2026 Ovation Awards
Kenosha County is home to many notable and successful business people. The Ovation Awards, presented annually by the Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA), recognizes the best of the best – individuals that have demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and have had a positive overall impact on the community.
The 2026 Ovation Awards will be presented at an annual dinner on Thursday, February 5, 2026. Registration is now open! Sign up at the link below before Janaury 9th to take advantage of early bird pricing.
KABA is thrilled to announce the winners for the 2026 Ovation Awards:
Business Leader of the Year: Tim Neal, Allied Plastics, LLC
Community Impact Award: Brian Nelson, Bane-Nelson, Inc.
Future 5 Awards, honoring outstanding young professionals:
Maggie Campbell, Building Our Future
Nolan Flynn, LaMacchia Travel
Sarah Howard, Visit Pleasant Prairie
Savannah Meyers, Extension Kenosha County, UW-Madison
Dan & Nick Tenuta, Tenuta’s Deli
Read more about the winners here.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026 | Time: 4:30 p.m. Check-in, Cocktails & Networking; 6:00 p.m. Dinner; 7:00 p.m. Awards Presentation
Location: University of Wisconsin – Parkside Student Center Ballroom, 930 Wood Road, Kenosha, WI 53144
Cost: Early bird pricing: $115 | Pricing increases on Friday, January 9th to $125 | Reserved tables of eight are $920 before Jan. 9th, $1,000 after the early bird deadline
The Ovation awards are chosen by a selection committee comprised of previous award winners; representatives from the staff and board of directors of KABA and BizTimes Media; as well as representatives from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Gateway Technical College, and Carthage College.
The Ovation Awards have been honoring excellence in business in Kenosha County since 2005.
Thank you to the following sponsors for making the Ovation Awards program possible:
Past Ovation Award Winners
2025
Business of the Year: Jockey International
Small Business of the Year: Frank’s Diner
Business Leader of the Year: Karla Krehbiel, Johnson Financial Group
(award was previously: ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’)
Forward Awards:
- Backyard Dream Productions
- Carthage College
- Grow Space Vertical Farms
- Kem Krest
- Nosco
2024
Business of the Year: Niagara Bottling LLC
Small Business of the Year: Blue House Books
Entrepreneur of the Year: Keith Smith, Vonco Products LLC
Forward Awards:
- Centrisys/CNP
- HARIBO
- Kenosha Common Markets
- Kenosha Community Health Center
- The Shalom Center
(The awards were moved to February beginning in 2024; there was no event held in 2023.)
2022
Business of the Year: Heartland Produce Co.
Small Business of the Year: Finishing & Plating Service, Inc.
Entrepreneur of the Year: Mariam S. Darsot, Nexus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Forward Awards:
- Herzing University
- Kenosha Creative Space
- Kutzler Express
- Landquest Realty
- Liftpro LLC
2019
Business of the Year: Catalyst Exhibits
Small Business of the Year: Kitchen Cubes
Entrepreneur of the Year: Michael Thompson, Fair Oaks Foods
Forward Awards:
- Advocate Aurora Health
- Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha
- Kenosha County
- MTI, A Steel Partners Company
- University of Wisconsin – Parkside
2018
Business of the Year: Good Foods Group
Small Business of the Year: Chiappetta Shoes
Entrepreneur of the Year: Crystal Miller, Frontida Assisted Living
Forward Awards:
- Clark Dietz
- Five Star Fabricating
- Froedtert South
- Gateway Technical College for the Gateway Promise
2017
Business of the Year: Kenall Manufacturing
Small Business of the Year: Kenosha Kingfish Baseball Club
Entrepreneur of the Year: S.R. Mills, Bear Real Estate Group
Fast Five:
- Frontida Assisted Living, Inc.
- MTI
- Otto Nelson Moving & Storage
- Puratos Corporation
- Vonco Products, LLC
2016
Business of the Year: Uline
Small Business of the Year: Partners in Design Architects, LLC
Entrepreneur of the Year: Bob Lee, Jr., CEO, Lee Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric
Fast Five:
- Bone Dry Products
- Cordeck
- Leeward Business Advisors
- MedTorque
- Regulatory Compliance
2015
Business of the Year: ASYST Technologies, LLC
Small Business of the Year: Specialized Accounting Services, LLC
Entrepreneur of the Year: Kurt Penn, Good Foods Group, LLC
Fast Five:
- Hanna Cylinders, LLC
- Kenall Manufacturing
- Kenosha Kingfish Baseball Club
- Mobile One / McTernan Wireless
- Quest Products, Inc.
2014
Business of the Year: Bradshaw Medical, Inc.
Small Business of the Year: OFFSITE, LLC
Entrepreneur of the Year: Edward Polen, EMCO Chemical, Inc.
Fast Five:
- The Blast Shop
- LaMacchia Travel
- Mike’s Restaurant Group
- Platinum Systems
- Yutka Fence
2013
Business of the Year: Rust-Oleum Corporation
Small Business of the Year: Equity Creative
Entrepreneur of the Year: Michael Kopper, Centrisys Corporation
Fast Five:
- ASYST Technologies, Inc.
- Catalyst Exhibits, Inc.
- Clean & Green Solutions, LLC
- Dooley & Associates, LLC
- IRIS USA, Inc
2012
Business of the Year: Allied Plastics, Inc.
Small Business of the Year: Tenuta’s Deli, Liquor & Wines
Entrepreneur of the Year: James A. Kettinger, Sr., Engendren Corporation
Fast Five:
- Albany-Chicago Co, LLC
- Bio Fab Technologies, Inc.
- Kitchen Cubes LLC
- Mikrotech, LLC
- Specialized Accounting Services LLC
2011
Business of the Year: Xten Industries, LLC
Small Business of the Year: GEM Manufacturing, Inc.
Entrepreneur of the Year: Craig Deaton, Gateway Mortgage Corporation
Fast Five:
- Allied Plastics, Inc.
- Equity Creative
- Five Star Coatings Group
- Offsite LLC
- RJ Underground
Note: the award categories changed slightly after to 2010.
2010
Business of the Year: Snap-on Incorporated
Business Person of the Year: Guy Bradshaw, Bradshaw Medical, Inc.
Community Service: Matt Carlson, Platinum Systems
Economic Impact Awards:
- ACCO Brands
- Albany-Chicago Company
- Centrisys Corporation
- Fair Oaks Farms
- United Hospital System
2009
Business of the Year: LMI Packaging Solutions, Inc.
Business Person of the Year: Todd Bundies, Badger Press Photographics
Community Service: Peter Valeri, Valeri Agency
Economic Impact Awards:
- Dooley & Associates
- Gordon Food Service
- Uline
2008
Business of the Year: Kenosha Animal Hospital
Business Person of the Year: Kenneth A. Moore, Cordeck
Community Service: Karl J. Ostby, Southport Bank
Economic Impact Awards:
- Allied Plastics, Inc.
- Genesis Medical Center of Kenosha, S.C.
- Lotus Light Enterprises
- Pitts-Valeri Office Complex
- Pulera Collision Auto Care Center
2007
Business of the Year: Five Star Fabricating, Inc.
Business Person of the Year: David Trotta Barnes, Barnes Law Office
Community Service: Thomas Duncan, United Hospital System
Economic Impact Awards:
- Bradshaw Medical
- Gateway Technical College – Horizon Center
- Monarch Plastics
- Insty-Prints
- Supervalu
2006
Business of the Year: Rode’s Camera & Photo Supplies
Business Person of the Year: Dave Hagman, Vista International Packaging
Community Service: Wayne Koessl, We Energies
Economic Impact Awards:
- Kenosha Radiology
- Prime Outlets
- Riley Propery Management
- Roundy’s
- The Club at Strawberry Creek
2005
Business of the Year: Riley Construction
Business Person of the Year: Jim Cicchini, Cicchini Asphalt LLC
Community Service: Ron Stevens, Bank of Elmwood
Economic Impact Awards:
- Hospira
- Ocean Spray
- Pepsi Americas