Fairfield Chamber honors individuals, businesses making a difference

The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet on Thursday, Oct. 14 at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.

The Chamber issued many awards that night, such as the two Citizen of the Year Awards given to LeAnne Edgeton and Kent Whitney.

A list of the other awards, and descriptions of the recipients courtesy of the Chamber, follows:

2020 Past Presidents Award – Vanessa Willman

Vanessa has been invaluable to the Chamber, providing leadership in all areas of the Chamber operations and spearheading the creation of the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

2020 Past Presidents Award – John Sandbothe

While John’s year as President was cut short by a transfer and promotion, he led an overhaul the Chamber’s meeting format, helped create a category of Chamber membership for family farms and showed great leadership in developing a new Chamber event, The Teacher Appreciation Event, as well as helping rebuild the Ag Appreciation event into the Barn Yard Bash, now one of the Chamber’s largest events.

Fairfield Manufacturers Association Past President Award – Mike Nelson.

Mike has been a steady guiding force for the Manufacturers Association through challenging times, serving as President in 2019 and then stepping back into the role in mid-2020 due to a sudden departure of the 2020 President and then agreeing to serve in 2021.

Business Improvement Award – Dexter Laundry

For the new high tech laundromat Dexter Laundry built on Burlington Avenue.

Agriculture Award – Joe Ledger

Best Kept Secret Award – Little Superheroes

Little Superheroes is an organization established to help families who are struggling due to their child's chronic illness. The Festival of Trees event to help raise money for these families. The organization has helped many local families as well as families all over Iowa and the United States.

Service Business of the Year – Cambridge Investment Research

Cambridge Investment Research gives back to the community in many ways. The Cambridge Foundation was created in 2014, supporting numerous local organizations and special needs. In 2013, Cambridge donated $1 million toward the Fairfield community outdoor pool and recreation center project, and last year pledged to contribute $1.25 million to Jefferson County Kids Inc.’s future child care center. Cambridge is honored to be part of the community and to have the opportunity to positively impact its associates, financial professionals, and residents of Fairfield and the surrounding areas.

Tourism Award – Carnegie Historical Museum

The Carnegie Historical Museum, an “Iowa Century Museum,” has made its home in the former public library building since 1893. It is Iowa’s fifth oldest museum. Its wide-ranging collections tell the story of Fairfield within a context that circles the globe. Authors, filmmakers and genealogists use the facility on a regular basis.

Manufacturer of the Year Award – Agri-Industrial Plastics Company

Agri-Industrial Plastics was founded in 1978 by Dick Smith with four employees, one used blow-molding machine and two customers. Today, they’ve grown to more than 200 employees, 28 machines and approximately 60 customers. From the beginning, Dick’s vision was focused on employees, promoting a family environment and treating them as such, a tradition that has been continued under the leadership of his daughter, Lori Schaefer-Weaton.

(Co) Project of the Year – Howard Park Playground; Laurie Stokes

(Co) Project of the Year – Howard Park Playground; Emily Martin

(Co) Project of the Year – Santa House; JC Huffman

J.C. Huffman received one of the Project of the Year Awards for building a new Santa House that will last decades, remodeling the old Santa House into a workshop, and arranging for all Santa’s and elves to staff the two houses during the holiday season.

Restaurant of the Year – Arandas

Great food, consistent high quality meals, and long open hours make this a Fairfield favorite. They also bought the building and committed to an extensive remodeling including bathrooms, paint, pergola and outside railing and outdoor seating area.

Retailer of the Year – Adela’s

Adela's was founded in 2006 and changed ownership in 2018. “We strive to offer unique items along with excellent and personalized customer service. Our customers are like family to us. In the last few years, we have grown our customer reach and continue to be a destination for visitors to our community,” read a statement from the business.

Young Professional of the Year – Stephen Pedrick

Rising Star Award – SOMM Wines

SOMM Wines opened for business in April of 2019. “We started as a small storefront location on the town square focused on mostly retail sales. Now we have moved to our new location, renovated both indoor/outdoor areas and provide our community with a lovely lounge and shopping destination. We grew from 100 different wines to over 250 in just a year’s time,” read a statement from the business.

Economic Impact Award - TrafFix Devices

TrafFix Devices won this award for a significant building addition in their roto mold area, creating more jobs for Fairfield. TrafFix Devices, Inc. is a 35-year-old manufacturer of traffic control devices and crash attenuation products. In 2019, TrafFix Devices expanded their east building to accommodate a third Roto Molding machine, with the capacity to add an additional two. With the addition of the third machine, TrafFix created an additional 20 jobs, bringing their total head count to 175.

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award – Fairfield Universal Therapy

Dana and Adam Conilogue were presented with an opportunity to purchase the business they had been working in since returning to Fairfield, and quickly arranged financing to retain the business in Fairfield and make it now locally owned and operated.

“We started Universal Therapy with the goal of bringing high quality and individualized physical therapy to Fairfield with a focus on adding specialty treatments and programs. We currently have programs to treat sports injuries, post-surgical rehab, balance and vestibular treatments, women's health programs, dry needling, and many more,” read a statement by the owners.

Student Employee of the Year – David Burnett

Special Recognition Award – Chris Estle and Brett Ferrel

Jefferson County Public Health Administrator Chris Estle and Jefferson County Emergency Management Coordinator Brett Ferrel received this award for leading the county through a crisis that has gone on for more than 18 months.

“[The two] are patient, frank, and professional despite the challenges of our current social struggles. You are appreciated,” read a statement from the Chamber.

Legacy Award – Ed Malloy

Citizen of the Year Award – LeAnne Edgeton

Citizen of the Year Award – Kent Whitney