The Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce honored the recipients of the 2026 Best Under 40 Awards May 7 at The Villager at 170.
“We are so proud of all of this year’s nominees and winners,” said Deidre Martinez, CEO of the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce. “The nomination process spans several weeks, and anyone in the community can submit a nomination. Our judges — made up of Chamber committee members, Board members, and past award winners — volunteer many hours reviewing nominations and making the difficult decisions on this year’s recipients.”
Among the evening’s honorees was Paige Meyer of Rockline Industries, who received the Community Volunteer of the Year Award for her volunteerism with Lakeshore College’s Council for Educational Equity, United Way NextGen Leaders, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she serves as a Big.
“Being nominated for the Best Under 40 Young Professional Award for Community Volunteerism is a bit shocking to me — not because I don’t believe I’ve made an impact, but because I’m constantly aware of how much more there is to do,” Meyer shared. “Volunteering has a way of becoming contagious; the more you help, the more you want to help.”
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award was presented to Bo LaBouve, owner of Eb Flo Coffeehouse. Since opening, Eb Flo has quickly become a local favorite, creating a welcoming space where the community can gather and enjoy great food and drinks. In just a few short years, the business has experienced significant growth and is currently expanding to create even more opportunities to serve the community.
“I wanted to do something meaningful that gives back to the community and feels true to who I am,” LaBouve said. “With a great space to share with the community, my husband’s love for coffee, and my background in the food industry and business, opening a coffee shop was the idea — and I went all in on it.”
The evening’s top honor, Young Professional of the Year, was awarded to Cate Tinker, Executive Director of Above & Beyond Children’s Museum. “I lead with the belief that staff investment is strategic investment, and that community-centered innovation is how small institutions create outsized impact,” Tinker shared. “My approach comes from my love of Sheboygan and my firm belief that creating a more child- and family-friendly community will help all businesses thrive.”
In addition to the award recipients, dozens of outstanding young professionals from across Sheboygan County were nominated for their leadership, innovation, volunteerism, and impact within the community.
