The Copper Country continues to grow through the incredible work of many individuals and organizations. Last night many businesses, non-profit organizations, community groups and individuals came together on Michigan Tech’s campus for the annual Keweenaw Sparkplug Awards. Visit Keweenaw’s Jesse Wiederhold helped move the evening along as the master of ceremonies, bringing forward presenters such as City of Houghton Police Lieutenant Nick Roberts to present awards.
Unite Mental Health and Wellness took home the Growth Sparkplug award Thursday night, recognizing the mental healthcare provider’s significant expansion across the Copper Country over the past year.
The organization, co-founded by Angela Price, doubled its professional staff, added a family-focused office in Houghton and opened a new location to serve the Baraga-L’Anse area.
“One of our goals was really to try to get down to Baraga County. That’s where we both grew up,” Price said. “Knowing that we’re 30 miles away and sometimes that’s just too long of a drive. I think we’re really excited to finally be there. It’s just so meaningful to be able to do that.”
Among other industry awards Bay Electric, one of the area’s oldest electrician companies, was awarded the Customer Service Award. Jason and Lynn Makela earned the Innovation/Transformation award in 2026 for their business venture. The couple owns Small Craft and Takka Saunas along the Hancock side of the Portage Canal. The unique business features partnerships with area restaurants and serves specialty craft cocktails at the bar. Outside, visitors enjoy beautiful views and a large event space for gatherings, conferences, or meetings. And the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club was awarded the Project of the Year after completing the new Calumet maintenance Barn and trailhead.
The Keweenaw Sparkplug awards also recognized community leaders who responded to local tragedies in 2025. Laurium Village Manager Ian Lewis earned Young Professional of the Year for maintaining village operations after a devastating fire and his community involvement beyond his administrative role.
Four fire departments received the Hometown Hero of the Year award for their volunteer firefighters’ response to a house fire in historic Dollar Bay that prevented the blaze from spreading to other homes.
New Mayor of Houghton Robert Megowen was awarded the Community Contributor of the Year Award. Megowen recently hung up the jacket at the fire hall after forty years. Picking up the gavel in Houghton’s council chambers, previously held by the late Bob Backon. He has also served on a wide variety of boards and committees in the Copper Country, noting the enjoyment his has serving the group Simple Kindness for Youth when accepting his award.
The Youth Contributor of the Year award was accepted by Callie Knuuttila’s younger sister. Knuuttila could not attend the ceremony, after getting stuck at the Mackinaw Bridge on the road back from a student conference. Knuuttila attends Houghton High School, is an active leader among her peers, a member of the school’s Varsity Girls Basketball team and very involved in a variety of organizations.
The 2026 Keweenaw Sparkplug Awards are presented annually by the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, Copper Shores Community Health Foundation, Keweenaw Young Professionals, the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance, and the MTEC SmartZone. The awards have been presented once a year since 2012 to celebrate the variety of accomplishments and the individuals working to make the Copper Country a special place to grow a business, raise a family, recreate responsibly, and enroll in educational programs. You can learn more about the 2026 award winners and past winners here.
Growth: Unite Mental Health and Wellness
Customer Service: Bay Electric
Innovation/Transformation: Small Craft/Takka Saunas
Project of the Year: Keweenaw Snowmobile Club
Young Professional of the Year: Ian Lewis, Village Manager – Laurium
Hometown Hero of the Year: Dollar Bay Fire Department, City of Hancock Fire Department, Quincy-Franklin Fire Department, Calumet Fire Department
Community Contributor of the Year: Robert “Bubba” Megowen
Youth Contributor of the Year: Callie Knuuttila
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