Annual Awards
Each year the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce recognizes outstanding achievement by businesses, individuals and residents with a variety of awards. Nominations can be submitted here from mid-November to December each year.
Award recipients are honored at the Chamber's Annual Banquet in February and are featured in video segments shown as a part of the banquet program.
Information and criteria for each award, along with a list of past winners, is shown below.
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
The Business of the Year award recognizes a Carbondale business with outstanding accomplishments in growth, innovation, and civic leadership. Nominations for this award are submitted by Chamber members.
Previous winners...
2000 Planning & Mgt Consultants, Ltd.
2001 Old National Bank
2002 University Mall
2003 E.T. Simonds Construction Co.
2004 710 Book Store
2005 First Southern Bank
2006 Mary Lou’s Grill
2007 Newell House
2008 1187 Creative
2009 Venegoni Distributing
2010 Thomas Publishing
2011 Vogler Motor Company
2012 The Bank of Carbondale
2013 Vic Koenig Chevrolet
2014 Wells Fargo Advisors
2015 Grand River Spirits
2016 Murdale True Value
2017 Neighborhood Co-Op
2018 Moreland/ Bishop McDonald's
2019 Mayer Networks
2020 SIH Memorial Hospital
2021 Judge Services
2022 Intertape Polymer Group
BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR
The Business Leader or the Year Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, not only in their own business, but also in the local business community. Nominations for this award are submitted by Chamber members.
Previous winners...
2000 John J. (Jack) Buckley
2001 John Dosier
2002 Dr. Marsha Ryan
2003 Steve Payne
2004 Dennis DeRossett
2005 Trace Brown
2006 Tom Firestone
2007 Greg Sprehe
2008 Curtis Baird
2009 Jeff Speith
2010 San Chan
2011 Gayla Borgognoni
2012 T.J. Martin
2013 Brad Weiss
2014 Rex Budde
2015 Robert Bleyer
2016 Darren Berger
2017 Al Kuczynski
2018 Steve Falat
2019 Jim Jacobs
2020 Steve Mitchell
2021 Cynde Bunch
2022 Steve Quinn
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
The Citizen of the Year Award is presented to a local resident who has made a significant impact on our community, and who has consistently demonstrated an outstanding commitment in service to others. The recipient of this award is nominated by the previous three winners.
Previous honorees...
2000 Gail and Linda White
2001 John and Nancy Jackson
2002 Frank Black
2003 Neil and Mary Ellen Dillard
2004 John Cherry
2005 Helen Deniston
2006 Harvey Welch
2007 Corene and Milton McDaniel
2008 Anne Knewitz
2009 Jack Langowski
2010 Mort and Barbara Levine
2011 Randy Osborne
2012 Sam Goldman
2013 Sarah Heyer
2014 Dr. Marsha Ryan
2015 Mark "Skip" Cosgrove
2016 Diane Hood
2017 Frank Bleyer
2018 George & Diane Sheffer
2019 Darren Berger
2020 Carolin Harvey
2021 Tina Carpenter
2022 Daniel Booth
REGIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
The Regional Business of the Year Award recognizes a Southern Illinois business that contributes significantly to the Carbondale community and the Southern Illinois region as a whole. Recipients of this award are nominated by members of the Chamber.
Previous winners...
2005 Silkworm
2006 John A. Logan College
2007 Short Enterprises
2008 The Southern Illinoisan
2009 E.T. Simonds
2010 Alto Vineyards
2011 Southern Illinois Healthcare
2012 Extra Help, Inc.
2013 Black Diamond Harley-Davidson
2014 Rendleman Orchards
2015 17th Street Bar and Grill
2016 Walmart
2017 Cook Sales
2018 Samron Midwest Contracting
2019 River Radio
2020 Northbridge Professional Technologies
2021 Centerstone of Illinois
2022 Southern Illinois Airport
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
The Young Professional of the Year Award is given to an individual under 40 years old who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service in the community and a commitment to the work of the Chamber. Nominations for this award are submitted by Chamber members.
Previous recipients...
2012 Melissa Lewis
2013 Matt Brooks
2014 Joel Sambursky
2015 Jason Sigler
2016 Shane Carsrud
2017 Jeremy Clow
2018 Justin Zurlinden
2019 Brynn Wheetley
2020 Nic Skovgard
2021 Roni LeForge-Croxell
2022 Michael Lewallen
CHAMBER SERVICE AWARD
The Chamber Service Award is given to an individual who has gone above and beyond in the service of the Chamber during the past year. The recipient of this award is nominated by the current Board President and the two most recent Past-Presidents.
Previous winners...
2000 Ed Reeder
2001 Andrew White
2002 Phil Schaefer
2003 Helen Coracy
2004 Bonnie Brackett
2005 George and Diane Sheffer
2006 Brad Cole
2007 Jeff Doherty
2008 Sally Wright
2009 Jason Borque
2010 Woody Thorne
2011 Randy Johnson
2012 Bill Simonds
2013 Darren Berger
2014 Marcia Sinnott
2015 Matt Carnaghi
2016 Diane Daugherty
2017 Scott Thorne
2018 Amy Fox
2019 Carolin Harvey
2020 Larry Edgarton
2021 Steve Quinn
2022 Roni LeForge-Croxell
ART IN BUSINESS AWARD
The Art in Business Award is given to an area business or organization that has shown a commitment to using art to enhance their facilities or services. Nominations for this award are submitted by Artspace 304.
Previous recipients...
2021 Arnette's Barber Shop
2022 John A. Logan College
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
The Sustainability Award recognizes a member business or organization that is making significant efforts to reduce waste, increase the use of renewable products and energy, and making a positive impact on our local environment. Nominations for this award are submitted by the Carbondale Sustainability Commission.
Previous recipients...
Coming in 2024
NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR
The Non-Profit of the Year Award recognizes the work of a local charitable organization that has made a significant impact on the community and has demonstrated the consistent ability to meet specific needs of local residents. Nominations for this award are submitted by Chamber members.
Previous recipients...
2022 African American Museum