01/17/2026
Here's the story behind the new cover photo on the page.
What an honor to receive this recognition. Thank you to everyone that has supported me throughout this journey and a special Thank you to my family and close friends who always have my back and entertain my ideas.
Thank you so much! 🥰
This year our board voted to establish a new annual award, the Community Impact Award. This award is meant to recognize and celebrate volunteerism that takes place beyond business, represents a positive and meaningful impact in the Kasson community as a whole. Winning this award does not preclude the CIA recipient from receiving another Chamber recognition in the future, such as Business Person of the Year or Legacy Award.
Community Impact Award – Stevie Gransee
Our first ever Community Impact Award recipient is Stevie Gransee, who is not able to join us tonight. While Stevie owns and manages multiple successful businesses worthy of recognition, tonight we’re focusing on her broader community impact and volunteerism.
Stevie has been instrumental in organizing both the 5K Turkey Trot (starting in 2021) and the St. Paddy’s Day 5K which have each attracted hundreds of racers and fundraised tens of thousands of dollars for worthy causes. The 5K Turkey Trot donates its proceeds to our local SEMCAC food shelf. The St. Paddy’s Day 5K donates its proceeds to the Kasson Ambassador scholarship fund. Stevie takes much of this organization on personally, including marketing, finding sponsors, designing and ordering t-shirts, creating routes, registrations, organizing before and after activities, hosting people in her own business space, and cleaning up afterwards.
She’s also the inventor of the Kasson Oktoberfest, spearheading the creation of the event in 2022. She was also instrumental in creation of the St. Paddy’s Day event also in 2022, which originally started outside the Kasson Chamber and sought to involve any local business interested in participating. Today these events have each been held 4 times, attracting hundreds of attendees, dozens of events, and are fun annual events families look forward to.
Stevie is also known for her (at times) zany humor, including dressing up as Wonder Woman and waving to school buses on the first day of school to delight students and ease their nerves. I believe this is representative of what makes Stevie so effective in creating an impact: she does not get in her own way. She will organize, take action, and make things happen if she believes she can help her community and neighbors, without worrying if it sounds silly or unusual.
Stevie Gransee’s volunteerism, creativity, and leadership has impact the Kasson community for the better. Please join me in a toast celebrating the Kasson Chamber of Commerce’s first ever Community Impact Award recipient, Stevie Gransee. You Knead Therapy! The Main Alternative!
