Buffalo Grove chamber honors its business leaders

Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce members installed new officers at their annual luncheon Tuesday, and many of the names were familiar.

President Eric Smith, of Smith Back & Neck Pain Center, is returning for his third year as leader of the group, and most of the officers signed on for another term.

"That's part of what makes our chamber so effective is that we have so many dedicated and consistent board members, who get a lot of things done," he said.

More than 100 members gathered at the Aboretum Club in Buffalo Grove for the installation and awards ceremony. In all, the Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce serves nearly 400 members, who represent businesses primarily located in Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Wheeling and Highland Park.

In his brief remarks, Smith credited the chamber's steady growth in members to its networking opportunities, and new initiatives designed to meet members' needs.

Both the "Lunch & Learn" and new home-based business networking group have drawn steady supporters, Smith said, and he hopes to expand them this year to draw even more members.

Sara Ciolli of Coldwell Banker, returning for her third term as executive vice president, concurred that regular chamber events, combined with partnerships with the village -- including volunteering at Buffalo Grove Days -- helped build a healthy organization.

"We're growing, and we're very active," Ciolli said. "We're all about helping people promote good business."

Other officers sworn in Tuesday include Scott Fishkin as vice president; attorney Marc Blumenthal as secretary; accountant David Weiner as treasurer; Richard Drazner as past president; and Jan Obrand and Larry Wankovsky as directors at large.

Special awards went to Marie Lapidus, of Chocolate Marvels, named Member of the Year, as well as Pioneer Press, named Business of the Year. Arnie Martin, whose company provided entertainment, won Director of the Year, while Dan Dame of Chicago North Financial Group was named Ambassador of the Year.

Members honored for milestone anniversaries included Wheeling Township, whose officials celebrated the longest benchmark, with 30 years as a member. The chamber is in its 36th year.