July 9, 2024 | Illinois Chamber member company John Deere hosted President Lou Sandoval at their John Deere Classic at the TPC Deere Run in the quad cities. Round 3 saw Davis Thompson in the lead finishing -21 through the end of Saturday’s play and on his way to possibly winning the $8M purse.

Many thanks to Natalie Higgins and the John Deere team for their hospitality.

It was also great to see Ryan McCreery, Rachel Dame and many others in the hospitality tent.

July 10, 2024 | Safe Streets are a Critical Issue for Residents of Chicago and Employees of our many businesses. Crime statistics like the ones seen in Chicago over the 4th of July Holiday (109 people shot, 19 fatalities) should not be commonplace and erode the safety that each resident should be afforded regardless of where they live.

The Illinois Chamber applauds the many corporations and philanthropists that came together today to be part of the solution to a complex problem.

"There is much work to do, but this is a strong start and it shows that the State's business community is committed to solutions on this critical issue," said Lou Sandoval President, of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Gov JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, and President Don Harmon joined leaders from Northern Trust, McDonald's, Allstate, Ulta Beauty, and many others to announce the $100M investment in violence reduction.

July 10, 2024 I Infrastructure Council Director Andrew Cunningham had the pleasure of being in attendance at the 14th annual rail and maritime summit hosted at the Union League Club of Chicago and spending the day with many of our great members. Thank you to the Illinois Soybean Association for the kind invitation and their work on behalf of Illinois farmers.

The day was packed with speeches and engagement from leaders of the field. Chamber member Canal Barge Company, Inc. CEO Merritt Lane talked about the issues most pressing for transportation leaders. Michael O. Miller, CEO of Chamber member Genesee & Wyoming Inc. gave 5 lessons for a better tomorrow and was the recipient of the Diolkos award.

The summit was well-attended with strong transportation and ag representation.

Sep. 17, 2024 | Many thanks to Chicago United for highlighting Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Lou Sandoval as part of their Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.

July 8, 2024 | The NASCAR Chicago race saw a day of great racing followed by storms, delayed races and a wet and wild finish as Alex Bowman took the checkered flag 🏁.

Illinois Chamber President Lou Sandoval was on hand to see the finish. This amazing spectacle of an event helps drive employment for many businesses in the local area and helps tourism for the region.

Thank you and congratulations to our friends at Chicago Sports Commission, Ford Motor Company, WeatherTech®, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, and McDonald's among many others for a great event and excellent representation at this year’s race.

July 18, 2024 | The Illinois Chamber Team wishes Dan Seals CEO of Intersect Illinois well in his new endeavors. “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with Dan Seals during our overlapping times in bringing about the best for our state. Dan has accomplished much during his tenure. The state is all the better for his service,” said Lou Sandoval President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. “He has been welcoming and inclusive in all that we have sought to work towards. I wish him well.”

July 27, 2024 |  Illinois Chamber of Commerce President, Lou Sandoval moderated a panel on workforce Development hosted by EPIC Academy titled From Classroom to Career: Corporate Partnerships to Prepare Tomorrow’s Workforce.

The panel focused on the need for strong public /private partnerships and the role they play in creating mentoring and workforce exposure for young students in High school. When combined with internships, this partnership can be transformational for students creating practical experience that allows students to contribute almost immediately when they join the workforce. The panel also highlighted the need to identify parts of the city, like Chicago’s Southside where students can benefit and contribute to the economy as they are an untapped source of talent.  

Aug. 8, 2024 |  U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark hosted Illinois Chamber CEO Lou Sandoval and Board Chair Dan Wagner for a roundtable with key business leaders in Illinois recently.

It presented an opportunity to discuss some of the impediments to growth in the current economic state and other factors facing businesses in Illinois. Thank you, President Clark for your hospitality.

Aug. 12, 2024 | The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is well represented at the Fall meeting of the National Association of State Chambers . President Lou Sandoval, spent the last few days sharing knowledge and learning how to make the Chamber 2.0 strategy all that more impactful.

Sept. 27, 2024 |

Keith Staats, Illinois Chamber's Executive Director of the Tax Institute, had the privilege of sitting on a panel discussion at the Council on State Taxation’s annual meeting held in St. Louis.

Staats was a member of the Midwest Chamber tax update panel, where he presented an update on Illinois legislation passed during the spring legislative session.

July 3, 2024 | The Illinois Chamber was happy to work with Mac Strategies Group, Inc. And several business organizations including Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce , Illinois Retail Merchants Association , BOMA/Chicago , THE GREATER NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION and many others on the passage of SB 3679 - to form Business Improvement Districts (BID).

The BIDs place the power for key infrastructure decisions back in the hands of the businesses that will utilize the services. Safer, thriving business districts are critical for a fertile business environment and help to expand the revenue base for cities. 

July 3, 2024 | Federal court places hold on non-compete ban. A federal judge in Texas placed a hold on a policy action by the FTC seeking to ban non-compete actions by employers. The intent by the FTC was to allow workers to be able to move between jobs and boost wages. The impact was that company trade secrets and other intellectual capital would be unprotected and place employers of many sizes at risk via competitive poaching of human talent.

A suit on behalf of professional services firms by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Texas courts provided a ruling that paused the September rollout. A revisitation and action is slated to happen by August 20,2024.

“The Illinois Chamber supports better balance on non-competes that preserves the intellectual property rights of companies and supports the actions of the US Chamber to engage action in the courts in this issue.” Said Lou Sandoval, President of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. “Our state’s many founders and employers deserve the protections afforded via non-compete agreements while allowing employees the ability to seek at will employment.”

Aug. 31, 2024 | ICYMI: International Leader’s Forum. The Laura Ortega Lamela , Director International Business Council recently attended the International Business Leaders Forum in Chicago during the DNC to discuss U.S. foreign policy outlook and the global challenges that the next administration will face.

The Forum was organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) with the occasion of the Democratic National Committee’s Convention to gain insights into the perspective and specific policy initiatives of the two leading candidates.

Panel speakers Congressman Christopher Coons , Ambassador Susan Rice, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and moderator Liz Schrayer CEO of IBC partner organization USGLC, highlighted the need to be at “maximum competition” on global engagement as U.S. national security and economic prosperity is inextricably linked to the World’s security and prosperity risks.

At the top of the agenda for the next administration:

☑️ Climate migration

☑️ Digital transformation

☑️ Reform of the Global

Institutions- founded by the U.S.- to fit purpose and the new geopolitical landscape.

These are all issues of consequence to national and international business /trade relations.

It was a great opportunity to interact with the panel and discern what potential policy positions the Harris/Walz administration may take.

Aug. 7, 2024 | Many thanks to the Consulate General Republic of Indonesia for meeting with the Illinois Chamber.

We look forward to our continued partnership!

The Chamber met with Indonesian Consul General Listyowati to discuss the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and what it means for Illinois businesses, farmers, and manufacturers.

Photo from left to right: Indonesian Consul for Economic Affairs, Hikmat Moeljawan, Executive Director of International Business Council Laura Ortega Lamela, Indonesian Consul General Ms Listyowati, Executive Director of Infrastructure Council Andrew Cunningham, and Indonesian Consulate Officer Jorrie Andrean.

Aug. 31, 2024 | Illinois Chamber Hosts Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Discuss Collaboration with Illinois Businesses

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce recently hosted Rauan Tleulin, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in New York at the Chicago Yacht Club for a discussion on mutual opportunities for members of the Illinois business community.

Lou Sandoval, Illinois Chamber President & CEO, and Laura Ortega Lamela International Business Council Executive Director represented the Chamber alongside Board Chairman Dan Wagner of The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc.