At the end of March, the Glenview Chamber of Commerce will say its goodbyes to the leader who launched Bites & Brews; expanded the Village’s fabled holiday celebration; brought free ice cream to Summer Fest; initiated Leadership Glenview, a civic training program; offered Glenview Chamber’s first drive-in movies, and presided over the strategic redesign of the Chamber’s communications.
Those are just some of the reasons Executive Director Betsy Baer will be sorely missed, according to President Chris Falcon. “Betsy was the architect that helped the Chamber realize its potential within the business community and beyond. The stability established under her leadership will continue to serve all that live and work in Glenview for years to come,” he said.
Baer led the Chamber for 10 years, during which membership doubled. Among her most enduring legacies will be her deft work on sponsorships, which enabled the Chamber to offer frequent community-building events and programs.
“Glenview is a different place since Betsy first joined us,” noted Karen Patterson, immediate past president of the Chamber. “Her vision of a vibrant, welcoming hometown has brought neighbors closer to Glenview’s businesses and our businesses closer to each other. That’s the foundation of a sustainable Glenview, a place where people want to live, work, start businesses, and raise families. Betsy understood the importance of those relationships from the beginning and did an outstanding job for the Chamber and our community.”
The Chamber announced that Membership Director Meghan Kearney will take on a new role as Deputy Executive Director. As a trusted partner to Glenview businesses over the last four years, Kearney brings a wealth of knowledge and excitement to her new role.
“I’m thrilled to be taking on this role within a community that my family calls home," she said. “So many of the businesses we frequent are beloved Glenview staples that make our community a better and brighter place. I'm passionate about championing our ‘With You, For You Glenview' mantra into the next decade and beyond."
In the last year, Covid-19 presented significant challenges to the organization and to the businesses it represents. Chamber programs were delayed, some were offered online, and tactics were shifted toward helping business owners manage the changing landscape, including applying for support under the CARES act. As a trusted partner to local businesses, Kearney offered innovative solutions to help promote members services to the community during these unprecedented times, successfully increasing membership during COVID-19.
Previously, Kearney worked for The Irvine Company in Orange County, Calif., as a recruiter on the hiring team tasked with filling 1,000 openings for a new five-star resort. Also, she spent time at Tribune Company as a recruiter for corporate positions in accounting, building security and office services.
