Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce News Newswire

Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates Series Continues

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Chamber continues to facilitate the “Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates Series” to give you, our valued Members with opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with the candidates who are seeking your vote in the 2010 Gubernatorial Elections.

The next event will feature Senator Kirk Dillard on Monday, November 30, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. at Raffi’s on Fifth, 200 E. 5th Avenue, Suite 127. Senator Dillard currently represents half of Naperville in the Illinois Senate and more information about his candidacy can be found at www.dillardforgovernor.com.

“These events have been a wonderful opportunity for the Members to educate them on the challenges their businesses face during these difficult economic times,” said John Schmitt, President & CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. Past events have included Senator Bill Brady and Governor Pat Quinn.

Registrations are not required and each event features complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.

For more information on the Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates Series, contact Patrick Skarr, Vice President of Advocacy at (630) 544-3368.

NACPAC Fundraiser

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Naperville Area Chamber Political Action Committee, the associated political corporation of the Chamber, will be hosting their annual fundraiser on Wednesday, December 2 at 6:00 p.m., at the Comedy Shrine in downtown Naperville. The event will feature a politically incorrect performance that will poke fun at recent developments in the state and national political dialogue.

“Every contribution NACPAC receives goes into our efforts to elect and re-elect candidates who embrace the priorities of the business community and will work to improve the business climate in our community,” said Jeff Davis, Chairman of the NACPAC Board of Directors.

Tickets for the event are just $50 per person, though individuals and corporations may make any sized financial contribution to NACPAC. You can register for the event by clicking here, or if you are unable to attend and wish to make a contribution to NACPAC, contact Patrick Skarr, Vice President, Advocacy at (630) 544-3368.

Every contribution made to NACPAC enables Naperville’s regional business community to identify and financially and politically support candidates whom embrace the priorities of the business community.

Since being founded in 2005, NACPAC has engaged resources in 48 electoral races; and spent time with over 100 candidates and potential candidates seeking to represent you in elected office.

Contributions made to NACPAC are not deductible for federal or state income tax purposes. A copy of NACPAC's annual report is filed with the State Board of Elections, DuPage County Clerk and the Will County Clerk and is (or will be) available for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, IL.

Inaugural Gala to Welcome 2010 Chair of the Board

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The annual Inaugural Gala & Silent Auction, set for Friday, January 15th at the Wyndham, will formally welcome John Puscheck as the 2010 Chair of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

John Puscheck is the President and owner of Prager Moving & Storage Co., a Naperville company specializing in household goods, office and electronics transportation and warehousing services. Prager provides local, interstate and international moving and storage services with its fleet of vehicles from its 106,000 sq. ft. facility on Naperville’s west side. John succeeded his father, Chuck, who relocated the company to Naperville in 1964.

Prior to becoming President, John held various positions at Prager including Vice President of Finance & Administration, Vice President of Sales and Vice President of Customer Service. An agent for North American Van Lines and Specialized Transportation, Inc., Prager has received numerous van line awards including Best Facility Award, Best In Class for Safety and Customer Quality Excellence Award.

Puscheck says he’s looking at 2010 as a year of opportunities. “The market place has changed and we as a business community need to examine what we do and how we do it to make sure we are positioned to succeed in this new environment. Now more than ever, a strong network and relationships are more valuable than ever, which is exactly what the Chamber offers.”

In addition to serving on the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Board for the last two years, John has also served on the Board of Directors for the Naperville YMCA Field House. He served for eight years as the Secretary/Treasurer of the North American Movers Association and was on its Executive Committee and Board of Directors. John is a recipient of the Business Ledger’s Today’s Young Executive Award, Rotarian of the Year and has been awarded recognition by Naperville Community School District 203.

John graduated from Marquette University with a BS in Business Administration and lives in Naperville with his wife, Julie, and two children, Lauren & Camden.

“I want to extend my best wishes and thanks to John Puscheck for stepping into the Chair position for 2010. I believe with the organizational changes made and new leadership in place, John’s innovative, creative ideas and strong business attributes will take our Chamber to even higher levels in 2010” said Annmarie Siwik, Marketing Director for DiGiovine, Hnilo, Jordan + Johnson and Current Chair of the NACC Board of Directors. “There’s no doubt we will have many opportunities to ‘Mix, Mingle & Shine’ as we MOVE into the future. Congratulations, John!”

From the Desk of Annmarie Siwik

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

As they say, time flies when you’re having fun. And, as most of you know, I always try to enjoy what I do. When I took the position as your Chair of the Board, an eighteen month term seemed like a long time. Its incredible how quickly the time has gone and amazing what we have been able to accomplish together. These past months have provided me with an opportunity to form friendships with the outstanding professionals that make up your Board. It has been my pleasure to serve you.

Your Chamber Board of Directors had to step up and work harder than any time in the Chamber’s history. To say we had a true “working Board” is an understatement. There were many meetings, early morning votes and difficult decisions during a time of economic downturn and change. The list of accomplishments is long but very impressive and positive. The decisions the Board has made, have set the stage for the Chamber to bring new and exciting programs that will increase the value membership has to your business.

For these reasons, I implore you to attend two very important Chamber functions. First, at our December 14 Holiday Luncheon, we will present the “State of the Chamber”. We will provide an update on what we have accomplished both internally and externally during these past months. In addition to our update, we will review the strategic goals your Board of Directors has set for the next few years and into the year 2020. The Board set these goals in collaboration with our dedicated Chamber staff. We promise a lively and special holiday luncheon and hope you can join us.

Also, on January 15 we will hold our annual Inaugural Ball. This event is a true celebration and a way of showing the Chamber's appreciation for the Board who have given their time, talent and treasure, on your behalf. The Board represents you and has done a tremendous job over the past months. I encourage you to show them your appreciation and support.

So please, take a minute right now and click to register for the December 14 General Membership Luncheon to hear our “State of the Chamber” and the January 15 Inaugural Ball. I promise you a good time and I hope to share a hug, a cocktail and dance with each of you.

As all the Past Chairs of the Board have told me, being a Past Chair is the best position to have plus you hold it forever. Serving as your Chair has been an honor and a gift I will always hold within my heart.

This month’s spotlight shines on our TEAMs. Our TEAMs are networking groups who meet and share ideas and referrals throughout the year. If you are interested in joining a TEAM, please contact Barry Poll, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at (630) 544-3386. Below is a nice article from a satisfied TEAM Member, Mike Cooper:

Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce: a winning recipe for the Sales Kitchen.

This Five Star Chamber helps build business relationships and friendships. The seven Teams’ leads groups help Members heat up their sales through referrals from trusted sources – other Members! Without the referrals and support of the Members of Team 3, I would still be sifting through the job boards. Team 3 is Sales Kitchen’s sales FORCE. When team mates encounter professionals or entrepreneurs wanting to cook up sales solutions, but unable to overcome some unforeseen obstacles to growth, they think of me. How cool is that?

One of the biggest benefits of the Chamber is the dozens of networking opportunities every month. We have met new friends and shared success stories at the many Ribbon Cuttings and monthly Business Luncheons, Coffee Connections and Business After Hours. Although we cannot yet claim our sales are smokin’; sales here at the Kitchen are definitely heating up due to our networking efforts.

The Chamber also sponsors numerous training and educational opportunities. Some seminars have a modest fee but most are FREE. Within the past few months, Members (including us) have been able to spice up our Twitter and Linked-in social media tactics, pick up some selling tips, do a better job acquiring effective employees and keep current on government issues relating to businesses. The upcoming Leadership Institute has put together a team of experts that is sure to provide all participants with a first class learning program.

After almost every event, we hear a Member or two say, “That meeting was educational, informative and entertaining.”

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is awesome; helping businesses succeed, including Sales Kitchen. Keep up the good work, folks.

Respectfully,

Mike Cooper
Sales Kitchen
Heat Up Your Sales

Wishing you love and many blessings at Thanksgiving and beyond,
Annmarie Siwik, Chair of the Board
DiGiovine Hnilo Jordan + Johnson

Shop Member to Member in December!

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Dear Members,

As the holiday season quickly approaches, the Chamber is looking at ways to help our Members increase sales volume through the end of the year. Our Members are our most valuable asset and we want to support you and ask for your support of your fellow Chamber Members.

For the month of December, we will be promoting our Members discounts, promotions, sales and specials through various Chamber communications with our “Member to Member in December” program, hoping to drive business to our Chamber Member businesses. If you would like to participate in this advertising opportunity, forward your holiday Member discounts to Ryan Foster at the Chamber by Friday, November 27th. We will publish all Member specials in jpeg ads (250 x 165 pixels) on our website and link to them directly from the homepage. If you are unable to send a jpeg, please forward your information to us and we will create one for you. Members’ offers will also appear in various other HTML communications throughout the month starting December 1st. Members are limited to one coupon offer for this program.

This advertising opportunity is free of charge to Chamber Members and those participating in this program will also receive a 15% discount on Chamber website advertising.

I would like to encourage you to view these Member discounts and support your fellow Chamber Member businesses in December and throughout the New Year. Our Members are the heart of the Chamber and we couldn’t do what we do without growing and prospering Member businesses.

Thank you for your membership!

Sincerely,

John Schmitt
President & CEO
(630)544-3370

John Blumberg Named Keynote Speaker for Leadership Institute

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The newly formed Leadership Institute will kick off on January 7th at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville with a keynote address from John Blumberg, President of Keynote Concepts, Inc.

John Blumberg started his career as a CPA at Arthur Andersen, but shifted his focus from numbers to people and spent 14 years in human resources, including worldwide recruiting responsibilities at Andersen.

In 1996, John left behind a firm and a career he loved to follow his dream to go into professional speaking. Today, as a professional speaker, John works with organizations who want to build leaders of substance and cultures of genuine service. John has been featured in keynotes and workshops in 10 countries … and continues to speak with corporations, professional associations and universities across North America.

John has received the designation of Certified Speaking Professional from the National Speakers Association. The CSP is the highest earned designation in the speaking profession and held by less than 10% of the members of the International Federation of Professional Speakers.

John is also the author of a best-selling book titled Silent Alarm. It is a parable of hope for busy professionals! It has been endorsed by leadership gurus such as Ken Blanchard, author of The One-Minute Manager. John’s newest book, GOOD to the CORE, was just published earlier this year by Simple Truths. It is a simple book with one powerful message on building value with values.

John lives in Naperville, IL with his wife, Cindy and their three children.

Early bird registration for the Leadership Institute is $795 for Chamber Members and runs through November 30th.

From the Desk of John Schmitt

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

What I did last summer or reflections of the first six months

The end of October was the end of my first six months as your President and CEO. In some ways the time has passed really fast and in other ways I can not believe it has only been six months. One of the hardest parts is explaining to people what role I play. Some will ask “Didn’t you do that before?” to which I reply, “No, I was the Chairman of the Board in 2000, and it was a volunteer position.” Then the question comes “What are you now?” and my response, “I am the paid executive.” “What does that mean?” Finally, I reply “I am what Mike Skarr was” and then they understand.

During these six months, I have grown to appreciate the devoted Members we have in the Chamber. The Ambassadors are everywhere - countless ribbon cuttings, helping at Chamber events, networking and always having fun. The committees like Women in Business, Business Advisory Committee, Not-For-Profit Network, and our newest, the Green Leadership Committee, provide programming and educational offering to help our Member businesses become the best they can be. The T.E.A.M.s meeting to exchange leads with other T.E.A.M. Members is what this Chamber is all about, doing business with other Chamber Members can only make us all stronger.

The events these last six months include the Small Business of the Year Awards, the Annual Golf Outing, the 2010 Regional Economic Forecast, the monthly General Membership Luncheons, the monthly WIB Breakfasts, the monthly Legislative Committee meetings and many smaller events designed to provide value, education, networking opportunities and fun to our Members. We work very hard to make sure that every event the Chamber holds lives up to the standards and quality our Members have grown to expect from the NACC.

The accomplishments of the Chamber wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and devotion of the Chamber staff. From day one we have focused on the fact that you, the Members of the Chamber, are the Chamber. We are here to provide for you. Without your investment in the Chamber, there would be no Chamber. We can never say “Thank You” for your membership too many times.

There has been a lot more going on in the last six months, but I don’t have the time or space to include them all. I will close with this statement - It is an honor and privilege to serve as your President and CEO and I look forward to many years to come. Thank you for your Membership.

Sincerely,

John Schmitt
President & CEO
(630)544-3370

Mark Your Calendar for the 2010 Inaugural Gala & Silent Auction

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The 2010 Inaugural Gala & Silent Auction is set for Friday, January 15th from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Wyndham in Lisle. As one of the Chamber’s signature events, this night of cocktails, dinner and dancing kicks off the new year with a formal transition of our board of directors and board chair.

Recognition to outgoing board members will be given to Deb Lellbach, Lellbach Builders; Jimmy Bergeron, Jimmy’s Grill; Pam Denniston, Denniston Consulting Group, Inc.; Shirley Fancher, Advantage Bookkeeping; John Gallagher, Exterior Design; Barry Greenberg, The Greenberg Law Firm; Dennis Igoe, Holiday Inn Select; and Dino Romano, Romano & Associates.

Joining the board of directors in 2010 for a three year term are Shane Beard, FASTSIGNS; Don Emery, ProfitLink, Inc.; John Norman, Design Resource Center; Mike Squire, North Central College; Russ Whitaker, Dommermuth, Brestal, Cobine & West, Ltd.; Dennis Culloton, Res Publica Group; Tom Kallay, Nicor Gas; Sandra Price, Sandra Price – Ameriprise Financial; Sue Welsh, Old Second Bank; and Norm Zeinty, Fair Oaks Ford.

In 2009, over 400 Chamber Members attended the Inaugural Gala with more than $25,000 worth of items up for bid in one of the Chamber's largest ever silent auctions; with popular items including dinner with Naperville Mayor, A. George Pradel, tickets to the Blue Man Group and green fees at White Eagle Golf Club.

Sponsorship opportunities for the Inaugural Gala are available from as little as $375 and include numerous benefits such as signage at the event, reservations for your guests and your business logo printed on all marketing materials.

For more information, contact Lisa Livingston at 630-544-3365.

Ambassadors Hold Rally and Annual Awards Ceremony

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

More than 35 Ambassadors gathered at The Comedy Shrine on Wednesday, October 21st to participate in the Ambassador Rally. After breaking out into teams, complete with different colored t-shirts, they dispersed into downtown Naperville, going into 13 participating Chamber Member businesses to perform silly tasks including eating a giant cupcake at Sugar Monkey and learning how to tie a scarf at Lillian’s. The group then met back at The Comedy Shrine where they had dinner catered by Belgio’s and announced our Ambassador of the Year awards.

Mike Cooper, Sales Kitchen, was awarded Rookie Ambassador of the Year. Paul Feith, Paul Gregory Media, earned the title of Goodwill Ambassador of the Year. Bob Jung, Bob Jung Painting and Decorating, again was named Ambassador of the Year.

A number of Ambassadors claimed they went into a store they had never been in before. The Ambassadors also had a chance to build relationships with fellow ambassadors by being on randomly picked teams with other Ambassadors they never had the chance to get to know.

The Chamber would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Rally Sponsors – Ameriprise Financial, Lillian’s Shoppe, Airtastic Playland, Bob Jung Painting and Decorating, Interior Investments, Seabreeze West Remodeling, Namedroppers, American Foundations MortgageBanc, J&S Tech Designs, Paul Gregory Media, and Cowart Chiropractic. The Rally Committee who worked hard to put the event together consisted of Jacque LeBreck, Airtastic Playland; Ursula Schroeder, Lillian’s Shoppe; Doreen Schweitzer, Doreen Schweitzer Interiors, Ltd.; Jim Lohse, Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group; Mark Galati, Interior Investments; Jim Nagy, J&S Tech Designs; Dennis Papiernik, American Foundations MortgageBanc; Sandra Price, Ameriprise Financial; and Bob Jung, Bob Jung Painting and Decorating. Special Thanks to Dave Sinker and The Comedy Shrine for hosting the Ambassadors!

Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates Series Begins October 20

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The State of Illinois has tough choices to make and as citizens, we have an opportunity to impact the future course. On February 2, 2010, the voters will decide which candidates will appear on the ballot. The actions taken in Springfield impact Naperville directly. Home to over 5,000 businesses, 60,000+ jobs, and it is important that we let our priorities be known to all the candidates seeking to be the chief executive officer of the state of Illinois.

"The Chamber is incredibly proud to be able to offer our Members access to the candidates seeking to represent them in the Executive Mansion," said Chamber President & CEO, John Schmitt. "These sessions are an opportunity for Naperville's leaders to learn where the candidates stand and engage in an exchange of information about what our priorities are."

On Tuesday, October 20 at 5:00 p.m. at the Frog Pond Private Room at Hugo's Frog Bar in downtown Naperville, the Chamber kicks off the series with Senator Bill Brady. Senator Brady is seeking the republican nomination and more information about him can be found on his website at http://bradyforillinois.com.

The Meet the Candidate Series will feature informal meet and greet session at various locations to allow Members an opportunity to get to know the candidates in an informal session. Following the primary, candidates seeking other offices will be invited to the Chamber.

The events are free to attend, and will feature a cash bar and complimentary light appetizers. Each event features a suggested cash donation of $10 to offset the meeting costs.

Upcoming Events:

Governor Pat Quinn, Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 5:00 p.m., Hotel Arista

For more information on the series, or the Chamber's advocacy agenda contact Patrick Skarr, Vice President, Advocacy at (630) 544-3368.

Leadership Institute Offers First Class Leadership Program

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Chamber’s newly developed Leadership Institute is primed to offer a first class leadership program to its Members. The six-month program will offer participants the opportunity to meet twice a month for insightful discussions with top community leaders, on topics relevant to their business, and coaching sessions.

The Leadership Institute kicks off January 7th at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville with a self assessment, goal setting exercise and a panel discussion on ethics and values.

In this opening session, participants will utilize an assessment tool that determines specific behaviors and competencies in which an individual is naturally strong and areas to focus their development efforts. They will gain an understanding of how to establish and achieve challenging goals for themselves and inspire others to become goal setters also; and how they consistently demonstrate core values and beliefs in performing their role in their company at any level.

The program’s initial panel discussion will focus on ethics and values and consists of three of the area’s top leaders who will provide valuable real world examples they have encountered in their own leadership positions: Pam Davis, CEO of Edward Hospital; Ray McGury, Executive Director of Naperville Park District; and Kathy Birkett, Superintendent of Indian Prairie Community School District 204.

Pam Davis joined the staff of Edward Health Services Corporation in 1988 as President and CEO. Pam received the Year 2000 Business Ledger’s award for “Influential Women in Business,” and the Maimonides Health Care Leadership award by the Anti-Defamation League in 2003 honoring individuals in the medical community whose leadership and character are demonstrated in both word and deed. She was named “2005 Person of the Year” for Naperville by the Daily Herald. In January, Pam was appointed to the Illinois Reform Commission by Governor Pat Quinn.

Ray McGury joined the Naperville Park District, as Executive Director, in September 2008 with more than 27 years of community leadership, education and law enforcement experience. Ray served the Naperville Police Department for more than 20 years, retiring at the rank of police captain, and later at the Bolingbrook Police Department where he served as the Chief of Police since 2005. Ray was instrumental in drafting Illinois House Bill 1582, strengthening law enforcement’s ability to obtain personal identification on suspected pedophiles. He was the Team Leader for the “Too Good for Drugs program.” A recipient of numerous awards, Ray has been honored by the Illinois State Crime Commission as Police Chief of the Year and received the Medal of Honor for Bravery from the International Narcotics Officers’ Association.

Kathy Birkett was recently named Superintendent of Indian Prairie School District 204 after dedicating her career to the District, beginning as a teacher at Waubonsie Valley High School in 1979. She moved up through the district, serving as Assistant Principal at Waubonsie Valley High School and principal of Steck Elementary School. She opened Neuqua Valley High School in 1996, and served as the school's principal until 2004. Birkett then served as Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education and assisted with the creation of the district's Frontier program for high school seniors earning dual college credit. Since 2007, Birkett has served as Deputy Superintendent, where she has been instrumental in overseeing preparations for opening Fischer Middle School and Metea Valley High School. Birkett has served as Vice Chairman of the Edward Hospital Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Linden Oaks Hospital Board, and as a Board member of Fry Family YMCA.

Each subsequent session of the Leadership Institute will focus on essential leadership topics such as managing relationships, teamwork, coaching effectiveness, customer focus, business acumen and strategic thinking which all include panel discussions from key leaders in the community.

Leadership Institute sessions will be lead by three facilitators, including Rick Lochner, Andy Kindler and Deborah Chambers-Chima.

Rick Lochner, President of RPC Leadership Associates, Inc., has successfully lead organizations in Fortune 100 corporations and privately held entrepreneurial ventures across multiple industries. His firm works with individuals, organizations and not-for-profit boards, helping them achieve leadership success.

Andy Kindler, with Corporate Strategies and Solutions, a Sandler Training Center, has over 20 years experience in working to promote organizational change, selection and succession planning. Using advanced training and coaching techniques, Andy consistently develops high performing management teams.

Deborah Chambers-Chima is the president and CEO of Chambers Consulting Group Ltd, an organizational consulting and executive coaching firm that promotes leadership development and team dynamics. Chambers-Chima worked for more than 20 years with McDonald’s Corporation where her corporate management positions included profit and loss accountability in both international and domestic markets.

Early bird registration for the Leadership Institute ends November 30th at $795 for Chamber Members and $945 thereafter. Register online now!

From the Desk of Annmarie Siwik

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Connecting the Dots for Business Growth

The state of the economy has forced us to look at new ways to step above our competition. This is a dog-eat-dog world for obtaining and retaining customers. Your business can rise to the top by using your Chamber connections.

As the business development person at my firm, I meet with many business owners and potential clients. Although they ask about our professional services, a major question in today’s world is, “Can you help me find more business?” My response is to ask who are their ideal referral sources and customers. Then, I use this information and Chamber relationships to connect the dots. Here are a few recent examples:

A potential client said he markets his services through speaking engagements to companies that import and export. By putting him in touch with contacts through Chamber relationships, he was able to provide educational programs to businesses and obtained excellent opportunities for new business. He hired us by 8:00 a.m. the next morning.

Another Chamber Member told me they will hire the CPA firm who helps give them connections for growth. I have introduced them to ten Chamber Members who could utilize their services. This provided a resource for other Members and great value to the potential client.

While meeting with three existing clients in the past two weeks, I asked them to be my guest at Chamber functions where I will provide targeted introductions. What a wonderful way to deepen relationships and retain business.

The list goes on but I think you get the picture. Making connections through your membership grows your business and helps others. Use your Chamber membership and your business will end up in first place!

Today’s spotlight shines on the Women in Business Committee for their innovative and professional programs. The current WIB Chair is Joy Rosenberg, American Cancer Society. Joy understands making connections and says:

“I have been involved in the Chamber for over four years -- making friends, building relationships -- but it was not until last Thursday I actually saw the concrete evidence of value of our Chamber membership. The Pink Tea gathered 175 women for education and networking to launch breast cancer awareness month. When I looked over that sea of women, I realized: our event chair, Annmarie, was someone I first met at the Chamber. Her connections brought on board My Chef Catering and Edward Hospital – both key Chamber players. My WIB committee played prominent roles in securing NIU as a location, Desert Rose Design for the marketing campaign, DuPage Woman Newspaper for promotion, as well as others. The attendees were many of the women we knew from Chamber events. It matters that you work your membership: be there more than once, reach out for relationships, and ask for support. Our goal was 100 women to attend this first year event; we nearly doubled the participation, in large part due to the network of women I have met through the Naperville Chamber.”

WIB breakfasts are held the 1st Wednesday of the month. This forum provides great speakers and a way to make those connections mentioned above.

Keep connecting,

Annmarie Siwik, Chair of the Board
DiGiovine Hnilo Jordan + Johnson

From the Desk of John Schmitt

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

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

Seating Going Fast For the Premier Economic Forum

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Chamber’s 2010 Regional Economic Forecast on October 21 is just around the corner and seating is starting to go fast. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn from some of the region’s leading economic experts.

“As the past week’s economic reports indicated, there is progress, but significant challenges remain for businesses, consumers and families,” said Chamber President & CEO John Schmitt. He continued, “I strongly encourage businesses to take advantage of this opportunity to gain the insight and perspective of the great panelists we have lined up for the forecast to gain insight into where we are headed.”

The October 21 event, to be held at Hotel Arista, 2139 CityGate Lane in the CityGate development at corner of Route 59 & Ferry Road, will be from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m., to view a detailed agenda click here.

Offering their expert analysis and commentary at the forecast will be:

John P. Calamos, Sr., Chairman, CEO and Co-CIO Calamos Investments
Daniel G. Sullivan SVP, Director of Economic Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Pat Callan, President Illinois Association of REALTORS®

Tickets for the event are just $59 for Members, and $79 for Non-Members. Take advantage of a 15% discount by reserving a table of ten for $500, or $675 for Non-Members. You may register online by clicking here, or by calling the Chamber at (630) 355-4141.

You are also encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to get your questions answered at the forecast, by submitting your questions for the panel to address by emailing them to forecast@naperville.net. The Chamber and the panelists will review all the questions submitted and incorporate where possible in the discussion.

Sponsored by:

Envisioning the Downtown that Young Professionals Want

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

On Friday, October 9, from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m., the Young Professionals of the Naperville Chamber will have an opportunity to make their mark on downtown Naperville at YPN’s monthly business meeting.

At Friday’s meeting, the next generation of business and civic leaders, who make up YPN, will participate in a exercises with the City of Naperville’s planning staff to gather your input on building heights, walkability, and the strengths and weakness for downtown Naperville.

Friday’s meeting will include interactive opportunities for attendees to contribute, share their thoughts and provide leadership through an important planning exercise. The Downtown 2030 planning exercise is to ensure that downtown remains a vibrant, attractive and distinct location, similar to the progress achieved after implementation of the 2000 Downtown Naperville Plan.

The meeting will take place in Conference Room A, Suite 375, in the Chamber’s offices in the Main Street Promenade. Reservations for YPN’s business meetings are not necessary, individuals interested in learning more about YPN’s October Business Meeting may contact Patrick Skarr, Vice President of Advocacy, Economic Growth & Quality of Life at (630) 544-3368.

YPN is the Chamber’s committee focused on fostering relationships and leadership development in the community’s next generation of business and civic leaders. For more information about YPN you can visit www.napervilleypn.com.

State of DuPage County On Tap For October’s Luncheon

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

DuPage County Chairman, Bob Schillerstrom, will return to the Chamber to deliver another “State of the County Address,” at the Chamber’s October 26 Luncheon. Schillerstrom’s comments will provide the Chamber and business leaders with an update on the issues facing DuPage County.

DuPage County provides a quiet, yet critical role for our regional business community. The County provides regional leadership on transportation and congestion mitigation programs, economic development, storm water management, and public safety programs. The Chairman’s annual address is an opportunity for businesses and interested individuals to learn more about the County’s operations.The Chairman’s annual address is an opportunity for businesses and interested individuals to learn more about the County’s operations.

Tickets for the October 26 luncheon are just $25 for Members and $35 for non-Members. Like the Mayor’s annual address, the Chairman’s luncheon has increased attendance and members are encouraged to register early for the informative luncheon by visiting www.naperville.net, or by calling the Chamber at (630) 355-4141.

Chamber Launches Leadership Institute

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is kicking off its Leadership Institute January 7, 2010.

The program was designed to bring together the best in class leadership development and area business leaders interested in taking their organizations to the next level. The Leadership Institute offers participants the opportunity to learn and apply the competencies of highly effective leaders to drive business results.

Kicking off in January, with a day and a half retreat, participants will create an individualized leadership plan to ensure successful outcomes. The program will enable participants to change their leadership culture to drive individual and organizational results in the areas of strategic thinking, ethics and values, goal setting, teamwork, relationship building, stress tolerance, coaching, and business acumen.

During the six-month Leadership Institute, participants will undergo a rigorous leadership assessment to identify key leadership strengths and growth opportunities. Facilitated by top leadership trainers, each monthly session will involve panel discussions with key community leaders as well as specific case studies that address and resolve leadership challenges applicable to the participants’ organizations, regardless of size or industry. Group coaching sessions are scheduled between each monthly session.

The Leadership Institute is scheduled to run from January through June of 2010 and includes the following:

January 7 & 8: Kickoff – Self Assessment, Goal Setting, Ethics and values
Participants will utilize an assessment tool that determines specific behaviors and competencies that an individual is naturally strong in and areas to focus their development efforts. Participants will gain an understanding of how they establish and achieve challenging goals for themselves and inspire others to become goal setters too; and how they consistently demonstrate core values and beliefs in performing their role in their company at any level.

January 22: Coaching Session

February 12: Session 2 – Managing relationships
Participants will gain an understanding of how they demonstrate strong communication skills and the ability to motivate a diverse audience.

February 26: Coaching Session

March 12: Session 3 – Teamwork
Participants will gain an understanding of how they demonstrate willingness and ability to help others learn and grow in their skills to achieve business objectives.

March 26: Coaching Session

April 9: Session 4 – Coaching effectiveness
Participants will gain an understanding of how they demonstrate a strong understanding of the importance of maintaining strong business relationships and how to manage conflict as it presents itself in the business.

April 23: Coaching Session

April 30: Session 5 – Customer focus
Participants will gain an understanding of how they are able to gain the trust and respect of internal and external customers.

May 7: Coaching Session

May 14: Session 6 – Business acumen
Participants will gain an understanding of how they demonstrate a strong understanding of key business principles and how they affect their business.

May 28: Coaching Session

June 11: Session 7 – Strategic Thinking & Program Graduation
Participants will gain an understanding of how they demonstrate a strong understanding of the importance of a Strategic Plan and how it directly affects their business.

Registration for the Leadership Institute is open to Chamber Members at an early bird price of $795 per person prior to October 31st and $945 per person thereafter. The non-member cost is $1,345. Space is limited.

For more information visit the Leadership Institute pages on our website. To register, visit our Chamber Calendar or contact Lisa Livingston at (630) 544-3365. For sponsorship information, contact Barry Poll at (630) 544-3386.

Get Your Questions Answered at the 2010 Regional Economic Forecast

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The past 18 months have been a difficult economic environment for businesses of all sizes. The Chamber is pleased to present you with the opportunity to hear from experts who can translate macro-economic indicators and market movements, into context for you at our 2010 Regional Economic Forecast, from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m., on Wednesday, October 21.

To make the morning’s discussion as relevant as possible to your business, you can submit questions for the panel to address in advance by sending an email to forecast@naperville.net. The Chamber and the panelists will review all the questions submitted and incorporate where possible in the discussion on Wednesday, October 21 at Hotel Arista.

You can learn more about our expert panel by clicking on the links below:

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

Submit your questions by emailing them to forecast@naperville.net, and make sure you reserve a seat before the event sells out. Click here to register.

Tickets for the event are just $59 for Members, and $79 for Non-Members. You can also get a 15% discount by reserving a table of ten for $500, or $675 for Non-Members.

Sponsored by:

YOUR 2010 RECOMMENDED BOARD OF DIRECTORS SLATE

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Per the guidelines of our by-laws, the Chamber must present to the membership the recommended slate of board nominees at least 30 days prior to a vote. Your Board of Directors unanimously approved the recommended slate on September 8 and you will have the opportunity to vote at the general membership luncheon on October 26, 2009.

This year, we had an unprecedented amount of nominees which shows the great interest from leaders willing to share their talents. It was a difficult task by your selection team to come up with the recommended slate of directors for your approval. Please know that every nominee was well qualified and a leadership position will be found for every applicant.

The complete resumes of the recommended slate of directors to take office on January 2010 are extremely impressive. Therefore, these are just a few highlights of their prestigious attributes:

Shane Beard, Owner/Operator, FastSigns
Shane’s company is a past winner of the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Awards and he is the idea person who initiated the Business Makeover program. He is an innovative thinker, experienced networker, and his passionate attitude is contagious. He currently serves as a board member of the Naperville Development Partnership, Naperville Conventions and Visitors Bureau and is a past vice chair of the Chamber board.

Dennis Culloton, Executive Vice President, Res Publica Group
Dennis is an experienced strategist, advocate, revenue generator, leader and mentor, crisis and issue manager, media and government communicator, collaborator, trained lawyer, high level negotiator. He has served on a multitude of boards and has over 20 years experience in media, politics business and communications strategy. Dennis is Vice Chair of NACPAC and active in the Chamber’s Legislative Committee.

Don Emery, President/Owner, Profit-Link, Inc.
Don’s career spans 30 years and includes business reengineering, organization and human resource development, and executive leadership. His expertise helps organizations develop a set of implementation tactics and ensure long term profitability. He recently provided valuable consulting to the Chamber with regards to cost cutting while increasing revenues which was very successful.

Tom Kallay, Sr. Community Relations Director, Nicor Gas
Tom is a community and public relations professional. He is skilled as a communicator and negotiator and has been a successful liaison between corporate, community government and public safety groups. He is a past chair of the Chamber Legislative Committee and was President of the Board of the Chamber’s Not-For-Profit winner at the 2009 SBY Awards.

John Norman, President/Owner, Design Resource Center, Inc.
John’s participation in many boards and pro bono work for community events has shown his deep dedication, work ethics and willingness to volunteer. He has successfully grown his company over the past 19 years. He has extensive creative skills providing image and corporate identities for a large variety of businesses and is a past winner of the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award.

Sandra Price, Financial & Business Advisor, Sandra A. Price-Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Besides Sandra’s ten years experience as a financial advisor, she also has run her family’s business and has supervised six large locations of a large restaurant chain. She is a past chair of the Chamber’s Ambassadors Committee, is an Advisory Team Member of the Ambassadors and committee member for Women in Business. She has been active in many leadership roles in charity work throughout the community.

Michael Squire, Director of Community Development, North Central College
Michael’s background includes expertise in the entertainment industry, international sports industry and he has great understanding of strategic planning, production of special events, product placement and experiential marketing. He is committed to acting as conduit in providing opportunities and resources from the College to the Naperville business community.

Sue Welsh, Asst. VP for Residential Lending, Old Second National Bank
Sue not only has expertise in the banking and financial industry, she was also a vocational education counselor where she wrote and had published a Federal Grant. She is an avid community volunteer, served as past Chair elect for SOHO, and is a member of the Member Services Team and recently facilitated 3 leadership roundtables for the Chamber.

Russell G. Whitaker, III, Attorney, Dommermuth, Brestal, Cobine & West, Ltd.
Russ regularly works with the City of Naperville on development projects and is very familiar with City politics. He has served as Chair of YPN, current Treasurer of the DNA and Secretary of NACPAC and is an active member of the Chamber’s Legislative Committee. He was recently featured in Naperville Sun/Beacon News as an “Up and Comer”.

Norm Zienty, President/Owner, Fair Oaks Ford
Norm has been a business owner in our community for 29 years and has been a Chamber member just as long. He is a strong community leader and has been involved with many boards and community projects over the years. He is a past member of the Chamber board. He has in depth understanding of business issues and concerns, the current business environment and business financial matters.

This month, I would like to place in the “Spotlight”, your selection team who donated their time in order to present you with the above slate. They are: Ron Davidson, Harris Bank; Karen Garlough, My Chef Catering; Kevin Harris, BP; John Knobloch, Knobloch Law Firm; John Puscheck, Prager Moving & Storage; Dennise Vaughn, Edward Hospital. Thanks for all their time and commitment to the Chamber.

Annmarie Siwik
DiGiovine Hnilo Jordan + Johnson
Board Chair

From the Desk of John Schmitt

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

We are in the midst of celebrating the first anniversary of rocky moments in American and global economic history. It was on September 7, 2008 when giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed in government conservatorship and September 15 was the date that Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 protection after failing to find a buyer. The days and weeks that followed these events were remarkable days of volatility and uncertainty that shook investors, business owners and consumers.

The pain that started a ripple on Wall Street at unprecedented speed turned into a tsunami that affected businesses across our nation and paralyzed global commerce. While job losses are easing and consumer confidence is rising, it remains a difficult time for businesses and you want to know what to expect in the future.

The Chamber is pleased to bring you an opportunity to hear from leading industry experts at our 2010 Regional Economic Forecast, from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m., on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at Hotel Arista. This year’s panelists, whose insight and analysis will provide you with tactical information you can use in your business, are:

• John P. Calamos, Sr., Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Calamos Investments;
• Pat Callan, President of the Illinois Association of REALTORS; and
• Daniel Sullivan, Sr. Vice President – Director of Economic Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Over the past few months, I’ve asked a variety of Members what economic information you needed to better run your business. For the most part, your questions have focused around general economic trends, investment opportunities and insight into the real estate market. In turn, we’ve gone out and sought the experts who can provide you with the best analysis and insight to answer your questions.

Tickets for the event are $79 for non-members and just $59 for Members. The forecast is a great event to bring your colleagues and clients to, and you can get a 15% discount by reserving a table of ten for $500. Seating is limited, so be sure to save the time on your calendar and save a seat by registering online early. There is a tendency to look back at where we have been and say, “had I only known then,” but none of us have the benefit of a crystal ball. However, the business leaders I look-up to, aren’t spending their time these days looking back and remembering the good old days; they are focusing on how they can best position their business to capitalize on the opportunities that recovery will bring.

We’d like to thank Calamos Investments for their hospitality and sponsorship of the 2010 Economic Forecast. It is through their support that we are able to provide a premium program at such an affordable price. Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for more information about this great program and mark your calendars for the morning of October 21.

Sincerely,

John Schmitt
President & CEO
(630)544-3370

Promote your business for FREE!

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

An AMAZING Opportunity!

The Ambassador Committee will be hosting their annual Ambassador Rally on October 21, 2009. This year, the rally will be an Amazing Race that will highlight Downtown Naperville Businesses. The Ambassador Committee is seeking donations for a charity auction which will be a part of the Ambassador Rally. Your donation to the Rally will make a difference and help promote your business to the Ambassadors, who are very active Members of the Chamber. All proceeds from the raffle will help support Loaves & Fishes, right here in Naperville.

The Committee is asking for coupons, that promote your business, which will be included in the goodie bags and given to all Ambassadors that participate in the Rally. Also, the Ambassadors are looking to have items of value for the Charity Raffle that will also promote your business. For additional information, to donate to this event, or if you are interested in joining the Ambassador Committee, please contact Kara Carpenter at kcarpenter@naperville.net or 630-355-4141 ext. 1323.

The Ambassador Committee recently named it’s recipients of the Ambassadors of the Quarter for the 2nd Quarter of 2009. The Ambassador of the Quarter is Bob Jung of Bob Jung Painting and Decorating. The Rookie Ambassador of the Quarter is Alan Bonanno of ADEA Consulting. Bob and Alan accumulated the most points in the 2nd quarter of this year by attending ribbon cuttings, meetings, and volunteering at Chamber events, such as General Membership Luncheons and Business After Hours. Congratulations to Bob and Alan!

Ambassadors who have recently obtained 20,000 points for their efforts at such events are Judy Divita (Summer Place Theatre), Don Gingold (Gnu Ventures Company), Kate Gingold (Gnu Ventures Company), Barry Greenberg (The Greenberg Law Firm), Bob Jung (Bob Jung Painting and Decorating), and Dale Yamauchi (HDY Consulting).

Entrepreneurial Discussion at September YPN

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The lessons learned by regional entrepreneurs is the subject of the Young Professionals of the Naperville Chamber’s upcoming meeting on Friday, September 11th. Four Chicagoland entrepreneurs, all under the age of 40, will be participating in a panel discussion outlining their successes, failures and lessons learned about the business world.

YPN is dedicated to the professional and personal development of the next generation of business leaders. Friday, September 11th’s Business Meeting, “Transformational Ambition – From Concept To Success,” will provide attendees with an inspirational call to engage in the entrepreneurial process, while providing actionable business and professional development content.

The meeting will take place in the Chamber’s Conference Room A, Suite 375, in the Main Street Promenade on Friday, September 11th from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m., RSVP’s are requested.

To register for YPN’s Business Meeting, “Transformational Ambition – From Concept to Success,” click here, or contact Patrick Skarr at (630) 544-3368.

For more information on YPN and how to get involved visit their website at www.napervilleypn.com

Chamber Member Anniversaries

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Please join us in congratulating the following Members for their long standing membership with the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Celebrating 20 Years Of Membership

Peggy Luthy Agency - Farmers Insurance Group

The Devonshire & Westbury Care Center
Trli Optics
Daniel P. Vargo & Associates, CPA
VidTech Audio Visual, Inc.

Celebrating 10 Years of Membership

Human Resource Management Systems, LLC

Door to Door Direct

DuPage Credit Union

Christian Science Reading Room

Holy Spirit Catholic Community

Law Offices of Julia A. McConnahay

The Naperville Men's Glee Club

The School of Performing Arts

Senior Home Sharing, Inc.

Advanced Health of Naperville

Pancholi & Associates, Inc.

Waer Systems, Inc.

Thank you for your continued support!

Chamber Launches Website Advertising Campaign

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Chamber is currently offering website advertising opportunities to Members. With over 60,000 page views per month on the Chamber website, Members can take advantage of the opportunity to leverage the Chamber brand to drive traffic to their business. Over 50% of visitors to the Chamber website are return viewers allowing your message to be reinforced to consumers.

Chamber of Commerce websites are frequently sought out when potential customers are looking for products and services in a local area. In fact, a 2007 study (by the Schapiro group) showed that when potential customers know that a small business is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, they are 44% more likely to think favorably of it. 63% are more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future. Chamber credibility is important and it positively enhances click through rates.

The advertising space available on the Chamber website has been designed to suit the Members’ needs so you can create a package that helps achieve your goals by targeting the consumers you want to reach and meet your budget at the same time. This is a cost-effective advertising venue which offers measurable results for your business.

Multiple advertising opportunities exist and are designed to provide you increased exposure and promotion of your business. However, a limited number of premium positions are available. Click here to view a schedule of Website Advertising Seminars designed specifically for your industry.

Click here to read more about advertising on the Chamber website.

For more information, contact Joan Olivier at (630) 544-3387.

Residential Greeter/Members Direct Deadlines Approaching

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Members participating in the Chambers Residential Greeter Program or Members Direct mailing only have a short time remaining to get their advertising materials in.

The Chamber’s Residential Greeter Program allows Members to connect with families who have recently moved to the Naperville Area. Every year, approximately 20% of business customers are lost due to relocation. The Residential Greeter Program is great way to win the business of new prospects moving in each day.

The cost to participate in the Residential Greeter is just $1.25/household when paid with a credit card and discounted pre-paid packages are available. Participation includes a contact list of every household visited within a given month for your follow-up marketing efforts. The deadline to participate in the Residential Greeter Program for September is Thursday, August 27th.

Members Direct is a monthly mailing, including marketing and advertising of various Chamber Members, which goes to 3,800 Chamber contacts. This is a great way to market your business to fellow Chamber Members.

The cost to participate in Members Direct is $450 per 8.5 x 11” flyer. There is a $150 charge for odd sizes or to include an additional marketing flyer. All you have to do is provide 3,800 copies of your marketing piece. Participation includes a complimentary contact list of all Chamber Members. The deadline to be included in the September Members Direct mailing is Friday, September 4th.

For more information on either of these advertising opportunities, contact Joan Olivier at (630) 544-3387.

From the Desk of Annmarie Siwik

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Chamber is Your Business Voice

One of the benefits your business receives when you’re a member of the Chamber is the advocacy we provide on your behalf. Every day the Chamber is out working on your behalf with your elected officials at all levels of government, from Congress to City Hall.

The Chamber spends some of our time and resources to make sure that you, the impacted business community, have a forum and a voice to issue your concerns on issues that will affect you, your employees and your customers.

In today’s busy business environment, it’s too easy to miss an alert, a press release or a public meeting on an ordinance, law, rule or regulation that will affect how you conduct your business. Through the Chamber, we are able to band together to provide our elected officials and the business community a venue for communication, dialogue, mutual education, and exchanges of viewpoints.

The Chamber cannot do it alone and we are extremely fortunate to have engaged Members who take time away from their business, to help build a better business environment for everyone. Every month dozens of your peers attend our Legislative Committee meetings at Hotel Arista to take part and take an active role in the governmental processes.

Not all of the topics the committee engages with generate significant headlines and interest, but they are important to your business nonetheless. Earlier this year the Chamber’s Legislative Committee evaluated a proposal that would have created one waste hauler for every business in Naperville. The Committee registered its strong objections, and your elected officials heard the voice of business and put that proposal out to the curb.

I also wanted to congratulate the Chamber on last week’s impactful and successful meetings. The Chamber was one of the first organizations to spend time learning about the Video Gaming Act and its possible implications for Naperville. The topic issue immediately elicits strong feelings and the Chamber held a very educational overview on the issues involved. The engaged Members of the Committee will spend more time analyzing all of the issue before recommending action to our Board of Directors.

Last week the Committee also hosted our annual August Congressional Roundtable, with our member of Congress, Representative Judy Biggert. We were fortunate to have a special guest, Representative Mark Kirk from the 10th Congressional District join us for the annual event as well.

The luncheon’s conversation touched on the reauthorization of the federal highway surface transportation bill, the Employee Free Choice Act (Card Check), the American Clean Energy And Security Act (Cap and Trade) and healthcare reform. It was great to see elected officials knowing that our business community, through our Chamber, is engaged on these critical issues as they move through Congress.

I also want to thank the Members of the Committee, the community at large, and the security staff of Hotel Arista for keeping our Roundtable a respectful, albeit opinionated, exchange. Everyday the newspaper and television are full of accounts of meetings spiraling out of control. Our Chamber took the steps necessary to put on a first-class business roundtable and it is something I was proud to attend.

If you have not attended a legislative committee meeting, I encourage you to attend one. You will find them valuable and you will see first-hand the hard work and effort your Chamber provides to make sure you are educated, and most importantly, heard on the issues that impact you.

In the “Spotlight” this month are key people who make sure “when the Chamber speaks on your behalf, people listen.” They are the members of our Legislative Committee; Board Team Leader, Pam Denniston; Legislative Committee Chair, John Knobloch; Vice-Chair Sean Sebold; Chamber President & CEO, John Schmitt; and the Chamber’s Vice President of Advocacy, Patrick Skarr. Please thank these individuals for keeping us formed and for handling our meetings in a professional, well organized, respectful manner.

Best regards,

Annmarie Siwik
DiGiovine Hnilo Jordan + Johnson
Board Chair

Chamber Welcomes Website Coordinator to Staff

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Chamber is pleased to announce that Ryan Foster has joined the Chamber staff on a permanent basis.

Ryan came to the Chamber as an intern in June to help us launch our new website. His involvement in the website project was instrumental in launching the site within the scheduled timeframes and with all the features expected in the first phase of the project. Since the website has launched, Ryan has made numerous updates and enhancements allowing more flexibility for Members to access information on www.naperville.net.

Ryan is a recent graduate of North Central College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art and a minor in Interactive Media Studies. In his short time at the Chamber, Ryan has quickly demonstrated his abilities in web design which makes him an ideal candidate to fulfill the full-time role of Website Coordinator for the Chamber. Ryan’s duties will also include database administration. We are proud to welcome Ryan Foster to the Chamber staff!

Get Engaged in Two Very Important Debates

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Article written by: John Schmitt

A part of the Chamber’s mission is to provide leadership for the benefit of our business community by promoting economic growth and the interests of your business. Everyday we work to share your opinions with your elected leaders before they act on proposals that affect your business and employees.

Next week the Chamber is sponsoring two meetings to educate our Members and the public about two critical issues, and we wanted to extend an invitation and encourage your participation.

Next Monday, August 10th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Chamber’s Legislative Committee will begin analyzing the Video Poker Act. The law authorized businesses and organizations across the Illinois to install video gaming machines, of which the state takes 30% of the net income, to pay for Illinois’ first public infrastructure program in a decade. The public works program pays for things like schools, and in our community the Route 59 expansion project.

The law contains a provision that allows communities to prohibit the machines in their community. Elected officials have asked the Chamber our opinion of the proposal and we want to hear from you as we complete our research and outreach.

Our meeting on Monday is our first engagement with our Member businesses on the topic. Monday’s presentation will be an informative look at what exactly is in the law, what isn’t, and understanding the impact of having the machines licensed or not licensed in our communities.

You’re also invited to join us for a Business Town Hall on Wednesday, August 12th, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., featuring Congresswoman Judy Biggert and Congressman Mark Kirk.

There is no bigger issue moving forward in Congress than the issue of health reform. Our health care system now makes up one-six of the U.S. economy and is inefficient, unpredictable, expensive, and most importantly, a burden on small, medium and large companies. The system is broken and reform is needed, but the devil is in the details.

Meaningful health care reform must according to experts, “bend the cost curve. Some of the proposals, as passed out of Committees in the House are according to the Congressional Budget Office, will do just the opposite. Raising the burden on businesses, while not getting improvements in the system is not the answer the American economy needs.

The Chamber is pleased to welcome two members of Congress to our town hall and hope that you will take time to engage with them. The business community spends in excess of $500 billion on health care annually. You are one of the most important stakeholders in this process. Get engaged, get educated and participate in one of the most important debates in our nation’s history.

Visit the homepage of our website, www.naperville.net, and you’ll find more information about both meetings, have the ability to offer your feedback, submit questions and register for the events. We look forward to seeing you next week.

John Schmitt is President & CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, he can be reached at jschmitt@naperville.net.

Legislative Committee to Analyze Video Poker Law

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Action Items: Make a reservation to attend Monday, Aug. 10 Legislative Comm. at Hotel Arista
Share your thoughts with the Chamber on the Video Poker Act.

The Chamber’s Legislative Committee will meet on Monday, August 1010^th from 11:30 – 1:00 p.m. to begin analyzing Public Act 96-0034, the Video Gaming Act. The legislation, which legalized video poker in selected businesses throughout the state, to finance the Illinois ’ massive public works program, has a provision allowing communities to prohibit video poker by local resolution or voter referendum.

The Chamber’s Legislative Committee will begin its analysis of the Act at Monday, August 10^th’s meeting. Monday’s meeting is the first step the Chamber will take before providing a recommendation to our regional elected officials.

“The Chamber has been asked by our elected officials to gather, solicit feedback and offer our opinion on the issue,” said John Schmitt, President & CEO of the Chamber. “We will honor their request and complete a thorough outreach with our Members to understand the impact this would have before we take an official position.”

The Legislative Committee meets in the ballroom of the Hotel Arista, 2139 CityGate Lane. The meeting will begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. and conclude by 1:00 p.m.

The Legislative Committee of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is benefit provided to the Chamber’s Members and community by providing a monthly forum for interested individuals to learn and engage in the governmental processes that impact their business. Reservations are not necessary, but appreciated and the meeting is free to attend, though there is a suggested donation of $10 to offset meeting costs.

For more information about the Legislative Committee or the Chamber’s advocacy agenda contact Patrick Skarr, Vice President, Advocacy, Economic Growth & Quality of Life at (630) 544-3368.

In the press: for more information read this article from the August 3^rd Naperville Sun.

From The Desk of John Schmitt

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Naperville is an ever changing community. The Naperville that existed 52 years ago when my family moved here is vastly different than the community we know today. Back then, there was little concern for international business opportunities and ethnic diversity was not in the forefront as it is in 2009.

We must strive to ensure that the make up of our chamber membership accurately reflects the make up of our communities. To that end, I plan to reach out to the Asian business community, which makes up a large percentage of our Naperville population but a small percentage of chamber membership, to determine how the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce can help their businesses grow. I want to Listen and Learn how cultural differences can be overcome and result in a stronger organization that will serve all of our Members.

At the chamber, we strive to help all businesses succeed. In doing so, we promote strong economic growth and engage all Member organizations in our programs and services.

As we embrace the cultural diversity that exists in Naperville, my hope is that you will seek opportunities to learn more about the varying ethnic groups within the chamber. One such opportunity is the upcoming Asian/Pacific American heritage Festival where you can celebrate the rich traditions and heritage of many of the area’s diverse ethnic groups, sponsored by the Xilin Association. This event takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 16 at the Naperville Community Concert Center, 104 E. Benton Ave. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Linda Yang of the Xilin Association at (630) 355-4322.

Download the event flyer here.

Thank you for your membership.
Sincerely,

John Schmitt
President & CEO
p: (630) 544-3370

Chamber Welcomes New Staff Members

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The chamber is pleased to welcome to new members of the chamber staff, Tami Andrew as Director of Member Services & Administration and Barry Poll as Vice President of Sales & Marketing. The two are taking on their official roles starting today.

Tami Andrew comes to the chamber after five years as a real estate broker through Coldwell Banker. Prior to that time, Tami held positions at RMI Network Services, Inc. and DiGiovine, Hnilo, Jordan + Johnson, Ltd. and has extensive human resources and office management experience. In her role at the chamber, she will over see Member retention, office operations, board management and the human resource function. Tami has a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska and a Senior Professional in Human Resource Designation, Society of Human Resource Management from Aurora University. She is currently a member of the Naperville Exchange Club, sits on the board of directors for the Community Career Center, is actively involved in Junior League of Kane & DuPage Counties, Inc. and has formerly been a board member for the Aurora Historical Society and Greater DuPage MYM (currently Parent-Teen Connection). Welcome Tami!

Barry Poll joins the chamber with a wide range of sales experience in his previous positions as Vice President of Sales at Outsource Solutions Group in Naperville and Director of Sales at StorMagic in Minneapolis. In his position at the chamber, Barry will be responsible for management of the sales and marketing staff as well as corporate sponsorships. Barry holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Computational Mathematics from Northern Illinios University. His personal interests include being the President of his Homeowners Association and coaching little league baseball for the past ten years. Welcome Barry!

The chamber has also promoted Lisa Livingston to Director of Event Services. Her previous position was Manager of Event Services.

Naperville Community Television Channel 17 Chamber Connection

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Chamber Connection is a program produced by Naperville Community Television, Channel 17 in partnership with the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. Hosted by chamber Member, business owner, and community leader John Pettinger, Chamber Connection spotlights the Premier and Executive Premier chamber Members in an engaging and informative interview format.

An upcoming Chamber Connection will feature chamber Members Jimmy’s Grill; J Rudny, LLC; Nyberg & Cassioppi; Name Droppers of Chicago; Innovative Orthodontics Centers; and Hawthorne Credit Union. To view previous Chamber Connection interviews, click here.

For more information on Chamber Connection, contact Sharon Meyerhoff at 630-544-3376.