Roselle Chamber honors service and leadership

Posted October 20, 2025 4:29 pm

Submitted by Roselle Chamber of Commerce & Industry

The Roselle Chamber of Commerce and Industry continues its annual tradition of recognizing individuals for extraordinary leadership and service within the community.

They have recently announced this year’s deserving recipients.

The Business Person of the Year is Andres Basso of Lynfred Winery.

In 1997, after working for Viña Carmen and Viña Concha y Toro in Chile, and then again in 2004, after stints at wineries in Napa Valley, Columbia Valley and Northern Virginia, Fred Koehler hired Andres Basso to make both the best and broadest variety of wines not just in the Chicago area, but as Lynfriends might attest, in the United States.

Fred saw that Andres’ passion for delivering the highest quality wines extended beyond just winemaking, and that his skills would lend themselves to the successful leadership of Fred’s gem, Lynfred Winery. For the seven years preceding Fred’s passing, he and Andres worked in tandem. In the 14 years since Fred’s passing, Andres has ensured continued growth while diligently dedicating himself to carrying out Fred’s dream.

Andres and Lynfred have been big supporters of local organizations for a long time. Lynfred employees donate to a different area charity each month: Roselle Arts & Culture Foundation, Roselle Food Pantry, Roselle American Legion, DuPage Track Club, Roselle Police Foundation are a few examples of groups that have benefited from the combined generosity of Lynfred Tasting Room employees as well as Lynfred patrons.

For years Lynfred has contributed to chamber events, food pantry fundraisers, and other non-partisan fundraising events on-site or with donations of wine, gift baskets, “Tour & Tasting” certificates and “Bed & Breakfast” certificates. Andres and the entire Lynfred Team enjoy creating and cultivating a sense of community in each of the Tasting Rooms’ host-towns.

Over the past five years, Andres has given special focus to creating welcoming spaces on the Lynfred property to allow for enhanced tasting experiences, both indoors and outdoors, with the hope of continuing to attract and retain a broad base of visitors to Roselle year-round. In 2020, during the COVID shutdown, Lynfred offered a Pick-Up Your Wine bottle flight with a generous percentage of proceeds being donated to those neighboring businesses who had to close but are essential to keeping our beautiful downtown Roselle vibrant.

Andres and Lynfred hope to continue to contribute to the well-being of our charming village and to be a great supporter of other local businesses for years to come. Such continues Fred Koehler’s legacy.

Roselle Chamber has named Michael McGinn as the Service Award winner for his 25-plus years of volunteering for the chamber, serving on various boards, and assisting with community events. Courtesy of Roselle Chamber of Commerce

Michael McGinn is this year’s Service Award recipient.

A dedicated community volunteer, Michael McGinn has volunteered for the Roselle Chamber of Commerce & Industry for over 25 years. His commitment to the chamber has been one of his top priorities. Always available to help, Mike has been an integral volunteer for the chamber working the Taste of Roselle.

Whether it was in the bingo tent, serving game-players table to table or in the beer tent serving taste-goers, Mike was there to quench your thirst. You’ll see him working the annual Rose Parade, lining up walking groups and floats. He attends chamber progressive luncheons, business after hours events, breakfasts and annual golf outings with an appreciation for the lessons learned from other chamber members. According to Mike, “It’s a great opportunity to network and share what works in a small business and sometimes, what doesn’t.”

Mike currently holds a Bloomingdale Township Trustee elected position and serves as a volunteer trustee for the 708 Mental Health Board, since its inception in 2017. He has served as trustee and president to the Roselle Fire Protection District and Medinah Homeowners Association. Professionally, Mike has been an integral part of the driving school industry. licensed to teach in 1978. He has been involved in the Professional driving School Association of Illinois, legislatively upgrading industry standards. In 1995, he passed the exam to be a certified driver rehabilitation specialist, teaching teens and adults with congenital and acquired conditions to drive or maintain driving privileges after a stroke or other debilitating injuries as well as volunteering as president for the Driver Educators for the Disabled, an international association.

He volunteered for over 30 years as director, secretary, and president of Safari Club International, Illinois and Chicago Chapter. The club raised funds for conservation and Hunter rights, introducing youth to archery, fishing and the shooting sports, funding disabled veteran, and handicap hunting opportunities. Mike volunteers as secretary for the Bass and Gill Club and committee chair for the Maywood Sportsman’s club. He has been involved in the Bloomingdale Township Republican Party for over 25 years, volunteering as a political committeeman, and assisting with the organization’s caucuses, golf outings and their participation in community parades as well as coordinating and delivering doughnuts to the election judges on election day.

Mike has a vast history of volunteering for many organizations, and he looks forward to serving the Roselle Chamber and the community for many years to come.

The Roselle Chamber invites you to pay tribute to Andres and Mike at the upcoming annual Holiday Party & Awards Banquet at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at the Bloomingdale Golf Club. For information, visit rosellechamber.com.