Law firm, tool and die company receive Belleville chamber’s top business awards

Two Belleville businesses were presented with the Business Excellence Award at the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce 100th Anniversary Celebration on May 7.

Chelar Tool & Die and Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. , were the recipients of the award for 2023.

The Business Excellence Award is the chamber’s most prestigious award. It is given annually to a nominated business in the Belleville community.

“We are extremely honored and flattered to receive such a prestigious award,” Jared Katt, president of Chelar Tool & Die, said in a brief phone interview.

Katt gave a lot of the credit for the company’s success to the employees, describing them as hard-working and talented.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized with the Business Excellence Award. Our firm cares deeply about this community and we are sincerely committed to our clients in the areas we serve,” Patrick B. Mathis, a founding shareholder at Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd., stated in a press release issued by the law firm.

“For 40 years we have supported a great number of charitable organizations in the Belleville area, and we will continue our commitment in the future.”

The Leadership Belleville Alumni Award was presented to Rick Stubblefield, director of St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants. Melissa Taylor, assistant superintendent of Belleville Township High School District 201 was awarded the Citizen of the Year award.

About the Excellence Award winners

Chelar Tool & Die is located at 11 N. Florida Ave. in Belleville.

Founded in 1962, Chelar serves the appliance, HVAC and electrical industries, according to the website , and produces “the highest quality progressive & non progressive metal stamping dies, production metal stampings, specialty precision machining, and Blanchard grinding.”

Mathis, Marifian & Richter, at 23 Public Square in downtown Belleville, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

“For 40 years, MMR attorneys and staff have provided top-notch legal services to the residents of Belleville, the St. Louis metro area, and southern Illinois,” Dr. Ryan Boike, business excellence award presenter and superintendent of Belleville Public School Dist. 118, stated in the release.

“MMR [are] constantly evolving their practices to fit the needs of the people in the communities they serve. This firm cares about this community.”

The Belleville Chamber’s 100th Anniversary Celebration was held on East Main Street in downtown Belleville, closing the street from High to Charles streets.

For highlights and photos of the event, visit facebook.com/GreaterBellevilleChamber .