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CRYSTAL LAKE – Black Diamond Plumbing and Mechanical Inc. received the Robert O. Covey Business of the Year Award Wednesday night at the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony.
“Wow. I’m really never lost for words, but I am a little bit tonight,” said Black Diamond Plumbing President Rick Sperando.
“I thank the community for supporting us. We started years ago with just two people and now I’m proud we’re at 56 people today and it’s due to the support of the community.
“Many years ago somebody told me if you want to be in business you have to surround yourself with good people,” Sperando said. “I am not a good businessman, but I’m smart enough to know to surround myself with good people.”
“My father told me one time, ‘Do want you want to do, but do it the best,’” Sperando added. “Have the support of your family behind you and have the support of God – and that’s success.”
In other awards Wednesday at the Crystal Lake Country Club, Verla Wehde Caufield introduced Patti Lutz of Home State Bank as the winner of the Carl E. Wehde Memorial Award, calling her “A perpetual civic volunteer, and just a tireless worker for our city.”
“I am speechless. How often does that happen?” Lutz said, to laughs and applause from the crowd of about 200.
Lutz said the late Carl Wehde, a former Crystal Lake mayor and successful business owner, “was one of the people that I always admired and that I followed, as there are so many people in this room that are my mentors.”
“I listened to the greatest mentor of my life, my dad, who said always give 150 percent.”
Receiving Presidential Awards of Excellence were Shawn Blaha of First Midwest Bank, Cameron Hubbard of Exemplar Financial Network, Holly Emrich-Glover of Bonus Nutrition,
Doug McAllister of Douglas Automotive, Randy Leggee of Environments That Work, Devon Hubbard of Exemplar Financial Network, and Vicki Summers of Summers Academy of Dance.
Receiving the Mark Elmore Scholarship award was Kaitlin Furbush, 17, of Crystal Lake. The daughter of Michele and Jeffrey Furbush will be attending the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee this fall.
Earlier in the evening, Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley paid tribute to longtime Crystal Lake Babe Ruth Baseball President Jim Sabo who died May 17 at 67.
“If you went to chamber mixers he was always there,” Shepley said of Sabo. “First one to get there, last one to leave. He was very committed to this community.”
“I don’t think I ever saw the guy without a smile,” Shepley said. “He was probably one of the happiest people that I ever knew,”
In other chamber business, Mike Splitt of In Sync Systems was introduced as chairman of the Chamber Ambassadors by outgoing chairwoman Jean Marie Saidler of J M S Consultations Inc..
Jennifer Johnson of Exemplar Financial Network was introduced as the new chairwoman of the chamber’s board of directors. She replaces Ryan Farrell of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle. Farrell called Johnson “a dynamic person. She’s creative, she’s enthusiastic, and the chamber is going to be in unbelievable hands.”
“I look forward to the year ahead with great enthusiasm,” Johnson said. “This organization is the foundation for the business community which is the backbone of this healthy community,” she said. “As an outsider looking in – I’m a proud resident of Johnsburg – I’m very envious to the strength of this community “
Chamber President Gary Reece noted that the Crystal Lake chamber – one of the largest in the state – has 958 members, up from 914 members a year ago.
“It’s my top priority to continue delivering to you the very best possible organization , committing to enhancing our members’ success, fostering economic growth in this community, and contributing to our community’s quality of life,” Reece said.