ELMHURST CHAMBER HONORS FAMILY BANK AS A.J. “TOCHE” TERRONES BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
ELMHURST, Ill., January 16, 2008 – Suburban Bank & Trust Company (150 Butterfield Road) will receive the A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year Award for 2007 at the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 89th Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon in the Presidential Room at the Diplomat West Banquet Halls (681 West North Avenue) on Wednesday, January 23, 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.
“Suburban Bank & Trust is a business that impacts Elmhurst on so many levels,” said John Quigley, Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer. “Expanding from two to four locations in Elmhurst alone, SBT contributes municipally through its property taxes, business-wise as a key player in a growing banking concern and community-wide through its many philanthropic and charitable endeavors.”
“Our family has had the privilege of being involved in this community for more than 48 years. My husband and I raised our family here. We started our businesses in Elmhurst that continue to thrive. Every day, as I look around town, it’s clear that here in Elmhurst we are richly blessed with our excellent schools, parks, the library, the hospital, the college, our museums and so many organizations that do so much to improve the quality of life in this community. It gives me great pleasure, both personally and professionally, to give back to a community that has done so much for us over the years,” said Blanche E. Hill, who succeeded her late husband, David B. Hill Jr., as SBT’s President, CEO and Chairman of the Board in 2002.
“In February, we’ll open our fourth location in Elmhurst, on Park Avenue. With the opening of Park, we look forward to doing business with our downtown customers right in their own neighborhood, and welcoming new families and businesses to the convenience of banking with SBT,” said Jenny Rabideau, Director of Marketing.
A Chamber member since 1996, SBT was founded in 1976 by a group of businessmen that included Al Nowczyk, Dan Bash and David Hill, Jr., all of whom served as Chairman, President and CEO. David B. Hill, III, Owner of Superior Air-Ground Ambulance (395 West Lake Street), now serves SBT as Board Vice Chairman.
The original site at 150 Butterfield Road still serves as SBT’s main branch and headquarters for the Commercial Loan Department and Trust Department.
With the acquisition of First Security Bank of Wood Dale in 1996, and Southwest Financial Bancorp in 1997, SBT grew to seven branches. In 1998, SBT opened its eighth branch in north Elmhurst at 400 West Lake Street and in 2000, SBT opened its ninth branch in Oak Lawn. The Wheaton branch was opened in 2005. The 513 Spring Road branch opened in 2007 and the Elmhurst City Centre branch at 130 West Park Avenue will open later this month.
With assets in excess of $641 million, SBT serves families and businesses in the western and southern suburbs, and the Beverly neighborhood in Chicago.
Suburban Bank & Trust has been the Bronze Sponsor of the NASCAR-style Micro-Reality Stock Car Racing at Elmfest and a Keynote Speaker sponsor at the Business-To-Business Expo, both since 2006, and no less than a full hole sponsor at the Chamber’s Golf Outing since 2004.
SBT’s philanthropic involvement includes Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst Historical Museum, Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, Elmhurst Park District, Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation’s (ECAF) Cool Kiddie Cars, Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst, Elmhurst Rotary Club, Elmhurst Lions Club and Glenwood School for Boys and Girls. The bank also supports the District 205 Foundation for Educational Excellence, Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Spring Road Business Association, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst YMCA, Special Kids Day and United Community Concerns Association’s Food Drive.
Hill currently serves as the President of the Art Museum’s Board of Directors, and is a member of Board of Trustees of both the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation and Glenwood Schools.
The award presentation will be made by Dare Messina, Outgoing Chairman of the Board, and Quigley. Joining them in the award presentation will be Dan Roesch, Owner of Larry Roesch Family Auto Group, and Paul Koch, Roesch’s Partner and General Manager at Larry Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge, the 2006 Business of the Year recipient. They will receive an acrylic Business of the Year plaque to put on permanent display at Larry Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge.
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 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 Suburban Bank & Trust locations until the 2009 Annual Meeting, while an award plaque with a nameplate listing Suburban Bank & Trust is on permanent display at the Chamber office.
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.