The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce has made significant changes to its leadership team, according to Chamber News. During its quarterly Board of Directors meeting on October 14, sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and hosted by McDonald's, the Chamber elected several new members to its Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Leadership Additions
Maria Bocanegra, President of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, was elected as First Vice Chair. David Ritter, a Partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, will serve as General Counsel. Joseph Angel, Chief Commercial Administration Officer at Old National Bank, has been appointed as Treasurer, while Matthew Summy, Senior Vice President of Government and Community Affairs at Comcast, takes on the role of Secretary.
Jesse Keig, Chief Financial Officer with Mesirow, joins the Executive Committee. New members of the Board of Directors include Mark Bernstein of Akerman LLP, Edward Brennan of Bank of America, Andrea Kapustka of CBRE, Steven Waller of CGI, Dwayne Pickett of Constellation, Dr. Dan Lustig of Haymarket Center, Michael Vrchota of PNC Bank, Alex Bell of Quant16, Maran Nalluswami of Synchrony, and Roula Bobolis of Wintrust Financial Corporation.
In addition to leadership changes, Dr. Harley T. Johnson, CEO and Founder of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, engaged in a discussion with Dan Lynch, Chair of the Chamber's Board of Directors and United Airlines VP, about the future of quantum computing and its implications for Chicago's economy.
Chamber Day Celebrations
Coinciding with these leadership updates, the Chamber is also celebrating Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day on October 21. This day highlights the history and accomplishments of Chambers across the nation, as reported by Chamber News.
Founded in 1904 as the Association of Commerce and Industry, the Chamber has evolved significantly, becoming the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce in 1992. Today, it represents over 1,000 businesses and more than 400,000 employees across various industries. The Chamber remains dedicated to fostering a dynamic business environment and advocating for its members.
As the Chamber celebrates its legacy and ongoing contributions, it invites members and the public to share their experiences and the value of membership on social media.