We held our inaugural Awards Banquet on Friday – and it was a blast! Nearly 200 people were in attendance waiting to see which of the finalists was chosen to walk away with 7 different awards.
The Entrepreneur of the Year award was given to K. Paige for their fun & fashionable boutique store in Downtown Roscoe. K. Paige opened in 2016 to huge support, and in return, K. Paige owner Brooke Anderson gives back by partnering with the Chamber to help run the Women @ Work committee and numerous events. Other finalists were Louie’s Tap House and 808 Cheesecake, both of them opening in early 2017.
The Pride of the Stateline award winner is Stateline Baseball. Their community league serves 500+ kids in 4 programs, with over 300 games played between almost 50 separate teams – every single year. Stateline Baseball has been around for over 40 years offering another great reason for people to live, work, and play in the Stateline region. While many surrounding community leagues are drying out, Stateline has thrived – growing its program through strong character building, organizational strength, and a focus on the fun of the game. Other finalists were Oak Strength and Mike Prosser.
Ryan Rydell received the Community Service award. He was the Rockton Chamber President during the merger process and was critical to its success. He currently serves as the Chamber’s VP, and is on the Marketing, Finance, & Personnel Committees, as well as many event committees. He has worked with Stateline Baseball for over 6 years as a sponsor, coach & board member, 4 of them as President. Ryan started the programs Winter Training, and Stateline Thunder programs, and created the Coaches Clincher tournament that raises money for the Greg Lindmark Foundation. Ryan mentors & coaches at HHS in their IncubatorEDU program plus many other HS initiatives. His business, RyCOM Creative Corp also donates services for many local events like the benefit festivals Hanz Brew Fest and Midwest Oktoberfest. Jeremy Jones & Roscoe Lions Club were the other 3 finalists for the community service award.
The Business of the Year is All World Machinery. Moving their corporate office to Roscoe back in 2015 was a big boost for Roscoe. Their continued expansion supports job growth and economic impact, offering nearly 200 new jobs within 5 years of opening. In December 2015, when the HS Dome collapsed, the RORO Expo didn’t have many options for a location without going into Wisconsin or Rockford. All World came to the rescue, offering their facility to host the event, saving the 2016 RORO Expo from possible cancellation. All World remains a big supporter of the Chamber and has plans to expand further while continuing to support their community. Finalists RyCOM Creative Corp. and Oak Strength were also honored.
Jim & John Balsley of Balsley Printing received the Lifetime Achievement Award. They recently retired, passing the reigns of their family business to the 4th generation of Balsleys. Their printing business has been a staple of long-term success in the Rockton community for over 100 years, with Jim & John leading the charge for the past 30+ years. Balsley has been the Chamber’s go-to printer for many years. They even printed the invites, programs, and donation envelopes for the Awards Banquet. Their commitment to Rockton and their support of the Chamber sets them apart, and we wish them a very happy retirement. Marge Bauch & Toni Brown were also honored as finalists for this award.
The Ambassador Club crowned Keith Wicklund the Ambassador of the year. He is a shining beacon of what a Chamber Ambassador should be. Keith attends nearly all the clubs events, Chamber Ribbon Cuttings, and even helps coordinate some scholarship fundraisers to help the club give away thousands to deserving local students. His response to the award is a great example of why he is so deserving. Keith said, “I wanted someone else to win”.
The Member of the Year award was granted to Clyde Grooms. Chamber President, Laura Baluch, said that Clyde’s commitment to the Chamber merger helped separate him from others. He worked with the transition committee to manage the most critical transition issues, and when that job was done, stepped right in as the chairman of the Membership Committee. He is always attending Chamber events, and continues to serve on the Board of Directors.