New GLMV director talks priorities

Expanding membership and planning two upcoming trade shows are among the priorities of the GLMV Chamber of Commerce's new executive director.

Mundelein resident Alese Campbell took the reins of the group comprised of businesses in Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills this week. She replaced interim Executive Director David Ferguson.

“I'm just thrilled to be a part of the chamber and the remarkable staff here,” she said during a news conference Friday at the group's Libertyville office.

Campbell said her primary goal is to help the organization grow. She also wants to ensure members are “getting the value that they're looking for in their membership.”

Campbell has a long business history in Lake County. She owned two franchise convenience stores here and spent eight years leading the Small Business Development Center at the College of Lake County.

Most recently she worked as a client service manager at RSM McGladrey Inc., a Chicago auditing and accounting firm.

Campbell believes the economy is starting to recover from the recession and celebrated the opening of several new businesses in the area, including restaurants in Libertyville and Mundelein, during the news conference. She was also excited about the planned November opening of a Costco warehouse store in Mettawa.

The chamber already is planning business-to-business and business-to-consumer trade shows for 2011, she said.

“We're all looking forward to moving forward,” Campbell said.

The organization's next monthly business luncheon is scheduled for Nov. 16 at the Forge Club in Vernon Hills. The topic of discussion will be taxes.