Michelle’s Pharmacy, which opened its Gillespie location in 2009, was named the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce’s (CCCC) Business of the Year Saturday night at the conclusion of the CCCC’s annual banquet at JoDanni’s Amore Restaurant, Benld.

“You surprised me!” said Michelle Dyer, owner of Michelle’s Pharmacy after her business was named. She was joined at the podium by her husband, Wally Dyer.

Mike Brill, master of ceremonies and a member of the CCCC Board, announced the award at the conclusion of the banquet, which also featured an address by State Senator Andy Manar and the naming of Rick Konneker as the recipient of this year’s CCCC Spirit Award. Brill noted the Business of the Year had been in the Coal Country market for eight years, after starting with the purchase of an existing business in Carlinville, followed by the purchase of the former Dippold Drug Store in Gillespie a year later. More recently, Michelle’s opened a third location in Bunker Hill.

“This organization hit the ground running in regard to community engagement and involvement,” Brill said. “They have been active with the Chamber since the beginning, whether it be bringing a crew to work one of the Summer Concerts as well as volunteering at the Fall Festival and Black Diamond Days.” He added a member of the Michelle’s Pharmacy team also served as CCCC Treasurer for several years.

Brill praised Michelle’s Pharmacy for its dedication to customer service.

“It is clear this business really gets it when it comes to operating in small towns,” he said. “They are very customer service driven and seem to be always trying to come up with ways to make it easier for their customers, whether it be remodeling a location, offering free home delivery of their goods or creating a website that is user friendly and offers their customers the ability to communicate with them and place orders online.”

“This business is a great asset to the community and to the Chamber as well and we are lucky to have them,” Brill concluded.

Dyer credited her “two tables” of employees who attended the banquet for fulfilling the business’s commitment to customer service and striving to find new ways to better serve customers.

“It’s our pleasure to serve your communities and take care of your medical needs,” she said. “That is what we are here for and that’s what we strive to do.”

She said she was familiar with small towns and doing business in small communities, having grown up in Palmyra before first working at and then buying the former Fritz’s Pharmacy in Carlinville. Creating a business in a small town comes with challenges, she noted, along with the challenges specifically associated with operating a pharmacy.

“We accept those challenges,” she said. “And we look for ways to distinguish our business, and one of those ways is in customer service.” The level of customer service the pharmacy offers is one of the things that distinguishes Michelle’s from big box pharmacies with whom she competes.

“It’s the reason these communities choose us,” she said, “and it’s why we choose you.”

In addition to a plaque to display in their place of business, the Dyers received a free night’s stay at the Hampton Inn, Litchfield, courtesy of Miranda Bergmann and Jean Bruner-Jachino. About 200 people attended the banquet.

Michelle’s Pharmacy was founded in 2008 when Dyer purchased Fritz Pharmacy on the Carlinville square. The original location had been a drug store since the 1920s when it operated as Steinmeyer Drugs, which created and produced Minut Rub Cream. Beatty Burke purchased the business in the 1960s. Charlie Fritz, a 30-year employee of Burke Pharmacy, purchased the business in 1993 and ran it until selling it to Dyer.

In April 2009, Dyer purchased Dippold Drugs in Gillespie from Jim Verton. Dippold Drugs was established in the 1940s and had been operated by Ed Dippold and his father until Verton bought the business in 1988.

More recently, Dyer opened a third Michelle’s Pharmacy location in Bunker Hill.

In addition to filling prescriptions, all three locations offer medication adherence programs, specialty medications, 90-day prescriptions and vaccinations. The stores also offer durable medical equipment including mobility devices, oxygen, ostomy devices and supplies, braces and orthopedic shoes.

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