Chamber news Ole winners announced

Congratulations to the 2020 Ole Award Winners and our Ambassador of the Year

Every year, the Batavia Chamber honors businesses who exemplify confidence and investment in Batavia as Ole Award Winners. This year, seven businesses will be honored at the Inspire 2021: A Celebration of Those Who Inspire Us! event, to be held on Thurs., May 20.

A committee of Batavia Chamber members, along with representation from the City of Batavia and Batavia Chamber staff, evaluate all Batavia businesses who meet the final permit timing qualifications. To review the improvements and/or new construction, a visit to the candidate is made, along with qualifying conversations. After deliberation, the committee selects those businesses whose investment and confidence in Batavia stands out as the year’s Ole Award winners.

The Ole honorees for 2020 are: • New Construction—Industrial: Cratos, LLC., builder, 1850 E. Fabyan Pkwy. • Remodeling—Industrial: Cast Aluminum Solutions

Research and Development Technical Center, 1250 Douglas Rd. • Remodeling—Industrial: Midwest Industrial Funds/

Second City Prints, 1020 Olympic Dr. • Remodeling—Industrial: SD Wheel, 1300 S. River St. • New Construction—Commercial: The Boardwalk

Shops (City of Batavia and Batavia MainStreet), 114 E. Wilson St. • Remodeling—Commercial: Oak & Swine, 107 E. Wilson St. • Remodeling —Commercial: Six + Cypress, 103 E. Wilson St.

Additionally, a huge congratulations to Batavia citizen Michelle (Mike) Burke who was named Ambassador of the Year for 2020 for the Batavia Chamber of Commerce! In a year when many of the Chamber’s events were postponed or moved online, Mike set herself apart by attending as many events as she could to welcome new members and help them to connect with other members. Besides being engaged with the Chamber, Mike is an active member and the president of the Batavia Women’s Club. She also serves on the Batavia Parks Foundation board and is a past major supporter of Batavia Youth Baseball and many other organizations supporting the vitality and strength of Batavia.

High School Seniors! Apply for Inspire Scholarships

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is giving four scholarships of $500 each to Batavia High School seniors. The financial award is paid directly to the institute the recipient will be attending. The scholarships are: • Inspiring Entrepreneurship: For a student who has interest in starting a business to encourage consideration to locate in Batavia someday. • Inspiring Women in Business: For a female high school student interested in a business major to encourage more females to pursue these fields. • Inspiring Career & Technical Achievers: For a high school student interested in a trade or career in

manufacturing. • Inspiring Contributors to a Batavia Chamber

Business: For a high school student for working for a Batavia Chamber business in Batavia during high school.

Applications for any of these scholarships are currently being accepted, as are donations to grow the fund. The application must be fully completed and submitted to the Batavia Chamber by 4pm Fri., April 30. Visit bataviachamber.org to donate and find the link to the applications. Upcoming Events

Multi-Chamber 2021 Economic Outlook* Wed., March 3, 10am Multi-Chamber Boot Camp Series* Thurs., March 4, 11, 18, & 25, 9am. Batavia Breakfast Club (BC2)* Wed., March 10 & Wed., April 14, 8am

Batavia Women in Business After Hours Networking* Thurs., March 11, 5pm, Net-Working It!* Wed., March 17 & April 21, 4:30pm VIA Professional Group Presents: Human Resources: Benefits Trends & Tips* Wed., March 17, 9am

*Registration required, please visit bataviachamber.org. Events through March are virtual; April events to be decided.

•Bangarang Foods •Batavia Body Werx •Derin Fine Art •Kristen Holly, LLC •Platinum Patio and Pavers •Second City Prints LLC •Self-Care for Success, Brian Rooney, Ph.D.

Welcome New Chamber Members

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome our newest members!

An eclectic collection of what’s happening in Batavia

Congratulations to Neighbors Magazines’ Anita Malik. Alignable, an online small business referral network has named her Batavia’s 2021 Local Business Person Of The Year.

After sorting through more than 86,000 votes and testimonials from members, they have unveiled the local winners of the most popular (and competitive) contest they’ve ever had. All winners were singled out for going above and beyond to help peers and their communities power through the COVID Era.

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening of the new location for Soma Studio Batavia with a ribbon cutting Feb. 6. Now located at 103 E. Wilson St., 2nd Floor, Soma Studio is a wellness/ yoga studio dedicated to creating a community and peaceful place to connect like-minded people. This was the first event in the studio’s day-long celebration that included free classes, raffles, and much more.

According to owner Denise Espinosa, soma means body in Greek, the language of her native country, so it was natural for her to name her yoga studio Soma. Classes are designed to challenge, transform, and empower. She describes the studio as a space of healing the emotional body and mind, through relaxation, Reiki, meditation, essential oils and a place of acceptance, community, and friendship. A wide variety of classes and events are offered, including aerial yoga, kids’ yoga, restorative yoga, beginners’ yoga, Vinyasa Flow, meditation and much more.

For more information, visit somastudiobatavia.com, 847-691-9082.

Batavia’s own Red Hive Market was featured on WGN’s Weekend Break. The Chicagoland area was treated to a glimpse of the Red Hive Market on Sat., Feb. 6 on WGN-TV.

Host Marcella Raymond interviewed artists working in the cooperative space. View the segment here.

Red Hive Market features unique treasures created

by 16 artisans. Everything is homemade. Buy a finished item or supplies to create your own. 10% of March sales will be donated to the BPS101 PTOs. Shop in person at the market at 6 W. Wilson, 630-326-9016, or shop online at redhivemarket.com.

The WindMill Grille & Pizzeria is now open for carry out. Located at 90 N. Island Ave., the family -owned restaurant features homemade dishes including a full range of appetizers, salads, pastas, seafood, steaks, burgers, sandwiches, and of course great handcrafted pizzas. Find the WindMill Grille at 90 N. Island Ave., Batavia, 630-326-9717. View the full menu and place your order on line at windmillgrillepizzeria.com.

The Daily Herald Business Ledger announced that BFC and Second City Prints are recipients of the 2021 Annual Awards for Business Excellence (AABE). The two Batavia businesses are Batavia Chamber of Commerce members and were nominated by the chamber. They will be honored during a Zoom event that takes place on Thurs., March 18.

BFC is a family business engaged in the print, fulfillment, and technology solutions industry. Of the 90 people employed, nine of them are family members; led by brothers Matt, Brad, and Joe Novak, with sister Karen McMahon. They are deeply engrained in helping the communities of their owners and employees.

Second City Prints is a boutique merchandise management company for the music and entertainment industries and was founded by Batavian Stevie Hopkins. The company’s inclusive philosophy stems from an original company, 3E Love, which was started by Stevie’s sister Anne. 3E stands for the 3Es of the business’s social message: Embrace diversity. Educate your community. Empower one another.

Batavia Environmental Commission has chosen GreenSeed Contract Packaging as the Green Ole Award winner. This is the second year that the Batavia Environmental Commission selected a recipient for a Green Ole Award. Businesses that improved water quality and water conservation, were energy conscious, promoted healthy ecology, were more sustainable in their waste management, improved air quality and/ or educated employees were encouraged to apply and showcase the work they are doing to make Batavia more eco-friendly.

The company creates flexible packaging that requires less water to manufacture. According to Emma Cole, Batavia Environmental Commission member, “Finding ways to reduce waste and responsibly meet packaging needs is a huge piece of the sustainability puzzle. GreenSeed is committed to thinking differently and helping solve the problem of single-use packaging through advancing compostable packaging technology, policy changes, and working with their clients on each project so packaging is individualized and less wasteful.” The award will be presented at the Batavia Chamber of Commerce’s Inspire 2021: A Celebration of Those Who Inspire Us! event on Thurs., May 20.

Strikers Fox Valley Soccer Club is proud to announce that Fox Valley Orthopedics (FVO), will serve as an official partner for the Tri-Cities based professional youth soccer club.

“We’re excited to partner with an organization that gives young athletes an opportunity to develop as soccer players, and that values the importance of keeping players healthy,” said Fox Valley Orthopedics President, Dr. Vishal Mehta. “It’s our goal to provide prevention education to each player, and when necessary, treatment to reduce further injury, foster recovery, and ensure safe-return-to-play.”

“I am ecstatic about this announcement, and welcome Fox Valley Orthopedics on board as a Strikers FVSC official sponsor,” said club president Pat Feulner. “Our members can be proud to have the professional support of such a fine healthcare organization that will give our players access to these important resources,” he added. “What a way to kick off our One Community, One Club campaign—I look forward to a very productive relationship with Fox Valley Orthopedics.”