of Excellence Luncheon held each spring.
To qualify, Chamber members must be in good standing and may not win the same award in consecutive years. The Awards of Excellence are intended to be peer-to-peer recognition. If you feel your business is deserving, we encourage you to reach out to a fellow Chamber member and ask them to submit a nomination on your behalf.
To explore eligible businesses, visit our Member Directory or the Business Directory in the Bemidji Lakes Area Guide.
Award Categories
May 2026
Charlie Naylor Lifetime Achievement Award
Characteristics for the recipient of the Charlie Naylor Lifetime Achievement Award
Born in 1914, Charlie Naylor was an entrepreneur from the very beginning. He believed in getting things done and that it would take hard work and prudent judgment. He had a knack for connecting the people to the project to make it reality. He was active in just about every civic organization in town through the years including a term on the Chamber board and serving as President. Charlie was the impetus behind the Bemidji Development Corporation in the early sixties with a group of Bemidji businessmen and was the President until the end.
The Charlie Naylor lifetime achievement award is an annual award to recognize individuals in our community that live by Charlie’s values, entrepreneurial thinking and the dedication to make Bemidji the regional hub it has become. The Chamber selected this event as the platform to recognize individuals in this venue that have lives with the values and judgment that Charlie did.
Past Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
Past Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
2025
Ray & Brenda Sweeney
2024
Wayne Dondelinger
2023
Rich Siegert
2022
Ted Will
2021
Pete Aube
2020
John Baer