President’s Report – December 2021

Hello December! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays bring so much hope for what’s to come. Hopefully, this season allows you to stop from your busy day-to-day and cherish those most dear to you. As we look ahead and close out 2021, I want to thank you for working, living, and serving our North County community. Together, we are making a difference for our community and look forward with anticipation for 2022.

Thank you to all those that have sent cards and reached out to me for my mother’s passing. I feel so blessed to have so many friends turned into family and have felt all your love and prayers. I really, really appreciate all your kindness; and am daily humbled that God would send me so many wonderful people. It’s sometimes difficult being so far from my hometown of New York City; but you all make it so easy to be at home here in St. Louis. Again, thank you so much. A special thanks to our Chair, Rick Dorsey and Vice Chair, Carl Lathan for holding down the fort while I was away; and of course, the two most special girls in the office: Jaime and Danielle, without them I would be lost. As a mourned my mother’s passing, these two did not skip a beat and created the most amazing Nite of Stars we’ve ever held. If I don’t say it enough, Thank you ladies! This Chamber is indebted to you!

Just a reminder, we are still collecting new toys for Child Center Marygrove, please drop by the chamber office until December 17th and help us give the gift of joy and hope!

Please be sure to sign up for our December Luncheon as we will present the State of the Chamber: Where you’re Investments are Invested! The luncheon will be at Catering To You on December 15th at 11 a.m. We will also have our Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest that afternoon, so please sign up and celebrate the last Chamber luncheon of 2021!

This year’s Nite of Stars There’s No Place Like North County: The Emerald City was incredible! If you were unable to attend this once a year event, it was spectacular and absolutely magical!

Congratulations again to our Business Person of the Year: Bob McGartland, Robinwood Auto & Tire Service; our Zykan Family Legacy Award Winner: Dr. Rance Thomas, North County Churches United for Racial Harmony & Justice; our Cathy Behlmann Volunteer of the Year award winner Brian Douglas; our Rookie of the Year winner Brennen Sowa; and our Ambassador of the Year award winner Barb Lytle.

Our committee did such a wonderful job creating a memorable evening. Thanks to Chair, Kitty Harrison for spearheading such a wonderful event and to all the committee members, Board of Directors, and chamber members that donated, gave and volunteered to make the event a success. We couldn’t have pulled off Nite of Stars without you and of course, Jaime and Danielle worked tirelessly to make sure that no detail was missed. We danced the evening away with DJ Papa G, while Kent Miller Photography captured the evening forever! Thank you to Mike Orlando for making our evening so spectacular at Orlando Gardens Event and Conference Center!

Special thanks to our Wizard’s Mystery Box Sponsor: A Savvy Employment Solution; If I Only Had A Brain Bar Sponsor: Don Zykan, and Fogarty’s House of Vapor; Poppy Field Lounge: Goldkamp Heating & Cooling, and Issa Lifestyle Health & Wellness; Photobooth sponsored by Delmar Gardens North; and our Yellowbrick Road Photos by Kent Miller Photography.

Thank you to our amazing volunteers for the evening: Bill Ray, Rebecca and Tim Zoll, Suzy Snow, Sean Morris, and of course, the patient husbands of Kitty Harrison, Jaime Jenkins, and Danielle Berliner: Craig, Joe, and Mikey!

Thank you to our 2020 Partners: Elite Sponsor Christian Hospital; Premier Partner SSM Health DePaul Hospital – St. Louis; Gold Partners: Club Car Wash, and Stifel Nicolas & Co; our Emerald Sponsors: Amore Pizza, Gary’s Auto Service, Good Shepherd Arts Center, Handyman True Value Hardware, Hope Hospice Inc, Paramount Bank, Sam’s Club, Seniors Helping Seniors, and St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley. Our Silver Sponsors: Central Bank, City of Florissant, Delmar Gardens North, Emerson Family YMCA, Life Development Support Center, Midland States Bank, Valley Industries; Bronze Sponsors: A Skeets Production, Goldkamp Heating & Cooling, Resler-Kerber Optometry, St. Louis Metro Realtors, St. Luke’s Pediatric Center, The Ambush, and Vantage Credit Union.

As we close out this year, I want to say a big THANK YOU to our Board Chair, Rick Dorsey. This year came with so many surprises – some good, some trying… but with his leadership and support, the Chamber is stronger than ever. There was never a question too small or a problem too great that he would not tackle. Carl Lathan has big shoes to fill but Rick will be a phone call away 🙂

I wait in anticipation to see what good things are headed our way in 2022. Always the optimist, I know that together, we can make a positive impact in our community and our businesses! As always, my door is open to you anytime – for a chat, a conversation, or sometimes, just a listening ear. Let’s do this North County!

I leave you with my last quote for the year: “Remember when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given; a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage” – Saint Francis of Assisi

Also, please note that the Chamber office will be closed for the season From Friday, December 24th until Monday, January 3rd, 2022! (we need to catch up on our beauty sleep before we hit the ground running in 2022)