The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce hosted the 41st Annual Small Business Awards on June 23 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.
Penny Powell of Fifth Street Renaissance was chosen as the Not-For-Profit Director of the Year. Other nominees in that category were Carolyn Austin – Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland; Tiffany Mathis-Posey – Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois; Lee-Ann Burgener – Dana-Thomas House Foundation; Gus Gordon – Hoogland Center for the Arts; Jarod Ingebrigtsen – Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation; Trevor Orthmann – Illinois Symphony Orchestra; Leah Wilson – Kidzeum of Health and Science; Chriss Wilson – Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery; Amber Kaylor – Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois and Marscia Anderson – Solid Rock Youth Transitional Services.
Becky Gabany of ChangeBridge Consulting was recognized as the New & Emerging Business Owner of the Year. Other nominees in that category were Courtney Wilbern – Absolut Aesthetics-Wellness Springfield IL; Tom Raymond – The Cats’ Pyjamas Cat Café; Patrick Logan – Hodge Podge Heaven – Springfield, IL; Dustin Coons – Legacy Pointe Eatery; Joey Chernis – Midwest Salvage And Recycling; Austin Evans – Revived Rides; Shayna Keeley – SGK Boutique – Shayna Gibbons Keeley Boutique; Haley Smith – The Tipsy Toad and Emmanuel Mikaelson – TPH Strategies.
Brian and Melissa Reilly of Cured Catering were chosen as the Small Business Owner of the year. Other nominees in that category were Amy DeRiemacker – Kinner Kennels; Lauren Henton and Katie Romang – Luminary Counseling and Solutions LLC; Jon Stewart – Midwest Garage Door Company; Susan and Doug Bloemke – Northern Lights Lounge Springfield; Andrew Bartlett – OOT BOX MEDIA; Renee Rothschild – Renee Rothschild Catering & Events; Carl Fryman – Springfield Collision Center; Jamie Sneed – True Colors Floral; Zach Adams – 1221 Photography; Chris Hartsook – Big Dog Construction Company Your Local Window Depot USA; Shareen Crawford – BJ Grand Salon and Spa; Brennan and Celeste Malham, Will Hoecker, Omar Romero – Fed Kitchen Springfield / Papo’s Cafe; Kirsten Schafer – The Grainery; Harry and Jessica Covey – The Grass Guy; and Danielle Keldermans – Keldermans Therapy Services.
Cindy Davis of Resource One received the Lifetime Award – Small Business Owner of the Year. Other nominees in that category were Mark Watson – CDS Office Technologies; Jay and Tammy Hall – Hall’s Cycles; Sarah Phalen – INB, N.A.; Michael Higgins – Maldaner’s Restaurant & Catering; Philip Martin and Steve Walker – Martin Engineering Company; Alex Foster – Sundown One and John Tuxhorn – Tuxhorn Towing Inc.
