Wednesday Elliot Richardson and I taught a ½ day seminar on Advocacy for approximately 15-20 Chamber leaders from throughout the state. The event was organized and sponsored by IACCE. Mike Murphy hosted the meeting at the offices of the Greater Springfield Chamber and provided a unique perspective as a former legislator. We were invited by theContinue reading
Through unanimous consent, governments at all levels have solved all issues with potential impacts on your business in a perfect and non-controversial way… APRIL FOOLS! As is more typical, we head into spring with significant challenges at all levels of government. On the bright side, April brings a fantastic opportunity to advocate for the business community in Illinois. On April 16, 2026, theContinue reading
Ten years ago, the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce’s (NACC) Young Professional Network (YPN) launched the Four Under 40 Awards to highlight young professionals who are changing the way our community works, leads, and grows. This year, as we celebrate the ten-year anniversary of these awards, we are marking that milestone with a special classContinue reading
If you are looking for a meaningful way to introduce your business, celebrate a milestone, and connect with the community, a Ribbon Cutting with the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is a great place to start. Ribbon Cuttings give Members the opportunity to welcome fellow Chamber Members, local leaders, community members, and NACC Ambassadors to their business while creating visibility aroundContinue reading
In business, pressure is constant. Revenue goals. Hiring decisions. Policy shifts. Client expectations. Unyielding deadlines. Most leaders I talk to aren’t asking for less responsibility; they are asking how to carry it well. Few people understand pressure like Olympians. The Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina just ended, and one storyline stayed with me. During theContinue reading
Primary Election A quick reminder that the Primary Election is coming up on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Early voting has already begun, or you can vote in person on Election Day. Local Issues The Naperville City Council is expected to soon take up a discussion of proposed “stretch codes” at the urging of some ofContinue reading
As we near the end of the first quarter of 2026, many businesses are refining goals, reassessing challenges, and identifying the priorities that will shape the year ahead. For the Chamber and the communities, we serve, those priorities often intersect with public policy decisions made at the local, state, and federal levels. That’s where advocacy matters. The Naperville Area Chamber ofContinue reading
Local The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce has been watching two local issues with great interest. The Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) is a not-for-profit organization of 32 municipal electric systems throughout the state to which Naperville belongs. To better plan future demand and to incorporate more alternative energy into their portfolio, the IMEA is asking member cities toContinue reading
As we continue to enhance and refine the benefits offered to our Members, we value your feedback and insights. Your input helps guide how we invest our resources and develop meaningful support for our business community. This brief survey is designed to help us understand which benefits you currently use, identify any gaps in resources, and better align our offerings with yourContinue reading
One of my favorite events we host at the Chamber is Lunch with a Leader. It’s intentionally small, conversational, and real. You get a behind-the-scenes look at someone’s journey, not just their title or résumé, but the person behind the business. The series actually grew out of the COVID era, when we could only have about 15Continue reading
