State of the Chamber & Awards Ceremony

This event will be held October 14th, 2026

This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, October 14, from 11:00 AM–1:00 PM at the Ferdinand Community Center. The luncheon brings together business and community leaders from across Dubois County to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and recognize excellence in our local business community.

The program honors three outstanding awards: Young Professional of the Year, Businessperson of the Year, and Business of the Year. Recipients are nominated by the public and selected by a committee of their peers, making these some of the community’s most respected honors.

State of the Chamber – Agenda

  • Open Networking
  • Blessing of the Meal
  • Welcome & Opening Remarks
  • Executive Director Report: Angie Sanchez-Hostetter
  • Business Award Ceremony
  • Keynote Speaker
  • Closing Remarks

2025 Award Nominees

Young Professional of the Year

Winner: Austin Welp – VUJC

Nominated:
Steffi Schmucker – GAB
Lauren Mundy – Seufurt Construction

Businessperson of the Year

Winner: Kathy Tretter – Ferdinand News

Nominated:
Kyle Lueken – JIS/JET
Mike Ackerman – Ackerman Oil

Business of the Year

Winner: Uebehlor and Sons

Nominated:
The Next Chapter
Mann Enterprises

Sponsorship Opportunities

Interested in getting your business name out to a large group of business owners? If that would propel your business growth, we’d love to share this opportunity with you! Check out our Sponsorship Opportunities for this year’s annual luncheon!

Award Categories

Each year at our ceremony we take nominations from the Chamber community for a variety of awards.

Business of the Year

The Business of the Year Award recognizes a local business organization who has demonstrated success in both civic and professional areas. The nominated business is seen as a pillar of the community and is widely respected among other industry leaders, as well as the general public.

Businessperson

Businessperson of the Year Award recognizes a business leader who has demonstrated success in both civic and professional areas, specifically in the areas of growth, leadership, achievement, and community service. This person typically has inspired others as they excelled in leadership and growth of their organization while giving back to the community. A great way to celebrate the service and success of our local businesspeople.

Young Professional

The Young Professional Excellence Award recognizes an emerging professional—40 years of age or younger—who has made a significant impact through their vision, innovation, interpersonal skills, and hard work. This individual may work in any role or industry and consistently demonstrates dedication to their organization and community.

Reach Out to Us

If you’re ready to take the next step and join the Dubois County Chamber, awesome! We’re excited to bring you on-board! We’re also happy to answer any questions you may have.