Springfield Chamber announces Small Business Award winners

The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce hosted the 40th Annual Small Business Awards on June 24 at the Crowne Plaza Springfield Convention Center. The event recognized outstanding community entrepreneurs in the following four categories: Not-for-Profit Director of the Year, New & Emerging Business Owner of the Year, Small Business Owner of the Year and Lifetime Award for Business Owner of the Year.

Michael Phelon of The Outlet was selected as the Not-for-Profit Director of the Year. Other nominees in that category were Deana Corbin, Animal Protective League; Karen Cox, Family Service Center; Chris Daniel, Refuge Ranch; Betsy Dollar, Springfield Art Association; Jeff Eddy, The Salvation Army; Jill Egizii, Wild Thrift & Sniff; Josh Evans, Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities; Robert Fair, Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County; Dawn Morris, American Red Cross; and Jil Wilmot, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois.

Caitlin Becker, Hannah Goss and Brittney Robinson of Bloom Wine Bar & Florals
were recognized in the New & Emerging Business Owner of the Year category.
Other nominees in that category were Joey Chernis of Midwest Salvage & Recycling; Sami Janes, The Wardrobe; Dirk McCormick and Steve Luker of Legacy Park Sports; Emmanuel Mikaelson, TPH Strategies; Brenda Nelson, Mimi's Kitchen; Sara Pena, Imagination Creations; Damon Priddy, Damon Priddy Insurance and Financial Service - a State Farm Agency; and Kara Wagner, Kara Endris, Licensed Massage Therapist.

Kirk Kellus and Joe Roe of Clean Impact Commercial Cleaning were chosen as the Small Business Owner of the Year. Other nominees in that category were Jim and Gaye Aaberg, SYNERGY HomeCare of Central Illinois; Zach Adams, 1221 Photography; Courtney Bennett, The Hair Lounge Salon & Spa; Jaleesa Davis, Glaze Hair & Nail Salon; Phil Fernstaedt, FreeStyle Apparel & Design; Colby, Dara and Jack Geiser, Clean Cut Painting & Handyman; Jacqueline Goleash, Meraki Salon and Spa; Beverly Hopkins, Flow Midwest Yoga and Meditation; Leigh Ann Hughes, Jennifer Runkel and Mark Richardson, Prairie Land Title Company; Landon and Jamie Kirby, Knob Hill Landscape Company; Hector Lopez, The Taco Joint; Erica Luce, Flourish Flower Company; Celeste Malham and Will Hoecker, Fed Kitchen and Papo's Cafe; Trevor and Theresa Miller, Precision All Out Customs; Randi Pecka, Better with Bubbli Boutique; Dan Sperry, Nickey Sperry and Justin Richardson, VELE Restaurant; Michelle Tjelmeland, District 23 Boutique; and Kirsten Wright and Tara McAnarney, Pilates Studio of Springfield

Jennifer Wagner of Maintenance Supply Corp. was recognized with the Lifetime Award for Business Owner of the Year. Other nominees in that category were Sonny Adams, Sonny Adams Pest Control; Fletcher Farrar, Illinois Times; Andy and Eric Floyd, Floyd Imports; Eric, Chad and Chris Larson, Mel-O-Cream Donuts International; Steve Lowder, Pioneer Building Maintenance and Philip Martin and Steve Walker, Martin Engineering Company.