Nominations for the 2026 Spotlight Awards are open, and this year adds the Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award to the lineup. This award goes to a member: the one who shows up for everyone else, through volunteering, mentoring, sponsoring, or other outstanding support. This is your chance to give them the spotlight they deserve.

If someone comes to mind, tell us why in a few sentences, and we'll take it from there. Nominations are how we land on our finalists, so those few sentences carry real weight. Nominations close August 16.

If nominating someone isn't enough and you want to show your support in a bigger way, sponsorship is open at every level. New this year is the Award Sponsor level, where the award carries your business name on the certificate, the screen, and the announcement from the stage. You'll also help choose the honoree, present the award yourself, and reserve a table for eight.

Award sponsorships are first come, first served. Take a look at what's included at each level, or reach out directly to claim yours.

Another round of applause for last year's winners...

Click on any graphic to get more information about the event and to sign up.

Explore what's in store, including fun and educational activities happening throughout.

COMING UP THIS WEEK

PLAN YOUR MONTH

Here you'll find recent updates and resources from our community partners!

Most leaders have at least one habit or blind spot their team notices and never mentions. Join Oak Park-River Forest member Tina Shrader (Empower Family Therapy) and Ken Clark, award-winning speaker and creator of Solving Without Sorry™, for a free virtual session on 360 assessments, tools that surface that kind of feedback from your employees, customers, and vendors before it costs you something.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest disaster loans to businesses, private nonprofits, and residents affected by the June 11 storms and tornadoes, with Cook County included in the declaration. Loans can cover property damage, lost inventory, or the working capital needed to stay afloat while things get back to normal.

That’s it for this week—thanks for reading and for helping our business community thrive together!

Stay Connected

Hungry for more? Follow us on social media below. Or, fill out our Member Connections Form to choose updates on programs, events, and get involved.

Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce

1101 Lake St., Suite 307, Oak Park, IL 60301

708.613.0550 | info@oprfchamber.org | www.oprfchamber.org