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Proudly serving the City of St. Charles, St. Charles Township, Village of Campton Hills and surrounding communities.

TEEING UP FOR 2025

50th Annual Golf Outing has openings for golfers and sponsorships

Mark your calendars today for the St. Charles Area Chamber’s 50th Annual Golf Outing. Bring your friends and colleagues to tee it up together on Friday, August 8 at Prairie Landing Golf Club in West Chicago.

“We look forward to having a lot of fun and a few surprises during our golf classic’s 50th anniversary this year,” says Becky Greenlee, executive director, St. Charles Area Chamber. “We are proud to announce that Andy’s Frozen Custard will be our Dessert Sponsor, providing the custard for our dessert bar. There are even

more opportunities for golf sponsors.”

Does your business work in the plumbing industry? Have we got a special sponsor opportunity for you! We are throwing in a new sponsorship opportunity this year –The Toilet Bowl Hole! The details are fun including that our sponsor will provide a “new” toilet bowl with their advertising on it as the tee off point for our golfers.

Area businesses are encouraged to chip-in as sponsors in a number of other categories: Beverage Cart; Golf Cart; Bar;

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Photo Credit TWA Photography

Photo Credit — Matt Warren Photography

St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce

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Golf Ball; Breakfast; Mimosa & Bloody Mary Bar; Lunch Box; Score Card; Party Hole; Premiere Hole; Swag Bag: and Hole in 1 Sponsor.

These variety of sponsorships give your business major visibility to over 100 golfers, 600 members and thousands of visitors to our website. We’d love to include your business on this special list of supporters.

Early Bird cost for the outing is $200 per individual golfer or $750 for a foursome, which includes practice range, breakfast, 18 holes with golf cart, and a box lunch. Early Bird pricing ends July 1, when cost rises to $225 per individual and $800 for a foursome. Following a day of golf, participants will enjoy a casual reception on the patio to enjoy delicious heavy appetizers and a cashbar-cocktail hour.

Our annual tradition of giving back at the golf outing continues, as the Chamber’s Industrial Committee highlights its special fundraising effort.

Members of the committee will be stationed on the putting green to gladly accept donations which fund scholarships for students at Compass Academy and St. Charles Community Unit School District 303. These scholarships are awarded in the name of the late Peter Schwartz, who served as chair of the Industrial Committee and unexpectedly passed several years ago. It’s a special lasting tribute to Peter and a win-win for the entire community.

Find out more! If you have any questions about how you can get involved with our 50th Anniversary Golf Classic or to become a valued sponsor, please contact the Chamber office staff today at 630-584-8384.

SAVE THE DATE – AUGUST 8

For registration and sponsorship information, call the St. Charles Area Chamber at 630-584-8384 or visit stcharleschamber.com.

WHY BE A MEMBER?

At the St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce, we:

• are invested in our member’s

•

• are connections-focused

• offer a breadth and depth of

The Chamber Provides:

• Business Support Services

• Educational Programming

• Networking & Relationship Building

There are a few key factors one should consider in determining whether or not a membership in the St. Charles Area Chamber of

Commerce is right for you?

• Is your goal as a company to grow your business and/or engage with the community?

• Are you looking for quality connections that will lead to personal and professional growth as well as business opportunity?

• Will you be able to commit some of your time to engage and participate in one or more of our quality programs, environments and experiences?

If the answers to these questions are YES, we would love to partner with you on your journey. We look forward to connecting with you soon.

GET TO KNOW GREG MUCHA

Q&A with a new Chamber board member

1. Tell us about Anderson Humane. Anderson Humane is a 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization that has been operating the in the Fox Valley area since 1966. Each year, we find homes for over 3,800 domestic animals and handle (rescue, rehabilitate and release) 3,000 wild animals. We also offer crisis fostering, volunteer opportunities, limited low-cost clinic services, a pet food pantry, provide Healing Paws therapy dog visits, and support veterans through special adoption programs.

2. What is your background? I have spent most of my career in sales,

marketing and business development. I have worked for technology firms, software companies and manufacturers. Some of the companies I worked for include Vtech, Midway Amusement Games, Warner Bros. and RR Donnelley. I have gained a great deal knowledge and experience working with some of the greatest professionals and these organizations and am grateful for the opportunities I have been given.

3. What do you hope to accomplish during your term on the Chamber board?

I hope to be able to bring new ideas and create solid relationships with the members

of the Chamber at all levels. Share my experience with the non-profit members that might help them advance their missions through partnerships and sourcing funding in new ways.

4. Are you involved in other professional/ community organizations? Non-profits? I am an active member of many area Chambers of Commerce and try to

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St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce

volunteer as much as possible. Recently I have participated in a webinar with Double the Donation, an organization that helps nonprofits source matching donations. It provided me with an opportunity to share my experience building corporate partnerships with hundreds of smaller organizations seeking additional support.

5. What and/or who inspires you?

I am always observing the behavior of leaders both in the community and beyond, but also anyone I encounter in my daily life. You don’t have to be someone special to inspire others, but by simply being kind, respectful and caring, you’re an inspiration to others. Things are pretty crazy today and we all need to treat each other a little better and be a little more understanding and

patient. I know it’s not easy, but it goes a long way when we are.

6. When you aren’t working or volunteering – what do you like to do?

Crazy as this sounds, yard work or projects around the house, oh and golf! I’m a bit of a tinkerer. As a kid, I used to take things apart and put them back together to understand how things worked. Today, I overanalyze and question everything – which can be really annoying, just ask my kids!

7. What’s your favorite thing to do in St. Charles?

Frankly, there are a lot of things to do! Dining out, having a drink with friends, biking the river trails, taking walks with my dogs are just a few of them.

8. If you could choose just one favorite sports team, what would it be and why?

Sorry, this is going to sound pathetic, but it’s the White Sox. I grew up in Burbank, IL and my dad and uncle were huge fans. My uncle went to one of the 1959 World Series games and somehow I ended up with his ticket stub! So, in 2005, I flew my dad in from Phoenix so he could go to a World Series White Sox game since he couldn’t go in 1959. We had the best time and that’s a memory I’ll have forever.

9. Tell us something that would surprise us!

I only have 3 pets; 2 dogs and 1 cat ... oh, and am still married after 33 years!

GET TO KNOW ANDREW LOPEZ

1. Tell us about DHJJ Certified Public Accountants and Business Advisors.

DHJJ is a regional accounting firm based in Naperville and St. Charles. We’ve proudly served the community since 1974 and celebrated our 50th anniversary just last year.

2. What is your position with DHJJ? What do you love most about it?

I’m a Senior Manager of Business Valuation at DHJJ. I specialize in business valuations, transaction advisory for mergers and acquisitions, and exit planning consulting. What I love most about

my role is the opportunity to work closely with business owners, gaining insight into their companies and understanding the key drivers behind their success.

3. What is your background?

I live in St. Charles, IL with my wife, daughter, mother-in-law, and our two golden doodles. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from the University of Illinois. I’m a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV).

St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce

4. What do you hope to accomplish during your term on the Chamber board?

I hope to serve the community by helping drive economic growth and ensuring local businesses have the resources and support they need to thrive.

5. Are you involved in other professional/community organizations? Non-profits?

I’m a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the CFA Institute, the Illinois CPA Society, and the Fox Valley Estate Planning Council.

6. What and/or who inspires you?

Supporting the professional development of others and watching them grow into confident, capable

leaders is what inspires me most.

7. When you aren’t working or volunteering – what do you like to do?

I enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking and playing with my two dogs, bike rides to Riverland Brewery, exercising, and watching the Bears.

8. What’s your favorite thing to do in St. Charles?

As I mentioned, I love to ride my bike to Riverland Brewery. Besides that, I love going out to eat at all of the amazing restaurants!

9. If you could choose just one favorite sports team, what would it be and why?

My favorite sports team is the Chicago

Bears – Bear Down! I’m not entirely sure why, since they haven’t won a Super Bowl in my lifetime, but I guess loyalty runs deep.

10. Tell us something that would surprise us!

I really enjoy history and have been reading biographies of U.S. presidents. My two most recent reads were on Ulysses S. Grant and Harry Truman. I’ve found it fascinating to learn about our nation’s history through the lens of its most influential leaders.

See page 7 for a full list of St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce board members and staff!

St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

JOSHUA FEAGANS Chair Feagans Law Group

NICK BROOKS Treasurer DHJJ, Certified Public Accountants and Business Advisors

PRICE Vice Chair

RACHEL SCHUCK Recorder Edward Jones

CHAMBER STAFF

GREENLEE Executive Director NIKKI NELSON Member Relations

MASSEY Marketing & Events

DIRECTORS

FLOOD Proactive Human Resources, LLC

MURPHY Midwest Compost, LLC

LOPEZ DHJJ At XCEEDING THE MARK, we help ambitious tech leaders bridge the gap from promotion-ready to promotion-selected.

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We make you the obvious choice. Visit our website here: XceedingTheMark.com Email: [email protected] • Phone: (240) 675-6776

Elgin Community College

Non-voting member

BECKY

SHERI

ADAM HOGAN

CONNOR

GREG MUCHA

CHARLES

ASHLEY ZEMAN

DEREK CONLEY City of St. Charles

CHERYL

A GROOVY SOIRÉE

2025 CHARLEMAGNE GALA CELEBRATION

PHOTOS BY SANDY BRESSNER

The 57th Annual Charlemagne Awards Dinner took place Friday, May 2, at the Royal Fox Country Club. This annual event is a time to celebrate business leaders and the many accomplishments that occurred in 2024 as well as some of the milestones chamber members have had over the past year. During the event, we had the privilege of bestowing the Charlemagne Award to a member of our community for their lifetime commitment to the St. Charles community and their contribution to bringing the vision of Charlemagne to life, while weaving it into the very fabric of our community and its culture. The Charlemagne event it is the largest civic gathering of its kind in the community. The evening’s awards and recognition included milestone anniversaries of members in the chamber, as well as the special honors listed on page 9.

WINNERS

CHARLEMAGNE

AWARD WINNER

n CHARLIE MURPHY

CHARLEMAGNE NOMINEES

n BOB KARAS

n BRIAN MCNALLY

L.E.A.P. AWARD

n DAPHNE VELEZ

CIVIC IMAGE AWARD

n ALBERT “BO” SMITH

n KENDALL’S KINDNESS

Congratulations to our Businesses of the Month for March-May!

DAPHNE VELEZ, FIRST AMERICAN BANK n March Business of the Month

DON MAY, PROTILLO’S CATERING – BATAVIA n May Business of the Month

JOSH VISH, VISH SOLUTIONS n April Business of the Month

St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce

RIBBON CUTTINGS

St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes and congratulates these members in our community!

RIBBON CUTTINGS

St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes and congratulates these members in our community!

SMILE

MISFITS

THE VICTORIAN FOX

St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce

Welcome NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

n Bliss Dental

n Blush on LaFox

n By Your Side

n Erik Doersching

n Floral Wonders

n Harvest In-Home Care

n Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning of Northern Illinois

n Monarch Veterinary Clinic

n Raise YOUR Lid Consulting LLC

Makethe Most of

n Siainc LLC

n Smallcakes A Cupcakery of St. Charles

n The Diamondaire

n The Modern Domestic Woman

n The Suite Spot

n Titan Plumbing and Drain Services, Inc

n Well Thinking

n West Gate Family Dentistry

n Zenova Med Spa

Flooring (March)

Catering – Batavia (April) Primrose Farm / St. Charles Park District (May)

YOUR CHAMBER BENEFITS

Your Chamber membership includes tools to promote your business, recruit talent, and stay visible in the community. Here’s how to put those tools to work — and why it’s worth it.

HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR BENEFITS

Update Your Online Directory Listing

Add your latest business description, contact info, and keywords.

Post Job Openings

Promote current opportunities to a local, engaged audience.

Share Hot Deals & Member-to-Member Offers

Advertise discounts, coupons, or exclusive perks

Promote Your Events

Add to the online calendar so the community can RSVP, share, and set reminders.

Host a Business After Hours or Rise & Network

Connect in person and showcase your space.

Access Warehouse Direct Chamber Affinity Program