Skip to content

Replay: Four speeches from Chamber’s Awards Night

The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of four awards at a program held on Thursday, October 9 at The Grand Theater in downtown Wausau.

Paul LaPree was named the first recipient of the Liz Tillisch Heart of the Chamber Award.

Ryan Gallagher was honored with the G. Lane Ware Innovator Award sponsored by Ruder Ware LLSC.

Dr. Kristine Gilmore received the inaugural James J. McIntyre Cornerstone Award sponsored by the Greenheck Group.

Laura Strek, President of Imperial Industries, was named the recipient of the award at the first Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night. The sponsor of the ATHENA Leadership Award for all 40 years of its existence in Wausau is O’Malley Cadillac Honda.

The Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night was presented by Imperial Industries. The award sponsors are listed above. The platinum sponsors for the event are Ho-Chunk Gaming-Wittenberg, Marathon Cheese Corp, Nicolet National Bank and Northcentral Technical College, the gold sponsors are Jim Kryshak Jewelers, M3 Insurance, Strongbridge Wealth Advisors, The Alliance, Wausau Supply Company and Wausau Tile. The print media sponsor is The Business News and the television sponsor is WAOW/WYOW Television Inc. The decor sponsor is Floral Magic Designs and Gifts LLC.

The Chamber’s next signature event will be held on Wednesday, January 21 as the Women’s Leadership Conference returns for its eleventh year. Registration for this event, which features high-impact speakers and a unique opportunity to build personal and professional networks, is now open on WausauChamber.com.

Blog Posts

Voter’s Guide: Candidates in District 6 primary address business-related questions

By botten@wausauchamber.com | February 12, 2026

The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce asked the three candidates in the Wausau City Council District 6 primary to answer three business-related questions.

Meet a pair of participants in the new Next Wave+ program

By botten@wausauchamber.com | February 9, 2026

The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Next Wave+ group includes representatives from a variety of local companies. Meet two of these participants.

One Small Habit That Makes Leaders Instantly More Likable (and More Effective)

By botten@wausauchamber.com | February 9, 2026

Leadership conversations often focus on strategy, vision, and execution. All matter. Yet one small habit consistently separates leaders people want to follow from those they simply tolerate: expressing genuine, specific gratitude.

Upcoming Events