(Estherville)—The annual banquet and awards ceremony of the Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce, Excel Estherville and Estherville Area Growth Partnership was held Tuesday night at the Estherville Elks Lodge. The evening was highlighted by the presentation of the 2026 Chamber awards including two lifetime achievement awards. One of the awards was presented to Steve Danielson whose business, Steve’s Sales and Service, celebrated 50 years in business earlier this year. Danielson is the longtime director of the NW Iowa Concert Band and has volunteered for many activities in the community.
The second lifetime achievement award was presented posthumously to Jason Bendixen who passed away in August. Bendixen worked at Jacobsen-Westergard and Associates for 17 years, before opening Sun City Tanning Salon. Bendixen was a member of the Estherville Sweet Corn Days Committee, Estherville Ambassadors, and was a past board member for the Estherville Chamber of Commerce. His widow Sara Bendixen accepted the award.
The business of the year is Duitsman Plumbing and Heating which is also celebrating 50 years in business. The company was started by Keith and Bernadette Duitsman and is now run by their son Dan and his wife Cari.
The entrepreneur of the year award was presented to Lizz Decker and Martha Greenwald, the owners of the Collective in downtown Estherville. Greenwald says she and Decker each started their own businesses before coming together to open the Collective.
The Collective is a creative business, event space and photography studio. Decker says it was exciting to win the award.
The evening also included a review of the past year by Chamber Director Lexie Ruter and the introduction of the 2026-27 Lead the Ville Class.
