Joliet Chamber Of Commerce, Industry Announces Annual Awards

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry won’t hold its annual awards banquet until late February, but has announced several of its top honorees that will be recognized. Three nominee organizations for each of five categories have been announced.

Categories include Retail, Financial Services, Social Services, Professional Services, and Education. The awards dinner and banquet will be held from 5-8 on Feb. 27 at the Renaissance Center.

On Monday, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the following honorees:

The Brother James Gaffney Award of Excellence will be presented to the Pritz family for their dedication to the community. The Pritz family consistently displays their willingness to work alongside the Joliet business community to ensure success for all while also sharing a tremendous spirit of giving throughout the year, chamber officials said in a news release.

“The Pritz’ are one of several remarkable families in the Joliet region that own and operate an incredibly successful business,” Chamber President Jen Howard said in a statement released by the chamber. “However, they stand out for their extensive dedication to the business community and social services sector. Their devotion to bettering the area in which they live, work, and raise their families is second to none.”

The Brother James Gaffney Award of Excellence was established in 2016. Gaffney led Lewis University during a period of significant growth with enrollment increasing to nearly 7,000 students, while Lewis received regional and national recognition for its academic quality, chamber officials said. Under his leadership, academic program offerings expanded and the campus was transformed through an investment of $250 million in projects. Gaffney was dedicated to education for over four decades and worked tirelessly to bring together the business community and those in education, believing in the necessary partnership.

The Rabbi Hershman Community Service Award will be presented to Rodney Tonelli at the annual ceremony, chamber officials said on Monday. Chamber officials said that Tonelli exemplifies the epitome of a community servant and is truly worthy of this honor. Tonelli enjoyed a long and prosperous career during which he contributed vastly to the Joliet region in both professional and social services. He has committed the most recent leg of his journey to ensuring that Joliet continues to be a wonderful place to work and live.

The Rabbi Hershman Community Service Award is a special decoration presented in memory and honor of a long-time Joliet community servant, Rabbi Morris Hershman. Hershman was a leader in the religious, service, educational, and business sectors of the community. Hershman arrived in Joliet from Texas in 1943 to replace the former rabbi and spiritual leader of the Joliet Jewish Congregation.

Although it was at first only a temporary appointment, he went on to serve as the congregation's leader for the next 55 years. His commitment was not limited to people of the Jewish faith. Among other appointments, he was president of the Joliet Rotary Club, chairman of the local United Way, and an honorary lifetime member of the Greater Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce.

In addition, IKEA Customer Fulfillment will be celebrated as the Large Employer of the Year while Heritage Corridor Destinations will earn a similar distinction as Small Employer of the Year. Larson Steel Products, which opened operations in the fall of 2022, will be recognized as New Business of the Year.

In addition to the prestigious awards, the annual awards dinner & celebration of Success will determine the awards recipients in the categories of Retail, Financial Services, Social Services, Professional Services, and Education.

The nominees for each category are:

Retail

• Internode Greenery & Home
• Popus Gourmet Popcorn
• C & C Vision Gallery

Financial Services

• Busey Bank
• Abri Credit Union
• Elevate Private Wealth Management

Social Services

• Greater Joliet Area YMCA
• Senior Services Center of Will County
• Easter Seals Joliet Region, Inc.

Professional Services

• Wermer, Rogers, Doran, and Ruzon, LLC
• Emediate Cure Quick Care
• VNA Health Care

Education

• Lewis University
• Governors State University
• Diocese of Joliet

To make reservations, residents can contact the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry at (815) 727-5371 or online at the Joliet Chamber website to make reservations.