2025 Ovation Awards
What a fun and inspiring night honoring the 2025 Ovation Award winners! Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us on Thursday, February 6 at the UW-Parkside Student Center Ballroom.
Photos from the event can be found on the KABA facebook page: facebook.com/KABAConnectHere. Video tributes to the winners can be found below and on the KABA YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@KABAConnectHere/videos.
The Ovation Awards, presented annually by the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, recognizes the best of the best in business in Kenosha County. 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.
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
Thank you to our generous sponsors that make this 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