St Charles Chamber Newsletter - March 2023

Let’s honor our dedicated community volunteers

By Deborah Gurley Executive Director

St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce

The St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce is privileged to be a valued and supportive organization for businesses and nonprofits in our community.

Our success is driven by many dedicated members who volunteer their time, talents, and sponsorships. Whether they serve as leaders on our board, as active participants

on our strategic committees, or donate funds toward our many events, their efforts are tantamount to our chamber’s visibility and strength.

These individuals and the businesses they represent are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to building business relationships, supporting local events, and community involvement.

How do we express heartfelt gratitude to chamber and community members for their service and inspiration? The St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates these individuals in a big way with our annual Charlemagne Awards evening!

With the chamber’s 101st year, our 2023 Annual Charlemagne Awards will take place this year on May 19, 2023 at the Q Center, Fox River Ballroom, in St. Charles. With this year’s theme of “Road to Excellence”, we are celebrating the next century of honoring, recognizing and celebrating the many accomplishments of Chamber members and the St. Charles community.

The highlight of the evening is the presentation of our annual awards, including the Charlemagne Award, L.E.A.P. Award, Community Development Award, Community Image Award, and Civic Image Award.

The Wedding You Always Imagined

Photo Credit TWA Photography

Photo Credit — Matt Warren Photography

The most anticipated spotlight of the evening recognitions is the beloved Charlemagne Award, which is bestowed on an individual who resides in St. Charles with a long history of volunteerism and dedication to our community. This lifetime achievement award was created in 1968 based on the legend written by C.V. Amenoff, who served as Mayor of St. Charles from 1969-1973.

Who will be this year’s 55th annual honoree of this very prestigious recognition? Who will join the long list of inspiring leaders who received the Charlemagne Award? Our recent past recipients have had a solid impact on our community. They are Ray Rogina (2021), Dr. John Mason (2020), Bob Gorecki (2019), Jeff Hunt (2018), Clint Hull (2017), Darlene Riebe (2016), John Hoscheit (2015) and Steve Martin (2014).

Do you know of someone who epitomizes true commitment to our community and has made a difference?

Nominations for the Charlemagne Award is open to any individual of St. Charles whose epitomizes the legend of the four sons of

Charlemagne in areas of business, civic, industrial, education, religious, cultural, or natural recreation improvements in the city.

The L.E.A.P. Award, recognizing leadership, excellence, achievement, and professionalism, is presented to any woman who goes above and beyond the call of duty in her business, the Chamber, the Women’s Business Council, and/or helping women in our community. Past honorees include: Linda Strohschien (2021), Julie Purcell (2020), Leah Hoppes (2019), Diane Gibson (2018), Diana McClow (2017), Laurie Milborn (2016), and Kate Sullivan (2015). I was privileged and humbled to receive this honor in 2014.

We welcome your Charlemagne and L.E.A.P. nominations! The award nomination forms with descriptive criteria for all are posted on the chamber website at www.stcharleschamber.com.

Get your tickets for Charlemagne now and I look forward to seeing you on the “Road to Excellence”!

WHY BE A MEMBER?

• are invested in our member’s success

• provide business advocacy

• are connections-focused

• offer a breadth and depth of quality programs and experience

The Chamber Provides:

• Business Support Services

• Educational Programming

• Networking & Relationship Building

There are a few key factors one should consider in determining whether or not a membership in the St. Charles Area Chamber of

Commerce is right for you?

• Is your goal as a company to grow your business and/or engage with the community?

• Are you looking for quality connections that will lead to personal and professional growth as well as business opportunity?

• Will you be able to commit some of your time to engage and participate in one or more of our quality programs, environments and experiences?

If the answers to these questions are YES, we would love to partner with you on your journey. We look forward to connecting with you soon.

MEMBER OF THE MONTH AWARDS

One of the St. Charles Area Chamber’s goals is to elevate awareness of our members and lift our appreciation to them.

At the end of 2022, the chamber instituted its “Business of the Month” program to thank a business for their dedication and service to the chamber and the community.

Each month a chamber member is selected as “Business of the Month” and the recipient of this award receives sandwich board signage to place at their business to display the recognition, a double-sided vinyl banner to hang in their business, a window decal and a lighted award they can keep for their own display. Additionally, they are featured in the chamber’s social media and highlighted in the chamber’s email newsletters. It’s a fun

and distinguishing way to shout out to their customers and community on how special they are.

We have recognized five chamber members since the “Business of the Month” program started late last year. Congratulations are in order for these five recipients: Pinot’s Palette in November; IVY Academy of Early Learning in December; Midwest Compost, LLC in January; Smitty’s on the Corner Deli in February and McNally’s Heating and Cooling in March.

Congratulations to our first class of “Business of the Month” awardees. We look forward to surprising and honoring more Chamber members each month throughout the year.

Justice For Injury Victims

BENJAMIN VARGAS Members Relations Manager

NIKKI NELSON Administrative Assistant

St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce  NEWSLETTER

Welcome NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

SEPTEMBER

Summers Commercial Real Estate

The Competitors Edge

3Day Blinds

Two Brothers Coatings

Second Act Scene 2

KimberleeB Photography

Copper Fox

The Tiny Kitchen

OCTOBER

Drew Pertl Photography

Fidelity National Title

NOVEMBER

Chrones Counseling, PLLC

B.Riley Securities

Boutique Baby

DECEMBER

The Ivy Academy (Elgin)

Debbie’s Dog Care

Hunt House LLC

Flower of Life Yoga and Wellness Center

Beacon Insurance Agency

The Grounds Guys of Elgin and St. Charles

Town Eye Care

Havenshine Technologies Inc.

Fox Valley Bathtub

Refinishing

JANUARY

Emerald Acres

State Farm- Chris Wyman

Goodman Psychologist Associates

N2 Workspaces

Thrivent Financial

HITS, LLC dba Lamplight

Equestrian Center

Soapy Suds Services

Chicago Realty Company

Platinum Decking

Illinois Pain and Spine Institute

FEBRUARY

FIT4MOM Greater Northwest Chicago Suburbs

Current Technologies

Harling HR Solutions Inc.

G&A Partners

St. Charles Closets

Horizon Line Landscaping

Mended Chiropractic LLC

New York Life

Take Everything Digital Relief Mental Health

Heartland

Chicago Race Management

SYNERGY HomeCare

Pho Ly

River Crossing of St Charles

All American Flag Company

Smiles 4 U

Plum Tree Psychology

#5 Peach, Please! - Our sandwich with a sweeter side. Prosciutto, Nancy’s triple crème brie, peach chamomile preserves, apple slices, and fig balsamic glaze.

#2 The Benny: A nod to our Italian lineage; Prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, pomodorini tomatoes, and fig balsamic glaze.

November 10, 2022

November 9, 2022

December 16, 2022

February 2, 2023

November 2, 2022 TEK PAK

launches new

FOR PROFIT COMMITTEE

The St. Charles Area Chamber recently unveiled a Not for Profit (NFP) Committee to create a platform for NFP leaders to share their experiences, knowledge and resources. In addition, it serves as a strategic outlet for NFP leaders in the Fox Valley area to collaborate with each other regarding the challenges and opportunities facing the NFP community.

On January 17th, the first meeting was held at the Chamber office to an initial group of 18 NFP leaders. The group is eager, enthusiastic, and hoping to watch the committee participation grow from fellow NFPs.

Leadership for the NFP Committee was chosen with Amy Hitchinson, CEO from Ivy Academy of Early Learning in Geneva and Elgin, as the committee chair and Lisa Foydel, Community Engagement Manager from Fox Valley United Way in Aurora, as

committee vice-chair.

An additional goal of the committee includes selecting education programs to meet the needs of the NFP sector for chamber offerings.

To familiarize the group with the mission and goals of each not-for-profit, NFP members will have the opportunity to speak about their organization at meetings.

The NFP Committee meetings are held in person or on ZOOM for the convenience of all members.

All Chamber not-for-profits are invited to join this dynamic group of community leaders, who are dedicated to the welfare of all St. Charles area communities.

Proudly serving the City of St. Charles, St. Charles Township, Village of Campton Hills & surrounding communities

1601 East Main Street, Suite D, St. Charles, IL 60174 (630) 584-8384 • Fax (630) 584-6065

www.stcharleschamber.com