The Business Excellence Awards honor organizations and businesses that have shown excellence in their field every day.
Muskegon’s ever-expanding growth and successful business climate allow us to give awards in six categories: Manufacturing, Tourism/Hospitality, Retail, Service, *Entrepreneur and ^Employer of Choice. The recipients demonstrate excellence in a number of the following areas:
- Provide quality products or service
- Demonstrate profitable growth and innovation in products or process investments in facilities and/or their people
- Committed to an environmentally friendly operation
- Creates a positive impact in the Muskegon Lakeshore community
- Exemplifies a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
*Entrepreneur – a person who started a business with a unique idea and overcame adversity to achieve success.
^Employer of Choice – business or organization with strong leadership, engaged workers, meaningful work and an attractive company culture
Congratulations to the 2026 Recipients
Congratulations to the 2026 recipients and finalists! New this year, Entrepreneur of the Year featured three finalists, recognizing bold vision and resilience in business. The Recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year award was announced live during the ceremony with recognition given to the other two finalists.
2026 Recipients
- Entrepreneur of the Year – Family Fence Factory
- Retail – Muskegon Inspired
- Manufacturing – Quality Tool & Stamping
- Service – Muskegon County Airport
- Tourism – Getty Drive-In Theatre
- Employer of Choice – Harbor Hospice & Palliative Care
2026 Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists
- Bloop Bead Co.
- Langlois Home Furnishings
View interviews of 2026 recipients and finalists
Previous Business Excellence Award Recipients
2025
- Retail – Pine Street Mercantile
- Manufacturing – Lorin Industries
- Service – Corine’s Cakes and Catering
- Tourism – Dreamstay
- Entrepreneur – i’move
- Employer of Choice – Muskegon Area Intermediate School District
View interviews of 2025 recipients
2024
- Retail – Art Cats Gallery
- Manufacturing – Motion Dynamics Corporation
- Service – Redi Rental Muskegon
- Tourism – Michigan’s Adventure, Muskegon Irish Music Festival
- Entrepreneur – Paul Billings
- Employer of Choice – Goodwill Industries of West Michigan
View interviews of 2024 recipients
2023
- Retail – Urban Apparel
- Manufacturing – Smart Vision Lights
- Service – H&S Companies
- Tourism – Burning Foot Beer Festival
- Entrepreneur – Aldea Coffee
View interviews of the 2023 recipients
2022
- Retail – Blended Furniture Market
- Manufacturing – Rolar Products
- Service – Forrest Tax & Accounting Services
- Tourism – The Deck
- Entrepreneur – Fomcore
View interviews of the 2022 recipients
2019
- Retail – Sanborn’s Inc.
- Manufacturing – Geerpres, Inc.
- Non-Profit – Read Muskegon
- Service – The Station Grill
- Tourism – USS Silversides Submarine Museum
- Community Engagement – CWC Textron
- Entrepreneur – Ice Box Brand Ice Cream Bars.