(KNSI) – The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce has released the three honorees for this year’s Central Minnesota Business Awards Luncheon.
Rich and Jodi Erkens are the 2023 Small Business Owners of the Year. They started Audio Video Extremes from their home in 2005 and opened the first location in 2009. The Erkens became sole owners in 2012 and went on to triple the business’ annual revenue by last year. The company has 20 employees and is opening up a second location in Baxter soon.
Mary Hondl will be honored with the 2023 Women in Business Champion Award. Hondl first got started with Regional Diagnostic Radiology in 2001. She became manager after serving as an executive assistant in St. Cloud Hospital’s imaging department. Hondl moved billing in-house and immediately grew revenues by 30%. RDR went from serving eight radiologists at three hospitals to 18 today at 10 hospitals and several clinics. The company expanded from three employees to 54 under Hondl’s management.
Tina and Jay Mrozek are receiving the Emerging Entrepreneurs of the Year Award. They started Blacklight Adventures in 2019 and survived being shut down completely for five months at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. They say the idea behind Blacklight Adventures stems from working in the kids program at their church. Their goal was to create a place where the family could stay together while having fun and being active. Bazooka ball, escape rooms, laser tag, and virtual reality are all offered at the St. Cloud location.
The lunch will be on May 3rd at the Park Event Center in Waite Park. You can buy tickets and reserve your seat by clicking here.
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