2024 - Elgin Community College Named "Member of the Year" by St. Charles Chamber of Commerce

Elgin Community College (ECC) is proud to announce it has been honored as the 2024 “Member of the Year” by the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented on Thursday, November 7, during the Chamber’s annual membership breakfast.

ECC has been a dedicated member of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce for 44 years, actively supporting the organization’s initiatives through committee involvement, event participation, and community engagement. The recognition celebrates ECC’s longstanding commitment and significant presence within the Chamber over the past year.

"It’s an honor to be recognized as part of an organization that is dedicated to fostering growth and collaboration within our community,” said Ashley Zeman, Senior Director of Marketing Strategy at Elgin Community College. “The St. Charles Chamber has been a wonderful partner, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute through initiatives like the Learning & Development Committee. This award truly reflects the commitment of the entire ECC team, and we’re excited to continue building strong connections and creating new opportunities together."

Zeman has chaired the Chamber’s Learning & Development Committee for the past two years and recently joined the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Paul Ohlsen, affectionately known as “Tall Paul,” has become a familiar face at Chamber events, including the Young Professionals Council (YPC) summer softball league, the Chamber’s annual golf outing, and as a finalist in the YPC’s Bags Tournament.

Maria Borrero Veaz, a former ECC employee in the Marketing and Communication Department, has been an active member, regularly participating in the YPC events and instrumental in planning committee activities.