
The biggest award show of the season recognizes some of the greatest accomplishments, people, and ideas. No not the Oscars, The Keweenaw Sparkplug Awards. Last week the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance, Keweenaw Young Professionals, and Copper Shores Community Health Foundation announced this year’s nominees for the region’s sparkplug awards. Copper Shores donor relations director Michael says it’s a fun evening to highlight projects the foundation and other area non-profits, businesses, and communities collaborated on. But he says one of his favorite parts of Sparkplug awards each year is learning about the many other great people and projects that were accomplished without Copper Shores knowing about it.
Copper Shores has been very excited to support this event because it is, there’s no better celebration of community than when a group of people get together and look back at what’s been accomplished. Too often we just all get our nose to the grindstone trying to figure out and make things happen and accomplish things and we don’t take a step back and go, wow, we did a lot. And that’s what this event is really about, getting together and celebrating the business world, the nonprofit world, the service world, all of us getting together in one place and just… looking back and saying we came a long way in the last year. We did some incredible things. We have some amazing people pushing our community forward and celebrating those and then getting together and talking about, all right, let’s keep it going. What are we gonna do in 2025 that we can look back at next year and be thankful that we accomplished together? – Michael Babcock, Director of Communications and Donor Relations, Copper Shores Community Health Foundation
The Sparkplug Award committee has a tough job each year determining who walks away with the honor. But Babcock adds that it’s wonderful to see incredible strides taken by amazing people to make the Keweenaw peninsula a wonderful place to live, work, and play. Sparkplug Awards take place on March 20th. Tickets for the event sell out fast for the festive evening to celebrate living and creating a Copper Country community all can be proud to share. Those interested in learning more about the 2025 Spark Plug Award nominees can find more information here.
Growth:
Steelhead Technologies
Keweenaw Boat Tours and Keweenaw Pedal Trolley
Loukus Technologies
Level Up Branded Apparel Specialists
Keweeanw Co+op Market and Deli
Superior Land Improvements
Customer Service:
Monte Consulting
The Michigan House Café and Brew Pub
Amber Mickalich – NV Hair
Red Jacket Boutique
Gillian Whitatker – Love Inc.
Keweenaw Jiu Jitsu
G&J Site Solutions Inc.
Finnish American Heritage Center
Jacob Moilanen – The Ambassador
Keweenaw Co+op Market and Deli
Northern Michigan Land Brokers
Portage Lake Golf Course
Auto Pro Glass and Tire
Black Ice Comics
Douglas Hodges UP Health Systems
Keweenaw Boat Tours and Keweenaw Pedal Trolley
Innovation/Transformation:
Revex Technologies
Keweenaw Jiu Jitsu
Keweenaw Solutions
River Trails LLC
Keweenaw Co+op Market and Deli
Takka Saunas
Alison Kirksey – Red hen and Foods and Goods, LLC
Dr. Meredith LeBeau Calumet Electronics
Bridges Program – Copper Shores Community Health Foundation
Project of the Year:
Abbey Carlson Tree House Family Resource Center (formerly the Keweenaw Family Resource Center)
Ahmeek Ice Rink
Sarah Scarlett – Vernacular Architecture Forum
Mrs. Laakonen – Hancock Public Schools
Hancock Trails Club Bridges and Boardwalk Project
The Keweenaw Co+op Relocation Proejct
Upper Peninsula Accessibility Summit
Right Start U.P.
Queen Bee’s LLC (Houghton Community Broadcasting)
Michael Babcock – Giving Tuesday Event
Sarah Lahti – Hancock Community Hub
Young Professional of the Year:
Micah Erickson
Lexi Aho
Devin Leonaduzzi
Amanda Crane Deyaert
Jordan Craven
Rachel Pressley
Carolyn Yarina
Cassandra Reed-VanDam
Nikki L’Esperance
Michael Babcock
Bailey Patrick
Community Contributor of the Year:
Neighbor’s Table at Faith Lutheran Church
Ron Rea
Kathy and Jeff Ihde
Shana Porteen
David Crowley
Gillian Whitaker
Sorona Hodges
Julia Waara
Dolores Kilpela
Robin Menguzzo
Iola Brubaker
Shelby Turnquist
Jim Kurtti
Susan Mattila
Todd Gast
Jim Tervo
Curt Webb and Denise Hansen
Dayna Browning and Emily Geiger
Julia and Eric Waara
Elena Busova
Copper Country Angel Mission
Hometown Hero of the Year:
Tami Sleeman
Joe Panijan
Denise Hansen
Youth Contributor of the Year:
Cassie Kujansuu
Lukas Axford
Cecilia Butler
Daniel Sturos
Ethan Perrault-Fill
Mallory Sporalski
Callie Knuuttila
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