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Four Prestigous Awards Received During Annual Banquet

2009 BESI Award Recipients

Gerald Forsythe

Clark County is proud to call Gerald Forsythe one of their most successful entrepreneurs. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Indeck Power Equipment Company and Indeck Energy Services Inc. located in Wheeling, Illinois. The Indeck Group has grown into North America's largest supplier of emergency and back-up steam generation while expanding into the design and fabrication of water treatment equipment and renting generator sets, chillers, and compressors. He also owns Forsythe Family Farms in Clark and Edgar Counties, Canyata Golf Club in Marshall and Iron Horse Golf Club in Tuscola. Canyata holds the distinction of being voted the #2 Best New Private Club in the January 2006 edition of Golf Digest Magazine.

While he resides in the Chicago area, Gerald has not forgotten the area where he was born and raised. He returns to the family home in Marshall on a regular basis. His countless contributions have touched the lives of many people in Clark County and the surrounding area.

One of the largest benefactors of Gerald’s generosity has been the youth of Clark County. Gerald and his wife, Jean are the founders of the Marshall Educational Trust Fund, which provides no-interest loans to students needing financial assistance to further their education.

Some of the other contributions Gerald has made are: the donation of the lease payments for the Lake Land College Eastern Region Center in Marshall, the Performing Arts Center at the Marshall Junior High School, 10 acres of cropland to the Marshall Ag Department, donation to the Future Farmers of America programs at Casey, Kansas, Marshall, Martinsville and Paris from the sale of his tractors, donation of  used trucks to Marshall Schools, Mill Creek Park, the local Boy Scout Organization, Wabash Township and Saint Mary of the Woods College, new bleachers for the Marshall Girls Softball Diamond,  donations well over the normal amounts bid at the Clark County 4-H Auction, donations to various local programs such as baseball, after-prom and other school organizations, paid for new boilers for the Marshall High School, paid for new boilers for Martinsville School,  and paid 50% of the cost of the Marshall High School Greenhouse.

One of Gerald’s most selfless acts to those in need came about one hot, humid day in August of 2007. The air conditioner had gone out at Burnsides Community Health Center and without a quick solution the only alternative was to evacuate the residents of the nursing home to a different location. To do this would be a logistical nightmare. Gerald got wind of the situation and sent generators from Chicago that night to get the air conditioner running again until it could be replaced. In fact, they used it the rest of the season at absolutely no expense to the nursing home.

Mr. Forsythe’s life demonstrates a continuous spirit of generosity that positively affects the lives of the individuals, organizations and communities he touches.

Kitchen Seed Company

Since the company's inception in 1974, Kitchen Seed has steadily grown over the past 35 years to become the "Premier Independent Seed Company" in east central Illinois. After it's first year in business, they achieved $600,000 in annual sales. Today the company records sales in the multi-million dollar range. Their current and past customers include such countries as Turkey, France, Switzerland, Russia and most recently the country of Ukraine. Because of their longtime association with the government of Ukraine, the Kitchen Seed Company logo is registered brand within that country.

Over the years, the owner Phil Kitchen has encouraged and promoted that his employees be involved within the communities that they work in and/or reside within. Various community positions that his 15 employees currently hold or have recently held are an Arthur School Board Director, a past Arthur School Board President, two current Arthur Park District Directors, a volunteer fire fighter who also served as the Assistant Arthur Fire Chief for several years. Other organizations that employees have been or are currently involved with are the Arthur Area Association of Commerce, the Arthur Village Board, Farm Bureau Young Leaders Organization, volunteer coaches and other various civic activities.

Kitchen Seed Company has been looked to over the years as a "Leader" within the community. They have provided and/or sponsored numerous events in Arthur and the surrounding area. Because of their sound and honest business practices, they have quietly amassed a loyal army of supporters and customers that are generally within a 100 mile radius of Arthur. I believe that this becomes visually evident when they host a seed meeting and have an attendance over 400 people from that 100 mile radius. In a business that is not necessarily known for its customer loyalty, Kitchen Seed Company has worked to earn mutual respect and loyalty from it's customers in the United State and overseas.

Ken Vogt

For over 20 years, Ken has contributed a great deal to his community through his professional and social involvements. Professionally, Ken is a certified public accountant and partner of West & Co., LLC in Effingham. His profession has allowed him to consult with area individuals and businesses in regards to real estate planning and tax related issues. However, his contributions as a business leader and his social involvements with various community organizations have led to his nomination for the BESI Award.

From 1987 to 1990 Ken served on the Board of the Greater Effingham Chamber of Commerce. During his tenure he held the office of Vice President of Operations and in 1990 served as Chairman of the Board. While Ken served on the Board, he helped to create the ExCEL Awards Program (Excellence in Community & Economic Leadership). He also initiated the Effingham Business Report which is now distributed nationwide and is one of the Chamber’s best known publications. Ken also helped to create the Chamber of Commerce’s resume service. This service is unique to our Chamber and is one of the first of its kind in the country. It allows job applicants the opportunity to complete a resume online free of charge and, in turn, allows Chamber businesses to view these resumes and select candidates from a large pool of applicants.

Ken also serves in a leadership role at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital as an active member of the Friends of St. Anthony’s Board of Directors, the fundraising “arm” of the hospital. In addition, Ken serves on the Planned Giving committee and is an active participant in developing the education process regarding planned giving opportunities. Ken is also a member of numerous other community organizations and is currently serving on the Effingham Catholic Charities Advisory Board.

Ken and his family are members of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Effingham where he has served as past member of the Board of Education. Ken is currently a member of the Stewardship Committee. Although new to this position, Ken has already spearheaded the development of a Christian Stewardship program and taken part in its leadership training. Because of his interest in stewardship (giving back to God a percentage of our time, talents, and treasures), Ken has recently been appointed to the St. Anthony Church Finance Council and is also a Trustee. Ken and his wife Marilyn are the parents of four children, Kevin, Sara, Andy and Theresa. They have two grandchildren.

These examples of professional leadership and commitment to community reflect Ken’s ability and willingness to serve the needs of his community.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Gary Kuhns

Gary Kuhns has served First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust for more than 32 years in the Mattoon, Sullivan and Neoga communities.  He is currently a Vice-President with the Wealth Management Department in the Mattoon facility. He has also served East Central Illinois and is an advocate for economic and community development in the area.  He has served two terms on the Lake Land College Board of Trustees from 1985 until 1997, serving as President during the second term. He sat on the Lincoln Sargent Board from 1992 until 1994.  Kuhns served on the Cumberland County Development Corporation board from 1990 until 2005, leading the group as their President in 1994 and 1995.  He also received the Citizen of the Year Award in Cumberland County in 1995.

Kuhns worked with the Kellogg’s Foundation and Rural Partners to develop the Cumberland County Strategic Plan for Community and Economic Development and was elected the Plan Champion in 1994.  During this time he spent much time assisting in writing for Community Development Assistant Program (CDAP) grants from the State of Illinois.  He served on the East Central Illinois Development Corporation Board of Directors from 1996 to 2005. He was the secretary of this group from 1998 until 2004. Kuhns also serves as a Coles County Soil and Water Conservation District Director and is the co-founder of the Neoga’s Children’s Christmas Shopping Spree.

Kuhns resides near Mattoon with his wife Sharon and has two sons, Andrew and Nicholas. He has spent a lifetime making a positive difference in the communities in which he lives, works, and serves.