ANNUAL CELEBRATION

The Annual Celebration offers an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and to kick off the New Year.  Our outgoing president passes the gavel to the incoming president, we honor a Friend of the Chamber, outgoing board members, Top 5 Under 40 Honorees, and more.  We welcome all to come network and celebrate the Chamber’s role in the community!

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Chamber celebration spotlights 2025 successes and plans for 2026

Thanks to all who attended the Chamber’s 2026 Annual Celebration February 2 at Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center. The event celebrated the successes of 2025 and gave a glimpse of what to expect in 2026. The event honored 2025 Friend of the Chamber Jeff and Lynelle Lanoue, previous owners of Past & Present Home Gallery, 2025 President's Award recipient Patrick Sieve, Travelers Inn, Ambassador of the Year Lynelle Lanoue, and Membership Team Member of the Year Amy Christopherson, State Farm Insurance. The event also honored the 2025 Top 5 Under 40 Young Professionals and more.

Jeff and Lynelle Lanoue named 2025 Friends of the Chamber

The 2025 Friend of the Chamber honorees are Jeff and Lynelle Lanoue. The couple owned and operated Past & Present Home Gallery in Alexandria for 14 years before selling it and retiring this past fall. Jeff served on the Chamber Board of Directors from 2017-2022 being a strong advocate of small business and the importance a thriving downtown has on economic vitality. Lynelle joined the Chamber Ambassadors in 2022 serving through 2025 and was named the Ambassador of the Year for 2025. Lynelle also served on the Chamber's Kindness Committee from 2022-2025 and along with Jeff, was instrumental in preparing, putting up, and taking down the Commit to Kindness flags along Broadway to help grow that simple message. Both are strong advocates for the Chamber as well as generous donors to and sponsors of many Chamber projects and initiatives through the years.

Patrick Sieve honored for 'Choosing Possibility'​

The President's Award is given by the Board President to someone who strongly exemplifies the Chamber's annual theme. 2025 President Lynn Arnquist selected Patrick Sieve for the honor. Sieve is the third generation of his family to own and operate Traveler's Inn. He is not only known as someone who asks "What if?" He is also known for saying "Let's get it done!". This past year he was instrumental in brining the community splash pad to reality along with bringing Santa and fresh baked cookies to the Garden of Lights.

The gavel is passed

​2026 President Andrew Rickers, Business Banker, Old National Bank accepted the gavel from 2025 President, Lynn Arnquist, Customized Training Representative. Arnquist received a caricature as a parting gift that features her love of traveling, her work, and her pets.

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Lynelle Lanoue, past owner of Past & Present Home Gallery, was named 2025 Ambassador of the Year.

Amy Christopherson, State Farm Insurance, was named Membership Team Member of the Year for 2025

Diamond Buick GMC was recognized as the top Chamber Bucks business
​partner for keeping $12,000 local in 2025.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR ANNUAL TABLOID

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2025 Top 5 Under 40 Young Professionals

The Chamber and Echo Press Newspaper partner to honor young professionals who are doing amazing things in the community. Honorees are selected through a nomination process based on professional achievements, community involvement, and overall depth of qualities. The 2025 honorees are below.

2025 Top 5 Under 40 recipients include (left to right) Allison Juba, Family Medicine Physician, Alexandria Clinic, A Service of Alomere Health; Jessica Ptacek, Community Liaison, Bethany on the Lake; Tyler Bredeson, Owner, Carlos Creek; Sadie Enberg, Director of Rehabilitation Services, Alomere Health; Meghann Edwards, AVP/Retail Manager, Gate City Bank.