ELMHURST CHAMBER HONORS BANQUET HALL AS A.J. “TOCHE” TERRONES BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
ELMHURST, Ill., January 20, 2009 – The Diplomat West Banquet Halls (681 West North Avenue) will receive the A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year Award for 2008 at the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 90th Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon held in the Diplomat’s Presidential Room on Wednesday, January 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The annual award is given based on a member’s contributions to the Chamber’s success, to the betterment of both the business community and Elmhurst community, and impact in their field of business, each in the given year and historically, along with years in business and years as a Chamber member.
“Diplomat West impacts Elmhurst’s economy on so many levels,” said John Quigley, Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer. “The banquet hall serves as a major venue for Chamber events, and caters to an array of bookings, including wedding receptions, political gatherings, business expositions and not-for-profit fundraisers.”
“I am surprised and honored by this,” said Tom Shubalis, Owner of Diplomat West. “It’s going to be strange being on the other side.”
Diplomat West opened its doors in 1973 and Shubalis purchased the banquet hall business from founders Ted and Christ Stamison in 1996. The banquet hall will mark its 35th Anniversary as a Chamber member in May.
The award presentation will be made by Debra Klosterman, Outgoing Chairman of the Board, and Quigley. Joining them in the award presentation will be Blanche Hill, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Suburban Bank & Trust Co., the 2007 Business of the Year recipient. Hill will receive an acrylic Business of the Year plaque to put on display at any of SBT’s four Elmhurst branches.
The award, which features a traveling trophy and permanent plaque, is named in memory of A.J. “Toche” Terrones, who served as Chamber President for nearly a decade until his death in July of 1999.
Previous Business of the Year honorees are SBT (2007), Larry Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge (2006), York Theatre (2005), Synergistic Networks, Inc. (2004), Silverado Grill (2003), Great American Exteriors (2002), Cardinal Cartridge, Inc. (2001), Unique Travel Service, Ltd. (2000) and Community Bank of Elmhurst (1999).
The traveling trophy of imported 24% German lead crystal atop a mahogany wood base will be displayed at Diplomat West until the Chamber’s 2010 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon, while an award plaque with a nameplate listing Diplomat West is on permanent display at the Chamber office.
Diplomat West also has served as the anchor business for the single-story strip mall at the northwest corner of North Avenue and Route 83. In 2005, Shubalis bought the property with an eye toward redeveloping the strip mall.
Ironically, Shubalis gave up his retirement to run a business that handles some 1,000 events per year—the Chamber’s Annual Meeting, New Teachers Luncheon and “Passport To Success” Business-To-Business Expo among them.
“You meet a lot of different people and, if you make them happy, it’s very rewarding,” said Shubalis, who worked his was through school as a busboy, waiter, maоtre d’, and even emergency cook at the former Seven Countries in Wheeling.
An Oak Brook resident, Shubalis has owned seven liquor stores in Chicagoland, sports bars in Chicago and Bridgeview, and Sugar Plums Restaurant in Schaumburg.
Established in 1918, the Elmhurst Chamber is a voluntary organization of business and professional men and women who have joined together for the purpose of promoting the civic and commercial progress of the community.
The Chamber also serves the needs of its members through services, programs and events that provide opportunities for networking and referral, business education, development and promotion, governmental representation and community involvement.
— 30 —