Contributed by: Charles Hutchinson, Esq., President, Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce
A wonderfully unique aspect of the Wilmette and Kenilworth business communities is that by and large, they are comprised of small and independent businesses. The Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce is the place where these business owners can go to find resources for their business as well as promotion and networking opportunities.
The Chamber of Commerce is run by member business owners who volunteer their time and talents to a 13-member body Board of Directors. Executive Director, Jennifer Herren Gatesman works with the Board to set the tone and direction of the Chamber, together the Executive Director and Board members plan and help staff events, act as community/business liaisons, and promote business in the two Villages. Because board members rotate and have term limits, the Executive Director is a key position which brings stability and consistency to the Chamber.
The Board is a diverse mix of business owners bringing different business perspectives and ideas to the discussion. We want to have an array of input from representative businesses in our communities allowing us to better serve the needs of our businesses with different events which can support multiple business ventures. For example, the Chamber sidewalk sale is always a large draw and supports many of our downtown retail merchants. Another event, The Taste of Wilmette/Kenilworth helps to promote the amazing restaurants. The Wellness event puts local home care, physician/medical, and healthy living (gyms, spas, etc.) front and center with the community. Events like these, along with our regular networking events help to maintain a strong Chamber business network.
As Illinois returns to “normal”, the Chamber is bringing back many in-person events we have been missing over the past three years including our annual can’t miss golf outing at the Wilmette Golf Club, Wine Walk, Sip-n-Shop, and After-hours business events. Look for some new events coming to Wilmette as well, like an Art show and the Summer Bash!
The Chamber is an independent non-profit organization with a mission of promoting local businesses. While the Chamber is not a part of the governmental structure, it is very fortunate to enjoy a strong relationship with the government bodies in our community, including the Village Boards, the Park Districts, and the Wilmette Library which serves both Wilmette and Kenilworth residents. We are very blessed to have the best Business Library on the North Shore in the Wilmette Library, a place many Chamber members and non-Chamber members can go to read, learn, educate themselves, and find important statistical demographic information to help them identify potential markets. Many local businesses are unaware, but can find out through the Chamber, that any business based in Wilmette or Kenilworth, even if the owner lives in a different community, can get a business library card and take advantage of all that the Wilmette Public Library has to offer, including reference books, SCORE mentoring, and the wide array of business/investment databases.
Living in a community with a strong Chamber of Commerce is a true blessing. Wilmette/Kenilworth has the highest membership as a percentage of businesses in the community than any other Chamber in the area. Our member businesses are more engaged and more active than those in other communities. While the membership numbers are a direct result of the Chamber having events, programs, and promotions which benefit businesses, it would be wrong to ignore a strong element of appreciation our businesses have for the community. A good number of the member businesses financially support our schools and youth sports teams. Many of our board members are involved in the community outside of their business, volunteering with a variety of boards and charity groups Chamber President Charles Hutchinson serves as the Chairman of the Wilmette Historic Preservation Commission and sits on the Board of the non-profit Wilmette Theatre.
It is not lost that our Chamber business community is strong because of the support the residents give to our local businesses. The response from our “Wilmetteonomics” and “Shop Local” promotions, spearheaded by the Chamber, continues to be nothing short of phenomenal. The Chamber will continue to work promoting our local businesses and grow our presence in the community. It is a labor of love that returns much more than is given.
The Chamber Board is:
Executive Board
President Charles Hutchinson with Law Offices of Charles E. Hutchinson, LLC
1st VP Kim Ogasawara with North Shore Community Bank
2nd VP Carrie Tarzon with @Properties
Treasurer Georgina Angel with Byline Bank
Secretary Laura Saleh with North Shore Associates in Gyne/OB, S.C.
Directors
John Adler/Lucas Siversten with Village of Wilmette
Andrew Beckmann with Heroines & Heroes
Julie Cohen with Hubba Hubba
Peter Hansen with Wilmette Living
Nancy Hopkins with The Key
Eric Hubbard with International Bank of Chicago
Anne Kelly with A.S.K. Marketing Group, Inc.
John Plunkett with John Plunkett Interiors, LLC
