Spencer, Iowa — The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation took time today to celebrate the “best of the best” in Northwest Iowa during its 15th annual business recognition event.
Taking home the top honors for Large Business of the Year was Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake.
Rob Colerick with BVRMC.
VeSo Coffee in Storm Lake was named Small Business of the Year. Owners Ivan Velazquez and Adilene Soto moved here from Arizona and personally renovated a historic downtown building for their coffee shop.
The Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Laura Bjornstad and Samantha Ray, owners of Boathouse Apparel in Spirit Lake, for their national growth and commitment to local artists.
Meanwhile, Spencer’s own Andrew Geelen of Geelen Funeral Home was named Young Professional of the Year for his deep community roots and service-club leadership.
It was an emotional afternoon as the Legacy Award was presented to the family of the late Toby Shine. A co-founder of the Corridor, Shine was remembered as a leader who avoided the spotlight but never stopped working to make the region special.
Other honors included Talon Development as Housing Champion for adding over 550 units to the region,
and First Children’s Finance as Partner of the Year for their work tackling the childcare shortage in the Corridor.
Corridor President and CEO Curt Strouth thanked the outgoing board members—Brad Beck, Keith Denner, and Jed Skogerboe—noting that while terms end, the momentum in Northwest Iowa is only growing.
