Schaumburg Business Association marks 25-year rise since ambitious post-9/11 startup

Though its break from a more regional chamber of commerce didn’t foresee the post-9/11 economy, the Schaumburg Business Association has grown and thrived over the last 25 years.

A quarter century of success was celebrated and reflected on during the organization’s annual gala last Friday. A crowd of 420 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel toasted the association’s membership of more than 900 companies.

Of that number, 230 new businesses joined in the last year alone.

SBA President Andrea Biwer is the daughter of founding president Laurie Stone and served as the SBA’s director of events in the early years. She returned to become the association’s sixth president two years ago.

Biwer recalled the interest that was building in the new century for Schaumburg businesses to connect more locally than through the regional and relatively disparate Northwest Suburban Association of Commerce and Industry.

“At that time, Schaumburg was going through so much growth and rejuvenation,” Biwer said. “They felt they really needed some extra support for the businesses that were in Schaumburg.”

But the leaders of the Schaumburg-based NSACI (pronounced “Na-See”) didn’t make it easy for those businesses to break away. They owned the rights to the name Schaumburg Chamber of Commerce and wouldn’t give them up.

The recruitment of Stone ― well known as the president of the Greater O'Hare Association ― was seen as a coup for the fledgling organization. And she started by coming up with the alternate name Schaumburg Business Association, Biwer said.

Much of the energy behind those formative actions was provided by founding chairman Brian Burke, the president and CEO of Links Technology Solutions. The association’s business of the year award was eventually named for him and, after 25 years, was won by his company on Friday.

“It was a milestone year and Links Technology has never wavered in its support for the SBA,” Biwer said.

Meanwhile, the Laurie H. Stone Woman of the Year Award was won by Heather Larson, president and CEO of Meet Chicago Northwest, the area’s tourism and visitors bureau.

Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly attended the gala and presented the Mayor’s Award to Ala Carte Entertainment, the Schaumburg-based restaurant and hospitality company behind an eclectic mix of brands including Moretti’s, Finn McCool’s and Bella Napoli.

Dailly said he aims to choose a business that is well-established, very involved in the community and philanthropic. Ala Carte checked all the boxes.

As a Schaumburg resident and village board member before the creation of the SBA, Dailly recalled the changing conditions that led to NSACI’s 30-year reign as the area’s chief business organization before its break up.

“Back then, there weren’t as many businesses in the suburbs,” Dailly said. “There was a lot of open space.”

But the growth of the Schaumburg business community and its changing needs were felt even by municipal officials at the time, he added.

“The challenging part was getting people to understand that Schaumburg was going to be doing its own thing,” Dailly said. “It’s grown very well, and it’s a very vibrant organization. People love to be a part of it.”

“That’s why I believe chambers are so important ― more important than ever,” Biwer added. “People need that real connection.”

Other award winners Friday included Alicia Gabriel of Bear Construction as Leader of the Year; Dan Origer of DJ’s Auto Service Center as Volunteer of the Year; RobotLAB Chicago as New Member of the Year; and LMJ's Lost Souls-Alzheimer's Fund as Non-Profit of the Year.

epeterson@dailyherald.com