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Fairfield Chamber honors businesses, individuals at awards banquet
FAIRFIELD – The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 25 at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.
The event is an occasion to honor businesses and individuals who are doing great things in their own line of work and by giving back to the community. As she has for the past eight years, Joneane Parker served as master of ceremonies, introducing each award recipient to the stage and reading information about them.
Parker said she interviews each recipient to learn about their background and their business.
“I want that personal touch,” she said. “I also like to visit them at their business, which can be a challenge because everyone is busy, but it’s worthwhile.”
This year’s award recipients and their sponsors are as follows:
CHAMBER PAST PRESIDENT – Michael Parker (Sponsored by KMCD Classic 96)
Michael Parker is the general manager of TrafFix Devices. In addition to focusing on making great products, Parker also finds way for his workers to have fun through friendly competitions. Earlier this year, he held a contest within company departments to see which department could donate the most items to The Lord’s Cupboard. He’s also held competitions to create an Easter Bunny using only TrafFix components.
TOURISM AWARD – Kiwanis Club (Sponsored by Sanctuary Fairfield)
The Fairfield Kiwanis Club helps tourism in the community by hosting the annual Kiwanis Kids’ Day every September, where it serves a pancake breakfast to thousands inside its giant tent. Not only that, but the group also provides voluntary parking of campers around-the-clock for three weeks at the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant.
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AWARD – Farm Bureau Financial Services (Sponsored by First MainStreet Insurance)
Alex and Christie Kessel and their whole crew accepted this award. Joneane said the business has expanded its services into wealth management and financial planning, and has totally redone their office on South 20th Street, creating large work areas with a new elevator.
AGRICULTURE AWARD – Dave Hollingsworth (Sponsored by Jefferson County Farm Bureau)
Dave Hollingsworth lives west of Packwood and farms 1,200 acres, which he does with his son JD and business partner Cole Reighard. Joneane said they are very conservation-oriented, and do winter cover crops and grass filter strips around their ponds and creeks to ensure good water quality. In addition, Dave is involved in Pekin athletics, and is a 37-year member of the Packwood Fire Department.
RISING STAR AWARD – Iowa Dance Collective (Sponsored by Jefferson County Health Center)
Tyler Malone is the director of Iowa Dance Collective, and Joneane called him the “most positive and energetic soul I’ve had the pleasure of meeting for some time.” Malone started dancing at age 7 and went on to have a career as a professional dancer. Iowa Dance Collective started a little over two years ago with 26 kids participating, and today is has 200. The studio is planning to host a summer dance conservatory and a fall pre-professional high intensity class.
MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR – Weaton Companies (Sponsored by Fairfield Manufacturers Association)
Joneane remarked that what Nate Weaton and his team at Weaton Companies are doing is simply amazing. In 2023, the companies added to its repertoire by acquiring Bovard Studios. That’s in addition to its other ventures, which are Creative Edge, U.S. Waterjet, ToolKeepers Foam & Etch, Terrazzo Tek and Honeycorr. Each of these brands are involved in manufacturing, and use cutting-edge technology to create products that are distributed around the world.
SERVICE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR – Cranston Family Funeral Home (Sponsored by Ottumwa Radio)
Jeremy Cranston and his wife Jamie started Cranston Family Funeral Home in 2015 when they purchased Kremer Funeral Home in Eldon, and the business has only grown since then, purchasing Raymond Funeral Home in Fairfield a few years later and then purchasing Pedrick Funeral Home in Keosauqua in 2021. Joneane said the Cranstons are very family-oriented, and that they want families to have a sense of continuity while they’re going through a tough time.
PROJECT OF THE YEAR – Fairfield Golf & Country Club (Sponsored by Pilot Grove Savings Bank)
Jim Weaton and Chuck Espy are two golf enthusiasts who sought to preserve and publicity the rich history of the Fairfield Golf & Country Club, the first golf course west of the Mississippi River dating back to 1892. Now, more than 130 years later, members of the Fairfield Golf & Country Club have started the Kahgahgee Historical Golf Foundation, which is making capital improvements to preserve the historic course, and provide golf programming, with a focus on young golfers. This fundraising campaign has allowed the club to make huge improvements to the course, along Crow Creek, to the maintenance shed and for a new pool deck. Last year, the club hosted 56 kids for golf lessons, 60 percent of whom had never touched a golf club before.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR – Due South (Sponsored by Behner Funeral Home)
Due South is a project of Camp Boswell and Teah Benkoczy, who previously ran the restaurants The Broth Lab and Lunchbox Fairfield. In 2023, the couple decided to combine their energies into a single restaurant in the location previously occupied by The Broth Lab to create something new: Due South. The restaurant combines Southern cuisine with flavors from Southeast Asia.
RETAILER OF THE YEAR – Scarlett & Co. (Sponsored by Washington State Bank)
Owner Kassie Laux opened Scarlett & Co. in 2023 on East Burlington Avenue in a building that was last occupied by a Chinese restaurant over a decade prior. Her special boutique features clothing, scents, candles and sterling silver permanent jewelry. The business also hosts classes where participants can make things like candles right there in the store. Laux said her mission is to keep “collaboration over competition.”
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR – Scott Brown (Sponsored by Cambridge Investment Research)
Scott and Rachel Brown purchased Behner Funeral Home in 2023, becoming the third family since the 1930s to run the business. Scott has worked in the industry for 20 years, starting when he was 17. Throughout his career, Scott has worked at funeral homes in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, with the last 12 years on the Iowa side of the Quad Cities before coming to Fairfield. He said his goal is to carry on the Behner legacy and provide a special service to families.
BEST KEPT SECRET AWARD – AERON Lifestyle Technology (Sponsored by Shelter Insurance)
AERON Lifestyle Technology began in 1996. The company was founded by Jeffrey Smith and Monica Hadley, who developed an aromatherapy diffuser that plugged into a car’s cigarette lighter. Joneane said the diffuser’s fragrances come in all kinds, some that are designed to “calm the spirit” and others that are “peppier” to keep you awake at the wheel. The business has given back by supplying the books that children take home from the Santa House on the square, and by supporting programs like the chamber’s recent Bike Rodeo.
ECONOMIC IMPACT – Jefferson County Health Center (Sponsored by First MainStreet Insurance)
Jefferson County Health Center opened its new facility on the south side of town in 2009. Joneane said hospitals are economic engines for a community, and JCHC is no exception. It has 30 employed physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. JCHC employs 365 people, and its gross domestic product accounts for over $1 million in community benefits.
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT – The Collective (Sponsored by Agri-Industrial Plastics)
A family business owned by Liza and Galen Saturley, and Denyce and Eric Rusch, The Collective has renovated the former office building at 400 N. Second St. into a space for multiple businesses including Breadtopia, The BakeHouse, Taco Dreams and more. They developed seven commercial kitchens, and have a freeze-drying kitchen with three freeze dryers.
STUDENT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR – Cassidy Mallinger (Sponsored by Indian Hills Community College)
Cassidy Mallinger is a junior at Fairfield High School and also works at Willow & Bright. Joneane said the comments she received about her were so positive, and that Cassidy “embodies the qualities of a model employee” and that she goes above and beyond in providing customer service. She was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Indian Hills Community College, and in fact she is taking classes in Indian Hills’ pre-nursing program.
LEGACY AWARD – Eric Schwartz (Sponsored by AERON Lifestyle Technology)
Jeff Vivacqua and Seth Miller accepted this award on behalf of Eric Schwartz, who could not attend. Schwartz started Cambridge Investment Research in 1981 with the goal of “building something wonderful,” and in the ensuing 40-plus years, has built one of the largest financial solution firms in the wealth management industry. The company serves more than 3,700 financial advisors across the country, has over 900 employees, and contributes heavily to Fairfield initiatives.
AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR – Elizabeth Forrest
Joneane said Elizabeth Forrest is a “young and dynamic go-getter” who swings by the chamber daily to see if there’s anything she can do to help. She is a frequent guest to the chamber’s ambassador events, and cares deeply about the chamber’s mission.
LEADERSHIP FAIRFIELD
Leadership Fairfield is a chamber program that teaches leadership skills to community members and gives them a chance to learn about local businesses. It’s a great opportunity for these individuals to network and build relationships.
Those graduating from Leadership Fairfield this year are:
Alesha Hall - Weaton Companies
Amy Vetter - Jefferson County Health Center
Angie Haines - Pilot Grove Savings Bank
Bobbi-Jo Markle - Graf & Company
Brian Burroughs - Agri-Industrial Plastics
Brittney Campbell - Iowa State Bank
Carson Halbrook - Farm Bureau Financial Services
Elizabeth Forrest - Liz Forrest Coaching LLC
Elizabeth Hinkle - AERON Lifestyle Technology
Jesse Pedrick - ServPro
Joanna Jackson - Hy-Vee
Joseph Ledger - Retired Farm Bureau
Katherine Morris - Natel
Katie Boatright - Fairfield Community School District
Lasandra Smith - Agri-Industrial Plastics
Makenna Myers - Farm Bureau
Matt Holt - Fairfield Dental Clinic
Megan Parker - TrafFix Devices
Nicole Kerr - Addington Place of Fairfield
Seth Talbot - Cambridge Research Investment
Stephanie Mishler - Fairfield Community School District
Tiago Passos – Maharishi International University
Wendy Anderson – MidWestOne Bank
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
