The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon on June 20 at the Crowne Plaza Springfield Convention Center. The event, presented by Hickory Point Bank, recognized four outstanding community entrepreneurs in the following categories:
Not-for-Profit – Business Director of the Year recognizes an executive of a not-for-profit organization who has demonstrated the innovative use of organizational skills and management expertise to create or expand the organization’s results to the community. The 2023 recipient is Molly Berendt of Compass for Kids.
Other nominees in the Not-for-Profit category were Kayla Graven, Downtown Springfield Inc.; Gus Gordon, Hoogland Center for the Arts; Olivia Hayse, The James Project; Chantel Corrie, Midwest Mission; Jen McMillin and Jean Woodward, Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery; Angela Bertoni, Sojourn Shelter & Services; Carol Harms, Senior Services of Central Illinois; Melissa Hansen Schmadeke, Springfield Memorial Foundation; and Marcus Johnson, Springfield Urban League.
New & Emerging – Business Owner of the Year recognizes a business owner who has demonstrated outstanding performance through innovation, growth, staying power and contributions to the community and has been established for more than one and less than four years. The 2023 recipient is Brandy Fletcher, B’s Creative Studio.
Other nominees in the New & Emerging category were Douglas Pope, Broadgauge; Michael Kirchgesner, MK Sports Massage; Audrey Kondelis, Pole Barn Chic Events; Chad Fowler, Sangamon Tree Service; Jamie Toole and Melissa Gaynor-Toole, Springfield Lucky Horseshoes; and Damon Priddy, Damon Priddy State Farm Agency.
Small Business – Owner of the Year recognizes a business owner who has demonstrated outstanding performance through innovation, growth, staying power and contributions to the community and has been established for four or more years with less than 100 employees. The 2023 recipient is Wade Kammin, Wild Birds Unlimited.
Other nominees in the Small Business category were Natalie Grider; Appearances Salon & Retreat; Barry and Barbara Seidman and Scott Nation, Ashley Furniture Homestore; Jessica Lance, Bewitching Botanicals; Josh Flanders, Buzz Bomb Brewing Company; Cari Claussen, Country Lane Memory Care Assisted Living; Brian and Melissa Reilly, Cured Catering; Alinda Hale, Eye Candy Boutique; Matthew Hamann, HelloPayments; Tammy Larsen-Tolly, It’s Scrapicated; Rebecca Knobloch, Kennedy Sue Gift & Home; Danny and Sherri Paul, Paul Tree Farms; Brad Wike, Peerless Cleaning & Restoration Services; Dr. Gina Lathan, Dr. Stacy Grundy and Kenneth Lockhart, Route History Museum; Steve, Kim and Zane Zaubi, Season Senior Living; Mark Cortesi, Mark Cortesi – State Farm Insurance Agent; Phillip and Vanessa Ross, Sylvan Learning; and Megan Henley Brown, Trendsetters Floral.
Lifetime Award – Business Owner of the Year recognizes a business owner whose for-profit company has been in business in Sangamon County for a minimum of 25 years and who has made significant contributions to commerce and the community. The 2023 recipient is Leonard Naumovich of Primo Designs.
The other nominee in the Lifetime Award category was Dr. Tanya DeSanto, Prairie Dental Group.
