Missouri Chamber announces 2026 awards honoring top business leaders, legislators
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. –
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced its 2026 Annual Awards Gala honorees, recognizing a distinguished group of Missouri business leaders, employers and lawmakers for their leadership and innovation.
2026 Awardees:
- Warren Erdman (Kansas City)
- Orscheln Industries (Moberly)
- Callaway Chamber of Commerce (Fulton)
- State Technical College of Missouri (Linn)
- Rep. Brenda Shields (St. Joseph)
- Sen. Brad Hudson (Cape Fair)
- Rep. Peggy McGaugh (Carrollton)
The Missouri Chamber will celebrate these honorees at its Annual Awards Gala on Nov. 19 in Kansas City. Tickets and additional information are available at mochamber.com.
Missourian in the Arena: Warren Erdman
The Missouri Chamber’s highest recognition, the Missourian in the Arena Award, will be presented to Warren Erdman, chairman of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
Erdman is a retired railroad executive with the former Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). He has served on the Missouri Chamber Board of Directors and numerous civic boards, including the University of Missouri Board of Curators, UMKC Trustees and Missouri Hawthorn Foundation.
Before joining KCS, Erdman served as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Christopher S. Bond and held roles in the administrations of Missouri Govs. John Ashcroft and Bond.
“Warren Erdman has spent his career serving Missouri, and that commitment has made a lasting difference in our state,” said Kara Corches, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber. “From business and transportation to education and civic life, Warren has consistently stepped up to serve. We’re proud to recognize his decades of leadership and service with the Missouri Chamber’s highest honor.”
Champion of Enterprise: Orscheln Industries
The 2026 Champion of Enterprise Award will honor Orscheln Industries, a fourth-generation Missouri family business built on innovation, problem-solving and constant evolution.
The Orscheln story began in 1917, when brothers Ed and Bill moved to Sturgeon to start a farm. Bad weather and poor cattle prices forced them to find new sources of income, so the brothers opened a dance hall and bought an old pickup to haul people to and from the venue. They also hauled goods along the dance route, and when the dance hall closed in the 1930s, their trucking business continued making deliveries.
That entrepreneurial spirit led to innovation. In 1938, Al Orscheln created and installed the first “overcenter” parking brake in an Orscheln truck. The brothers patented the design and soon began selling the brake system to others.
Today, Orscheln Industries is a diversified enterprise with businesses spanning manufacturing, real estate and more. With more than 500 employees worldwide, the company is committed to making a difference in the communities it serves.
“Orscheln is a true Missouri-made success story,” Corches said. “For more than 100 years, the Orscheln family has been finding problems and developing solutions to meet customers’ needs. That culture of innovation and evolution is what makes Orscheln so special, and we’re proud to celebrate that legacy.”
Chamber of the Year: Callaway Chamber of Commerce
The 2026 Chamber of the Year Award will recognize the Callaway Chamber of Commerce for its exceptional work advocating for local business, supporting entrepreneurship and developing community leaders.
As an active member of the Missouri Chamber Federation, the Callaway Chamber often travels to Jefferson City to testify alongside the Missouri Chamber on issues affecting businesses, bringing an important local perspective to discussions at the Capitol.
The Callaway Chamber’s award-winning Teacher’s Appreciation Breakfast celebrates educators in Callaway County, the Local Lemon youth entrepreneurship program gives kids hands-on experience building and operating a business, and its Show-Me Innovation Pitch Competition helps adult and teen entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses.
In addition, the Leadership Callaway program builds future leaders focused on making a difference in their community. Each leadership class completes a class project designed to enhance the quality of life in Callaway County.
“Everything the Callaway Chamber does comes back to one goal: building a community where people and businesses can thrive,” Corches said. “They’re doing that in so many different ways, from supporting young entrepreneurs to making sure local employers have a voice at the Capitol.”
Engagement Excellence: State Technical College of Missouri
The Missouri Chamber has introduced a new Engagement Excellence Award to recognize a member organization that demonstrates exceptional engagement and involvement with the Missouri Chamber throughout the year.
The inaugural recipient, State Technical College of Missouri, engages with the Missouri Chamber in a variety of ways, including hosting emerging leaders through the Leadership Missouri program and presenting at the Workforce2030 conference.
State Tech has more than 50 labs across campus, providing hands-on education in degree programs such as automotive technology, aviation maintenance and advanced manufacturing. The college is Missouri’s only public two-year college with a statewide mission specializing in technical education.
“Business and education have to work together if we want to build the workforce Missouri needs,” Corches said. “State Tech is a great example of an engaged member that understands the value of that partnership. We’re grateful for their continued involvement and leadership.”
Legacy of Leadership: Rep. Brenda Shields
The 2026 Legacy of Leadership award will honor Rep. Brenda Shields(R-St. Joseph), who is leaving elected office aftereight years representing Missouri’s 11th District.
Before entering the legislature, Shields worked for Quaker Oats, taught business education and served as CEO of United Way of Greater St. Joseph. During her time in public office, she has focused on education, economic development and workforce needs, including an unwavering commitment to addressing Missouri’s child care crisis.
“Brenda was a business leader who answered the call to serve, and she never lost that common-sense business perspective when she came to the Capitol,” Corches said. “She had the courage to take tough votes and put what was best for Missouri’s economy ahead of what might have been more politically expedient. She was also a fierce advocate on issues that matter to employers and families, especially child care. Missouri is better because of Rep. Brenda Shields.”
Spirit of Enterprise: Sen. Brad Hudson and Rep. Peggy McGaugh
Each year, the Missouri Chamber presents the Spirit of Enterprise Award to lawmakers who have helped advance pro-business legislation. This year’s honorees, Sen. Brad Hudson (R-Cape Fair) and Rep. Peggy McGaugh (R-Carrollton), are recognized for their steadfast advocacy on behalf of Missouri employers and commitment to strengthening the state’s business climate.
Sen. Hudson sponsored SB 907, the Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation, which helps protect businesses from frivolous lawsuits alleging website accessibility violations.
“This legislation lets Missouri take action to curb predatory practices while still protecting accessibility,” Corches said. “When business owners came to Sen. Hudson with a concern, he listened and worked to find a solution. That’s what we appreciate about his leadership on this issue – he understood the problem businesses were facing and worked to address it.”
Rep. McGaugh sponsored HB 2596, which expands access to multiple employer welfare arrangement health plans for small and family-owned businesses, including the Chamber Benefit Plan.
“When employees and business owners have access to quality, affordable health care, companies and communities are stronger,” Corches said. “Rep. McGaugh understood that and stepped up to carry this legislation, which is critical to helping small businesses compete for and retain talent.”
