2  ILLINOIS BUSINESS LEADER
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Leadership Insights from the 2024 Landscape
LOU SANDOVAL
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Dear Illinois Chamber Members,
As I write this letter, I celebrate the 
first anniversary of my role as the 
leader of the Illinois Chamber. I want 
to take a moment to reflect on the 
incredible journey we’ve shared and 
express my heartfelt gratitude for 
your support and dedication.
	
When we first came together a 
year ago, our goal was to engage this 
iteration of Chamber 2.0. In a typical 
iterative fashion, the “2.0” version of 
storied organizations like the Illinois 
Chamber is the next generation of 
what the chamber has been for the 
Businesses of Illinois. Your Advocate 
and Voice as it has been since the 
chamber was first organized in 1919.  
It isn’t that previous versions were 
ineffective; instead, it is that the 
business climate in the state compels 
us to adapt our game, if you might, 
to meet the evolving needs and 
challenges of businesses of all types. 
All good organizations look within 
to doing so continually, which is the 
journey we have been on this year. 
	
As I set out one year ago, I was 
tasked with assessing the landscape 
of the Illinois business environment 
and revisiting the strategic plan that 
will guide us over the next five years. 
In this assessment, I had the honor of 
visiting areas of the state such as Mt. 
Vernon, Effingham, The Quad Cities, 
East St. Louis, Marion, Chicago, 
Schaumburg Corridor, DuPage 
County, and many others. On this 
listening tour, I enjoyed seeing 
the diversity and richness of the 
Illinois Business Community. I was 
welcomed openly with hospitality 
and a desire to engage and have the 
Chamber work for them. Here, I 
heard of the economic challenges 
you all face, but mainly of the 
opportunities to balance government 
and the private sector and the need 
to develop a competitive business 
climate for our great state. 
	
As we engaged in our strategic 
planning process, we rooted it in our 
Vision Statement: 
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce 
is the pre-eminent business 
organization of choice with 
the impact of transforming the 
commercial experience for all the 
businesses in the state by creating 
a business climate supportive of 
growth for all existing and new 
businesses.
	
This Vision is rooted in our 
foundational and shared values: 
Integrity, Collaboration, Leadership, 
Transparency, and Accountability. 
These values crystalize who we are 
with each other as a team and, most 
importantly, how we will engage 
with our members and business 
colleagues. 
	
Our mission: As the leading 
business organization in Illinois, 
the Illinois Chamber of Commerce 
is dedicated to advocating for a 
competitive business environment 
that is pro-growth, Pro-Business, 
and pro-Illinois for all businesses.
	
Aside from our signature 
Chamber Day and Annual Luncheon, 
we launched a few successful new 
initiatives in this first year:

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