2019 Best of 630 Program Book

Wednesday, August 28, 2019
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel

& Conference Center

Chicago-Downers Grove



The businesses, organizations and individuals that are
being recognized this evening were nominated by their
peers and have excelled to the list of finalists. They all
deserve a heartfelt congratulations.

The Best of 630: Cocktail Hour & Awards Show. We will
be recognizing the Best businesses in the Inspirational
Not-for-Profit, Young Professional of the Year, World
Class Customer Service, Exceptional Company Culture,
and Bright Beginnings (Members for less than two years).

THANK YOU for joining us to celebrate the
excellence within Chamber630!

2018 Chamber630 Award Winners

THANK YOU
TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!

Toon Funeral Homes

Congratulates All Nominees!

4920 Main Street
Downers Grove, IL

60515
(630) 968-0408
Fax: (630) 971-4212

Serving the Community for 90 Years

www.ToonFuneralHome.com



INSPIRATIONAL NOT-FOR-PROFITS

At SHARING CONNECTIONS a
small staff and an army of volunteers
works with agents who are helping
families and individuals transition out
of homelessness. Studies show that successful transition rates
skyrocket when home furniture and household items are provided,
however, that is out of the realm of what a social service agent is
able to do. Sharing Connections steps in at this point by collecting
gently used items from the community and redirecting those items
to families and individuals in need. They also purchase new
mattresses and cribs for children and babies who otherwise would
not have a safe place to sleep at night. 90% of the clients served
by Sharing Connections self-report decrease in stress levels and
increase in their ability to focus on other significant issues in their
life like job search, education and caring for their family.

WATTS OF LOVE changes lives
and alleviates poverty in the
poorest, hardest to reach places
in the world. With the power of a solar light, WOL creates
immediate and lasting change through economic and
empowerment coaching, breaking dependency on kerosene and
reinvesting savings into sustainable solutions. The Watts of Love
difference is seen in their efforts to work with the hidden poor, or
those who live in the “last mile.” They share their solar lights with
the women in these communities, because they tend to reinvent
income back into the household. Because WOL is always taking
feedback from recipients, they were able to design a patented,
innovative solar light especially for the end users, people who may
need to use it as a headlamp, lantern or flashlight. From day one,
they can stop using expensive, hazardous kerosene and use those
funds to lift themselves out of the darkness of poverty.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

RYAN BIRD, BYLINE BANK
Ryan Bird is a driven Young Professional that
gives his all to bettering the region. Ryan is the
Incoming Chairman for the Chamber630 Board
of Directors, Chamber630 Young Professional
Network Chairman, Member of the DuPagePads
Board of Directors, supports American Cancer
Society, and is an active Member of
ChamberCORE Referral Group. As the Chairman
of the Young Professionals Network he strives to create fun, active
and value-adding events to engage the next generation of
workforce and show the value of Membership.

MATT WEBERLING, WEALTHBRIDGE FINANCIAL ADVISORS
Matt Weberling is a dedicated YPN passionate
about replacing transaction-based interactions
with a relationship and result-centered approach
in his day to day business. He is motivated by
building strong relationships that will last a
lifetime with his clients as well as giving them
confidence in their financial wellness education
and independence. Matt is a Member of the

Economic Development Committee of Darien, ACAMS Chicago
Co-Treasurer, and an active Chamber630 YPN Member!

SAM VLAHOS, PIERCE TAVERN
Sam Vlahos, along with his sister Patricia, strive
to excel in the community as a top business at
Pierce Tavern. The partners are always trying to
evolve and with that, are always motivated to
change things at any given time! Giving back to
the community is high on the priority list a
Pierce Tavern, they offer giveback nights as well
as feature a charity each month to donate to

and have so far donated over $75,000 through these contributions.



WORLD CLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE

CALIBER HOME LOANS CHL
NMLS# 15622 - SCOTT RAUSCH
NMLS# 187488‘s personal
customer service philosophy is simple: treat each customer as if
they are a good friend or family. Though the mortgage process is
very detailed, Scott tries his best to make it as easy as possible for
his clients. As an industry leader, Caliber Home Loans takes
innovation seriously. They have invested millions of dollars annually
on upgrading innovations within their software. They have worked
with the secondary market to help them innovate new standards for
delivering supporting documents electronically versus the old
fashioned way of hard copies. This dramatically cuts the amount of
documents borrowers have to bring and has made delivery times
industry-leading. Caliber strives for perfection and are more than
willing to break the mold of traditional mortgage companies to
deliver the best possible outcomes and experience for clients.

ESSENCE ENTERTAINMENT has four
basic guidelines to ensure customer
happiness: Listen to what the needs of
the client are, understand why their
needs and wants are important to them, implement the specific
needs and wants using experience and follow through on the
promises made to each client. As a company, Essence
Entertainment strongly recommends that clients have multiple
in-person meetings with DJs, to ensure trust and deliver a perfect
evening. No matter the size or type of event, Essence is dedicated
to fulfill their promise to clients which is a stress free, fun event that
their guests will be talking about for years to come.

HERITAGE HOUSE FLORIST
delivers daily to Chicago and
over 150 surrounding suburbs.
They are a family-owned and

operated full-service florist. Heritage House Florist assists
customers in selecting the perfect floral arrangement for any
occasion in a friendly and efficient manner. They are old fashioned
in their customer service style: the customer is always right. In their
detailed industry, they have learned to always ask questions and
never assume as every request is different. They’ve stayed ahead in
the game in regards to product and technology without
jeopardizing their standards. At Heritage House, they are
professional but never lose sight of the personal side of the
transaction. It’s not about the sale, but the comfort and joy that
flowers bring to those sick, mourning or celebrating a life event. It is
their hope that their floral arrangements bring a little joy to
otherwise sad days.

At THE WHITACRE INSURANCE
GROUP customer service is the highest
priority because owner, Brad Whitacre,
is a self-proclaimed VERY picky

customer. It is this mindset that pushes The Whitacre Insurance
Group to give each of their clients the service they would want to
receive. The biggest influence on the customer service philosophy
was working as a Paramedic for 20 years. Providing life or death
care is the ultimate customer service, and while the service The
Whitacre Insurance Group provides now is not life or death, Brad
strives to treat it as if it is. The personal policy is that all customer
emails and phone calls are returned as soon as possible, including
after business hours. Brad has gone above and beyond to drive in
the dead of winter to console an 88 year old customer who was
victim to her first car accident, going as far as calling a tow truck for
her totaled vehicle.

EXCEPTIONAL COMPANY CULTURE

At HOME HELPERS the company
culture is embraced from the bottom, up.
What drives the office staff to the CEO is
compassion for the elderly, empathy
towards work and a “no-quit” attitude.
These traits have allowed Home Helpers to grow over the years. The
hallmark of their success is showing that they care and respect both
employees and clients. Software technology allows family members
out of state to stay connected with their parent’s case and truly
showcases the hands-on approach that is taken by Home Helpers.
Their success allows them to join community not-for-profits such as
Community Adult Day Care and Hope’s Front Door both financially
and experientially, allowing to give support to them, they in turn can
provided assistance to those in need in DuPage County and help
families care for their elderly parents.



BRIGHT BEGINNINGS

BURLINGTON STATION LUXURY
RESIDENCES offers 89 luxury apartment
homes in the heart of Downtown Downers
Grove. Being a Member of Chamber630 has
helped to increase visibility in the community through promotion
and publicity. They have developed authentic professional
connections with fellow Members through numerous networking
opportunities, one of the highlights being their Chamber630
Ribbon Cutting Celebration. At Burlington Station, they foster an
inviting environment for residents through community
engagement opportunities. The leasing staff hosts regular
resident events such as wine tasting, summer soirée with live
music, Bark in the Park pet party and blood donation drives
which have all been possible through local business partnerships.

EDGEWOOD is a comprehensive
mental health clinic that offers
individual therapy, group therapy,
psychological testing and
psychiatry/medication assistance.
Edgewood has used their
Membership to raise the awareness of
Mental Health treatment in the area through building
relationships and branding their name during Chamber630
networking events, Women in Business and Referral Group
ChamberBEST. Edgewood is a dynamic, multifaceted business
that has seen tremendous growth (79%!) since 2018. Families
appreciate being able to get all of their mental health needs in
one place.

IRONBANK MORTGAGE
GROUP is a premiere mortgage
company offering a variety of
lending solutions for those purchasing or refinancing a home.
They combine customer service, technology and information to
provide an exceptional home business process for clients. In their
first year of Membership, IronBank has created connections and
relationships through Chamber630 programs and events. The
foundation of events and opportunities has been vital to the
growth of IronBank Mortgage. What sets IronBank apart from the
rest are their stellar reviews. They take pride in creating a
welcoming and efficient home buying process for clients which is
exemplified, especially by first time home buyers, on all places
reviews are posted.

KOHA is an app that connects local
businesses to school and non-profits
regularly. KOHA tracks and automates
sales and donations and attracts newer
customers that may have never shopped
or used services in the community before. They have utilized their
Chamber630 Membership by networking and meeting with local
businesses that are perfect for KOHA and likewise, are excited by
the app and the way it gives back. Over 50% of their local
businesses have been referrals through Chamber630. KOHA also
works to bring new Members to Chamber630! KOHA’s primary
focus is to help local “mom and pop” small businesses that may
not have additional funds to build their own loyalty app and help
them advertise to families that may not know about their
business. KOHA is proud to provide a platform to be a true
giving partner in the community.

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS, CONT.

MAPLE & MAIN APARTMENTS
provides homes to residents, ensuring
the best possible living space and
customer service, while contributing to
the neighboring community and businesses. Maple & Main has
used their Chamber630 Membership to stay informed on what’s
going on in the area and connect with Members through events,
specifically their Ribbon Cutting Celebration. Their business
provides a high standard of living for residents and they are
constantly pushing to provide consistently great customer service.
Maple & Main has a continuous drive to excel in their industry,
which is how they have achieved 90% occupancy before reaching
one year of age.

MCGRATH LEXUS OF WESTMONT
is a luxury car dealership that
specializes in delivering top notch
services before, during and after the
sale. They offer a concierge test drive where vehicles can be
brought to a prospects home or work for a test drive. Once a
customer, you have access to amenities that are unheard of at a
dealership, such as, an on-site restaurant, complimentary shoe
shines, massages, nail salon and cash washes. McGrath Lexus of
Westmont has used their Chamber630 Membership to get
involved in the community through ChamberCORE Referral Group,
hosting Business off the Clock Networking Events and cross
promote with several local businesses. McGrath Lexus even has
preset specialty pricing specifically for Chamber630 Members!

MERRILL LYNCH - TIM CODY
assists individual clients and
businesses with a wide range of
needs and goals. It is their job to identify those needs and goals to
create avenues to make sure their assets are aligned in the most
efficient way possible. Their Chamber630 Membership has been a
terrific resource to not only seek out potential clients, but also
connect to a group of people that have a similar desire to grow
both personally and professionally. Tim Cody is the current
Chairman of the Referral Group, Chamber BEST where he
continues to expand from their small start of four Members to a
larger cohort that genuinely enjoys spending time together and
generating referrals.

MULTI PRINT & DIGITAL is a
specialty print and marketing
company dedicated to helping their
clients grow their business through
brand recognition. They have used their Membership to expand
their client list through networking events and continuous
contact with connections built through Chamber630. At Multi
Print and Digital, they believe it is their customer service that sets
them apart. They try to make the transactions experience as easy
and seamless as possible for their clients.

SANDHILL COFFEE is a small batch coffee
roaster located in the suburbs of Chicago. While
currently in their second year of business they
operate through online purchases, farmers
markets and a few retail locations. Their mission
is to provide you with an ethical and
environmentally conscious experience. Since joining Chamber630
Sandhill has expanded their business through networking events,
Referral Group Chamber CORE and developing trusting
relationships with local business owners, learning every step of
the way. The two things that set Sandhill Coffee apart from the
others is their support and appreciation for the environment and
their focus on small farms that they choose to supply their coffee
from. At Sandhill Coffee, they appreciate the importance of a
good cup of coffee and want to be your provider for high quality
coffee, connecting you to others and the outdoors.

WEALTHBRIDGE
FINANCIAL ADVISORS is a
small private financial
planning and wealth
management firm that adheres to the fiduciary standard. They
provide a high-touch financial planning, investment
management, life insurance and corporate retirement plan
management/advisory services. Within the first year of
Chamber630 Membership, Wealthbridge Financial Advisors has
seen increased visibility for a new independent name in a very
competitive space, connected them to numerous interesting and
well-networked professionals with a common purpose to build
and grow business and allowed them to form relationships and
build a strong network. Wealthbridge seeks to craft relationships
with people, rather than accounts and that is clearly seen in the
quality of service to clients.

The 13th Annual

LAST
SWING9 Hole Golf Classic

Wednesday, September 25th

FOURSOMES,
INDIVIDUAL &
SPONSORSHIPS

AVAILABLE!

To register, visit:

Chamber630.com

Downers Grove Golf Club

1:00 PM - Registration | 1:30 PM - Putting Contest

2:00 PM - Tee Off | 5:00 PM - VIP Entry to the Taste of 630

Midwestern University

University Degree Programs
Tomorrow’s Healthcare Team

Osteopathic Medicine | Pharmacy | Dental Medicine
Optometry | Physician Assistant Studies | Physical erapy

Occupational erapy | Biomedical Sciences
Clinical Psychology | Speech-Language Pathology

w w w. m i d we s t e r n . e d u
555 31st Street | Downers Grove, IL 60515 | 630/515-7200

Multispecialty Clinic
Your Family’s Home for Healthcare

Dental Institute | Eye Institute
Family Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
Physical erapy Institute | Speech-Language Institute

www. mwu clinics.com
3450 Lacey Road | Downers Grove, IL 60515 | 630/743-4500