2025 Ovation Awards
Kenosha County is home to many notable and successful companies and business people. The Ovation Awards, presented annually by the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, recognizes the best of the best – companies and individuals that have exhibited a history of growth, innovation, and a positive overall impact on the community.
The Ovation Awards have been honoring excellence in business in Kenosha County since 2005. The awards are selected by a diverse 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, Herzing University, and Carthage College.
The Kenosha Area Business Alliance cordially invites you to the 2025 Ovation Awards:
Thursday, February 6, 2025
4:30 p.m. Cocktails & Networking; 6:00 p.m. Dinner; 7:00 p.m. Awards Presentation
University of Wisconsin – Parkside Student Center Ballroom, 930 Wood Road, Kenosha, WI 53144
$110/person; reserved table of eight for $880
Please register by Wednesday, January 29th at the link below. Questions? Contact KABA at 262.605.1100.
KABA would like to congratulate the 2025 Ovation Award winners!
Business of the Year: Jockey International, Inc.
Small Business of the Year: Frank’s Diner
Business Leader of the Year: Karla Krehbiel, Johnson Financial Group
Forward Awards:
Backyard Dream Productions | Carthage College
Grow Space Vertical Farms | Kem Krest | NOSCO
Interested in sponsorship? Please contact KABA at info@kaba.org or 262.605.1100.
Video tributes of the 2024 and past award winners are available below or at the KABA YouTube channel.
Past Ovation Award Winners
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