NEW ULM — BoCo Real Estate and Oak Hills Living Center were named 2020 Small and Large Businesses of the Year by the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

Chamber members voted for the awards during a virtual annual chamber business meeting. Windings, Inc., and Bank Midwest were other Large Business of the Year nominations. Bailey Creek Boutique and the New Ulm Area Foundation were other Small Business of the Year nominations.

“We were very honored to have been nominated and recognize for the Business of the Year award. It’s very exciting for us. We’re very excited about what everyone has done,” said Oak Hills Administrator Candas Schouvieller.

She said the pandemic has been a challenge for Oak HIlls as it has been for everyone, but she said her staff rose to the occasion.

“It’s really been amazing how our staff came in daily and took care of others during this challenging time while dealing with their own health uncertainties,” Schouvieller said.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 isn’t over yet. We continue to have our battles keeping everyone safe and healthy. Right now, we see some light at the end of the tunnel,” she added. “We’ll have our second immunization next week. But it’s been really challenging. Right now, we’re still shut down. We can’t have visitors.”

“I’m super-honored and excited,” said Boco Real Estate owner Eric Bode. “There are so many great small businesses in town. I couldn’t have done it without the help of other small businesses in town that work together, helping us get there.”

Bode said the real estate business has been steady and strong. His business deals with homes, businesses and building redevelopment.

“There are a limited number of houses for sale now, but many buyers. Home values have risen,” said Bode. “There have been great things downtown. We’re getting a few more stores and buildings updated every year.”

He credited the team work of local businesses.

“New Ulm is very tight knit, which helped us quite a bit. I think we’ll do well because New Ulm is so loyal to its small businesses,” said Bode.

New Ulm Area Chamber Board Chairwoman Heather Hacker Hammer said seven new businesses opened in New Ulm last year despite the pandemic.

In addition, the New Ulm Area Chamber donated more than 10,000 masks to the community and held some of the larger outdoor shopping events in Southern Minnesota.

In a video shown during the meeting, Chamber President/CEO Michael Looft said if he can’t get inspired by local business owners, he doesn’t know how he would get up in the morning.

A video of Looft’s interviews with New Ulm business people Rodney Zimmer of Rodney’s Tavern, Amy Pearson of Thrivent Financial, Erin Lafferty of Best Western Plus and the Green Mill, and Tim Knaak of Mike’s Collision and how they dealt with the COVID-19 shutdowns were shown.

“The shutdown really put a damper on my daily routine. I’m in the very social business,” Zimmer said. “I found myself calling people I haven’t talked to for months and it worked well for me. I saw people giving and receiving local gift certificates, which was a very positive thing.”

Pearson said her staff met with clients virtually if they wanted to or in person by appointment.

“Now we do a lot of work with DocuSign and Zoom,” said Pearson. “It was great to see the community of New Ulm reach out and help each other, especially local non-profits.”

Lafferty said the second shutdown was especially though.

“We had to think out of the box, look at our clientele and be creative,” said Lafferty. “People work remotely more now, so they can travel and vacation.”

Knaak said his business adjusted to the shutdown with more vehicle sanitizing, including door handles and dashes.

“The car business is fine. I think it’ll continue to do well,” said Knaak.

Looft said the Chamber will work on solutions to “get us where we want to go and help New Ulm grow.”

“I’m excited to see everybody open doors to everyone very soon” said Looft. “We are better together. Thanks for working as a team. Stay focused. We can have our best year yet in 2021.”

Outgoing Chamber board members were Ann Wendinger, Sewing Seeds Quilt Co., Jeff Bertrang, ISD 88 Supt.; Eric Bode, Andrea Boettger, Turner Hall; and Heather Bainbridge Cox, Windings.

Income Chamber Board members are Missy Dreckman, New Ulm Medical Center; Paul Gunderson, Blethen Berens; Brittney Schmiesing, Chuck Spaeth Ford; Seth Visser, Windings; Danielle Fischer Marti, Gallery 512.

2020 Committee Chairperson recognized were Business Education Network, Rachel Becker, Nicole Blekestad, Oak Hills Living Center; Convention & Visitors Bureau, Tom Furth, Furth Meile Insurance; Network New Ulm Youth, Stacey Merkel, Citizens MN; Willkommen, Jessica Janni, Bank Midwest; and New Ulm Business and Retail Assn., Danielle Fischer Marti, Gallery 512.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nu

journal.com).