The 9th Annual R.A.V.E. Event (Recognizing Awarding Valuing Entrepreneurs), hosted by Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc. (RAEDI), will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the new RAEDI Economic Development Center located on the 6th floor of the Minnesota BioBusiness Center in Rochester at 221 First Avenue SW. This year’s event will recognize three area entrepreneurial honorees, one lifetime achievement honoree, and the R.A.V.E. Warrior of the Year.
The 2022 R.A.V.E. entrepreneur honorees consist of three area businesses including:
- Pasquale Presa, owner of Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria, Rochester
- Jenn and Alex Slifka, owners of Chateau De Chic, Chic by Chateau, and Stellar 181 Taphouse in Spring Valley
- Allisa Song, Elias Baker, Mackenzie Andrews, and Jennifer Steger, co-founders of Nanodropper, Rochester
The 2022 R.A.V.E. businesses were selected among new and existing small businesses within the Rochester area. In the last nine years, 31 entrepreneurs have received the R.A.V.E. award throughout the Rochester area.
In addition to the R.A.V.E. honorees, a lifetime achievement award will be presented to the Deutsch Family of Pace International in Rochester. Pace celebrated 50 years in business in February 2022 and employs 100 people.
Finally, the 2022 R.A.V.E. Warrior of the Year will go to Dr. Christine Beech, associate professor at Saint Mary’s University and former executive director of the Kabara Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies. The warrior award recognizes an individual or individuals who advocate, promote, and support area entrepreneurs, and increase awareness of the value entrepreneurs play in building our local economy.
“The reality of transforming a dream into a thriving and growing business is very demanding work. We are grateful to businesses like the ones we are honoring this year at R.A.V.E., who are working to grow and diversify our economy, said John Wade, President of RAEDI. “If you are an entrepreneur, an aspiring one, or want to learn about our entrepreneurial community, you don’t want to miss R.A.V.E. 2022.”
The event offers an opportunity for E2E (entrepreneur-to-entrepreneur) networking as well as interaction with area business and community leaders who strongly support the area’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
