Minority association names businesses of the year

RRSTAR.COM STAFF REPORTS

The owners of Metropolitan Janitorial Services and ADV Enterprises were saluted as Businesses of the Year Saturday at the 20th annual awards ceremony for the Northern Illinois Minority Companies Association.

The awards were among several presented at a program that included dinner and entertainment at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road.

Patricia Dock and James Douglas accepted the award for Metropolitan Janitorial Services, and Javier de la Uz accepted for ADV Enterprises.

The New Business of the Year Award was presented to Dust-N-Clean and owner Shawna Young.

Other awards went to:

Community Leaders: Habitat for Humanity, accepted by Executive Director Tonya Thayer; Rockford Health Systems, accepted by Vice President of Hospital Administration Dan Parod.
Community Advocate: Rep. Chuck Jefferson.

Leadership Organization: Rock City Unique Steppers, accepted by Vernon Sims and Dino Walls.

Special Recognition and Appreciation: Deveda Francois, program manager of the Employment Opportunities Grant Program for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

In addition to the awards, 47 students from NIMCA’s pre-apprenticeship program received their graduation certificates.