ELMHURST CHAMBER CELEBRATING
92nd ANNUAL MEETING AND AWARDS DINNER
ELMHURST, Ill., January 5, 2011 – More than 100 businesspeople will come together in celebration for the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 92nd Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner in the Presidential Room at the Diplomat West Banquet Halls, 681 West North Avenue, on Friday, January 28, from 6 to 10 p.m.
“This is a real showcase event for the Chamber,” said John R. Quigley, President and CEO of the Chamber since 1999, “and presents a very special occasion for us to celebrate all that our business organization has accomplished in the past year.”
During the Annual Meeting, the Chamber will salute the A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year for 2010, 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.
New to this event, the ECCI Civic Hall of Fame will induct its 2010 honoree.
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 $50.00 per person, $90.00 per couple and $360.00 for a table of eight.
Registration can be done on-line via the Upcoming Events calendar listing on the home page of the Chamber website at www.elmhurstchamber.org or by calling the Chamber office at 630-834-6060 by Friday, January 21.
Business of the Year honors will be bestowed upon OEC Business Interiors, an active Chamber member since 1977, when the Ray Riha Sr. and his family relocated Office Equipment Company (as it was named), from the Chicago loop area to its 142,000 square-foot building in Elmhurst’s North Business Park.
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 Business of the Year honorees are Harris Elmhurst (2009), Diplomat West (2008), Suburban Bank & Trust Co. (2007), Larry Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge (2006), York Theatre (2005), Synergistic Networks, Inc. (2004), Silverado Grill (2003), Great American Exteriors (2002), Cardinal Cartridge, Inc. (2001), Unique Travel Service, Ltd. (2000) and Community Bank of Elmhurst (1999).
Jason Janes, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments, a Chamber member since 2001, will be recognized as the Ambassador of the Year.
Ambassador of the Year is presented annually to a green-coated Ambassador for his/her outstanding service.
Jennifer Speaker, President of SMB Advantage Group, a small business consulting firm (formerly known as CompUcoach) that she founded in 1999, will received the Chairman’s Award.
The Chairman’s Award is given annually 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.
Joining Past Chair Janes, Second Vice Chair Speaker and Quigley on the Chamber’s 2010 Executive Committee were Chairman Scott Levin of Howard and Howard, First Vice Chair Kevin O’Keeffe of Fontano’s Sub, and Treasurer Kelly Walker of Porte Brown LLC.
Outgoing Directors are 2008 Board Chair Debra Catalano of Gateway Funding Diversified Mortgage Services, Julie Miller of Patrick T. Sheehan & Associates, Jill Bennis of Schiller Real Estate (and Maple Tree Restaurant), Todd Gibbons of Republic Services/Allied Waste Services and Janes.
Catalano is only the sixth female Board Chair in the Chamber’s 92-year history, and the third family member to serve in that capacity. Husband Frank Catalano Jr. (2000) and father-in-law Frank Catalano Sr. (1990) preceded her as Board Chair.
Previous female Board Chairs were Virginia “Ginny” Harmon (1982) of Unique Travel Service, Nancy Phillips (1988) of York State Bank, Gloria Duarte (1999) of Café Las Belles Artes, Cathy Bajkowski (2003) of CB Health Insurance and Dare Messina (2007) of L.W. Reedy Real Estate.
Miller is the third of a quartet of former Chamber interns to serve on the Board. She followed Joe Skibbie (Community Bank of Elmhurst) and Jillian Millinkovich (OEC Business Interiors), and preceded Mike Himmes (Harris and MB Financial).
Joining Levin, O’Keeffe, Speaker, Walker and Quigley on the 2011 Executive Committee is Treasurer Charity Ahlgrim of Community Bank of Elmhurst.
Elected to 2011-13 Director terms were incumbents Ahlgrim, Paul Koch of Larry Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge and John Zawaski of Dependable Business Forms, former member Messina and newcomers Mary Ahart of Matrix Payment Systems, Jackie Hayden of Weiss Insurance Agency and Dave McCaffrey of PredictiveAssets.
Bob Herlien of Republic Services/Allied Waste Services was appointed to the Board in December to fill the final year of the Director’s seat vacated by Elmhurst Mayor Peter “Pete” DiCianni, who resigned back in 2009 to focus on his public office.
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.
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