Volunteer work makes body shop owner Batavia Citizen of the Year
The Batavia High School girls gymnastics team owes its existence and its head coach to Marcia Boyce.
Her daughter, Taryn, was a competitive gymnast in the late 1980s. With two other gymnasts' mothers, Boyce raised money for a high school team for three years and persuaded the school board to add it in 1990.
Her daughter is now its head coach.
Boyce's willingness to step up is one of the reasons she has been named the Batavia Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce.
"Through her tireless dedication to nonprofit organizations, Marcia's hands-on, go-getter attitude has been at the forefront of the success of many Batavia gems. From the Batavia United Way to Water Street Studios, Marcia has brought great direction to them in their time of need," chamber Director Holly Deitchman said in a news release.
Boyce, 63, is co-owner with her husband, Ken, of Boyce Body Werks. They started it in 1985 in Batavia and now have a second shop in Naperville. Boyce, with a background in accounting, manages the administrative aspects of the business. Her husband is semiretired, and their two sons work for the business.
She is the 60th Citizen of the Year.
Boyce began volunteering at Gustafson Elementary School when her children were there and continued as they advanced through middle school and high school.
Her community involvement really picked up after she was nominated to attend the chamber's Leadership Symposium in the mid-1990s, Boyce said. The 12-week symposium featured speakers from various organizations.
"I learned everything about Batavia. That was when I got involved," Boyce said. "That was the beginning."
She started serving with the chamber, including helping start its Batavia Women in Business group. She served with Batavia MainStreet, the United Way and CHIP IN Batavia and Water Street Studios, among other organizations.
The chamber has also announced that the Rotary Club is the recipient of the second annual Spirit of Batavia Award, which is given to a group that has made significant contributions to the community.
The Batavia chapter has been around since 1948. It helped support the July 4 fireworks show in its early days, contributed to the development of the Riverwalk, and is supporting the expansion of the Depot Museum. It also contributes to Rotary International programs to eradicate polio, fight hunger, provide clean water and promote literacy.
Both awards will be bestowed at the Inspire banquet Jan. 25 at the Nagel Emporium at Abbey Farms. To buy a ticket, call the chamber at (630) 879-7134 or visit bataviachamber.org.