Chamber Recognizes Twenty-Nine

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their 17th annual Business and Community Recognition Luncheon on Thursday, October 30 at the Pekin Country Club.  The chamber’s Member Promotions Committee coordinated the luncheon, which was sponsored by Enviro-Safe Refrigerants, Pekin Insurance, ActOnEnergy, Pekin Trophy House & Engraved Gifts, The Greenhouse Flower Shoppe, and Pekin Hospital.  Additional sponsors included CEFCU, Herget Bank, NRG Powerton, UnityPoint Health, ICPR Family Practice and South Side Bank.

Recognition was given to twenty-eight area businesses and organizations in the following categories:  “green” projects or programs; new ownership or management; new business or building; additional employees; major retraining effort; new technology or major equipment investment; other business improvements; and, community involvement.

Additionally, one business was recognized for 100 years of operations.

The speaker at the luncheon was Diana Hall, owner and president of Bard Optical.  Bard Optical was founded over 70 years ago in Peoria by Dr. A. Arthur Bard. In 1981 Diana J. Hall purchased Bard and the company grew from a single office to a noted, woman-owned, national leader in professional eyecare and quality eyewear. Bard Optical has now expanded to 20 locations in central and southern Illinois.

Hall shared some of her personal and business philosophies.  “The more you know, the more you know” was Hall’s way of saying that you always need to be learning and always growing.
Hall continually challenges the status quo at Bard’s.  “You either grow, or you fade away,” she said.  They have a goal to grow to 25 outlets.

Hall is actively involved in many community organizations and efforts.  She credited a chamber leadership academy as the force that pushed her into community service.

Chamber Board President Aindrea Balagna closed the program by thanking the audience for their support and their recognition of the accomplishments of others.  Fifty-Six businesses and organizations were represented by 195 attendees.

The twenty-eight businesses and organizations recognized for their achievements in the past year were:

• American Cancer Society - Relay for Life of Pekin
• BodyWealth Massage
• Cullinan Properties LTD - East Court Village
• Farmers Insurance - Tatlock Agency
• Ferguson Plumbing
• Gailey Eye Clinic
• GroUp
• Hallmark House Nursing Center
• Herget Bank
• ICPR Family Practice
• Illinois American Water
• Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
• iTV-3
• Liberty Village of Pekin
• Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center
• Pekin Animal Hospital
• Pekin Hospital - Progressive Health Systems
• Pekin Insurance, Pekin Hospital and the Unland Companies
• Pekin Main Street
• Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory LLC
• Servpro of Peoria & North Central Tazewell County
• Sound Choice Hearing Clinic
• South Side Trust & Savings Bank
• Speakeasy Art Center
• Sumer Wellness & Spa
• Tazewell County Resource Centers, Inc.
• United Way of Pekin
• Velde Lincoln Volvo of Peoria

Midland Davis Corporation was recognized for a century of operations.

You can see pictures from this event at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber