After Hours

The French Road Solar Farm ribbon cutting took place June 2 in Burlington. It features more than 7,000 solar panels generating 2.8 megawatts of clean energy. It is capable of offsetting the energy needs of about 400 average homes and offers a number of benefits to the community, including economic investment, employment opportunities and revenue for the landowner. Cutting the ribbon for the opening of French Road Solar are, from left to right: Mary Kay Wlezen, Burlington Village President; Corinne Pierog, Kane County Board Chair; Philip Roy, ComEd Director of External Affairs; Mike Kenyon, landowner; Nicolas Escobar, ComEd External Affairs Manager; and Dan Clarke, Nexamp Senior Vice President of Marketing.

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening of Douglas Carpet One Floor & Home with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 3. After purchasing the former TGI Friday's at 490 N. Randall Road in Batavia, the family-owned business transformed the space into a beautiful new showroom. Batavia Mayor Jeffery Schielke presided over the celebration, along with Douglas Carpet One Floor & Home President Michael Douglas, Vice President Jim Douglas, Sales Manager Belinda Demski, and many employees and family members. Among the well-wishers were Batavia Chamber President and CEO Margaret Perreault; Shirley Mott, chamber communications and membership coordinator; Patti Anselme, chamber special events coordinator; Nick Cerone, Batavia alderman, as well as chamber ambassadors and friends.

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for Big Blue Swim School, 1265 South Naper Boulevard in Market Meadows Shopping Center in Naperville on June 2. Mayor Steve Chirico welcomed Rachel Roth and her team to Naperville.

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon cutting for James & Sons Fine Jewelers, 110 South Washington Street in Naperville on May 26. Mayor Steve Chirico welcomed James & Sons to Naperville. Christina Caton Kitchel with Caton Commercial Real Estate Group and NACC Chairman of the Board thanked owners, James and John Sunderland, for making it a priority to join the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce gathered for a multi-chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house mixer with the Lake Zurich Chamber on May 19 to celebrate the new location of Avalon Salon Spa and the grand opening of VIBE (not your Mom's salon) at 1201 S. Rand Rd. in Lake Zurich. Attendees included: Bonnie Conte (Avalan Salon Spa/VIBE); Suzanne Corr (Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce); Dennis Kelly (FGMK Insurance Co.); Jennifer Frey (Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Health & Fitness Center); Joe Janicki (Brightway Insurance); Amber Wirkus (Barrington Junior Women's Club); and Claire Slattery (Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce).

A ribbon cutting at Covenant Living at Windsor Park in Carol Stream marks the completion of a new building at the senior living community which adds new assisted living residences. From Left to Right: Joan Saunders, Covenant Living at Windsor Park resident representative; Shelly Smith, Executive Director; Terri Cunliffe, Covenant Living president and CEO; Matt McCarthy, village of Carol Stream trustee; and Jim Hudgins, THW Designs President.

Elgin City Councilpersons Rose Martinez and John Steffen joined the Elgin Area Chamber ambassadors and staff at the grand opening of Elgin's newest business, Everclean Car Wash. Located on Elgin's east side on Route 20. Club Operations Manager Jay Manguba spoke of the company utilizing the latest wash technology available at this sixth location of the quickly expanding company.

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce and the village of Barrington gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 2 to celebrate the grand reopening of Baird & Warner's newly redesigned office space at 754 W. Northwest Hwy. in Barrington. Ribbon-cutting attendees included: Stephen Baird, Bill Coduto, Sue Aronson, Cathy Orlando, Bozena Lyznik, Michele Zordan, Dustin Thomas, John Stocki, Kathleen Shanahan, Leikyn Bravo, Ana Marado, Bill Gill, Tripti Kasal, Laura Ellis, Sharon Wells, Rob Homa, Dina Lisner, John Vigilante, Sonya Bellson, Yanni Reglis, Dee Lowe, Lela Theriault, Patrick Durbin, April Durbin, Kathy Svendson, Eric Van Nevel, Nick Johnston, Arnold Cernik, Tanesha House, Heidi Rogers, Joy Prisching, James Salazar, Barbara Cullen, Mallory Perez, Jennifer Eisenmenger, Gina Brown, Denise Gaffney, Renee Soeder and Anastasia Peterson (Baird & Warner); BACC Board Chairman Doug McAllister (Douglas Automotive); Karen Darch (Village of Barrington); Andrea Herran (Focus HR Consulting); and Martha Goodman Stack (Wells Fargo Advisors).