AERON wins Best Kept Secret—and here’s why.

At the 2024 Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet on April 25, AERON was named winner of the “Best Kept Secret” award. In a post event interview, Chamber Executive Director Mendy McAdams explains why AERON won the award, which recognizes a Fairfield business exemplifying the modern definition of best practices while maintaining a low profile in our community.

“It’s about your volunteers, Kayla and Amy,” Mendy said, referring to AERON Product Manager Kayla Stanley and Director of Special Projects @Amy Greiner. “They have volunteered themselves, and they have organized other AERON volunteers for just about every project the Chamber has undertaken in the last two years.”

At their first Chamber ambassadors meeting, Amy learned that the group’s secretary was leaving the position, so she stepped in to fill the role. She will be in the post for two years.

Amy and Kayla have spearheaded many hands-on projects, including serving as elfin helpers distributing books to over 800 kids at the Chamber Santa House from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Kayla joined the Chamber Christmas committee for the book distribution and was soon appointed as “Head Elf.”

What does a Head Elf do? Kayla prepares year-round for the Christmas season in town and fundraises for the extensive light display and events on the square. She also sets up AERON’s Trunk or Treat, organizes and leads the AERON tour for the Fairfield Chamber Leadership Program and serves as Chamber ambassador on the vendor committee for Fairfield’s RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa), where a projected 20,000 bike riders stop in Fairfield in July.

Amy and Kayla also rounded up an AERON team to help at the police department’s Bike Safety Rodeo that included bike helmets and free bicycle drawings donated by AERON.

The team also coordinated with staff to stuff 60 birthday party gift bags with cake mix, candles, balloons, and decorations that the local food pantry distributed to families in need.

In addition to these events, Amy and Kayla have not missed a single call to welcome new businesses to town since becoming Chamber ambassadors.

“We know why there were so many awards we could have given AERON this year,” Mendy said, “but the ‘Best Kept Secret’ award is the one that says it all.”

“We are so impressed and appreciative of all the help AERON has provided for chamber community projects. And from working on so many projects together, now we know what AERON does,” she said. “You make world class fragrance diffusers, AND, (in all caps for emphasis) you make world class volunteers!