Elgin Area Chamber honors local business leaders

Elgin Area Chamber honors local leaders

ELGIN - The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated a year of connecting leaders and creating communities, as well as honoring Chamber business and nonprofit leaders, at its annual meeting and awards reception on March 31 at Elgin State Bank in Elgin. The event served as the Chamber's first in-person event in two years with 100 people in attendance.

In her opening remarks, Chamber president Carol Gieske reflected upon both the business community's and Chamber's path from the COVID-19 pandemic to the present. "Over the past year, we listened closely to the needs of our members and responded with innovative programs, data, and resources to make informed decisions," Gieske said. "Thanks to the perseverance, agility, and vision of our members, volunteers, and staff, we are full of anticipation for new opportunities to connect, engage, collaborate, and thrive."

Continuing its tradition of honoring local leaders, Gieske presented individual awards such as: Partnership Award to Michael Isaacson of the Kane County Health Department; Non-Profit Award to VNA Healthcare, accepted by VNA CEO Linnea Windel; Leadership Award for the Elgin Area Leadership Academy to retired Judge Wiley Edmondson; Leadership Award to Yaneth Medina, Elgin State Bank and Volunteer of the Year Award to Keith Rauschenberger, Rauschenberger Financial Advisors.