Glenview Chamber of Commerce celebrates Small Business Week

A rainy morning didn't stop nearly 50 members and guests of the Glenview Chamber of Commerce from celebrating national Small Business Week during a ceremony held in the lobby of Midtown Square Apartments in downtown Glenview Tuesday.

Meaghan Kearney, the executive director of the chamber, said it was the first time the organization held such a ceremony for small business. In addition to Kearney, Chamber Board President Michael Moylan of Glenview Bank and Trust and Village President Mike Jenny spoke at the event.

"We haven't done this in the almost 100-year history of the chamber. "I'm super-excited to see this amazing turnout and all your smiling faces in person," Kearney said. "This is not a made-up 'Hallmark holiday,' this is actually a real thing. The chamber is working tirelessly to promote our businesses."

National Small Business Week has been celebrated in the U.S. since 1963.

When he first joined the chamber several years ago, the organization's "Business After Hours" events were a positive experience for Moylan. He regards members he has met at the events not only as business contacts, but friends as well.

"I saw genuine curiosity as to how members could help each other, not just in business, but life in general."

Jenny said he was thrilled to see so much support for Glenview's Small Business Week ceremony.

"We focus on what's right for small businesses in Glenview," Jenny said. "It's the lifeblood of any community. It's certainly the lifeblood of ours."

Nationally, 32 million small businesses account for half of the workforce, Jenny said.

"There isn't a more passionate, more energetic, more dedicated group of people than small-business owners," Jenny said.