Yorkville Chamber Honors Members

Vice President Jeff Corirossi likened the weak economy to an ancient fire threatening a forest.

“We’re facing it together; we must come together," he said at the organization's annual dinner Thursday. "It’s consuming our businesses, as well as most of our precious resources, our customers.”

So, much like several people might band together to toss water on a growing fire, local businesses should band together to share ideas, training and contacts, Corirossi said. Thursday's dinner celebrated the chamber's steady membership of 315, its (slight) surplus budget of $120,000, and the contributions its members have made in the past year or so.

Mike Pfeiffer of received the Ambassador of the Year award from the Chamber's Ambassador Committee.

The Ambassador Committee also selected three people to receive the Chamber Spirit Award for their "efforts to promote chamber membership and member-to-member involvement," according to the event notes. They were Paul Auten of The Trailer Guy, Carrie Niesman of , and Cory Poris of .

received the Community Impact Award based on nominations from chamber members.

The chamber's Green Committee selected CL Design-Build for the Green Business of the Year award.

Yorkville Patch and Independence Renewable Energy were recognized as New Members of the Year for the impact they "made for the betterment of the chamber and surrounding community," according to the event notes.

was named Business of the Year for its "significant contributions to the chamber and community through leadership, donations of labor and/or products, financial contributions, volunteering of personal time, service on committees and more," according to the event notes.

Recognized for their service to the chamber were:

• Retiring Board Member: Chad Green of
• Past President: Jocelyn Herren of
• Business Over Coffee facilitator: Susan Hills of Stifel-Nicolaus & Co.
• Golf Committee Chair: Kris Kearns of The Kearns Team
• Green Committee Chair: Norm Johnson of Independence Renewable Energy
• River Night Co-Chairs: Cory Poris of and Chris Plasch of CPI Home & Office Computing
• Shoot for Fame Coordinator: Cory Poris of
• W2W Programming Co-Chairs: Jennifer Jones-Sinnott of Brian Feltes & Associates, and Carrie Niesman of
• W2W Publicity Chair: Beth Pierre of WSPY
• Ambassador Chair: Carrie Niesman of
• Teachers' Breakfast Chair: Jennifer Kvidera of Hoppers Inflatable Family Fun Center
• Jingle Mingle Chair: Greg Millen of

Leads groups facilitators also were recognized:

Leads Group 1: Beth Pierre of WSPY
Leads Group 2: Susan Hills of Stifel-Nicolaus & Co.
Leads Group PULSE: Kris Kearns of The Kearns Team
Leads Group ignite: Cory Poris of

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