St. Croix EDC: Banquet honors top businesses for 2009

Contact: Bill Rubin/Jacki Bradham, St. Croix EDC, 715-381-4383

On February 25th, St. Croix EDC honored its 2009 business of the year winners during a banquet at the University Center, on the campus of UW-River Falls, River Falls, Wisconsin. NCCM Company (River Falls, Emerging Business of the Year), Baldwin Telecom, Inc. (Baldwin, Small Business of the Year), and SMC Ltd. (Somerset, Business of the Year) are the 2009 winners.

Ken Heiser, a Hudson banker, received the inaugural EDC Directors Award. The EDC’s board of directors created this award to honor an individual or organization that has championed economic development through innovative actions, making St. Croix County a better place to live, work, play, and learn.

Each of the winners received a plaque from the EDC as well as a Legislative Citation from Madison and congratulatory letters from U.S. Rep. Ron Kind and U.S. Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold.

EDC president Patti Robertson presided over the banquet, which included a special recognition of previous winners going back to 1994. Certificates were awarded to members in appreciation of their financial support over the last ten consecutive years.

The 16th annual awards banquet was sponsored by First Bank of Baldwin, First National Community Bank, WESTconsin Credit Union, and Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation. It was attended by just over 210 people.

Entertainment was provided by comedian C. Willi Myles, billed as ‘America’s everyday comedian’. During his 45-minute set, Myles took everyday life challenges and applied humor to them. Banquet attendees were treated to many laughs from Myles and his unique observations of midwest living compared to his native Mobile, Alabama.