The Keweenaw provides the spark to inspire individuals, groups, businesses and non-profits to accomplish great things. Late last week, the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce shared the 2026 Sparkplug Award nominees. In total, 111 individuals, businesses, organizations and initiatives have earned the honor.
The nominations span eight categories. Growth features 11 nominations, including Gabby’s Guppies, GS Engineering and Keweenaw Boat Tours. In Innovation, Keweenaw CAPE and Great Lakes Sound and Vibration earned nominations alongside seven others.
Project of the Year includes the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club’s recently completed groomer barn, The Keweenaw Waters Resort that opened before camping season, the Houghton County Land Bank Authority and the Copper Country 100 Women Who Care group.
Community Contributor of the Year and Customer Service categories tied for the most nominations with 24 total. In Customer Service, businesses such as Soumi Restaurant, Incredible Bank, Breakwater FCU and Prickly Pine Cafe were nominated.
Hometown Hero of the Year includes several first responders and non-traditional heroes, with Scott Berends, the Duck Man of Michigan, and Deb Siira with the Angel Tree Mission earning nominations.
Youth Contributor of the Year includes seven young people nominated in the category. Young Professional of the Year includes representatives of local media outlets, tourism professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs and future community leaders of the Copper Country.
Those interested in viewing a full list of nominees for the 2026 Keweenaw Sparkplug Awards can find more details below.
2026 Keweenaw Sparkplug Award Nominees by Category
Growth
- All UP Snow Blowing, Houghton
- Copper Country Bagels Company, Lake Linden
- Gabby’s Guppies, Hancock
- GS Engineering, Inc., Houghton
- Keweenaw Boat Tours / Portage Dinner Cruise, Houghton
- Keweenaw Waterway Resort, Houghton
- Mount Bohemia, Lac La Belle
- Moyle Construction, Houghton
- REL, Inc., Calumet
- Small Craft, Hancock
- Unite Mental Health and Wellness, Houghton
Customer Service
- Alison Kirksey, Red Hen Foods and Goods
- Amber Mickalich, NV Hair
- April Stevens, North Winds Bookstore
- Christina Lehmann, Michigan Technological University
- Tammy Paskvan, Soumi Restaurant
- Bay Electric, Dollar Bay
- Beviamo Vino, Houghton
- Breakwater Federal Credit Union, Houghton
- Drive Thru Depot, Lake Linden
- Eva’s Hideaway, Calumet
- Five Elements, Houghton
- Goose Collective, Houghton
- Griffin Family Cafe and Catering, Hancock
- Incredible Bank of Houghton
- Jam Service, Lake Linden
- Keweenaw Castle, Allouez
- Miller’s Recreation, Laurium
- Paint River Collective, Hancock
- The Michigan House, Calumet
- The Observatory Lounge, Houghton
- The Prickly Pine Cafe, Houghton
- The Twins Pet Grooming, Calumet
- Upward Orthodontics, Houghton
- Victoria Kitchen, Houghton
Youth Contributor of the Year
- Aanika Schlief
- Alecia Aho
- Callie Knuuttila
- Emma Heider
- Jonah Howard
- Mason Meneguzzo
- Morgan Saatio
Hometown Hero of the Year
- Bill Lepisto, City of Hancock Fire Chief
- Brad Banfield, Dollar Bay Fire Chief
- Dan Dulong, Quincy-Franklin Fire Chief
- Deb Siira, Angel Tree Mission
- Lexi Tater, Keweenaw Against the Oligarchy
- Mark, Joe, and Austin Serotke, Bootjack Fire and Rescue
- Michael Lorence, Quincy-Franklin Fire Dept & Mercy EMS
- Patrick Boberg, Calumet Township Fire Chief
- Scott Berends, Duck Man of Michigan
- Troy Colombe, Western Upper Peninsula Health Department
- Pigs – N – Heat Organization
Community Contributor of the Year
- Anna Sanchez, Keweenaw CAPE
- Asako Nakamura, Portage Lake District Library
- Audrey Gerard, Michigan United
- Cynthia Cote, Copper Country Community Arts Center
- Elena Busova, Pewabic Street Community Garden
- Gina Kerr, Whispering Wild Market Farm
- Jason and Lynn Makela, Small Craft
- Jerald Wuorenmaa, Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region
- Mark Spreitzer, Gardenview Assisted Living
- Mary Babcock, City of Hancock
- Nikki Madisen, Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
- Puti Ceniza Akbar, Elaine Bacon Literacy Program
- Robert McGowen, City of Houghton
- Sara Lahti, Hancock Community Hub
- Scott Berends, Duck Man of Michigan
- Susan Neilsen, Keweenaw CAPE
- 31 Backpacks
- Bring Back Calumet Initiative
- Copper Country Recycling Initiative
- Quincy Mine
- Copper Country 100 Women Who Care
- Copper Shores Bridges
- Hancock Volunteer Fire Department
- Natalie’s Blind Saves Sanctuary and Rescue
Project of the Year
- Jesse Wiederhold, Keweenaw Snow – Venture
- Zach Garner, Open Skies Project
- Calumet Downtown Greenspace Project
- Keweenaw International Children’s Festival
- City of Hancock
- Copper Country 100 Women Who Care
- Gabby’s Guppies
- Houghton County Land Bank Authority
- Keweenaw Snowmobile Club
- Keweenaw Waters Resort
Innovation/Transformation
- Logan Benda, Delano Bat Company
- Mark Helttunen, Superior Welding and Marine
- Matthew Spencer, Yooper Game Studio
- Five Elements Integrative Therapy Academy, LLC
- Great Lakes Sound and Vibration
- Horner Flooring
- Keweenaw CAPE
- Peninsula Federal Credit Union
- Small Craft/Takka Saunas
Young Professional of the Year
- Alexis Jaques – UP Health Systems & Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce
- B Lauer – Keweenaw Land Trust
- Colin Jackson – TV 6
- Gabrielle Hodges – Gabby’s Guppies
- Haley Goodreau – Goose Collective
- Hanna Stone – Michigan Maps
- Ian Lewis – Village of Laurium
- Jesse Wiederhold – Visit Keweenaw
- Kayleigh White – Breakwater Federal Credit Union
- Kevin Schuldt – The Vault Hotel
- Micah Erickson – Lake Linden – Hubbell Schools
- Nathaniel Vogler – EdaptX Marketing
- Puti Ceniza – Elaine Bacon Literacy Program
- Thomas Fournier – Keweenaw Report and My UP News
- Tyler Harri – Northern Glow Technologies
Total Nominees: 111 across eight categories
