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 Lifetime Achievement Award. Nominations were sought for individuals who have demonstrated dedication and achievement in a professional capacity for 30 years or more. The Lifetime Achievement Award honorees were selected by the members of the Marion Chamber of Commerce Awards Committee.  This year’s award is sponsored by First Southern Bank.

We are excited to announce the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are:

• John Markey of Centerstone
• Hill Printing & Office Supply Company

John Markley is responsible for the leadership and operational oversight of Centerstone’s clinical divisions, specialized services, as well as strategic business development and fiscal accountability. Centerstone is the largest community-based behavioral healthcare provider in Southern Illinois and one of the top five largest not-for-profit behavioral health organizations in the state, employing more than 700 staff in Illinois and serving more than 14,000 individuals across the state annually. Centerstone helps children, adolescents, adults, seniors, and their families who suffer from a myriad of behavioral health challenges, providing a full range of mental health services, substance use treatment, intellectual and developmental disability services, housing, educational services and community supports for people of all ages.

During Markley’s leadership, Centerstone in 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 other states. The most recent expansion of services occurred with the merger of Fellowship House in January of 2020.

Markley has served on several national and statewide boards and is currently a member of several state and national associations. 

Markley began his behavioral health career in 1985 as a staff accountant, and was promoted to Director of Financial Services, then to CFO in 1987, and finally Regional CEO in 2006. He received his bachelor’s of science in criminal justice and in accounting from Murray State University, and master’s in business administration from Century University in New Mexico. Markley has been married to his wife, Tracey, for 38 years and they have four children.

Hill Printing and Office Supply Company

Few can remember a time without Hill Printing on the Square in Marion and serving the needs of the southern Illinois region. In the early years of the twentieth century, the Stafford Printing Company was located on the east side of Tower Square and served the growing population of our community with book and printing services.

In 1921, Ralph Hill purchased Stafford Printing Company and renamed it to Hill Printing. They remained on Tower Square through the Great Depression and World War II and in 1947 moved to 109 S Jackson Ave (behind Bainbridge Jewelry Co. and close to the Orpheum Theater) By this time, Ralph’s son John and his wife Eleanor had joined the family business and continued to run it until their retirement in 1967. Under the new owners, James and Marless Doughty, the business moved to the northwest side of Tower Square (110 Jackson North, formally known as North Jackson Ave) and its current location. Through the 1990s they provided printing for commercial, wedding, and event needs – along with books binding, office supplies and copy service. Around 1995, Jackson North was renamed to Print Ave – the street we know today as the home of Hill Printing. 

During this time, Earl and Rita Sigley were living in Makanda and working at the Carbondale Herald. With a desire to live closer to Rita’s parents, the couple moved to Johnston City and started looking for a new business opportunity. Through the help of Bart Basi, the Sigley’s learned about Hill Printing and the opportunity to purchase it – which they did on May 12^th 1998.   

Over the last 23 years, Hill Printing has stayed a close-knit family business with Earl working the presses and Rita handling graphics and business operations. Kathleen (Katy) Walker is the CFO and finisher. The current owners are proud to continue Hill Printing’s long tradition of service to the residents and businesses in Marion.

Award Sponsor

The first Lifetime Achievement Award was given in 1985 to August L. Fowler. Last year’s winners were Tom Logan and Joe & Toni Hayes.