The Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce held its 105th Annual Dinner on September 21 at the new Hilton Garden Inn in Rib Mountain.

The Annual Dinner celebrated the previous year’s accomplishments and recognized individuals who dedicate their time and talent to further the Chamber’s mission and bolster the business community and region. The event included the recognition of Trena Loomans of The Caring Tree – Children’s Counseling Center LLC as the recipient of the Ruder Ware Innovator Award.

The Ruder Ware Innovator Award in Memory of G. Lane Ware was established in 2015 by Ruder Ware LLSC. G. Lane Ware was a distinguished attorney and consummate professional with a sincere drive to make the Wausau community a better place for life and for business. Ware realized that to succeed in business, you needed to innovate and differentiate, to remain relevant in a changing economy.

The Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce also honored Connie DeVoe of Marathon Savings Bank with the Ambassador of the Year Award.

Dennis Winters, the Chief Economist for the State of Wisconsin was the keynote speaker at the event. Winters discussed the region’s competitive positioning in the global economy. Winters is also the Director of the Bureau of Workforce Information and Technical Support and the Labor Market Information Director for the state with the Department of Workforce Development.

The event also included the introduction of the Chamber’s new Chairperson, Cory Heckendorf of Wisconsin Kenworth and members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Outgoing Chairperson, Don Bohlin of Wisconsin Public Service Corp was also recognized at the event.

“Our goal in the new program year is to engage every member of the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce through either a program, a contact or by crossing the threshold of the organization.” said Dave Eckmann, President/CEO of the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce. “We want to make sure that our members know who we are, what we do and why we are important to this community.”

Greenheck was the presenting sponsor for the Annual Dinner, along with platinum sponsors The Dirks Group and Ruder Ware LLSC, gold sponsor Wipfli LLP, silver sponsors Aspirus, Hermening Financial Group LLC and Solarus and bronze sponsors EO Johnson Business Technologies and Scherrer Construction Co Inc.