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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

111th Annual Meeting: Building on our Legacy of Leadership

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce has a rich 111-year history, a legacy that includes organizing the Chicago Crime Commission, the organization that played a critical role in the capture of Al Capone in 1931, advocating for creation of the Regional Transportation Authority during the 1970s, and creating the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center in 2000, which now runs the highly successful digital incubator 1871.

Last week, many of the region’s top business, civic and government leaders came together to celebrate that legacy during our Annual Meeting at Navy Pier. If you were there, you know it was a vibrant, action-packed morning; if you weren’t, here are the highlights:

Launch of our new brand, logo and mission statement. Watch the brand launch video here.

Presentation of the 2015 James Tyree Emerging Business Leadership Award to Neil Byers, Owner of Horse Thief Hollow, a restaurant and brewery in the Beverly neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. Read the press release, see the video, and read this DNA Info Chicago story about the award.

A keynote address from Joe Hinrichs, President of the Americas for Ford, emphasizing Ford’s commitment to investing jobs and resources in Chicago.

A live broadcast of the WGN Radio Steve Cochran Show from Navy Pier for the duration of the event. With interviews of Joe Hinrichs, the Chamber’s SBDC Manager Florence Hardy and SBDC client Camille Keonjian, Owner of Girl Gets Date, and yours truly, you can listen to the full podcast of the broadcast here.

Remarks from Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti highlighting the importance of economic and talent development.

Engagement from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, Aldermen, civic leaders, business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Click here to view the photo montage from the Annual Meeting.

We are thrilled with the excellent turnout and continued support from our members. We have plenty of exciting events coming up this summer, so make sure to scroll through the rest of the newsletter and register for as many as possible. We look forward to continuing to engage with you to help make Chicago the best place to live and work in the country.

Sincerely,

Theresa E. Mintle
President & CEO
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

2015 Member Survey Results Paint Positive Picture

On June 9th at our 111th Annual Meeting, we released the results of our second annual Member Survey, revealing that 66 percent of the member respondents reported optimism about the region’s economy.

Additional findings point to a positive trend, as 75 percent of respondents reported that they plan to add employees this year, up from 60 percent a year ago. Of the 48 percent that reported they are currently conducting international business, 57 percent said they export goods and/or services.

“Despite the challenges presented by the lingering effects of the recession, the results of the survey are not only encouraging, they will help us tremendously with developing programs and initiatives that truly address the needs of our members,” said Theresa E. Mintle, President & CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. “This data gives us a much better idea about how our members feel about the region’s economy, what they need to be successful, and areas they want the Chamber to be more involved.”

Click here to view the full survey results infographic.

Chamber Foundation Launches STEM Internship Program

This summer, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation will pilot a STEM Internship Program connecting high school students with local small businesses, providing real-life work experience to students and IT, web and social media assistance to businesses that likely could not afford it otherwise.

This pilot program will benefit 14 clients of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. These businesses lack the budget, staff or space to host a summer intern, but need help with their websites, social media strategies and online marketing programs.

“A small business owner wears a lot of hats,” said Ann Kisting, executive director of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “He or she doesn’t have a dedicated HR person who can figure out the intern’s job description, recruit the right candidate and then oversee the intern’s work.”