Awards & Recognition

Business Person(s) of the Year

Business of the Year 2026

Chamber Board Director Tom Welge announced the recipients of the 2026 Business of The Year are Ames Construction, all members of the trades and every man and woman who helped design and build the Don Welge Memorial Bridge.

Jul 12

Bob Welker, retired general manager at Rozier's Country Market in Chester, at center. At left is President Chris Koeneman and at right, David Randall, the Chamber's executive director.

Business Person of the Year 2026

Chamber Board Director Gwendy Garner presented the 2026 Business Person of the Year award to Bob Welker, who retired earlier this year from his position of General Manager of Rozier's Country Market in Chester, a position he held for 24 years.

Jul 12

Citizen of the Year

Citizen of the Year 2026

Chamber Board Director Chris Blechle presented the 2026 Citizen of the Year award to long time Chester resident Neal Adams. Adams is known for the multitude of videos that he makes and places on social media of the construction of the Chester Bridge from 2023 till present.

Jul 12

Past Citizens of the Year

1973 - Harry Katz

1974 - Gene Baughman

1975 - Bertha Mae Blechle

1976 - Edna Cress

1977 - Vernon & Dorothy Decker

1978 - Jim Kipp

1979 - Rudelle Welge

1980 - Eileen Gordon

1981 - Colette Powley

1982 - Carl Gardiner

1983 - Terry Moore

1984 - Danny James

1985 - Gordon "Bud" Cohen

1986 - Dr. Milton Zemlyn

1987 - Linda Roth

1988 - Charles Welton

1989 - Jude William G. Juergens

1990 - Charles Buatte

1991 - William "Sleepy" McLaughlin

1992 - Donald Welge

1993 - Dick Roth

1994 - Wib & Julia Saak

1995 - Manley & Mary Limbaugh

1996 - Charles & Jean Ramsey

1997 - David Sheets

1998 - Ted Search

1999 - Tom Page

2000 - Mike McClure

2001 - Frank Derikson

2002 - Hilda Fey

2003 - Ralph & Bonnie Kipp

2004 - Mike & Donna Ritter

2005 - Gwendy Garner

2006 - Ernie Schuchert

2007 - Reyburn Kraft

2008 - Bill Marcinkowski

2009 - Eric Feeburg

2010 - S.F. "Bus" Brown

2011 - Robert "Bob" Koenegstine

2012 - Mary Ann Stumpe

2013 - Tammy Grah

2014 - Carolyn Schwent

2015 - Debbie & Mike Brooks

2016 - Michael Lochhead

2017 - Don & Linda Stallman

2017 - Betty Wagner

2018 - Tom Welge (Bus/Yr)

2018 - Eugene "Lee" Hollaway

2019 - Robert "Bob" Decker

2019 - Norma "Jo" Koeneman (Bus/Yr)

2020 - NO AWARD GIVEN

2021 - The Late Donald Welge

2021 - Linda Schafer (Bus/Yr)

2022 - Linda Sympson

2022 - Dr. Robert Platt (Bus/Yr)

2023 - Charlie Bargman

2023 - Mary Sulser (Bus/Yr)

2023 - Mike Liefer (Bus/Yr)

2024 - Mike Coffey

2024 - Kurt Schroeder (Bus/Yr)

2024 - Dr. Stephen Platt (Bus/Yr)

2025 - Brenda Owen

2025 - Dr. James Krieg (Bus/Yr)

2025 - Jessica Buatte (Bus/Yr)

2026 - Neal Adams

2026 - Robert "Bob" Welker (Bus/Yr)

2026 - Ames Construction (Bus/Yr)

Businesses Recognized for Years of Service in 2026

Dieterich Bank

Over 100 Years of Service

Chester VFW Kaskaskia Post 3553

79 Years of Service

Chester

Chrysler Center

92 Years of Service

Fisher, Kerkhover, Coffey, & Gremmels

79 Years of Service

First Baptist Church

89 Years of Service