Each year,
chambers across Illinois celebrate Chamber of Commerce Week. This year,
celebrations of many kinds will be held September 10th through the 14th. One of the ways
the chamber is celebrating is "Dine With
the Director" where Executive Director, Luanne Triolo, dines at Chamber
member restaurants for Lunch AND Dinner. Receiving the
scheduled locations and times ahead of time, ambitious members plan ahead and meet her to celebrate Chamber Week, while making new business
associates.
DIARY OF A DINING DIRECTOR:
JIMMY JOHN'S -Kicking
off Chamber Week, we started with lunch at Jimmy John's on Army Trail
for some delicious sandwiches. Joining me were Chris Schmidt/Shaklee,
Lea Jackman/Western DuPage Special Rec. Assn., Nan Gudenkauf/CS Chamber,
Tom Lewandowski/Insty-Prints Roselle, Dan Nauert and Dan Barnard/Jimmy
John's.
CULVER'S - It's too hard to compete with ESPN's Monday Night
Football. But Chamber Director Mike Ashby/DuPage County Farm Bureau,
Steve and Amy Adams/Culvers were with me! You cannot beat their Frozen
Custard sundaes (especially with marshmallow, brownie bits, hot
fudge...)
TACO MAKER- Thank you, to all those who came out and ate at Taco Maker!
HOT SPOT HOT DOGS- We had a wonderful time AND meal at Hot Spot
Hot Dogs!! This was the dinner that never ended, as waves of chamber
members and families came. Thanks to Chris Sands and Nicole LaMantia/Hot
Spot for being so hospitable! Joining me: Kent Dixon/former Director,
Tony Calkins/New Liberty Mortgage and three Calkins sons, Michele Saxman/Rapid
Rentals, George and Rose King/George King & Associates, Diane
Moyers/Winfield Community Bank, Jen Zak/CS Chamber and the Zak family
and friends.
CHAMBER LUNCHEON - Fire Station - 81 chamber members came out at
THIS event! Catered by Sporty's Catering and held at Carol Stream Fire
Station #1, newly named Fire Chief Mike Kanzia and crew hosted us. We
had drawings for free lunches and mailing labels..and...chamber 'flying
discs' for everyone!
MANHATTAN'S - The food and beverages at Manhattan's were great. I was joined by Sherri Wheeler/Farmer's Insurance and Rob Rooney/RRR Engineering. Carol Davis/Manhattan's and Tenisha Davis/Manhattan's did a great job of making us feel welcomed. We are excited about our October 18th After Hours there.
WING STOP - Great
turnout at WingStop as we popped in on Deb Foley with nine chamber
members: Matt Stanio/National City, Nan Gudenkauf and Luanne Triolo/
Chamber, Mike Burnett/CH1 OMI, Marina Collazo/Marina Marketing, Adrienne
Foster/AMCORE, Tom Gosche/The Business Stragetist, John Gul/Fresh & Silk
Flowers, and Nancy Platania/Designer's Showcase Kitchens and Baths
VILLAGE TAVERN - Just after
a Board Meeting, we had a great turnout at the Tavern. Great chicken
fingers, VT!!! Who was there? Franco Coladipietro/State Rep Dist 45,
John Wheeler/Oakbrook Financial Solutions, Patrick Bartel/Bartel's Auto,
Dick O'Gorman/Foxfire, Jim Hodgdon, chamber president/HBC Group, Paul
Anderson, Charissa Streitmatter, Dan Talaga/American Cleaning &
Restoration, Luanne Triolo/Chamber, and John Fioti, Attorney.
ALBERTO'S - I'd like to
thank Peter Pell, GM of Holiday Inn who donated a free lunch certificate
to all who showed up at Alberto's on Friday. Mike Burnett/CH2 OMI joined
Nan and I for a delicioso buffet. Outstanding!
CODY'S - As Chamber Week comes to an end, so does "Dining With the Director" Thank you all who came out and supported these businesses!