Business of the Year:
Farm & Home Mutual

There have been many changes in the insurance industry due to the increasing number and severity of storms and advances in technology. Farm & Home Mutual has protected the interests of its policyholders through improved underwriting; by embracing the latest technologies, including being among the first Mutuals to go paperless, making electronic scans and backups of all policies and records, and allowing virtual inspections and online payments for the convenience of the policyholders; by being the first Mutual in Iowa to use drones for home property inspections; and by quickly adapting to the ever-changing market conditions in order to not only maintain but increase the financial assets needed to provide insurance coverage to its policyholders when they suffer a loss. Farm & Home Mutual, while not the largest mutual in Iowa, has been consistently recognized and praised by Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance for its business practices, embrace of technology, and willingness to adapt to the changing insurance industry. Read On

Citizen of the Year:
Karisa Mellinger, Mama Llama’s Barn

Nominations for Karissa were submitted to the Chamber of Commerce in both categories of Business and Citizen of the Year, as her unique niche has been finding the perfect blend of both her personal and professional aspirations. As a mother of six young children, she exemplifies the epitome of dedication and balance, seamlessly blending her roles as a small business owner of Mama Llamas Barn in downtown Washington and also (and many may be surprised to hear) as a full-time accountant at the University of Iowa.

What sets Karissa apart is not just her remarkable ability to juggle multiple responsibilities and projects, but also her genuine passion for creating spaces that foster warmth and a sense of belonging. Mama Llama’s Barn stands as a testament to her vision of blending the needs of her family with her entrepreneurial spirit. Read On

Volunteer of the year:
Dawn Schindler, Self-Employed Bookkeeper

Dawn has served as the Main Street Washington bookkeeper since 2010 but is often involved in much more than just making sure they’re on top of the books. Last year in particular, Dawn stepped up as their fearless leader between executive director tenures and dedicated her free time as a volunteer to ensure that Main Street could continue in what turned out to be a few tumultuous months. Between serving on the hiring committee to find our next director to co-leading the Lights of Love Memorial Tree’s Campaign with Illa Earnest, Dawn worked tirelessly to advance the efforts of Main Street. Without Dawn’s endless efforts last year, Main Street would not be the same as it is today.

Harvey Holden Special Service Award:

Since 1998, the Washington Economic Development Group has awarded the Harvey Holden Outstanding Service Award. The award is named for Harvey Holden. Mr. Holden retired in 1998 from the City of Washington after several terms as Mayor, and several prior terms on the Washington City Council. He was a farmer and businessman. He served on the board of directors of several businesses and non-profit organizations. He was passionate about Washington, dedicated to service and doing his best for this community.

RenElla Crawford of HACAP was awarded the Harvey Holden award for working closely with private individuals, businesses, and the health care sectors to address the needs of our communities. She has played an important and unique role in mitigating the economic consequences of late. Crawford has worked tirelessly, especially in the past few years, to keep Washington County residents safe and housed in a rapidly changing housing shortage and inflationary environment. She went above and beyond in establishing housing and food for those in need while volunteering on countless boards and committees.

Harvey Holden Special Service Award:

Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP)