(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce has announced its winners for this year’s Black Ties and Blue Jeans Awards Gala. Two people have been tabbed for the Emerging Leader Award, given to a high school or post-secondary student who has made a significant impact in Beaver dam through their leadership or work initiatives.
Christopher Born
Christopher Born has always been driven and hardworking from an early age. From the moment he joined Breuer Metal Craftsmen through the Beaver Dam High School Youth Apprenticeship Program, he demonstrated a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and an eagerness to grow in the manufacturing industry.
His enthusiasm for learning has allowed him to excel in multiple departments, quickly mastering key skills and independently handling complex projects after just four weeks in the assembly department at BMC.
After graduating from Beaver Dam High School, Christopher earned a completion certificate from the State of Wisconsin for the Youth Apprenticeship program offered through the Tech Ed department. Now in his first year of welding school at Moraine Park Technical College, he continues to work at BMC, where he actively learns from Master Craftsmen across different departments and remains eager to expand his skills.
Beyond his work at BMC, Christopher has contributed to his community by building benches for the Beaver Dam Athletic Field dugouts and the Frisbee Golf Course at Crystal Lake Park. He takes great pride in these projects and the opportunity to showcase his craftsmanship.
With a dedication to craftsmanship, a commitment to teamwork, and growing leadership potential, Christopher looks forward to continuing his development and making a lasting impact in both his industry and the Beaver Dam community.
Anna Sophia Schultz
Anna Sophia Schultz, from Beaver Dam, is a dedicated advocate for her community and beyond, using her leadership and compassion to drive meaningful change. As president of the UNICEF Club at Wayland Academy, she has led initiatives to support children’s education, health, and wellbeing, including organizing a car wash fundraiser that raised $1,000 to help girls in South Sudan attend school.
Her commitment to local service is equally inspiring. In her senior year, she created a comprehensive resource directory for families in need in Beaver Dam and the surrounding communities and organized multiple food and clothing drives benefiting local organizations like PAVE, Food is Free Pantry, and the Dodge County Food Pantry.
Academically, AnnaSophia ranks among the top 10 students in the Class of 2025 and serves as an English tutor, supporting her peers’ success. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom—she previously competed internationally as part of a synchronized skating team – Fond Du Lac Blades and now plays on the varsity team for soccer and powerlifting.
A true emerging leader, AnnaSophia embodies selflessness, initiative, and a commitment to making a difference. Her work today lays the foundation for a brighter future for many. Next year Anna plans to attend George Washington University in Washington DC and study Political Science. She hopes of furthering her education by studying abroad and eventually going to law school.
5 Under 40 Award Honorees:
Melanie Budde
As the owner of Budde Real Estate, Melanie Budde has rapidly built a flourishing brokerage in under five years, earning a reputation for her unparalleled dedication, in-depth market knowledge, and client-centered approach. With over 120 successful property transactions totaling more than $25 million in sales, she has cemented her position as one of Dodge County’s top realtors.
But Melanie’s influence extends far beyond the realm of real estate. In 2023, she opened a new downtown office, expanding her business footprint and furthering her commitment to the growth and prosperity of Beaver Dam. Her leadership in the community is equally impressive, having served as the Board Chair of the Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce in 2024, where she played a pivotal role in shaping local economic development. Melanie is also an active member of the Chamber’s Finance, Executive, and Personnel Committees, as well as the Dodge County Long-Term Planning Commission.
Her dedication to the community is truly inspiring. As a participant in Leadership Beaver Dam, Melanie has helped raise over $18,000 for the Dodge County Food Pantry. She also volunteers in schools, mentoring students by providing interview coaching and introducing them to diverse career opportunities. Melanie and her husband, Jim, have two children Billy & Lucy. As a dedicated parent, Melanie serves on her children’s school advisory committee, orchestrated one of their largest fundraisers, coached basketball alongside her husband and is involved in various volunteer efforts. Whether coaching youth basketball, spearheading charitable events, volunteering or supporting local causes, Melanie’s unwavering focus is on strengthening the community she serves and lives in.
Allyssa Gilmore
Allyssa Gilmore serves as the Marketing Manager at American Bank of Beaver Dam, where she is passionate about community engagement, employee well-being, and brand development. She oversees the Marketing Committee and Employee Wellness Program and is responsible for planning and executing the bank’s annual Staff Development Day.
Her daily responsibilities include coordinating denim days to raise funds for nonprofits, organizing volunteer participation in major community events, and ensuring brand consistency across all American Bank locations and personnel. She also plays a key role in
the bank’s growth and visibility by representing American Bank at community events and leading strategies to enhance brand awareness and customer engagement.
Allyssa takes great pride in her involvement with initiatives like the Dodge County Toy Bank and the Teacher of the Month program, which reflect her deep commitment to giving back to local communities. Her work focuses on strengthening the connection between the bank and the people it serves.
One of her favorite aspects of the role is working alongside an incredible team. The employees at American Bank are not only talented and dedicated but also extremely supportive. She extends special appreciation to John Oathout, Pat Frankenstein, and Rebecca Robbins for their encouragement and for pushing her to grow both personally and professionally.
A graduate of the Leadership Beaver Dam Class of 2022 (the best class ever ), Allyssa is also an active member of BOLT (Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow) with the Wisconsin Bankers Association. Both programs have helped her invest in leadership and professional development while continuing to grow with the American Bank team.
Outside of work, Allyssa enjoys spending time with her family, fiancé Tyler, and their dog, Demi. She loves traveling, exploring the outdoors, and discovering the best local dining spots. Most recently, much of her free time has been spent planning for her upcoming wedding in May!
Ali Roth
Ali Roth is a Senior Estimator at WDS Construction, Inc., specializing in budgeting and estimating for large commercial and multi-family projects. A 2017 graduate of UW-Platteville with a BS in Civil Engineering, Ali’s expertise and dedication have made her an invaluable asset to the company. She plays a key role in complex projects, including Dick’s Sporting Goods’ House of Sport stores, where her accuracy and efficiency help ensure project success. Ali’s leadership, problem-solving skills, and passion for both her industry not only helps WDS’s growth and innovation but also helps shape the next generation of professionals within the company.
Beyond her professional achievements, Ali is committed and has a strong passion for mentoring and community service. She is a mentor to UW-Platteville engineering students, Dodgeland Strive students, and has a Big Sister within the Big Brother Big Sister Dodge County organization. Ali is an active member in Beaver Dam Rotary club and volunteers throughout the community at events such as the Pepper Festival and Salvation Army bell
ringing. Ali is also a Leadership Beaver Dam graduate where she was a cofounder of BDConnect – a local young professional group.
In Ali’s spare time, she enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and his 3 children along with her family and friends. She is frequently caught either playing cards, UTVing, shopping, or traveling the world.
Mitch Scherbring
As a Manufacturing Engineering Manager – Stamping and Tooling at John Deere, Mitch Scherbring is a visionary leader who has transformed operations through innovation, efficiency, and collaboration. His leadership in a high-impact automation project delivered a multimillion-dollar cost avoidance, improved safety to its highest level of the year, and reduced 24 labor hours per day. By integrating robotics and advanced controls, Mitch and his team increased capacity by 25%, enhancing quality, efficiency, and financial return on investment—all while ensuring zero disruption to customers.
With a Master of Science degree and expertise across multiple areas of manufacturing, Mitch has proven himself as both a technical expert and strategic leader. His ability to align cross-functional teams and drive high-risk projects to success makes him a standout in his field.
Beyond his professional achievements, Mitch has a wife, Laura, and 3 children ages 4, 6 and 8. He enjoys spending time biking and hiking with family and friends. Mitch is also deeply involved in the community. He serves as a member of the Elder Leadership Team, a Youth Group Leader, and a Sunday School Teacher at Harvest Evangelical Free Church. He is also a participant in the Leadership Beaver Dam Class of 2025 where his class project is helping raise awareness for volunteering in the community , demonstrating his commitment to personal growth, leadership, and community impact.
Kyle Schroeder
As the owner of Kyle Schroeder Agency LLC – American Family Insurance, Kyle Schroeder has built a top-rated insurance agency, protecting nearly one-quarter of Beaver Dam’s residents. Since founding his business in 2021, his agency has driven nearly $900,000 in combined profit for American Family, with impressive 14.9% premium growth, 17.3%
revenue growth, and 33.1% new business production year-to-date. His 4.9/5-star rating on Google and Facebook reflects his exceptional service and dedication to helping clients recover from life’s unexpected events.
Kyle’s professional excellence has earned him the All-American Award four years in a row, recognizing him as one of the top agents in the country, along with the Premier Leader Award in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Beyond business, he is a former board member for Community Care Inc., advocating for early childhood care and helped secure expanded facilities at Wilson Elementary.
Kyle also gives back through charitable donations to organizations like American Family Children’s Hospital, UW Foundation, Beaver Dam Rotary, and the Beaver Dam Community Foundation. His annual customer appreciation events foster strong community relationships, reinforcing his belief that success is measured not just in business, but in the positive impact he makes on others.
Innovation Awards:
Large Business Innovation Award Winner: Burgess Norton part of Amsted Automotive
Burgess-Norton’s Beaver Dam facility, part of Amsted Automotive Group, excels in manufacturing precision-engineered metal components for the automotive industry. Focused on quality and safety, the company introduced a digital safety reporting system to address communication gaps and unreported safety concerns. This system enhances transparency, increases accountability, and enables real-time hazard identification and response while increasing employee engagement in safety protocols.
In the last 6 months, the facility has achieved remarkable safety milestones—two years without an OSHA recordable incident and 1,000,000 hours without lost time; an achievement that took nearly 5 years. This initiative has transformed the company’s safety culture, ensuring that potential risks are swiftly identified and mitigated. Amsted Automotive’s commitment to employee well-being and manufacturing excellence is evident as the Beaver Dam facility leverages technology for continuous improvement, setting new industry standards for workplace safety and operational efficiency.
Small Business Innovation Award Winner: Let’s Go Play
Let’s Go Play, owned by Natalie and Mikayla has revolutionized indoor play opportunities for children in Beaver Dam by addressing a critical gap in accessible, safe, and developmentally enriching play spaces. Before its launch, families in the area had few options for engaging indoor activities, particularly those designed to support children of all abilities, including those with disabilities.
Since opening, Let’s Go Play has welcomed an average of 650 children per month, offering a stimulating environment that fosters creativity, social interaction, and physical
development. A major milestone was earning certification as a Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) provider, ensuring that children with disabilities have access to inclusive play experiences tailored to their needs.
What makes Let’s Go Play truly innovative and game-changing is its commitment to inclusivity and continuous improvement. Unlike traditional play centers, Let’s Go Play is designed to engage children through interactive, themed playrooms, hands-on experiences, and developmentally appropriate activities. The space has recently undergone a play structure upgrade, reinforcing its dedication to providing a high-quality, evolving experience for young visitors.
Beyond play, Let’s Go Play serves as a vibrant community hub, hosting unique events like the Royalty Tea Party featuring Miss Wisconsin, who called the space “life-changing” for children. Looking ahead, the business plans to expand into an adjacent space to further enhance accessibility and programming, ensuring that even more children can benefit from this transformative play environment.
By reshaping how communities approach play and accessibility, Let’s Go Play is more than a business—it’s a movement. This innovation ensures that every child, regardless of ability, has a place to belong, explore, and thrive—making Beaver Dam a better place for families.
Small Business Innovation Award Honorable Mention: Pine Hill Insurance
Pine Hill Insurance Services-Innovation Small Business Honorable Mention
Pine Hill Insurance redefines insurance marketing by embedding community engagement into its core strategy. Rather than relying solely on advertising, the agency builds authentic relationships through active participation in local initiatives.
As a drop site for used glasses (Lions Club) and prom dresses (Emily’s Closet), a sponsor of youth sports and race car drivers, and a supporter of first responders and disaster relief efforts, Pine Hill goes beyond selling policies—it’s a community partner. The agency also plays a key role in the Beaver Dam Community Action Plan, Tourism Committee, and Dodge County Business Network, shaping local economic initiatives.
Its “no-pressure insurance” approach prioritizes education over sales, fostering trust and long-term relationships. This grassroots strategy has driven organic growth, increased
referrals, and earned Pine Hill the Top Personal Lines of Insurance award from Erie Insurance for Wisconsin.
By proving that community involvement fuels business success, Pine Hill is revolutionizing how independent agencies grow—building success not just on policies, but on making a difference.
NonProfit Innovation Award WINNER: GPS Education Partners
GPS Education Partners (GPS Ed) is transforming the education landscape through its Education Center & Youth Apprenticeship program by providing hands-on, work-immersive learning for high school students who struggle to engage with traditional school models. What makes GPS Ed’s innovation game-changing is its reframing of the traditional school model for its students. Through regional education centers offering immersive, on-site learning within a local manufacturing facility, this alternative learning pathway bridges the gap between education and industry. Students now see the direct connection between education and the workforce through a technically focused curriculum and a personal development curriculum that fosters engagement and confidence.
Students at GPS Ed also gain real-world experience in technical career fields blending their classroom learning with on-the-job training as youth apprentices, allowing students to apply what they learn directly to their work environments. With intentional programming focused on career readiness and employability skill coaching, students graduate prepared to enter the workforce immediately and contribute to their local economies, creating a sustainable workforce pipeline that benefits both students and industry partners.
Each GPS Ed Education Center is made up of a network of business, school, and community partners who see the value in investing in this opportunity as a way to enhance local educational and workforce development options.
To this end, GPS Ed isn’t just educating students—it’s empowering them with a future.
NonProfit Innovation Award Honorable Mention: Beaver Dam Area Community Theater
For 61 years, Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre (BDACT) has been a cornerstone of performing arts, providing inclusive, enriching, and inspirational opportunities for all. Unlike most community theaters, BDACT owns and operates the Fine Arts Center, a facility that helped establish Beaver Dam’s Arts District and continues to foster education, connection, and quality entertainment.
What makes BDACT truly innovative is its unparalleled commitment to volunteer recognition. In an era where volunteerism is declining, BDACT has redefined engagement through initiatives that celebrate those who make its productions possible. The newly formed Recognition Committee created a volunteer database, tracking contributions dating back to 1964. The History Hall showcases memorabilia from every production, and the Wall of Honor recognizes individuals with 20+ years of dedicated service.
At the inaugural Wall of Honor celebration, a longtime volunteer made a final journey from his assisted living facility to receive his last standing ovation, surrounded by family and castmates. His story embodies BDACT’s mission: theatre for everyone, built by the hands and hearts of volunteers. With only one full-time staff member, this thriving organization continues to prove that a passion for the arts and community spirit can fuel something extraordinary.
Citizen Who Left A Legacy Honoree:
Uncle Bill McCollum
At this year’s Black Ties & Blue Jeans Awards Gala, we are proud to honor “Uncle Bill” Bill McCollum by adding his name to our Citizen Who Left a Legacy plaque. For over six decades, Bill’s voice was a familiar presence across Dodge County through WBEV/Good Karma Broadcasting. Whether hosting The Morning Show or The Barn Show, he connected with listeners in their homes, barns, and cars, delivering news with accuracy and a touch of entertainment. His dedication to radio and the community made a lasting impact, and his legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come.
