Central principal earns Ph.D. at Loyola

Janice Rashid, principal of Central Elementary School in Des Plaines, earned a doctorate degree in administration and supervision from Loyola University in Chicago. A former reading specialist, parent teacher organization leader and referendum organizer, Rashid has served as Central's principal since 2006.

• The Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce presented Richard Sassan, Certified Public Accountant with B & E. Accounting, with its Business Leader of the Year award; David Esau of Dave's Specialty Foods with its Small Business of the Year award; and Ron Buch of Northwest Community Hospital with its Large Business of the Year award for going above and beyond the call of duty in supporting the chamber.

The Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce also welcomed the following new board members for 2008: Cliff Higley of U Keep Us in Stitches, as president; Leah Richter of Richterworks; Michael Davey of the Mount Prospect Child Care Center; and Stacia Skinner of Creative Training Solutions Inc.

• Maurice Douglas of Streamwood, an entrepreneurship and small business management major at Illinois State University, Normal, was a member of the winning team representing the proposed siding business, Total Vinyl Protection, during the annual Business Plan Competition held in December by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at Illinois State University. The winning team will advance to an international business plan competition at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., in the spring. Brittany Cederberg of Prospect Heights, a marketing major at Illinois State University, was a member of the second-place team, which represented the proposed coffee and beverage company, Maui Wowi.

• Arlington Heights resident Susan J. Groeneveld, the long-term executive director of Chicago-based CCIM Institute, retired in December. During her years with CCIM Institute, Groeneveld grew membership by 380 percent; grew revenues by 100 percent; grew student numbers by 190 percent; developed a successful leadership training program and ushered in technology resources that range from member online analysis tools to online education. She will retire to Arizona.