2024 Celebrate Business Winners Awarded
The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and its member organizations are excited to recognize seven award winners from the 29th Annual Celebrate Business Awards held at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel on Wednesday, December 11.
On behalf of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and its membership, we are honored to announce this year’s award winners for 2024, who are as follows:
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR – Custom Blinds & Design
Custom Blinds & Design shines their light at the window with humfidence*! They create a luxurious, yet simple experience, bringing customers the results they love. Celebrating 25 years in business in 2025, Custom Blinds thanks their clients who've shared so many referrals over the years with family and friends. As a Hunter Douglas Gallery®, they believe in high-quality products, and VIP service, working with homeowners and businesses alike. *Yeah, Custom Blinds & Design made up a word - it means humble confidence.
The Small Business of the Year Award is intended to honor a business which best exemplifies the spirit of free enterprise in Lincoln.
MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR – Timpte, Inc.
Timpte trailers are built for life. For their customers, it’s not about having to think twice about getting the job done – it’s being rugged, dependable, and always ready. Timpte’s sole focus is designing and building trailers for any dry built commodity. Their trailers are light and dependable, and each is custom-built to make sure it does its job right. Timpte takes its Midwestern roots seriously, applying solid manufacturing principles and state-of-the-art technology to produce the industry’s #1 dry bulk commodity trailers.
The Manufacturer of the Year Award serves to bring attention to Lincoln’s manufacturing community and the contributions made to Lincoln both economically and socially.
GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR – University of Nebraska-Lincoln Husker Power & Energy
Providing reliable and cost-effective utilities for a more sustainable campus, the job of UNL’s Husker Energy & Power is to power campus so students, faculty and staff can focus on their jobs. As one of the most efficient campuses in the country, the UNL team consults with industrial and college campuses across the U.S. on their practices, demonstrating their significant leadership in green business.
The Green Business of the Year Award is designed to honor a business that has gone beyond local, state and federal environmental regulations to create an environmentally responsible business.
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARD – Union Bank & Trust
At UBT, people don’t have your money – your money has people. Their local, family-owned bank provides all of the products and services needed, but with exceptional, personalized customer care. They care about their customers, their community and each other. Their Union Bank Place Pop-Up Shop, located at 13th and O Streets in the heart of downtown Lincoln, is a place for small businesses to shine with an opportunity to grow and make their dreams a reality.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award recognizes a person or company that has exemplified creativity in the development of enterprise in Lincoln.
TOM LORENZ TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AWARD – Joe Shaw, LUX Center for the Arts
The LUX Center for the Arts makes art happen in Lincoln for youth and adults as they discover the joys of pottery, printmaking, painting, jewelry, drawing and more. As executive director since May 2019, Joe Shaw and the LUX have always had community as a priority. In 2021, the LUX began its Emerge Mural Festival which has created 10 new murals in the University Place neighborhood, plus the LUX has created a mural at the Lied Center and one at South Street Library. Three more are coming to University Place in Fall 2025.
The Tourism Development Award recognizes the business that has exemplified creativity in the development of the tourism industry.
CORNERSTONE AWARD – ALLO Fiber
ALLO’s growth and success since 2003 is in large part due to their award-winning customer service, technical capabilities, experienced and knowledgeable personnel and superior products. Their customers and team have made Lincoln, the 2nd most connected community of the 100 largest cities in the United Stares and consumer reports top internet service provider. ALLO provides customers with the most modern network possible, offering fiber telephone, broadband, internet and television to residences and businesses serving 48 cities across Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona and Missouri to over 1.2 million people. ALLO’s history provides a solid foundation for a future of continued, innovative growth to fuel local communities.
The Cornerstone Award is presented to the entity whose entrepreneurship and skillful endeavor has added to the economic base of our community and provided opportunity for others to live and work in Lincoln.
ROGER T. LARSON COMMUNITY BUILDER AWARD – John Goodwin
A Lincolnite since 1996, John Goodwin is a Chicago native that has consistently involved himself within the Lincoln community. Before being named the Clyde Malone Community Center’s Executive Director, John worked for Lincoln Public Schools as a campus supervisor and still serves as a football coach. He brings incredible life, energy and motivation to maximize the potential and growth of the staff and youth at the Malone Center. John is eager to continue leading the Malone Center’s efforts of taking Lincoln to where it needs to go as a community.
The Roger T. Larson Community Builder Award is given each year to an exceptional candidate whose proven leadership and influence through public service has shaped the Lincoln community.