A new chief for chamber

A longtime resource for small business has a new chief.

Mark Foley, a former executive with Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, was officially introduced on Dec. 3 as the executive director of the Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills Chamber of Commerce.

The installation of the 47-year-old Wilmette resident fills a vacancy created June 1 when B. Dwight Houchins, then president and CEO, resigned suddenly after nine years in the post.

Foley, who was chosen from among a dozen or more candidates to lead the 750-member group, was like "cream rising to the top," according to Ken Suskin, chairman of the board of directors.

Executives from other chambers were considered, but the board decided to go in a different direction, he added.

"We decided, 'Let's get people with executive experience,' " Suskin said.

Foley most recently had served for 10 years as the director of development and auxiliary services at Condell. Prior to that, he was corporate development officer at Chicago Council on Foreign Relations and director of development for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association.

"I didn't have to start from scratch," Foley said of his local connections. "I know who's who."

Though he's joining the self-described largest and most active chamber, Foley says his immediate challenge will be to increase membership. His first order of business will be to get a lay of the land and determine how many businesses aren't members, to establish a potential pool of recruits.

"There's more power in numbers," he said. "Have they been asked? If they haven't been asked, that's my job."

Chamber dues are based on the size of a company, ranging from $260, for up to five employees, to as much as $1,500. Most members have less than 10 employees, with a lot of home-based businesses looking for networking opportunities.

The chambers offers several activities and services, including networking groups, mixers, seminars, workshops, fairs and expos, expert advice and marketing and promotional opportunities.

Foley said he would investigate whether new programs would be beneficial.

The chamber, for example, will be introducing a Lake County Young Professionals Group in partnership with the College of Lake County.

"They have different issues," said Carol Levin, the chamber's public relations director.

"We've never really offered anything for this group that sometimes have gotten lost in the shuffle before."