ELY- Pirates, scavenger hunts, rubber duckies, and “Iron Jen” McDonough combined for a memorable evening here as the Ely Chamber of Commerce held its annual Celebrate Ely dinner and awards event last Thursday, April 3. Five outstanding individuals and two organizations went home with special recognition for their efforts to benefit and promote the community.
The theme for the night was pirates, and many of those in attendance dressed the part. Even the subject of the night’s speaker, “Calming the Chaos – Navigating Stormy Seas and Steering Your Ship to Resilience” seemed in keeping with the theme. “Iron Jen” McDonough, a nationally known motivational speaker who now lives in Tower, recounted her own story, highlighting the valuable lessons she’s learned on surviving hardship and concentrating on the meaningful things in life. McDonough and her family pulled themselves out from under more than $200,000 in medical debt in four years, a recovery story featured in national and international news stories. Jen later wrote a book about the experience, which put her on the Amazon bestsellers list and opened the door to speaking engagements nationwide. She and her family now operate the Tower Café and bed and breakfast.
McDonough’s talk was punctuated by her experiences as a national champion weightlifter and top ironman competitor. Her stories, both uplifting and humorous, told of working hard to make it across the finish line. Among the most memorable was her story of the day her family learned that one of her sons had a chronic illness, a day that her son told her later was one of the best days of his life.
“I couldn’t believe that,” McDonough said. “How could it be his best day when it was one of my worst? And then he said to me, ‘It’s the best, Mom, because it was the day the whole family was together.’”
Jackpine Bob Cary Spirit Award
The Jackpine Bob Cary Spirit Award was established in 2009 in honor of Bob Cary to celebrate an individual or group for their unselfish giving and promotion of Ely, which has a positive impact on the Ely area and tourism.
This year’s award went to both an organization and the individual who has helped it grow. “The organization is dynamic and growing and its programs draw visitors from locations across Minnesota, the Midwest, and beyond,” recounted presenter Tanner Spicer from the chamber’s board of directors. “Of course, these programs have a hardworking and creative soul behind them. We are excited to announce the 2025 recipients of the Jackpine Bob Cary Spirit Award are the Northern Lakes Arts Association under the leadership of Ian Lah.”
The Celebrate Ely event was scheduled against a performance of the NLAA production of the musical “Matilda,” where Lah was busy running the lights for the show.
The Timberjay spoke with Lah after the event, who said he was unaware that he and the NLAA were up for the award. “I wish I had known because I would have found someone to run the lights for me that evening,” said Lah, who said it’s nice to be recognized, even if that’s not a motivating factor for him. “I do what I do because I love my job. I never once thought about anyone ever giving me or my organization an award for this labor of love.”
Good Citizen Volunteer of the Year Award
Spicer also gave out the Good Citizen Volunteer of the Year Award. “We are fortunate to live in a place with many civic-minded people,” Spicer began, “who are those who give of themselves without expecting anything in return. One of the most difficult things is selecting just one person, so this year, we picked three.
“These three ladies were nominated for their unwavering commitment to service and making the world a better place. These three women continuously give their time, energy, and love to their community without ever seeking recognition, and their impact is felt in many areas of life in Ely. They have devoted their time supporting the Ely Food Shelf, Ruby’s Pantry, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Carefree Living — and the list goes on. Each woman is a dynamo, but put them together, and they are a powerhouse for good. Congratulations to the Anderson Sisters – Cindy Nickolson, Sandy Nickolson, and Sue Anderson, who are our Good Citizen Volunteers of the Year recipients.”
The Good Neighbor Business Award
David Sebesta, the chair of the chamber’s board of directors, presented the Good Neighbor Business Award. “This year’s Good Neighbor Business Award is a local success story. As a community, we are fortunate to have these entrepreneurs in our midst. They give back far more than they receive. They are passionate about sponsoring and donating to Ely events and organizations, including the Ely Marathon and Ely Community Resource. According to the individual who nominated them for the award, she has never heard them turn down an opportunity to support their community … Congratulations to Brian and Andrea Strom from Brainstorm Bakery.”
Excellence in Customer Service Award
Sebesta also gave out the Excellence in Customer Service Award, just in time for National Library Week.
“Business owners know the importance of customer service,” Sebesta began. “Well-trained staff create positive encounters and relationships with customers and clients. Those efforts create customer loyalty, too. We had several great nominees for the Excellence in Customer Service Award. This year’s recipient goes above and beyond every day. She is cheerful, kind, and considerate to each and every person that she encounters. She treats every customer like they are one of a kind and strives to meet their needs to the best of her abilities. She provides each customer with a positive experience from the moment they walk through the door and greets many customers by name.
“Our recipient puts 110 percent into everything she does. Whether helping children find books, reading stories at storytime, or even running a fun program for all ages, she displays an excellent example of what an A+ employee should be. Congratulations to Jessica Dunn from the Ely Public Library.”