SEPTEMBER 2024  5 
	
As for our industrial research 
and educational infrastructure, 
Illinois is home to the Universities of 
Chicago, Northwestern, University of 
Illinois, Illinois State University and 
the other 74 colleges and universities, 
along with major research laborato-
ries such as Argonne and Fermi Labs 
who receive more National Science 
Foundation funding than anywhere 
in America. It's no wonder Illinois 
is a magnet for employers given the 
high level of education within our 
workforce.   
	
Clearly the place of Illinois 
and the people of Illinois are two 
key fundamentals that the Illinois 
Chamber of Commerce promul-
gates and promotes to the world.  
With such advantages the question 
arises why did business leaders 105 
years ago form the Illinois Chamber 
of Commerce and what keeps the 
Chamber relevant for our business 
community?  Kipling said it best, 
“The strength of the Wolf is the Pack 
and the strength of the Pack is the 
Wolf.”   In other words, the alliance of 
our business community (large and 
small)  brings together such a large 
and diverse group of interests that we 
can represent to our elected officials 
at the local, state, and national level 
of how their proposed legislative and 
regulatory initiatives could weigh 
down and impede the successful 
execution of our businesses.
	
The Illinois Chamber provides 
this unique connectivity of such a 
broad array of interests that we are 
a trusted resource and the go to 
organization for many of our elected 
officials.  Our members represent 
every community throughout the 
State of Illinois and each of these 
communities are represented by good 
and caring officials who want their 
communities to prosper.  Govern-
ment officials are not ordained into 
their positions but rather they are 
elected.   
	
A vast majority of the time busi-
ness works in concert with our elect-
ed officials but there are times when 
disagreements arise, and the Cham-
ber vigorously stands up against 
legislation or regulation to defend the 
interests of our members.  A single 
business does not have the resourc-
es or wherewithal to stand up to 
government but thanks to the “Pack” 
the Illinois Chamber has a proud 
history of promoting, defending, and 
protecting our business community.   
	
With these diverse businesses 
many individual companies can 
expand and educate their workforce 
through incredible networking 
opportunities which would not have 
been possible except for their Cham-
ber membership.
	
For the businesses around the 
State that are Chamber members…
Thank you for understanding the 
strength of the PACK!   
	
If you are currently not a Cham-
ber member you will be amazed what 
our new CEO and President Lou 
Sandoval and his entire Chamber 
Staff can do to help you recognize the 
strength of the PACK and the impact 
on your bottom line.  
	
Please consider joining the 
Illinois Chamber because together 
we can keep Illinois that special place 
Abraham Lincoln loved so much and 
foster the people that have defined 
America’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Dan Wagner
Chairman of the Board
Illinois Chamber of Commerce 

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