Hoffman Estates chamber leader aims to please

Today marks Hoffman Estates Chamber President Cheri Sisson's 12th day on the job.

She has entered uncharted territory, given the abrupt departure of Michael Hearn, who resigned last month after just a week on the job, citing health reasons.

"I'm here to stay," Sisson said.

Sisson, 55, says she's got a few tricks up her sleeve for what she wants to do with the chamber, though she's keeping her plans to herself as she gets used to her new job.

She's got a sales background and was working in Elmhurst at the Courtyard by Marriott as the hotel's director of sales.

Longtime friend Linda Scheck, the village's tourism and business retention coordinator, says Sisson's enthusiasm, curiosity and vision for local businesses make her ideal for the job.

Sisson, who first came to the village in 1995 to work at the Hampton Inn, says she got the job for a simpler reason.

"Because I love Hoffman Estates," she said.

Sisson says the way the village is laid out is ideal for development. She wants to continue the momentum established by retired President Jill Blodgett, who left after 17 years with the chamber. She wants to work with both large businesses, like those that might locate in the Prairie Stone Business Park, as well as smaller ones.

In March, Hoffman Estates left the Greater Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau because officials said they weren't getting enough of a return in tourism dollars. They then elected to create Scheck's new position to draw tourists to the village's hotels.

While Sisson said it's too early to say if this was the right move for the village, she does look forward to working with Scheck. The two worked together at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hoffman Estates. Scheck and Sisson were in direct competition while Scheck worked at the Hilton and Sisson worked across the street at the Hampton Inn. That's until Scheck and the Hilton lured her away.

"Cheri has this amazing ability," Scheck said. "She's totally curious. She was born curious."

Scheck said she wasn't sure if her more outgoing personality would mesh with Sisson at first. But, Scheck found out fast that wasn't the case, as Sisson has a more outgoing side to her.

"We call it her 'dark side,'" Scheck joked.

In her free time, Sisson is a war-film buff and has collected movies chronicling all the major conflicts from World War II to Somalia. She said watching those flicks reminds her of spending time with her father watching the old TV show "Combat" back at home in Iowa.

Sisson is a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, and does charity work.