Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce Inducting Mitchell, Rinella and Vecchie into Business Hall of Fame

Three distinguished community leaders will be honored at the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting and Business Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 11:30 a.m. at the Oakley Lindsay Center. The Class of 2015 will include Delmer R. Mitchell, partner with Schmiedeskamp, Robertson Neu and Mitchell LLP; Sam Rinella Jr., co-founder of The Rinella Company; and Ron Vecchie, vice president of Refreshment Services Pepsi.

Delmer R. Mitchell
Mitchell began his practice in Belleville, IL in 1966 before moving to Quincy in 1969 when Carl Schmiedeskamp and John Robertson’s firm needed a trial lawyer. Mitchell was then the firm’s sixth attorney.

Mitchell became a partner in the firm in 1971, and when Schmiedeskamp passed away in 1987, Mitchell became the leader of the organization. Today, Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu and Mitchell LLP is the largest law firm within a 100 miles of Quincy with 17 lawyers and 20 additional staff members. The firm has grown from a local Illinois firm representing regional clients to one representing national clients, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014.

Sam Rinella Jr.
Rinella and two long-time associates formed M.R.S. Beverages in Quincy in 1953, starting the Anheuser-Busch distributorship that would serve Galesburg, Quincy and Hannibal. After M.R.S. Beverages dissolved, Sam continued with his sons as The Rinella Company and built the company’s current facility at 2001 Seminar Road in 1981. In 1983, the company expanded to Mundelein, IL near Chicago. Over the years, what had started as a three-man operation grew to nearly 75 employees.

Rinella was active in his industry, serving three years on the Anheuser-Busch wholesale advisory panel, and serving as the Illinois director and on the National Management Committee of the National Beer Wholesalers Association.

Ron Vecchie
Vecchie began working at what was then Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company in 1977. After a short time as vice president of the Springfield Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company, he returned to the Quincy plant as its president in 1983. Vecchie now serves as chairman of Refreshment Services Inc. and vice-president of Refreshment Services Pepsi in Quincy.
Vecchie is a member of the National Soft Drink Association and the Illinois Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Association, among others, and he played a pivotal role in securing the Wis-Pak bottling facility in Quincy in 1997. Few charitable fundraisers, local sports programs, city-wide clubs, and community activities occur without the support of Refreshment Services Pepsi.

The Business Hall of Fame was started in 2006 to celebrate the rich history and accomplishments of the Quincy area business community. The event is open to the public, and is made possible by sponsors Adams Telephone Co-operative, Advance Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, Blessing Health System, County Market, Gardner Denver, KHQA, Peoples Prosperity Bank, and Titan International. Cost is $20 per person and includes lunch. Reservations are required by Jan. 16 and can be made by calling 222-7980.