A truck dealership, nursing home, homeless shelter and a longtime insurance businessman were honored Thursday night at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting at Hamilton’s.
Chamber President Lisa Musch spoke about the organization’s numerous activities in 2016.
“The annual meeting is a time to celebrate the past year at the chamber and look to our future,” Musch said. “In 2016, we added 41 new members, hosted 26 ribbon cuttings, 15 Business After Hours, nine seminars and 25 other events. It was a busy, but productive year. We feel very fortunate to have a wonderful group of members who participate and volunteer. Building Connections is the theme of this year’s annual report, and we hope that we are continuing to create the opportunities for our members to connect with each other, our member businesses and the community. Andy Smith was a wonderful chairman of the board for 2016, and I look forward to working with our new chairman, Keith Bradbury, in 2017.”
Honored at the annual meeting were Byers International, Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Care, New Directions Warming and Cooling Center and Ernie Downey.
The Small Business of the Year Award (fewer than 25 employees) was presented to Byers International.
Byers International has been a full-service International dealer of new and used engines and engine parts since 1952. It also deals in new and pre-owned trucks, has mechanics on staff and a full-service machine shop. Byers is owned by Gary Byers, who has been a part of the business since age 14 and took over the business in 1991. Mike Beasley is the general manager.
Byers has sponsored the annual American Legion Comedy Show, Chamber’s Agri-Industry Banquet, the Morgan County Fair and the Murrayville-Woodson Youth League. It also regularly supports The Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Lifeline, Elks golf, Illinois College, the Jaguar Baseball Club, and area schools’ after-prom and yearbooks.
The Business of the Year Award (25 or more employees) was presented to Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Care.
The largest nursing home in the Jacksonville area, Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Care is a multi-level care facility that offers seniors a range of care options. Residents have five living options, including independent living, sheltered and residential care, intermediate care, skilled care and specialized care for patients with dementia. The staff numbers more than 195 and cares for 160-plus residents.
For the past 115 years, Heritage Health, formerly known as Barton W. Stone Christian Home, has demonstrated integrity and community involvement by owning and maintaining the Asa Talcott House, a historically significant component of the Underground Railroad. The house is used by the Imagine Foundation, a not-for-profit organization. Heritage Health’s volunteer association operates a gift shop at the facility and uses 100 percent of the proceeds to benefit the residents. Employees also volunteer in a number of community organizations, including the chamber, Rotary Club and local churches.
The Not-for-Profit Business of the Year Award was given to New Directions Warming and Cooling Center.
New Directions opened its doors Feb. 2, 2011, to provide shelter for men, women and children in need. New Directions offers homeless people a safe shelter, warm meals, educational instruction and hope. It has served 3,500 adults and 525 children since opening. On average, it serves 50 to 55 people a week with shelter, food or life-skills learning.
New Directions is funded by the community and is a United Way agency. Grace United Methodist Church has provided space for the center since its inception. Many community groups assist by providing meals and offering volunteer hours. It currently has 46 meal providers who are able to cover meals for the entire year. New Directions prides itself on keeping families together by providing a safe haven for them in difficult times. Its basic life skills classes and Opportunities with a Vision Bootcamp offer educational opportunities for growth and life enhancement.
The Circle of Excellence Award was presented to Ernie Downey.
Downey purchased a small insurance business and grew it into Colton, Downey & Hubbard, from which he retired in 2016. He has been a chamber board chairman and member. He received the Boss of the Year award from the chamber, and his business was named Small Business of the Year.
Downey was the chairman of the task force to create the Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corp. He also served as chairman of the JREDC.
His community activity is extensive. He has been active with the Prairieland United Way, serving as a board member, board president and co-chair of two United Way campaigns. He received United Way’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2009.
In addition, he has served as a South Jacksonville village trustee, chairman of the South Jacksonville Parks Commission, co-chair of The Salvation Army Capital Development and Tree of Lights campaigns and as a member of the Pregnancy Resource Center board and the MacMurray College board of trustees. He is a member of the Jacksonville Rotary Club and received the Paul Harris Fellow award. He was one of 10 people who founded Morgan County Community Bank in 1980 and is an active member of First Christian Church, serving in many capacities.
