The Chamber’s annual winter banquet and awards program will be held Thursday, Feb. 25 at the Holiday Inn and Austin Conference Center. Twelve business members  will be recognized as this year’s Business of the Year nominees, and several others will be noted for their contributions to the organization and community throughout 2009. Hosted by the Chamber’s Ambassador Committee, the banquet is the largest gathering of members during the year with about 300 attending.

Besides the business awards, individual members and committees are recognized at the banquet. Ambassador of the Year and Ambassador Team of the Year will be presented along with the Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year award. The Austin Area Employers Association, a chamber committee, will also honor an outstanding human resource professional with their 2009 Award of Excellence. Events will begin with a social hour at 5 p.m. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7:30 p.m.

Games People Play, Lance Pogones, owner;

Sellers Lock & Key, Jeff Sellers, owner;

Culligan Water Conditioning, Noah Hawkes, general manager;

Workforce Development, Inc., Bob Haas, general manager;

Austin Utilities, Jerry McCarthy, general manager;

Hormel Historic Home, Laura Helle, executive director;

Steve’s Pizza, Steve Davis, owner;

Beaver Trails Jellystone Park, Tammy and Ken Westrich, owners;

Apollo Liquor and Superette, Dave and Peggy Olson, owners;

Medicap Pharmacy, Jon Engelhardt, pharmacist;

Christopher Lee Photography, Christopher Iverson, owner;

Bollingberg Chiropractic, Dr. Faye and Rolf Bollingberg, owners.