Washington County Businesses and Citizens Honored at Annual Partnership Dinner

The Greater Washington Business Partnership celebrated local achievements at its annual awards event.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Greater Washington Business Partnership held its annual dinner and awards celebration on Monday evening, honoring local businesses and citizens for their contributions to the community. The Washington Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and other awards were presented, and the keynote speaker, Debi Durham of the Iowa Finance Authority and Economic Development Authority, praised the progress and growth happening in Washington County.

Why it matters

The annual Greater Washington Business Partnership dinner is an important event that recognizes the hard work and successes of local businesses, organizations, and community leaders. It showcases the economic vitality and collaborative spirit of the Washington County region, which is experiencing growth and development.

The details

At the event, the Washington Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award went to Ace n More, with other nominees including Aurora Healing Gardens and Event Center, Cafe Dodici, Libations on Iowa, Northside Diner, Stairway to the Stars, and WCDC. The Citizen of the Year is Steve Roth, with other nominees including Ron Canny, Nicholas Gingerich, Marde McConnell, Elaine Moore, Cary Ann Siegfried, Larry Weidner, and Melissa Westphal. The Harvey Holden award was presented to Linda Quigley. Main Street Washington's Volunteer of the Year Award went to Don Kline and Marianne Hanshaw, and their Heart of Main Street Award was given to Stairway to the Stars.

  • The Greater Washington Business Partnership Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration was held on Monday evening.

The players

Ace n More

The Washington Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.

Steve Roth

The Citizen of the Year.

Linda Quigley

The recipient of the Harvey Holden award.

Don Kline and Marianne Hanshaw

The recipients of the Main Street Washington's Volunteer of the Year Award.

Stairway to the Stars

The recipient of the Main Street Washington's Heart of Main Street Award.

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What they’re saying

“As Director, I go to communities like this two to three days per week. And the reason I do that, is because one, it tells me what it is that I am here to sell as your Director of Economic Development. But more importantly it's inspirational, when you see the Vista Park that we toured the last time I was here in Kalona. Or you see the YMCA that you worked on with Destination Iowa, and you see all of the new housing starts happening all around. You're doing an incredible job, things are really starting to happen, and we are happy to be your partner.”

— Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Finance Authority and Economic Development Authority (kciiradio.com)

The takeaway

The Greater Washington Business Partnership's annual dinner celebrates the vibrant business community and engaged citizens of Washington County, showcasing the region's economic growth and collaborative spirit.