|
|
|
On a day when the Morton Economic Development Council celebrated the village’s new business and cultural ties with China, it also honored two hometown icons.
Gordon and Jean Ann Honegger, co-chairs of Morton Community Bank, were presented the Venture Award on Friday at the council’s annual meeting and luncheon at the Embassy Suites. The award recognizes the Honeggers’ track record of business success, entrepreneurial and leadership skills and dedication to Morton.
“You represent everything that’s good about our community,” said award presenter Bill Morton of Morton Development, last year’s award winner.
While Gordon Honegger joked about something being “sinister” in the air because the bank sponsored the luncheon, his wife became emotional and said the award was “over the top.”
The China-themed luncheon — with a menu that included Asian salad, wontons, ginger and garlic pork loin, roasted vegetable fried rice, mandarin orange sorbet and a fortune cookie — concluded with the announcement of a business recruitment and sightseeing trip to China to visit Tiantai, the village’s sister city.
Beijing and Shanghai also are stops on the Oct. 4-12 journey, which will depart from and return to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Cost is $2,270 for double occupancy and includes airfare, hotels and some meals.
Tiantai is the home of Zhejiang Yinlun Machinery Co., China’s leading manufacturer of heat-exchanger products, which opened its North American headquarters last fall in a 50,000-square-foot building on Commerce Drive in Morton. The sister city arrangement between Morton and Tiantai became official last fall.
Council Vice President Mike Witzig announced that eight new businesses including Yinlun opened in Morton in 2011, and four businesses expanded. Together, Witzig said, they created an estimated 146 new jobs.
Witzig also announced that a study done last year concluded that Morton is a suitable location for a 16- to 20-acre water park.
“The park would be a tourist attraction that would make Morton a destination for families,” he said.
Keynote speaker for the luncheon was Warren Ribley, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
On a day when the Morton Economic Development Council celebrated the village’s new business and cultural ties with China, it also honored two hometown icons.
Gordon and Jean Ann Honegger, co-chairs of Morton Community Bank, were presented the Venture Award on Friday at the council’s annual meeting and luncheon at the Embassy Suites. The award recognizes the Honeggers’ track record of business success, entrepreneurial and leadership skills and dedication to Morton.
“You represent everything that’s good about our community,” said award presenter Bill Morton of Morton Development, last year’s award winner.
While Gordon Honegger joked about something being “sinister” in the air because the bank sponsored the luncheon, his wife became emotional and said the award was “over the top.”
The China-themed luncheon — with a menu that included Asian salad, wontons, ginger and garlic pork loin, roasted vegetable fried rice, mandarin orange sorbet and a fortune cookie — concluded with the announcement of a business recruitment and sightseeing trip to China to visit Tiantai, the village’s sister city.
Beijing and Shanghai also are stops on the Oct. 4-12 journey, which will depart from and return to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Cost is $2,270 for double occupancy and includes airfare, hotels and some meals.
Tiantai is the home of Zhejiang Yinlun Machinery Co., China’s leading manufacturer of heat-exchanger products, which opened its North American headquarters last fall in a 50,000-square-foot building on Commerce Drive in Morton. The sister city arrangement between Morton and Tiantai became official last fall.
Council Vice President Mike Witzig announced that eight new businesses including Yinlun opened in Morton in 2011, and four businesses expanded. Together, Witzig said, they created an estimated 146 new jobs.
Witzig also announced that a study done last year concluded that Morton is a suitable location for a 16- to 20-acre water park.
“The park would be a tourist attraction that would make Morton a destination for families,” he said.
Keynote speaker for the luncheon was Warren Ribley, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
