CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — The Parkland College Foundation has named Linda Davis Ballard and Courtney McKay, co-owners of Art Mart, as its 2026 Entrepreneurs of the Year, recognizing their long-standing leadership and contributions to the Champaign-Urbana business community.
The pair will receive the V. Dale Cozad Entrepreneur of the Year Award during the 15th annual banquet on Wednesday, June 3, at the I Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign. The event is presented by Cozad Asset Management and benefits the Parkland College Entrepreneurial Network.
Art Mart, established in 1958, has been a Champaign institution for more than 60 years and is recognized as the oldest woman-owned business in Champaign County. The store has grown into a well-known local destination featuring home décor, kitchen goods, clothing, gifts, specialty foods, a café, and a wine shop.
Ballard began working with Art Mart in the early 1960s and helped guide the business through decades of growth and change. McKay joined the company in 2008 and contributed to modernizing operations while expanding product offerings and preserving the store’s longstanding identity.
Together, they have overseen the transition of Art Mart into its next chapter of ownership while maintaining its role as a community gathering space and retail staple. The business continues to employ dozens of staff members and serve generations of loyal customers in the region.
Parkland College officials said the award recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate leadership, initiative, perseverance, and a commitment to strengthening the local economy and workforce.
The Entrepreneur of the Year banquet will begin with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and the program at 6 p.m. Proceeds support scholarships for students involved in the Parkland College Entrepreneurial Network.
More information and tickets are available at Parkland College Entrepreneur of the Year.
