New Slant for DCEDC Awards: Bexell, Fuller and Ferry Line honored

The Door County Economic Development Corporation presented its annual awards Sept. 22. (From left) Alexis Fuller of the Door Community Child Development Center, Hoyt Purinton of the Washington Island Ferry Line, and Jennie Bexell of Spot and Space were honored during a luncheon at Stone Harbor Resort. Photo by Myles Dannhausen Jr.

The Door County Economic Development Corporation’s (DCEDC) reimagined and expanded award ceremony honored new faces and old during the DCEDC’s annual investors’ meeting and luncheon Sept. 22 at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay. 

The long-standing, annual awards were changed this year “to be more inclusive to honor all the businesses in our diverse business community we’re so lucky to have in Door County,” said DCEDC director Steve Jenkins. 

Local artist Laurel Grey crafted the awards, and John McHugh, director of corporate communications for Kwik Trip, gave the keynote address during the event.

Lightkeeper Award for a Woman- or Minority-owned Business of the Year 

Jennie Bexell
Owner of Spot and Space retail stores in Sister Bay and Egg Harbor

In this inaugural award, Bexell, who emigrated from Sweden in 2010 after working seasonally in Door County since 1995, was honored for her leadership, vision, growth and commitment to the community. Bexell takes pride in staying open and employing her staff year-round, making her store a go-to stop for locals to buy gifts, clothing and décor.

“Everything I do, and everything I want to do with this business is because of our community and our people,” she said in accepting the award. 

In 2013, Bexell opened Spot, a year-round retail store that features bright, colorful and funky clothing, shoes and accessories. She has since expanded the store to create Space, which offers fun gifts and home décor. In 2019, she opened a third store in Egg Harbor, becoming part of a wave of new energy in the community.

“We have all kinds of dreams and things we want to do,” Bexell said. “We are not done yet.”

Range Lights Award for New Business of the Year

Alexis Fuller
Door Community Child Development Center

In July 2020, the Door County YMCA closed the Barker Child Care Center in Sturgeon Bay, leaving nearly 80 families scrambling to find child care. 

Within a matter of weeks, Alexis Fuller had found a way to reimagine and reopen the center in partnership with Door County Medical Center and other supporters. In doing so, she aimed not only to provide great child care, but also to change the paradigm for her employees by improving wages to create a stable workforce. Most importantly, Fuller worked with community partners to raise funds to sustain a child care business within the community.

“I’ve always been a dreamer, and it has always been a dream of mine to make change in the world,” Fuller said. 

Lighthouse Award for Established Business of the Year
Washington Island Ferry Line

The Washington Island Ferry Line was selected for its continued investment in the community, and particularly for the recent addition of a new ferry, the Madonna. 

As a fourth-generation, family-run business founded in 1940, the ferry line chose to build the Madonna at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay to make a positive impact on the local workforce. 

This established business is a lifeline not only for Island residents, but also for every business on Washington Island that relies on the ferry line to transport potential customers daily during the busy tourism season.

Hoyt Purinton credited the employees of the ferry line for the company’s success, and especially their commitment during the pandemic.

“Every business and employee who made it through the mess of the last year deserves one of these awards,” he said.