Each year the Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce honors one business and one non-for-profit entity with an Annual Business Excellence Award.   The awards honor those individuals whose ingenuity, hard work and innovation have created successful and growing business ventures and organizations.  The selections are made from nominations gathered from chamber membership and each nominated business must submit a formal application to accept the nomination.  Awards are presented at the Annual Meeting Luncheon held in August.  
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2020 Business Excellence Awards

For Profit Award
Meredith Ferguson
​Ferguson Financial

Not For Profit Award
​Dr Doug Wood
Ball Chatham School District

Ferguson Financial

While known in our community for over 6 years now, this business was born just over 1 and a half years ago. It is involved in just about every aspect of our community partnering with local businesses and not for profits including Titan Fuel, the Ball Chatham School District, the Chatham Jaycess, and many others to make a difference in the community. The owner has also sat on many leadership boards including our own here at the Chamber, our Chatham Police Pension Board, Ball Chatham Education Foundation, and WeCI among others

When asked what makes a business excellent, their response was…”An excellent business is a business that reaches out and participates with their community” and “has the goal of improving their community through the betterment of all.” When asked what advice they would give someone who is starting a new business, they say…”Have a passion for who you serve and what you do. If the passion is not there, the business will not survive and you will not have made a difference.”  

Ball Chatham School District

Established nearly two centuries ago in one room schoolhouses to now operating in six school with over 963,000 square feet, this leader and innovator in public education offers families some of the best educational choices in Illinois. They are one of the largest employers in Sangamon County with over 600 teachers and staff and provide public education to 4,850 Students 

When asked their opinion of what makes a Not-For-Profit excellent, their answer was…”They need to be clear about their responsibilities, take them seriously, and execute well. The best non-profit organizations have a clear, strong, and compelling presence, as well as intelligent and integrated strategies for growing and engaging stakeholders in the work.”