The Perry Chamber of Commerce reflected on the past year and honored members and organizations during the Annual Dinner on Tuesday.

The event was held at La Poste in Perry with a meal catered by the Hotel Pattee. Executive Director Lynsi Pasutti took a look back at some of the highlights from 2025 while Vince Sturm talked about the history of the Perry Chamber Foundation.

Board members Shawn Kenney and Eileen Splendore helped present five awards to individuals, nonprofits and businesses. Dan Mollenbeck was awarded the Ambassador of the Year while the Jack Finneseth Volunteer of the Year award was given to Casey Finn.

New this year, three categories – nonprofit, Small Business and Large Business – were recognized for the Spirit of Perry Business of the Year Award. The Nudgers were recognized in the nonprofit category while Betsy Peterson Designs and Raccoon Valley Bank received the small and large business of the year awards, respectively.

Read more about the award winners below. To see photos, click here, and to hear more about the Annual Dinner, check out a recent Let’s Talk Dallas County program.

• Chamber Ambassador of the Year – Dan Moellenbeck was honored for “his involvement with the Perry Chamber of Commerce, quickly getting involved on the Board as a fairly new-to-Perry business owner, volunteering at numerous Chamber-hosted community events and being actively engaged on committees.
• Jack Finneseth Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award – Casey Finn was recognized for making “a big impact on youth athletics in Perry. Because of his involvement, local kids have more opportunities to participate in sports at a low cost. He coaches softball, baseball, and basketball, and he also helps run the programs behind the scenes. This includes fundraising and serving on volunteer boards to keep things organized and sustainable. Casey represents the kind of volunteer who puts in the time, does the work, and doesn’t look for recognition.”
• Spirit of Perry Business of the Year – NonProfit Category – The Nudgers were honored for being true to their “mission of ‘restoring downtown buildings one at a time’ and having recently celebrated the success of another project, the Morgan Building, taking a fire-ravaged building that sat empty for years and partnering to rebuild it into three new apartments and readying the commercial space to soon be transformed. This all-volunteer group dedicates countless hours of removing debris, deconstructing, and rebuilding, all to help with the beautification of downtown.”
• Spirit of Perry Business of the Year – Small Business Category – Betsy Peterson Designs was recognized because “her gallery offers one of a kind, handcrafted artwork that reflects creativity, meaning, and heart, while creating a space where everyone who walks through the door feels welcomed, valued, and connected. Betsy pours her personal experiences and passion into every piece, and her soft spoken, genuine nature makes people fall in love not only with her work but also with the sense of community she helps build in Perry.”
• Spirit of Perry Business of the Year – Large Business Category – Raccoon Valley Bank was honored for “an outstanding commitment to the Perry community, exemplifying what it means to be a community partner. Through constant support of local businesses, investing in economic growth, and active community involvement initiatives, the bank consistently demonstrates a genuine dedication to helping Perry thrive. Raccoon Valley Bank consistently contributes to Chamber and community events, encourages staff volunteerism, and gives back to community projects, including the Perry Business Support Grant this past year.”