Around 630 people gathered Friday for the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber’s Business Recognition Breakfast Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony. Business leaders from across the region rubbed elbows and celebrated the biggest success stories of the past year, voting at the event for the award winners.
Small Business of the Year went to Villwocks Outdoor Living in Berrien Springs, while the Best New Business Award went to The Lab. Martial Arts and Fitness in Stevensville.
Founded by black belt Jonathan Scott, The Lab teaches martial arts and physical fitness to all ages. Scott tells us some people are intimidated to take up martial arts, but there’s a common motivator for those who do.
“They realize that there’s a need to get better,” Scott said. “I think the biggest misconception you hear of a martial artist’s gym is it’s intimidating. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘The hardest belt to get is the white belt.’ The white belt is the beginner belt, but you have to start the journey to achieve the white belt.”
Scott says The Lab opened in September and has been a welcome success.
“It all started with just a vision of believing in something needed. And honestly, it’s not just me. I have a couple of coaches that started out with me at the beginning and says like, ‘Hey, I believe in the vision as well.’ So they’ve helped support me the entire time, whether that be [ through ] time, helping whatever I need, they’ve been there the whole way. So really, you know, just seeing the business grow and seeing them grow and prosper as well is a big, that’s eyeopener.”
Scott also credits his girlfriend, Alyssa, who runs the show behind the scenes. He says it was an exciting morning.
Other award winners include Honor Credit Union, with the Economic Impact Award, and Harbor Country Mission in Bridgman, for Best Non-Profit. The mission’s Tim Heyn took to social media to thank the community.
“We were just honored to be nominated among some of the greatest non-profits and we won,” Heyn said. “I can’t believe it, guys! Thank you so much for all the support, all the volunteers out there. You guys kill it. The workers, I cannot believe what you do.”
The Community Impact Award went to the Silver Beach County Park Playground Project, the Rising Star Award went to Sarah Lancaster of South Shore Health and Racquet Club in St. Joseph, the Ambassador of the Year is Leanne Brownfield of Sturgis Bank, and the Pat Moody Award went to New Buffalo Township Supervisor Michelle Heit.
The chamber meeting also featured a return keynote from internationally acclaimed TED Talk speaker Drew Dudley, and a 2024 recap of the chamber’s 70th anniversary.
