In reality, there was no meeting. It was all a ruse to get him into the Chamber for current board members and his family to surprise him with the inaugural Chamber Volunteer of the Year award.

The Volunteer of the Year award is presented to those who consistently go above and beyond, demonstrating exceptional dedication, reliability, leadership, and enthusiasm in support of the Chamber’s mission.

Members of the Chamber board and Lilleodden’s family were all waiting to surprise him with the plaque.

Chamber board member Brie Taralson presented the award to Lilleodden.

Andy Lilleodden celebrates receiving the New Ulm Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year Award with his family. Lilleodden was surprised with the award Monday at the Chamber office. Lilleodden will receive official recognition at the Chamber Annual Meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Turner Hall. In photo left to right: McKenzie Lilleodden, Nancy Lilleodden, Tucker Lilleodden, Any Lilleodden, Kaytlin Lilleodden and Brittney Lilleodden.

“You are so involved,” Taralson said to Lilleoden. “Everything you do in support of the Chamber and the community as a whole is appreciated.”

Lilleodden received two nominations for the award and the board ultimately selected him as the first person to receive the Volunteer of the Year award.

Lilleodden has been volunteering with the Chamber for over a decade. He said after buying the Taco John’s in 2011, he became a member of the Chamber right away and got on the board quickly. Lilleodden has served on Chamber Committees for 13 of his 15 years as a Chamber member.

He is also a regular volunteer for the Chamber’s Oktoberfest celebration. Lilleodden takes part in the planning, physical setup and teardown of Oktoberfest. He was cited as the first to start and the last to leave.

Lilleodden was humbled about his volunteering, saying he tries to help wherever he can. He said it was important to help with Oktoberfest because it is the Chamber’s largest generator of funds outside of membership dues. He said the more money they bring in during Oktoberfest, the lower memberships are for everyone.

Andy Lilleodden holds the inaugural Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award. Lilleodden was nominated for the award by multiple individuals for over a decade of service to the Chamber. In photo left to right: Chamber board member John Gag, Volunteer of the Year recipient Andy Lilleodden, Chamber President Sarah Warmka and Chamber board member Brie Taralson.

In Dec. 2025, Lilleodden completed seven years of service on the Chamber Board. His time on the board included the COVID years. His leadership during that time helped the Chamber recover and emerge stronger than before. Since that time, the Chamber has experienced record-breaking membership growth and is currently at its highest membership level ever, with 392 members.

Though Lilleodden is no longer on the board, he is continuing to volunteer on the Chamber’s remodel committee. The Chamber is working to renovate its second floor to create rental apartments. He is helping as a volunteer advisor and effectively acting as a general contractor for the renovation.

“We appreciate everything you do,” Tarlson said. “You have big shoes to fill on the Chamber board.”

“I try to help out where I can,” Lilleodden said. “All businesses should succeed in New Ulm; that makes everyone better, whether big business or small.”

Lilleodden will receive official recognition at the Chamber Annual Meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Turner Hall.