Business owner celebrates 25 years of success in West Chicago
It was 1988 when Jerry Marchese, the CEO of a company then called Tie-Net International, contacted his friend and commercial developer Tom Marziani looking for more manufacturing space for his business. Tom and his wife, Pearl, not only suggested West Chicago, but immediately went into action and provided about 7,500 square feet of space in one of their buildings located on Wegner Drive and Washington Street.
Tie-Net manufactured various netting products used in the food, meat, poultry and nursery industries. West Chicago provided not only a huge workforce pool, but also easy access for trucks coming and going. It wasn’t too long after moving into the building from Elmhurst that even more space was required. The 7,500 square feet became 15,000 square feet, and the Marzianis had to build an additional 20,000 square feet to accommodate the growing business that found prosperity in West Chicago.
In 1994, became TNI Packaging Inc. TNI Packaging produces the red and green netting used all over the nation for baling Christmas trees.
The company now has its factory located on Charles Court and is determined to continue its business in West Chicago. Additional products include packaging items for the meat and poultry industry. Consumers who purchase rotisserie chickens from any nearby supermarket may be familiar with the covered elastic loop around the bird. TNI produces nearly 100 million of these loops in West Chicago each year.
“I had a good feeling that West Chicago was the place for my business,” Marchese said, “so I moved my home from Oak Brook to nearby Wayne to be closer to the factory. My daughter Jane shares some space, no actually a lot of space, in my building on Charles Court and operates Windy City Lights, a seasonal business providing commercial Christmas tree lights to landscapers like Kramer Tree Specialists in West Chicago, as well as the many municipalities here in the Midwest, including right here in the city of West Chicago.”
Marchese recognized city leadership as another factor in the success of his business.
“I am proud to be a member of the West Chicago business community these past 25 years, and I attribute much of our success to the efficient form of government provided by past Mayor Mike Fortner, the late Mayor Mike Kwasman, who was a good friend, and our new mayor and also good friend, Ruben Pineda,” Marchese said. “After 25 years of observing the dedication of the city to the continuing prosperity of its business community and its efficiency as an organization, I would highly recommend any business or venture to consider West Chicago for their place of business.”
To learn about TNI Packaging, visit tnipackaging.com. For information about Windy City Lights, visit windycitylights.com.