The Champion of Small Business Award is presented annually to a Nebraska small business owner who is a successful entrepreneur, who has triumphed in the field of business, and is an empowering entrepreneur who stands up for other small business owners.
| 2018 | Erich Landen, Landen Chiropractic, PC, Chadron |
| 2017 | Jeff Taake and Lewis Schelkopf, Mead Lumber and Truss Craft, Grand Island |
| 2016 | Cody and Chrystal Brooks, White River Feed, Chadron |
| 2015 | Kevin and Christine Grooms, American Agricultural Laboratory, McCook |
| 2014 | Roger Franklin, Gary's Cleaning & Restoration, Scottsbluff |
| 2013 | Douglas Garwood, Garwood Enterprises Inc dba Cardinal Farms, Dakota City |
| 2012 | Jim and Tim Schneider, S&S Plumbing, Mitchell |
| 2011 | Kelly Newell, Scout Goods & Trade, Omaha |
| 2010 | Michael L. Mawby, Come and Get It, Kearney |
| 2009 | Nick Bock and James Bowen, Five Nines Technology Group, LLC, Lincoln |
| 2008 | Jim and Connie Hellbusch, Duo Lift Manufacturing Co., Inc., Columbus |
| 2007 | Jeff White, Haque Quality Water, Lincoln |
| 2006 | Ervin Eisenmenger, WestPoint Implement, West Point |
| 2005 | Terry and Dena Mills, Mills Hardware, Arnold |
| 2004 | Patricia Crittenden, Flowers on Broadway, Scottsbluff |
| 2003 | David Alan Chally, Barney Insurance, Inc., Kearney |
| 2001 | Jim J. Jenkins, Whiskey Creek Steakhouses, Kearney |
| 2000 | John and Karen Miskimins, Miskimins Motor Co., Inc., Chadron |
| 1999 | Kerry Winterer, The Benefit Group, Omaha |
| 1998 | Deborah Bass, Bass & Associates, Omaha |
| 1997 | Clark Griffith, Medical Center Pharmacy, Scottsbluff |
| 1996 | Tom Feller, Feller & Company, Wisner |
| 1995 | J. Richard Abramson, Prairie Systems, Inc., Omaha |
| 1994 | Phillip C. Nelson, Hamilton Telephone Co., Aurora |
| 1993 | Bob Campos, Campos Construction Co., Omaha |
| 1992 | Joyce McLaughlin, InterState Telemarketing, Inc., Omaha |
| 1991 | Maxine Maul, Maverick Media, Syracuse |
| 1990 | Carol Corey, Ark Printing & Graphics, Omaha |
| 1989 | Roy Smith, H.P. Smith Motors, Inc., Omaha |
| 1988 | Edwin J. Loutzenheiser Jr., Pheonix Industries, Inc. Juniata |
| 1987 | Irving Rushall, Scottsbluff Pipe and Supply, Scottsbluff |
| 1986 | Paul Dutton, Dutton & Associates PC, Omaha |
| 1985 | Ken Wortman, Wortman Enterprises, Aurora |
| 1984 | Ronald Kennedy, Kessler, Kennedy & Assoc., Omaha |
| 1983 | Jack Barnhart, Barnhart Press, Omaha |
| Robert Hoig, Midlands Business Journal, Omaha |