Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce President Sarah Warmka, left, presents Terry Sveine with the 2024 Tourism Person of the Year during a surprise presentation at the chamber office Friday. Sveine will be honored at an April 17 luncheon.

NEW ULM — New Ulm tourism and history advocate and author Terry Sveine got a surprise when he walked into the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce Office Friday.

Chamber President Sarah Warmka presented him with the 2024 Chamber of Commerce Tourism Person of the Year award.

“We had some really good candidates for this. I think we all agree Terry deserves this. You’ve been very active your whole career,” said Warmka.

“Even though you’ve been retired for 10 years, you’re still very involved, doing step-on guides and volunteering,” Warmka added.

Seldom at a loss for words, Sveine talked about his love of tourism.

“I’m proud of this. This is something I’ve spent my life doing, working in the tourism business. To be acknowledged by my former peers is kind of remarkable,” Sveine said. “I still stop people on the street and ask them if they need help. I’m going to India next week. I think I’ve done seven tours already this year.”

“I had a premonition about this. The bad thing is, I’d like to be at the ceremony (Feb. 8 New Ulm Area Chamber Annual Meeting), but I’ll be on vacation, “ he added.

He will be recognized at the annual chamber meeting and at an April 17 tourism luncheon.

Sveine, a Chamber tourism manager for 15 years, was nominated by Dave and Linda Weldy for the award for demonstrating leadership and innovation with the tourism industry in New Ulm.

“Terry not only worked in tourism while employed at The Chamber, he now volunteers with civic organizations including and New Ulm Chamber and Brown County Historical Society, and is an informed walking tour guide for New Ulm visitors. His knowledge and passion for the community educates citizens in history,” read Sveine’s nomination.

He is also the Luxembourg Heritage Society of Southern Minnesota President.

Sveine was named New Ulm Mayor in June 2021, completing the unexpired term of the late Robert Beussman that concluded Dec. 31, 2022.

After 13 years of learning, writing and revising, Sveine’s first long-form a book “The Life and Times of Francis Baasen: From Luxembourg Immigrant to a Most Prominent Man” was recently published.

Baasen is notable for being the first lawyer in New Ulm, a county and city attorney, city councilor, county commissioner, was the first Minnesota Secretary of State, helped form the New Ulm Battery and a Catholic parish.

Prior to moving back home to New Ulm in 1995, Sveine worked in the tourism industry in the Twin Cities, Rochester and Virginia, Minnesota.