The 40th Annual Chamber Salute to Business Awards banquet had record crowd attendance last week
The O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce held its 40th Annual Salute to Business awards luncheon on April 14 at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon.
With record attendance of about 284 participants from a pool of almost 600 chamber members, Debbie Arell-Martinez, chamber executive director, said the chamber looks forward to the continuing to celebrate the 70 year anniversary since the organization’s inception in 1946.
The Economic Impact Award was presented to Memorial Hospital East of Shiloh. The Business Beautification Award was awarded to the O’Fallon Public Library. Shiloh’s 51-year-old Tamarack Golf Course was honored with the Heritage Award. Spirit of the Chamber Award was presented to the Hospice of Southern Illinois. Lastly, a new award this year that was sponsored by the Rotary Clubs in O’Fallon (including: Rotary Club of O’Fallon, O’Fallon Sunrise and St. Clair Sunset), was given to the Spengler Company of O’Fallon for Community Service.
Among those recognized were Mike Vogt and Steve Liter of Tamarack Country Club, Renee La Bruyere (new Chamber ambassador and Quality Testing and Engineering Inc.), Christine Litteken and Rebecca Wisdom (Hospice of Southern Illinois), Carol, Jason and Syd Spengler (Spengler Company), Paul Evans (new Chamber president), Kim Oplet (Hospice of Southern Illinois), Molly Scanlon (O’Fallon public library) and Ruth Holmes (Memorial Hospital East). Not pictured are Matthew Gilreath (new Chamber ambassador and Chick-fil-A Green Mount Crossing) and outgoing Chamber president Jessica Lotz.
O’Fallon Township High School AFROTC opened the ceremony with the posting of the colors and national anthem. Master of Ceremonies was Brenda Fedak, Belleville News-Democrat multimedia and weekly publications advertising manager. Rev. Dr. Joel Catlin of First United Methodist Church provided the invocation prior to lunch.
Sponsors for the event, awards, tables and video included the O’Fallon Progress, Rotary Clubs of O’Fallon, the Bank of O’Fallon, Diel & Forguson LLC, Holland, Carrollton Bank, First Bank, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Schildknecht Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Korte & Luitjohan Contractors Inc., Loring Financial Management of Raymond James, Scott Credit Union, Schaefer Autobody Centers, Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program (SICAP), Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA), The Bank of Edwardsville, Gifts for Individuals, Rhutasel and Associates, Inc. and Wolfersberger Funeral Home.
This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 1:56 PM with the headline "The 40th Annual Chamber Salute to Business Awards banquet had record crowd attendance last week."