GRAND FORKS – The third annual Grand Awards event is set for 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the Opal Event Center in The Olive Ann Hotel, 14 N. Fourth St.
Seven outstanding entrepreneurs will be honored, including Deanna “Dee” Decimus Holmes, who recently has been named North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year. Holmes, of rural Grand Forks, owns and operates All Embracing Home Care, a home health care service, and other businesses.
The event features appetizers and a cash bar. Each ticket is good for a free drink. The 45-minute social will be followed by a welcome from Phil Gisi and the presentation of awards.
The Grand Award winners from last year will present this year’s winners, the 2024 awardees. The names of six award winners are not made public until the April 8 event.
Although Holmes cannot attend in person, she is providing a video for the event; her husband, Stephen Holmes, will accept the award on her behalf, said Steven Moser, a mentor with SCORE Grand Forks. Moser, a member of SCORE since 2015, initiated the Grand Awards program. He and other SCORE mentors advise people who want to start a business, find solutions to current business challenges, or explore an idea or invention to determine its sustainability.
Blue Weber, community outreach liaison with Bolton and Menk, Inc., an engineering, design and planning solutions firm in Grand Forks, will serve as master of ceremonies.
Live music will be provided by the Greater Grand Forks String Quartet.
According to information provided by SCORE Grand Forks, the award categories and criteria are:
- Deep Roots — This entrepreneur has made Grand Forks or East Grand Forks their home and has established themselves as an iconic figure in the community. Their legacy and roots run deep here, and they do what they can to help others grow.
- True Grit — This individual tirelessly works towards achieving their aspirations of becoming a prosperous entrepreneur. They have consistently shown resilience in overcoming various challenges along their journey.
- Social Impact — This entrepreneur cares about others and strives to create a sense of community, and inspires others through their process.
- Sky’s the Limit — The exciting potential for this entrepreneurial venture goes above and beyond. This company seems to be going where they want to and setting their own limits.
- Trailblazer — This award recognizes a woman who deserves recognition and visibility within a chosen industry, as well as access to valuable resources and support to help in continuing to grow and succeed. This award serves as a powerful testament to the hard work, leadership and determination of these trailblazing women that inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
- Forkin’ Grand — This is a people’s choice award that recognizes a company that is doing something right. The public is invited to nominate someone in Grand Forks or East Grand Forks who is exceptionally deserving of recognition.
For Tuesday’s event, SCORE Grand Forks is highlighting the Phil Gisi family for making it possible to hold the event at The Opal Event Center, Moser said.
Other event sponsors are the 701 Fund; Gate City Bank; 50 South Capital; Harry’s Steakhouse; Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Region; Bifrost Manufacturing; Frandsen Bank and Trust; and Dakota Business Lending.
In determining award winners, organizers first invite members of the public to submit nominations, Moser said. The Grand Award committee members do not submit nominations.
This year, 104 people submitted nominations, he said. The committee members “review all of the nominees and determine our top three candidates for each award.”
A first-place nominee receives three points, a second-place nominee receives two points, and a third-place nominee receives one point, he said.
The Grand Awards Organizing Committee members are Evolve GF, SCORE Grand Forks, the Center for Innovation, North Dakota Women’s Business Center, North Dakota Small Business Development Center, Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals and Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation.