Connecting Leaders, Creating Communities: Elgin Area Chamber Annual Report 2021

Connecting Leaders, Creating Communities A N NUAL REPORT 2021

T H AN K YOU TO O UR PRE M I E R MEM B E R S

From the Board Chair In 2021, the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors dug deep into our core purpose and shaped a vision for the future. We dove into a year-long process of thoughtful reflection and bold thinking to develop a robust strategic plan to reach our goals:

To connect leaders, provide relevant and engaging resources, and collaborate with businesses and partners so our community will thrive.

At the same time, 100+ volunteers worked with our incredible staff to coordinate and produce ribbon-cuttings, webinars, virtual networking events, multiple streams of communication, a superb golf outing, and all the little things that keep our organization running smoothly and effectively.

The Chamber also delivered invaluable digital networking tools to our members, many of whom continue to work remotely. We facilitated real connections and meaningful opportunities alongside our partners, reimagining how to better serve businesses and leaders in an increasingly digital world.

Your membership with the Chamber connects you to a phenomenal network of other talented, inventive, and courageous individuals who are propelling our region forward in exciting new ways. Because of your commitment, the Elgin Area and its economy are energized for the year ahead.

T HAN K YOU TO OU R VOLUN T E E R S

Aaron Miller Alex Haughee Alexander Brotsos Amanda Garcia Andrea Schnake Angi Cholewa Barb Keselica Bill Galdo Brian Fletcher Bruce Olson Carla Isenegger Cate Osterholz Cathy Taylor Cheryl Brown Curtis Wiedeman Dan Fox Dan Polowy Dave Waden David Michael David Sam Dee Reinhardt Dekovia Livingston Denise Raleigh Diana Hernandez Don Waters

My deepest thanks to Carol, Tony, and Terry, my colleagues on the Board, and our dozens of volunteers who have dedicated precious hours to the success of this incredible organization.

And thanks to you, our members, for supporting these efforts. Thanks for participating in events, showing up for EARN groups, joining Zoom calls, subscribing to newsletters, and liking the Chamber on social media. Together, we are building and investing in Elgin and South Elgin’s active and prosperous business communities.

I invite you to celebrate the growth and successes of this past year as we look ahead to the next, full of anticipation for new opportunities to connect, engage, collaborate, and thrive.

Yaneth Medina Sincerely,

Yaneth Medina 2021 Board Chair Elgin State Bank, Market President

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Meet our Board of Directors Yaneth Medina Board Chair

Keith Rauschenberger Treasurer

Elgin State Bank Market President

Rauschenberger Financial Advisors Principal

Yvonne Irving VP Membership

Michael Wong 2022 Board Chair

KCT Credit Union VP Business Development

Carol Gieske Secretary Elgin Area Chamber President & CEO

SmithAmundsen Partner

Mike Bilyk American NTN Bearing Manufacturing Corp.

President & CEO

Nicole Buchanan

Jim Companik

Bear Family McDonald’s Restaurants VP of Operations

Motorola Solutions Plant Manager & Director of Manufacturing

Sheri DeShazo

Amanda J. Garcia

Advocate Sherman Hospital President

ColorWord Creative, Inc. Principal Executive Officer

William Gustafson

Diana Hernandez

Grand Victoria Casino Senior VP & General Manager

TraducciónNow Language Services Provider, Founder

Vanessa Hiland

Jaclyn Kator

AMITA Saint Joseph Hospital VP/Chief Nursing Officer

AT&T Director, External Affairs

Ian Lamp

ReJena Lyon

Lamp Incorporated President

Hampton, Lenzini & Renwick, Inc. President

Leslie Maloney

Michael McKay

Chase Card Services Executive Director, Fraud Prevention

Edward Jones Financial Advisor

David Sam

Tony Sanders

Elgin Community College President

School District U-46 Superintendent

Linda Siete

Mike Warren

Reflejos Publications LLC Sales and Operations Manager

Rieke Office Interiors Brittain’s Car Wash Co-Owner

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Our Mission, Vision and Values The EAC Board of Directors engaged in a year-long process of long-range planning throughout 2021. Part of that work included defining our organizational identity at a whole new level, which resulted in some powerful new mission, vision, and values statements.

Our Mission is to connect communities and businesses through engagement, advocacy, collaboration, and leadership.

The EAC strives to be an effective resource, providing relevant, innovative, and impactful programming that ensures a healthy business climate and an enhanced quality of life for Elgin and South Elgin. We are in business, for business.

Our Vision is to enhance economic vitality, advocate for business, and create opportunities for our members by: • Strengthening the local economy • Offering a space for leaders to connect through networking opportunities • Advocating for the interest of businesses of all shapes and sizes • Encouraging community through leadership and development programs

T HAN K YOU TO OU R VOLUN T E E R S

Dustin Good Elissa Kojzarek Elizabeth Marston Eva Arciuch Gail Cohen George Yesian Ginny Guth Grissell Nevarez Henry Pierce Ian Lamp Jaclyn Kator Jenni Baltes Jennifer Arndt Jennifer Fukala Jennifer Ruffolo Jerri Bresnahan Jill Wisniewski Jim Companik Jim Compton Joe Follrath John Cassidy Joseph McKeown III Julisa Alonso Karla Jiménez Keith Rauschenberger

• Championing business growth in Elgin, South Elgin, and our surrounding communities

We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion: • Diversity of people • Equity in practice, distribution of resources, policy, and position • Inclusion through organizational structure, power, and voice

Core Values: Our guiding principles that govern our conduct and our relationships Commitment to Community Integrity and Accountability Diversity and Inclusion Participation and Collaboration Involved Leadership Business and Economic Growth Public Policy

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Meet the Staff Carol Gieske President & CEO A life-long member of the Elgin community, Carol is personally invested in the success of our cities, its businesses and residents. Carol gives sound advice and loves nothing more than helping members get the most out of their membership. She is also the perfect person to talk to if you’re thinking about joining the Chamber or getting more involved.

847.741.5660 | Direct: 224.760.7887 | cgieske@elginchamber.com

Terry Gajewski VP Finance & MIS Originally from Chicago, Terry is a South Elginite at heart. She wears many hats around the EAC office, including website whisperer and architecture aficionado. Best of all, she’s a certified expert on the Chamber, our members, the resources we provide, and she’s a finance whiz to boot.

847.741.5660 | Direct: 224.760.7885 | tgajewski@elginchamber.com

Tony Lucenko Economic Development Our resident statistics guru, Tony is passionate about advocating for Elgin businesses of all sizes and industries, cutting through red tape and promoting growth in a single bound. If you’re starting, expanding, or relocating a business, he’s your guy.

847.741.5660 | Direct: 224.760.7888 | tlucenko@elgindevelopment.com

Yesenia Sanchez Member Relations Associate Yesenia brings a fresh smile and bright outlook to the front desk of the EAC office. A dynamic professional, she joined the team in February 2022. Yesenia is ready to help you maximize your membership by taking advantage of all the Chamber has to offer. ¿Habla español? Yesenia does!

847.741.5660 | Direct: 224.760.7886 | ysanchez@elginchamber.com

“The Elgin Area Chamber has been a wonderful partnership with our bank! The team is phenomenal! Their wealth of knowledge goes without saying! Whenever there is a need, I know I can count on them! They have connected our team with key leaders in the community and also gave us the opportunity to help educate business owners with our financial education seminars. I am very proud of how the chamber has impacted the Elgin Area and it is even more rewarding to see it personally!”

—Yaneth Medina, Elgin State Bank, Market President

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CONN EC T By connecting with our vast and diverse network of professionals, members gain powerful insights from seasoned professionals. While COVID impacted our ability to host as many in-person opportunities, we are proud to have continued to offer programs virtually throughout the year.

• Elgin Area Referral Network (E.A.R.N.) groups met in-person and virtually over breakfast and lunch, building strategic partnerships and social capital.

• Our multi-chamber Speed Networking event in July was one of our most successful in-person events of the year, offering members the chance to gain 50 new contacts from eight different chambers.

• Sixteen area chambers participated in a progressive luncheon in August, another of our best-attended in-person networking events.

• Our Human Resources and Senior Providers professional affinity groups met monthly via Zoom, and we are excited to announce the launch of Minority Businesses Owners and Women’s affinity groups in 2022.

“If you’re in business and looking for a way to get plugged in, I highly recommend an E.A.R.N. group. The Elgin Area Chamber is very active and has been a great way for me to be connected with other businesses.”

—Dan Hedge, Financial Advisor

T HAN K YOU TO OU R VOLUN T E E R S

Kenneth Franzese Kerri McCastland Kim Gilmore Kim Wagner Kris Kaun Krisilee Murphy Kristi Falco LaSalle Crosby Lesley Chermansky Leslie Maloney Linda Siete Lisa Baran Lynn Fredericks Madison Bishop Mansi Patel Marc Mylott Maria Catanag Marilou Pilman Martin A Sandoval II Mary Dulabaum Mary Prystawsky Max Zakharenko Megan Golden Michael Brown Michael Isaacson

Marketing by the Numbers

67,600

Web Visits in 2021

3K+

About our Members

575 Members

Facebook Followers

61

7,500

Visitors to job boards

45,000+

9,000+

13

Job views

New Members in 2021

Employees

Small Business Occupancy Grants

E LG IN ARE A C H AMBE R O F CO MME RC E • 20 2 1 ANNUAL REPORT

ENGAG E Perhaps the greatest value of an EAC membership is engagement with the wide array of resources and events we have to offer.

Events • We offered 68 programs in 2021–some in-person and most online–which is on par with the number of in-person programs we offered pre-pandemic. According to our registration software, more than 2,300 people attended those meetings and events.

• Our 44th annual golf outing at Bowes Creek Country Club sold out for the fourth year in a row. It was a fabulous day on the links and a great opportunity for Elgin’s biggest hitters to enjoy 18 holes of golf, lunch, games on the course, dinner, awards, and much more. Be sure to register your foursome for this year’s outing on August 11!

• The State of the City address with Elgin’s Mayor Kaptain was held in person at Elgin Community College in 2021. Business and community leaders heard the Mayor’s insightful vision of the year and the positive outlook ahead in 2022.

“The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce has a sincere desire to support and enhance local business. The dedicated staff and the benefits provided to Chamber members has resulted in a direct increase in my business. Thanks to Carol Geiske’s suggestion at another local meeting I was able to secure a grant from Kane County which helped my business during the last year. Joining the chamber has been a great way to increase awareness for what I do. The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce is where business, government and citizens collaborate to make our community better.”

—Amy True Flota, Agent, True Insurance & Benefits

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Education Our workshops and webinars (many of which are free) provide pertinent information on subjects like marketing, social media wellness, and workplace laws. Webinars offered in 2021 on vital topics like COVID vaccinations and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace educated managers and fulfilled state-mandated employee training. By equipping business leaders with these materials, we empower their success.

Leadership Development The award-winning Elgin Area Leadership Academy is celebrating its 20th class, which launched in the fall of 2021. They have met regularly to build leadership skills, learn about core issues in our community, grow their professional network, and dive deeper into civic opportunities. Participants are scheduled to graduate in May of this year and join more than 550 others who have completed the academy since 1991.

CO MPANY SPOTL IG H T T HAN K YOU TO OU R VOLUN T E E R S

Michael McKay Michael O’Rourke Michael Storey Michael Sullivan Jr. Michael Wong Michelle Chambers Mike Bilyk Mike Mejia Mike Warren Mireya Perez Molly Gillespie Nancy Coleman Nicole Buchanan Olivia Christy Pat Szpekowski Paula Thakkar Polly Ernzen Ramona Grauzinis ReJena Lyon Renee Renken Risé Jones Robert Trueblood Robyn DeLavergne Rose Martinez Ruth Munson Sarah Coursey

Elgin Sweeper Elgin Sweeper Company has been an Elgin establishment for 115 years, proudly employing over 300 people. In 2021, Elgin Sweeper Company affirmed its commitment to our City by re-purchasing their 217,000 square-foot building, ensuring their presence in our community for years to come.

“The Elgin area has served us well throughout our history, providing us with an excellent, dedicated workforce, and a great location with convenient access to the airports and major highways. The Elgin Development Group, Chamber, and the City of Elgin have been fantastic to work with over the years and really are great partners to all of us in the local business arena.”

—Mike Higgins, VP and General Manager Elgin Sweeper Company

E LG IN ARE A C H AMBE R O F CO MME RC E • 20 2 1 ANNUAL REPORT

CO LLA B ORAT E Many of the opportunities the EAC is able to offer our members are augmented by our relationships with wonderful and generous collaborators.

Partnerships We are grateful for extensive partnerships with many organizations and individuals in and around our community, which drives value for our businesses.

• Mayor Kaptain met regularly with business leaders across industries in 2021, and he will continue our President’s Council meetings virtually in 2022.

• The EAC spearheaded intentional collaboration with other area chambers that began with COVID-19, from Batavia to Cary Grove, and beyond. By investing in regional relationships in every direction, we’ve been able to optimize opportunities for our members through an extended chamber network.

Advocacy We work to minimize the obstacles to business growth through good public policy, meeting regularly with officials at all political levels on behalf of our members to enrich our thriving and diverse business climate. We proactively engage with small business associations, always advocating for the best for our region’s business community.

COVID-19 Response In our continuing response to COVID-19, we launched an e-newsletter dedicated to information and opportunities for businesses. We promoted grant opportunities, created comprehensive new web pages for COVID-19 resources, and made over 1,500 calls to our members. Thanks to our partnership with the Kane County Health Department, we were also able to offer regular COVID-19 update webinars to our members.

“Your COVID restriction information emails, grant notices, vaccine information, PPP & EIDL information have kept me in the know and helped my business secure funding from some of these referenced organizations/ programs. Without the Chamber, I do not know where I would have been able to find all of this integral information. I was just notified I have been awarded a Kane County Grant. What a lifeline the Chamber is in helping save struggling businesses.”

—Kim Gilmore, GMCI Creative

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T H RI VE When our members connect with fellow leaders and engage with all the Chamber has to offer, the result is astounding: Goals are met, growth is exponential, business booms, and our community thrives.

Our Community With a population of 114,797, Elgin is the sixth largest city in Illinois—a testament to its strong community and economic development. Elgin is also the fourth fastest-growing city in Illinois and has been for the past decade, flourishing while the rest of Illinois languished, in no small part due to the strength of our business opportunities.

About Elgin

South Elgin

114,797

23,865

36,894

7,476

Population (6th Largest City in Illinois)

Number of Households

T HAN K YOU TO OU R VOLUN T E E R S

Sean McCarthy Shannon Sell Sharon McGill Sheri DeShazo Silvia Davis Steve Super Susan Cincinelli Susan McNamara Susan Silhavy Suzann Jonson Tari Fraim Tena Robotham Thomas Mihelic Thomas Rickert Tiffany Barton Tiffany Zurek Toby Shaw Todd Stirn Tomorris Jocelyn Tony Sanders Vanessa Hiland Velma Sept Vicki Hill William Gustafson Yaneth Medina Yvonne Irving

Population

Number of Households

CO MPANY SPOTL IG H T

SureWerx SureWerx is a leading global designer and manufacturer of professional safety products, tools, and equipment.

Relocating to Elgin in 2017, SureWerx later expanded, taking on 156,000 square feet of warehouse and office space in the Fox River Business District.

“One of the most significant reasons that SureWerx came to Elgin, and now continues our growth and expansion needs in Elgin, is due to the fantastic support we have received from the City of Elgin, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Elgin Development Group. Whenever we have needed support for any of our municipal requirements, the city and associated groups have always been extremely responsive, helpful, and engaged.”

—Chris Baby, CEO SureWerx

E LG IN ARE A C H AMBE R O F CO MME RC E • 20 2 1 ANNUAL REPORT

Elgin Development Group As part of a public-private partnership with the City of Elgin, the Elgin Development Group works to make Elgin a place where businesses grow and thrive. The EDG exists to provide resources and solutions to the challenges of entrepreneurship, helping businesses of all sizes succeed and prosper.

By assisting in site selection, fast-tracking permits, aiding in business relocation and workforce development, and more, the EDG encourages business retention and expansion in our community. In 2021, Elgin saw a record amount of space leased by new and existing businesses, totaling nearly 2 million square feet.

The EDG works to: • Provide a solid base to support quality municipal and educational goals • Improve the quality of life and standard of living for Elgin residents • Create a diverse and vibrant local economy www.elgindevelopment.com

• Generate desirable employment opportunities

Business Attraction, Retention, and Expansion

Thriving as a Workforce Key Industries and Jobs:

14.8%

Elgin continues to attract new businesses while helping existing ones expand. In 2021, despite a pandemic, we made 600 business retention calls, while businesses like Atlantic Packaging, SureWerx, Shaw, FedEx, Goldcoast Logistics, Toolmex Industrial, Discount Tire, and Medela moved to or expanded in Elgin.

Educational Services

13.5%

Manufacturing

11.6%

Health Care/Social Assistance

Member Business Size by Number of Employees

6.7%

Unemployment Statistics in December 2021

55,291

Labor Force

4% Employees 51-100 6% Employees 100+ 10% Employees 21-50 27% Employees 6-20 53% Employees 1-5

Business of all sizes As your business concierge, the Elgin Development Group works with businesses of all sizes. EDG worked with the City’s Community Development team to expedite an occupancy for a new non-profit organization moving into Elgin—Hoof Woof and Meow Animal Rescue. Working together, our teams identified items that still needed to be obtained for a permit and explained them to the volunteers in the 100% foster and volunteer-based rescue organization, and permits were received to move to their new location on an accelerated timeline to welcome cats and dogs ready to be adopted! w w w. elgin ch amber. com • w w w. elgin development. co m

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31 S. Grove Ave. | Elgin, IL 60120

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“Forward-thinking government, great infrastructure, close distance to major expressways, and a diverse and plentiful workforce are the major reasons we have continued our commitment to stay and thrive in the City of Elgin.”

—David J. Nissen, CPA, ABV, CVA, PKF Mueller CEO