Each year, the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce holds an Annual Awards & Membership Meeting to highlight the year's achievements and recognize the outstanding contributions of our membership. Along with celebrating these achievements, we hold a silent auction with generous gift donations from our members. If you are interested in becoming a donor, email jacqueline@fairbankschamber.org. We announce the recipients of our annual awards: Bill Stoeker Business of the Year, Bernice M. Joseph Education Advocate of the Year, and George Nehrbas Volunteer of the Year. If you have a business or individual that you want to nominate, click the buttons below.

Nomination Period Over. Join Us at Annual Awards & Membership Meeting to See Winners!

2022 Bill Stoecker Business of the Year Award

Lat 65 Brewing Co.

Lat 65 made a significant financial investment to revitalize and re-purpose a long-time vacant building. They host one of the largest first Friday events all year long, often having up to 15 artists on display for a month. They also allow other businesses and groups to have pop-up events, such as Making Strides, Hops for Hope, Arctic Refuge, the USO of Eielson and Ft. Wainwright, Staley Cup Memorial, Golden Retriever Rescue of Fairbanks, and a Pajama Drive for the Fairbanks Rescue Mission. The owners of Lat 65 believe in supporting local and in the summer, you can find many food truck business owners setting up shop on their outdoor patio.  They have additionally teamed up with UAF, where a portion of the proceeds of their product goes back to the university to support student athlete scholarships.

2022 Bernice M. Joseph Education Advocate of the Year Award

Brianna Gray

Brianna Gray supports underserved students and families while leading with empathy and intention to provide staff with opportunities to grow professionally and personally. She is often supporting teachers as a guest speaker and with hands-on learning. It was best said in the nomination that “Brianna Gray leads in a way that is not only honest, authentic, and through an indigenous lens; but has a way of bringing the community together through their ability to remain genuine”. The late Bernice Joseph, for whom this award is named, was instrumental in guiding her to where she is now.

2022 George Nehrbas Volunteer of the Year Award

MAC Federal Credit Union's MAC PAC

MAC PAC encourages employees to volunteer by being flexible with work schedules and searching for volunteer opportunities in the community to match the employee with local needs.

In 2021 there were 618 volunteer hours logged by employees, in 2022, there were over 1,000 hours. Not only is time given, but so is money. Employees in MAC PAC chose to donate $15 from every paycheck and select where to use or donate the funds. Some of the locations they have volunteered with are, The Door, Little Pantries, Denali Center, Relay for Life, Go Red, Clean-up Day, Spin for a Cause, the Food Bank, and the 9/11 Stair Climb.

MAC PAC is the only employee-funded volunteer group in the state.