Bolingbrook honors its best businesses
April 20, 2012 4:24PM
Schin Kerr (actor) and Erin and Mike Evans (Bolingbrook Chamber). | Submitted photo
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Updated: May 23, 2012 8:01AM
BOLINGBROOK — The eighth annual Best of Bolingbrook Businesses Awards was held on March 9 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club.
Presented by a cast of several sponsors including American Family Insurance-Rey Aguayo, Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital, The Promenade Bolingbrook, Comcast Business Services and G & W Electric Company, the evening was attended by hundreds of area residents, businesses and civic leaders. Entertainment was provided by comedian Greg Schwen from Comedy with a Byte and live music by the John Avilla Trio.
Aloft Hotel Bolingbrook, a W Hotel, took home the top honor as 2012 Business of the Year.
“This Starwood property has been a welcome addition to our hotel community” said Mike Evans, president and CEO for the Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce.
Again this year, the BOBB Awards Committee recognized a Lifetime Achievement recipient. Presented with the honor was longtime Bolingbrook resident and activist, Margret “Peggy” Danhof, a retired teacher and 39-year resident of Bolingbrook currently serving in her 18th year on the Fountaindale Public Library Board. In addition, she has served as DuPage Township supervisor, Bolingbrook trustee, and is active in dozens of committees and organizations.
The night was capped off by the presentation of the chamber’s fourth Business Leadership Award presented to Edward Bleka of Quantum Foods, who left his job at a hand-cut butcher operation near the old Union Stockyards in Chicago in 1990 to strike out on his own, believing he could create a company that would better serve customers.
Bleka has grown Quantum Foods from his original operation of 15 people to one of the largest and most technologically-advanced protein processors in the world, now employing nearly 1,500.
The chamber also presented the President’s Award for Community Service to Michael Carpanzano, assistant vice president and banking center manager for MB Financial Bank. Carpanzano is also the 2012 Kiwanis Club president for the Bolingbrook/Romeoville areas.
Other award recipients included Fountaindale Public Library in the Not-for-Profit & Government category, Bolingbrook Golf Club for Best Restaurant & Hospitality Award, Pet Supplies Plus in the Small Business category. Securitas Security Services USA in the Large Business category and Wi-Tronix LLC received the Rising Star award, presented to a new member each year.
