Arron Sutherland and Nicole Watson-Lam honored as Co-Volunteers of the Year

The Quad Cities Chamber honored Arron Sutherland and Nicole Watson-Lam as Co-Volunteers of the Year at the 2023 Chamber Annual Meeting presented by IMEG Corp.  

Sutherland and Watson-Lam were appointed to serve as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, of the Downtown Rock Island Steering Committee in December 2021. Their Committee efforts were instrumental in the formation of the recently established Rock Island Downtown Alliance and the Downtown Special Service Area that it manages in partnership with the City of Rock Island. Their success in sparking new economic growth opportunities and improving quality of life in downtown Rock Island is what makes them Co-Volunteers of the year. 

“When it comes to advancing the Chamber’s work around quality of place, Arron and Nicole are second to none. Their enthusiasm and passion for seeing downtown Rock Island thrive – not to mention their strong will to win – is contagious,” said Jack Cullen, Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance.  

Their belief that business leaders could affect change in downtown Rock Island drove their commitment to win over any opposition, for the betterment of all.  

“I can remember being told in my very first meeting that there's a lot of opposition and that we wouldn’t get this approved. And I remember telling Jack, ‘Don't worry, I don't lose.’ I really took it as a personal challenge that I was going to win people over and we were going to see this thing through,” said Sutherland. 

Their passion for downtown Rock Island is what fuels their continued Board service on the Downtown Alliance Board of Directors, where Sutherland currently serves as Chair and Watson-Lam serves as a Board member.  

“It’s amazing to even be considered for such an award, and to actually be recognized alongside Arron, whom I think so highly of, is just an honor,” Watson-Lam said. “I am not only financially invested in this effort as a downtown business and property owner, but I am emotionally invested as well.” 

Both recipients were influential in rallying the support of fellow downtown leaders to advocate for a downtown place management and placemaking organization, which would eventually become the Downtown Alliance. They helped organize formal meetings and casual conversations with fellow business owners, property owners and residents, wrote letters to local and state leaders and attended numerous City Council, Chamber and Rotary meetings to advocate for their goal of improving their shared downtown. Their efforts have also helped secure more than $7 million in funding for major downtown capital improvements. Together, they’ve united large and small downtown Rock Island businesses into a robust team of stakeholders working toward an improved downtown.  

“All of this and their current service on the Downtown Alliance Board of Directors will continue to pay dividends for downtown Rock Island and the Quad Cities region for many years to come, and I am honored to work alongside them,” said Cullen.  

During a regular workday, Sutherland is the President/CEO of Illinois Casualty Company, a business insurance provider for the food and beverage industry in 13 states and counting. The Company, headquartered in downtown Rock Island since 1950, is part of ICC Holdings, Inc., which is publicly traded on the Nasdaq as ICCH. Watson-Lam is the owner of Ms. Brimani’s Hair & Beauty Supply, a retail store specializing in wigs and hair extensions, and The Urban Reserve, a luxury event suite. Watson-Lam purchased her building at 1709 2nd Avenue in 2017 and opened Ms. BriMani’s there in 2019 after many years on 11th Street in Rock Island.  The Urban Reserve opened on the upper floor and rooftop above Ms. BriMani’s in 2022.    

As a lifelong resident of Rock Island, Watson-Lam has always been an advocate for her city. “I believe we’re on the right path toward getting our downtown back on the map as a place everyone wants to be,” she said. 

Sutherland noted Illinois Casualty Company’s decades-long history in downtown Rock Island inspired him to get involved with downtown revitalization and place management initiatives.  

“We've been a business in Rock Island since our inception in 1950. We've always been downtown. It's part of the fabric of the company. It's a great effort for us to get behind and lead by example and say we're willing to pay our share to help and try to get other businesses and property owners on board,” said Sutherland. “There's a lot of people doing a lot of good work to revitalize downtown Rock Island. And there's a lot of work to be done ahead. But I think the people have passion and are invested in it. And I think there's great things in the future for Rock Island.” 

There’s a brighter future in store for downtown Rock Island thanks to the work of Sutherland and Watson-Lam, and the Chamber is proud to recognize their efforts and accomplishments.