Elgin Chamber recognizes inspiring member volunteers and businesses

The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2023 Annual Awards presented at the chamber’s Annual Meeting Reception on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Grumpy Goat Restaurant at The Highlands in Elgin.

Over 100 people attended the annual event which recognized four outstanding volunteers and businesses. The awards included: Volunteer of the Year to Lisa Baran, Elgin Sweeper Company, and Dr. Rise Jones, Hamilton Wings; Business Partnership Award to SCORE Fox Valley; and Innovative Business of the Year to York Container in Elgin.

“We are pleased to honor these recipients for their significant contributions and collaborations, excellence, and achievements in the community,” said Carol Gieske, CEO/President, Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Baran’s contributions reflect her unwavering professionalism and profound dedication to the Elgin Development Group (EDG) and the Elgin Chamber. A member of the Board of Directors and Director of Human Resources for Elgin Sweeper, Baran has served as the Chair of the EDG Workforce Development Committee since 2014 conducting monthly meetings. In 2020, she willingly stepped forward to chair the chamber’s new virtual Human Resource Committee, which continues to meet monthly.

SCORE Fox Valley serves as a resource to a diverse range of small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Fox Valley. Their commitment to inclusivity and accessibility allows them to provide valuable expertise and educational services to anyone looking to start or grow a business. They have more than 50 local mentors who are seasoned business professionals. They provide useful, timely, and realistic confidential business guidance at no cost online or face-to-face. Accepting the award was SCORE volunteer Jim Screeden and Chapter Co-Chair Larry Bussow.

Dr. Jones received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her dedication in providing professional development expertise to the chamber’s new Bridges Committee instituted in 2023. She actively leads volunteers to create a more diverse economic community by bridging the gap between BIPOC business and entrepreneurial leaders and existing resources, including educational opportunities and a new Black Business Expo instituted in 2024. A life-long Elgin resident, Dr. Jones promotes leadership and development to children through the use of and access to the arts.

York Container based in Canada was recognized with the Innovative Business of the Year for their operations and investment in Elgin, which began in 2020 with the EDC and the City of Elgin. Specializing in traditional brown box packaging, graphic packaging and displays, and retail-ready packaging, York opened its 500,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility on Mason Road in 2023. This Elgin facility represents the most modern application of corrugated manufacturing technology in the Midwest. They are one of the largest manufacturing investments in the State of Illinois during 2023 and are an excellent steward with their corporate sustainability initiatives. Accepting the award was General Manager Chris Danzek.

Current Chamber Chair Jeni Lyon of Hampton, Lenzini & Renwick, Inc. congratulated the recipients and thanked the guests in attendance for their membership and support.

The Elgin Area Chamber is a proven collaborative business community resource and provides relevant, innovative, and impactful programming and services that ensure a healthy business climate and enhanced quality of life.

For more information, connect with the Chamber online at ElginChamber.com; on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIN social media platforms, or by phone at 847-741-5660