The Marion Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating milestones and our business community at its 101st annual awards celebration on June 24th, 2022 at the Pavilion in Marion (rescheduled from January 14).  The program will feature presentations by the Chamber, elected officials, and our 2021 award winners.

Members of the Marion Chamber of Commerce were asked to submit nominations in October for the Distinguished Member Award. The Distinguished Member Award goes to an individual who has made significant contributions to the community through the Marion Chamber of Commerce. This person demonstrates personal and professional leadership in the community. The recipient must be a member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce. This year’s award is sponsored by Clearwave Communications.

We are excited to announce the 2021 Distinguished Member Award finalists are:

• Julie Campbell
• Janet Jensen
• Matt Reising

Julie Campbell is the owner of Campbell Insurance Group LLC, an independent insurance agency in Marion, IL. She is a 2002 graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in Finance and is a Certified Insurance Counselor. She has been helping clients with their insurance needs since 2002 and hopes to one day pass her agency on to her two children, Grant (7) and Eliana (10). They currently think her job is very boring, but she is convinced she can persuade them over time.

Julie has been active with the Marion Chamber of Commerce since 2010 and currently serves on the Board of Directors, Legislative Affairs Committee, Awards Committee, and the Annual Dinner Committee.

Julie is also active in the community and loves Southern Illinois. Aside from her contributions to the Marion Chamber of Commerce, she actively serves as the Membership Chair for Williamson County Heartland Rotary, Area Chair & IL Executive Committee for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Education Committee for the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois, Board of Directors for the Franklin County EDGE Program, Southern Illinois Chili Cookoff Committee, SI Medical Reserve Corps, Old King Coal Festival and Pageant Committees, Ready Nation, and has years of coaching youth basketball and softball under her belt through the West Frankfort Recreation Association and Upwards Basketball.

If asked, her most notable accomplishments are putting a smile on the faces of others and watching her children grow into giving and loving little humans. Ms. Campbell is a proud and motivated entrepreneur that works toward making Marion, and Southern Illinois, a better place to live and work.

“I have a great feeling of honor to be nominated for this award, especially alongside Ms. Jensen and Mr. Reising, who have made significant contributions to the Chamber of Commerce and deserve the recognition of the business community."

Janet Jensen is a Cobden native but has lived in Florida, Connecticut and Idaho before returning to Southern Illinois. She is happy to call Marion her home for the last several years. Since returning to Southern Illinois she has worked in the radio industry both as an Account Representative for Zimmer Radio Group and as a General Manager for Withers Broadcasting. She currently works as the Director of Marketing and Human Resources for Auto Credit of Southern Illinois. Janet is a proud mother to two beautiful daughters (Melissa and Miranda) and a Nonnie to 4 delightful Grandchildren. Holden, Elijah, Kaitlyn and Amir. 

Jensen attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale where she received a degree in social work. She was also awarded ‘Advisor of the Year’ from Utah State University and is a member of the ‘Women Rising Above the Ranks’ from the National Radio Bureau. Her volunteer work includes the Southern Illinois Hospice, the Southern Illinois Kiwanis as a Past Distinguished Lt Governor, the Past Distinguished President of Marion Kiwanis, Recipient of a Hixson Award from Kiwanis, Past President of the Board of Directors for TLC of Central and Southern Illinois, and an Active Member of Our Lady of Mt Carmel church. She is President Elect for Daughters of Mary and past Board member of Daughters of Mary.

She is extremely involved with the Marion Chamber of Commerce and cherishes the friends she has made and the opportunities she has been given within the Chamber to serve the Marion community. Her service includes a member of the Board of Directors where she was Board Chair in 2018. Her committee involvement includes Membership, Marketing, Sister City, Annual Dinner, Nominations, Award, Finance, Remuneration and Co-Chair of the Live2Lead committee. She has also been a part of the Golf Tournament and the Scholarship Committee.

“It's very humbling for me to be nominated for this award. I enjoy the Chamber and working within this organization to serve the Marion community. The Chamber Community is like family to me. I'm here to do what I can to help the Chamber and its members.”

Matt Reising was born and raised in Collinsville, and moved to the area in 2006. He met my wife Brittny, and now has an amazing family with 3 crazy boys. They love taking the family on all sorts of outdoor adventures. Including hunting, boating and jeeping. He also enjoys meeting and networking with likeminded business professionals.

Matt has been a professional musician for 20+years. Professionally, he has been a small business owner with Reising Irrigation for 10+ years and a Business Account Executive with Clearwave Communications for the last 6 years.

Within the Chamber, he has been an active event and program volunteer and a member of the Membership Committee and Golf Scramble Committee.

“I am thankful and humbled for this nomination. I am also deeply honored to know that my fellow peers felt me worthy of such an important responsibility. I will continue to demonstrate personal and professional leadership in my community.”

Award Sponsor

The Distinguished Member Award finalists and winner are selected by the members of the Marion Chamber of Commerce Awards Committee.

The first Distinguished Member Award was given in 1959 to Dr. James Felts. Last year’s winner was Brian McHugh.