More than 800 people gathered Thursday evening for the 2026 Chamber Celebration, where the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce recognized standout businesses, community leaders, and organizations that have made a lasting impact on the region.
The annual event — presented by Owensboro Health — included a reception sponsored by Green River Distilling Company and a Patio Party sponsored by Owensboro Racing and Gaming. Awards were presented during the program, followed by an after-party in the Jody Berry Theatre with live music from The Juice Box Heroes, sponsored by Hartz Contracting, LLC.
Ten local businesses received the 2026 Business of the Year honors, selected from approximately 100 nominees:
- Emerging Business of the Year – Faris Guitar Company
- Business of the Year (1-10 employees) – Donatos Pizza
- Business of the Year (11-50 employees) – Lure Seafood and Grille
- Business of the Year (50+ employees) – TrueNorth Treatment Center
- Non-Profit of the Year – Fine Arts – Owensboro Museum of Fine Art
- Non-Profit of the Year – Human Needs and Services – Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County
- Education and Workforce Development Institution of the Year – Daviess County Public Schools
- Manufacturer of the Year – Mulzer Crushed Stone
- Minority Owned Business of the Year – Strength Renewed
- Rick Kamuf Agri-Business of the Year – Reid’s Orchard
Additional honors included:
- Chamber Director of the Year – Michael Johnson
- Chamber Ambassador of the Year – Jennifer Richarsdon
- Leadership Owensboro Class Member of the Year – Katie Case
- Bill Young Community Leadership Award – Kirk Kirkpatrick
- Chamber Legacy Award – Rosemary Conder
- Chamber Young Professionals Member of the Year – Stephanie Bertram
The event also featured a ceremonial “passing of the gavel” from outgoing 2025 Board Chair Olga McKissic of Western Academy at the Neblett to incoming 2026 Board Chair Shawn Patterson of Southern Star Central Gas Pipelines. Southern Star also served as the sponsor of the Business of the Year awards.
“Congratulations to all the nominees and award winners. It’s a testament to the incredible work these businesses do every day to make our community the best place to live, work and thrive,” said Chamber President and CEO Dave Kirk. “What an incredible celebration. Thank you to our staff, partners and Members for making such an incredible event possible.”
The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1913, serves nearly 1,000 members and plays a vital role in business advocacy and community development initiatives throughout the region.
By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times