Business leader recalled warmly at awards dinner

The presentation of "business leader of the year" drew an emotional response Thursday at the Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce's Circle of Success dinner.

The nearly 160 guests applauded the family of Matt Hill, the former executive vice president of Cornerstone National Bank & Trust, who succumbed to stomach cancer in November and died at the age of 50.

Hill was awarded the honor posthumously, leading to the heartfelt tribute at the end of the evening.

In attendance was Hill's wife, Sharon, who accepted the award, along with seven of their eight children, and many of Hill's nine siblings, all natives of Rolling Meadows, and his mother, Dorothy.

"He lived almost his entire life in Rolling Meadows," Sharon Hill said. "We bought our first home here, and we could never move. He just thought it was a nice place to raise a family."

Colleagues pointed to Hill's activism in the Rotary Club, as well as with St. Colette Church and School, and in the city itself, as a prominent business leader.

"Matt really supported the community, day in and day out," said Rolling Meadows Mayor Kenneth Nelson.

The dinner took place at the Meadows Club, the newly renovated banquet facility whose officials picked up the chamber's Community Enhancement Award along with the Holiday Inn, in Rolling Meadows.

Chamber officials also presented a Lifetime Achievement award to state Rep. Carolyn Krause, who is retiring this year after serving in Springfield since 1993.

"She has been a strong advocate for the city of Rolling Meadows, in Springfield," Nelson added.

Volunteer of the Year honors went to Tony Gurgiolo of Rolling Meadows. The Arlington Heights-based CPA, has started a networking group for the chamber, as well as a small business support group.

"I enjoy bringing people together," Gurgiolo said.

Officials named Komatsu America Corp., a manufacturer of construction equipment and located in Rolling Meadows, the "Business of the Year."