Annual Business Celebration
Presented by:
Curiosity meets action in an evening that energizes, educates and connects businesses at the 2025 Annual Business Celebration, combining the best of Chamber Breakfast with elements of our historical annual meeting. It takes place on September 18 at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center from 3:30-6 p.m.
This year’s Annual Business Celebration, presented by Marsh McLennan Agency and Rubicare explores the intersection of innovation and impact, where ideas take shape and action drives success.
We’ll unveil bold new strategies in how we’re moving Billings forward and showcase how curiosity fuels progress and impact. Be inspired by bright ideas, get connected through collaboration, and discover real tools to move your business forward.
New this year: the Curiosity Corner—a dynamic space to engage with Billings Chamber programs, pick up resources, connect one-on-one with our team, and foster business relationships through networking. Snag your brand new swag from Visit Billings.
Celebrate with leaders, visionaries, and changemakers shaping the future of Billings business. Where curiosity meets action, momentum begins.
AGENDA
3:00 pm | Doors Open
3:30 pm | Program Begins
- Welcome Message & Strategic Priorities: Jess Peterson, Board Chair
- Legacy Award Presentation
- Keynote Speaker: James Robilotta, The Story Matters
- Business Excellence Award Presentations
- Unveil Visit Billings Brand
5 – 6 pm | Reception
Event Pricing: Table of 8 – $400, Individual Ticket Chamber Member $50, Individual Ticket Non-Member $60
Secure your tickets or reserve a table for 8 by September 12, 2025.
Keynote Speaker: James Robilotta – The Story Matters
James Robilotta, CSP, is a leadership author, motivational speaker, emcee, and trained improv comedian. After years of building, training, and leading teams, James followed an entrepreneurial dream and built two successful businesses. The first is an organization that incorporates freestyle rap into improv comedy (a success story for
another day). And the second is his speaking and coaching business (a success story for today).
James has been speaking internationally to willing and unwilling audiences since 2009 and has found that quality humor is the secret to hosting powerful conversations that make a genuine impact. His attendees leave feeling recharged, introspective, and ready
to get out of their own way.
With years of research (and a few too many real-life case studies within his work), James has learned everything he can about fighting apathy and building strong company cultures. He uses this insight to help leaders manage and retain talent and give feedback that sticks, and to help organizations create community buy-in using curiosity.
James’ cornerstone concept is that we as humans can’t learn from people who are perfect, we can only learn from people who are imperfect.
James is working to bring humanity and community back into the workplace. He is on a mission to ensure that people are seen, heard, respected… and giggling a little, too.
2025 Legacy Award recipient: Bill & Marcia Honaker
Bill and Marcia Honaker of Honaker Real Estate Group will be honored during the 2025 Billings Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Celebration on September 18, 2025 from 3:30 – to 6 p.m. at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.
2025 Business Excellence Recipients
The 2025 recipients are:
Employer of the Year – Blake Wahrlich, Best Western Clocktower Inn
Outstanding Business Person – Jen & Jason Marble, The Marble Table and Marble Coffee Co
Small Business of the Year – Transitional Marketing (TransMar)
Groundbreakers – Parker Phipps, Yellowstone Ice Foundation and Signal Peak Energy
NextGEN Exceptional Emerging Leader – Allyson Songstad, Billings Federal Credit Union
These recipients will be honored during the 2025 Billings Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Celebration on September 18, 2025 from 3:30 – to 6 p.m. at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.
