The O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce its award winners for 2011. The Chamber sought out nominations for Small Business, Business, and Large Business of the Year as well as the first ever Sue Proost O’Fallon Chamber Person of the Year award from its membership.

“The selection committee had a lot of discussion when choosing from the nominees in each category,” said Erin Williams, Chamber President/CEO, “we are blessed to be in a community filled with businesses that are dedicated to O’Fallon and to our Chamber.”

Autotech Auto Center will be awarded as the 2011 Small Business of the Year. Autotech is known for the customer service provided by their staff and the knowledge of owner Greg Kinder. Both Greg and Barb Kinder are staples of the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce, helping to foster growth of their fellow chamber members in leads groups as well as volunteering as Ambassadors and on the Trivia committee.

F&M Bank and Trust Company will be honored as the 2011 Business of the Year because of the company’s dedication to the O’Fallon community as well as the Chamber of Commerce. F&M Bank and Trust relocated in O’Fallon in 2010 and has continued to grow since then. Employees of the bank are known to wear blue jeans on Fridays as an effort to raise money for their Adopt a Family program at Christmas time. “It seems like F&M Bank is always looking to help someone or some organization, their community spirit is evident in each one of their employees,” said Williams. F&M Bank and Trust representatives are on hand at each event the Chamber hosts, whether it is a ribbon cutting, a new member orientation, or a fundraiser, F&M has a presence.

The 2011 Large Business of the Year is being awarded to Delmar Gardens. Since coming to O’Fallon, not only has the company offered only the highest quality of life to its residents, but has only enhanced the quality of life of the residents of O’Fallon. Each year the company, free of charge offers an Independence Day spectacular with fireworks, food and fun for the whole family. They actively pursue ways to help out the not-for-profit community.

“When the selection committee met, the one thing that we kept asking was, ‘is this a company that we can hold up and say to our other members, this is what a good business does?’, I feel that each of the award winners are exactly that, businesses that our members can look to emulate,” Williams said.

The Sue Proost O’Fallon Chamber Person of the Year is being awarded to Mark Crank of Marcos Productions. This award is named after former Chairwoman of the Board who passed away in 2010. Sue Proost was known for her leadership, dedication and volunteerism to the entire O’Fallon community, but especially the Chamber of Commerce. These are qualities that Crank exemplifies. Crank is the current chair of the Ambassadors committee which has continued to grow in numbers and participation under his leadership. He is also the co-chair of the Trivia committee, a driving force in the leads group program and a friendly face to our new members and guests at all Chamber functions. Crank volunteers his time to Old Newsboy Day, Friends of Kids with Cancer, and the Missouri Association of Fairs and Festivals.

The Chamber will be honoring all of the winners at the December 13th general membership meeting luncheon to be held at the Christy Banquet Center. To make your reservations, please call the Chamber office at (636) 240-1818 or online at www.ofallonchamber.org.