Chamber to Honor WineStyles Owners, Others

The has named Maggie and Dean Noonan, owners of , as its Small Business Person of the Year, according to a Chamber press release.

"They have transformed their Sherman Avenue shop into a warm, welcoming environment with strong community involvement," the release says.

The couple will be honored Tuesday at the Chamber's 92nd annual meeting. Additionally, Paul and Cease Giddings will receive the Community Leadership Award, and Larry and Sylvia Hernandez-Stasi, who co-founded the , will receive the Non-Profit Leadership award.

Below is more information from the Chamber's press release:

CHAMBER ANNUAL MEETING HONORS SERVICE TO COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

The 92nd Annual Meeting of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce will be held on Tuesday, May 1 at the Hilton Orrington Hotel.

Community and business leaders will be honored in a festive atmosphere that includes food, fun and prizes. Dan Mennemeyer, current president of the Chamber, announced that Paul and Cease Giddings will receive the Community Leadership Award. Larry and Sylvia Hernandez-Stasi, co-founders of the Actors Gymnasium Circus & Performing Arts School will receive the Non-Profit Leadership award. The Small Business of the Year honor will go to Maggie and Dean Noonan of Wine Styles. New Chamber officers and directors will also be introduced.

Mennemeyer added, “The City of Evanston is fortunate to have such a rich history of  business leaders giving back to the community.  Each of these awardees goes beyond the business aspect of their commitment. They give abundantly of their time and treasure to make Evanston a better place to work and to live.”

The event will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m.. Cost is $99 per person; tables of 10 are $990. An open bar, Grand Raffle and sit-down dinner are included in the price of admissiotn. Prizes include  a Kindle Fire donated by Mather Lifeways of Evanston, an Apple iPad, dinner at Oceanique, a $250  Downtown Evanston gift card, a Tower of Chocolate from Belgian Chocolatier Piron and several other exciting items. Attendees can register on-line at the Chamber website, www.evchamber.com or by calling the Chamber at 847-328-1500.

__________________________________________________________________________

The Chamber’s Community Leadership Award, sponsored by First Bank & Trust, honors Paul and Cease Giddings. Previous Small Business of the Year winners, the couple opened FolkWorks in 1990 and have made it a successful location for art, quilts and other treasures. As volunteers they have worked with YEA!, an arts celebration which encourages the arts in all Evanston schools Paul was a mover in the founding of Chicago’s NorthShore Convention and Visitors Bureau after successfully leading the Evanston CVB as president. Paul has also helped organize the Chamber annual Golf Outing for the last 20 years and has served on the city Parking Committee. The Giddings are active participants with the Chicago-Dempster Merchants Association, the Arts and Business Committee and Rotary.      

The Chamber’s  Public Service/Non-Profit Award, sponsored by NorthShore UniversityHealth Systems honors Larry and Silvia Hernandez- DiStasi, the co-founders of The Actors Gymnasium Circus & Performing Arts School. The organization is located at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center. The DiStasis might best be known in the Chicagoland area as the people who “teach children to fly”. Flying means  physical training but parents and students credit their Actors Gymnasium experience as one that also builds self-esteem, goal-setting techniques, physical fitness and self expression.  The organization offers adult classes as well and produces, high-quality, professional main stage productions such as this past winter’s Lost and Found: A Recycled Circus.. 

The Chamber’s Small Business Person of the Year Award, presented by North Shore Community Bank & Trust, honors Maggie and Dean Noonan, owners of WineStyles. They have transformed their Sherman Avenue shop into a warm, welcoming environment with strong community involvement. To wit the couple has given out hundreds of wine tasting donation certificates to various charities. Maggie has become an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, the Chicago Northshore Convention & Visitors Bureau, a member of the Woman’s Club of Evanston, and also served on the Evanston 150 jury and as an executive board member of Downtown Evanston. Maggie and Dean have made their mark through industry, involvement and ingenuity.