PAINESVILLE – Two companies and one individual were honored for their long-term and difference-making support of the community during an awards ceremony and annual meeting put on by the Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce Monday evening, Jan. 19, at the Painesville Elks Lodge.
Prior to swearing the in board of directors for the year, Katrina March, executive director, credited chamber membership with helping drive the organization during what she half-jokingly called a “rebuilding year,” before distancing the nonprofit from the phrase’s negative connotations in re the Cleveland Browns’ perpetual “rebuilding” seasons.
During a brief 2025 year-in-review, March said the ELCC has more than 500 members, including 79 new ones. The chamber attended over 20 ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new businesses and held its inaugural Member Appreciation Night.
March also mentioned that 2026 will mark the 10th anniversary of the merger between the Painesville Area and Madison-Perry chambers of commerce that created the Eastern Lake County Chamber.
The 2026 Business of the Year honors went to Bob’s Garage & Towing.
Jared Fox nominated his father, Jay Fox, for the honor. Jay is the second-generation owner and operator of the business, having taken over from his father on his retirement in 1987. Bob’s Garage & Towing was founded as a 24-hour towing service, auto maintenance and repair business by Bob Fox, with Jay coming onboard in 1978 with a fleet of four tow trucks.
Jared said he has many fond memories, stretching back to a very early age, of riding along with his father and getting to know the towing business over the years. He joined the family business at 18 and works alongside his father to this day.
Jay Fox still runs the business at 64 and Jared still works alongside him. Jordan Fox, Jared’s younger brother, graduated from John Carroll University in 2020 and works as the office manager.
Bob’s Garage & Towing has a fleet of 22 towing and recovery vehicles and 13 employees.
During his remarks, Jared Fox talked about the 24/7 nature of the business, stating the Fox family got to spend Christmas 2025 at home, but spent New Year’s Eve on call until 4 a.m. New Year’s Day.
The Sub Zero Mission, a nonprofit charity helping the homeless population with warming items during the winter for nearly two decades, was named as one of the 2026 Beacon Award winner by the Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
Sub Zero Mission is focused primarily on helping homeless veterans, but also helps others who are unhoused during the frigid weather and snow.
James Hido, marketing director, told the audience Sub Zero Mission helps anyone in need, citing the organization’s motto, “No one should freeze to death in America.”
“The label doesn’t matter; the need does,” he said.
Sub Zero Mission was founded in 2009 by a pair of U.S. Marine Corps veterans who wanted to help out their fellows who would be spending the winter outdoors, living in shelters at night, but on the streets during the day or in an encampment.
Sub Zero Mission began in 2008 with a trip to an encampment under the Main Street bridge in downtown Painesville, where volunteers found two homeless veterans struggling with the cold, according to Al “Sarge” Raddatz, the group’s CEO and a former Marine sergeant.
Sarge was not in attendance, but instead was at Sub Zero Mission, which had opened to unhoused people for a Code Blue; and taking care of eight people – including one veteran and one woman.
“We do it for the cause, not the applause,” Sarge said in a video interview shown at the awards ceremony.
When Sub Zero Mission meets a homeless veteran, the object is to get them back into the VA healthcare system for mental health and substance abuse treatment, temporary, short-term housing and other necessary services. Recently, Sub Zero Mission expanded services offered to homeless veterans through its Veteran Empowerment program.
Chris Huber, operations manager, said there are 33,000 unhoused veterans in the U.S. and during 2025 the nonprofit had conducted missions in seven states, 33 cities and gave out 33,000 warming items.
Beginning around Thanksgiving and running through the first day of spring, volunteers go on missions to areas where homeless people are encamped and distribute new and gently-used items to help them stave off frostbite and hypothermia.
Hido asked the audience to think about the cold that evening and how people have a tendency to want to stay inside and “bunker down” until it warms up.
“Imagine waking up outside, with no walls and no heat,” he said. “This is not someone else’s problem – it’s our reality.”
The nonprofit is headquartered in Painesville Township and is open during the week, where there is a drop box for donated items. Visitors can also purchase Sub Zero Mission-branded apparel.
Chuck Hillier, Painesville Township trustee, thanked Hido for the group’s work and for coordinating with the township to create one more place for unhoused people to shelter during cold snaps.
“We’re pleased to partner with you on the Code Blue,” Hillier said.
David Komjati, KeyCorp vice president in Concord Township, was the other 2026 Beacon Award winners. He was nominated by two coworkers: Nicole Adams and Erica Smeal. Both cited longstanding and deep involvement with the local community that goes above and beyond his responsibilities.
“(E)very time we visit the community, it’s clear how deeply connected he is,” Smeal said. “He’s always greeted warmly, often with a hug or a heartfelt hello from someone he hasn’t seen in a while.”
“Since 1985, Dave has been a cornerstone of civic engagement and community leadership throughout eastern Lake County,” Adams said. “His countless volunteer hours, leadership roles and steady guidance have positively impacted local businesses, families and organizations in immeasurable ways.”
While Komjati has done a lot of good work for the community in his 26 years at KeyCorp, both Smeal and Adams pointed to his additional volunteer work and close partnerships with community nonprofits as his most admirable efforts.
“He has worked with the Lake County Free Clinic, the Chamber of Commerce and other boards that further strengthen our community,” Smeal said. “His passion for helping others is evident. He’s always available for his clients and centers of influence, often taking calls after hours and staying late at the branch to ensure everyone’s needs are met. I’ve personally driven to the office at 6:30 p.m. and seen Dave working – as testament to his dedication.”
Adams listed many more organizations Komjati has led or partnered with, including the United Way of Lake County, the Best of Health Run, the Ben Hogan Tour, Painesville Basketball Association, Painesville City Local Schools, the Salvation Army Painesville Corps, Downtown Painesville Association, BNI Networking Group, the Painesville Rotary and Kiwanis clubs and multiple school levy campaigns, literacy programs and academic boosters – not to leave off the Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
He also helped to oversee the merger of two chambers of commerce into what is now the ELCC.
“Dave’s leadership within the Painesville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce stands out as the defining part of his legacy,” Adams said.
“As someone who lives in Lake County, I can confidently say Dave embodies the spirit of this award,” Smeal said. “His leadership, generosity and genuine care for people make him an outstanding candidate for the Beacon Award. The way others respond to him speaks volumes about the positive impact he has made, and continues to make, on our community.”
Whitney Komjati, David’s wife, said he has “a servant’s heart” and a “filtered vision that only sees the good in people.”
David is not above any task, helping or leading as needed, according to his wife.
“His life is a series of similar stories,” she said.
David offered his congratulations to the Fox family and Sub Zero Mission, recalling Bob’s Garage & Towing showing up in the cold and snow to help Whitney and him when their car was stuck, calling them “the cavalry”; and “what a blessing” it is to have Sub Zero Mission doing its work in eastern Lake County.
As the former chair of the ELCC Nominating Committee, he said it’s an honor to be named in the same column as previous winners.
“It’s never an easy job,” he said. “You definitely got it right,” on Sub Zero Mission and Bob’s Garage & Towing.
