First business of Rockford's new business board may involve adding more board members
As an era comes to an end this week, Rockford Area Economic Development Council Chairman Jimmy Rozinsky is seizing the opportunity to focus on what he wanted to in the first place — economic development.
Rozinsky said he took the chairmanship about seven years ago in part to work on behalf of the community and in part for selfish reasons.
The owner of Spectrum Insurance, Rozinsky thought that if he could help the RAEDC attract new industries and expand existing businesses, it would not only mean an improved economy across the Rockford region, but also more business for his own company as well.
Now, as RAEDC dissolves and Rockford's business organizations merge, Rozinsky said he can finally return his focus to his original goals of attracting new industries to the Rockford region and helping existing businesses expand.
"I know I don’t want to be governance, figuring out how people get paid and the counting of the paper clips," Rozinsky said. "I am more interested in being the sharp end of the spear. ... That’s where my interest lies."
More: Rockford Chamber is designated survivor as business world merges
Organizations will dissolve
The RAEDC and short-lived Greater Rockford Growth Partnership both are dissolving this week. Their organizational assets and employees are merging with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. A brand-new organization will emerge that officials are calling the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
The work of the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership, Rockford Chamber and the Economic Development Council will become arms of a single organization.
An economic development committee will work to attract, retain and expand businesses across the Rockford region, encouraging primary job growth. The chamber arm will continue its focus on promoting economic growth, advocating for an improved business climate and providing networking, services and educational opportunities. Partnership members who sought better alignment and efficiencies will be part of the board of directors.
Meet the new board
Each of the three organizations named five people to govern the new organization. The 15-member board of directors will meet for the first time Oct. 5.
The leaders of the new Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce are:
Chamber nominees: Travis Andersen of UW Health; Lesly Couper of workplace; Jean Crosby of Berkshire Hathaway Crosby Starck Real Estate; Troy Haggestad of Williams McCarthy; and Carly LaMonica of LaMonica Beverages.
RAEDC nominees: Wendy Alsteen of the Hard Rock Casino Rockford; Conor Brown of the NorthWest Illinois Alliance of Realtors; Eric Cunningham of Collins Aerospace; Tom Green of Barrick, Switzer, Long, Balsley & Van Evera; and Mick Gronewald of Fehr Graham.
GRGP nominees: Paula Carynski of OSF Healthcare; Jeff Hultman of Illinois Bank & Trust; Dietmar Goellner of Advanced Machine & Engineering Co.; Terry Voskul of Woodward; and Frank Wehrstein of Dickerson & Nieman Realtors.
More voting members to come
It is in coming weeks expected to add as many as another five ex-officio members.
Who might be among the ex-officio members and what organizations would be represented will have to be decided by the new board of directors once it seated this week, said Jeff Hultman, president and CEO of Illinois Bank & Trust and former chairman of the GRGP.
Hultman said ex-officio members are expected to be voting members of the board and to include representatives from local governments. It could also include representatives from other area civic, business or economic organizations.
The merger is a chance to improve the region's business representation and advocacy, Conor Brown, CEO of NorthWest Illinois Alliance of Realtors said.
"We need to do better in terms of our outreach," Brown said. "But also see what can we do about improving our marketing and attraction efforts for businesses that aren't connected yet. And, finally, we are going to make stronger steps for involvement of our government partners."
Jeff Kolkey can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on Twitter @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: New Rockford business leadership groups plans to add more leaders
