Membership Awards

Wisconsin LGBT Chamber Award Winners

Every year, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce presents a number of awards to members for their contributions to building a more diverse and inclusive business community.

The awards include:

• Corporate Partner of the Year: This award is given to a corporation that exemplifies diversity and inclusion within its workplace and the broader business community.
• LGBTQ Business of the Year: This award recognizes a business that is 51%  or more LGBTQ-owned  that actively contributes to the advancement and enrichment of the diverse business community.
• Allied Business of the Year: This award recognizes an allied-owned business that champions diversity and inclusion in its business practices.
• Nonprofit Organization of the Year: This award goes to a nonprofit organization that empowers and contributes to the growth of the diverse business community.
• Business Resource Group of the Year: This award acknowledges an LGBTQ+ Business Resource Group (BRG) that promotes inclusivity within and beyond its organization and advocates for change.
• John Ross Pruess Business Leader of the Year: This award is reserved for a dedicated individual from the LGBTQ+ community who has positively impacted our diverse business landscape.
• Advocate of the Year: Given to an individual who has been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion within the larger business community, this award promotes those advocating and advancing change in the community.

Here is a list of past award recipients:

2023 Awards

2022 Awards

2021 Awards
Corporate Partner of the Year: Milwaukee Bucks
LGBTQ Business of the Year: Swaye’ Tea (West Allis, WI)
Allied Business of the Year: Mayana Chocolate (Spooner, WI)
Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Community Living Connections, Inc. (Madison, WI)
Business Resource Group of the Year: Kohler PROUD (Kohler, WI)
John Ross Pruess Business Leader of the Year: Kerri Balliet, Red Baron Coaching (Shorewood, WI)
Advocate of the Year: Governor Tony Evers

2020 Awards
Corporate Partner of the Year: American Family Insurance
LGBTQ Business of the Year: Delta Beer Lab (Madison, WI)
Allied Business of the Year: Red Shoes, Inc. (Appleton, WI)
Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Diverse & Resilient (Milwaukee, WI)
John Ross Pruess Business Leaders of the Year: Rick Clark & BJ Gruling of Kilwins Milwaukee-Bayshore (Glendale, WI)
Advocate of the Year: Refilwe Goll, Northwestern Mutual (Milwaukee, WI)
Business Resource Group of the Year: Kohl’s #PrideAtKohls (Milwaukee, WI)

2019 Awards
Corporate Partner of the Year: ManpowerGroup
LGBT Business of the Year: Telmark Sales Solutions (Appleton, WI)
Allied Business of the Year: Company Brewing (Milwaukee, WI)
Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI)
Business Leader of the Year: John Leidy, JDBC Tax Services (Milwaukee, WI)
Advocate of the Year: Heidi Duss, Summit Credit Union (Madison, WI)
Business Resource Group of the Year: Harley-Davidson’s Employee Alliance for Gay, Lesbians, Bisexual and Transgender Employees (EAGLE) (Milwaukee, WI)

2018 Awards
Corporate Partner of the Year: Rockwell Automation
LGBT Business of the Year: MOXIE Food + Drink (Whitefish Bay, WI)
Allied Business of the Year: Short Stack Eatery (Madison, WI)
Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin (Menasha, WI)
Business Leader of the Year: Leonard Sobczak, Eastmore Real Estate & Wisconsin Gazette (Milwaukee, WI)
Advocate of the Year: Shiva Bidar-Sielaff of UW Health (Madison, WI)

2017 Awards
Corporate Partner of the Year: Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network
LGBT Business of the Year: Accurate Web Solution (Green Bay, WI)
Allied Business of the Year: Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport Hotel (Milwaukee, WI)
Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Fair Wisconsin (Madison, WI)
Business Leader of the Year: Terri Coughlin of Coughlin Consulting (Milwaukee, WI)
Advocate of the Year: Dan Schoepke of Alliant Energy (Madison, WI)

2016 Awards
Corporate Partner of the Year: BMO Harris Bank
LGBT Business of the Year: Hinckley Productions (Madison, WI)
Allied Business of the Year: I Do Island Weddings (Janesville, WI)
Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Bay View United Methodist Church (Milwaukee, WI)
Business Leader of the Year: Michail Takach of ManpowerGroup (Milwaukee, WI)

2015 Awards
Corporate Partner of the Year: Foley & Lardner LLP
LGBT Business of the Year: Belwah Media (Beloit, WI)
Allied Business of the Year: Le Dame Footwear (Verona, WI)
Business Leader of the Year: Ed Seaberg of Rockwell Automation (Milwaukee, WI)

2014 Awards
Corporate Partner of the Year: MillerCoors
LGBT Business of the Year: A2Z Design (Appleton, WI)
Allied Business of the Year: Sugar Doll (Stevens Point, WI)
Business Leader of the Year: Colin Gorman of PNC Bank (Whitefish Bay, WI)