Chamber Executive Illinois Digest  

December, 2015

Merry Christmas, Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day.

Monica Bristow receives prestigious IACCE Chamber Executive of the Year award

Monica Bristow, President, RiverBend Growth Association, was recognized by her peers at the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE) Awards Dinner held during their 100th annual Fall Conference Thursday, November 5. 

As a chamber executive, Bristow has been a strong advocate for chamber members and a unified voice for the community.  Her involvement does not end with the chamber…it expands throughout the community as a representative and officer of many boards and local organizations.

As IACCE Chair, Bristow was instrumental in encouraging board conversations regarding IACCE's role in the development of local chamber staff and recognizing the need to allocate more time and resources to accomplishing IACCE’s Strategic Plan as adopted in 2012.  As a result of her willingness to hold difficult discussions with board leadership and Doug Whitley, then the President of the Illinois Chamber, Monica paved the way to formalize the separation of IACCE from the Illinois Chamber.

In the speech given to nominate Bristow, Debbie Arell-Martinez, Executive Director of the O’Fallon - Shiloh Chamber, said, “On a daily basis, as the President of the RiverBend Growth Association, Monica juggles the needs of the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Organization for the communities of the Riverbend.  Monica is involved in everything from education to legislation to economic development as well as day-to-day operations of the chamber.  She works with multiple municipalities, school districts, labor groups, large and small businesses as well as non-profit organizations. As an Economic Development Organization, she works closely with state, regional, county and local officials to develop new employment opportunities. Monica’s work in the community is unending:  serving on the United Way Southwestern Illinois Auxiliary Board, OSF St. Anthony’s Hospital business and professional committee, Madison-Bond Workforce Investment Board, the Rotary of the Riverbend and many other community organizations.”

 “The Illinois chamber community is stronger today because of the professionals who lead the way,” explains Einar Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of IACCE’s board of directors. “I’ve had the pleasure and honor of working with Monica for a number of years. She exemplifies the spirit of the Brann Award.” Read more: RiverBender.com

Plainfield Area Chamber purchases new location in downtown Plainfield 

Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce is moving to a new, more central location on Lockport Street in downtown Plainfield.
Right now, the chamber is located at 24047 Lockport St. Suite 109 and will move to 21409 W. Lockport St. The move is right down the road, but a necessary one.
Executive Director of the Chamber, Tasha Kitson, explained that a move has been talked about for years.
“They’ve talked numerous times about finding a building the Chamber can find to put their footprint on and purchase,” Kitson said.
She added that the Chamber is “very, very excited” about the move.
The new location has its front door directly on Lockport Street, which Kitson said “made a lot of sense.”
She said that the move will be better in the long run, and it keeps the Chamber in downtown Plainfield, which is logical since the Chamber does many events downtown.
Kitson added that a huge part of the Chamber is involvement in the community, and staying downtown allows them to stay a large part of Plainfield. Read more: The Bugle

Chamber Best Practices: Winners of the 60 Ideas in 60 Minutes at IACCE conference

The winners of the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives "60 ideas in 60 minutes" (From Left,) Jan Anderson, Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce; Most Ideas  Angie McElwee, Monmouth Chamber, 3rd Place,  Elaine Kemna-Irish, Evanston Chamber, 2nd Place, Restaurant Dues Jane Abe, Aurora Regional Chamber, program moderator Matt Duffy, Dekalb Chamber, 1st Place, Proudly Dekalb

Effingham County Chamber President Norma Lansing Honored w/Noon Rotary Vocational Excellence Award – Congratulate her on nearly 40 years of leadership!

Norma Lansing, President, Effingham County Chamber of Commerce, has been selected to receive the Effingham Noon Rotary Club 2015 Vocational Excellence Award.

Norma serves as Chamber president, overseeing the programs and services that the Chamber provides to its 550+ members. For nearly four decades, her leadership, input and involvement has supported community and economic development efforts in Effingham County.

Norma’s leadership of the Effingham County Chamber is recognized and modeled by many Chambers around the State and beyond. Whether it is a Business After Hours, a First Friday Luncheon, the Chamber Annual Golf Outing or its Annual Business Recognition Gala, Chamber members benefit from Norma’s efforts. 

Norma organized the Effingham County Manufacturing Day, which benefits area manufacturers, high school students and area colleges. She also implemented a Job Fair that is well attended by job seekers, students and area employers. Read more: WXEF Radio

GLMV Chamber event: Area representatives address state, local issues

About 70 business professionals and government officials listened to legislative leaders discuss local and state issues Monday during the Multi-Chamber 2015 Annual Fall Legislative Breakfast at Advocate Condell Conference Center in Libertyville.

The legislative forum included U.S. congressman Robert Dold, State Sen. Terry Link, State representatives Carol Sente and Ed Sullivan Jr., and Lake County Board members Carol Calabresa and Charles Bartels.

The event was sponsored by the GLMV Chamber of Commerce and the legislative leaders spoke about issues concerning the state budget, the proposed Route 53/120 extension, term limits, finance reform and redistricting reform. Read more: DailyHerald.com

Naperville Chamber Launches Virtual Concierge

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is launching a virtual concierge service to help connect you with local businesses.

“Members of the community, and chamber members as well, can come to our website and they can put in a request for any kind of product or service and then it will shoot out as an email to our members, and then they can go back and contact the individual looking for that service and put a bid in and let them know they’re interested in providing that product or service for them,” said Lauren Holtz, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Naperville will be the first chamber in Illinois to roll out this program, which is powered by EZBZ Inc., a technology based concierge company out of New York.

Launching November 15th, this resource will be free for the community to use. Read more: NCTV17

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce: Top Technology Trends for 2016

Thursday, December 10th 2015

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

ÄKTA, 205 West Wacker Drive, 21st Floor , Chicago, IL, 60606

Keeping up with rapidly changing technology has become a job in and of itself for businesses in today’s marketplace. How will tech trends impact your organization? Which trends should you invest time and resources into for 2016?

Panelists:

• Drew Davidson, Vice President of Design, ÄKTA

• Ted Souder, Head of Industry, Google

• Chris Taylor, General Manager, Uber

• Nicole Yeary, Founder & CEO, Ms. Tech

• MODERATOR: John Pletz, Technology Reporter, Crain's Chicago Business

Join the Conversation | #TechTrends2016  Read more: Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal

By Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr

The number of hours in a day is fixed, but the quantity and quality of energy available to us is not. This fundamental insight has the power to revolutionize the way you live. 

As Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz demonstrate in their groundbreaking New York Times bestseller, managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance as well as to health, happiness, and life balance. Their Full Engagement Training System is grounded in twenty-five years of working with great athletes -- tennis champ Monica Seles and speed-skating gold medalist Dan Jansen, to name just two -- to help them perform more effectively under brutal competitive pressures. Now this powerful, step-by-step program will help you to: 

· Mobilize four key sources of energy 

· Balance energy expenditure with intermittent energy renewal 

· Expand capacity in the same systematic way that elite athletes do 

· Create highly specific, positive energy management rituals 

The Power of Full Engagement is a highly practical, scientifically based approach to managing your energy more skillfully. It provides a clear road map to becoming more physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused, and spiritually aligned -- both on and off the job. Read more: Amazon

Palatine chamber leader Mindy Phillips joins Arlington Heights chamber

Mindy Phillips is leaving her post as director of the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce to join the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce starting in January.

Phillips will be the associate director for the Arlington Heights chamber.

According to a news release, her role will be "to enhance and develop fundraising opportunities, grow the chamber's donor and volunteer base, and to increase the value of membership connection programs to retain and attract new members."

Phillips spent six years working in fundraising, volunteer and event management with the American Cancer Society, and 10 years with the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce, according to the Arlington Heights chamber.

At the Palatine chamber, she worked to increase membership and corporate sponsorships, and brought the Young Entrepreneur Academy to the community.

"She has been both a friend and colleague of mine for 10 years," said Jon Ridler, executive director of the Arlington Heights chamber. said. "Mindy was my first choice to expand our chamber team which will help us reach greater goals and successes for our members and the economic development of Arlington Heights." Source: Daily Herald

Geneva chamber names Wood Award recipient

At its annual dinner Thursday night, the Geneva Chamber of Commerce bestowed its most prestigious award of the year to Gordon “Gordie” Hard, an insurance man whose volunteerism has been felt throughout the community.

In a chamber news release, his wife stated he “genuinely enjoys” helping people in the community.

“Through hard work and tenacity he has been very blessed and is always looking for a way to give back,” Kathleen Hard stated. “He is willing to volunteer for whatever he can, whenever he can.”

Gordon Hard received the Wood Award, which recognizes those who have made significant community contributions in business, education, youth involvement, civic organizations, art, recreation, charity or government.

“You got me,” Gordon Hard told those gathered at Eagle Brook Country Club after a lengthy introduction.

Gordon Hard is the owner and president of the Valley Insurance Agency in Geneva and a longtime member of the chamber’s Board of Directors, for which he served as chairman from 1988 to 1998.

He also has held leadership positions with the Rotary Club of Geneva, which he joined in 1984.

Geneva Chamber of Commerce President Jean Gaines described Gordon Hard as one of the most positive people she knows.

“He is committed to the groups he supports, like the chamber and Rotary, and his enthusiasm never seems to waiver,” Gaines stated in a news release.

“We appreciate his support, his sense of humor and his easy laugh. He has made quiet contributions to the success of the chamber, and he is always open to a new idea.”

The chamber also honored Martha Sanchez of State Street Jewelers, who was named the Geneva Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year. Read more: Kane County Chronicle

Chamber Chuckle -  Wacky Wednesday Weirdest Chamber Requests

"Can you come fix my outside light?"

Business Ledger Expo serves up suburban hospitality to record crowd

A record crowd of business people got a taste of the Northwest suburbs' hospitality industry Thursday during the Daily Herald Business Ledger Hospitality Expo -- Chicago Northwest.

More than 900 people wandered the Stonegate Banquet and Conference Centre in Hoffman Estates to check out more than 70 vendors showing off their specialties. Businesses from hotels and meeting sites to restaurants and caterers, as well entertainers such as magicians and casino night operators, were represented.

The event drew the largest crowd in the history of the Business Ledger's annual event, according to Chris Craven, advertising team leader and coordinator of the Business Ledger's three yearly Hospitality Expos.

"It really shows the need for events like these that bring people from the industry together to network and to generate new business," Craven said.

For many of the vendors, the event was not only a way to drum up business but also to network with others in the industry in a relaxed format. Jasmine Carlson and Lauren Rullo of Weber Grill Restaurant in Schaumburg noted the atmosphere at the Thursday event was different from other events they've attended. Read more: Daily Herald

Skokie Chamber interest: Illinois Science + Technology Park Update

Innovations are in progress at the Illinois Science + Technology Park (IS+TP) in Downtown

Skokie. Owned by Forest City Enterprises since 2005, the IS+TP is home to more than 25

established firms and startup companies in 450,000 square feet of leased space. IS+TP tenants

specialize in nanotechnology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical research and manufacturing and

healthcare, and collectively employ approximately 1,400 people onsite.

Vetter Development Services USA, Inc., a German pharmaceutical firm that opened its first

United States operations in the IS+TP in 2009, recently completed expansion activities at the

park. When announcing adding an additional staff shift for daily manufacturing operations and

doubling capacity for performing important quality control functions, Vetter Managing Director

Peter Soelkner said, “We are extremely pleased with our past years performance at this facility,

as well as our overall success to date.” Vetter is a contract development and manufacturing firm

that specializes in aseptic filling. Drugs under development by Vetter’s customers include

advances in treatment of blood cancer, dwarfism, wound healing and muscular dystrophy.

Longtime IS+TP tenant Polyera recently announced development of The Wove ™ Band, the

world’s first flexible display product that can be used flat or wrapped around a wrist. The Wove

™ Band is the result of 10 years of development, spanning fundamental science, engineering and

design, with commercial launch planned for mid-2016.

The 29-year-old Technology Innovation Center, or TIC, business incubator recently relocated to

the park and is described as “A community of entrepreneurs bringing innovation to market.”

One new TIC resident company, Hazel Technologies, has patented technology to extend the

quality shelf-life of fresh produce, thereby conserving resources and reducing costly spoilage.

Another TIC startup company, SIM solutions, has expertise in fluid delivery devices for medical,

aerospace and related industries and is now designing a low-cost system for peritoneal kidney

dialysis.

The IS+TP also houses the Oakton Community College Nanotechnology Education,

Employment and Economic Development Initiative (NE3I), which offers nanotechnology lab

assistant training through a two-year curriculum initiative. Since being established in 2012, the

NE3I has received over $2 million in public and private grant funding. Area high school students

are able to take courses for dual credit at the NE3I lab and Oakton works with local employers to

provide internships and jobs for students during and following completion of the two-year

Nanotechnology Certificate program.

Forest City recently reported its intent to sell or secure financing partners for the IS+TP. Forest

City has assured the Village they remain committed to the IS+TP, and a sale or partnership

situation could include Forest City’s continued involvement in the park. Read more: Skokie Economic Development

Chamber Holiday House Tour: Tickets Available for Holiday House Tour in Geneva

Tickets are now available for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce’s holiday house tour.

Five exquisite homes in Geneva will be open to visitors for self-guided tours from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 4 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 5. Tickets include a traditional holiday tea and a booklet with delightful Christmas decorating and entertaining ideas for every corner of the house.

Tickets are $30 per person and can be pre-ordered by calling 630-232-6060. The tickets are also available for purchase at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, 8 South Third St., and at various other locations throughout the community. Read more: Geneva Patch

Ryan McKennedy named Herrin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

The Herrin Chamber of Commerce has announced that Ryan McKennedy will be the new executive director.

McKennedy is a 2013 Southern Illinois University graduate and a 2015 University of Southern California graduate. He has been with the Army National Guard for eight years and continues to serve as a human resources sergeant.

Ryan helped charter and co-captain a local chapter of Team RWB based out of Marion, serving veterans throughout Southern Illinois. Team RWB Marion mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. Read more: The Southern

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Positive Thoughts)

“The strangest and most fantastic fact about negative emotions is that people actually worship them.” – Peter Ouspensky

Top Three Daily Postings in the last month at Midwest Chamber of Commerce blog – --- click to go there or Google search “Midwest Chamber of Commerce blog”

St. Joseph County Chamber News: South Bend, Indian... Dec 3, 2015	103
Lansing Regional Chamber Calls for Public/Private ... Nov 12, 2015	101
Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Ide... Nov 24, 2015	100

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