I’ve been making my way through the speaking circuit at Naperville’s Rotary clubs and in my talks I use the line, “the Chamber is the reflection of the business community.” The Chamber’s experienced the same challenges your businesses are facing. However, like you are hopefully experiencing in your businesses, we are pleased to have an influx of new positive energy, Members and involvement.

I don’t have the analytical tools to know if that is a sign that things are thawing and that our economy is on a path towards growth. However, the speakers at the Chamber’s 2010 Regional Economic Forecast do, and will give you the information you want to know at the breakfast event on Wednesday, October 21.

Our knowledgeable panelists and speakers are John P. Calamos, Sr., Chairman, CEO and Co-CIO of Calamos Investments, Pat Callan, President of Illinois Association of REALTORS, and Daniel Sullivan, Sr. Vice President – Director of Economic Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Tickets for the breakfast are a great value for Chamber members at just $59 and you can take advantage of a 15% discount when you buy a table of ten. We’ve had numerous members sign up for a table as a way of providing value to their clients and employees. Seating is going fast and we will sell out of capacity, so I encourage you to sign up today either by registering online or calling the Chamber at (630) 355-4141.

We’re also trying something new this year by allowing you to submit your questions to the panelists. Email your questions to forecast@naperville.net, and we’ll do our best to work them into the morning’s discussion with the panelists.

In these difficult times the Chamber is committed to helping you, our valued Members, achieve success. We’re on the path to expanding our programming, more to come in later columns, but we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity at the Forecast and get insight into what lies ahead in 2010.

I would also like to thank Calamos Investments for their support of the Regional Economic Forecast. Through their gracious support we are able to use this event as one of our key annual fundraisers and provide you with a world-class program on the economy.

I wish you all success in business this month, encourage you to welcome our newest Members, and thank you for your membership.

Sincerely,


John Schmitt
President & CEO
(630)544-3370