Volume 111, Issue 1 January 2020 Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Making Progress What marketing trends will 2020 hold? With constant changes to technology, be on the What a whirlwind it has been. I have now been the President of the Chamber for lookout for exciting things in the coming year. over one year now and wonder where did that time go? There have been so many We have many chamber members that can as- wonderful people that I have encountered, festivals that I’ve lived through and sist you with your marketing plans and with your extraordinary members I’ve met. As it was the last time I addressed this publica- technology. Use the business directory found tion, I am honored and blessed to be in this position. It’s not a job anymore, it’s a at genevachamber.com or give us a call for a passion as it is for everyone that works here at the Chamber. recommendation. Approaching marketing with a broad-reach mes- We’ve made a lot of progress with some changes in the structure of the Chamber sage can cause you to miss major opportunities to that have been needed for some time. As you know, we are not only the Chamber connect with your core users in a meaningful way. of Commerce for the City of Geneva but considered the Tourism Bureau as well. Since we have to wear two hats, we needed to divide the Membership/Spon- Using marketing tools to employ the following sorship Coordinator job into two positions. We have a full-time person for our trends – while staying “people-centric” – can Membership side, Robyn Chione, and a new Sponsorship Director, Kelli Rogers. help you achieve success in the coming year. 1. More specific and flexible content marketing We now have a person that can give members our undivided attention, talking Compelling, on-the-go content is at the top of to them about their needs, helping to make the Geneva business environment the list of content marketing trends to watch stronger and more inviting. Robyn has opened the flood gates when it comes this year. There are many brand-elevating forms to helping our membership by creating new and meaningful seminars, forming this content can take: blogs, whitepapers, video new leads groups and hosting innovative networking events. Our membership is marketing. But perhaps the greatest opportunity growing due to her hard work. lies in podcasting.

Our sponsorship direction needed change, needing new eyes and new ideas. Podcasts allow you to reach busy people who are commuting, exercising, cleaning or just Kelli has brought a fresh and exciting perspective to our festival sponsorships. generally multitasking. This format provides you She creates a win-win situation for all involved and finds the right sponsorship with a chance to share your thoughts and reach for your company. others with the same interests. Podcasts allow you to hyper-target your listeners. Make sure to stop by the Chamber office to learn about more of our changes. Our door is always open. Come with your new ideas, your concerns and your Once you start growing your library, pay atten- successes. Robyn, Kelli, Jeanne, Nancy, Laura and I would love to hear from you. tion to who is listening and which episodes are the most popular. This will help you continue to tailor your content to your target audience. I hope your 2020 is a prosperous and fulfilling year for both your businesses and families. 2. The use of valuable text marketing Reach your customers where they are – looking at their phones – without the hassle of a phone Paula Schmidt conversation. Texting your customers is a great Geneva Chamber of Commerce President way to ask quick questions, schedule meetings, share links and promote sales or other events.

More and more people use text messaging as their primary form of communication, especially those in younger demographic groups. Because text messaging is so present, it’s more of a guar- GET YOUR CALENDARS READY antee that your message will actually be seen. Research shows that 90% of people will read FOR ALL THE NETWORKING, a text message within three minutes of receipt, FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN 2019 which is an open rate far better than any other method of marketing. continued on page 10

www.genevachamber.com 2 SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

New Member Profiles We welcome new members and encourage you to familiarize yourselves with them and make valuable connections. Profiles are supplied by new members. F45 Geneva 962 Randall Rd., St. Charles * 465-6820 * www.f45training.com/geneva Building Better Relationships Through Networking www.facebook.com/f45geneva * www.instagram.com/f45_training_geneva_il December Luncheon The “F” stands for Functional and the “45” refers to the minutes it takes to complete our A big thank you to Riverside Receptions for hosting heart pumping, fast-paced workout! Our classes merge 3 separate training styles (High our festive holiday December Luncheon. We had an Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Circuit Training, and Functional Training) to create a outstanding turnout, a beautiful Christmas buffet and one of a kind experience that will keep you coming back for more! No class is ever the an impressive raffle extravaganza. It was wonderful same - all ages and fitness levels welcome. Be challenged, encouraged, and motivated to celebrating the holidays with all of our GWIB friends reach your highest potential! Register today for 1 FREE week of unlimited classes at www. new and old. f45training.com/geneva/trial. Our Chance-for-Charity was the Rotary Club of Ge- Fox Run Homeowners’ Association neva. Rotary is an international service organization Colleen G. Thomas, President * [email protected] committed to “service above self” and bringing to- 847-426-7990 gether business and professional leaders in order to The Fox Run Homeowners’ Association is the governing body for the Fox Run subdivi- provide humanitarian service and advance goodwill sion. On Geneva’s Eastside, the Fox Run subdivision is nestled against the Fabyan Forest and peace around the world. The Rotary Club of Preserve, where its residents have been assisting with the rejuvenation and beautification Geneva completes numerous community service of the Preserve. Fox Run is the perfect place to live, with direct access to Island Park and projects throughout the year, awards scholarships the Illinois Prairie Path, along with being walking distance to downtown Geneva and the for local high school students, and provides gener- train station. Fox Run residents are comprised of members of diverse religious and civic ous philanthropic support to many local charities and organizations in Geneva and the Fox Valley. The Homeowners’ Association is an advocate non-profit groups. Learn more at genevarotary.org. for the students and families in Geneva’s public schools, and it strives to cultivate commu- nity collaboration and engagement among its residents. Fox Run is the ideal environment January Luncheon for enjoying all that Geneva has to offer while at the same time providing for the comfort of Our January luncheon will be held January 21 at its own friendly neighborhood. It is truly the Hidden Gem of Geneva! Nosh, 22 N. 3rd St. Geneva. Our speaker will be Jeff Ash, owner and Artistic Director of the West- side Improv Studio. This will be a very entertaining Two Bostons – The Store for Happy Pets and engaging program to kick off the New Year! 1900 S. Randall Rd., St., 140 * 402-0795 Our Chance-for-Charity will be TriCity Family Ser- www.Twobostons.com * [email protected] vices. TriCity Family Services is a leader in pro- Your pets are family and you know they need things to be happy, but the number of choices can viding quality counseling and other mental health be overwhelming. This can make you doubt yourself and wonder, “Am I a good pet owner?” services to children and teens, their families and community members across all life stages and in- We understand the feeling because our pets are family too. For the past 15 years, we have come levels. The agency addresses a wide-range helped over 100,000 families understand and choose the products that are right for them. of mental health disorders that destabilize families From healthy food, safe chew, great treats, durable toys, customized beds, fun collars, and prevent individuals from leading productive, birthday cakes and bakery to educated & passionate team members who really care about satisfying lives, always ensuring that no one is de- your pets, we have everything you need to make the best decisions for your own family. nied services based on an inability to pay. Did you know? Geneva Women in Business is on Facebook and Instagram. Search “Geneva Women in Business” to start following.

3 Ways to Make Luncheon Reservations ArtFairCalendar.com announced • Go to www.genevachamber.com, click the top 10 Art Fairs in the country. “Calendar of Events”, then GWIB event • Call the Chamber at 232-6060 With votes counted, • Email [email protected] Geneva Arts Fair is #7! • Reservations required. Walk-ins seated if room. Cancel via email or phone by prior Thursday at 4 pm. If not canceled, you will be billed. • Request vegetarian meal in advance. • Members: $30 w/reserv; $35 if invoiced • Non-members: $35 w/reserv. Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 3

Member News If you have news to be considered for Soundings, email Laura ([email protected]) by the 10th of the preceding month. See website for double month issues. Daily Herald staff members have earned three Sarah Brown Boyden Awards from the Chicago Journalists Association. Peg Coker, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley, was featured in a recent WBBM radio interview about difference makers in our community. Read about it at https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/difference-maker-literacy-volunteers-fox-valley. Four players and one staff member from the Chicago Steel Hockey organization were selected to represent the United States at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge in Decem- Ribbon Cuttings ber announced by USA Hockey. Stockholm’s raised $4,139.25 for the Conservation Foundation during their Glass of Water Campaign April 22-October 31. During the time frame, Stockholm’s asked those who wanted a glass of water to pay for it. Not only was that part a success, but people freely donated as well. The money will be used assist in cleaning the Fox River. Look for the campaign to begin again on Earth Day 2020. The Kane County Cougars, announce a new military partnership with Folds of Honor. Both organizations will work together on multiple initiatives including the Legacy Brick program, Military Appreciation Night and Hometown Heroes. The mission of the Folds of Honor is to provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of wounded and fallen service members. H4 Training has moved and their new address is 1188 E. State St. For over a decade, physicians and employees at Fox Valley Orthopedics have kicked off the holiday season by giving to local children through the Salvation Army - Aurora and Tri-Cities, Breaking Free, and Beautiful U Ministries. Thirty-four children, ages 1 to 14, received gifts from their wish lists. The Beer Cellar 12-12-19 With its recent December mailing, Money Mailer of Fox River Valley delivered its 200th shared ad mailer to homes throughout Chicagoland. In business since 1988, owners Mark and Sharon Spero have achieved a rare milestone in the direct mail industry. Cur- rently, less than 12% of Money Mailer franchisees have reached 200 mailings.

TRAINING TRENDS

Register individually for professional development or Waubonsee’s Corporate Apricot Lane Boutique 12-13-19 Training Department can bring these courses to your site or ours for group education options.

COURSES INCLUDE:

Advanced Project Management, Essentials of Project Management and PMP Exam Prep Course OSHA SAFETY DAY 3/17/2020 OSHA Lockout/Tagout, Machine Guarding, Confined Space 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. $99/person Standard, Recordkeeping Requirements, ARC Flash and NFPA 70E, Reserve Your Seat Today! and 10-Hour for General Industry Call Deb Jones at (630) 870-3902

Mental Health First Aid Training, Heartsaver CPR/AED for Adults, Children, and Infants, BLS Provider CPR, AHA Instructor Certification for BLS CPR and Heartsaver CPR and First Aid, Heartsaver First Aid, CPR/AED for Adults, Children and Infants, and BLS Provider CPR Skills Session Visit waubonsee.edu/train20 for more information

Waubonsee does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability in its programs or activities. Inquiries regarding this policy may be directed to: Michele Needham, Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Route 47 at Waubonsee Drive, Sugar Grove, IL 60554, [email protected].

Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com 4 SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Member Events If you have events to be considered for Soundings, email Laura ([email protected]) by the 10th of the preceding month. See website for double month issues.

Parent / Tot Open Play – Sundays in January Spend some playtime with your child at the Geneva Park District’s Stephen Persinger Rec- reation Center’s indoor playground, “The Farm.” Great for playdates. Parental supervision is required during Parent/Tot Open Play. $3 per child ($5N/R) with parent. From 8-11 am.

Afternoon Tea – Monday through Saturday in January You are formally invited to spend the day with us and stay for Afternoon Tea from 2-4 pm in Little Traveler’s legendary tea room. Please call 232-4200 for more information.

Taco Tuesdays – Tuesdays in January They came over the river and through Celebrate Taco Tuesday’s at 1910 from 5-11 pm with $5 Casa 1910 Margarita’s & all their the woods from: specialty tacos half priced this night!

Colorado Deli Luncheons – Tuesday through Thursday in January Seniors can enjoy luncheons Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 am-12:15 pm at the Florida Geneva Township Senior Center. Reservations must be made by the prior Thursday; call Illinois 232-3602. Suggested donation for age 60+ is $3, $6 for under age 60.

Iowa Lunch & Tour – Wednesdays in January Indiana Oscar Swan Country Inn welcomes you to enjoy lunch and tour of this historic mansion. Choose your lunch from soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts and beverages. Groups Massachusetts welcome. Call to arrange a special day - 232-0173. Michigan PRIMO Afternoon Tea – Thursday through Sunday in January Minnesota Enjoy this tea from 2-4 pm at PRIMO. Reservations are required at 232-2280. Missouri Parents’ Night Out – January 3 & 17 Nebraska Enjoy a fun night away as your children play games, make crafts, watch movies, eat North Carolina snacks, and more! Geneva Park District’s Parents’ Night Out from 6-9 pm is open to children ages 3 and up (must be toilet trained). Parents must fill out an emergency in- Wisconsin formation card to have on file, and be available by phone or have an authorized pick-up person available by phone. Pre-registration is required at genevaparks.org. Just $15 per …to the very successful Geneva Cham- child ($20 N/R). ber’s Christmas House Tour last month! Queen of Hearts Raffle – January 6, 13, 20 & 27 Will you...find her? Find the Queen of Hearts at the St. Peter School Queen of Hearts 50/50 Raffle! Weekly drawings are held on Monday Nights at 9 pm at Nobel House. (Ticket sales stop each Monday at 8:30 pm). You do NOT need to be present to win (The drawing is broadcast LIVE on our Facebook page, St. Peter School Queen of Hearts Raffle.) The cost is $5.00 per ticket (cash only). Tickets are available for purchase at Nobel House, the St. Peter Parish Office, and after select Masses and school events. When you Welcome New Members buy your tickets, you choose a number between 1-54. One ticket is drawn each week with a guaranteed cash prize awarded. If the number reveals the Queen of Hearts, that Abbey Farms winning ticket splits the pot 50/50 with St. Peter School. If the number does not reveal the Queen of Hearts, the pot rolls over and continues to grow each week. Apricot Lane Boutique For official rules, drawing information, current jackpot total, and to see what cards have already been chosen, visit http://www.stpeterrockets.org. Must be 18 years old to play. Balmoral Restaurant For questions, contact the St. Peter Parish Office at 232-0124. The Beer Cellar Ukulele Class – January 8 Wellspring Creative Communications Learn to play the Ukulele with Kevin Presbrey at Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery from 6:45-8:15 pm. The cost is $15 per person. Wine special offered to all participants. The first 1/2 hour is a beginner class, the 2nd 1/2 hour is intermediate to advanced and the last 1/2 hour is a jam session. It’s fun! Call 232-9463 for a reservation. Continued on Page 5 Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 5

Member Events (cont.)

An Evening of Folk Music – January 10 February Sky (www.februarysky.com) features traditional singer and Celtic guitarist Phil Cooper with songwriter and singer Susan Urban. Phil sings and plays his own arrange- ments of traditional songs and tunes on six string guitar and cittern, and he also interprets Restaurant a number of carefully chosen songs from the best of modern Folk song writers, as well as Week: 2020 backing Susan up on her songs. Susan Urban is a writer of story songs and humorous “slice of life” songs. She accompanies her songs, plus Phil’s songs and tunes, on six and Support our local award-winning restaurants 12-string guitar, six string banjo, mountain dulcimer, and hand percussion instruments. January 20-26, 2020 Phil and Susan present a combination of old and new songs and tunes, addressing the widest possible range of experience, complete with vocal harmony, intricate instrumenta- Culinary excellence will be highlighted during tion and thoughtful stagecraft. They believe that Folk Music is a continuum - whether the the 6th Geneva Restaurant Week - an entire songs are self-penned or have a history thousands of years old, as long as they speak to week of delicious discounted dining at some of the human condition and the human heart, they carry on the Folk Music tradition. At Geneva’s finest restaurants! Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva at 7 pm. Foodies will be able to eat their hearts out at Chicago Steel Hockey Games – January 10, 17, 18, 26 & 31 participating restaurants that will offer specials Chicago Steel Hockey has five home games in January. All games begin at 7:05 pm unless all week. noted. 1/10 – vs Dubuque Fighting Saints; 1/17 & 18 – vs Omaha Lancers; 1/26 – vs Cedar Rapids Roughriders (3:05 pm); 1/31 – vs Madison Capitols. All at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Explore scrumptious eats and leave the cooking Friendship Station Preschool Open House – January 14 utensils and dishes at home and join us, as we Come learn about Geneva Park District’s Friendship Station Preschool, meet our amazing celebrate Geneva’s thriving and unique culinary teachers, explore the educational and fun classrooms, and learn about our Enrichment scene. Programs. Children are welcome! Registration for the 2019-2020 school year starts in January. Friendship Station Preschool is located at 2960 Blackman Road. Please park in Tickets and passes aren’t necessary for this the Geneva Middle School South parking lot (off Viking Drive), and follow the marked path week of discounted dining; show up at any par- to the preschool entrance. For more information, call 232-4542 or visit genevaparks.org. ticipating location or call ahead to make a reser- vation to ensure your chance to indulge. The Founding Exchange Geneva Event – January 14 & 28 Want to meet up with fellow mom entrepreneurs and build a better business? The Found- Participating restaurants include: ing Exchange: We learn from business experts, swap actionable, practical advice and help one another grow our companies. From 9:30-11:30 am at 25N Coworking. 318 Coffeehouse Free Friday @ 25N – January 17 1910 BAR Have you been curious about coworking? Here at 25N Coworking we have a “Free Fri- Altiro Latin Fusion day” once a month where you are welcome to come and try our space for the day! For free! This is an exclusive offer for all who are not members of 25N Coworking. Email Atwater’s [email protected] for more information. Chianti’s Crystal Bride Trunk Shows – January 24 & 25 Cotto A Legna Join The Crystal Bride for trunk shows this month featuring Essense of Australia. Regis- Craft Urban tration is required and event links are on the website (crystalbride.com). FoxFire Restaurant Real Raptors – January 25 Geneva Ale House See live owls, falcons, and hawks up-close and personal! Learn about the lives of these GIA MIA amazing creatures, how human activity can unknowingly harm them, what checks and balances are in place to protect them, and what you can do to support these beautiful Houlihan’s birds. Presented by Geneva Park District’s Peck Farm Park and Northern Illinois Raptor The Little Traveler Atrium Café Rehab and Education Center. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a Livia Italian Eatery parent or guardian. $10 per person. Pre-registration is recommended. Register online at genevaparks.org. Either 11 am-12 pm or 1-2 pm. Nothing Bundt Cakes Osteria Bigolaro Kids Cabaret – January 31 Have you ever wanted to perform on a big stage? Now is your chance! This new event Preservation provides a fun and supportive environment for young performers, and the opportunity to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory perform an act of their choice on stage in front of a live audience. Each act will get up to five Sergio’s Cantina minutes to set-up and perform. Open to performers ages 5-18. A limited number of perfor- mance slots are available. Register by January 24 for the January 31 show. Tickets for the Stockholm’s January 31 show are $5 each and are available online at genevaparks.org, at the Stephen The Walrus Room Persinger Recreation Center, and at the Sunset Community Center. For more information call 232-4542, or visit genevaparks.org. At Geneva Park District’s Playhouse 38 at 7 pm.

Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com 6 SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Member Events (cont.)

REGISTRATION OPEN Super Shuffle 5K – February 2 Early Registration by January 19 is $35; Registration after January 19 / Day-of registration: $40 Race Only: $20 (Does not include hoodie or participant bag). Register Online through Race Roster at https://raceroster.com/events/2020/27597/geneva-park-districts-super- shuffle-5k The first 250 people to register will get a free knit beanie hat. For more infor- mation, visit genevaparks.org or call 232-4542.

Just Dad N Me Dance – February 16 It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Enjoy an evening of dancing, entertainment, and delicious refreshments just for dad & his a long-time Geneva Chamber board member little gal. Please note: the event is open to step-dads, uncles, grandpas, etc. The event is and volunteer extraordinaire. Robert Langeness not limited to dads! Fathers and daughters must register individually. Cost: $10 ($15 N/R) passed away December 1. per person. Register online at genevaparks.org.

Over 25 years ago, Robert joined the Geneva Chamber of Commerce Board. During that time, he also served on the golf committee and volunteered at every one of the Geneva Cham- ber’s festivals. He often could be heard answer- ing phones or seen helping with gift certificate purchases at our office when the Chamber staff would be offsite for a meeting.

It was not unusual for Robert to just stop by the office and say hi, often bringing his sidekick Grace the Doberman Pinscher.

First working at the Chicago Tribune as an ad- vertising manager, Langeness then chose a job in advertising closer to home with the Geneva Re- We have started planning our events for 2019 and we wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on publican. When Shaw Media acquired the paper, the excitement this year! Each one promises surprises alongside the favorite things that Langeness stayed on dividing his time between make them award winning and must do’s each year. As you are filling out your calendars, the Chronicle publications and the Geneva Re- make sure Geneva Chamber events are part of your year. publican. After retiring from the media industry, Langeness drew upon a career he had once done Geneva Restaurant Week January 20-26 as a young man, and started working with Yurs Funeral Homes as a Funeral Director Assistant, Coffee Cup Crawl February 22 all while maintaining his Chamber involvement. Geneva City-Wide Garage Sale April 24-25 His civic involvement began shortly after moving to Geneva as a Republican Committee precinct Annual Golf Outing June TBD member. He then ran and served three terms as a City of Geneva Alderman. During that time Swedish Days June 23-28 Langeness was chairman of the Police and Fire Committee and a board representative for Geneva Classic Car Shows Thursdays in July & August Tri-Com. In 1985 Geneva celebrated 150 years and Langeness was a part of the planning for the Geneva Arts Fair July 25-26 Sesquicentennial celebration. Additionally, he also served on the Delnor Hospital Foundation Festival of the Vine September 11-13 Board when the hospital was being built west of town. Wedding/Bridal Walk November TBD

Geneva Community Chest, Geneva Lions Club, Christmas Walk December 4 Fox Valley Shriners and Geneva Masonic Lodge #139 have all benefitted from Langeness’ con- Holiday House Tour December 4-5 tributions. So many ways your business can participate! Working together, 2020 will be a year to We will miss his optimism and crazy spirit, as will remember! all the lives he touched in his almost 80 years.

Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 7

Highlights of Christmas Walk Upgrading Your PC Desktop vs. Laptop, Microsoft Account, Touchscreen, Second Screen

Most people today opt for a laptop PC. It used to be that a desktop offered more power for less money. They still do, but the difference isn’t that much anymore and it is far outweighed by the portability – both around the house and when traveling. The important thing is to get one with a large enough screen for you to do your work comfortably. A fifteen-inch screen is usually good enough, but larger screen PCs are avail- able if your eyesight isn’t what it used to be.

Windows 10 is, by now, fairly ubiquitous. If you are still on an earlier version, I highly recommend updating. Windows 10 is very easy to use and will never go obsolete. Microsoft has stated that major new releases will go out as free updates to Windows 10. There will not be a Windows 11.

Also, make sure you have created a Microsoft Account – for two main reasons. If you forget your PC login password, you can still login with your Microsoft Account password. And if you forget that password, you can do the “forgot password” procedure to reset it. Second – your application programs and other key pieces of data will be continually backed up to your Mi- crosoft account so that if you ever lose your hard drive contents (or get a new PC) they can be quickly restored.

Windows 10 makes heavy use of touchscreen technology. When upgrading to a new PC, get one with a touchscreen. It will cost a little more, but it’s worth it – especially when traveling. I find touching the screen to start a program or take an action is way more efficient than trying to manip- ulate the cursor by finger-swiping a touchpad.

Another highly useful upgrade is to add a sec- ond screen (to either a desktop or laptop PC). External screens are fairly cheap and easily con- nected via HDMI and easily configured in Win- dows 10 by typing “p” (for Project) while hold- ing down the “windows” key. Now, when you are working simultaneously on two applications, such as editing a document based on informa- tion from an email or website, both can be vis- ible to you at once (without having to maintain a split screen).

photos cr. Karen Muehlfelt of Keeping Moments Photography Howie Pribble Home PC Technologies Home-PC-Tech.com

Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com 8 SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Post on our Website Thank you to all who helped bring Holiday Magic to Geneva! Did you know a benefit of your mem- bership allows you to post Special Of- Ashland Ventures for their very generous monetary donations. fers, Events & Job Postings on our Ge- Mike and Debbie Bruno, City of Geneva Natural Resource Committee, Jay Moffat and neva Chamber website? Just login with additional donors including an anonymous one for assisting with the purchase of the new your user name and password given to tree. Extra thank you to Tony Salerno Jr., Windy City Amusements whose winning bid at the annual dinner provided the last payment for the tree. you when you became a member and follow the prompts. IF you need any Mat Masters for assuring clean mats were out each day at the House Tour homes. assistance, call us at 232-6060. Take Scentcerely Yours for pouring thousands of candles to give to House Tour participants. advantage of this benefit in 2020! City of Geneva Public Works and Electrical Departments for hanging the banners, lights, ornaments and setting up Santa’s House. Fagans ~ A Graphic Design & Printing Company for the ticket layout and design. Fox Valley Orthopedics for supplying ALL the booties for our House Tour visitors to wear.

Board Member Susan Huang, Fox Valley eValues & Deals for assisting in our Visitor Center. Invex Design for assisting in all things tech for the Christmas Walk and House Tour website pages. GENEVAILLINOIS A certain someone from Tutor Doctor for donning a red suit. Shop Eat Drink Play Stay Our media partners (print and online) for their outstanding coverage of the Christmas Walk & House Tour via articles, event listings and special sections – Chicago Tribune, Shaw Media/Kane County Chronicle, Daily Herald, Neighbors Media/Tri Cities Maga- zine, West Suburban Living Magazine and Fox Valley eValues and Deals. Cocoon, Country Naturals, Floral Wonders, Heinz Brothers Greenhouse, Little Red Barn Door, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and The Little Traveler for generously selling Holiday House Tour tickets. Our Christmas Walk & Holiday House Tour Sponsors which include: Little Red Barn Door (overall supporting sponsor of Christmas Walk & Holiday House Tour) State Street Jewelers, FoxFire, Geneva Commons, Comfort Inn & Suites Geneva IL (The NEW Tree) Scentcerely Yours, Carlson’s Flooring, GIA MIA | LIVIA ITALIAN EATERY and Lebin Financial Planning (Scents of the Season Candles) Geneva Bank & Trust, A Wintrust Community Bank & Tutor Doctor (Santa House) Great Western Flooring, Keller Williams Inspire and Shaw Media (Holiday House Tour) CIBC (Roasted Chestnuts) Chicago Steel Hockey Team & Kane County Cougars (In-Kind Sponsor) Are you stocked up on Visitor Shodeen Homes (Horse Drawn Carriage all December) Guides for 2020? Savant Capital Management (Print Sponsor) Dancer’s Dream (Overall Sponsor) Stop by our office and grab and our partner City of Geneva! some. The current one has Galena Cellars on the front.

Our chestnut roasters – Geneva Running Outfitters (pictured), Deane’s Market & Deli, State Street Jewelers (pictured) and Geneva Ace Hardware in front of The Paper Merchant.

Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 9

House Tour Decorators & Contributors

Geneva Garden Club Floral Wonders & & Country Naturals Neri Landscaping

Gatherings By Design Geneva Garden Club & Plandscape & Plandscape

Town & Country Gardens Strawflower Shop/Rug Merchant It’s time to renew your Geneva Chamber Membership!

Invoices have been mailed.

Look for some additional package add-ons to enhance your membership.

Questions? Call or email Membership Director Robyn Chione ([email protected])

The Little Traveler

Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com 10 SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

What marketing trends will 2020 hold? (cont.)

Make sure to get proper permission before texting to keep your customer on your side and provide special incentives to customers who allow you text them like early-bird discounts to events, access to a free trial or exclusive content.

Also, consider using your texts to build additional connections to your customers by send- ing a link to a newsletter or subscription. Watch those in your text messaging program stay opted-in and engaged as you grow this way.

3. An increase in chatbots as the first line of customer service RE/MAX Excels of Geneva, recently presented Believe it or not, websites still serve a very critical purpose for your business. Your website a check for $4,783 to local VFW Post 7539 to support their efforts in shipping care packages can contribute to a customer’s positive experience, or if it is difficult and outdated, can to active duty troops overseas. detract from their experience instead. The average customer support form on your website isn’t going to cut it anymore because customers expect help in real-time – they don’t want to wait for someone to get back to them.

One of the most beneficial marketing tools you can add to your website is a chatbot. Arti- ficial intelligence has made great strides, and a chatbot that adds a “human touch” and some personalization helps customers remain engaged and coming back. A chatbot can also cut down on wait times by answering questions in real-time. One other bonus is that a bot is likely to decrease the bounce rate from your site and increase conversions.

When set up correctly, you can gain valuable customer insights from a chatbot. A bot can help you identify loyal users who are clearly invested in your brand and your offerings. It is crucial to program your chatbot to provide helpful assistance for your customers and regularly analyze logs to make sure that there are no hang-ups with how the bot responds to people’s needs. If you commit to setting up a chatbot correctly, as well as maintaining it, you will be on your way to success with this trend.

Neil Johnson, SVN Landmark Commercial Real 4. Even more marketing automation Estate, LLC receives some solid pet advice from Today, you can run many campaigns simultaneously when you acquire a new customer; Jeff DiRe, Bruce & Willy’s at November’s New you don’t have to use the same promotions for all. Marketing automation software can Member Reception held at Riverside Receptions. trigger actions based on specific rules that you set up, so you can nurture leads and customers in a way that is custom made for them. You can also keep a full history of how you’ve engaged with each customer, allowing you to have a history and a roadmap of your interactions with them all in one place.

Imagine you get the opportunity to meet new leads at an event. You gather their contact information and set them up to receive some welcoming messaging. Later on, you send them more content and track who is responsive and how they are responding. You can collect actions and responses for each customer and continue to share relevant informa- tion via your messaging apps. Your sales team can then follow up with the most responsive customers to nurture them into even more valuable users.

Marketing automation optimizes your resources and saves time. It also measures out- comes, helping you to continually improve on how you set up your individualized cam- paigns.

Over 20 new members showcased their business As marketing automation tools get more common and sophisticated, customers will come at the New Member Reception, like Hira Oad and to expect this type of personalized service. If you don’t adopt your campaign management Vik Patel from WOW 1 Day Painting who chatted to use more automation, you may lose customers and market share. with Bill Otter, Tutor Doctor In 2020, marketing will continue to move faster than ever. As buyers become better in- formed and shrewd, it is critical to provide them with a personalized, modern form of con- tent and an experience they feel is unique and interesting. Taking advantage of trends on various platforms like podcasting and text message marketing, and relying on marketing automation to secure and nurture leads, will be the keys to success in 2020.

Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 11

Business After Hours - 2020 Schedule

Monday, January 27 New Year, New Day, New Networking THE WALRUS ROOM 415 W. State St., #105, Geneva

February 25 Be a pART of this creative evening WATER STREET STUDIOS 160 S. Water St., Batavia BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman March 24 New Member Reception RIVERSIDE RECEPTIONS Scott Lebin ...... Lebin Financial Planning 35 N. River Lane, Geneva Vice Chairman (5-7 pm) Martha Sanchez ...... State Street Jewelers Treasurer April 28 Put this BAH on your BIKE-it list MILL RACE CYCLERY Susan Huang...... Fox Valley eValues & Deals 11 E. State St., Geneva Secretary Lisa Nelson...... Carlson’s Flooring

Member at Large May 26 Don’t MIScella this MUST SEE property MISCELLA REAL ESTATE Jim Emma...... Nova Communications, Inc. 150A First St., Batavia, IL 60510 BOARD MEMBERS

George Havlicek ...... Geneva ACE Hardware July 28 This BAH will be good for your HEALTH TRI CITY HEALTH PARTNERSHIP Bruce Heidlauf ...... Mill Race Cyclery 318 Walnut St., St. Charles Neil Johnson ..... SVN Landmark Commercial Real Estate Jesse Mercado...... The Herrington Inn & Spa September 15 Progressive Event at Geneva on the Dam/ GENEVA ON THE DAM Vu Nguyen ...... US Bank Celebrating Chamber of Commerce Week COURTYARD 5-7 pm Michael Olesen ...... Stockholm’s Tim Riley ...... Riley Drug 25N Coworking, Concierge Medical Spa, The Dam Bar & Grill, Design Essentials, Inc., Mike Simon ...... The Little Traveler My Advisor & Planner, Riverside Receptions Cathleen Tymoszenko ...... City of Geneva Darla Yhost ...... Geneva Bank & Trust October 27 TAP into this BEERy fun evening THE BEER CELLAR 204 W. State St., Geneva STAFF Paula Schmidt...... President [email protected] November 12 Chamber Annual Dinner & Awards TBD Robyn Chione ...... Membership Director Reservations & Tickets required [email protected] Nancy Jensen...... Office Manager/Volunteer Coord. Who better to promote your business than you? Please come and take this opportunity to network njensen@genevachamber with fellow Chamber members while you enjoy good food and drink. Kelli Rogers...... Sponsorship Director - Reservations are not necessary - krogers@genevachamber .com Laura Rush...... Communications Manager “Business After Hours” is the fourth Tuesday of the month from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise [email protected] Jeanne Sawtell...... Member Services & noted. No “Business After Hours” events are typically scheduled for the months of June, August and Events Coord, [email protected] December. MISSION STATEMENT The primary mission of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce is to be the voice of its members and the business community on matters of economic, social and cultural concerns, and to develop, maintain and monitor selective programs of action which identify issues, provide support in areas of concern and foster community pride and recognition.

SOUNDINGS IS PUBLISHED BY THE GENEVA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Layout and Graphic Design HOURS ...... Weekdays 9-4:30 EDITOR ...... Laura Rush PHONE (630) 232-6060 ...... FAX (630) 232-6083 WEBSITE ...... www.genevachamber.com

Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com 12 SOUNDINGS

Downtown Discoveries On Friday afternoon, April 21, 1967, North- ern Illinois suffered one of the worst tornado outbreaks. At least 10 tornadoes touched down and resulted in 58 deaths, 1,000 inju- BUS NESS ries, and over half a billion dollars in damage. Geneva was hit by this disastrous storm and after hours the Ridgewood subdivision received the most damage but fortunately no lives were lost. Business After Hours is a popular monthly event and an important facet of Geneva Chamber of Commerce networking. Who better to promote your business than you? To learn more about this event and other Please come and take this opportunity to network with fellow Chamber members disasters that hit this city, including fires, while you enjoy good food and drink. Reservations are not necessary. We hope to floods, and blizzards, visit Geneva History see you there! Museum’s Feature Exhibition, “Disaster and Destruction Hit Geneva” opening Saturday, February 8th, 2020. This photographic exhibition will explore some of the biggest disasters that changed Geneva and tell the stories of those who lived through them. submitted by Geneva History Museum

Walrus Room 415 W. State St., #105 Monday, January 27 The Chamber will be closed 5-6:30 pm December 24, 25, 31 & January 1 December 26, 27 & 30 Though the Walrus Room is an homage to supper club staples, hours are 10 am-2 pm it is also a contemporary restaurant with Midwestern product. Connect with us on our social media channels. Follow, Share, Tweet and Like!

Geneva, IL – Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

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Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise. www.genevachamber.com