Mike Simon receives Wood Award

GENEVA – Once Scott Lebin, Geneva Chamber board chairman, said, "His grandfather began retail shops in downtown Geneva," it did not take long for the packed house to realize that the 2016 Wood Award recipient would be Michael Simon, owner of The Little Traveler and other properties in the city's downtown.

Simon received a standing ovation after Lebin and others detailed his contributions to the community Nov. 10 at the annual chamber awards dinner held at the Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva.

“This is an incredible honor,” Simon said. “Thank you very very much.”

This is the 32nd award given in the name of William Wood, which recognizes those who have made significant community contributions in business, education, youth involvement, civic organizations, art, recreation, charity or government.

“Mike’s careful development of the properties he owns in downtown Geneva has helped keep Geneva a destination, filled with unique shops that draw people to the area,” said his wife, Nancy Sohn. “He sees filling an empty storefront as not just a matter of finding a tenant, but as a search for a business that will benefit the Geneva community as a whole and for the long run.”

In addition to his devotion to his wife and two sons, Simon has been on the Geneva Chamber of Commerce board of directors for years, and previously served on boards for Geneva History Museum, Geneva Park District Foundation, Community Chest and First National Bank of Geneva, Lebin said.

“A founding and board member for Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors, you can even find Simon selling frozen pickle pops at their food booth during Swedish Days – also one of the busiest times at The Little Traveler,” Lebin said.

Whether serving as a Scout leader or as a champion of civil and human rights organizations, anything and everything Simon does is always for the betterment of Geneva, Lebin said.

“Humility is a cornerstone of who Mike is as a person, as a Geneva businessman, as a family man, and as a friend,” Lebin said. “His motivation for Geneva has always been to do what is best for the community and the wonderful downtown, which continues to be the core of what our community reveals about us to the rest of the world.”

Simon was also honored in 2012 with the Mayor’s Choice Award for Significant Contribution in Business and Real Estate Development in 2012. Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley honored him in 2014 for the restoration of his property, located in the first block of South Third Street.

Long-time friend Kurt Wehrmeister remembered when the movie "Road to Perdition” was filmed in Geneva in 2001, and the production required every retailer on both sides of West State Street from Second to Fourth, be shut down for two whole weeks.

Retailers were promised they would be compensated for their losses while closed – but it was Simon who drove the bargain on their behalf, Wehrmeister said.

“And he did so holding all the cards: The company would be filming in his building – or not,” Wehrmeister said.

And when it came time for Simon to be listed in the film’s credits, Simon insisted that the city of Geneva be listed in the credits instead, Wehrmeister said.

Geneva History Museum executive director Terry Emma praised Simon for his dedication to the city and its history.

Teresa Keenan, a local Realtor, said she considered Simon not only to be her friend, but “a great ambassador for the city of Geneva.”

“He has given so much of himself for the good of our entire community – his commitment to the preservation of the history of Geneva is rivaled by very few,” Keenan said.