In the heart of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo metro, a bustling community with a vibrant spirit, The Chamber hosted an afternoon of reflection gratitude and celebration on November 3, 2023. A time to gather and honor the dedication of countless volunteers, to look back on The Chamber’s successes over the past year and to gaze into the future with hope and enthusiasm – The Chamber’s Annual Celebration brought gratitude and insight to our members, volunteers and community.

At the Annual Celebration, The Chamber prioritizes showing gratitude for the countless volunteers and community members who support the work we do and make it all possible. This was displayed through an introduction from our Premier Sponsor, Midco; an honoring of The Chamber’s past Chair of the Board of Directors, Peter Stenehjem; and a spotlight on both the outgoing and incoming Chairs for The Chamber’s committees and Board of Directors.

An exciting highlight of this event came in the form of celebrating our Ambassador of the Year, JT Froning, a Fargo native whose love for his roots and community is greatly evident to all who know him. JT has devoted several years as a Chamber Ambassador, and to him, Chamber events are heartwarming community gatherings, celebrations of each milestone achieved with fellow Chamber members.

JT's advice to everyone is simple yet profound: "Dive into life, be passionate, cherish strong relationships, keep learning and, most of all, live your legacy."

The room was filled with anticipation as the spotlight shifted to Tom Dawson, who has been named the 2023 Legacy Leader. The Dawson family has been an integral part of FMWF for over a century, but it’s Tom's unwavering commitment to the community that has truly set him apart. He, his family and their business have generously contributed to numerous causes, both publicly recognized and quietly given in times of need. Tom has lent his time and talents to numerous boards and causes, a list too long to read in its entirety. Notably, Tom had been a volunteer at the YMCA of Cass-Clay Counties for all 50 years since his return to Fargo in 1973.

Even through all his community and business activities, Tom has always made time for his family. On stage, he spoke with pride about his wife, Georgia, and their sons and families and mentioned that he looks forward to spending more quality time with his grandchildren now that he is retired.

A friend and mentor of Toms’, Bill Schlossman, couldn't be present in person, but he sent a heartfelt video message to be played at the event. He praised Tom's visionary leadership, integrity and the inspiration he provides to those around him, both in business and in life. He had no doubt that many in the room, given the chance, would name Tom Dawson as a great leader in their community. Tom was indeed a perfect choice for the Legacy Leadership Award.

The Celebration also raises an opportunity to highlight the Chamber's accomplishments over the past year, thanks to collaboration with volunteers and our business community.

Some important highlights include:

Engagement The Chamber stressed the importance of engagement, with discussions on a newly structured member benefits system, new resources for business leaders and their employees, and showcasing the organization’s impact and return on investment for Chamber members.

Public Policy The Chamber is committed to public policy and civic engagement, as evidenced by efforts in candidate cultivation, East Meets West tours, the Center for Civic Engagement, the annual DC Fly-In and hosted visits to the Minnesota and North Dakota Capitol buildings.

Development The Chamber hosts initiatives like Young Professionals Network, Professionals of Color, Leadership FMWF and the newly launched SpeakEasy program for executive-level female leaders, offering professional development and support for all members at a variety of levels.

Workforce The Chamber emphasized the significance of engaging businesses and individuals in workforce initiatives, such as the Good Jobs Challenge grant, the Ignite Initiative, the new Community Concierge program, Workforce Summits and more, while also highlighting the transformative power of partnerships.

In the past year, The Chamber and the FMWF community have accomplished significant goals. From student engagement to directing talent for employers, to partnerships and collaborations with numerous organizations, to successful events and programs, we have been able to reach new heights together. The Chamber is poised to continue supporting the community and local businesses, but we can’t do it without all of you. We sincerely thank our members, volunteers, partners, sponsors and Community Builders for contributing to the success of The Chamber and our growing region.