There’s some shiny new hardware proudly on display in a variety of business offices across Michigan’s Great Southwest today following a packed-house celebration in the Grand Upton Hall of the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center for Arts & Technologies in Benton Harbor.
Local businesses and business professionals were recognized by colleagues at the combined Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstone Alliance 2019 Business Recognition Breakfast this morning, Thursday, February 14, 2019.
The joint event hosted more than 450 people in attendance, and was sponsored by Chamber member’s Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Kruggel Lawton CPAs, Silver Beach Pizza, United Federal Credit Union, and Anji Monique Photography.
Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce President Chris Heugel said, “It’s an absolute honor to have Travel Michigan’s David Lorenz as this year’s key note speaker and we are incredibly humbled that he accepted our invitation. This morning we recognized the achievements of local businesses in our great community and were so proud to help celebrate their accomplishments. Congratulations to this year’s winners on the impact they are making in Michigan’s Great Southwest.”
The following stories share the news of the award winners from this morning’s event:
YOUNG BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD
This year’s recipient of the Young Business Leader of the Year Award is Jonah McDonough, owner of a local State Farm Insurance agency.
Jonah McDonough received his B.A. from Anderson University before starting his own State Farm Insurance Company in St. Joseph; since then has begun exceeding State Farm’s expectations. As an agent Jonah pushes his team to excel by encouraging them to sell not just any product, but the right product for that particular customer. As one of the youngest agents in the area, Jonah strives to be the best overall, and it shows.
Currently, Jonah is a member of the Cornerstone Chamber Young Professionals, a Board Member of Southwest Michigan Young Life, United Way Cabinet member, is the husband to his wife Sara, and father to their three children.
SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
The Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award Recipient is Competitive Edge. 
Competitive Edge, a full-service promotional products company focusing on branded merchandise and web-based company e-stores, has been working with customers across the globe for 25 years. Founded by CEO Mary Jo Tomasini in 1993, she and her team have grown Competitive Edge from a basement office of one employee to its headquarters in Stevensville, and most recently extending their reach with the opening of a second location in Denver, Colorado. The promotional products company now employs a staff of 22 and is consistently ranked among the top 1-percent of more than 20,000 promotional products distributors nationwide.
The women-owned business has been recognized by its peers and colleagues and has received many awards ranging from “Best Places to Work” to “Top 50 Women Owned Businesses in Michigan.” The organization has also received several Platinum, Gold and Silver awards from Cornerstone Chamber throughout the years. You can learn more about how Competitive Edge can help you with your advertising and branding by visiting their website www.competitive-edge.net
EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
The Chamber’s Excellence in Customer Service Award winner for this year is Starks Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Losing a loved one is something that all of us will eventually experience. The team at Starks Family Funeral Homes takes our services of families seriously through compassion, flexibility and individual services. We encourage our families to create a true celebration of life, whether that includes a church service, a luncheon in our community room or a send off at Tiscornia Beach. We believe every family matters and they are unique in their own celebration.
For the last 17 years, with over 100+ years of experience, 50+ team members and 7 locations throughout Cass, Van Buren and Berrien Counties, our goal has been to exceed our families’ expectations and to help them with the grieving process and celebration of life. Having served over 8,000 families, the team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year knowing that the care of your loved one has no time table. The highest compliment we receive is when families return to allow us to care for their loved ones again. Our mission is to care for those we served with information, sensitivity, and compassion, and to care for our staff and community.
ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARD
The Economic Impact Award winner this year is Pearson Construction.
Pearson Construction Company began providing construction services in Benton Harbor in 1918 and over the last 100 years, has evolved into a full-service design build, construction management, and general contracting firm. In today’s dollars, Pearson has constructed and renovated over one billion dollars’ worth of buildings throughout its history.
In 1972, Pearson Equipment and Services Corporation was formed to provide construction equipment for the building industry in the area. It also provides the necessary skilled labor trades specializing in concrete, carpentry, masonry, and steel erection for the company’s projects. Pearson Construction’s field operations are maintained and supervised by Pearson Equipment and Services, demonstrating Pearson’s commitment to schedule and budget control by using its own equipment and labor forces whenever feasible. Pearson’s workforce averages between 50 and 200 employees at any one time.
Pearson’s reputation is built upon understanding the needs and requirements of each client and providing the service they expect, time after time. Pearson’s network of experienced professionals and resources can make seemingly unachievable situations possible. Long noted for their leadership in commercial, industrial, and institutional construction, Pearson continues to broaden their professional services to a wide variety of building applications.
In the ever-changing construction industry, Pearson still operates on the solid foundation of principals that Joel Pearson established in 1918: Integrity, Quality, and Fair Treatment.
GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
New for 2019, the Green Business of the year award, which touches on the need for the Four R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink. This year’s Green Business of the Year is Michigan Energy Business Solutions.
Michigan Energy Business Solutions is a Michigan based company specializing in energy efficient lighting and commercial refrigeration. They supply energy efficient products along with installation and rebate services for Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. Together with large and small businesses they work towards decreasing the carbon footprint, reducing energy consumption, and saving business owners money in operating costs for years to come. “Keep the Quality Up” is their slogan and motto. Quality is very important for everyone at Michigan Energy Business Solutions, from the products they use to the salesmen and those who install and handle all the rebates for clients. They also offer a wide variety of financing options along with lease options for their customers.
Michigan Energy Business Solutions is the area leader for Industrial IoT with energy efficient intelligent LED Lighting. These “smart” LED systems combine intelligent lighting, smart sensors and devices, and software to create a facility-wide Industrial IoT platform that delivers real-world ROI through advanced controls, analysis and insight. They also specialize in energy efficient commercial refrigeration for Grocery and C-stores. The owner, Emily Parfet, grew up on the Lakeshore and is very proud to be helping the community lower its carbon footprint while helping local business owners save on operating expenses. Don & Jake Jollay have single handedly saved over 100 thousand Kilowatt hours this year alone. That’s why they are called the Kilowatt Killers!
2018 AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR
Bob Rogers is a well-known face in Southwest Michigan thanks to his role at SERVPRO of Berrien County, as well as his involvement with the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce.
After owning his own business in Kalamazoo from 1985-2009, Bob, his wife Ellie, and their two girls moved to St. Joseph where he began working for SERVPRO of Berrien County and began his Chamber Membership in 2010. Since then, Bob has been active with Business After Hours events, Ribbon Cuttings, Annual Golf Outing & Steak Fry, the Fall Trade Fair, and Business Recognition Breakfast. Bob’s daughter Charlotte is a campaign director for United Way of Southwest Michigan, and his daughter Emma is a full time nanny to 3 young children in the area.
THE PAT MOODY AWARD
The recipient of the prestigious Pat Moody Award is Anna Murphy, President of United Way of SW Michigan.
Anna Murphy has been with United Way of Southwest Michigan for 20 years, becoming President in 2005. Prior to her role as President she was Vice President of Operations, beginning her career with United Way as Director of First Call for Help.
Prior to United Way, Anna spent time in teaching disabled adults in life skills, engaging youth in positive opportunities through the YMCA and worked effortlessly to enhance the child care profession through Child Care Resources. It was while at Child Care Resources she was recipient of the Tribute to Women in Leadership award presented by the YWCA. In 2007, Anna was presented the Star Power award through the Governor’s office and Early Childhood Investment Corporation. In 2014, she was the recipient of 100 Women Strong’s Leader of Distinction.
As President of United Way, Anna has led her team and Board though a transformation of a traditional United Way to one that creates measurable results and impact in the communities it serves. UWSM has consistently grown the dollars raised, volunteers engaged, and people served. In her tenure, Murphy has merged two other United Ways into the work of UWSM, expanding resources for those communities. The organization was selected as a Best & Brightest in Wellness in 2017 & 2018.
Anna is a graduate of United Way Worldwide’s Executive Leadership Development Program (2015) and was a host of the United Way Worldwide’s New President’s Forum in January of 2016. She helped create LEAD (Leaders Engaged in Accelerated Development) at United Way Worldwide and is currently on a Board Chair/CEO advisory committee for creating High Performing Boards. As a mentor, Anna is extremely passionate about and committed to helping her United Way colleagues succeed.
Ms. Murphy has served on various local Boards and is currently an Executive Member of Michigan’s Great Southwest Leadership Council. Anna has been on the Michigan Association for United Way’s Board and recently stepped into the role of Board Chair.
A resident of Southwest Michigan for most of her life, Anna received her B.S. degree from Western Michigan University and her M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Siena Heights University. When not leading United Way, Anna enjoys Tigers Baseball, golf and biking and spends time with husband Rick, her mom and friends (and cats Clara, Gertie and Jake from State Farm) and helps to care for her live-in mother in-law.
All of this year’s nominee and award recipient information will be made available at www.cornerstonechamber.com.
