The Ames Chamber of Commerce and affiliate organizations is excited to announce the 2022 Annual Award winners. The award recipients will be honored at an event on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at Prairie Moon Winery in Ames.
 
Since 1987, the Ames Chamber of Commerce has recognized individuals and businesses who have shown exemplary service and commitment in their profession or in the community. The Annual Awards represents the combined efforts of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate organizations that include the Ames Economic Development Commission, Ames Main Street, FUEL, Ames Seed Capital and The Ames Foundation.
 
Join us in congratulating the 2022 Annual Award recipients:
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• Business of the Year – Danfoss 
• Community Development Project of the Year - Ames Home Builders Association
• Trailblazer of the Year - Susan Frantz
• Culture Curator of the Year - Sigler Companies Inc.
• Economic Development Volunteer of the Year - Tyler Fredericksen
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award - Hawkeye Molding Company Inc.
• Housing Project of the Year – The Villas at Fox Pointe
• Business & Student Engagement Award – Lane Trailer Manufacturing Co. / Boone Community School District EDGE Program
• Entrepreneur of the Year – Evie Peterson
• Economic Impact Awards
  • Berdex
  • AgCertain
  • Kruck Plumbing & Heating
  • Verbio

• Ambassador of the Year – Dan Siegfried
• Ames Main Street Volunteer of the Year - Steve Goodhue
• The Ames Foundation Volunteer Business of the Year – Chevron Renewable Energy Group
• FUEL 40 Under 40
  • Kayla Bergman
  • Sarina Flathers
  • Kristin Pates
  • Allie Prusa
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To register for the Annual Awards event on Thursday, January 26, visit ameschamber.com or click here.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Commission is excited to announce our new 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. Created by Ames Chamber of Commerce leadership, in collaboration with the executive members of each board of directors, the plan is designed to guide the organization, and affiliate organizations, for the next four years to positively impact all the communities within the Ames Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

​Guided by this plan, our efforts will focus on the three key pillars the drive our work: Leadership, Engagement, and Advocacy.
 
Leadership:

• Lead efforts to attract of $200 million in economic development capital investment to the Ames MSA each year. Cumulative target of $1 billion by 12/31/2027
• Lead efforts to facilitate 10 economic development project successes each year
• Lead efforts to enhance relationships within the Ames MSA

 
Engagement:

• Engage members and investors with the goal of maintaining a retention rate of 85% or better
• Engage our partnership communities to ensure that we provide value to solidify continued collaboration
• Engage and support a plan of work where our businesses thrive and the MSA is seen as a vibrant place to live

 
Advocacy:

• Advocate for communities throughout the Ames MSA at the state and national level
• Advocate for and support community projects that enhance livability and quality of life within the Ames MSA that fit our Purpose / Cause / Passion
• Advocate for organizational funding to support the efforts of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and affiliate organizations with a target of $3.75 million by 12/31/27

 
Our targets by 2027 include:

• $3.75 million in annual revenue
• $500,000 in NET income
• 815 members

“I want to thank the board of directors for the Ames Chamber of Commerce and the Ames Economic Development Commission for helping shape this vision,” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Commission. “This strategic plan is a snapshot of the work that we must pursue to drive business and community vitality across the Ames MSA.”

​To view a PDF version of the 2023-2027 strategic plan, click here

​The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Ames Economic Development Commission are excited to introduce the 2023 Board Chairs for their respective Board of Directors. Reynolds Cramer will serve as the Board Chair for the Ames Economic Development Commission and Michelle Vogel will serve as the Board Chair for the Ames Chamber of Commerce.

Reynolds W. Cramer is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Fareway Stores, Inc. He began working at the company at the Boone store in 1985 when he was 16 years old. During college, he moved and worked in the Decorah Fareway store in the meat department for three years. After working in two stores as assistant manager, he was promoted in 1997 to store manager, opening a new Fareway store in Des Moines. In 2000, he was promoted to district supervisor at the corporate office in Boone, Iowa.

​In 2008, Cramer was elected to the Real Estate Committee, and has been instrumental in choosing the strategic placement of new Fareway locations ever since. In 2009, Cramer was elected to the Board of Directors for Fareway, in 2010 he was named as a regional vice president, and in 2012 as an executive vice president in charge of all retail operations. Cramer’s promotion to CEO for Fareway occurred in February 2014.

In addition to his responsibilities with Fareway, Cramer is active in many charitable organizations, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, ChildServe, UnityPoint Health Foundation, and he has served as President for Variety-the Children’s Charity. Cramer is also a board member of the Iowa Business Council. He is an advocate for animal rescue, having adopted several animals from various rescue organizations. A native Iowan and graduate of Boone High School in 1987 and Luther College in 1991, Cramer has a daughter Ashley, 23, and a daughter Zoe, 18. Reynolds and his wife, Sheila, live in Norwalk with their son Benny, 5.

Michelle Vogel is the President of Sigler Companies, an Ames business that has been family-owned since inception in 1958. Michelle began working part-time at Sigler in Customer Service while attending Iowa State University (ISU). Michelle earned her degree in Production Operations Management and upon graduation from ISU in December 2001, she continued working at Sigler in a full-time capacity.

Vogel was invited to join the leadership team in 2008 and held various positions within the company prior to being named President in the fall of 2018. Michelle has seen a great deal of growth and change during her time at Sigler, with the most recent business expansion coming in the form of acquisition when the company welcomed Alpha Copies and Express Signs to its family of brands in November 2022.

​A Carroll, Iowa native, Michelle resides in Ames with husband, Jake, and their three children. In addition to the busy schedules of two professional parents and the many activities of their kids, Michelle is an active member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO), has a personal interest in the Iowans for Adoption non-profit organization, and is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Michelle has served on the Ames Chamber of Commerce Board since 2019.