the May 2022 | Volume 35 | No. 5
BRIGHT IDEAS
LEADERSHIP ROCKFORD
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of the rockford business community
Caitlin Pusateri
named president of Rockford Chamber of Commerce
The Rockford Chamber of Commerce has announced Caitlin Pusateri as the organization’s President. She
will
lead
the
Chamber’s
strategic initiatives, create and oversee implementation of impactful regional connections, manage staff and day-today operations, and set the path forward for continued organizational success. “I’m thrilled to continue my work advocating for the businesses that help
build up our thriving local economy and diverse community. A strong business environment allows for a vibrant, healthy, and forward-thinking community. With our mission to ‘Lead Business Growth’ as my North Star, I am committed to serve our members, advocate on their behalf, and ensure the Rockford region is good for their prosperity,” Pusateri said. In her new role, Pusateri will lead one of the partner organizations which reports to the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership (GRGP), a non-profit umbrella organization encompassing and aligning the efforts of both the Chamber and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council’s (RAEDC) to positively impact the region’s business growth. “I’ve worked with Caitlin for more than 12 years and have seen firsthand her leadership and impact she has on our community. She’s extremely qualified to take the reins and continue building upon the bright legacy she’s been so much a part of so far,” Einar Forsman, CEO of the GRGP said. “Her experience with our organization and her dedication to our community will set herself – and our region – up for success. The future is bright under her leadership.” Pusateri began working for the Chamber as Executive Director of IGNITE in 2010 and has worked for the Chamber in some capacity ever since. In
VACANT WAREHOUSE TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO APARTMENTS, ENTREPRENEURIAL SPACES
October 2015, she became Vice President of Leadership Development. After being named Executive Vice President in 2021, she continued to develop leadership opportunities for Chamber members and spearhead opportunities to connect members to professional development, economic possibilities, and networking. Last year, Pusateri completed the US Chamber’s Institute of Organization Management, a program designed to enhance individual performance, elevate professional standards, and recognize chamber of commerce professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to nonprofit management. She also completed the ACCE Fellowship for Economic Recovery, a selective 10-month virtual cohort program of 45 Chamber professionals from across the country that explores timely theories, approaches, and best practices through a combination of peer learning, expert consultations, and network-building. “Caitlin is not only recognized locally as a change-maker, influencer for good culture, and leader, but she’s also received recognition on a national level. She is someone we can rely on at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and we are so thankful for her continued commitment to excellence,” said Dan Ross, Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. v
Sliding into the driver's seat
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My toddler daughter and infant son both wear glasses – and not just “normal” glasses, but glasses that magnify their eyes greatly and have lenses that rival Coke Bottle bottoms. While they are both quite young, it has been important to me to surround them with others who wear glasses. My son has prints of cute wildlife animals with glasses above his changing table. My daughter has a doll (or two) with glasses. We have books that show kids wearing glasses. I dress them in clothes that show kids or animals wearing glasses. They are surrounded by people, animals, inanimate objects that wear glasses. Because I want them to see themselves in the world around them. I want them to be comfortable with who they are from day one and know they can
do or be absolutely anything they want to be – glasses and all. It’s a small thing, really. Lots of people have glasses and no one really passes much judgement on their moral character, value as a person, or ability to contribute to a leadership team because of them. And yet, to me, representation matters. For a kid who wears glasses. Glasses are easy – glasses can be temporary or removed or changed. But, for so many, what makes them “different” is more concrete. Race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity – the list goes on. These are parts of a person that are core to who they are. You can’t “take off” your gender identity. You can’t change the color of your skin to blend into a specific group (continued on page 17)
The Rockford City Council approved a deal to turn the vacant Condon-Shumway Seed Company building and the vacant Mack Paper/Bartlett structure, both on Cedar Street, into a combined 65unit apartment complex. Developers will receive 100 percent of the estimated $1.4 million lifetime amount of increased tax revenue. The development also will cater to artists and entrepreneurs with first-floor commercial and gallery space. Developers hope to open it in 2023 or 2024.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ROCKFORD CHAMBER
GOLF CLASSIC
MONDAY, MAY 23, 11 AM FOREST HILLS COUNTRY CLUB For more information, see page 23 PRESENTING SPONSOR
SALES TAX FUNDS AREA MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS The Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board announced it collected $15 million to fund organizations that provide mental health and substance abuse services in Winnebago County. It came from the half-cent sales tax approved by voters in the March 2020 primary. The tax went into effect July 1, 2020, and has a sixyear sunset provision. The board announced it will allocate nearly $8 million to: Children’s Home & Aid, Winnebago County Doula Program; Children’s Home & Aid, Winnebago County EPIC Program; City of Rockford, Crisis Co-Response Team; Crusader Community Health, Crusader Behavioral Health Services Expansion - Continued (PY23); Remedies Renewing Lives, Domestic Violence Therapy & Advocacy Project; Rosecrance, Inc., Rosecrance Access to Care; Stepping Stones of Rockford, Inc., Stepping Stones Counseling Center; University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, The CARE Program - Compassionate Appreciation for Recovery in Everyone; Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Winnebago County Jail-Behavioral Health Program, and Youth Services Network Inc., Youth Trauma Clinic.