The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce has existed since 1912 with the sole purpose to Lead Business Growth. The founding officers and members of the Chamber wanted the organization to be "a forceful working unit for the good of Rockford". But what does it mean to Lead Business Growth? How are we a forceful working unit for the good of Rockford? Truthfully, the work of the Chamber lives in our members.
It lives in small organizations finding access to elected officials who can help remove barriers to funding. It lives in educational programming that helps managers be better leaders and keeps organizations out of compliance issues. It lives in groups of executive-level women navigating broken glass at their feet from the ceilings they’ve shattered and a tribe to help them best determine how to continue to fiercely lead their organizations through tumultuous times or periods of growth. It lives in the manufacturers looking for new markets across seas or new collaboration partners across town.
We have helped countless businesses grow and expand. We've been a constant advocate for a strong business community - removing obstacles, influencing policy, and forging partnerships. We have recognized, trained, and encouraged leadership development for our current and future workforce.
We exist to Lead Business Growth. And we are here for it. Here to help business with their unique needs be the very best they can be in the very best business environment we can create, with the very best people we can train. We are the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
Our Mission: Leading Business Growth
The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce delivers benefit to the community by leading in the promotion of economic growth, advocating for the interests of business, and providing service and educational opportunities that help our members grow.
Meet Our Team
Meet Our Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Terry Voskuil
Chair
Woodward
Lesly Couper
Vice Chair
Workplace
Conor Brown
Treasurer
NorthWest Illinois Alliance of Realtors
Directors
Wendy Alsteen
Hard Rock Casino
Travis Anderson
UW Health Northern Illinois Region
Armondo Cardenas
Affordable Insurance & Tax
Paula Carynski
OSF Healthcare Saint Anthony Medical Center
Jean Crosby
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Starck Real Estate
Dietmar Goellner
Advanced Machine & Hennig Engineering
Thomas Green
Barrick, Switzer, Long, Balsley & Van Evera, LLP
Mick Gronewold
Fehr Graham
Troy Haggestad
Williams McCarthy LLP
Dr. Sheila Hill
Think Big Corporation
Jeff Hultman
Foresight Financial
Nate Jordan
Small Business Development Center
Steve Kotso
Collins Aerospace
Carly LaMonica
LaMonica Beverages
Frank Wehrstein
Dickerson & Nieman Realtors
Ex-Officio Directors
Mayor Tom McNamara
City of Rockford
Caitlin Pusateri
Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce
John Groh
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Michael Dunn, Jr.
Region 1 Planning