3/31/2026: Perry Chamber Annual Award Finalists Announced

Perry Chamber Annual Award Finalists Announced:
Annual Dinner & Celebration on Tuesday, April 7th at La Poste
 
 
Perry, March 30, 2026 – The Perry Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Dinner on Tuesday, April 7th starting at 5:30pm at La Poste. Chamber Members have been encouraged to RSVP to enjoy the evening’s festivities with a social and dinner, followed by a program that will include speakers celebrating the past year’s successes and an award ceremony.
 
“The Chamber’s Annual Dinner gives us an opportunity as a community to recognize all the work of our members, businesses, and volunteers over the last year,” says Audi Sorber, the 2026 Chamber Board President. “We are grateful to be able to come together and reflect back on the past year, look forward to the year ahead, and celebrate outstanding Chamber Members and individuals with this awards ceremony.”
 
The Chamber wishes to thank the community for their nominations for its annual awards – Volunteer of the Year, Ambassador of the Year, and Business of the Year – this year with three categories.
 
The Spirit of Perry Business of the Year Award celebrates a business that best embodies the spirit of the Perry Chamber of Commerce and the Perry Community by serving as an example to others through their leadership, service and commitment.
 
Finalists for Business of the Year – Large Business Category - are:

• Fareway for providing “valuable jobs to members of the Perry community while consistently delivering excellent customer service that people can count on. The store goes beyond daily operations by donating time and resources to support local organizations, showing a strong commitment to giving back. Their dedication to both their employees and the community makes Fareway a trusted and impactful part of Perry.”
• Hotel Pattee as “a staple of the Perry community for many decades and several ownerships. Under the current leadership, it has begun to flourish and has become a central gathering place for families on vacation, businesspeople in town, organizations meeting, and a location for coffee for friends to connect again.  The whole team has done a wonderful job keeping this gem going and helping Perry maintain one of the best hotels in the state.” 
• Raccoon Valley Bank for “an outstanding commitment to the Perry community, exemplifying what it means to be a community partner. Through constant support of local businesses, investing in economic growth, and active community involvement initiatives, the bank consistently demonstrates a genuine dedication to helping Perry thrive. Raccoon Valley Bank consistently contributes to Chamber and community events, encourages staff volunteerism, and gives back to community projects, including the Perry Business Support Grant this past year.”

 
 Finalists for Business of the Year – Small Business Category - are:

• Betsy Peterson Designs because “her gallery offers one of a kind, handcrafted artwork that reflects creativity, meaning, and heart, while creating a space where everyone who walks through the door feels welcomed, valued, and connected. Betsy pours her personal experiences and passion into every piece, and her soft spoken, genuine nature makes people fall in love not only with her work but also with the sense of community she helps build in Perry.”
• Tin Pig Tavern as “a destination eating establishment, often attracting out-of-town diners to enjoy delicious food, excellent service, and a great ambiance.  The Tin Pig Tavern's success has had a ripple effect on other businesses in the area that benefit from increased foot traffic and a flourishing downtown vibe.    In addition to the Tin Pig food establishment, the owners have expanded the supply of high-quality living apartments by investing in the renovation of the upper story housing.”
• The Farm Store & Bakery for “embodying the spirit of the community and local pride, as a welcoming gathering place where the community can come together to connect, share ideas and build relationships. From making wonderful, crafted beverages and homemade pastries made with premium ingredients to friendly, knowledgeable staff, the store consistently delivers an exceptional experience and atmosphere. Beyond its daily operations, The Farm Store & Bakery demonstrates a strong commitment to the community through local partnerships, support of events, and a dedication to shopping local whenever possible. The owner’s passion is to make Perry a place to live, work, and play, by setting a standard of excellence that reflects positively on the entire business community.”

 
Finalists for Business of the Year – Non-Profit Category - are:

• Perry Economic Development as “a catalyst organization for many decades in Perry, and especially over the last year playing a prominent role in helping the local economy thrive.  In collaboration with the City of Perry, Greater Dallas County Development Alliance, DMACC, the Perry Chamber of Commerce and more, PED volunteers have helped attract and facilitate new industry coming to town in the Perry Industrial Park, as well as supporting local art projects and working with partners to improve the housing stock in Perry.” 
• Raccoon River Pet Rescue for “representing the heart of Perry: a community that cares deeply, works together, and steps forward to help those who cannot help themselves. The dedication and compassion of the volunteers, board and shelter manager, hundreds of lives are changed each year. The impact of Raccoon River Pet Rescue extends far beyond the animals it saves. Every adoption brings joy to a family, teaches compassion to children, and strengthens the bonds within our community. The rescue reminds us that when a community comes together with kindness and purpose, lives—both human and animal—can truly be changed.”
• The Nudgers for being true to their “mission of 'restoring downtown buildings one at a time' and having recently celebrated the success of another project, the Morgan Building, taking a fire-ravaged building that sat empty for years and partnering to rebuild it into three new apartments and readying the commercial space to soon be transformed. This all-volunteer group dedicates countless hours of removing debris, deconstructing, and rebuilding, all to help with the beautification of downtown.”

 
The Jack Finneseth Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award celebrates an individual that best embodies the spirit and passion Mr. Finneseth had about volunteerism. Like Mr. Finneseth, these individuals goes above and beyond to ensure the success of many events and programs through selflessness and many volunteer hours, much of the time going unrecognized. Finalists for Volunteer of the Year include:

• Casey Finn for making “a big impact on youth athletics in Perry. Because of his involvement, local kids have more opportunities to participate in sports at a low cost. He coaches softball, baseball, and basketball, and he also helps run the programs behind the scenes. This includes fundraising and serving on volunteer boards to keep things organized and sustainable. Casey represents the kind of volunteer who puts in the time, does the work, and doesn’t look for recognition.”
• Andy Stout for being an “active member in five non-profit organizations, an integral volunteer for many events and activities for the Knights of Columbus, Regina Guild, Lions Club, Optimist Club, and Elks. As a lifetime Perry resident, Andy is very interested in doing what he can to support his community, often donating his time and cooking skills to better the community.”
• Robert Wilson for stepping up “as an example of willingness to be there whenever the need to counsel, to transport, to teach, and to attend to those in need. Bob is always eager to lend a helping hand inside and outside the recovery community,

 
The Chamber Ambassador of the Year celebrates a volunteer that has shown great dedication to the Perry Chamber of Commerce over the past year through their attendance and volunteerism, representing the Chamber at events and supporting the Mission of the Organization.

• Katie Fitzsimmons for being “an active and valued member of our community, consistently volunteering her time and energy to support events, helping to bring people together and strengthen local connections. Katie is someone who shows up quietly, consistently, and wholeheartedly for both individuals and the community as a whole.”
• Dan Moellenbeck for “his involvement with the Perry Chamber of Commerce, quickly getting involved on the Board as a fairly new-to-Perry business owner, volunteering at numerous Chamber-hosted community events and being actively engaged on committees.
• Bethany Wicks for “consistently going above and beyond in volunteering her time, talents, and energy to support local events, organizations, and initiatives. Bethany is always promoting local pride and encouraging community engagement, to make our town a better place to live, work and play.”

 
“It is inspiring to receive so many great nominations for these annual awards,” states Lynsi Pasutti, Executive Director of the Perry Chamber of Commerce, “and it is truly a challenge to pare down the nomination letters to just a sentence or two for this announcement. Each individual and business recognized has done – and continues to do – such great work to serve the community.”
 
All nominees will be recognized at the Annual Dinner and the award recipients will be announced that night.
 
 
For more information about the Annual Dinner or to inquire about registration (which is now closed), contact the Perry Chamber of Commerce at Lynsi@PerryIAChamber.org or (515) 465-4601.
 
 
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About the Perry Chamber of Commerce
The Perry Chamber of Commerce serves as the central business organization in Perry, with the mission to be an advocate to its membership by promoting and encouraging growth in the community, business, and tourism.