Dan Roesch and Paul Koch of Larry Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram will be honored as co-recipients of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 2018 Good Works Award presented during the luncheon at the Chamber’s “Networking on the 9s” 70th Annual Golf Outing held at Sugar Creek Golf Course in Villa Park on Thursday, September 20.
The 19th and 20th Good Works Award recipients, Roesch is the President of Larry Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram at 200 West Grand Avenue in Elmhurst, while Koch is his Partner and General Manager since 1988.
“Dan and Paul are childhood friends who have built reputations as successful businessmen who understand the value of reinvesting in Elmhurst and also giving back to our community through a variety of charitable causes,” stated John Quigley, Chamber President and CEO since 1999. “Both of their families have long-standing connections to Immaculate Conception church and schools.”
The award is being given to Roesch “for his contributions to the betterment of the Elmhurst business community through a quarter century of support for the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry, his economic development efforts as President at 2006 A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year recipient Larry Roesch Chrylser Jeep Dodge Ram in building on the multi-generational foundations established by his grandfather Paul and then his father Larry, his charitable and philanthropic work with the Elmhurst Lions Club and numerous not-for-profit organizations, and his personal and business support of the Chamber Golf Outing.”
The award is being given to Koch “for his contributions to the betterment of the Elmhurst business community through a quarter century of support for the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry (serving on the Board of Directors from 2009-15, including Chair in 2013), his economic development efforts as a Partner and General Manager at 2006 A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year recipient Larry Roesch Chrylser Jeep Dodge Ram, his charitable and philanthropic work with the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst and numerous not-for-profit organizations, and his personal and business support of the Chamber Golf Outing.”
Presented annually at the Chamber Golf Outing since 2000, the Good Works Award honors the memory of the late Chamber President, A.J. “Toche” Terrones, who led the Chamber for nearly 10 years until his death the night before the 1999 Golf Outing.
“We present this award to people who have supported our Golf Outing in particular and the Chamber as a whole, and contributed to the Elmhurst business community at large,” Quigley stated.
What Roesch’s grandfather Paul started as a service station and small DeSoto dealership in 1923 has grown over the past 95 year into a family of Roesch dealerships. Paul’s son, Larry, a lifelong resident of Elmhurst, began working at the dealership in 1952 while taking accounting and business law courses at night.
In 1963, Roesch Motors incorporated and became Elmhurst Chrysler Plymouth, quickly becoming the leading Chrysler Plymouth dealership in the country. By 1997, the Jeep franchise joined the family of cars.
In 2005, Dan, Larry’s son, acquired the former Elmhurst Dodge, ushering in the Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (CJDR) dealership of today and Roesch Ford in nearby Bensenville joined the family of dealerships in 2011.
Past recipients include Ken Bartels (2017) of Community Bank of Elmhurst and Ken Bartels Consulting, Dare Messina (2017, posthumously) of L.W. Reedy Real Estate, Pete DiCianni (2016) of DiCianni Graphics, Chairman of the Board William C. “Bill” Gooch Jr. (2015) of Community Bank of Elmhurst, attorney Scott Levin of Howard (2013) of Howard and Howard, Chamber Executive Assistant Barb Savage (2012), Cathy Bajkowski (2011) of CB Health Insurance, office manager/paralegal Julie Miller (2010) of Patrick T. Sheehan & Associates, longtime Chamber volunteer Ralph Pechanio (2009), retired banker Frank Vitelli (2008), former building contractor Paul DeMichele (2007), Chamber Retention Coordinator Jerry Sletten (2006), the mortgage team of Frank Catalano Jr. and Debra Klosterman (2005), retired business executive and Membership Vice President Howard Schreiber (2004), retired banker John Wartinbee (2003), then Elmhurst Mayor Thomas D. Marcucci (2002), entrepreneur Betsy Hanisch (2001) and Tom Coffey (2000) of Electronic Specialty Design.
Established in 1918, the Elmhurst Chamber is a voluntary organization of business and professional men and women who have joined together to promote an environment that creates the success of local businesses and our 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.