Glittery Gala Honors Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Gold Pan Award Winners
The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce held its Gold Pan Awards ceremony on November 18, 2022.
Matt Waliszek | Photo Emporium Alaska
The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s 65th Annual Gold Pan Awards was its largest yet. More than 400 attendees from member businesses sipped champagne at the event, branded as the “Met Gala: Art of Our Community.” The ceremony saw five organizations and two individuals recognized by the Chamber.
Commitment to Anchorage
“The Anchorage Chamber Gold Pan Awards is one of the organization’s longest-running civic programs,” says President and CEO Bruce Bustamante. Gold Pan Awards have been given out since 1957 to those who have shown business and entrepreneurial excellence, as well as a loyal commitment to Anchorage through community service.
The categories are Distinguished Community Service, both large and small businesses; Business and Entrepreneurial Excellence; Nonprofit: Above & Beyond; and individual honors for a chamber volunteer and the President’s Award.
The finalists for Distinguished Community Service (Large) included Cook Inlet Region, Inc. and Nine Star Enterprises, but the award went to Nuvision Credit Union.
Among smaller organizations, the Alaska 529 college savings plan and American Legion Jack Henry Post 1 were finalists, yet the Distinguished Community Service (Small) award went to the Zip Kombucha brewery.
Northrim Bank and Alaska Waste were finalists in the Business Excellence category, won by Chugach Alaska Corporation.
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Among newer ventures, PacBak and Quantum Laundry Lounge were finalists for Entrepreneurial Excellence, an award that went home with Aspire Realty Group.
Standing Together Against Rape, or STAR, won the Nonprofit: Above & Beyond award, edging out the Atwood Foundation and the Anchorage Senior Activity Center.
The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce honored its Volunteer of the Year, Laura Dean, and the winner of the President’s Award was Tim Thompson, manager of external affairs for Alaska Airlines.
Glamour Ball
Dan Newman of Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals conducted the fundraiser at the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce “Met Gala” at the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center.
Matt Waliszek | Photo Emporium Alaska
In line with this year’s Met Gala theme, guests viewed local art displayed by Brian Martin, Carlos Pereira Art, Denielle Baldwin, Marissa Amor, Mike McArdle, Lake Hood Life, and Young Kim. Works included many mediums, from acrylic and archival pigment prints and oil paintings to metal prints and photography.
Chamber members and community leaders participated in a silent auction hosted by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals. Proceeds pay for future Anchorage Chamber events and programs.
Nominations for the 2023 Gold Pan Awards ceremony are now open. “We look forward to seeing you next year as we recognize Anchorage’s finest supporters that help build this great community,” says Bustamante.
