Courtesy Photo Staff members from HPC Credit Union pose for a photo at the 2026 Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce dinner on Thursday after it won the Business of the Year award. Pictured are Wendy Johnson, Tracy Mischloney, Mary Schmidt, Ellie Hoes, Aleigha Muszynski, Dennis Werner, Kristi Witt, Nichole LaCombe, Grace Weaver, Kimberly Standen, Tom Hendricks, and Julie Hansen.

ALPENA — Thursday was a night of celebration as the Alpena Chamber of Commerce hosted its largest event of the year and celebrated its members, ambassadors, and announced local businesses and business leaders who won annual awards.

Jennifer Calery won the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award, one of the most prestigious awards in Alpena, for her work in the community, particularly with the Downtown Development Authority, the Alpena Boys and Girls Club, and Feed the Need.

HPC Credit Union won Business of the Year for being a leader not only through its dedication to members and the community, but also through its unwavering commitment to employee well being.

“We are so honored to have been selected as the 2025 Outstanding Business of the Year by the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce (Thursday night)!” Ellie Hoes, Vice President of Marketing at HPC Credit Union, said in a press release. “This recognition would not be possible without our amazing team, our incredible members, and the unwavering support of our community. We are truly grateful. We love serving this community and making a positive impact every single day. Whether it’s supporting our members or stepping up wherever help is needed, we are here — and we always will be.”

Alpena Power Company won Customer Service of the Year Award for their leadership and tireless dedication to the community during last year’s ice storm.

Jackie Krawczak won the Culture Change Agent Award for being a natural problem solver with a strong drive for continuous improvement. She exemplifies those principles not only within her own business services, but also by encouraging, motivating, and coaching her clients along their own continuous improvement journeys.

Krawczak created the award 15 years ago when she worked for the Chamber and a panel of judges who reviewed the nominations believed she now fits the criteria for the award.

“It was very exciting and it was a huge honor,” Krawczak said. “That award to me is exactly what I live my life for, not that award but what that award stands for.”

Amy Attwell won the Connecting the Classroom and Business Award. Attwell is a Career and Technical Education instructor at Alpena High School teaching the Health Occupations course. She has established and grown pivotal partnerships with Alcona Health Center and MyMichigan Medical Center, securing opportunities for her students to step out of the classroom and into the field.

Jerry Plohocky received the Ambassador of the Year Award. Plohocky is a steadfast supporter of both the Chamber and the Ambassador program, contributing in countless ways. Consistently volunteering time, assisting with the majority of events, providing support whenever needed, and helps turn the most ambitious ideas into reality.

Dark Sky Partners won the Up and Coming Award for making waves as a business recently established in 2025. Their business was founded on principles of integrity, collaboration, and a sincere desire to create meaningful experiences for both residents and visitors alike. Though still in the early stages of development, they are steadily expanding their presence and building a growing customer base. Their shared mission is to bring people together, elevate local hospitality, and shine a spotlight on a true gem in Northern Michigan.

OTHER AWARDS

The Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center won MyMichigan Health’s Health Leadership Award. The honor recognizes both the longstanding partnership between MyMichigan Health and the Alpena CRTC and the exceptional service provided by Air National Guard (ANG) members during the 2025 ice storm.

Besser Company received the Alpena Community College Michigan Workforce Development Award for its intentional investment in employee growth through its new Introduction to Blockmakers program, which has already engaged a large portion of its workforce.

Raelyn Szatkowski won the Zonta Club of Alpena Woman of the Year Award for her tireless work for the community. She sits on many boards and actively volunteers for each cause. To name a few – VP of the Michigan Brown Trout Festival, Treasurer for the 4-H council, and Secretary on the Board of Directors at Art in the Loft. She hosts classes at Art in the Loft for 4H kids, where they learn about cooking and art and she is an active volunteer for Camp Quality of Michigan (a summer camp for kids with cancer).