The new award was presented to Terry Allers.

“He consistently shows up with positivity and a deep commitment to fostering growth and collaboration throughout our region,” said Astra Ferris, the chief executive officer of the Growth Alliance.

Dawn Larson received the alliance’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Ferris said Larson serves as an Alliance Ambassador, community concierge navigator, annual golf outing volunteer and member of the Small Business Task Force, which is a joint venture of the alliance, the Fort Dodge city government, the Small Business Development Center and Iowa Central Community College. She also helps to recruit new members of the alliance, according to Ferris.

The Growth Alliance wasn’t the only organization that presented awards during the Thursday night banquet.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance CEO Astra Ferris, left, presents Dawn Larson, of Fort Dodge, the Volunteer of the Year award during the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance annual dinner on Thursday at Fort Frenzy.

Randy Kuhlman, chief executive officer of the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way, recognized these four businesses for their support of the organization: Valero Renewables, Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota, Decker Truck Line Inc., and The Messenger.