Stateline Chamber Awards Gala celebrated community members

The Stateline Chamber of Commerce held its annual Awards Gala on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at The Pavilion at Orchard Ridge Farms outside Rockton, Illinois. 

The winners were:

• New Business of the Year: Bruce Biggers at Planet Home Lending
• Small Business of the Year: AGHL Law
• Large Business of the Year: Apex General Contracting
• Pride of the Stateline: Geronimo Hospitality Group
• Community Service Award: Marianne Mueller
• Ambassador of the Year: Mike Frank
• Chamber Champion: Nathan Bolin
• Cyndy Fogarty Lifetime Achievement Award: David Kurlinkus

Stateline Chamber president George Pleshkewych shared an overview of the events the Chamber hosted and recognized members of the Stateline Chamber Board of Directors, some of whom have served for many years. 

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Television news anchor Whitney Martin served as master of ceremonies. Tickets were $100 per person or $800 per table. The event was catered by Hoffman House and featured live music from Josh Calhoun, a cocktail hour with open bar, and a four-course meal.

Reporter Marianne Mueller, who writes for Rockton-Roscoe News, received the Community Service Award. She has reported for the Herald for more than 20 years, chaired the Rockton Christmas Walk in 2009, and served as president of Hononegah Woman's Club for three years. She was awarded the Spirit of Rockton Award in 2010 by the Rockton Chamber of Commerce, the predecessor of the Stateline Chamber. Ten years earlier, she had served as Chamber Secretary and even President, in 2000. She has also worked on the Great American Cleanup. Last year when she was nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award, she protested that she was too young. 

This year's winner of the Cyndy Fogarty Lifetime Achievement Award is a little older than Marianne.  David Kurlinkus has served on the Hononegah Community High School District Board of Education since 1995 and has served as Board President since 1997. He was Chief of Staff and Deputy State’s Attorney for Winnebago County, as well as attorney for several Illinois municipalities, including Roscoe. Besides his law degree from Loyola University, he has earned masters degrees in secondary education and journalism from the University of Illinois.

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