NEWSLETTER
u WINTER 2024 u
Business & Industry United For A Better Community
A sneak preview of the 2025 Oswego Hometown Expo
Mark your calendar for three exciting seasonal events
Celebrate the chamber’s most recent ribbon cuttings
By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske | Photo by Steven Buyansky
Just about the time you reach for a third helping of leftover turkeys and stuffing comes the reminder: This holiday season make time to Shop Small/Shop Local.
It’s more than an idea. It’s the way to support your hometown businesses, and in turn, the hometown community.
“Every year I try to buy as many of my presents from local businesses,” said Angie Hibben, CEO of the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce.
PRSRT STD
As your holiday buying begins, find the perfect gifts, decor and services in the Oswego area
easy; still, each year Hibben pops in and out of shops in downtown Oswego and along the Route 34 business corridor to find something special for her family and friends. Shopping locally saves her gas, eliminates shipping costs and it helps keep the dollars she spends at the local businesses in the community.
“These are the businesses that support your kid’s soccer team, your football team, help with raffle baskets for fundraisers and more,” Hibben said.
U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081
Shopping for her adult children isn’t
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We're all in
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Local businesses like fashion boutique Bella Gia in Oswego have been planning for their holiday season since the first daffodils popped up in the spring.
“I am constantly looking, ordering, shipping and staying up to date on the hottest styles,” explained Bella Gia owner Stacy Shaw.
Her shop carries fashion for multiple generations, from the tweens through teens and for adult women from young professionals through retirees. She loves watching a mom and daughter or a young adult and her grandmother visit and shop with her, knowing each of them can find what they love.
Helping local businesses goes beyond spending. Following your favorite shops and services on their social media pages, giving a like, a thumbs up to their posts or sharing with friends, are also great ways to help a small, local business with its marketing and outreach.
For many, the message of shopping small is about having a big impact even in the smallest way. In addition to her leadership at the chamber and in the community, Hibben also creates
and sells handcrafted items at a local shop in town. From what started as a hobby, creating jewelry, crochet items, has turned into a small business. A handmade crochet doll will cost more than an average stuffed animal mass produced by a factory, but every time a shopper purchases one of her creations, they are supporting costs for materials and the time she dedicates to each creation. Every purchase from a small, handcraft business supports someone’s passion and helps them support their family, save a little extra and no matter how small, it truly makes a big difference.
25 E. Jackson St. Oswego, IL 60543
Phone: (630) 554-3505
Fax: (630) 554-0050
Email: info@oswegochamber.org
Check us out online at www.OswegoChamber.org
IANGIE HIBBEN President/CEO Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce
can’t believe it is almost the end of 2024 and that the holidays are upon us. This is a time to be thankful for all that we have and have done. First of all, I would like to say how blessed the chamber is for our amazing members and supporters! Thank you to our sponsors, our volunteers and people who have attended and supported our events throughout the year.
Fall brought several events such as Fox Fall Fest with the Oswego Downtown Association and the Fraidycat 5K, Ghost Run 8K and the Meow Mile, a candidate forum, the New Member Dinner event and many networking events and ribbon cuttings. We have a few more events before the year ends including Christmas Walk activities in downtown and the chamber, the Cookie Walk and NEW this year: The Jingle Bell Jog.
I want to remind everyone to shop small this holiday season and throughout the year. There are many ways to support small business – share their posts, like their posts on social media, recommend them and purchase from them. Many of your local businesses are the ones who support your kids’ clubs, sports teams and more. Many of these businesses have children/grandchildren in your child’s schools.
Mark your calendars for the Annual Business and Consumer Expo to be held on Feb. 22, 2025 at Oswego High School in the field house. This event is free and open to the public to come out and learn more about local businesses and nonprofits.
Thank you and have a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. I hope to see everyone downtown during Christmas Walk and other activities.
RICK WARNER
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Attorney at Law
630-446-0087
KELLEY RICE
PAST CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Imagination Print & Design 630-636-7474
RICK JACOBSEN VICE CHAIRMAN TJC Apartments 630-330-1660
KEN HOLMSTROM TREASURER Byline Bank 630-636-5205
KAREN KULZER SECRETARY Fox River Academy of Music & Art 630-551-4321
LESLIE HILDERBRANT Hudson Design House 630-636-9000
DAN DISANTO Village of Oswego Administrator 630-551-2340
CAROL GUIST
Baird & Warner Real Estate 630-244-6808
JIM BAILEY Bailey Accounting Services 630-551-8307
WENDY GREENSLADE
Locked In Photography 630-608-8671
ANDY CLEMENTS
Instructor of Business
Waubonsee Community College 630-466-7900 ext. 2315
GET INVOLVED. BE ACTIVE. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I write to you as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce, an Oswego resident and local attorney. It continues to be my great honor to serve in this capacity and to try to improve the vitality of the Chamber, its 500-plus members and the overall Oswego area community.
As part of this effort, the Chamber provides and sponsors numerous community events and activities that give the overall Oswego area residents a chance to interact with the businesses and charitable organizations that make up our wonderful Oswego area.
As chairman, I urge every community member to recognize the transformative impact of getting involved in our shared local initiatives. Oswego is more than just a place to live; it’s a thriving community brimming with potential, and each one of us has the power to help shape its future. From supporting local businesses to participating in community events, every action you take contributes to Oswego’s economic vitality and growth. Together, we can foster a resilient, connected and prosperous community, but it starts with each of us taking that first step.
Active community participation doesn’t just benefit the individuals involved; it brings out the best in Oswego. By volunteering, attending Chamber events or simply shopping
locally, we can create a supportive network that strengthens our local economy and attracts new opportunities. Every local business we support keeps resources circulating within our community, which means more jobs, more services and more improvements to our shared spaces. These small, everyday actions make a world of difference over time, creating a community that reflects our shared values and goals.
Making a difference in Oswego is achievable, but it requires a united commitment. As we look to the future, I encourage each of you to explore how you can make an impact. Whether it’s first looking to Oswego Chamber members to provide vital services, joining the Chamber, volunteering for a community project or attending a town hall meeting, there are countless ways to contribute. When we all come together with the shared vision of an engaged, prosperous and vibrant Oswego, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish. Let’s embrace this opportunity to create the future we envision for our town, supporting each other every step of the way.
The Chamber and our members are here to serve you!
Sincerely,
Richard W. Warner, Attorney at Law & Chairman of the Board of the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce
2025 OSWEGO HOMETOWN EXPO
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 22
Oswego High School
4250 Route 71, Oswego
By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske | Photos by the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce and Eric Schelkopf
With approximately 104 booths, many sponsors and hundreds of attendees, the annual Oswego Hometown Expo is the place to connect with the community and find reliable, trusted businesses.
The Oswego Hometown Expo brings the community together, featuring local businesses and service providers. For 2025 the theme is “Back to Business” for the Oswego Hometown Expo, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Oswego High School.
“It’s the opportunity to meet and get to know local businesses, products and
services,” explained Angie Hibben, CEO of the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce.
Behind the scenes, Hibben and chamber members spend countless hours to make the event a success for those hosting booths as well as the hundreds of visitors who will walk the expo floor. The chamber uses a professional exhibition company to design and set up the expo floor. Participating businesses are invited to attend a pre-expo class to discuss how to maximize potential, engaging with visitors, having an interesting booth and the best promotional materials.
For Hibben, the aim is to connect with visitors during the expo, so when the time
comes and they need a service, product they will seek out the local company they know through the Hometown Expo.
“It’s a one-stop place to get to know more than 100 businesses,” Hibben said.
The Oswego Hometown Expo also features a number of local nonprofit organizations, giving them the opportunity to share their work with visitors and, ideally, bring on some new volunteers and members too.
“This gives people the opportunity to learn how to volunteer and get involved,” Hibben said.
Of course, one of the favorites is the local
restaurants that bring in a few tasting samples.
For the last several years the expo also features the student and adult art exhibition. Last year more than 300 entries were received in several mediums, from paintings to photography, drawings and jewelry too. Youth and adults are encouraged to submit their pieces in advance for an opportunity to be part of the show. Judges will award ribbons to the top pieces in different categories and the winners will be showcased at the Oswego Village Hall.
The event will also feature electronic recycling, paper shredding services and a place to dispose of tattered and torn American flags for proper disposal. There will also be a collection for expired medications.
Fuel up before or after walking the expo at the annual pancake breakfast hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Oswego during the morning hours.
Visit oswegobusiness.org for information on the art show and the Oswego Hometown Expo.
By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske
The perfect fall day and plenty of pumpkins made Fox Fall Fest a hit for 2024.
The family-friendly event Oct. 6 saw one of its largest crowds, explained Kelley Rice, a member of the fest committee and owner of Imagination Print & Design in downtown Oswego. The festival is produced by the Oswego Downtown Association, which is a part of the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce.
“The weather was perfect and we had such a great turnout,” Rice said. The event brings together downtown businesses and community-wide organizations with a vendor/craft market and plenty of pumpkins for children to select and decorate. Event sponsor
Top Tier Exteriors built a pumpkin house, complete with cubbies to hold the pumpkins. Families that purchased pumpkin tickets were able to visit the pumpkin house to select their pumpkin. Additionally, children received a goody bag to take home.
Attendees could purchase tickets for face painting and a craft project too.
Food trucks served up delicious fair and many of the attendees came for the festival and made time to walk around and visit local downtown Oswego businesses too.
“We have a great partnership with the businesses and community,” Rice said. This event brings the community downtown.”
Entertainment was provided in coordination by Fox River Academy of Music and Art.
Next up will be the return of the annual Cookie Walk, produced by the Oswego Downtown Association, where visitors register in advance for a tin which they fill with goodies as they visit participating businesses in the downtown.
“It’s a really popular event and it always sells out,” Rice said. “People love to do with their families.”
While it’s no easy feat for local businesses to produce a number of sweet treats, including some that bake
homemade goodies, Rice said it’s events like the Cookie Walk that help bring new customers into businesses and encourage shopping local.
“I’m a business owner and I’ve been in this location for five years and people will come in for treats and have had no idea about my shop,” she said, explaining how in addition to custom orders she carries local Oswego-related spirit wear and apparel.
New this year, the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Jingle Bell Jog where individuals and families can lace up their gym shoes, dress up for a festive run through the downtown in the untimed one-mile run. After the run, keep moving with some shopping in the downtown or check out a place to nosh and refuel. Visit oswegochamber.org for details on the jog.
Mark your calendar for three upcoming events to celebrate the holiday season in Oswego! Two beloved holiday walks and a brand new one-mile run are coming in December.
Friday, Dec. 6 • 4:30-8:30 p.m.
Oswego Christmas Walk kicks off the holiday with performances by local choirs, Santa’s reindeer, live ice sculpting, an inflatable sled hill, the village’s annual tree lighting performance and an emergency vehicle light parade. People of all ages are invited to enjoy games, crafts and giveaways.
Saturday, Dec. 7 • 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Tins will be sold online only starting Tuesday, Nov. 26. Join this annual event in downtown Oswego. You must buy this year’s tin to participate. Follow Oswego Downtown Association for updates: www.facebook.com/DowntownOswego
Saturday, Dec. 14 • 9 a.m.
Every runner will receive a long-sleeved shirt and jingle bells. Wear your Santa hat and your bells and jog a one-mile route around Oswego. No timing, no awards –just pure holiday fun. Burn off some Christmas cookies and stress, then visit with Santa and enjoy cocoa and cookies. After the jog, head downtown to eat lunch and finish your Christmas shopping. Visit www.oswegodowntown.org to register.
The fall membership drive brought 12 new members into the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce. We are always excited to welcome new businesses to the area and new members to the chamber.
Our new members range from the new cannabis store, to mortgage, to remodeling/construction, health care, IT services, marketing services, financial services, recreation, counseling and more. For information about more of the chamber’s newest members, see page 18.
The Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce helps businesses learn, grow and prosper within our diverse and thriving community. Focused fully on the Oswego and surrounding area, we connect you to the people, events and information that make our community a rewarding location to offer your product or service.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT: “The Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce promotes the growth and prosperity of our members by connecting them to resources, relationships, and value-added benefits to foster a successful business community.”
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CLOUD9 CANNABIS
Alex Corrao
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YARD DESIGNS
WEST CHICAGO SUBURBS
Sani Demma 2390 Oakfield Dr., Aurora 630-742-2003 ydwestchicago@gmail.com
GUILD MORTGAGE
Autumn Stark-Loan Officer 4583 Route 71, Oswego 630-631-0035 astark@guildmortgage.net
LION CONCRETE
Valerie Neupert 4080 Route 71, Unit C, Oswego 630-892-7304 hello@lionconcrete.net
COLONIAL REMODELING & CONSTRUCTION
Marcelo Meraz 321 Webster St., Ste. B, Montgomery 630-554-5030 Crc777inc@gmail.com
BRIGHTWAVE MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
Kelly Taylor 5 E. Washington St., Ste. B, Oswego 815-751-0758 Ktaylor101@gmail.com
FOUNDATION CHIROPRACTIC
Dr. Vanessa Ulloa 1210 Douglas, Oswego 630-608-2885 info@foundationoswego.com
CARMODY GROUP LLC
Ryan Carmody 27 Stone Hill Rd., #B, Oswego 630-355-0002 jdillow@carmodyconstructionil.com
BLUE ICE ANALYTIC SOLUTIONS
Scott Jones Oswego 847-346-8241 scott@blueiceanalytics.com
YOURTEQ
Brian Gorr
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CHERRIZ ALLBABIDI MARKETING & PROFESSIONAL SOLUTIONS
Jorge Cherriz 4055 S. Route 59, #106, Naperville 224-244-8911 info@cherrizallababidi.com
EDWARD JONES-JACOB PAGE
217 Capitol Dr Suite D Sugar Grove, IL 60554 630-466-3700
Jacob.page@edwardjones.com
SLICK CITY ACTION PARK
Lexi Volt & Kevin Dugal 1830 Towne Center Dr., North Aurora 331-244-6090 kevin@ihmanagementco.com
PURPLE LOTUS SOLUTIONS
Mindy Burkhamer 2683 US Route 34, Oswego 331-267-4881
mindy@purplelotussolutionsinc.com
COMPASS MORTGAGE
Kaleb Husser 27755 Diehl Rd., Ste. 100, Warrenville 630-818-4672 kalebhusser@compmort.com
ELEVATE TRANSITIONS
Julie Hoffberg St. Charles 630-947-5546 jhoffberg@elevatetransitions.com
SIGNAL IT CONSULTING, INC.
Josh Chamness P.O Box 1025, Oswego 630-984-4779 josh@signalit.net
NASH VEGAS SALOON
Joe Porretta 61 Main St., Oswego 630-332-4060 billing@foxbaygroup.com
ASSISTED LIVING LOCATORS CHICAGOLAND
Kym Schoenfeld 252 Foster Dr., Oswego 630-797-8462 kschoenfeld@gmail.com
NICK CORTINO STATE FARM
900 N. Lake St., Ste. 205, Aurora 630-896-7606
nick@myagentnick.com
Becoming a Member is EASY and Affordable!
Check us out online at www.OswegoChamber.org | Call, e-mail, or stop on by! Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce 25 E. Jackson St. • Oswego, IL 60543
Phone: (630) 554-3505 • Fax: (630) 554-0050 • Email: info@oswegochamber.org
