Article Date: June 6, 2010

The Board of Directors of the Rochelle Area Chamber of Commerce & Business Development met recently to review progress and set achievable and written goals for 2010. To achieve, sometimes you have to use unreasonable thinking. The Board is committed through creative thinking and teamwork to address the concerns of businesses and provide measurable benefits for all members. Having teams perform well is critical in any organization. A good team player is more than just being good at a task. They challenge each other to achieve at a higher level and with more enjoyment than by doing it themselves.

In an effort to maximize the Board’s time and productivity, a brief workshop was held with Pam Clark Reidenbach, Director of the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence who introduced Basic Rules and Responsibilities and the concepts of Care, Loyalty, and Obedience to the Chamber. Exceptional boards add significant value to their organizations while advancing their mission. The group was challenged to be thoughtful and intentional, active and engaged, knowledgeable and communicative. Good board training can provide members with a vision of what is possible and a way to add lasting value to the organization they lead.

We talked about setting major goals to increase membership, working to improve our quality of life by performing economic development services to new and existing commercial and retail businesses, and creating relevant and timely Chamber programs and services. We discussed funding and long-term financial stability; marketing; personnel policy and procedures; and networking. Once our long-term goals were identified, we developed a series of short-term goals and established committees and focus groups with target dates for completion of tasks.

Chosen as this year’s Executive Committee is Doug Creason, retired RTHS Superintendent (Board Chairman); Danny Williams, Lifeworks Imaging (Vice Chairman); Ross Freier, Rochelle Tourism & Visitors Association (Treasurer); and Geri Henkel, Castle Bank (Past Chairwoman). Completing the Board is Jim Beardin (The Auto Broker); Jamie Craven, RTHS Superintendent; Bruce McKinney, Rochelle City Clerk; Tim Hayden, Century 21 Hayden Real Estate; and the newest member Bruce Peterson (Rochelle Community Hospital).

We welcome Bruce Peterson to a three-year term. Bruce is the president and CEO of Rochelle Community Hospital. He and his wife Susan have three grown children. Bruce also serves on the board of the Rochelle Community Hospital Foundation. Peterson has been in working in healthcare since 1982 and served as a Hospital CEO for 17 years. He started a Public Health Department and served as its Administrator while working as a Hospital CEO. He has served on the board of the Illinois Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association Policy Council. He's been the president of the Illinois Providers Trust, a professional liability provider. Bruce was a recipient of the American Hospital Association's Monroe leadership award and is a Fellow certified in healthcare administration by the American College of Healthcare Executives. Bruce has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and masters in both business administration and health care administration. He and his wife grew up in southeastern Wisconsin and they have always lived in the Midwest.

In 2010, the Chamber will be working diligently to obtain new members from throughout the Greater Rochelle area. As membership increases, the Chamber relies less on fundraising and more on business development. If you are not a member of the Chamber, please call the office at 815-562-4189 for details about affordable membership options.

The Chamber welcomes the following new members and is proud to promote their staffs, goods and services:

Adrian’s Kustom Graphix

Aerotek, Inc.

AIM Immediate Care

American National Insurance Agency

Anytime Fitness-Rochelle

Associated Bank

Avant-Garde Marketing Solutions

Bay Valley Foods

Bresson Flying Service, Inc.

Brown Dog Plumbing

Champion Imaging

Creston Booster Club

Jim George & Sons, LLC Asphalt Paving

Holiday Inn Express

Kishwaukee Corporate Health

The Michael Koolidger Show

Large Car Rebuilders, Inc.

Lifeworks Imaging

Lincoln Manor Senior Housing

Liquor 'N' Wine

Milton Propane, Inc.

Morrissey Family Businesses

Norman Jenkins

Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit

Excellence

Performance Paint & Powders

Peters Automotive

Prescott Brothers Ford Mercury, Inc.

Quick Start

R & D Do It Best Hardware

Resource Bank

Rochelle CAN

Rochelle Community Hospital

Rochelle Country Club

Rochelle Fire Department Social Organization

Rochelle Tobacco

Rochelle Township High School Education

Foundation

Rochelle Laundry

ROY'S TRANSFER

Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center

Sparkle Janitorial Service

Spring Creek Development

The Agency Staffing

Thrive Market Intelligence

TKDA

Wegner Auctions

United Way of the Rock River Valley