Above / Back in 2001 when Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel was in his second term, the Rotary Club of Naperville recognized member Rotarians for their public service when the club met at Cress Creek Country Club. Former Naperville Mayors Peg Price (1983-1991), Chet Rybicki (1983-1991) and Sam Macrane (1991-1995) joined the man known as “Officer Friendly” who went on to serve as the only 5-term Naperville Mayor (1995-2015).
Mayor Price forever will be credited during her term for starting the State of the City Address in 1989, now an annual event for the current mayor to recap the past year’s events with a look toward the future.
“Jack Romaine (a member of the Rotary Club of Naperville at the time) was president of the Chamber back then,” Price reminded PN in 2019. “Jack came up with the idea of State of the City to benefit the Chamber.”
According to Price, the first State of the City Address was held at the Sheridan (where the Chicago Marriott is now). One time the address was at the “N” Building when it was still under construction. The event, usually a luncheon, also has traveled back and forth to the Holiday Inn Select, Lisle Hilton, Chicago Marriott & now Embassy Suites. A breakfast event was held at Tellabs. One time during Price’s term as mayor, Romaine even coordinated for Naperville to host its State of the City in Chicago, she said.
Find a decade of State of the City Addresses below
Originally Posted March 3, 2019 / The 2019 State of the City Address hosted by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC) is slated be held from 11:15AM to 1PM on Monday, March 18, 2019, at Embassy Suites Chicago-Naperville, located at 1823 Abriter Court, just north of Diehl Road.
The address serves as a recap of the year’s events. The presentation will highlight the progression of the area’s growth including new and existing businesses. Additionally, the address will turn an eye toward the future, focused on a number of programs and initiatives scheduled for the coming year.
The NACC has hosted the State of the City Address for the past 35 years for the Naperville community starting with Mayor Peg Price. This presentation continues to be highly recognized by the Naperville business community and community at large.
“The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce continues to provide relevant resources for the success of our business community. If our businesses are successful, our community is successful,” noted Nicki Anderson, NACC President/CEO, in a news release. “We are committed to our partnership with the city of Naperville and Naperville Development Partnership to ensure that Naperville continues to be the number one choice for businesses and innovation.”
The Mayor also uses the program as an opportunity to recognize Naperville’s city officials and employees for their accomplishments and dedication to the community.
“The State of the City address is an important occasion for the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Naperville,” Mayor Steve Chirico said. “This address is an opportunity to look back on the success stories of the past several years and showcase the vision of what’s to come in Naperville. Focusing on four main goals – financial stability, economic development, public safety and high-performing government – this year’s speech will show how Naperville is a game changer in terms of innovation and creativity in serving our residents, businesses and visitors.”
Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce since 1913
Today the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest suburban Chamber in Illinois, serving an active membership of 1,200 organizations of every size and from every sector. The NACC promotes economic growth and advocacy in and around the Naperville area. For its efforts in promoting free enterprise and the business community, the Chamber has been recognized with 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an honor bestowed on only 1 percent of Chambers, out of the nearly 7,000 in the nation.
For more information, visit www.naperville.net.
State of the City Addresses saved in PN Archive
2024 State of the City is May 8, 2024
Last Updated on April 15, 2024
