The great satisfaction of building relationships with other business owners, their customers and staff has driven owner Chris Ramsey for eight great years at Lincoln Park Massage Spa. Ramsey's experience with the LPCC has led to networking with other businesses, learning about their companies and finding ways to cross market. She loves walking the streets of LP and knowing so many people that she can hi to, even in a city as big as Chicago. When Chris isn't marketing her business, connecting with others or driving the strategic direction of the LPCC, she enjoys cooking, walking, going to concerts and spending time with family and friends. In addition, Ramsey sits on the Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society in Chicago.

Rodon Hornof is co-owner of a kitchen and bath design firm that strives to provide exciting, creative and practical design solutions to suit varying lifestyles and budgets. Currently a practicing licensed Interior Designer in Illinois, she uses the LPCC Board to interact with both large and small businesses within the community. Finding Lincoln Park to be a unique place to shop and dine and enjoy culture without having to leave the neighborhood, she also gives back by volunteering at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter. Rodon Hornof represents the Board of Directors as Member at Large where she "hopes to support new ideas and direction to take the Chamber to the next level." She believes the success for any small business owner is the support given and received within a community. LPCC and the surrounding community helps provide that to her. She also enjoys gardening, yoga and spending time with her cats - Leo and Coco.

Erika Kohler notes that "the people" are her favorite part of the Lincoln Park and LPCC communities. It makes sense as Kohler serves as the Senior Director of Guest Services for the Lincoln Park Zoo, a neighborhood icon that has been open for 143 years. Connecting people to nature by providing an engaging, family-friendly wildlife experience in the heart of the city is what drives the Lincoln Park Zoo and Kohler in her role interacting with visitors. Don't forget - the Zoo is free and open to everyone every day of the year!

Building upon DePaul’s presence in the community and creating strong ties with community leaders is also a priority for me," McAteer-Fournier says of her experience with the LPCC. In her role at DePaul's Career Center, the diverse range of businesses and organizations found in Lincoln Park and the LPCC is of major benefit for the University and most notably its students looking for internship and career opportunities. In her free time, McAteer-Fournier is personally connected to community through her work volunteering on political campaigns. If that isn't "free time" in your mind, she also enjoys reading historical and biographical non-fiction.

Gold reports that she's "constantly learning new ways to market (for myself as well as my clients). I love helping clients grow their businesses." This passion for marketing benefits the LPCC board greatly as Gold provides assistance with strategic communications and more. LPCC members are not only solid professionals who she can easily recommend to clients, but as a group, they're about the nicest bunch of people she knows. Gold, who loves jazz and country music, theater, travel, hiking in CO, power walks along the lake and through Lincoln Park, Zumba, beading, hanging out with her grandchildren and her iPad sees the LPCC as a community. As a north sider, Gold never realized that Chicago as viewed from the south, west or east (like on the Free Spirit Yacht) looks totally different. Just as spectacular, but different.

In January 2010, Ms. Hayes was named Vice President of External Affairs of the Chicago History Museum after several years in various marketing and corporate sponsorship roles. At the Museum, one of Lincoln Park's great cultural institutions, Hayes continues to focus on implementing marketing, fundraising and communication strategies as it relates to the museum brand, special events, exhibition and educational programming. Originally from Chicago, Melissa Hayes received her Master’s degree in Public Art Studies from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and her BA in Art History from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Labok is driven by a desire to constantly be improving himself and the world he lives in. Although he considers Community Relations only a small part of the operation, he works to best help the institution realize their mission. He is passionate and involved in Lincoln Park, saying "Lincoln Park knows what type of neighborhood they want to be, and the businesses and residents both work in concert to achieve that goal." Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, long-time resident, small or large business owner, Labok knows everyone can have a sense of purpose and being here, and hopes to drive the LPCC's role in this neighborhood connection on the Board. Further connecting himself to the neighborhood, Labok is currently pursing his MBA at DePaul University. And in his spare time, he is the director of the DePaul Screamin’ Demons Pep Band."

Jim Kelly is a passionate businessman with experience in his own start-up, built from his experiences as CEO of a $100 million+ company. Further building on his professional career is an amazing stat - Kelly has completed 57 marathons to date. 57. This drive is seen in his work to maximize the leadership capabilities of his clients. Kelly also uses his marathon and business experience to drive the strategic direction of the LPCC as well as the Government Affairs Committee. Kelly also volunteers with a shelter and the group "Back on My Feet" which helps those who have experienced homelessness through running. Kelly also looks forward to the graduation of his two daughters in 2012.

A business owner herself, Beth Kraszewski finds the thriving concentration of businesses in Lincoln Park an inspiration. A financial planner, Kraszewski is passionate about working with clients and finding the best solutions to their financial needs so they can spend time on the things that interest them. Kraszewski expands her reach into Lakeview as a member of the SSA #27 Board of Directors. Kraszewski, who also loves to cook, enjoys Chicago and the Lincoln Park neighborhood for their many world-class and delicious restaurants. Kraszewski looks forward to building on her existing relationships and developing news ones for her business and the LPCC.

Chris Matern has been an attorney practicing law in Chicago for 22 years. An active LPCC member since 1999, Matern has served two terms on the Board of Directors where he says “the faces have changed but the high level to the LPCC mission has remained.” Working on the strategic direction of the organization and helping businesses grow while on the Board, Matern enjoys Lincoln Park’s small town feel. Matern and his wife, Kathy, have one son who he reports is his main hobby.

After 12 years in investment banking in the mortgage-backed securities markets, Jim’s expertise in how the capital markets function and impact the pricing and structure of home loans is a unique competitive advantage. Jim is an active member of the LPCC, servingas a member of the Board of Directors and sitting on both the Finance and Lincoln Park Development Institute Committees. Although his steady membership in the LPCC has earned Jim significant benefits for his business, he has stepped up his volunteer efforts to contribute more to the Lincoln Park business community. When not working or volunteering, Jim is an active father for two young boys, Andrew and Tyler, and he can be seen at baseball diamonds, gymnastics meets, basketball games, and Scout activities throughout the Chicagoland area.

“Steppenwolf Theatre Company is where great acting meets big ideas,” says David Schmitz, Managing Director of the popular Lincoln Park arts destination. It is this passion and experience that drives Schmitz and his role on the LPCC’s Board of Directors. In addition to his work with Steppenwolf and the LPCC, Schmitz enjoys playing golf, photography and raising his children. Schmitz values the people associated with the LPCC and the Lincoln Park community and their commitment to a theatre scene “second to none.” Schmitz focuses his time on the LPCC’s Governance Committee, studying how and what the LPCC can be best at in Chicago.

As a community banker, Jill Valentine really enjoys meeting with business owners and learning about their passion, their business. It’s amazing to see how clients have taken ideas and turned them into a viable business, she notes. In Lincoln Park, she spends a lot of time at Oz Park and will always have cherished memories of her children at all ages and stages there—from the baby swing all the way through championship baseball games. As a board member, she works to add insight, a forward thinking perspective to the chamber programming, and make sure we are addressing the needs of the business and residents through these tough economic times.  Valentine's free time is consumed with being a taxi driver for her children.  When she's not driving in circles within Lincoln Park adding to the traffic issues, she spends her time reading and walking by the lake.

Chicago, and notably Lincoln Park, is home to hundreds of small businesses, so having professional experience with small businesses on the LPCC Board is crucial. Zelitzky has a career founded on small business roots and experience in the community. She is the President of the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), she volunteers to at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter and teach and is an Instructor Support Coach for the Streetwise Steps Small Business curriculum for Interise.org. In her “free time”, Zelitziky enjoys Chicago’s multicultural scene and helping other business leaders, especially women, flourish.