Jay Fox’s 47-year career in towing has come with personal sacrifice but also satisfaction, and his business was recently recognized for its work. Fox’s family-run Bob’s Garage and Towing, headquartered in Painesville Township, was recently named the Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Business of the Year. It will be recognized at the chamber’s annual meeting on Jan. 15, along with Beacon Award winners Sub Zero Mission and David Komjati. Related Articles Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve recognizes local honorees Kirtland aims for economic, infrastructure development in 2026 Auburn Career Center to host Community Open House Wickliffe Public Library hosting knitting and crochet club Perry Schools welcomed new leadership team in 2025 Fox said he was speechless, grateful and honored when he learned that his company had received the award. “To be recognized by just doing a good job and helping people, that’s good enough to me, but to be recognized by the chamber and the community and be able to get an award like that is just awesome,” he said. Fox said that his grandfather started out with a gas station and car repair business in Cleveland. His father later opened a Sohio gas station near the current Painesville Township Giant Eagle, and then Fox built up the towing business. The company has been based at its current 1735 Mentor Ave. site since around 2002, he said. It offers mechanic and towing services. Over the years, two sons and other employees have joined him. While the mechanic operations close down at the end of the work day, the towing business requires staff to be on-call around the clock. Police officers, for instance, may need a quick response from the company to help clear an accident, relocate a drunk driver’s car or get someone out of a vehicle. To provide around-the-clock service, Fox said that two employees stay on-call after 5 p.m. each night. He also answers his phone after hours and on weekends. “Your sleep is always interrupted,” he said. Fox added that the business gets more calls after it snows. He hates winter because the company can stay busy without the “chaos” that snow brings. An increase in calls also affects his personal time. Fox and his sons moved Thanksgiving plans and stayed on the job till 4 a.m. on New Year’s morning this year. He also missed his older kids’ events when they were growing up, something he has tried to make up for in recent years. “When you choose this life, and what I’ve put into it, it’s tough for family,” he said. Fox hopes to wean himself off the business in the coming years, but one of the biggest challenges is finding workers. He said he does not see younger workers entering the trades. “My guys are older and they’re tired,” he said. “When you do that mechanic work, bending over cars, fixing them all day on your elbows and your shoulders, it’s rough on your body. So, that’s part of the future to me, what’s that going to bring. We can’t find people. I just wish we could.” Besides the towing service, Fox said that Bob’s Garage and Towing has also given back by helping local fire and police departments with their training, sponsoring local baseball teams, participating in parades and donating bicycles for Painesville’s annual National Night Out. “I just want to continue giving the service that the community deserves,” he said. “Our customers, I’m grateful for everybody that we service and I always welcome new people.” Serving the community Meanwhile, the chamber has previously said that its Beacon Award is given for “accomplishment of uncommon deeds.” Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katrina March, left, poses with ELCCC 2026 Beacon Award winner David Komjati after presenting the award to him. (Courtesy of Katrina March)Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce and Sub Zero Mission officials pose after the mission was given one of the ELCCC's 2026 Beacon Awards. (Courtesy of Katrina March)Show Caption1 of 2Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katrina March, left, poses with ELCCC 2026 Beacon Award winner David Komjati after presenting the award to him. (Courtesy of Katrina March)Expand One winner, Sub Zero Mission, describes itself as a veteran-founded nonprofit focused on the mission that “nobody should freeze to death in America.” Based at 1760 North Ridge Road in Painesville Township, the organization delivers warming supplies to people who are homeless and operates a shelter for dangerously cold nights. Founder and CEO Al “Sarge” Raddatz said that the award allows team members to see that others appreciate their efforts. “They could be serving their time with any other cause; there’s no shortage of need in America,” Raddatz said. “The fact that they choose to help us and help everybody and help veterans is meaningful to me, so my hope is that the team really understands this award is for and because of them.” Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katrina March said in an email that she “cannot say enough” about Sub Zero’s mission. “Al shared something with me recently that I cannot get out of my head, ‘Try holding your meetings outside on one of the coldest Northeast Ohio days, with no coat on, and you will understand exactly why we do what we do,’” March said. “That statement alone speaks volumes about the heart and urgency behind their work.” David Komjati, the second 2026 Beacon Award winner, serves as the manager at the Concord Township Key Bank branch, 7525 Crile Road. March said that he “embodies everything the Beacon Award represents.” “He is one of the most generous, humble and dedicated chamber members I know,” she said. “Truly one of a kind.” Komjati said that he has previously served with the Lake County Free Clinic, Lake County Salvation Army and Painesville City School Board. He has also been a member of the Painesville City Planning Commission, coached youth basketball and served on other task forces and committees. He also has a long history with the chamber. He was the last president of the Painesville Area Chamber of Commerce and, after it merged with the Madison-Perry Chamber of Commerce about a decade ago, he became the first president of the newly-formed Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce. Komjati added that as a former co-chair of the chamber’s award nominating committee, he is “always so impressed” with the award winners and is honored to join a list that includes “some true pillars of the community.” “I’m very grateful to the chamber for bestowing me with this honor,” Komjati added later. March described the Annual Meeting and Awards Reception as “one of the most meaningful nights” the chamber hosts. The chamber sold tickets through Jan. 8. “Especially in a time when e-commerce continues to grow, this evening serves as a powerful reminder of how important community businesses and organizations remain, and why it is so important to celebrate the people behind them,” she said. ...read more read less