BRAINERD — Puffy vests, side ponytails and neon colors were all the rage during the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce’s 13th-annual Celebration of Excellence.

The theme of this year’s event was “Back to the Future,” and it was a celebration of past, present and future businesses and business leaders in the Brainerd lakes area.

Businesses and community members alike gathered at Cragun’s Resort Thursday, Nov. 20, as Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce President Matt Kilian welcomed all to the ceremony before awards were presented for traditional Business Excellence, which goes to an outstanding local business; the Business Legacy, which celebrates individual lifetime achievements as well as community and economic contributions; and the Lakes Proud Small Business of the Year, which recogniz

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