2026 North Shore Chamber Awards Voting

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This form is for North Shore Chamber of Commerce members only. If you or your organization are not members of the Chamber of Commerce, your vote will not count.

  1.  New Business of the Year
  2. Best Hospitality Award
  3. Inspiring Business Person of the Year
  4. Workplace of the Year
  5. Community Connector of the Year
  6. Green Business of the Year
  7. Small Business Achievement Award
  8. Outstanding Customer Service Award
  9. Diversity & Inclusion Award
  10. Marketing Excellence Award
  11. Young Professional of the Year
  12. Business Education Partner of the Year
  13. Business of the Year

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New Business of the Year

The New Business of the Year is presented to an organization that began operating within the last year.

This award should highlight an organization who, within their first year, has demonstrated early success and growth potential, offers a unique product/service, and has displayed engagement with the NSC and local North Shore community.

ADvantage Consulting MKE
North Shore Functional Medicine
The Argo
MKE Treasures
Scout Couture

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Best Hospitality Award

The Best Hospitality Award is open to businesses in food service, lodging, tourism, or event industries.

This award recognizes an organization that has excelled in customer experience and may contribute unique or standout offerings that reflect the culture of the North Shore.

The Friendship Circle of Wisconsin
The Argo
MOXIE Food + Drink
Cafe Corazon
Maxfield's Breakfast and Brunch

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Inspiring Business Person of the Year

This award recognizes and individual business owner or executive that has displayed any or all of the following traits:

  • Strong leadership and vision
  • Integrity and ethical business practices
  • Positive influence on peers or the industry
  • Mentorship or support of emerging leaders
  • Has a personal resilience or innovation story 

Marcela Perea - Crossfit 100
Andy Weins - Camo Crew Responsible Removal
Levi Stein - The Friendship Circle of Wisconsin
Courtney Skinkis - Confluence Graphics
Chrishella Roche - VIBEZ Creative Art Space
Brad Skinkis - Confluence Graphics
Howie Gross - Z Plumberz

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Workplace of the Year

This award recognizes a organization whose workplace culture and employee benefits are recognized as a key reason for attracting and retaining talent.

Friendship Circle of Wisconsin
Gramoll & Associates
Village of Bayside
Clarios
Bank Five Nine
Wisconsin Athletic Club

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Community Connector of the Year

This award recognizes and individual that has displayed any or all of the following traits:

  • Actively engaged in or with multiple community organizations
  • Looks to foster partnerships across organizations
  • Is a trusted and reliable community resource

Eido Walny - Village of Bayside
Jason Schneider - KKOM Marketing
Nilsa Arce - Masso Balloons
Lynn Raines - Kids Impact Community
Debbie Scribner - Milwaukee Jewish Free Loan Association
Bill Sargent - Milwaukee Headshots
Brad Skinkis - Confluence Graphics
Catrina Francis - The LeenaSun Foundation
Matthew Kaplan - Hildebrand Law Firm
Kody Kojima - InspireMax MArketing
Courtney Skinkis - Confluence Graphics
Amanda Braun - Big Brothers Big Sisters

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Green Business of the Year

This award recognizes an organization that has implemented specific sustainability practices or has sustainability as a core principle of their mission.

Camo Crew Responsible Removal - Diverts approximately 80% of collected materials from landfills through donation, recycling, and repurposing; proving that profitability, sustainability, and community impact can go hand in hand as a veteran-owned business.
Village of Bayside - Expanded its renewable energy portfolio with solar infrastructure across multiple municipal facilities, avoiding over 1.07 million pounds of CO₂ emissions at their Public Works Facility alone, with numerous state and national sustainability certifications.
Masso Balloons - Nominated for integrating biodegradable materials into their business practices wherever possible, demonstrating that even event and décor businesses can align with environmental responsibility.
Little Way Floor Services - A Milwaukee-area carpet cleaning company that exclusively uses non-toxic, eco-friendly, natural products; delivering professional results without exposing families or pets to harsh chemicals, serving communities across the North Shore.
Stone Creek Coffee - Sources 94% of their cafe energy from local wind farms. Partnered with Compost Crusader to reduce the amount of wate produced by brewing coffee in their cafes. Since it's inception, the program has diverted 150,000+ pounds of coffee waste from the landfill.

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Small Business Achievement Award

This award recognizes a small business (less than 10 full-time employees and $500,000 in annual revenue) that has achieved outstanding success, growth, or resilence.

For the People Entertainment - On track to eclipse six figures in annual revenue for the first time at $110,000, fueled by hiring three new DJs and expanding their market reach. Six consecutive years on The Knot's Best of Weddings list.
Open Wings Learning Community - Successfully opened their North Campus in fall 2026 serving students with diverse learning needs; receiving occupancy just one week before opening day and launching fully prepared on day one through sheer team determination.
Masso Balloons - Nominated for demonstrating notable growth, community presence, and small business achievement within the North Shore community.
Milwaukee Jewish Free Loan Association - Issued 102 loans totaling $435,488 in 2025: a 24% increase in dollars loaned and 31% increase in loan volume from the prior year while maintaining an extremely lean operating budget to maximize impact.

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Outstanding Customer Service Award

This award recognizes a business that consistently delivers exceptional customer care, going above and beyond to create positive, lasting impressions.

The Friendship Circle of Wisconsin
For The People Entertainment
Bank Five Nine
Milwaukee Jewish Free Loan Association
Confluence Graphics
Accessible Career Options
Van Horn Honda of Glendale
Titan Exteriors and Construction
Z Plumberz

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Diversity & Inclusion Award

This award recognizes an organization committed to creating an inclusive environment that values diversity, promotes equity, and fosters a sense of belonging.

The Friendship Circle of Wisconsin - Welcomes individuals of all abilities and backgrounds across 35 unique inclusive programs, supported by 254 volunteers serving over 1,585 people including SafeTALK trainings delivered directly to schools.
Kids Impact Community - Provides a safe, affirming environment for all children and families, unaffiliated with any faith tradition or outside organization, where every child feels valued, reflected, and welcomed regardless of background.
Bank Five Nine - Committed to creating both a workplace and banking experience in which all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered. Their Glendale team is recognized for genuinely living out the Bank's diversity commitments daily.
MOXIE Food + Drink - As openly LGBT business owners on Silver Spring Drive since 2016, they have proudly served as a visible face for the LGBT community in the North Shore, actively championing diversity in business, hospitality, and hiring.

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Marketing Excellence Award

This award recognizes an outstanding branding, advertising, digital marketing, or public relations campaign that has made a significant impact for the organization.

Schlitz Audubon Nature - Their Birding Academy campaign sold out all seven certificate programs (128 certificates issued), built a thriving community of lifelong birders, and generated national-level recognition for a mission-driven regional nature center.
Bank Five Nine - Their monthly "Tim's Treat" community celebration events where the CEO personally visits one community per month creatively engage the public and powerfully reinforce a community-first brand identity.
Milwaukee Pretzel Company - A fast-growing Milwaukee brand with 14,550 Facebook followers and a creative marketing playbook including a celebrity-backed Pop-A-Shot Classic campaign that has fueled $4M in annual revenue and plans to more than double their facility.
LivingWell Physical Therapy - Developed partnerships with other local businesses that they highlight monthly on their social media.

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Young Professional of the Year

This award recognizes a rising leader (typically under 40) who demonstrates initiative, leadership, and a commitment to growth.

Sarah Marshall - Humanworks8
Jonathan Weeks - The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle
Kody Kojima - InspireMax Marketing
Steve Thomas - Bank Five Nine
Anna Koenig - Milwaukee Jewish Free Loan Association
Jeffrey Baier - Edward Jones
Nilsa Arce - Masso Balloons
Connor Schulz - TopLine Results Corporation
Jasmyne Bass - The Weight of Wildflowers

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Business Education Partner of the Year

This award recognizes a business or organization that actively supports workforce development, internships, or partnerships with schools.

Friendship Circle of Wisconsin - Brings SafeTALK Suicide Prevention Trainings directly to local schools and businesses, having trained 2,128 people and indirectly impacted 25,536 — delivering life-saving education where it's needed most.
Camo Crew Responsible Removal - Partners with Elmbrook Education Foundation, MATC, and the LAUNCH Spring event to expose 900+ students to career pathways in sustainability, responsible removal, and entrepreneurship.
Bank Five Nine - Nominated for their ongoing investments in community educational partnerships and their commitment to financial literacy and professional development across the region.
VIBEZ Creative Art Space - Nominated for partnering with schools and training programs to give young people hands-on art education and work experience, with youth programming woven throughout their Glendale business model.
GPS Education Partners - A nonprofit intermediary that has connected 100+ businesses with 45 school districts across Wisconsin through 13 career pathways for youth apprentices since 2000, and is currently building a full workforce ecosystem in partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools.
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center - Engages 100,000+ people annually through 500+ programs, offers a nationally recognized nature-based preschool, and partners with Next Door Foundation and Malaika Early Learning Center to bring free nature education to underserved Milwaukee communities.
Lead2Change - Runs an 11-month Dream.Explore.Build career readiness program connecting African American high school students in Milwaukee's most economically challenged neighborhoods with businesses, financial planning, and leadership development since 2011.

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Business of the Year

This award recognizes a business that exemplifies excellence, innovation, community impact, and leadership within the North Shore area.

Humanworks8
Friendship Circle of Wisconsin
Camo Crew Responsible Removal
The Brick Pub and Grill
Ascension
Badger Meter
Stone Creek Coffee
Maglio Companies