Agency announces businesses of the year

Ozaukee Economic Development recently announced its 2021 Business of the Year Awards recipients.

Kyote’s Bar & Grill in Belgium is the winner for this year’s small business category, while Missing Links Golf Course and Driving Range in Mequon received the mid-size business of the year honor. Guy and O’Neill Inc. of Fredonia was named the Large business of the Year.

The criteria for the awards was growth, community support and, this year, how businesses navigated the coronavirus pandemic. 

Kyote’s Bar & Grill opened in November of 2018 by first-time business owner Kyle Simpson.

Belgium Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tara Williams, who nominated the business, said the eatery has been “the poster child business for economic growth, innovative thinking and generous giving (in the community).”

She said Kyote’s has been active in events such as the Belgium Chamber’s Brew and Chew and it held an online benefit concert to support the Ozaukee Snowrunners LTD Snowmobile Club.

Missing Links has been in business for 26 years and is owned by Kim and Peter Epperson. In his nomination letter, Mel’s Charities Executive Director Tom Stanton said the Eppersons have supported his organization throughout the years, stating “their never-ending entrepreneurial drive has turned Missing Links into a destination stop in Ozaukee County.”

Bank Five Nine also nominated Missing Links, noting the Eppersons have doubled the amount of their employees within the past year.

Guy & O’Neill was nominated by DOIG Corp. President Jim Winistorfer, who said the company has experienced exponential growth by increasing its full-time employment and production capacity three-fold. 

The Fredonia-based private label manufacturing company produces cleaning wipes and solutions along with other household, beauty, personal and adult care products. President and CEO Jeff Brooks said he began expanding his company’s footprint in April by adding a 125,000-square-foot warehouse to meet rising demand due to Covid-19.

“We are always focused on growth and certainly the pandemic has had a strong impact on the household-cleaning market, especially on wipes,” Brooks said. “Customer demand has continued to escalate, and we need more warehouse space to accommodate the growth of our business.”

Guy & O’Neill also supports the community by sponsoring area sports teams, community events and local families in need during the holidays. 

The nominees will receive their awards during OED’s Economic Forecast Breakfast from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Ozaukee Pavilion at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds in Cedarburg.