Lakeland PBS
❤ Donate
  • Home
  • Support
  • Watch Now
    • Livestream
    • Local Shows
    • Watch Online
    • Schedule
    • Our Channels
    • Webcam
  • Lakeland News
    • News Feed
    • Featured Segments
    • Watch a News Story
    • Watch a Sports Story
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • State Legacy Funding
    • Meetings & Public Filings
    • Education
    • Employment
  • ❤ DONATE

Bemidji Area Business Leaders Recognized 15th Annual Awards of Excellence

Malaak Khattab — May. 24 2019
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Many Bemidji area business leaders attended the 15th annual Awards of Excellence held at the Hampton Inn & Suites to celebrate the success of small businesses in the area. This year, the new business of the year went to Stittsworth Meats & Smokehouse, and the Leach Brothers won Entrepreneur of the Year.

“It’s nice to have everybody here in the room and see some of the business owners that are out here; it’s just kind of nice to appreciate all the work that everyone’s done and it’s cool to have everybody together,” restaurant co-owner Brett Leach said.

“It’s a cool event, too, that it’s not just about the awards – the speaker was really good, I thought he added some impactful notes,” restaurant co-owner Derek Leach said.

“It’s been a long road to get to this point, and having your peers recognize you is awesome,” Stittsworth Meats CEO Mychal Stittsworth said.

Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Deb Pfaff said Stittsworth Meats won New Business of the Year for their innovative concept in bringing true farm to table experience.

“They are doing something that’s absolutely revolutionary not only for our area, but across the country. It’s nice to see that kind of ingenuity right here in  Bemidji,” Pfaff said.

There are five award categories, and the Community Impact-Nonprofit of the Year is their newest category that was added this year. Pfaff says it was exciting that there was a tie between two nominations…The Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area and Sanford Health.

“There’s so much giving and care in this community that it’s exciting when we could recognize two very worthy businesses for all that they do for the community,” Pfaff said.

Pfaff said this year there was exceptional nominees, and that it’s not an easy task for the committee to pick award winners.

Awards of Excellence Winners:

  • Healthy Workplace of the Year: Knife River Materials
  • Business of the Year: Lueken’s Village Foods
  • Entrepreneur of the Year: Leach Brothers Group
  • New Business of the Year: Stittsworth MSU & Smokehouse
  • Community Impact-Nonprofit of the Year: Sanford Health & Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area

Lakeland News is member supported content. Please consider supporting Lakeland News today.

Donate Today
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

By — Malaak Khattab

News Reporter

Related Posts

Communities Come Together for 17th Annual Sanford Health Powwow

Lueken’s Village Foods North in Bemidji Recently Recognized as a ‘Northwest Retailer of 2022’

Bemidji Legion Baseball Rolls Fergus Falls at Home

Prospective Students Get a Tour of BSU During Minnesota State Week

  • Program Schedule

Get the free PBS Video App

roku
Apple TV
FireTV
AndroidTV
Google Play Store
Apple Store

Connect with Us

Watch Lakeland PBS Live Stream!

Contact Us

Directions
Submit an Event
Submit a Video or Photo
Problem with the Website
Need to contact us about something else? Please visit our contact us page for more options.

About Us

Lakeland PBS understands the media that people are exposed to make a significant impact on their lives. Our hope is that the six channels we broadcast along with our online presence provide people with media experiences that make a positive impact on their lives.

Lakeland PBS is where you want to be!

108 Grant Ave NE, Bemidji, MN 56601 | 800-292-0922
KAWE Public Profile | KAWB Public Profile | Cable Provider Channel List | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2022 Lakeland PBS. All Right Reserved.

How would you like to show your support?

Monthly Contribution

One-Time Contribution

Thank-You Gift

I would like to select a thank-you gift

No Gift

Put 100% of my gift towards programming