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Chamber WELCOME

reetings and welcome to the seventh annual visitors to the Gurnee community who visit our Village of Gurnee Chamber of Commerce major attractions every year. Community Guide. This guide is brought to you The past year was challenging and rewarding by The Village of Gurnee Chamber of Commerce at the same time. As in years past, the Chamber in conjunction with Town Square Publications, held two community-wide meetings with the a division of Daily Herald Media Group. A great mayor. These interactions with the mayor and deal of time and effort goes into this guide and other Gurnee city officials always draw large I want to especially thank Town Square, the crowds. A different spin this past year was our Village of Gurnee and local businesses and orgaspring mayor’s meeting held as an evening event nizations that help pull all the content together. at Bittersweet Golf Course. It was followed Most importantly, it could not be done without with a fall lunch meeting at Key Lime Cove. It’s the efforts of the Village of Gurnee Chamber of always great to get updates on what is going on Commerce’s executive director and board memin the village and meet with the folks who make bers. We are certain that you will find this year’s the village work. The Chamber’s annual meeting Community Guide to be our best effort yet. was held and hosted by the Chocolate SanctuIn memory of We encourage longtime residents and visitors ary. Many sincere thanks to Bill and Donna for CRAIG HATHAWAY alike to browse the guide to get updates on the putting it all together for us. This was a difficult village and its local businesses. In it you will find featured articles event in that former Mayor Dick Welton had suddenly passed away and advertisements from your local businesses. Use this guide as last year. Gurnee, as it is today, exists as the vision he had for the a handy reference to village and township services, schools and village. During the annual event, the Chamber held a silent auction volunteer groups and organizations in and around Gurnee. Most with the proceeds going to the benefit of The Richard Welton importantly, pay special attention to the chamber members and Plaza. The plaza is being placed at the site of the old village hall and advertisers that make Gurnee the great community that it is. Once police station. Dick was truly a supporter of all business in Gurnee you go through the guide, I am sure you will agree with me that and will be greatly missed both as a visionary leader and a friend. Gurnee is a great place to live and do business. On a final note, long-time Chamber Executive Director Craig With this issue, you will notice the new updated Chamber Hathaway stepped down for medical reasons. Born on July 29, logo with a more contemporary look. The village is also present1959 he succumbed to lung cancer on February 6, 2016. Craig ing its new logo. The Chamber would like to thank the Village was a volunteer in the community and a professional photograof Gurnee for working with us to present a unified look. In this pher. He is survived by his two sons, Jeffery and Ryan, and two year’s edition we have made the Economic Development section a daughters, Sara and Emily. Craig is also survived by his sister, regular feature. Check out what Ellen Dean, the Village of Gurnee Emily Cline, and the loving mother of his children, Sharon Economic Development Director, has been up to in working to Hathaway. Craig’s wish was for no formal services. He wished keep Gurnee the Village of Opportunity. This year we have also that everyone would shop local, a belief that Craig held close to added a recap of industrial parks and space available in Gurnee. his heart. I only got to know Craig when I came onto the board Although not as noticeable as the retail and entertainment areas six years, ago and worked with him closely when I assumed the in the village, the industrial parks in Gurnee host a wide variety position of chairman. I can tell you he was passionate about the of businesses providing a nice mix of employment opportunities local community and the Chamber. He will in the village. surely be missed. In addition to the new logo, the Chamber has also introduced a new website that is more user friendly and will provide all our Sincerely, chamber members additional exposure. In addition to this print copy, the Community Guide will be available digitally for the whole year on the Chamber website. We are certain this new site Dan “Kay” Kloczkowski will provide endless opportunities to get exposure from the many Chairman of the Board

Dan Kloczkowski

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Village of GURNEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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5/4/2016 12:29:07 PM