Hoffman chamber honors businesses for innovation, resourcefulness amid pandemic

The Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce & Industry's annual Celebration of Excellence became an in-person dinner again Thursday night after going virtual in 2021.

But for a second time, the criteria for the events' awards included a community-minded demonstration of innovation and resourcefulness in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the dinner at the Chicago Marriott Northwest in Hoffman Estates, winners were named in the categories of Business of the Year (the Bear Family McDonald's Restaurants), Small Business of the Year (Pinot's Palette), Public Sector/Nonprofit Partner of the Year (the Hoffman Estates Professional Firefighters) and Volunteer of the Year (Tempia Courts).

The categories' other, more regular criteria include consistent and positive contributions to the chamber and its mission; support of the community through stimulation of economic growth; and volunteerism supporting social, health or philanthropic work.