The Marion Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its mission, members and community at its 102nd annual awards celebration on Friday, January 20, 2023, at The Pavilion in Marion. The program will feature presentations by the Chamber, elected officials, and 2022 award winners.

One of the awards that will be given during the event is the Distinguished Chamber Member Award, which is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the community through the Marion Chamber of Commerce, demonstrates personal and professional leadership in the community, and is a member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce.

Members of the Marion Chamber of Commerce were asked to submit nominations from October-November for the award. This year, the Chamber opened up the selection of the winner to its membership through voting that began in November and officially ended December 1.

The 2022 Distinguished Chamber Member Award finalists are:

·       Matt Carnaghi

·       Kelly Fenton

·       Melise Oakley

Matt Carnaghi

Carnaghi is a Southern Illinois native, born in Carbondale and raised in Marion. He has worked in the finance and social media industries and is currently employed with James Arthur Design as Vice President.

Carnaghi believes that variety is the spice of life, which is through the eclectic range of participation in organization involvement, including a CASA board member, Rotary member, and Kiwanis Lt. Governor, in addition to many of the different local Chambers.

While some know Carnaghi as a bold, brash or "too honest" personality, he always strives to avoid politics, favoritism and gray area, preferring to instead lay out solid boundaries where others can interpret and understand black and white scenarios. 

As a member of the Marion Chamber, Carnaghi serves as the chair of its Grad Spree Committee, is a member of the Marketing Committee, Leadership Marion Committee, and Board of Directors, and has been an active participant of many Golf Scrambles, ribbon cuttings, and other Chamber-sponsored events.

Kelly Fenton

Fenton is a Southern Illinois native but has lived in Indiana and California before returning to Southern Illinois. He left the area for about six years after graduating from Southern Illinois University. He received his MBA from Pepperdine University while living in California. He is happy to be back home in Southern Illinois. He has worked in the industrial sector as an engineer, trainer, and manager. He took over the day-to-day activities of Redco about three years ago. He currently works with many agencies in Southern Illinois promoting economic development. He enjoys working on his farm, in rural Williamson County, when time permits.   

He volunteers his time working with Veterans Groups and Children’s Charities. He was past Commander for the Sons of the American Legion and is currently the Adjutant. He supports the Honor Guard with their activities. He is a member and officer of the Elks. His activities for the Elks are Chairman of the Children’s Care Corporation, Kids Christmas, Kids Hoop Shoot and ritual team. Community activities include placing of flags on veteran’s graves for Memorial Day, Flag Day Ceremony and many fundraising events. 

He works with the Marion Chamber of Commerce to promote the area to outside businesses. His role in Redco is to lead marketing activities, prepares proposals for site selectors and be the first contact for site selectors. He also introduces site selectors to many of the agencies that it takes to develop a site in our area. 

Melisa Oakley

Oakley was born and raised in Marion, Illinois. She graduated from Marion High School and was the first female to go to State in swimming. She qualified for state all four years. After graduating from Marion High School, she attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale on a swimming scholarship and graduated with Bachelor of Arts.

Oakley is the fifth person in her family to own and operate a business in Marion. She has been a small business owner of Melise’s Boutique for the last 16 years. Throughout the 16 years of Melise’s, supporting a variety of community projects in Southern Illinois through donating goods and services.

“Melise’s Boutique has been blessed to dress countless people for formal events in the area,” Oakley said.

The last few years, Oakley has the honor for having Millie, a four-year-old Cavalier King Charles, as a certified therapy dog for Hospice of Southern Illinois, patients, and families. Millie and Melise go out in the community as outreach for our area. Oakley has been an employee of Hospice of Southern Illinois for three years as a Community Education Coordinator. Oakley has a passion for educating the community about Hospice of Southern Illinois and her personal background of Alzheimer’s disease through speaking engagements, meeting with families, networking, collaborating with healthcare professionals, and working to build relationships, educate in community and help people feel comfortable with the end-of-life process. 

Oakley has been married to Ryan for over nine years. She has four children, Tyler, 26; Rhyan Amber, 15; Kash David, 14; and Annalise, 7. Oakley loves working out and in her off time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Some of Oakley’s community involvement includes:

·       Heartland Rotary Member

·       Southern Illinois Pioneer Coalition Member

·       Ambassador and Advocates for the City of Marion

·       The Journey of Southern Illinois Member

·       Community Group Leader at the Journey

·       Guardian for Flight #9 for Southern Illinois

·       Union County Women in Business Member

·       Volunteer SI Journey Kids

·       Chamber of Commerce Member of the following: Marion, Benton and West City, Herrin, and Union County

·       Leader/Organizer of the Southern Illinois netWORKers

·       Welcome Home Committee Member

·       Les Mill Body Pump Instructor

·       Dementia Live Coach 

·       Keynote Speaker at Arrowleaf Senior Festival

·       Christian Women’s Business Networking Association

·       NAACP Member

·       Founder of the program LIFE-Learning Is For Everyone, succeeding with hidden or apparent disabilities 

·       Ambassador of the Marion Chamber of Commerce

·       Pet therapy specialist at Hospice of Southern Illinois

·       Alzheimer’s Association Ambassador and Advocates

·       Former USSA Swimming Head Coach of the Marion Manta Ray