BEATRICE – A chamber of commerce in southeast Nebraska honored businesses and individuals at its annual banquet Friday night.  The Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual dinner at the 1917 Club, at the Beatrice Country Club.


"Over the last year, we saw twelve new members join our organization and had a 94.8 percent retention rate. I think that's a pretty impressive number for year-over-year. We sold $75,280 in chamber checks in 2024, which is up about $3,000 from the year prior. All of those dollars stay absolutely one hundred percent local."


Executive Director for the Beatrice Chamber, Angie Bruna says the organization is continuing a project to help fund new welcome signs at highway entrance corridors to the community. The chamber saw a past year’s leadership Beatrice class that numbered ten participants and has 15 in the class this year.


"We have had 231 program graduates in Leadership Beatrice since it's inception, nineteen years ago."


There are also over fifty active members in the second year of a Young Professionals organization. Bruna said the chamber hosted several annual events and saw a record attendance at the Candy Christmas Holiday Lighted Parade this past December.


The Chamber named as its Business of the Year, Caspers Construction…a firm that’s been involved in numerous construction projects across Beatrice and the region. The Business Person of the Year is Ryan Trauernicht, Market President of Pinnacle Bank. Named Young Professional of the Year was Jacob Meybrunn, a Sales Agronomist for Farmers Cooperative and realtor for Homestead Land Company.


The Outstanding New Business of the Year was Zoellner Design Company, which opened this past year in the former Lang Building at 6th and Ella. The Best New Business Image honor was presented to Smith Schafer Davis law firm, which completed renovation and opened in an existing building downtown.


The Non-Profit of the Year was the Beatrice Educational Foundation, which played a critical role in funding support for the new Beatrice Elementary School.


There were 34 total nominations considered for the various awards.  The chamber named Theresa Barnts, as its Ambassador of the Year. Kenzie Brueggeman is the 2025 Chairperson of Chamber’s Board of Directors, taking over for 2024 Board Chairman, Mike Zarybnicky.