NorthStar Restoration Services Earns Small Business of the Year Honor

NorthStar Restoration Services of Wausau is celebrating a major honor after being named the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Small Business of the Year.The award recognizes businesses for growth, community involvement and innovation. NorthStar received the honor in the business category during the Chamber’s annual Business EXPO in April.

The company was a first-time nominee for the award. Co-owner and founder Jay Cricks says he and fellow co-owner Shawn Millikin were surprised when they learned they had been nominated, and even more surprised when NorthStar was announced as the winner.

NorthStar began as a small operation run out of the owners’ homes and has since grown into a full-service restoration company serving Central and Northern Wisconsin.The company helps homeowners and businesses recover from water, fire, storm and mold damage.

The Chamber says NorthStar’s growth, commitment to its customers and involvement in the community helped make the company this year’s Small Business of the Year.