Barrington Area Chamber announces 2019 Business Awards

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce announced its 2019 business awards at its annual Dinner and Scholarship Fundraiser on Thursday, Jan. 17, at Avante Banquets and Conference Center.

The evening was a celebration of chamber accomplishments and people. It attracted more than 250 local business, community and governmental leaders. The event also raised funds for the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce annual scholarships.

"Our Chamber Business Award recipients are individuals who passionately pursue their dreams, setting the bar high for excellence and service," said new 2019 Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Dennis Kelly of FGMK Insurance.

Kelly then announced the following awards:

• Community Partner of the Year Recipient: Barrington Campus Life Center.

"Barrington Campus Life is a multifunctional venue that includes a cafe, auditorium, and convertible spaces for high school students to be positively engaged. The center puts an emphasis on building healthy relationships through creative programs that help young people make good choices.

"Under the leadership of Tony Au, Barrington Campus Life is providing a safe haven for our teens to connect and enjoy their youth," Kelly said.

• New Business of the Year Recipient: 101 West Liberty, by Monroe Residential Partners.

"This honors a Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce member who has come onto the scene with enthusiasm and innovation, bringing something new and fresh to the business community.

"101 West is a loft-style building with 64 luxury apartments. The masonry and metal-accented building is a three- to four-story complex featuring amenities such as a rooftop terrace, underground parking, and community lounge and fitness center. The complex is creating new housing options for young couples, families and empty-nesters to live near downtown, walking distance to shopping, dining and entertainment.

"Thanks to Nick Burbulis and his team, 101 West is changing the landscape of Barrington and the opportunity for local businesses." Kelly said.

• Volunteer of the Year Recipient: Ilona House of Hoffman Estates Animal Hospital.

"This award honors a chamber member who has given unselfishly, contributing as a constant promoter and ambassador for Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce resources, and dedicating hours of service to events. Ilona is a tireless volunteer on the chamber's Women's Biz Net Council. She has contributed countless hours planning, executing and designing WBN events that have hosted hundreds of women; not only helping to create dynamic programs, but also contributing to the look, feel and message of those events," Kelly said.

• Rookie of the Year Recipient: Serena Kleinstub DC, of Deer Park Chiropractic.

"This award honors a chamber member who has joined the chamber within the past year and gotten involved in chamber activities with vigor and passion, bringing new energy to the organization and showing the value of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce experience.

"Serena jumped into the chamber world with an enthusiasm to serve others and be involved. She is a constant presence at events, supporting Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce activities. She truly understands the value of building partnerships and supporting those in the chamber community," Kelly said.

• Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award: Tom Cramer of Wintrust Mortgage.

"The chamber would like to recognize and honor the service and dedication of our outgoing Chairman Tom Cramer, who has been a dedicated, omnipresent leader during 2018. He as attended hundreds of events and guided our board to serve our business community. Tom brought humor, wit and kindness to his role, always putting our members and the mission of our organization first," Kelly said.

Kelly also announced the winners of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs Award: The Squeaky Clean Car Wash team from the Barrington High School Business Incubator program. Team members are: Patrick Hoelter, Alex Reyther, Will Mogler and Tim Nichols.

Squeaky Clean Car Wash was awarded a $10,000 loan from an outside investor during the Barrington High School 2018 annual Pitch Night. They recently closed a test run at the high school, where they washed 10 teacher cars on Oct 31 by the time school ended. They are looking for ways to continue to define their business model.

In the winter, they have come up with interior cleans, as well as snow removal for teachers and students by the time the school day is over. They will soon be marketing to the greater Barrington area.

Earlier in the evening the 2019 board of directors was officially inducted.

"Each year our board sets the tone and direction for the chamber and business community," said Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Suzanne Corr.

"As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our chamber, we are fortunate to have leaders representing a cross section of industry to guide and inspire us each year."

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Board includes:

• Executive Committee members: Chairman Dennis Kelly, FGMK Insurance; First-Vice Chairman Keith Hanson, Hanson Law Group LLP; Second-Vice Chairman Andrea Herran, Focus HR Consulting; Treasurer Char Neault, Barrington Bank & Trust; and Past Chairman Tom Cramer, Wintrust Mortgage.

• New board member: Norm May, Full Service Office Solutions, Inc.

• Board members returning for another term: Joseph Connelly, BMO Harris Bank; Steve Cook, Quintessential Barrington Magazine; Jen Frey, Good Shepherd Hospital Health & Fitness Center; Paul Horcher, Refined Construction; Amber Luczak, Edward Jones; Liz Luby, @properties | The Luby Group and 365Barrington.com; John Jackson, 4ci Mgmt. - Balancing Life's Challenges; Doug McAllister, Douglas Automotive Inc.; Dr. Robert MacDonald, Amita Health Medical Group-Family Practice & OB-GYN; Bryan McGonigal, McGonigal's Pub; Jennifer Prell, Elderwerks/Paxem; Scott Ray, Daily Herald Media Group; and Kathleen Scott, Lake Barrington Motorsports/Pepper Park Coffee.

• Advisory board members: Peg Blanchard of the Village of Barrington, Brian Harris of Barrington 220, Jesse Henning of the Barrington Area Library, Robert Palmer of the Village of South Barrington, and Michele' Smith of Harper College.

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1969, is an association of 900 member businesses representing more than 1,800 business people dedicated to the success and prosperity of the 11 regional communities it serves: Barrington, Barrington Hills, Deer Park, Inverness, Kildeer, Lake Barrington, Long Grove, North Barrington, Port Barrington, South Barrington and Tower Lakes.

Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce promotes economic opportunities, aggressively markets the business community, advocates the interests of business, offers programs for professional development and leadership, and works to foster a robust regional economy.

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