OPRF Chamber Announces 2nd Annual Business Spotlight Award Winners
Oct 20, 2017 12:00 AM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
OPRF Chamber Announces 2nd Annual Business Spotlight Awards Winners
October 19, 2017 (OAK PARK, IL) –
The Oak Park - River Forest Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Business Spotlight Awards winners.
Community Character – CycleBar OPRF
Customer Experience – Dr. Mary Ann Bender Podiatry
Green/Sustainability – Our Planet Automotive
Innovation/Collaboration – Solace Divorce Mediation
Integrated Marketing – School of Rock, Oak Park
Investment/Development – Oak Park River Forest Museum
On Tuesday, October 10, 2017, over 200 area business, non-profit and government leaders gathered together to celebrate the 2nd Annual Business Spotlight Award nominees and winners at The Nineteenth Century Club, a landmark Oak Park building, during an evening of cocktails and appetizers hosted by Oak Park Banquets, the Club’s upscale catering subsidiary.
This exciting “Oscars Of Local Business” event was created to recognize excellence in hometown businesses.
The awards are not a “best of” popularity contest, instead, the categories and the nominees reflect community values and success factors important to running a successful local organization. It is a celebration of businesses and organizations doing things right.
Nominees did not have to be members of the OPRF Chamber to be eligible and the program was open to all businesses – large or small, profit or non-profit - located in Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities, including Forest Park, Austin, and others.
Response to the program in its 2nd year was overwhelming, with 120+ businesses receiving a total of over 350 nominations in the various categories!
The 2017 winners, who were announced in a big reveal by the previous year’s winners, will receive ongoing recognition, media exposure and bragging rights, as well as a one-year free membership to the Chamber.
Since 1905, The Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce has supported local business. The Chamber currently works closely with all area companies, organizations and associations, to represent and connect our small business community.
Quotes:
Mary Ann Bender, winner of 2017 Customer Experience Award for Mary Ann Bender Podiatry, said, “The reason I am so happy to have won the OPRF Chamber of Commerce Customer Experience award is because it recognizes something that is at the core of why I decided to open my practice. Our feet are, like many things, taken for granted unless/until there is a problem. When I decided to venture out on my own, the one thing I wanted my patients to know was that from the minute they decided to call seeking services from me, THEY were not being taken for granted. I wanted them to feel immediately valued and important as people, not just as patients. Winning this award is part of my professional journey of providing quality podiatric services to the people who need help, not the final destination.”
Amy Renzulli, winner of the 2017 Integrated Marketing Award for School of Rock Oak Park, said, “We are truly honored to win the Integrated Marketing Award this year. We knew that Oak Park would be a welcoming place for our School of Rock and for the past four and a half years, we have worked hard to develop the musical talent of our students and to give back to the community by playing, performing, and partnering wherever we can. We look forward to more creative collaborations in the future as these are the activities that not only promote our business, but serve our community.”
Photos:
2017 Business Spotlight Award Winners and Bob Stelletello, Chamber President
2017 Community Character Award Winner - Jackie Benson of CycleBar OPRF with Deno Andrews, Oak Park Village Trustee & 2016 Community Character Winner for Felony Franks, and with Bob Stelletello
2017 Customer Experience Award Winner - Mary Ann Bender of Mary Ann Bender Podiatry with two staff, Lydia Villanueva, the 2016 Community Character Winner for Tan Travel, and with Bob Stelletello
2017 Green / Sustainability Winners - Peg & Tyler Downing of Our Planet Automotive with J. Lee Latham, 2016 Green / Sustainability Winner for We Clean Green, and with Bob Stelletello
2017 Innovation / Collaboration Winner - Jen Mitchel of Solace Divorce Mediation with John Williams, 2016 Innovation / Collaboration Winner for Cargo Peace Circles, and with Bob Stelletello
2017 Integrated Marketing Winner - Amy Renzulli of School of Rock , Oak Park with Anne Pezalla, 2016 Integrated Marketing Winner for Lively Athletics, and with Bob Stelletello
2017 Investment / Development Winner - Frank Lipo of Oak Park River Forest Museum with Rhea Yapp, representative of the 2016 Investment / Development Winner Oak Park - River Forest Community Foundation, and with Bob Stelletello
OPRF Chamber Announces 2nd Annual Business Spotlight Awards Winners
October 19, 2017 (OAK PARK, IL) –
The Oak Park - River Forest Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Business Spotlight Awards winners.
Community Character – CycleBar OPRF
Customer Experience – Dr. Mary Ann Bender Podiatry
Green/Sustainability – Our Planet Automotive
Innovation/Collaboration – Solace Divorce Mediation
Integrated Marketing – School of Rock, Oak Park
Investment/Development – Oak Park River Forest Museum
On Tuesday, October 10, 2017, over 200 area business, non-profit and government leaders gathered together to celebrate the 2nd Annual Business Spotlight Award nominees and winners at The Nineteenth Century Club, a landmark Oak Park building, during an evening of cocktails and appetizers hosted by Oak Park Banquets, the Club’s upscale catering subsidiary.
This exciting “Oscars Of Local Business” event was created to recognize excellence in hometown businesses.
The awards are not a “best of” popularity contest, instead, the categories and the nominees reflect community values and success factors important to running a successful local organization. It is a celebration of businesses and organizations doing things right.
Nominees did not have to be members of the OPRF Chamber to be eligible and the program was open to all businesses – large or small, profit or non-profit - located in Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities, including Forest Park, Austin, and others.
Response to the program in its 2nd year was overwhelming, with 120+ businesses receiving a total of over 350 nominations in the various categories!
The 2017 winners, who were announced in a big reveal by the previous year’s winners, will receive ongoing recognition, media exposure and bragging rights, as well as a one-year free membership to the Chamber.
Since 1905, The Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce has supported local business. The Chamber currently works closely with all area companies, organizations and associations, to represent and connect our small business community.
Quotes:
Mary Ann Bender, winner of 2017 Customer Experience Award for Mary Ann Bender Podiatry, said, “The reason I am so happy to have won the OPRF Chamber of Commerce Customer Experience award is because it recognizes something that is at the core of why I decided to open my practice. Our feet are, like many things, taken for granted unless/until there is a problem. When I decided to venture out on my own, the one thing I wanted my patients to know was that from the minute they decided to call seeking services from me, THEY were not being taken for granted. I wanted them to feel immediately valued and important as people, not just as patients. Winning this award is part of my professional journey of providing quality podiatric services to the people who need help, not the final destination.”
Amy Renzulli, winner of the 2017 Integrated Marketing Award for School of Rock Oak Park, said, “We are truly honored to win the Integrated Marketing Award this year. We knew that Oak Park would be a welcoming place for our School of Rock and for the past four and a half years, we have worked hard to develop the musical talent of our students and to give back to the community by playing, performing, and partnering wherever we can. We look forward to more creative collaborations in the future as these are the activities that not only promote our business, but serve our community.”
Photos:
2017 Business Spotlight Award Winners and Bob Stelletello, Chamber President
2017 Community Character Award Winner - Jackie Benson of CycleBar OPRF with Deno Andrews, Oak Park Village Trustee & 2016 Community Character Winner for Felony Franks, and with Bob Stelletello
2017 Customer Experience Award Winner - Mary Ann Bender of Mary Ann Bender Podiatry with two staff, Lydia Villanueva, the 2016 Community Character Winner for Tan Travel, and with Bob Stelletello
2017 Green / Sustainability Winners - Peg & Tyler Downing of Our Planet Automotive with J. Lee Latham, 2016 Green / Sustainability Winner for We Clean Green, and with Bob Stelletello
2017 Innovation / Collaboration Winner - Jen Mitchel of Solace Divorce Mediation with John Williams, 2016 Innovation / Collaboration Winner for Cargo Peace Circles, and with Bob Stelletello
2017 Integrated Marketing Winner - Amy Renzulli of School of Rock , Oak Park with Anne Pezalla, 2016 Integrated Marketing Winner for Lively Athletics, and with Bob Stelletello
2017 Investment / Development Winner - Frank Lipo of Oak Park River Forest Museum with Rhea Yapp, representative of the 2016 Investment / Development Winner Oak Park - River Forest Community Foundation, and with Bob Stelletello