West Chicago announces Brilliance in Business winners

West Chicago is proud to announce the winners of its annual business recognition program, the Brilliance in Business Awards. The awards recognize businesses in five categories for innovation, creativity, sustainability, growth and community service.

Here's a look at the award winners:

Economic Development Award

It was March 2005 when Jerry Haggerty Sr., along with Bill and Jerry Haggerty Jr., acquired the Ford franchise at 601 Roosevelt Road, West Chicago. In November 2009, during the onset of what turned out to be the most significant economic recession in U.S. history since the Great Depression, Haggerty Ford moved to 330 Roosevelt Road, the former site of a Chevrolet dealership for more than 30 years.

The move exemplified the faith Jerry Haggerty felt in the country's resilience and in the leadership of Ford's management team. Since then, Haggerty Ford has increased its sales by 80 percent and its workforce by 35 percent. It currently employees a staff of 34. The company has generated well over $1 million in sales tax revenue, which translates to a positive economic impact for the city.

Community Image Award

Synergy Builders Inc., 850 Meadowview Crossing, recently was recognized by Best Companies Group and Angie's List, which brought very positive attention not only to Synergy but also to West Chicago where it is headquartered.

Synergy Builders, a home remodeling company servicing the Chicago area, has helped hundreds of families with kitchens, bathrooms, additions, lower levels and exteriors since 2002. It aims to provide "Stress Free Remodeling" for the homeowner.

The recent ratings of Synergy's customer service from Angie's List - which awarded Synergy its Super Service Award for areas including price, professionalism and punctuality - is noteworthy. The ranking from Best Companies Group, which recognized Synergy as a Best Place to Work in Illinois for companies with 15 to 99 employees, speaks to Synergy Builders' corporate culture and its ability to attract a creative and talented employment pool to West Chicago.

Community Service Award

For 20 years, ProPak Industries, 1099 Atlantic Drive, has done business in West Chicago and has been responsible for product innovations, including its patented detectable tape and tracer wire, which marks underground utilities. This low-cost step provides assurance that buried utilities such as water, natural gas, phone, fiber-optic and cable lines will be easily located as they are uncovered during development or reconstruction.

The company also has developed a patented laminating process that preserves the detectable qualities of the tape used, as well as a process for integrating a steel-clad casing to copper wire that increases tensile strength.

Equally noteworthy is the compassionate and generous response Proline Safety Products, a division of ProPak Industries, has shown to communities all across the country in the face of natural disasters, through donations of vests, safety cones, safety gloves, suits and tapes.

But, according to the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce, which nominated ProPak, the company's generosity doesn't stop there. ProPak has donated tens of thousands of dollars to causes and organizations including the Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, local elementary schools, middle schools and high schools, PADS and DuPage County Humane Society.

Small Business of the Year

Changarro Restaurant, 1400 S. Neltnor Blvd., has developed a strong, well-deserved following since its opening, and offers a unique fusion of Mexican and Brazilian cuisines.

Its menu caught the attention of WGN-TV's "Chicago's Best," thanks to enthusiastic fan postings on the show's Facebook page. The raves resulted in a shout-out on "Chicago's Best" Belly Warmer segment, where the chicken tortilla soup was featured as a delicious winter warm-up.

The business continues to benefit from reviews and comments posted to multiple social media platforms about the quality of the food and drinks, its gluten-free menu options and the convenient location. It has a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor.

For a small business like Changarro Restaurant to survive in the highly competitive food and beverage industry, it takes a tremendous amount of skill, perseverance and business savvy to differentiate itself and build customer loyalty. Changarro has succeeded, and its success is proof that West Chicago and its surrounding neighbors will support a quality restaurant venue.

Green Initiative Award

A move to West Chicago in 2013 provided additional space for Loggerhead Deco Inc., a leading decorator of screen-printed glass bottles. Its facility at 1187 Hawthorne Lane reflects a $2.1 million growth plan that included the design of the new 27,000-square-foot building for the installation of a multicolor Kammann K15-M CNC production line. This highly specialized printing machine is considered state-of-the-art for decorating glass bottles at high speeds. It provides full bottle coverage printing on round, oval and square-shaped bottles, in addition to printing on the bottle neck.

The equipment also aligns with Loggerhead's commitment to the green movement and the reduction of the packaging carbon footprint. The facility is set up to decrease or eliminate volatile organic compounds from the decorating process by using highly efficient ultraviolet light. The company has chosen to decorate on substrates known to be eco-friendly, and has strategic partnerships with manufacturers that support this initiative through their own sustainable policies.

"It is truly an honor and a privilege to have these businesses in West Chicago," said John D. Said, West Chicago's director of community development. "They, like so many others that have and will continue to be recognized through this program over the years, have invested here, hired local residents and otherwise contribute to make the community a better place for all."

Mayor Ruben Pineda and city staff members plan to visit each of the businesses to congratulate representatives on receiving the prestigious designation. The awards will be presented Dec. 1 at the city council meeting.