Whatcom County Commerce: 12 Organizations Named Finalists for November Honors
Chamber of Commerce members will vote on winners for Large and Small Business of the Year, alongside Solo & Small Team and Nonprofit categories, at a dinner on November 19.
By Idris Robinson ·
Twelve organizations have been named finalists for the 2026 Annual Awards Dinner, marking the final step before the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce selects its winners for this year.
The selection process involved a public nomination period followed by a review by a committee of local business representatives and Chamber program staff. The finalists will be recognized at an event held at the Silver Reef Casino Resort in Bellingham.
Four categories remain open for voting by Chamber members. Ecotech Solar, Peoples Bank, and Village Books & Paper Dreams compete for the Large Business of the Year award. Garden Spot Nursery, Lummi Seafood Market, and Talbot Group are the finalists for Small Business of the Year. Diventa Solutions, Joey Winkler Videography, and Limitless Law are up for Solo & Small Team Business of the Year. The Community Boating Center, Deming Logging Show, and YWCA Bellingham are the finalists for Nonprofit of the Year.
The Chamber has already designated two other honorees outside of the member voting process. Hotel Bellwether will receive the Tourism Business of the Year award, and Francine St Laurent will be named Young Professional of the Year. The Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Harlan Kredit and Ron Polinder, recognized for their long-term roles as educators and community leaders.
Guy Occhiogrosso, President and CEO of the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, stated that honoring local commerce is a core function of the organization. He described the dinner as a chance to acknowledge the effort and community spirit of business leaders in the region.
The Chamber has held these annual dinners since 2005, during which time it has recognized more than 200 local entities. The group has operated in the Northwest Washington region for over 110 years, focusing on economic development and public policy influence.
The Annual Awards Dinner is scheduled for November 19 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Silver Reef Casino Resort. Tickets for the event are currently available through the Chamber’s website.
Source: Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce
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