Burnsville Chamber Celebrates Business Leaders, Small Businesses

Press release from Burnsville Chamber of Commerce:

May 6, 2022

The Burnsville Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Experience Burnsville (Convention and Visitors Bureau), again celebrated Small Business Week (May 1-7) and National Tourism Week with the “Eat, Drink & Buy Local Burnsville” campaign. The campaign was aimed at supporting local Burnsville businesses for a thriving community. Visit the Burnsville Chamber Facebook page and search #BurnsvilleMeansBusiness and #MyBurnsville.

On May 4, the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce held its Small Business Week Awards Luncheon & Celebration. Attendees gathered at the Best Western Premier Nicollet Inn entirely in person for the first time since 2019. The awards honored Burnsville Chamber Members who have made a significant difference for the Chamber, other Members, and the local community.

The Chamber recognized 2022 Volunteer of the Year Brady Folkestad of Lakeview Bank. Folkestad has regularly attended Chamber events and has been one of the most active Members for several years both in public and behind the scenes.

The Chamber also recognized 2022 Ambassador of the Year Paul Rime of Sterling State Bank. Rime took on his role as an Ambassador with an added level of seriousness and dedication. He was regularly present at Chamber functions and engaging with other Members and visitors.

New this year, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award was created to recognize a Chamber Member business owner who has significantly grown their business in recent years, has overcome adversity, and shown support for the community and the Burnsville Chamber.

The first-ever 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year Award was presented to Amber Budd-Peterson, owner of Amber Budd Atelier. She opened her award-winning and nationally recognized skin spa in Burnsville in 2015 and has expanded her business offerings and space several times since then. Even during an extended shutdown due to the pandemic, she diversified with new offerings that did not require in-person activity and also donated many supplies from her business to health care institutions in need. Budd-Peterson has been an active Member of the Chamber since 2017 and has volunteered on signature event and program committees.

The Business Person of the Year Award was first presented in 1979. For over 40 years, this prestigious award has recognized the active contributions of a Chamber Member who has made a substantial impact on the Chamber and the community. Jamal Ansari, owner of The Mediterranean Cruise Cafe, was named the 2022 Business Person of the Year. The 43rd person to hold this title, Ansari, who is from Jerusalem, created and established The Mediterranean Cruise Cafe in Eagan with his brothers. After more than 30 years in business, he became the sole owner. In 2009, he relocated to Burnsville and built a new restaurant with his sons that has been a local staple since; it has also been recognized as a top Twin Cities restaurant. Ansari's catchphrase is "we love what we do", and it shows in his food, connection with customers, and community giving. A Chamber Member since 2009, he loves to host and participate in Chamber events, including the Bite of Burnsville for which his restaurant is a past winner. Ansari also generously donates to the Chamber and other community organizations and provided daily meals to families for many months during the pandemic.

Burnsville Business Person of the Year Award criteria include:

• Be an active Member of the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce
• Must be from a Burnsville business or branch
• Hold a position of authority or responsibility in their business
• Have an active interest in the betterment of the business community
• Have an active interest in community affairs
• Be recognized as a leader in the community
• Be successful in their own business
• This person cannot be an elected official or currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce

Previous Burnsville Business Person of the Year Award Recipients include:
Ray Connelly, 1979
Warren Kelly, 1980
Robert Christensen*, 1981
Tom Kelley, 1982
Judy Tschumper, 1983
Kirk Detlefsen, 1984
Dan McElroy, 1985
Ron Lund, 1986
Rudy Borowicz, 1987
Darwin Voltin, 1988
Jerry Chase, 1989
Ralph Linvill*, 1990
Tom Halfpenny, 1991
Sandra Jacobsen, 1992
Roger Neitzke, 1993
Donna Green, 1994
Bob Belongie, 1995
Don Kotula, 1996
Howard Knutson*, 1997
Dick Ames, 1998
John Adamich, 1999
Ken Slipka*, 2000
Skip Nienhaus, 2001
Glenn McKee, 2002
Wayne Huelskoetter, 2003
Sue Luikens*, 2004
Mike Valentine, 2005
Maggie Linvill-Smith, 2006
Jim Marchessault, 2007
Steve Saefke*, 2008
Richard Sjoquist, 2009
Darlene Miller, 2010
Daniel Moiser, 2011
Mark Meier, 2012
Brad Rixmann, 2013
Bob Stowell, 2014
Tom Taylor, 2015
Dennis Diessner, 2016
Dave Edmunds*, 2017
Bill Raker, 2018
Sandra Schlaefer, 2020
Doron Jensen, 2021

This press release was produced by Burnsville Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author's own.