The Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce is awarding a number of Community Star awards, including one to Park Ridge Park District Executive Director Gayle Mountcastle. Eric P. Davis / Pioneer Press
The Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce announced its yearly winners of the Community Star Awards, given to selected Park Ridge leaders and business owners, ahead of its reception this weekend.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jacqueline Mathews said the awards are given each year to celebrate local leaders, and that previous presidents of the Chamber of Commerce select the winners. A reception is scheduled for Feb. 24 at The Harp and Fiddle.
This year’s Business of the Year award was given to Coyne and Company Insurance. According to Mathews, the insurance company set roots in Chicago 70 years ago and is run by brothers Ed and Matt Coyne.
The Coynes’ role in Park Ridge carries over to their philanthropy work for The Harbor, a Park Ridge non-profit dedicated to offering immediate, stable, and safe housing to youth and young mothers experiencing homelessness. Both brothers have also been on the board of Avenues to Independence, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with disabilities lead independent lives.
“(Ed and Matt) support car shows, they support the Taste of Park Ridge, I mean they’re just great community members,” Mathews said.
This year’s Community Stars include Kiwanis Park Ridge Co-President Kristine Cichowski, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Chief Operating Officer Cindy Mahal van Brenk, Rotary Club of Park Ridge President and former Executive Director of the Center of Concern John McNabola, Park Ridge Community Fund Volunteer Sharon Showalter and Park Ridge Park District Executive Director Gayle Mountcastle, who will retire in May, according to Mathews.
The President’s Award, an award given by the outgoing president of the Chamber of Commerce, was awarded to Nick Fallico, a real estate broker and son of real estate broker Craig Fallico. In 2023, the duo won the business of the year for Team Fallico.
“Nick is a great guy,” said Mathews. “Whatever you ask of Nick, he will do it and does an amazing job.”
This year’s Heart of the Chamber award was given to Margaret Holler, the Park Ridge Park District’s marketing and public relations director. Mathews said she created the award when she began working at the chamber to recognize unsung people who made an incredible impact on the chamber. In Holler’s case, Mathews commended her work revamping the chamber’s website as a volunteer.
The reception scheduled for Feb. 24 will have limited reservations and have a four course dinner at $150 per person. Those who wish to make a reservation can email Mathews at jackie@parkridgechamber.org.
