Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and Chief Executive Officer John R. Quigley will receive the 2020 Chairman’s Award at the Chamber’s 102nd Annual Awards Gala in the Normandy Banquet Room at Elmhurst American Legion THB Post 187 on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Click HERE to register.
Traditionally, the annual award is given to a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors for his/her outstanding service to the Board, Chairman and President/CEO or to a non-Director for praiseworthy contributions or performance.
Quigley has served as ECCI’s President and CEO since 1999—the longest tenured chamber of commerce executive in DuPage County—and has been involved with the Elmhurst Chamber for the past 30 years.
“I am humbled and honored to be recognized in this fashion by the Board Chair for simply doing my job, although 2020 posed the most challenging year of my tenure,” said Quigley, who also was named a Chairman’s Award recipient in 2007.
Outgoing ECCI Board Chair Bill Korbel of the Elmhurst Suburban Life/Shaw Media will present the award to Quigley.
As President and CEO, Quigley is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the 450-member Chamber, the largest organization representing Elmhurst’s business community, and works in partnership with the Board, Executive Committee and Standing Committees of Governmental Affairs (as Chair), Marketing, Membership, and Ways and Means. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade Committee.
In his role as ECCI President and CEO, Quigley also serves on the Elmhurst City Centre’s Board of Director (ex-officio), Spring Road Business Association Board, Elmhurst Economic Development Commission (ex-officio), Elmhurst Visitor & Tourism Advisory Board and Elmhurst Retail Development Grant Committee.
His community service has included Executive Committee roles with both the Elmhurst College Bluejay Backers (Secretary from 1991-99 and long-time President) and Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst (first two-time President and long-time Bulletin Editor).
Quigley also has volunteered to the benefit of the Elmhurst Jaycees, Elmhurst YMCA, Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation (ECAF) and numerous charitable causes.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Quigley spent nine years at Elmhurst University (then College), his Alma Mater, as Associate Director of Communications.
While at EC, Quigley served one term on the Chamber Board (1994-97), chaired the green-coated Ambassadors and many of the major special event committees (Annual Meeting, Golf Outing, etc.), and was an eight-year member of the Elmfest Steering Committee (1992-99) before taking over as then General Chairperson (2000-08). In 1997, the Elmhurst Chamber honored Quigley for his service with its prestigious Duke of Elmhurst Award.
A 1977 EU graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree (double majoring in business administration and public speaking), Quigley enjoyed an award-winning, 15-year career in journalism—including a six-year stint as Sports Editor of the Elmhurst Press and sister newspapers—before returning to his Alma Mater. He is a graduate of both Immaculate Conception High School (1973) and IC Grade School (1969).
A member of the American and Illinois Chamber of Commerce Executives, Quigley has contributed at seminars and conferences as a guest speaker and presenter, and assisted with special events as a master of ceremonies, announcer and auctioneer.
Born, raised, educated and having worked in Elmhurst for most of his 52 years, Quigley has resided in Villa Park for the past 20 years.
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 Elmhurst Chamber’s mission is to promote an environment that creates success for 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.