Schaumburg Business Association celebrates 10 years
Representatives of more than 600 businesses Saturday celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Schaumburg Business Association, which was born in the aftermath of 9/11 and grew and thrived throughout a decade many consider the worst of times.
But founding chairman Brian Burke, president of Links Technology Solutions, is not one of them.
“To me, this is still America,” Burke said. “This is still the land of opportunity. If you’re willing to take a chance, you can still succeed. There is pent-up demand for goods and services.”
He doesn’t deny there’s negative energy in today’s economy but believes it’s everyone’s responsibility to not make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“Television today is killing the economy,” Burke said. “Everything that people hear is bad news. I think what happens when businesses see this negative news, they want to cut staff. But smart business people work harder than ever and give great service. If there’s any good part to a slow economy is that it helps businesses become a little more streamlined and productive.”
The association he helped start marked its anniversary with a Brazilian Carnivale-themed version of its annual Toast of Schaumburg event at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield.
Arriving guests were greeted by danger-loving fire performers in the parking lot, and later treated to the dance stylings of the Chicago Samba company.
The event always allows the Schaumburg business community to honor its guiding lights of the previous year, and this time there were twice the number of recipients.
The diverse restaurateurs of Ala Carte Entertainment were named Business of the Year for their long history of hosting various community and charitable events.
Dave Strahl, AT&T’s director of external affairs, was named Volunteer of the Year for his personal outreach in the community.
Gary Rabine, CEO of Rabine Group, accepted the brand new award of Entrepreneur of the Year for his building of a differentiated corporation that constantly pursues innovations among its asphalt, roofing and oil companies.
And the business association’s first Community Service Award went to Omron Industrial Automation. The Japanese company located in Schaumburg in the mid-’80s, and it is now its employees who determine the direction of its volunteerism with Habitat for Humanity, Clearbrook, Women In Need Growing Stronger, or WINGS, and providers of humanitarian relief all over the world.
Burke said it’s businesses like these — and Schaumburg’s ability to attract them — that gave the SBA such a strong first decade.
“It’s amazing!” he said. “It’s unbelievable! I think it’s a tribute to the community. I think it’s a tribute to the people. And I’m not surprised by it.”