The Arc of the Quad Cities Area celebrated a local business and three area individuals with its annual Catalyst Awards.
At an awards event Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Quad Cities Botanical Center in Rock Island. The Arc presented its 2025 awards to four tireless champions.
They have dedicated themselves to ensuring that all people with disabilities experience the dignity, independence, and full participation in society that they deserve.
2025 Catalyst honorees
This year’s winners are:
Liberty Packaging, 2025 Business Partner of the Year. Since acquiring Miller Container in 2017, Liberty Packaging has gone beyond a vendor relationship to become a true partner in advancing The Arc’s social enterprise, QC Flex. What began as a modest supply relationship has grown into a thriving collaboration.
Dr. Trevor Craig, 2025 Community Partner of the Year. For the past two years, Dr. Craig has partnered with The Arc to provide essential dental screening services for individuals with disabilities. He is addressing a critical gap in care for a population often underinsured or uninsured. Beyond screenings, he has welcomed several individuals into his practice, ensuring ongoing access to compassionate dental care.
Illinois state Rep. Gregg Johnson, 2025 Legislative Advocate of the Year. Mr. Johnson has been a steadfast champion for people with disabilities and the Direct Support Professionals (DSP) who serve them. From the beginning of his tenure, he made disability services and DSP wages one of his top legislative priorities. Mr. Johnson played a key role in passing the Dignity in Pay Act. That landmark legislation phases out the subminimum wage in Illinois and affirms that every person deserves fair pay for their work.
Sheila Guse, 2025 Lifetime Service Award. She is a passionate educator, advocate, and community leader whose decades of dedication have shaped a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. As a special education teacher in the Quad Cities, Sheila built her students’ confidence “brick by brick, heart by heart, and student by student,” ensuring that every individual she taught felt valued and capable.
Quad City Bank & Trust also was recognized as the awards’ Title Sponsor. Others include: Advocacy Sponsors, Modern Woodmen of America, Tower Trust & Investments, and Mutual of America.
