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The Review January 27, 2015
SAUK VALLEY AREA CHAMBER
For McNinch, business about passion and fun Local business owner gets inaugural award BY MATT MENCARINI
DIXON – Tim McNinch got a phone call earlier this week asking if he was going to attend the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce dinner. He hesitated. He wasn’t planning on it, but the call was made to ensure that he’d be there. McNinch had been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Champion Award. “This is a total surprise. Thank you very much,” he said after being given
the award Thursday night at The Brandywine. “Any time you run a business, if it’s your passion, it makes it a lot of fun. And I can’t say enough about the fact that my family has supported me.” McNinch, a Sterling resident, is the owner of Airplay Sports & Espresso and The Rusty Fox, both in downtown Sterling. This award will be given to an individual or organization who has gone above and beyond in either professional or volunteer service to the community. In addition to the businesses, McNinch sponsors and hosts national disc golf tournaments and is a member of Sterling Main Street. According to the chamber’s
news release, he’s been a leader in the development of Fourth Fridays and the downtown Music Fest held in the summer. Whiteside Area Career Center’s Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities class helped plan the event and also performed a skit. It was the second year the class has helped with the dinner. After the dinner and skit, before the awards started, the students in the CEO class spoke about what they’ve learned from the class. One of them said something that resonated with McNinch. Before it was Airplay Sports & Espresso, his business was a downtown storefront selling disc golf equipment. And before it was a storefront,
McNinch ran it out of his home. “One of the kids said tonight that life truly starts just outside of your comfort zone,” McNinch said. “And after working 37 years for other people, venturing out and trying something on your own, I only wish I’d have done it first.”
Board members coming and going
During the dinner, the chamber recognized three retiring board members: Eric Shaffer of Sterling Federal Bank; Jon Byar of Midland States Bank; and Heath Olson of the Walmart Distribution Center. Their vacancies will be filled by Steve Munson, of The Medicine Shoppe;
Philip Marruffo
Tim McNinch, owner of Airplay Sports & Espresso and The Rusty Fox, walks to receive the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Champion Award on Thursday night at the annual dinner at The Brandywine in Dixon. David Knie, of Knie Appliance and TV; and Julian Ramirez, of the Wal-Mart Distribution Center. The chamber also honored Rod Johnson, of SBM, as Ambassador of the Year. Mary White, of Community State Bank, was recognized for 10 years of service as an ambassador and board member. Kimberly Ewoldsen was honored as the chamber’s outgoing executive
director. She served in that role for 7 years and will become the executive director of the Morrison Area Development Corporation and Morrison Chamber of Commerce. Kris Noble, who was hired in September to be a project manager at the chamber, will take over as executive director.
CHAMBER CONTINUED ON 2
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