Jess Spradlin (left) presents the Large Business of the Year award to Amy Jackson of Rammelkamp Bradney P.C. during the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree/Journal-Courier
Tom Grojean speaks to attendees after receiving the Circle of Excellence award during the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree/Journal-Courier
Jess Spradlin (left) presents Leslie DeFrates of the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation with the Not-for-Profit of the Year award during the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree/Journal-Courier
Jess Spradlin (left) presents Tom Grojean with the Circle of Excellence award during the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree/Journal-Courier
Jess Spradlin (left) presents Sal Vitale, owner of Leo’s Pizza, with the Small Business of the Year award during the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree/Journal-Courier
Brittney Henry (left) speaks with Lindsay Gordon during the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree/Journal-Courier
The Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce recognized an individual and three businesses that have shown their commitment and service to the community Thursday during its Annual Meeting.
During the award ceremony, Tom Grojean of Grojean Insurance was recognized by the chamber for his more than 40 years working with the chamber and in the community.
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He was named the Circle of Excellence Award winner.
In addition to Grojean, the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation received the Not-for-Profit of the Year ward, Leo’s Pizza received the Small Business of the Year Award and Rammelkamp Bradney, P.C. was honored with the Large Business of the Year Award.
Grojean said he wasn’t expecting to be honored Thursday, though he suspected something may have been up when his wife Julie Grojean insisted on traveling back from visiting family to be at the meeting.
He said he was honored when he realized he was the Circle of Excellence Award recipient.
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“I have been doing this for 50 years and I know the ladies and gentlemen that came before me,” Grojean said. “They got it done, so I’m honored to be in that club.”
Grojean has been a member of the Contact Committee, a group that helps connect members and foster networking within the community, for 40 years. He has also been a board president, worked within several committees and helped with numerous community clubs and activities.
“I’m no different from anyone else,” Grojean said. “I like people and I think that is what makes the chamber so great to me is the opportunity to meet new people and build relationships. It’s rewarding.”
Amy Jackson, a managing partner at Rammelkamp Bradney, said she and her co-workers are honored to be recognized by the chamber.
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“Our attorneys and employees work really hard to provide excellent service for our clients,” Jackson said. “It is exciting to be recognized by the chamber for our commitment to our clients and community.”
To qualify for the large business award, the business must have more than 25 employees.
Sal Vitale, one of the owners of Leo’s Pizza, said his family has owned the restaurant in Jacksonville for 48 years and he is thrilled they have been recognized for their partnership with the community.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be picked,” Vitale said. “It’s nice to know that the work has paid off in the past 48 years and know we did something good…Leo’s is about giving back and being a part of the community.”
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Leslie DeFrates, executive director of the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation, said the foundation has had a lot of support from the community to be able to do what it does each year to support the school district.
“It’s been amazing and overwhelming to do what we have been able to do,” DeFrates said. “We have grown from a little seed and have become able to serve the students, educators and community in what we do.”
Chamber President Lisa Musch said the chamber is happy to recognize the individuals and businesses that receive the awards for the work they’ve done.
“We are excited to honor these three businesses because we think they showcase what is so great about Jacksonville and the community,” Musch said. “Each has a spirit of excellence, hard work and dedication. All are committed to the community.”
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Each business and Grojean were nominated by peers, co-workers or chamber members.
Musch said the business recipients are selected based on their dedication to the community, participation in community events and growth.
The Circle of Excellence is an award given to a retired individual who has participated with the chamber at the board level or on the committees. They must have also served the chamber for 10 years or longer.
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“Tom Grojean has helped foster a sense of excellence and commitment to Jacksonville,” Musch said.