Business success stories will be shared at the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce's 14th Annual Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 6. Each year the Chamber selects three award recipients who have excelled in business leadership and community involvement. This year's Awards Luncheon will be held at Salvatore's Ristorante, 525 W. Arlington Pl.
Honored as 2004 Business Person of the Year will be Joe Graber, North Federal Savings Bank. Joe Graber was appointed Chief Executive Officer of North Federal Savings Bank in August 1998 after being President of the Bank for three years. He is very active in the community and currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chicagoland Association of Financial Institutions and the Board of Directors of the Illinois League of Financial Institutions. He has also served on several community boards including the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, the Wilmette Chamber of Commerce and the Citizens Advisory Council for the Community Area Resident Economic Center. He was also Trustee of the Chicago Savings and Trust Forum and Chairman of the Lincoln Park Unit of the American Cancer Society.
Honored as 2004 Small Business of the Year will be Gutrich Chiropractic. Gutrich began her own Naprapathic Practice in her home after experiencing a traumatic motorcycle accident that resulted in the amputation of her left leg. She then went on to obtain her chiropractic license, and after several other locations, Gutrich Chiropractic moved to its current home at 1425 W. Diversey Ave. In the past six years, Gutrich Chiropractic has grown from Dr. Janet Gutrich operating as a sole practitioner with one employee to a multi-faceted Wellness Center with six employees. Last year, Gutrich also expanded by opening The 1425 Studio, which offers yoga and Pilates instruction.
Gutrich Chiropractic is a member of LPCC, the Gay & Lesbian Chicago Chamber, as well as the Illinois Chiropractic Society and the American Chiropractic Association. Gutrich participates in many fundraisers and outreach projects to assist neighborhood churches, schools and non-profit organizations. They also host annual health fairs and volunteer at seasonal athletic events around the city.
Honored as the 2004 Community Contributor to Lincoln Park will be the Lincoln Park Community Shelter. The Lincoln Park Community Shelter (LPCS) is a not-for-profit Illinois corporation, founded in 1984 by members of three neighborhood churches.
Still located within these churches, the LPCS provides a safe place to eat and sleep and offers a targeted array of social services to help guests become self-sufficient. LPCS is community-based and privately funded, relying on its 1,800 volunteers to keep the organization operating smoothly. Originally providing only a safe place to sleep from December to March, the LPCS currently provides year-round transitional housing and comprehensive social services. Operating on an annual budget of less than $250,000, the LPCS serves between 20 and 40 adult men and women every night, and over the last year, the LPCS has assisted 56 individuals in making their transition into permanent housing.
The reception begins at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be served at noon. With registration and payment by May 4, the cost is $40 for LPCC members and $45 for non-members.
To register for this event or for information on membership in the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, contact the Chamber office at (773) 880-5200 or visit lincolnparkchamber.com. Founded in 1947, the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization of 600 local businesses, institutions and professionals united to better serve the community and enhance the quality of life in the Lincoln Park area.
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