ELMHURST CHAMBER TO CELEBRATE
88TH ANNUAL MEETING AND AWARDS LUNCHEON
ELMHURST, Ill., January 12, 2006 – More than 100 businesspeople will come together for the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 88th Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon in the Waterford Banquet and Conference Center at the Quality Inn, 933 South Route 83, on Wednesday, January 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“This is a showcase event for the Chamber,” said John R. Quigley, President and CEO of the Chamber since 1999, “and a time for us to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished in the past year.”
During the Annual Meeting, the Chamber will salute the A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year for 2006, welcome the new Chairman of its Board of Directors, Officers and Directors, recognize the outgoing Chairman, Officers and Directors, and honor the Chairman’s Award winner and Ambassador of the Year.
The event is open to all members of the Chamber and their guests, as well as any Elmhurst businesspeople interested in learning more about the Chamber. Ticket costs are $45.00 per person, $80.00 per couple and $300.00 for a table of eight.
To RSVP, call the Chamber office at (630) 834-6060 or e-mail to info@elmhurstchamber.org by Friday, January 20.
Larry Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge will be honored as the Business of the Year for 2006. A Chamber member since 1992, the dealership is part of the Larry Roesch Family Auto Group, which traces its roots back to 1923 when Paul Roesch opened Roesch Motors, a DeSoto dealership. The family business now includes Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Volkswagon and Ford dealerships in and around Elmhurst.
Named in memory of A.J. “Toche” Terrones, who served as Chamber President for nearly a decade until his death in July of 1999, the annual award is given based on a member’s contributions to the Chamber’s success, to the betterment of both the business community and Elmhurst community, and impact in their field of business, each in the given year and historically, along with years in business and years as a Chamber member.
Previous winners of the Business of the Year award were York Theatre (2005), Synergistic Networks, Inc. (2004), The Silverado Grill (2003), Great American Exteriors (2002), Cardinal Cartridge, Inc. (2001), Unique Travel Service, Ltd. (2000) and Community Bank of Elmhurst (1999).
Tom Coffey, Owner of Electronic Specialty Design (549 East Granville Avenue, Roselle), a Chamber member since 1993, will be recognized as the Ambassador of the Year. The award is presented annually to a green-coated Ambassador for his/her outstanding service.
Coffey has served as an Ambassador and Team Captain since 2000 and 2003, respectively. He also is a former member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors who served consecutive elected three-year terms from 1995 through 2000.
Marlene Tegmeyer, Coordinator of the City of Elmhurst’s Visitors & Tourism Department since 1999, will received the Chairman’s Award. The annual award is given to a Director for his/her outstanding service to the Board, Chairman and President/CEO, or to a non-Director for praiseworthy contributions or performance.
Tegmeyer also who worked alongside Outgoing Board Chairman Jim Dinkle of The Jim Dinkle Company during the formative years of the former Elmhurst Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) in the mid-1990s. The EEDC’s first Executive Director, Dinkle also served as the Chamber’s Interim President after Terrones’ passing.
Joining Dinkle and Quigley on the Chamber’s 2006 Executive Committee were 1st Vice Chair Dare Messina of Keller Williams Realty Results, 2nd Vice Chair Debra Klosterman of the Catalano Mortgage Team of American Home Mortgage, Treasurer Joe Skibbie of Community Bank of Elmhurst and Past Chairman Tom Cathcart.
Dinkle recently resigned from the Board to take an economic development position in Richmond, Indiana, and outgoing Director Cathcart has been appointed to serve in Dinkle’s role as Past Chair for a second term.
Skibbie resigned last September as a Director and Treasurer to move to Texas, where he is working on the membership staff of the Plano Chamber of Commerce.
Joining Dinkle and Skibbie as outgoing Directors are Don Meyers of Vital Signs USA, John Zawaski of Dependable Business Forms, Val Stewart of Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, Colleen Callahan of the Elmhurst Park District and Dick Chase of Chase Root Beer.
Chase, who resigned his Directorship due to health reasons, will receive special recognition by Character Counts in Elmhurst during the program.
Dare Messina is only the fifth female Board Chair in the Chamber’s 88-year history. Preceding her as Board Chairs were Virginia “Ginny” Harmon (1982) of Unique Travel Service, Nancy Phillips (1988) of York State Bank, Gloria Duarte (1999) of Cafй Las Belles Artes and Cathy Bajkowski (2003) of CB Health Insurance.
Joining Messina, 1st Vice Chair Klosterman, Cathcart and Quigley on the 2007 Executive Committee are 2nd Vice Chair Jason Janes of Edward Jones Investments and Treasurer Scott Levin of Defrees & Fiske LLC.
Newly elected Directors were incumbents Janes and Ken Bartels of Elmhurst College, and newcomers Paul DeMichele of DeMichele Builders, Kevin O’Keeffe of Fontano’s Subs, Jillian Milinkovich of OEC Business Interiors, Charles Mueller of Equity Realty Partners and Frank Vitelli of Harris N.A.
Established in 1918, the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a voluntary organization of business and professional men and women who have joined together to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community.
The Chamber also serves the needs of its members through services, programs and events that provide opportunities for networking and referral, business education, development and promotion, governmental representation and community involvement.