Betsy Hanisch of Wood Dale will be honored as 2018 Ambassador of the Year at the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 100th Annual Awards Gala in the main floor ballroom at The Drake Oak Brook Hotel in Oak Brook on Friday, January 25, from 5 to 9 p.m.
The award is presented annually to a member of the green-coated Chamber Ambassadors for his/her outstanding service.
A Chamber Ambassador for nearly 30 years, Hanisch joined Thomas O. Myers Jr. (1995, 2001 and 2014) and John Zawaski (1996, 2000 and 2013) as the only three-time honorees, having previously been honored in 1991 and 1998.
“In addition to her decades of service as a Chamber Ambassador, Betsy is among a few exceptional individuals who contribute to our Chamber and numerous other causes with both her personal time and financial support in a most-unassuming manner,” said John R. Quigley, ECCI President and CEO since 1999.
As ECCI’s public relations team, Ambassadors welcome new members at their Grand Opening celebrations with ribbon-cuttings, and join members celebrating Grand Re-Openings, major anniversaries and office expansions or relocations.
Hanisch is the former President and Co-Owner (1985-1996) of Western Slate Company, a century-old business which her father Bob owned for 35 years, and also founded and ran her own business, Fire Facilities (1993-00) before “retiring.”
An active Chamber member for nearly 30 years, Hanisch served as a Director (1988-90) and Industrial Committee Chair (1989 and 1990), and was a member of the Executive Search Committee that hired A.J. “Toche” Terrones in 1989 as Executive Director and John Quigley in 1999 as President and CEO following Terrones’ passing.
Hanisch received the Chairman’s Award and “Tee Off for Toche” Good Works Award in 2001, and was honored among 10 Outstanding Businesswomen in 1997.
Hanisch was active in the former Elmhurst Economic Development Corporation public-private partnership from its inception in 1994 through the creation of the Elmhurst Economic Development Commission a decade later. She chaired the Corporation in 2001 and 2003, and chaired the Commission from 2005-11.
Hanisch has been a supporter of Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Elmhurst YMCA, Elmhurst College, Carthage College (her Alma Mater), Midwest Association of Family Business Owners and River Forest Country Club.
In 2002, The Business Ledger and NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) recognized Hanisch with their Influential Women in Business Award.
Hanisch also has received the Carthage College Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2003, Elmhurst Jaycees Distinguished Service Award (DSA) in 2005, Elmhurst YMCA Good Samaritan Award in 2010 and Special Kids Day Star Award in 2011.
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.
The Chamber’s mission is to promote an environment that creates success for local businesses and our community.