Past Board Chairs
The Illinois Chamber, and the business community we represent, has a long and storied history. An integral part of the Chamber’s history is its Board of Directors, which has provided superb leadership from diverse economic sectors and every region of the state for over a century. Below is a representation of that history through our list of past Chairs of the Board.
| Years of Service | Chair | Company |
|---|---|---|
| 1919–1924 | George W. Woodruff | National Bank of Republic |
| 1966–1968 | E. Stanley Enlund | — |
| 1968–1970 | — | — |
| 1970–1972 | — | — |
| 1972–1974 | Wendell Kelley | CEO Illinois Power |
| 1974–1976 | Marc Buettell | Ideal Industries |
| 1976–1978 | Amos Buettell | Crown Industrial Products |
| 1978–1980 | Donald Ramlo | — |
| 1980–1982 | Richard Bishop | First National Bank of Galesburg |
| 1982–1984 | Anthony Mandolini | Mandolini Company |
| 1984–1986 | Chester Lasell | Deere & Company |
| 1986–1988 | Edward Fillatrault | Northern Illinois Gas Company |
| 1988–1990 | James Vonachen | Vonachen Service & Supply |
| 1990–1992 | Harry Seigle | The Elgin Company |
| 1992–1994 | Robert J. Currey | Consolidated Communications |
| 1994–1996 | James P. Widick | Motorola Solutions |
| 1996–1998 | James M. Schultz | Prairie Ventures |
| 1998–2000 | Steven M. Singer | Wilhelm & Conlon |
| 2000–2002, 6-2006 – 12-2006 | George W. Beck | Beck Bus |
| 2002–2004 | Ray Neisewander, III | Raynor Mfg. Co. |
| 2004–2006 | Robert J. Imler | Riverstone Group |
| 2006–2008 | Joseph Dively | Consolidated Communications |
| 2008–2010 | Calvin G. Butler | Exelon Corporation (ComEd) |
| 2010–2012 | Mary Crego | State Farm |
| 2012–2014 | Raymond Drake | UPS |
| 2014–2016 | Matt Gambs | Wintrust Financial |
| 2016–2018 | Tony Reinhart | Ford Motor Company |
| 2018–2020 | Megan Woltman | Advocate HealthCare |
| 2020–2022 | Brent Eichelberger | Commerce Bank |
| 2022–2024 | Ann Deters | Vantage Surgical Solutions |
| 2024–2026 | Dan Wagner | The Inland Real Estate Group |