RECOGNITION AWARDS: 34TH PIPER AND 9TH ASHBY AWARD RECIPIENTS
THE BERWYN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HONORS ANN MACKIN AND THE JAMES JOYCE IRISH PUB WITH RECOGNITION AWARDS
Our greatest asset has always been the dedication of our exceptional people. Maintaining a vibrant community has a lot of moving pieces, and the Piper and Ashby recognition awards highlight just some of the pieces that complete the Berwyn puzzle. Annually we honor those who have made a special contribution to the City of Berwyn over the years. Join us as we give special thanks to this year’s business champions, 34th Annual Charles E. Piper Award Winner Ann Mackin and 9th Annual George W. Ashby Award Winner The James Joyce Irish Pub.
Recipients will be honored at the BDC Annual Meeting on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at Wire located at 6815 W Roosevelt Rd in Berwyn, IL and will feature small bites and drinks.
ANN MACKIN
THE RECIPIENT OF THE 34TH ANNUAL CHARLES E. PIPER RECOGNITION AWARD
Ann has been a resident of Berwyn since 1951 and has made a great impact on the community through her efforts. One of her most noteworthy accomplishments was leading the establishment of the North Berwyn Park District as an organization that provides recreation and leisure services to the community in 1976. She began serving as Board Secretary while continuing to raise three daughters and was elected to the first Board of Commissioners in 1977, serving continuously as Commissioner since that time. As the founding member of the North Berwyn Park District, Ann has served proudly for 41 years and has held the title of President for the past 12 years.
Over the years, the North Berwyn Park District has provided logistical support of events throughout the Berwyn community such as Berwyn’s Oktoberfest, Taste of Cermak Road, Cinco de Mayo Fest, Roosevelt Road Zombie Walk & Pub Crawl and Groovin’ on Grove. Additionally, the park district has made a significant direct impact on the business community through the development and initiation of community-based events that attract thousands of visitors to the city of Berwyn over the years. Some of those programs include: ”Think Green”, a city-wide clean up that serves as an opportunity to bring over 400 residents and businesses together to promote a campaign dedicated to the environmental health of our planet; Nuestra Raices Back to School Fiesta; “Best of Berwyn”, the annual recognition of the top 8th grade students in the city of Berwyn; and the Corrida del Mariachi 5K Run, Berwyn’s first CARA-certified 5k run that attracted over 700 runners and over 2,000 spectators in its inaugural year alone.
Aside from her work with the North Berwyn Park District, Ann has volunteered for the United Way for many years. Additionally, she is a parishioner of St. Mary of Celle Church and keeps busy by taking trips with Club 55 and taking in sporting events with her seven grandchildren. Ann is an active member with the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association and the National Parks and Recreation Association. She is currently the longest-serving park district board member in the state of Illinois and the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association.
BDC Board President Andy Sotiropoulos stated, “Ann’s personal service and commitment to the community is one of great note. It is our honor to celebrate Ann’s accomplishments with the Charles E. Piper Award. Congratulations!”
THE JAMES JOYCE IRISH PUB
THE RECIPIENT OF THE 9TH ANNUAL GEORGE W. ASHBY RECOGNITION AWARD
The James Joyce Irish Pub opened its doors in the Spring of 2000. Brendan White shared, “My business partner, Colin, and I had been looking for a bar that we could turn into an Irish pub. We went into the Windsor Lounge 18 years ago and it just felt right.” Brendan and Colin were hands-on throughout the construction of the bar in making their vision of an Irish bar that reminded them of their homeland come to life. They gutted the former bar to the studs and made sure they had a hand in selecting every detail of the bar from the hand-stenciled art to the stained glass partitions, making it a space that transports you straight to Ireland.
Brendan and Colin are proud of the pub they created that became a meeting place where people connect, laugh, have a drink and go home happy —and of course come back again. Not only did they create a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere, but they also created a place that brings the community together.
They continually stay active in the community by hosting several events close to their hearts. Over the years they hosted fundraisers for “Light the Lamp for Burn Camp” in association with the Berwyn Fire Department, as well as fundraisers for The Band of Brothers Pipes and Drums, Toys for Tots, Trinity Irish Dancers, Piper School Build and more. Additionally, The James Joyce is no stranger to diversity—they were one the first bars to host the very first Pride Walk Parade in Berwyn. They look forward to continuing supporting causes that reflect the changing community.
Both Brendan and Colin agree that their staff plays a key role in helping welcome the community. Aside from being a warm and welcoming atmosphere, they are known for their fully stocked bar, Guinness and mouthwatering Bloody Mary’s.
Andy Sotiropoulos, BDC Board President, stated, “The James Joyce Irish Bar is a staple of Berwyn’s Depot District. Their dedication to the community is evident by the support they receive every day.”
