2026 Annual Gala & Awards Recap
Thank you to everyone who joined us at Fortune Bay Resort Casino on Friday, October 2 for the 2026 Laurentian Chamber Annual Gala. Members, partners, and friends from across the Iron Range came together for a black-tie evening honoring this year’s Annual Award winners.
The 2026 Laurentian Chamber Annual Award winners. Photo by Mark Sauer.
A Night at Fortune Bay
Board Chair Justine Henry of SEH, Inc. opened the evening. Keynote speaker Jack Stahlmann, the Don’t Flinch Guy, presented The Upside, drawing on his years in Los Angeles as an actor, producer, and director. MorningBird provided entertainment through social hour and dinner.
The raffle featured 22 packages donated by local businesses and friends of the Chamber, from a DeWalt chainsaw to a Solo Stove fire pit and a northwoods fire ring with a full s’mores spread. Thank you to Fortune Bay Resort Casino for hosting us and serving dinner.
| View the Full Photo Album |
Photography by Mark Sauer
2026 Annual Award Winners
The Annual Awards are a by members, for members tradition. Every nominee was put forward by a fellow Chamber member. Congratulations to this year’s winners.
Large Business of the Year Super One |
Small Business of the Year Fur Baby Care MN |
Nonprofit of the Year North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity |
Young Professional of the Year Ruthie Dixon Edward Jones |
Spirit of the Chamber Shawntel Gruba Iron Range Tykes |
Ambassador of the Year Christy Lang Midwest Communications |
Congratulations to Our Nominees
Thank you to everyone nominated this year, and to the members who took the time to nominate them.
Large BusinessSuper One Foods, Miners Inc. Small BusinessB2 Bank |
NonprofitEveleth Elks Lodge Young ProfessionalAnya Nistler, Mesabi Tribune |
Thank You to Our Sponsors
The Gala would not happen without the businesses that sponsor it. Thank you to our 2026 sponsors.
Silver Sponsors: NewRange Copper Nickel and Blue Cross Blue Shield
Table Sponsors: Fortune Bay Resort Casino, Hometown Focus, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, Miners National Bank, Minnesota Power, North Star Credit Union, Northern Communities Credit Union, NorthRidge Community Credit Union, and Park State Bank
Half Table Sponsors: B2 Bank, Bolton & Menk, Iron Trail Motors, Kraus-Anderson, Minnesota Discovery Center, and Northeast Title Company
Thank You to Our Raffle Donors
| BGYB Insurance Solutions Boomtown Brad and Kim Gustafson Cleveland-Cliffs ERDAC First National Bank of Gilbert Flaimer’s Fortune Bay Resort Casino Friends of the Chamber Hunt Electric |
Iron Range Plumbing and Heating Iron Range Tykes JM Auto Jon’s Drug L&M Radiator Margie’s Liquor Midwest Communications Miners National Bank NewRange Copper Nickel |
Northeast Title NorthRidge Community Credit Union Shubat Super One Liquor Superior Fuel The Rink Tricon Wear Solutions W.A. Fisher Z-Tech |
Congratulations again to this year’s winners and nominees. Thank you for supporting the people and businesses moving the Iron Range forward. We’ll see you at next year’s Gala.