Business of the Year, Distinguished Service Award to be Honored at Chamber’s 2024 Annual Meeting

(Grand Island, NE) – The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting at Riverside Golf Club will take place on March 13, with dinner and program beginning at 6:15 p.m. 

The award honorees are as follows:
Business of the Year – Eakes Office Solutions
Eakes Office Solutions, founded in 1945, has become one of the largest independent office products dealers in the United States. Eakes continues the tradition of hard work, great customer care, and extraordinary employees just as Howard Eakes did 80 years ago when he started the company. Eakes is employee-owned, and it has made employee ownership a critical component of its management and financial succession planning. Recently, Eakes was awarded the Nebraska Governor’s Wellness Award, which is an important recognition for their commitment to creating the best employee experience possible. Support for the community is also of the utmost importance to Eakes and is carried out through their involvement in the Heartland United Way Pace Setter Campaign for over 20 years.

Distinguished Service – DJ Eihusen
DJ Eihusen is the Chief Executive Officer of Chief Industries, Inc. DJ became a member of Chief’s Board of Directors in 1998 and began his current position as Chairman of the Board/President/Chief Executive Officer in 2010. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Omaha branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. DJ’s innovative ideas and efforts towards developing Grand Island are visible through his vision and successful development of Prairie Commons. His commitment and support for the Grand Island community are evident through his involvement in numerous organizations and projects. DJ has served on the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry Board of Directors. He served on the board of the Heartland United Way and was the Campaign Chair along with his wife. DJ has also worked towards expanding Chief Industries throughout the state of Nebraska.

Volleyball Olympian and former Husker, Jordan Larson, will present the keynote for the event.