Some 150 members and guests will gather together to celebrate the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 101st Annual Awards Gala in the main floor ballroom at The Drake Oak Brook Hotel, 2301 York Road, Oak Brook, on Friday, January 31, from 5 to 9 p.m.
“This year’s event will celebrate the many accomplishments of the first year of our Chamber’s second century as Elmhurst’s business leader,” said John R. Quigley, President and CEO of the Chamber since 1999. “Given all of the challenges that our organization accepted leading up to and during our Centennial Celebration in 2018, it is surprising even to me how special 2019 turned out for us.”
Our 2019 highlights include growth within the Chamber’s once-in-a-lifetime $250,000 Centennial Celebration Capital Campaign, first-year implementation of tiered membership dues and sponsorship packages, second-year retail sales for our Elmhurst-Opoly board game, expansion of the Explore Elmhurst Trolley display advertising program (in partnership with the City of Elmhurst), redesign of the annual Elmhurst Community Directory for 2020 and more.
First announced January of 2017, the Capital Campaign surpassed goals for both the $150,000 Ralph P. Pechanio Student Internship Endowment Fund at Elmhurst College and the $50,000 educational portion of the $100,000 for the Second Century Fund by the start of 2019, with end-of-this-year gifts growing the endowment to more than $211,000.
Fundraising for the Second Century Fund’s $50,000 ECCI Civic Hall of Fame public memorial, which will be located in the downtown Elmhurst Metra train station to be rebuilt in 2021, was put on hiatus in 2019, but will rev back up again this year and through the project’s completion.
During our first year of tiered membership dues, Director of Member Services Mariella Mastromauro recruited 72 new members and reactivated five members, generating some $46,000 in tier dues revenue.
Elmhurst-Opoly is now 60 percent sold out of a 1,000-edition run.
During the Annual Meeting, the Chamber will salute the A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year for 2019, welcome the new Chairman of its Board of Directors, Officers and Directors, recognize the outgoing Chairman, Officers and Directors, honor the Chairman’s Award winner and Ambassador of the Year, and install the 2019 ECCI Civic Hall of Fame 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 $100 per person, $190 per couple, $720 for a table of eight, $850 for a table of 10 and $1,000 for an event sponsorship (which includes 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 Wednesday, January 28.
Elmhurst resident William R. “Bill” Shanklin, local businessman, community volunteer and military veteran (Sergeant-At-Arms at Elmhurst American Legion THB Post 187), will be honored as the 28th inductee into the Civic Hall of Fame.
Business of the Year honors will be bestowed upon Elmhurst Auto Group (Elmhurst BMW and Elmhurst Toyota, owned and operated by Kurt Schiele and his family since 1961 and a Chamber member since 2004.
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 The Elmhurst Independent (2018), Brewpoint Coffee (2017), Roberto’s Ristorante & Pizzeria (2016), Café Amano (2015), West Suburban Office Products (2014), Community Bank of Elmhurst (2013 and 1991), York Furrier (2012), Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare (2011), OEC Business Interiors (2010), 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) and Unique Travel Service, Ltd. (2000).
Outgoing ECCI Board of Directors Chair Kevin Kost of Edward Jones Investments, a Chamber member since 2009, 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.
Past ECCI Board Chair Ken Bartels, Senior Vice President at Community Bank of Elmhurst and Principal at Ken Bartels Consulting, will receive 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.
Bartels has served multiple terms as a Director over the past three decades and chaired ECCI’s 2018 Board during the Chamber’s 100th Anniversary Year.
Joining Kost, Bartels and Quigley on the Chamber’s 2019 Executive Committee were First Vice Chair Bill Korbel of Elmhurst Suburban Life/Shaw Media, Second Vice Chair Desiree Chen of Elmhurst College and Treasurer Ralph Pechanio of the Elmhurst Veterans Memorial Commission. Korbel was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Lori Murray of Inland Bank.
Outgoing Directors are Mike Carson (2013-19) of Inspired Closets by Carson, Susan Tyburski (2017-19) of Edward-Elmhurst Health, Jennifer Dunham (2018-19) of BMO Harris Bank and Murray (2016-19).
The 2019 Executive Committee includes Chair Bill Korbel, First Vice Chair Desiree Chen, Second Vice Chair Eva Sanchez of See Your House Right Here @properties Elmhurst, Treasurer Ralph Pechanio, Past Chair Ken Kost and Quigley.
Recently elected to three-year Director terms (2020-22) were newcomers Rita Borzym of Edward Jones Investments and Scott LaMorte of Itasca Bank and Trust, along with second-term incumbents Bartels and Sanchez.
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.