| Finalists for the Citizen of the Year Award have been announced Three area leaders have been selected as finalists for the Marion Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year Award. The finalists are (in alphabetic order): • Beau Detrick with the Illinois Army National Guard • Deborah Frey with FreyWorks & Associates Consulting, LLC and BNI Mid America • John Markley with Centerstone  Three area leaders have been selected as finalists for the Marion Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year Award. The finalists are (in alphabetic order):
The winner of the Citizen of the Year Award will be announced during the 97th annual Marion Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet & Auction on Friday, January 19 at The Pavilion. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets to attend are $60/person or $400/table (seats 8) and are available by calling the Marion Chamber of Commerce at 618.997.6311, visiting marionillinois.com or emailing director@marionillinois.com. The Citizen of the Year Award is sponsored by Watermark Auto Group. Information about the finalists is below. Beau Detrick: Beau was raised in Bluffs, Illinois, and moved to Southern Illinois to pursue an education. “While living in Southern Illinois, I made the decision to serve my country in the Illinois Army National Guard. I have been in the military for a little over 12 years now and it has been one of the most rewarding decisions I could have ever made,” Beau said. “I enlisted as a wheeled vehicle mechanic and have since changed my career field to recruiting.” In 2012, Beau was nominated to compete for the Best Warrior Competition. He won the State Noncommisioned Officer of the Year (Best Warrior) twice and went on to win the regional competition and ultimately placed fourth in the nation out of 350,000 soldiers. In 2015, Beau was selected to lead a team of cadets with the ROTC Command to Poland on a cultural enrichment mission. “Since that, I have continued my role as a recruiter and continue to invest my time in the community,” Beau said. In October of 2017, Beau was named as the Director's 54, which is the number one recruiter in the state. After that he went on to the regional level and competed against six others for the regional title and also won that. Beau will be competing in January for the National Director's 54 title. Beau has been married for 10 years and has 2 boys. Beau’s accomplishments include:
Beau obtained an associate’s of science from Southeastern Illinois College and is currently working towards a degree in zoology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Beau’s volunteer work includes:
“Being nominated for this award is an incredible honor. I am so proud just to be part of the Chamber. I believe in what they do for the community and I am so grateful just to be a part of this,” Beau said. “When I found out I was nominated for Citizen of the Year, I was without words. In looking at the past recipients alone and I am beyond grateful just to be nominated. Beyond excited!” Deborah Frey: Leadership development specialist and veteran management educator, Dr. Deborah Frey’s career began at a local real estate abstract company. Deborah relocated for a few years as she began her family in South Carolina. During the Vietnam War era, she lived abroad with her husband and son in Thailand before returning to Southern Illinois. Deborah worked at a local bank, then moved on to work at financial affairs at Southern Illinois University where she could continue her education. Deborah found success in her ability to solve problems in many roles moving from cash operations to business management, program development, and academic advisement at the College of Engineering, the College of Education, and the College of Applied Sciences and Arts. After achieving her master’s degree in education, her skills helped her to become a versatile teaching faculty. Passionate about technology and workforce dynamics, Dr. Frey taught a broad array of courses in information technology, management and supervision, and career professional development in several colleges, including John A. Logan College and the College of Applied Sciences and Arts. In 2005, Deborah earned her doctorate in management with a specialization in organizational leadership. She is committed to learning and development. Inspired by her success with educational programs across the United States at industrial training sites and military locations, she launched her consultancy practice with a focus on entrepreneurs, business owners, industrial and technical managers. Deborah now designs programs to stimulate creative thinking for business development and to provide coaching solutions that inspire collaborative teamwork to improve workplace communication. Dr. Frey is a Leadership Development Consultant and Executive Coach, and the primary for FreyWorks and Associates Consulting LLC. Deborah believes that focus, passion for trust-building communication, creativity, and vision are critical qualities to develop leadership skills. A Resource Associates Corporate Affiliate, Dr. Frey developed programs to support and enhance leadership skills for corporate managers and business owners. She has worked with clients across the United States in a broad range of occupations and industries, as well as, military personnel in leadership roles. Currently, Dr. Frey is focused to help small businesses with multi-month programs that focus on leadership behaviors for improved productivity, creation of customer loyalty, and succession development. In May 2017, she became a member of the corporate executive coaching team for the Darmill Group, LLC, Chesterfield, Missouri, developing coaching programs to support successful ascension to leadership roles for women in business and industry. Deborah currently serves business owners for growth opportunities with referral networking in Southern Illinois on the Route 13 Corridor as Director/Consultant for Business Network International (BNI) MidAmerica. The role requires coaching for all chapter leadership teams including chapter presidents, vice presidents, membership chair, and secretary treasurer and training for new members and chapter member support to resolve challenges at the local level. Since February 2015, Deborah has been a charter member of the BNI MidAmerica Wealth in Networking chapter in Carbondale. Deborah has invested her training and development skills to help business owners along the Illinois Route 13 Corridor to grow their businesses with referral networking. BNI launched its presence in southern Illinois in September 2014 and has experienced significant growth that now includes four active chapters. Deborah is a member of Rotary International; a charter member and past club president of Rotary Club of Jackson-Williamson County Sunset; Deborah helped create the Rotary Annual Youth Success Rally in 2013, a one-day professional development event for high-school teenagers. The first event was named Peace Begins in our Backyard: Peace Through Service. The event has continued with the following yearly rallies:
Deborah’s Rotary District 6510 leadership roles include:
Deborah’s business, FreyWorks & Associates, is a new member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, and currently participates in the Shop Southern program. As Director/Consultant for BNI Mid-America, Deborah facilitated enrollment for BNI Mid-America August 2017, representing the four vibrant chapters with more than 85 members in this region. “As a traveling career professional, mom, wife, daughter, and mentor, my early career kept me on the move. After decades of this fast-pace that routinely took my feet away from the area, this chapter of my career has provided an opportunity for me to give back to my beloved southern Illinois community. Currently, I am working very hard to help improve growth opportunities in our area and bring leadership gravitas to our businesses,” Deborah said. “I am also investing my volunteer service to help bring philanthropy and businesses together in a way that brings sustainable growth to our area. The honor to be nominated for this award has fueled my realization that my colleagues in the area recognize my dedication to their success. Small or large, every success builds community confidence to do more for our citizens. I want to see this amazing community transformation and I’m proud to be part of our development.” John Markley: John has been a resident of Marion for more than 33 years. He received a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and accounting from Murray State University and MBA from Century University in New Mexico. John has been married to Tracey for 34 years and they have four children. John serves on several national and statewide boards and is currently a member of several state and national associations. John currently serves as chief executive officer of Centerstone of Illinois. He began his behavioral health career in 1985 as a staff accountant, promoted to director of financial services, promoted to chief financial officer in 1987, and became CEO in 2006. “Centerstone of Illinois is the largest community-based behavioral healthcare provider in Southern Illinois and one of the top five largest nonprofit behavioral health organizations in the state, employing more than 700 staff and serving more than 14,000 individuals annually,” John said. “Centerstone provides a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health services, including mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and prevention services, crisis services and services for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. John is responsible for the leadership and operational oversight of Centerstone's clinical divisions, specialized services, as well as strategic business development and fiscal accountability. During John’s leadership, Centerstone of Illinois has grown from an agency primarily serving two counties, to an organization expanding across eight primary Southern Illinois counties and has services across five states. The most recent expansion of services occurred with the merger of WellSpring Resources in July 2015. John’s volunteer activities include Aldersgate United Methodist Church member for 33 years, serving on various committees; youth group leader for 12 years; youth soccer coach for the Marion Soccer Association for seven years; volunteer coach's assistant for the Marion Football Team for seven years; Aldersgate Church League Basketball for seven years; member of Marion Rotary Club; and served on the C.A.C. since 2008. John has also served on the Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for three years and assisted with Chamber open houses related to Centerstone. “I am humbled and honored to be named as a nominee for this prestigious award, Citizen of the Year,” John said. “I have had the pleasure of knowing some of the past recipients of this award - individuals who I have long admired and respected for their valuable contributions to our community. So this nomination is very meaningful to me that I would be considered to be among such a dedicated and selfless group of individuals. I have been fortunate and blessed to call Marion home and be a part of such a great community.” The first Citizen of the Year Award was given in 1970 to Clara Boatright. Last year’s winner was Dave Clark. Past winners of the Citizen of the Year Award can be viewed at www.marionillinois.com/award-winners. Published: 11/29/17 |