ELMHURST CHAMBER, UNIQUE TRAVEL GARNER
BUSINESS LEDGER AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
ELMHURST, Ill., March 20, 2001 – The Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Unique Travel Service Ltd. were named Excellence in Business winners in their respective categories at the Business Ledger’s 2001 Business Achievement Awards luncheon held at the Hilton Lisle/Naperville last Friday (March 16).
The Elmhurst Chamber won in the Business Associations category and Unique Travel Service, Ltd.,, the Chamber’s A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year recipient for 2000, won in the category of Women-Owned Companies.
Sponsored by the Business Ledger, the annual awards program recognized the best in 10 business categories with Excellence in Business Awards.
Elmhurst Chamber members Ameritech, Chicago Tribune and The Wolf Financial Group were among nine Diamond Sponsors for the luncheon.
The Elmhurst Chamber was among eight Business Achievement Awards partners.
Four other Elmhurst Chamber members—Advanced Rehabilitation Clinics, Inc. (Small Companies), Elmhurst Public Schools District 205 (Education), dotcomcleaners (Emerging Entrepreneurial Companies) and Center for Speech and Language Disorders (Notable Not-for-Profit Organizations)—received nominations and recognition plaques.
Elmhurst Chamber President John Quigley accepted the award on behalf of his organization’s 500 members, board of directors and staff.
“The year 2000 ranks among the most successful financially, most productive service-wise and most effective programmatically in our Chamber’s proud 82-year history, “ Quigley said of his first year as President. “We accomplished more in one year than most business associations could hope to do in three to five years.
“To better serve and promote our members, the Chamber invested $20,000.00 in technological infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art computer network and telephone system, as well as Phase I development of our internet site. We also moved our office into a more-spacious and more-visible location in the Central Business District.
“The costs for those investments were not passed onto our members, however. Our annual dues structure remained what it was a decade ago. How many businesspeople can say their prices are the same as they were in 1991?”
Representing the Chamber’s 24-member Board of Directors at the luncheon were Chairman Rich Reichert of Community Bank of Elmhurst, First Vice Chairman Adam Hudelson of Firstar Bank, Second Vice Chairman Cathy Bajkowski of The MONY Group, Treasurer Rich Rosenberg of Phototek Corporation/Elmhurst Camera/Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and Past Chairman Frank Catalano Jr. of Flagstar Bank (formerly CCS Mortgage). Executive Assistant Barb Savage also attended.
Under the leadership of Catalano, the Chamber Board committed to a Capital Campaign that raised nearly $15,000.00, with almost $10,000.00 generated by the “Where Will You Go?” Vacation Raffle and Technology 2000 Raffle.
The Elmhurst Jaycees, who are chartered as the Junior Chamber of Commerce, presented the Chamber with a $5,000.00 grant to expand a partnership rooted in Elmfest for the past decade.
The Chamber’s 18th Elmfest, 52nd Golf Outing and Annual Meeting/Silent Auction were the most successful in history, while the 10th New Teachers Luncheon attracted record sponsors and donors. The Fall and Spring Luncheons were well attended, as was the Streak Fry.
A unique educational program, titled “Leadership Elmhurst: A Model in Collaboration,” was developed in partnership with the city, Elmhurst Economic Development Corporation, Elmhurst Park District, Elmhurst Public Schools District 205, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare and Elmhurst College.
Other educational opportunities provided by the Chamber include the Drug-Free Workplace Program and Blueprint for Success.
The Chamber completely redesigned its annual Community Directory in partnership with Liberty Suburban Chicago Newspapers, created the “News & Notes” column printed semi-monthly in the Elmhurst Press and completed work on both the Interactive Touch-Screen Kiosk at the Metra train station downtown and the City of Elmhurst Street Map.
Also, the Chamber joined the city, EEDC and Elmhurst City Centre in the production of the 2001 Community Calendar, titled “Doors of Elmhurst.”
Virginia “Ginny” Harmon, President and Owner of Unique Travel, accepted the award on behalf of her husband and business partner, Earle, and their employees.
Unique Travel, which the Harmons opened in 1970, celebrated its 30th Anniversary in business and as a Chamber member last September.
The Elmhurst Chamber’s Business of the Year Award is named in memory of A.J. “Toche” Terrones, who served as Chamber President (formerly Executive Director) for nearly a decade until his death in July of 1999.
Harmon was the first woman elected to the Chamber Board and in 1981 as Board Chairman (formerly Board President), and in 1998 was inducted into the Chamber’s Civic Hall of Fame at Elmfest. She also is a Past Chairperson of the Chamber’s Accreditation Task Force and helped to establish the green-coated Ambassador program.
Harmon was named “Illinois Business Woman of the Year” by the Illinois State Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1986. Prior to opening Unique Travel, she was President of The Patricia Stevens Cosmetic Company and a commercial artist for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company’s Yellow Page Advertising Department.
From 1988 to 1991, Harmon was the President of Midwest Agents Selling Travel (MAST) and has served on numerous special advisory boards for airlines, cruise companies and tour operators.
Harmon also served as a member on the EEDC and Elmhurst YMCA Board of Directors, and Board of Trustees of the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Harmon was appointed to the Central Business District Commission (then the Downtown Redevelopment Commission) by three different Elmhurst mayors.
The Harmons have been active throughout the community since moving to Elmhurst in 1958. They are members of the Rotary Club of Elmhurst and attend Elmhurst Presbyterian Church. Ginny is a member and Past President of the Elmhurst Evening Woman’s Club, and has served on many PTA boards.
The Harmons also are strong supporters of Elmhurst College, where Ginny has served as a member of the Board of Trustees since 1993, and are founding members (1992) of Elmhurst: College and Community.
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.