The Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce gathered its members and guests in the last month of 2025 to bestow its “Of the Year” recognitions on both businesses and individuals.

Among those recognized were Lanette Hines of Hines Services for Small Business of the Year; Beverley Weber of FastSigns for Business of the Year; Mallorie Rife of Edina Realty for Businessperson of the Year; Erica Roelike of Elevate Results, who serves on the chamber’s Women’s Network Committee, for Committee Member of the Year; Jay Whitcomb of Star Bank for Friend of the Chamber; and Kevin Fletcher of Incentives Marketplace for the Presidents Award.

The definition of a small business, for the purpose of the awards, is a business with 25 or fewer employees.

The chamber’s “Of the Year” event took place on Dec. 3 at the Green Acres Event Center, a former dairy barn along Pioneer Trail now converted to an event center. 

Chamber President Pat MulQueeny noted that the group hosted 104 events and programs in 2025, including a new summer event, Taste of the Prairie, that showcased offerings from local restaurants. 

The chamber, MulQueeny said, put a greater emphasis on manufacturing in the past year, including a Manufacturing Bus Tour of local companies and a breakfast with 50 high school students to discuss trade education and manufacturing. 

The chamber also plans to focus on workforce and economic development through a new Eden Prairie Chamber Foundation, MulQueeny said, and will institute a new tiered membership structure.

Existing chamber efforts include efforts focused on public policy, women in business and emerging leaders, with committee members in those areas recognized at the luncheon. MulQueeny also noted the chamber’s student members, most of whom could not attend because the event took place during the school day.

MulQueeny also announced promotions for chamber staff, with Kirsten Barott Bebo named director and Grace Leapaldt named manager of communications and events. Dave Thompson of First Western Bank & Trust will serve as the 2026 chair of the chamber’s board of directors.

In addition to MulQueeny, Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case and Erik Therwanger, facilitator of the chamber’s Leadership EP program in fall 2025, also gave brief remarks.

Chamber committee members recognized

MulQueeny recognized chamber members who reached five-, 15- and 20-year membership milestones. Using comparisons to traditional anniversary gifts, he described such members as having the “flexibility and strength” of aluminum, the “clarity and strength” of crystal, and, like fine china, being “cherished and cared for over time.”

Members of chamber committees were also recognized at the event. They include the following:

Board of Directors: David Thompson of First Western Bank & Trust (2026 chair), Anne Byrne of Byrne Law Office (2025 chair), Ruth Gardner of C.H. Robinson (2024 chair), Zach Nohre of Nohre and Co. CPAs (treasurer), Adam Brown of Fafinski Mark and Johnson Law Firm, Kiley Demery of Demery Wealth Advisors, John Lee of Eden Prairie Lifestyle, Nancy Litwin of Eden Prairie Center, Mallory Quandt of Scheels, Brandon Schuler of Republic Services, Karen Spaeth of Starkey, Sarah Demann of United Healthcare, Michelle Swanson of Xcel Energy, Rick Getschow of the City of Eden Prairie, and John Swanson of Eden Prairie Schools. 

Ambassadors Committee: Anne Byrne of Byrne Law Office LLC; Todd Loudenslager of Luebeck Geisler Hamm Wealth Management, Inc.; Adam Weinblatt of Comparion Insurance; John Lee of Eden Prairie Lifestyle Magazine; Marcia LeVoir of Legal Shield; Tony Seipp of First Western Bank and Trust; Jody Carey of Jody Carey Copywriting; Eric Johnson of Comcast; Steve Bowman of Tiger Plumbing, Heating & Air; Chris White of Suburban Waste Services, Kevin Honius of CorTrust Bank; John Sulciner of Cottage Care Cleaning; Erin Hargrove of Lakeside HR; Harry Ollington of Rokos Advisors; Lori Hogen of HAHLAH Consulting; Becky Johnson of Neighbors of Eden Prairie; Aaron Chouinard of eRoof; Mark Johnson of Keller Williams Realty; Jon Hartman of Choice; Lanette Hines of Hines Cleaning; Travis Anderson of Western and Southern Life; and Emily Orr of Reach for Resources.

Public Policy Committee: Nancy Litwin of Eden Prairie Center, Troy Noor of Boulevard Wealth, Jay Whitcomb of Star Bank, Joel de Leon of the International School of Minnesota, Myka Hanson of Teen Forward, Michelle Swanson of Xcel Energy, Todd Loudenslager of LGH Wealth Management, Alex Schuler of Smith Coffee, Emily Orr of Reach for Resources, Dave Liindahl of the City of Eden Prairie, Ben Just of State Farm Agency, Robin Edgar of Wealth Progression Group, Micah Olson of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Julie Klima of the City of Eden Prairie, Timothy Boys of Boys and Tyler, Ellen Cousins of Beta Partners, and Kevin Fletcher of Incentives Marketplace. 

Membership Committee: Todd Loudenslager of LGH Wealth, John Pilon of Star Bank, Travis Anderson of Western Southern Life, and Bev Weber of FASTSIGNS.

Women in Business Committee: Mallorie Rife of Edina Realty (committee chair), Crystal Kokal of Sassyfras, Rachel Rice of Boulay, Marcia LeVoir of LegalShield, Erica Roelike of Elevate Results Consulting, Michelle Baird of Michelle Baird Hair Artistry, Namita Desai of Paylocity, and Petra Lawrence of Pals Services. 

Emerging Leaders Committee: Harry Ollington of Rokos Advisors, Adam Brown of FMJ Law, Madeline Nelson of Truity Partners LLC, Sam Markell of Bridgewater Bank, Jonathan W. Buergel of Bracco Medical Technologies, Ashley Kortus of ALTA Honors, Kelli Bailey of College H.U.N.K.S., Jordan Jensen of Magnetic North, and Brennan McCarthy of Boulevard Wealth.

Communications Committee: Adam Brown of FMJ Law, Karen Spaeth of Starkey, and Sarah Demann of United Healthcare.