Thank you for being an essential part of our WCA Chamber of Commerce community this past year. Your continued support and engagement have played a meaningful role in strengthening our local business network and advancing our shared mission.
This year, we focused on helping our members thrive by creating more opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. This year was one of our most successful years of networking to date, with over 400 attendees participating across our events throughout the year. These connections sparked new partnerships, referrals, and collaborations that directly support business growth within our community.
We were also proud to launch our new Business Builder education series, beginning with our Social Media workshop. This program was designed to provide practical, hands-on learning opportunities that help our members stay competitive and visible in an ever-evolving marketplace. In 2026, we will have quarterly programs to provide ongoing learning development. Your membership made initiatives like this possible and accessible.
Beyond individual benefits, the chamber achieved several important milestones this year that reflect the strength of our collective voice. After three years of seeing our new member numbers decline, we experienced renewed growth in new members—an encouraging sign of the chamber’s momentum and relevance. The good news is also that our core, the renewal rate among existing members, continues to be strong.
We also hosted our first-ever Beers & Bites fundraiser, bringing members and non-members together in a new and engaging way while supporting the chamber’s long-term sustainability and had a successful September with both Madison Row Fest and the West Loop Art Festival.
We continue to serve as the sole service provider of SSA#16, Greektown, which celebrated another successful year with Greektown restaurant week, a summer of public art programming, the installation of new blue and white crosswalks throughout Greektown and a very merry tree lighting.
I am grateful for the strong partnerships we have with our elected officials and the Chicago Police Department, include the 27th Ward, 28th Ward, 34th Ward, and the CPD’s 12th District.
Looking ahead, we are excited about what’s to come. This year, we plan to expand our Business Builder series, introduce new networking formats, and continue building a strong, connected business community that supports innovation and opportunity. We will also be launching new member tiers and associated benefits as well as an online portal that gives you more opportunities to showcase your business, events and control the way your business is presented.
Your involvement is vital to shaping this vision and ensuring the chamber remains a powerful resource for local businesses. If you are interested in joining a committee in 2026, please reach out to me or our committee chairs and let us know.
Your membership has been instrumental to these successes, and we are excited to continue supporting your business in the years ahead. If you have any questions about your membership or would like to learn more about what we have planned for the coming year, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is here to help you make the most of your chamber experience.
Thank you for your commitment to the WCA Chamber of Commerce and to our shared mission of creating a thriving business community. Our team looks forward to seeing you at our January networking event next week.
Warm regards,
Patti Doyle
Executive Director
WCA Chamber of Commerce