Awards & Recognition

2005 Loyola Family Business of the Year!

Peter Troost Monument Company is the proud winner of the 2005 Illinois Family Business of the Year Award. Every year, nominations are accepted for this prestigious award. In order to qualify as a family business, a company or corporations must be principally owned by a family. All family businesses headquartered in the State of Illinois are eligible. Once nominations are received, all nominees complete an application that is reviewed and scored by judges. One winner and three finalists for each of three size categories are determined.

The Loyola University Chicago Family Business Center is an internationally recognized pioneer and leader in family business program development and research. It is designed to be a resource to family businesses in the Chicago region and throughout the nation. We are proud to be the recipient of this year's award.

May We Introduce…Our Award-Winning Designers

Michael Feinberg, C.M.

Michael Feinberg has worked for Peter Troost Monument Co. since 1979. He is considered one of the nation's most renowned designers of monuments. His artistic talent and his 37 years of experience in the monument industry give him the distinction of being one of its premier award-winning monument designers. His creations are often considered works of art.

Michael holds the professional designation of CM-Certified Memorialist. This is the highest level of distinction awarded in the monument industry. Less than 200 memorialists have achieved this designation. It includes a rigorous course of education and a comprehensive design component. He has been a leader in helping others, both his own customers as well as other designers in the industry.

Many of his designs have been published in national trade magazines, such at MB News, Barre Life, Stone in America, and Elberton Graniteer. Through these publications, his monument designs have been distributed throughout the world, and have served as an inspiration for other designers.

Michael has been an active member of the Illinois Monument Association, serving as its President in 2004. He is currently a Trustee on the MBNA, Monument Builders of North America, which is the monument industry's national association. He also serves on the Education Committee of the MBNA. Throughout his career he has been committed to professionalism and ethics within the industry. He exhibits these same attributes in his personal work for Peter Troost Monument Co. Michael has designed personalized, creative, artistic monuments for hundreds of customers throughout his career.

Some of his awards include the following:

2004 Monument Builders of North America
First Place--Expert Division
Display Monument Category

2004 Monument Builders of North America
First Place-Expert Division
Large Monument Category
2000 Monument Builders of North America
First Place--Expert Division
Large Monument Category

1998 Monument Builders of North America
First Place--Expert Division
Public/Civic Category

Excerpts from the West Suburban Journal, October 27, 2005

"Monument Company Thrives Over 100 Years"

Troost Monument honored most enduring business by Hillside (Illinois).

By Tanisha Allen-Jones

Mayor Joseph Tamburino and the Hillside Chamber of Commerce hosted an event Thursday at the village hall that honored Peter Troost Monument Company as the "Most Enduring Business in Hillside" as a part of the village's year-long centennial celebration.

"What we are here for is to celebrate our community, look at its 100 years... businesses within the community that have added insight…and set forth what we must do to set the course for the next 100 years," said Tamburino. "When you think of a business that was started and is still run by the original family, it says a lot about leadership, it says a lot about commitment…it says you came to Hillside not just to live, but you came to Hillside to stay forever."

The family-owned business was started in 1889 in Forest Park, Illinois. In 1911, the business moved and opened its doors in Hillside. Frank Troost agreed with Tamburino that Hillside's location was integral to the businesses' success and for more reasons then one, the company will stay in Hillside forever. "When I started working for my dad 40 years ago, I didn't think I would be working there that long. If you see our place, there are about 18,000 headstones there," Lisa Troost said the monument company has been a big part of her life ever since she was a young child, so her transition into the presidency was an easy one.

Tamburino congratulated the Troost family and wished them continued success. He also stressed the importance of the business community's influence over Hillside. "The business community gives us the knowledge and the wisdom we need to make sure we keep doing the things we need to do to create a better Hillside and we encourage business and help them to prosper," said Tamburino.