MOLINE, ILLINOIS (August 13, 2020) — The Quad Cities Chamber on Thursday honored the Business of the Year and Volunteer of the Year at its 2020 Annual Celebration presented by TBK Bank.
Business of the Year honors went to Twin State Technical Services based in Davenport. Founded 28 years ago, Twin State provides Quad Cities businesses with reliable and secure e-commerce, web, software, and IT infrastructure-management services. Among its many accomplishments this year, Twin State helped its 350 commercial and non-profit clients, including six regional school districts, go completely virtual at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and remain connected, productive, and competitive out of the office and classroom. Twin State also is extremely involved in the community, providing volunteer support for nearly two dozen non-profits. And since 2018, the company has grown its workforce by 30%, now employing 42 staff who each receive up to $10,000 per year for professional-development training.
“This is the best kind of award you can get because it’s a team award,” said Beth Tinsman, who established Twin State in 1992 after working for IBM for 10 years. “My team is so proud.”
Twin State has been an active member of the Chamber, participating in Venture School, both as part of cohort teams and as mentors; the Peer Roundtables program; and the Quad Cities Manufacturing Innovation Hub, first as members of the initial small group and process work, then later through event programming and the creation of technology playbooks. The certified woman-owned technology firm was selected Business of the Year from among 14 companies nominated for the award based on its application’s demonstration of competitive advantages, consistent growth and innovation, and ability to overcome challenges.
“We could not be where we are without the involvement and commitment of the Chamber in strengthening our business community and its activities,” added Tinsman, whose team is laser-focused on enhancing the technological workflow of its clients to help them survive and thrive in the fast-paced global marketplace. “The actions of the Chamber and our involvement have led to the Quad Cities economy being stronger and more competitive relative to other economies of comparably sized communities.”
Other member nominees for Business of the Year were American Power Systems, dphilms, Group O, KWQC-TV 6 NEWS, Meridian Title, MRG, My Place Hotel, Rouse Consulting, Streamline Architects, Sweet Tooth Snacks, TapOnIt, The Group — Obstetrics & Gynecology, Specialists PC, and Winsor Consulting.
The Chamber also honored C Dana Waterman III of Lane and Waterman as Volunteer of the Year. Since 2010, Waterman has served as the Board Chair of Grow Quad Cities Fund — Iowa, a designated 501c3 non-profit corporation that serves as a catalyst for economic growth in the region. Through his leadership, Grow Quad Cities granted funds to support businesses following the 2019 flood. Additionally, Waterman led the Grow Quad Cities Board through the sale of the building that houses the Quad Cities Chamber office in Davenport and granting of funds from the sale to the Chamber. Most recently, Waterman led the Board through the transformation of Grow Quad Cities into the Quad Cities Chamber Foundation by clarifying its regional focus and beginning the process to diversify funding sources.
“Grow Quad Cities, now the Quad Cities Chamber Foundation, has been a vehicle for me to continue my 30-year involvement with the Chamber as well as support the needs of the community, and this award really is a validation of the work the Chamber and my fellow board members have been doing,” Waterman said. “I’ve long felt that it’s a very important part of what I can do individually and on behalf of my firm to give back to the community because the community has been very generous to us.”
