Chamber awards for 2024

By Brenda Erdahl

Mike Rowe is this year’s Maple Lake Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year.

To be considered for this award, members must attend and participate in chamber meetings, demonstrate leadership, and contribute to the community in a commitment of time and resources.

Rowe has been a member of the chamber for four years, three of which he was vice president, and this year has taken on the role of president.

He volunteers at or attends most chamber events and offers his help as much as he can wherever it is needed. Besides the numerous chamber events, Rowe is also a part of Irish Mentors.

His nominator said: “Mike has done a great job the last two years volunteering his time and effort with the Chamber. He is a member of multiple chamber affiliated groups and has now taken on the role of president.”

As superintendent of Maple Lake Schools for the last four years, “he has done a great job of bridging the school with our chamber and seems to never turn down an opportunity to help out.

Mike has been very busy and to find time like he does to help out is nothing short of amazing.”

Rowe is married to Elisabeth and they have three children at Maple Lake Schools, Avery, Ainsley and Grayson.

“Maple Lake is a great community that prides itself on being a great host for many events. The school is the largest hosting site for many events in Maple Lake. We enjoy being able to assist this great community however we can,” Rowe said.

Sunfish Dental is this year’s Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.

To be considered for this award, businesses must be an active chamber member who is involved in the community, promotes community events, and encourages employee community involvement. Businesses must also have made changes or improvements to business and be a community employer of friends and family.

Sunfish Dental has been a member of the chamber since it opened in Maple Lake 3 ½ years ago in Dr. Dennis Quinlan’s old office.  Last year they undertook the job of renovating the McHugh Building down the street. They moved in last fall and in December, hosted Santa Claus during the chamber’s Christmas in Maple Lake.  Over the years, Owner Niki Tripp and her staff have become known for their creative and enthusiastic participation in chamber events. Their nominator said: “Dr. Niki Tripp and her staff have done an excellent job this year providing space for our chamber events here in Maple Lake. She goes all out when it comes to these events, like hosting Santa at Christmas in Maple Lake, and decorating and dressing up for our Halloween Trick or Treat. They spend a lot of time and money to make everything spectacular when involved and deserve to be recognized for the effort they put in. They also volunteer almost every time we have something going on and are first to give their time.”

Dr. Tripp said she is blessed to work with an amazing team that always has a positive attitude whenever they come up with a crazy photo or marketing idea. Jen, their office manager, is often the visionary for the office decorations but everyone is active in making their ideas come to life.

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