NAPERVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 55 South Main St., Suite 351, Naperville, IL 60540 (630) 355-4141 Fax: (630) 355-8335 www.naperville.net  *chamber@naperville.net

Contact: Mike Skarr                                       For Immediate Release
Phone: (630) 355-4141 ext. 3370                     July 10, 2007 Chamber President & CEO Mike Skarr to Retire at Year’s End Mike Skarr, who has served as President & CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce since 1996, will retire from that position at the end of 2007. “It’s time,” said Skarr in announcing his retirement at this morning’s meeting of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. “With the help of our Members and staff, we’ve been able to accomplish great things in the last eleven years. This is a great opportunity to ‘pass the baton’ to someone who can accomplish great things in the future.” “All of us who do business in the Naperville area are indebted to Mike for his leadership these past eleven years,” noted Debra Lellbach, Chair of the Board of Directors. “His vision has helped our Chamber become one that is respected throughout the state and the nation.” Under Skarr’s leadership the NACC’s Membership has nearly doubled and its financial fortunes have brightened considerably. He oversaw the organization’s relocation to its modern headquarters in the Main Street Promenade, its move to a new Membership model, its receipt of Five-Star Accreditation from the United States Chamber of Commerce and the recent strategic planning initiative, Chamber 2020. “As we were planning the course for the next several years for the Chamber, it became apparent to me that along with a new vision and strategy, a new voice of leadership would make sense,” said Skarr. “As I have many dreams and only one lifetime, I could see no better time than the present to step aside and let the future play out with someone new at the helm.”
A committee has been formed that will begin the active search for Skarr’s replacement immediately, and anticipates having a candidate by mid-November. For more information, visit www.naperville.net, or contact Mike Skarr at mskarr@naperville.net or (630) 355-4141, ext.3370 or Debra Lellbach at d.lellbach@comcast.net or (630) 393-4342.

###