Long-time Elmhurst resident Ken Bartels will be honored as the 2024 inductee into the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) Civic Hall of Fame at the Chamber’s 106th Annual Awards Gala in the Oak Room at Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital (155 East Brush Hill Road) on Friday, March 21, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Bartels has served as a Senior Vice President and Director at Community Bank of Elmhurst since 2009 and is the Owner/Principal of Ken Bartels Consulting—both active Chamber members since 1992 and 2010, respectively.
As an Economic Development Consultant for the City of Elmhurst, Bartels played an instrumental role in raising the funds to construct the First Responders Memorial and Plaza adjacent to Elmhurst Fire Station No. 2. He serves with the current Economic Development Commission and was a member of the now-defunct Economic Development Corporation.
Known as “The Voice of Elmhurst,” Bartels has served as announcer for the Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade, Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot and more Elmhurst TV local-access cable television programs, and is the current host of the “Elmhurst: Our Community” interview series sponsored by Community Bank of Elmhurst.
During his nearly 29 years first as then-Elmhurst College’s Vice President for College Advancement (1981-2007) and then Vice President for College Relations (2007-09), Bartels wove all aspects of the private higher educational institution into the everyday fabric of the Elmhurst community—including business, government and not-for-profit.
Bartels has more years of ECCI Board of Directors service than any Director in Chamber history representing Elmhurst College, Community Bank of Elmhurst and now Ken Bartels Consulting, and he served as Board Chair for ECCI’s 100th Anniversary in 2018. He oversees the Civic HOF Committee, starting while an Elmfest Steering Committee member.
His philanthropy includes the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, Elmhurst Symphony Association, Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance Network, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Rotary Club of Elmhurst, The Conservation Foundation DuPage and VNA DuPage, and he served on the former Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Board of Governors. He founded both the West Suburban Philanthropic Network and Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.
His honors include the Elmhurst Jaycees Distinguished Service Award (2007), Bluejay Backer Hall of Fame (2016) and Community Service Award, three-time ECCI Chairman’s Award (2019, 2009 and 1997) and ECCI Good Works Award (2017).
The Civic Hall of Fame was established in 1992 to recognize women and men who make major contributions to the Elmhurst community. Up through 2008, inductions were conducted during the Opening Ceremonies of Elmfest. The 2009 inductee was honored at the Chamber’s Spring Luncheon in April of 2010.
The late Joe Newton, legendary boys’ cross country coach at York Community High School was the inaugural Hall of Fame inductee.
Preceding Gibbons as Hall of Fame inductees were: Eleanor King Hookam (1993), Elmhurst Art Museum; Dr. Ivan E. Frick (1994), Elmhurst College; Joseph Wagner (1995), York Furrier; Jean Haselhorst (1996), Elmhurst Park District; Robert M. Magnuson (1997), Elmhurst Memorial Hospital; Virginia J. Harmon (1998), Unique Travel Services; Illinois House of Representative Lee A. Daniels (R-46th District) (1999); A.J. “Toche” Terrones (2000), Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry; William C. “Bill” Gooch Jr. (2001), Community Bank of Elmhurst; Willis Johnson (2002), York Theatre; Fred Messerschmidt (2003), Elmhurst Federal Savings & Loan; Jim Van Ewyk (2004), Pfund and Clint Florists; Jacquelyn Haddad (2005), Elmhurst Junior Women’s Club; Thomas O. Myers Jr. (2006), Thomas O. Myers Real Estate; Abner Ganet (2007), Leonard’s Men’s Store and Mayor of Elmhurst; Jan Pauli (2008), Pauli’s Marathon; Bob Schiller (2009), Schiller Real Estate; Thomas D. Marcucci, four-term Mayor of Elmhurst (2010); Rich Grodsky, Elmhurst Park District (2011); Pete Cruger, Elmhurst Independent (2012); Doug Beach, Elmhurst College Jazz Band Director (2013); Betsy Hanisch, Elmhurst businesswomen, civic leader and community volunteer (2014); Ralph Pechanio (2015), retired banker, civic leader and community volunteer; Darrell Whistler, retired businessman, civic leader and community volunteer; Jack Island (2017), Owner of The Silverado Grill; Genie Urick (2018), cable TV producer, author and community volunteer; and William “Bill” Shanklin (2019), Post 187 Sergeant-at-Arms; Scott and Charity Ahlgrim (2020) of Ahlgrim Funeral Home; Dr. Bryant and Jeanette Cureton (2021), former EC President and First Lady, John DeVries (2023), Founder of DeVries Animal Hospital and Dan Gibbons (2024) of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot Foundation.
Established in 1918, the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and 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.