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Table of Contents
From the Desk of
Laura Crawford
Wow...What an Event!
from the Chairman of the Board
Benchmark 12-Week
Survey Project
Consider It Done
Sweeps Chamber Choice Awards
Members in the News
Thank You!
From the
Desk of Laura Crawford...
Now in its
second year, the Chamber Choice Awards presented by
Advocate Good
Samaritan Hospital and Health & Wellness Center
again resulted in a wealth of high quality submissions.
We consider all Chamber Members winners; and it’s such a
delight to celebrate so many outstanding businesses and
nonprofit organizations in the Downers Grove area. I am
particularly pleased to honor Jim Russ, Sr. and Dave
Matthies this year.
Jim Russ has been a
leader in Downers Grove for many years. Through his
vision, the Village approved the site for Advocate Good
Samaritan Hospital and Jim worked tirelessly to ensure a
premium healthcare facility for Downers Grove. Among
many accomplishments, he has served on the board for the
hospital for 20 years and currently serves as treasurer
for the board for Access DuPage and as a board member at
Midwest Heart Foundation. Jim has also served as past
chairman of the Indian Boundary YMCA, the Chamber, and
Metro Computer Center. As an advocate for education,
Jim has served as a trustee for 25 years at Benedictine
University including five years as vice chairman of the
board of trustees. The Chamber is thrilled to honor
this steward of the community.
David Matthies is the
fourth generation of his family to live in Downers
Grove. His grandfather, Grant Dicke, was Fire Chief in
Downers Grove for more than 40 years. Dave has made his
mark on Downers Grove with his own business, Matthies
Builders, that opened doors in 1997. Dave believes in a
hands-on approach, personally monitoring projects, but
also is a vocal advocate for proper building procedures
in Downers Grove. He serves on the Architectural Design
Review Board for the Village and has been involved with
the Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee. Dave strongly
believes in preserving the unique character of housing
in Downers Grove. An active member of the Moose Lodge,
Dave led recent efforts to remodel the Kids Room at the
Lodge. He also donated his time and expertise as general
contractor for the build out at the new Chamber offices.
In addition to these
fine individuals, the Chamber has several finalists for
the business awards. In the Professional category, D3
Financial Counselors, Del Carlo Family Dentistry, and
Dr. Patrick O'Flaherty, D.D.S. & Dr. Jeffrey Wascher.
D.D.S. are finalists. The Retail category recognizes
Consider it Done and American Chartered Bank as
finalists. In the Service category, MG Computers,
Robert Bair Services and Visiting Angels are finalists.
In the area of Community Contribution, Not-for-Profit,
Diveheart Foundation, DuPage PADS, and Indian Boundary
YMCA have been chosen as finalists. Also in the
Community Contribution, Philanthropic category,
Midwestern University, Rotary Club of Downers Grove, and
Sundance Vacations have been named finalists.
Please join us in
congratulating these outstanding Members on Wednesday,
February 11 at the DoubleTree Guest Suites & Conference
Center in Downers Grove. Congratulatory ads are still
available by contacting the Chamber at 630-968-4050.
Thank you to our sponsors Advocate Good Samaritan
Hospital and Health & Wellness Center, Sara Lee
Corporation, Downers Grove Economic Development
Corporation, and American Chartered Bank.
lcrawford@downersgrove.org
630-968-4050 x14
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Wow….What an Event!
From the Chairman of
the Board
 I
am going to deviate from my usual strategic plan,
Bizword topic schedule this month. Instead, I want to
casually share and inspiring moment I had, really for
the first time as being Chairman. That’s not to say that
being on the Board isn’t constantly motivating, because
it is. It’s just this particular moment was especially
moving to me. Nice buildup, right? I am talking about
the 2009 Chamber Choice Awards presented by Advocate
Good Samaritan Hospital and Health & Wellness Center.
What an event!
Let me set it up a little
bit more. I go to events for my business all the time.
Heck, I once worked for the Chamber, when going to
events almost daily did get tiring. It’s kind of fair to
say that I am jaded when it comes to events. That’s
probably not what you expected to hear from the Chairman
of the Board, but it’s true. They can be exhausting. But
not this event. I walked out of this event, proud as
ever, to serve on the board of this fine organization.
Proud to be a member of this business community.
Why?
To see such great business
people realize their hard work and be recognized for it
was really cool. To see B.J. Boyd from Consider It Done,
almost in tears because she won two awards, was special.
If you weren’t there, you’re probably thinking “Geez,
she was almost in tears about winning an award.” That’s
was made it special. As an entrepreneur, B.J. knows what
it is like to lose sleep at night because of the stress
of owning her own business, the stress of counting cash
flow, probably daily. For her, you could see and feel
these awards were redemption for her hard work.
To see Jim Russ Sr., one
of Downers Grove most revered businessmen, be actually
touched that he was recognized for a well deserved
Lifetime Achievement award. And then listen to him share
his experiences on how he got to where he is, was great
to listen to from my young career’s perspective.
To see the candid,
awestruck look on Robert Bair’s face when he won his
award, was just classic.
I could go on and on. It
was just a really nice event. My sincere congratulations
to all the award winners: Consider it Done, Midwestern
University, Dave Matthies, Jim Russ Sr., Robert Bair
Services, Indian Boundary YMCA and Dr. Patrick
O’Flaherty & Dr. Jeffrey Wascher.
A special thanks to our
sponsors: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and Health &
Wellness Center, Downers Grove Economic Development
Corporation, Sara Lee Corporation, Sound Check
Entertainment and American Chartered Bank. And thank you
to the volunteers and Chamber staff. Without all of you,
this great event couldn’t happen.
Please join us next year.
You won’t regret it!
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Benchmark 12-Week Insurance Survey Project
We would like to buy you a cup of CARIBOU Coffee!
As you know the Downers Grove area Chamber of Commerce &
Industry is conducting an online survey called "The
Benefits Benchmark ™" for our members and local
businesses. This survey is collecting comparative
information about health insurance and other employee
insurance benefits.
 We
would like to encourage you to participate in the
survey. To that end, in exchange for a completed survey
over the next two weeks, we will have a $5 Caribou
Coffee gift card sent directly to you.
The survey will only take about 20 minutes if you start
with a copy of your insurance plan designs and a copy of
your last billing statements.
The data from this survey will be compiled into a
Downers Grove area specific report that will be made
available to Chamber members at NO COST. This employee
benefits report will present valuable information that
can help your company make better benefit decisions.
To access the confidential survey, simply visit the
website by
clicking HERE. We look forward to hearing from
you soon.
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Consider It Done Sweeps Chamber Choice Awards
With tears in her eyes,
BJ Boyd accepted the award for overall Business
Excellence to a standing ovation this Wednesday,
February 11. Overcome with emotion, she thanked her
family and staff for all their work at one of Downers
Grove’s most popular local shops. The Downers Grove
Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry is thrilled to
announce the winners of the 2009 Chamber Choice Awards
presented by Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and Health
& Wellness Center. James Russ, Sr. of Downers Grove
National Bank was recognized for Lifetime Achievement
and Dave Matthies of Matthies Builders was honored for
Young Business Professional. Indian Boundary YMCA took
home the award for Community Contribution by a
Not-for-Profit and Midwestern University accepted the
award for philanthropic Community Contribution. In the
Business Excellence, Service Category, Robert Bair
Services took the honor and Dr. Patrick O’Flaherty,
D.D.S and Dr. Jeffery Wascher, D.D.S. won in the
Business Excellence Professional Category.
“It was a wonderful experience to be able to honor our
Members. These awards honor the wide breadth and depth
of the many dynamic businesses that call Downers Grove
home. I hope to see even more nominations for the next
Chamber Choice Awards,” commented
Thank you to our
sponsors Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and Health &
Wellness Center, Sara Lee Corporation, Downers Grove
Economic Development Corporation, American Chartered
Bank and Sound Check Entertainment.
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Members in the News
Tony Spagnoletti has joined EXiT Real Estate
Partners as a realtor.
State Senator Kirk Dillard was one of nine
senators appointed to the Senate Impeachment Rules
Committee, which established the impeachment trial
procedures.
Midwestern University
was named to the President’s Higher Education Community
Service Honor Roll for exemplary service to America’s
communities. It has also named three new
associate deans to the College of Osteopathic Medicine -
Rita Getz, associate dean of academic affairs;
Thomas Boyle, associate dean of clinical services;
and Isaac Kirstein, associate dean of p[ost-doctoral
education.
Naper Settlement received a platinum, gold, and
honorable mention 2008 MarCom awards for its
publications.
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Thank You!
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and Health &
Wellness Center, Sara Lee Corporation, Downers Grove
Economic Development Corporation. American Chartered
Bank, and Sound Check Entertainment for
sponsoring the 2009 Chamber Choice Awards.
John Page, Vistage International; Bethany Veerman,
One Smooth Stone; and Rick Mytnik, Illinois
Business Systems for presenting at the Women's
Business Council Breakfast on e-networking. Thank
you also to Mattine Gallentine, MG Computer for
facilitating and Heartland Business Systems for
sponsoring.
Rocca's Mexican Grill for hosting the February
Business After Hours and Meet the Candidates.
Norb Farnaus, Farnaus & Associates for
facilitating the Business Roundtable discussion on
finding new clients.
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