The Fox Cities Chamber announced the recipients of its 2023 Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Award recipients are:
Gus A. Zuehlke Distinguished Service Award (named in honor of Gus A. Zuehlke, a past Chairman of the Board of the Fox Cities Chamber): David G. Voss, Jr. – President and CEO, Miron Construction. Voss has co-led Miron Construction since 1977. As president and CEO, Voss is deeply ingrained in the daily operations of the company and participates in all aspects of corporate management. He plays a significant role in Miron’s family-focused culture, and his relationships-first mentality reaches beyond the company’s 1,700 employees. Voss has built, cultivated and maintained lasting partnerships with clients and community organizations for more than 45 years. Outside of work, Voss is passionate about, and prioritizes his time to assist organizations that support the health and wellbeing of children, such as Rawhide Youth Services, United Way, St. Mary Catholic Schools, and more.
Joyce Bytof Exceptional Mentor Award (sponsored by Community First Credit Union: Mary Beth Nienhaus – philanthropist and retired physical education teacher, coach and LPGA golf pro. Nienhaus is a former high school physical education teacher, retiring after 33 years. During her career, she also coached 50 high school varsity golf, basketball and volleyball teams. Outside of school, she spent more than 50 years as a Master/Life LPGA professional. Nienhaus has served on the board of directors and in leadership positions for many nonprofit groups, and has taken 50 mission trips within the United States, and to third-world countries. Her priorities when it comes to community service lie in the areas of education, kids, sports, fitness and healthy lifestyles, to advocate for living a great quality of life. Other focus areas include mental health, humane society, nature preserve, senior living, housing, veterans, library, and food programs.
ATHENA Leadership Award (sponsored by Bergstrom Automotive): Maiyoua Khang Thao – entrepreneur and small business owner. Thao, along with her husband, is the co-owner of Thao Enterprises, Thao Management Group, Long Cheng Senior Center, Long Cheng Marketplace and ABC Staffing. She is also the president of the Long Cheng Community Center, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life of local senior citizens, and support the growth and leadership of local Hmong girls through teaching traditional dance and cultural arts. Thao was the first Hmong American woman to win a city council seat for the city of Appleton, and she stayed on the council for two consecutive terms. She served on the Retirement Security Task Force, which was appointed by Governor Tony Evers. She has won numerous awards including the Governor’s Good Citizen Award, Business of the Year Award, Insight – Entrepreneur Grit Award, and Making Democracy Work Award among others. Other community involvement includes work with the Wisconsin Hmong Chamber of Commerce, 9to5 Wisconsin, Wisconsin United Coalition of Mutual Assistance Association, New North, Kiwanis Kids, Cops Reading Program, and many more programs and services that help marginalized and underrepresented communities.
Business Leader Hall of Fame: Bob DeKoch and Mike Weller.
DeKoch is past president and chief operating officer of The Boldt Company. He is passionate about leadership and has mentored hundreds of aspiring leaders. He has over four decades of experience across major market sectors including the construction services and real estate development business, the pulp and paper industry, the beverage industry, and the chemical industry. His diverse experience has helped him develop unique insight into leadership beliefs and practices. He has served on boards of US organizations both for-profit and nonprofit, as well as a major international company. DeKoch is dedicated to economic development through his work with The New North. He plays a leadership role in the school choice movement in Wisconsin. Other community involvement includes work with the Building for Kids, and Lawrence University’s President’s Advisory Council.
Weller is CEO of Mike Weller & Associates, LLC. Prior to launching Mike Weller & Associates, an executive consulting company, Weller was employed for 34 years at Miller Electric, 20 of those years as president. After his retirement in 2015, he launched Mike Weller & Associates to share his executive experience and improve talent strategies and organizational performance. Outside of work, he has been involved in many nonprofits over the years, including Boys and Girls Club, the Fox Cities P.A.C. as board chair, the Green Bay Packers board of directors, ThedaCare board of directors, Habitat for Humanity, Fox Valley Technical College, Riverview Gardens, and more. He also served on the Ariens and Amerequip board, and currently serves with pride on the Great Northern & CK boards.
These individuals will be honored for their achievements at Celebrate: A Toast to 150 on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort Hotel, 1000 Cameron Way, Neenah.
Highlights of the event include a cocktail hour with music by saxophonist Michael Prusinsky; a brand-new dinner show about the history of the Fox Cities, performed by Let Me Be Frank; a celebratory toast to the Fox Cities Chamber’s 150th Anniversary; and a large silent auction with a variety of exciting auction packages.
For more information and to register, visit https://business.foxcitieschamber.com/events/details/2024-celebrate-a-toast-to-150-17989.
