Family is Theme for DCEDC Business Honorees

Amy LaBott, Collin Jeanquart, Sophia Counard, John Asher, Jennifer Gentry and Peter Gentry were honored at the Door County Economic Development Corporation’s annual luncheon Wednesday. Photo by Myles Dannhausen Jr.

Commitment to community and family was the thread that connected the four businesses honored at the Door County Economic Development Corporation’s (DCEDC) annual luncheon Wednesday. All four award-winners were noted for their efforts beyond their business doors, and three of the winners have guided their businesses through multiple generations of ownership in the same family.

At Roen Salvage the company is now in its fourth generation of Roen-family stewardship, a point of pride for lifetime achievement award-winner John Asher. Asher was honored not only for his years of stewarding one of the city’s signature businesses through good times and bad, but also for his commitment to philanthropic efforts. Asher was a leader in the creation and expansion of the Door County Maritime Museum, whose board he has sat on for more than three decades. 

Amy LaBott followed  in the footsteps of her grandfather, father and uncle as the owner of Door County Ace Hardware, which recently grew into a new location in Sturgeon Bay and added a third store in Sister Bay this year (the second store is in Little Chute). She was awarded the Light Keeper award for woman, minority or veteran-owned business.

Just In Time Corporation was honored as the Lighthouse Established Business of the Year. Originating in the corner of Jeanquart’s garage, Just In Time Corporation operates 100,000 square feet of facilities in the city. Founder Rick Jeanquart has brought his three children – Collin, Chris and Melanie – into the fold to take the company into the future.  

In accepting the Range Light award for emerging business, Peter Gentry of One Barrel Brewing Co. thanked the community that has supported the taproom he opened five years ago. 

“This is a place where our sense of community is greater than our sense of competition,” Gentry said. 

In addition to those awards, the Door County Youth Apprentice scholarship was given to Southern Door High School senior Sophia Counard for her work with Destination Sturgeon Bay.