President's Message
LISA SHEMROSKE
ASHTON PLACE MARIES CATERING

Greetings to all Chamber members.

Entering the final year of my presidency, I am proud to be associated with a thriving and enterprising Chamber of Commerce. Representing one of the fi nest organizations in the Western suburbs has been a very special honor for me during the past three years. As a longstanding and active Chamber member, I am pleased with our accomplishments and recognize the importance of supporting and enhancing our local businesses.

In such a fast-paced commercial environment, it is vital and necessary to orchestrate changes to keep pace with trends in the marketplace. In the past year, we have improved our website and increased our use of Facebook and social media. We have continued our newsletter with an online presence to keep Chamber members and the public informed of organizational, community and village news.

Certainly, we are experiencing a challenging economy that dictates careful planning and re-structuring to forge a successful path.  ere are no easy solutions that will guide us to the next stages. Yet, it is important to remain optimistic and look for viable ways to direct our course. We must support our businesses and communities and establish a solid foundation from which we can grow and prosper. To this end, we encourage everyone to refer to our Chamber Directory regularly and patronize the businesses that will keep our communities vibrant and financially stable.

We point to many Chamber events and activities that promote support of our member businesses. Our annual Business Expo in March gives the public an opportunity to meet business owners and staff and become familiar with available products and services. The annual April celebration of Administrative Professionals Day acquaints guests with pampering and specialty services while they enjoy a delightful lunch. We showcase our Route 66 roots with the annual Cruisin' 66 Car Show and Festival in August. Our fall Golf Outing has become increasingly popular among our members who enjoy networking and socializing in a casual setting. After-Hours activities bring members together for friendly and lively conversations. Friendships form and business relationships develop for those who participate in a variety of Chamber-sponsored programs.

Our theme for the past three years has been Getting Back to Business. I believe we have made every eff ort to embrace solid support of the business sector. It is gratifying to recognize a spirit of friendship, cooperation, professionalism and involvement among our Chamber members that helps us to maintain our competitive edge. I look forward to the coming year as we work together to make great things happen to keep our businesses flourishing.

Help your business, join the Chamber!