Written by: Colleen Frein, Greater Mason City Chamber of Commerce
It’s time to get the party started! The Chamber is bringing the spirit of New Orleans to the 110th Annual Meeting as we celebrate another year of accomplishments, recognize outstanding leaders and businesses, and, of course, have a little fun along the way. This year’s theme is a nod to the Greater Mason City Chamber of Commerce being named Chamber of the Year at the ACCE Annual Convention in New Orleans back in July of this year.
During the event, the Chamber will honor the recipients of the Business of the Year, Boss of the Year, Distinguished Citizen, Young Professional of the Year, and Ambassador of the Year awards. The Business of the Year and Boss of the Year categories each feature three outstanding finalists, with the winners to be announced during the Awards Ceremony at the Annual Meeting.
2026 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR FINALIST
For 57 years, 43 North Iowa has helped people find their way through home, employment, and community experiences while strengthening North Iowa as a whole. The organization works alongside healthcare providers, law enforcement, local government, businesses, and nonprofits to address complex community needs.
Over the past year, 43 North Iowa opened a new 15-bed Residential Care Facility and expanded behavioral health support through Crisis Stabilization services and the Community Crisis Response Team, which served more than 200 people in its first months and secured funding for 24/7 countywide coverage. Its employment programs also connect people with disabilities to meaningful careers, generating more than $2.4 million in annual wages.
Just as importantly, 43 North Iowa invests in its own team through professional development, recognition, flexibility, and a strong workplace culture. The organization has been recognized as a Top Workplace for 11 consecutive years and reports an 82% employee retention rate.
IOOF Home & Community Therapy Center
Founded in Mason City in 1903, IOOF Home & Community Therapy Center has spent more than a century serving as a cornerstone of care for North Iowa families. Affiliated with the IOOF Grand Lodge of Iowa, the nonprofit organization combines a longstanding tradition of service with modern healthcare, offering personalized long-term care, specialized memory care, skilled nursing, and physical, occupational, and speech therapy through its Community Therapy Center.
With approximately 125 employees, IOOF has maintained strong staffing and high occupancy despite significant workforce challenges across the long-term care industry. Its philosophy is simple: a wonderful place to work creates a wonderful place to live. That commitment has earned IOOF recognition as one of North Iowa’s Top 10 Employers to Work For and repeated Readers’ Choice honors.
The organization’s team-centered culture helps foster meaningful relationships between staff, residents, and families, creating a strong sense of community. Through staff development, employee appreciation, civic involvement, and advocacy for senior resources, IOOF continues evolving to meet the changing healthcare needs of the region.
Established in 1913, Pritchard Companies has grown from a family automotive business into an award-winning national automotive enterprise while remaining rooted in North Iowa. Today, the privately held company employs nearly 400 people across 14 locations and serves fleets across the country through extensive inventory, national networks, and strong relationships with automotive manufacturers.
Its diverse business units include Pritchard Family Auto Stores, Pritchard Commercial, Worldwide Equipment Sales, Streetrod Golf Cars, All4 Fleet, Legacy Golf Course, and GeJo’s Italian Restaurant. That diversification has created new career opportunities while strengthening the organization for the future.
Pritchard Companies places a strong emphasis on employee stability and professional growth, with many team members building decades-long careers within the organization. Its commitment also extends throughout the community through workforce development, schools, nonprofits, youth athletics, service organizations, and the preservation of local businesses and gathering places.
More than a century after its founding, Pritchard continues to pair national reach with hometown investment.