MADISON – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced today that Carol “Orange” Schroeder, co-owner of Orange Tree Imports, will receive the Chamber’s 2023 Ground Floor Award for Small Business Leadership.
The award, which recognizes true champions for small business both within their business and in the community, will be presented during the Chamber’s sold-out IceBreaker lunch event on April 13 at the Kohl Center. Previous recipients include Jim Garner of Sergenian’s Floor Coverings, Susan Bulgrin of Culver’s on Todd Drive and Echo Tap & Grill, Jeff “JP” Patterson of JP Hair Design, Mark Schmitz of ZEBRADOG and Eugenia Podestá of Synergy Coworking.
“You would be hard-pressed to find someone who has been a stronger, more effective advocate for Greater Madison’s small neighborhood businesses for longer than ‘Orange’ Schroeder,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “Her support for and leadership on behalf of local businesses have had a tremendous, long-lasting impact on this community.”
Schroeder and her husband, Dean, have been co-owners of the award-winning gift and gourmet shop Orange Tree Imports for nearly 50 years. Her book, Specialty Shop Retailing: How You Can Succeed in Today’s Market, is in its fourth edition and has been translated into Russian. She has also written more than 100 columns for Gifts and Decorative Accessories magazine and 750 entries in her weekly blog on a wide range of topics of interest to small business owners.
Schroeder co-founded the Monroe Street Merchants Association 45 years ago, as well as the Monroe Street Library League, and still serves as chair of both organizations. She was one of the earliest members of the Chamber’s Metropolitan Neighborhood Business Council, a group she also currently chairs.
“This year’s IceBreaker theme of belonging really resonates with me because I love being part of the community of locally owned small businesses on Monroe Street,” said Schroeder. “It has been a joy to help our neighborhood’s restaurateurs and shopkeepers, many of them women, achieve greater success. I have also found great satisfaction in expanding my circle of support to Madison and beyond through my writing as well as my work with Dane Buy Local and the Metropolitan Neighborhood Business Council.”
In addition to the presentation of the Ground Floor Award, IceBreaker will also bring together 800 business and community leaders to explore interpersonal connections and meaningful interactions as we move beyond what is to what can be. This year’s speakers – who will be revealed on the Kohl Center floor – have appeared on national television, on the cover of major health magazines and in international art exhibitions, and they are experts in the digital environment and the intersection of arts and culture.
For media access to IceBreaker and any questions about media accommodations or interview requests, please contact Erik Greenfield at 608-669-7884 or erik@madisonbiz.com.
About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with more than 1,200 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.
