ELMHURST CHAMBER HONORS GREAT AMERICAN EXTERIORS
AS A.J. “TOCHE” TERRONES BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
ELMHURST, Ill., November 20, 2002 – Great American Exteriors of Elmhurst was named A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year for 2002 at the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Annual Meeting/Silent Auction held at Elmhurst College’s Frick Center last Tuesday (November 19).
Doug Kuester, President of Great American Exteriors (478 Spring Road), accepted the award on behalf of his 15-year-old home improvement business. Also in attendance was Ed Andrychowski, the company’s Vice President.
A Chamber member since 1991, Great American Exteriors also has been active in the Spring Road Business Association since the company’s founding in 1987.
This year, Great American Exteriors became the inaugural home page sponsor of the Chamber’s website (www.elmhurstchamber.org), and continued its financial backing for Spring Road’s memorial fountain project, AMERICA – Elmhurst Remembers!
The award, which features a traveling trophy and permanent plaque, is given to the member business that has best served the Elmhurst Chamber and the community.
It is named in memory of Toche Terrones, who served as Chamber President (formerly Executive Director) for nearly a decade until his death in July of 1999.
The award presentation was made by the outgoing Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, Adam Hudelson, Market President at US Bank (South York Street); Chamber President John Quigley; and Lee Ferry, Owner and President of Cardinal Cartridge, Inc. (211 Spangler Avenue), the 2001 award recipient.
Previous Business of the Year honorees include 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 Great American Exteriors until the 2003 Annual Meeting, while an award plaque with the name of Great American Exteriors is on display at the Chamber office.
Great American Exteriors also has served as Parade Central for Elmhurst’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, an event that Kuester first organized in 1997.
Kuester has served several terms as President and Treasurer of the Spring Road Business Association, while Andrychowski is currently serving as the Treasurer.
A Villa Park resident, Kuester founded Great American Exteriors after 20 years with Sears Roebuck & Co. in the Installed Home Improvement Division. He held the position of Midwestern Territory Installation Manager with responsibilities for sales, installation and service of home improvement products for Sears stores in a 13-state area.
Andrychowski, who resides in Algonquin, is the former owner of Quik Flo, Inc., a home improvement sub-contracting company. He also served as a siding, soffit/facia and gutter installer for Sears in the Chicagoland area.
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.