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BACC sets 2026 board, readies annual dinner and scholarship fundraiser

Katie Stewart Mon, Jan 26, 2026 • 06:15 PM

A leadership handoff with community stakes

In a village where small businesses, schools, and civic groups often move in tandem, the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual leadership transition carries practical weight. The chamber has elected its 2026 Board of Directors and will formally induct them at the Annual Dinner Celebration & Scholarship Fundraiser on January 29 at Avante Banquets & Conference Center in Fox River Grove—an evening designed to convene business, community, and governmental leaders while raising money for scholarships and small-business programming, according to a news release on the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce.

New leadership, familiar faces

The 2026 board reflects a cross-section of the region’s finance, health care, education, and nonprofit sectors. According to the chamber’s announcement on Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, the roster is:

Executive Committee Officers:
- Robert Finley, Virtue Asset Management – BACC Chairperson
- Linda Gump, JOVIE Nannies Sitters and College Tutors – First Vice Chair
- Zach Witt, ilumen Solar – Second Vice Chair
- Jon Stickney, Barrington Bank & Trust – Treasurer
- Dr. Reinhold Llerena, Ascension Medical Group – Past Chair
- Suzanne Corr, BACC President/CEO – Secretary
Returning Board Members:
- Linda Fine, Buckley Fine Law
- Jennifer Hissa, Greater Chicago Kitchen & Bath
- Rob Jones, Huntington National Bank
- Kyle Kick, BStrong Together
- Brett Koenig, Acrisure
- Paul Maloney, KRH Restaurant & Garden
- Julie Mayer, Advocate Aurora Health
- Ellaine Sambo-Reyther, BMO Wealth Management
New Board Member for a 3-year term (Ending December 2028):
- Jen Frey, Buehler YMCA
Advisory Board Members:
- Scott Anderson, Village of Barrington
- Craig Winkelman, Barrington 220
- Mike Dropka, Village of South Barrington
- Darice Trout, Harper College
- John Christian, Chief, Barrington Fire Department

“Established in 1969, BACC has focused on providing value and opportunity, building community partnerships, and creating a prosperous local economy,” said Suzanne Corr, BACC President/CEO, in a news release posted on the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce.

Community and scholarship focus

Beyond the passing of the gavel, the January 29 dinner doubles as a fundraiser for the Lauren Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund and to support small-business programming, the chamber said on Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce. The event runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 1050 Northwest Hwy. in Fox River Grove, with access to bid on silent auction items planned for January.

The chamber’s emphasis on scholarships and entrepreneurship aligns with broader expectations that local business groups help strengthen the talent pipeline. Chambers in many countries increasingly act as intermediaries between employers and educators, support skills strategy, and in some cases deliver training themselves, according to the OECD.

Why it matters in Barrington

Barrington’s economic and educational profile suggests the capacity—and appetite—for that kind of civic investment. Data from Census Reporter shows the village combines high household incomes with strong educational attainment and low poverty, alongside elevated home values. In the broader Barrington Township area of Cook County, median household income is even higher and educational attainment remains strong, according to Census Reporter. Those indicators often translate into robust volunteerism, sponsorship, and philanthropy—key ingredients for programs like the chamber’s scholarships and for initiatives that help small firms scale.

Projects shaping the area

The chamber also serves as a convener for public improvements that affect daily life and business viability. At the 2025 State of the Greater Barrington Area Economic Summit hosted by BACC, area leaders spotlighted construction of an underpass beneath the Canadian National tracks on Route 14, the creation of Park Avenue Plaza to expand public gathering space and outdoor dining, a proposed solar farm, and a $2.5 million flood-control project along Route 59, according to the Daily Herald. As the 2026 board steps in, those efforts underscore the chamber’s role at the intersection of infrastructure, placemaking, and economic vitality.

What the numbers show

Public sentiment nationwide appears to back that role. A national ACCE/Harris poll summarized by the Chicagoland Chamber found that 81% of U.S. adults consider their local chamber a trusted partner for businesses, and roughly 90% believe chambers help grow the local economy. The summary also notes that consumers are more inclined to buy from chamber-member businesses and that business owners view chambers as effective policy advocates.

“In a poll summary posted by the Chicagoland Chamber, “Chambers are trusted and innovative organizations. As a result, we are seeing tremendous momentum to bring even more bold leadership and lasting impact on the communities we serve.”

Gratitude for outgoing members

The chamber also acknowledged two retiring board members, Armen Kholamian of Junk King Barrington and Bryan McGonigal of McGonigal’s / Long Story Short Pub, for years of volunteer leadership. In its announcement on the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, Corr said of the pair: “These individuals have been an integral part of the growth and success of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce. They have devoted hundreds of hours of service to the business community, to volunteering at community events, and to mentoring and assisting other BACC members. We are so grateful for the imprint they have made on BACC.”

The road ahead

Barrington’s next year of chamber leadership will unfold against a backdrop of active public works, steady regional affluence, and broad confidence in the chamber model. With a board that spans finance to health care to youth development—and a fundraiser that ties scholarships to small-business support—the 2026 slate signals continuity with a community-first mission. If national trends on chamber trust and workforce collaboration hold, as indicated by the Chicagoland Chamber and the OECD, the incoming board steps into a moment of opportunity—to harness local momentum, deepen partnerships, and convert a single winter gala into year-round gains for businesses and students alike.

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