Chamber Honors 'Magical' Northbrook Businesses With Awards

NORTHBROOK, IL — As local businesses continue to navigate the post-pandemic world, many are thriving. A few of those are being honored by the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce. Next month, five Northbrook businesses will be recognized at the Chamber's annual meeting and business awards dinner.

"Northbrook businesses showed great resilience during the pandemic by being innovative and adaptive," Kathi Quinn, executive director of the Northbrook Chamber, tells Patch. "In fact, two of this year's award winners were launched right as the pandemic started."

The 2024 winners will be celebrated at "The Magic of Small Business" event, scheduled for 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. March 11 at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore, 933 Skokie Blvd. The special evening will include a cocktail networking hour, dinner, awards presentation, and a preview of upcoming Chamber events and initiatives.

This year's winners include:

• Northbrook Business of the Year: Noggin Builders (Amy Torf, owner)
• Corporate Citizen of the Year: Two Men and a Truck (Brian Stern, owner)
• Emerging Business of the Year: Parkway Presents (Lisa Smith, owner)
• Franchise of the Year: Culver's of Northbrook (Kevin Weasler, owner)
• Chamber Volunteer of the Year: Steve Amberg, owner of It's Impressive

Quinn described the selection process for the awards as "quite competitive" this year. She said there were 19 nominees for the various awards, including eight for Business of the Year. Those businesses are nominated by the membership at large, according to Quinn. The selection process is reviewed by an awards committee of chamber members, including the board of directors and past award winners.

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Quinn said each award features unique criteria. For example, Business of the Year nominees created a competitive edge to fuel their success, experienced considerable growth, demonstrated exceptional customer service, in good standing of the Chamber, and in operation for more than three years.

"This year's winner, Amy Torf, of Noggin Builders, is a Northbrook success story," Quinn said. "Having grown up and gone to school here, she created a unique business that is not just educational, but STEM based. Then she created a foundation to provide this programming in areas of need."

For the awards night, Quinn said with it happening in March, which is also when the Academy Awards occur, brainstorming led to "The Magic of Small Business."

"The wide-reaching effects that small businesses have on our community is magical," Quinn said. "Our award winners are not just in it for profit — they each believe that contributing to the vibrancy of Northbrook and the well-being of our residents, their employees, and the community at large is their mission."

Quinn is expecting a festive affair with Northbrook Bank & Trust serving as the presenting sponsor again. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. To learn more, visit the Chamber's website event page or call 847-498-5555.