Speaking through tears, RaeAnne Conant used words from her heart and those she had scribbled on the back of an oil-change receipt as she accepted the micro-entrepreneur Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Award in Duluth Wednesday.
The 21st annual prestigious award event not only recognized the owner of Swanky Sweet Pea, but also awarded Dennis Wagner of Wagner Construction with the mature entrepreneur award.
“It was a good day for I. Falls businesses,” Paul Nevanen, Koochiching Economic Development Authority director, told The Journal Thursday.
A “Labo” prize is considered to be one of Minnesota’s most prestigious business honors. The awards have a bevy of corporate sponsors and are hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Center Economic Development (CED) with partners that include the Small Business Development Center for Northeast Minnesota and a host of corporate sponsors. Since 1993, the Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards have recognized small business owners who have dared to dream, taken risks and invested in the region. This year’s award recipients, honored as part of Small Business Week, were selected from 30 nominees from throughout the area.
In comparison to competing regions such as the Twin Ports, Iron Range, North Shore and Carlton County, having two International Falls businesses receive awards is “quite the honor,” Nevanen said.
Larry Keep, owner of Keep Enterprises Inc., was also nominated.
“For two of the three local nominations to win was great,” Nevanen said. “It is important to recognize the job creators in our community.”
Swanky Sweet Pea
Conat said she didn’t expect to win the award Wednesday.
“When I read the amazing bios of all the other people in my category, I honestly didn’t think I had a chance,” she told The Journal.
The International Falls native founded and owns the nationally recognized Swanky Sweet Pea, 344 Third St., a bathing soap and beauty shop.
In just a few years, Swanky Sweet Pea has gained recognition for being a homegrown, family business that makes, sells and ships naturally based bath products that look almost identical to cupcakes, popsicles and other treats on a national and international stage.
Jenny Herman, director of the Small Business Development Center, said she nominated Conat for the Labo award and was “thrilled” to see her win.
“It is just really exciting to see RaeAnne come to her hometown and realize there are business opportunities here,” Herman said.
Conat said she was so thankful of Herman’s nomination and “owes her cupcakes for life.”
She said she missed the opportunity to talk about Swanky Sweet Pea’s exciting future while accepting the award because she was caught off guard by the announcement.
“We’re doing some renovations this month to hopefully attract some more summer business,” she said. “We will be fully staffed this summer and are starting to do out-of-town workshops do actually do parties in people’s homes. And, we just got a huge account from Vegas. It has been a really exciting three days.”
Wagner Construction
During his acceptance speech, Wagner said he was humbled to receive the nomination.
“I’m proud beyond words to receive this Labovitz award,” he said.
Wagner Construction started about 40 years ago as a small, family-owned northern Minnesota logging company and has expanded to a full-service construction business in four states and Canada. Wagner Construction Inc. offers a full complement of services, from dike and road construction to utility system maintenance and building demolition.
Wagner joked that receiving the mature award “was a nice way of saying old.”
He thanked his employees for their hard work and dedication throughout the years.
Shawn Mason, International Falls director of economic and community development, said both businesses are deserving of these awards. “I am thrilled that International Falls was represented,” she said.
