MARQUETTE — Operation Action U.P. is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Excellence Awards.

These awards recognize up to four outstanding for-profit businesses that have made significant contributions to the economic well-being of the Upper Peninsula.

The deadline to nominate a business is Nov. 1. Nominations can be submitted online at operationactionup.com.

Winners of the Excellence Awards will have the opportunity to showcase their achievements at the upcoming Operation Action U.P. annual meeting. The event is set for Thursday, Feb. 13, at Northern Michigan University’s Northern Center Ballroom in Marquette. The annual meeting will be 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time and is open to all individuals and businesses interested in attending.

The event will feature a welcome message and organizational update from Operation Action U.P. co-chairs Joe Esbrook and David Paananen, followed by presentations from the 2024 Award of Excellence winners.

The keynote speaker for this year’s event is Sue Hawkes, CEO of YESS! and a recognized leader in the business community. Hawkes is a best-selling author, certified business coach, expert EOS implementer, and a frequent contributor to Forbes and Entrepreneur.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend her interactive workshop, “Get a Grip on Your Business,” which focuses on practical tools to help leadership teams prioritize, solve issues and build cohesive teams.

Registration for the OAUP annual meeting is now open and can be done online at operationactionup.com/annual-meeting, by emailing operationactionup@gmail.com, or by contacting the Lake Superior Community Partnership at 906-226-6591.

Operation Action U.P. is a privately funded economic development organization that embraces all types of industries and has served the 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula for more than five decades. Operation Action U.P. brings together interested industrial corporations, financial institutions, utilities, institutions of higher learning, businesses and concerned citizens in a coalition that works to create a favorable economic climate and a strong employment base for the Upper Peninsula.