95th Annual Charlemagne Award Dinner
Q Center, 1405 North Fifth Avenue, St. Charles, IL 60174
Charlemagne Award Dinner, a picture perfect night of many surprises, businesses celebrated, and one Charlemagne Award winner announced. We would like to thank everyone who attended this year, our sponsors, and our volunteers.
The "Legend of the Four Son's of Charlemagne," written by C.V. Amenoff, who served as Mayor of St. Charles from 1969 to 1973, has had a long history being associated with the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce's prestigious Charlemagne award. The Charlemagne Award is given to those individuals who have accomplished so much in life; however, have demonstrated what it means to give back to the community.
2016 Charlemagne Award Winner
Darlene Riebe, Lazarus House
Darlene Riebe has served the community it many ways for a number of years. She began at Lincoln School as a volunteer in 1986, as well as, a Den Mother for Cub Scout Pack 13 and Boy Scout Troop 1. Darlene also served as a Sunday School teacher at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and when her children were in school, she baby sat kids for $1 a day per child. She started volunteering for RiverFest in 1990. Wearing many hats, she served as site manager and committee member, as volunteer coordinator in charge of more than 100 volunteers, and currently Pride of the Fox board member and volunteer coordinator. In 1993, she started with the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce as a welcome hostess, became the office manager in 1996, and in 2005 moved into the membership director position. In her 18 years of employment, the St. Charles Chamber went from 325 to 650 members. Darlene has been a volunteer for the Downtown St. Charles Partnership since1996 and also worked on the St Charles Christmas Parade and Holiday Homecoming. She was instrumental when the parade changed from an afternoon Christmas Parade to what it is now, the Electric Christmas Parade, which we all know and love. In 2000, when the partnership and McNally's wanted to bring the first St. Patrick's Day parade to St. Charles, Riebe was a key participant with the logistics and the line-up. Darlene currently volunteers with CatNap From the Heart, and helps fundraise for their annual gala. Since 2012, she has been involved in the Chicago Corvette Club, taking on the role of secretary.
The evening also carried with it other prestigious award winners such as:
L.E.A.P. Award (Leadership, Excellence, Achievement, Professionalism) Winner
Laurie Milbourn
, as the winner for this award for 2016
Chairman's Award
Ryan Anderson of HighWire Networks
Civic Image Award Winners:
The Civic Image Award was created in 1993 to recognize members of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce for humanitarian efforts, personal projects outside business, and civic projects, which bring positive benefits to our community.
City of St. Charles- 5 out of 5 Bloom Rating from America in Bloom
City of St. Charles- 1st Street Parking Deck
City of St. Charles- Water Tower at Red Gate Road and IL 25
St. Charles Community Unit School District #303- Kick-A-Thon, Nancy Prentiss & Kari Batka
St. Charles Park District- Bike Station & Outdoor Fitness Equipment at Pottawatomie Park
Community Image Award Winners:
Community Image awards are given each year to members of the Chamber who have made significant improvements to their business property.
Charleston on the River
Colonial Café
Dreams Dance Academy
Firestone Complete Auto Care
French Med Spa & Cryothérapie
Rivers Edge Crystals
ROX City Grill
Shangri-La Spa & Sauna
Two Wild Seeds
Community Development Award Winners:
The Community Development Awards were established in 1989 to recognize significant investment in the business community by a member of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. The award is given for new construction, extensive remodeling or expansion, and historical renovation projects.
Abby's Breakfast and Lunch
Alexander's Café
Envision a Smile
First Street Development, Gym Chic, Kilwins & Magnolia Bridal
Fox Valley Volkswagen
Loyal Companions Animal Hospital & Pet Resort
Mixology Salon Spa
Urban Counter/ PRIDE Beer & Wine plus Spirits
Vanek, Larson & Kolb, LLC, Forthright Financial Planning & Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C.
Congratulations to Businesses Celebrating Anniversaries:
135 Years:
Kane County Chronicle Media
120 Years:
Williams-Manny Insurance Group
115 Years:
Colonial Cafe Restaurant & Creamery
105 Years:
MB Financial Bank, St. Charles Park District
90 Years:
Arcada Theatre
50 Years:
Anderson Animal Shelter, West Suburban Travelers Limousine, Inc.
40 Years:
FCA of St. Charles, Fox Valley Special Recreation Association,
Suburban Tire Auto Care Centers
30 Years:
Campton United Soccer Club, Dairy Queen Grill & Chill St. Charles,
Frolicstein Financial Wealth Management, Horton & Vranas D.D.S.
25 Years:
Athletico Physical Therapy, Hoscheit, McGuirk, McCracken and Cuscaden, P.C.,
T.A.K. Drywall Specialists, Inc.
20 Years:
3rd Street Dance & Theatre Academy, Carriage Oaks, Evoke Idea Group, Pirok Design, Inc., Rookies All-American Pub & Grill, SmartSource, Inc.
10 Years:
Clear Communications, Cooper Hong, Inc., Cornerstone Partners Horticultural Services Company,
Psychic Boutique, STC Capital Bank, Tap House Grill, Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc.
5 Years:
Arts Center of St. Charles, Elite Extrusion Technology, Fox River Harley-Davidson,
Fox Valley Buick GMC, Inland Bank, Mosquito Authority
Thank You Gift Basket Donors
Abby's Breakfast & Lunch, Alexanders Café, Brunch Café, Chicago Steel Hockey Team, Classic Cinemas Charlestowne 18, Colonial Cafe Restaurant & Creamery, Costco, Country House at Geneva, DePaw University Canine Campus, The Diamondaire, Dreams Dance, Envision A Smile, Filling Station Pub & Grill, Firestone Complete Auto Care, Forthright Financial Planning, Fred Astaire Dance Studios, French Med Spa & Cryothèrapie, Ginger Root Hair Salon, Hotel Baker, iALL Repair, International Medical Massage Association, Jeans & A Cute Top Shop, Kane County Cougars, Kimmer's Ice Cream, Magnolia Bridal, Mathnasium of St. Charles, MEDFITNESS, Mixology Salon Spa, The OFFICE Dining & Spirits, Rivers Edge Crystals, Rocket Fizz - St. Charles, Rookies All-American Pub & Grill, Ruffner's Luxury Pet Boarding, SavWay Fine Wines & Spirits, Shakou St. Charles, Shangri-La Spa & Sauna, St. Charles Bowl, Standard Wash, Starbucks, State Street Jewelers, Tap House Grill, The Lodge Bar & Grill, Topgolf Naperville , Town House Books and Café, Two Wild Seeds Baking Company, Vintage 53, West Suburban Travelers Limousine, Williams Manny
