AURORA REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAUNCHES NEW AWARDS PROGRAM: BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
 
Applications for nominations are now open with the deadline closing Friday, June 17
 
(AURORA, IL, May 16, 2022) – The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, the voice of and catalyst for business success in the Aurora region, announced the launch of the new Business Excellence Awards that seek to honor the distinctiveness of the members in the Chamber. Applications for nominations are now open through Friday, June 17.
 
Recognizing the outstanding businesses that demonstrate strength, innovation, and leadership, the Business Excellence Awards will also honor an individual, who through their work, has proven to be a champion of the Chamber. Any chamber member can nominate a business or an individual. Applications can be accessed at https://bit.ly/NominateAnExcellentBusiness. Award winners will be announced during the Celebration of Business Excellence gala set for Thursday, July 28.
 
“There have been so many examples of business success, innovation and resiliency across the Aurora region over the past couple of years, and the Chamber felt it was important, and necessary, to recognize and honor those achievements. The Business Excellence Awards will do just that,” said Jessica Linder Gallo, President & CEO, Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce. “To really celebrate with our members, we’ve also rebranded our annual membership luncheon into a gala worthy of the great work being done across the region. The new Celebration of Business Excellence is an evening awards ceremony where member businesses can come together and honor one another.”
 
Nomination Criteria
For 2022, there are two main award categories: Business Excellence, awarded to businesses across four company sizes and including non-profits, and the Chamber Champion, awarded to an individual. Below is a list of the 2022 award categories for which nominations can be submitted.

• Nonprofit Excellence: Honors an outstanding not-for-profit organization with fewer than 100 employees

• Micro Business Excellence:  Honors a business with 10 or fewer employees

• Small Business Excellence: Honors a business with 11-25 employees

• Mid-Size Business Excellence: Honors a business with 26-100 employees

• Large Business Excellence Award: Honors a business with greater than 100 employees

• Chamber Champion: Honors an outstanding individual who promotes growth in Chamber membership and fosters the development of business in the Aurora Regional Chamber through personal contribution

Business Excellence award nominees should be able to demonstrate meeting community needs and contributing toward the prosperity of the region. The Chamber Champion nominees should be someone who values and embodies the Chamber’s core values. Other nomination criteria include:

• Demonstration of innovation and/or growth in a changing world; business demonstrates passion and energy for success in their industry

• Accomplishment of significantly unique or important milestones in the past year

• Demonstrated history of putting people first as well as valuing and embracing diversity; company shows innovation in employee culture

• Consistent demonstration of an ongoing commitment to making big impacts in the community

• Organization stands out in community and Chamber involvement

What’s in it for the Winners?

• Featured on Good Morning Aurora (the week following the awards ceremony)

• Spotlight by the Chamber in the Chamber Newsletter and on social media

• Featured on an episode of Something’s Brewing at the Chamber

• Press release about award winners distributed by the Chamber

• Recognition the night of the Annual Celebration of Business

• Physical Award

• And the all-important, bragging rights for the year!

Awards will be judged by Chamber executives across the country to eliminate bias in the judging process. Nominees must be Chamber members in good standing in order for the nomination to be considered by the judges. The deadline to nominate a deserving organization or professional is Friday, June 17. Learn more at AuroraChamber.com.
 
About the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce is the voice of and the catalyst for business success. We unite businesses with the community to create economic prosperity while facilitating connections with community leaders. For more than 100 years, we have served the greater Aurora region across four counties (DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will), and currently represent nearly 600 businesses. We have earned the 5-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an honor bestowed on only 1% of Chambers nationwide. Learn more at aurorachamber.com.