The premier business networking and community engagement organization in the area!
The purpose of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce is to promote economic programs designed to strengthen and expand the income potential of all businesses and organizations. We strive to help advance the general welfare and prosperity of the Manhattan area, its citizens and all of the business community.
The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce has been working to put together a great year for our business owners as well as the community we serve. In 2021 the Manhattan Chamber was awarded the Best Business to Business Service in the Best of Lincoln-Way Readers’ Choice Awards. This year we are striving to help promote our local businesses through in person networking events, business-based community events and social media.
To support the needs of the Chamber, the following individuals have dedicated their time and expertise to provide leadership to the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.
Village Realty
Becky Bouck is a full time licensed Realtor with Village Realty. She is a life long resident of the Lincolnway Community and prides herself on being well organized. Becky's customer service ability brings abundant energy, creativity, and dedication to her work. Real Estate is much more than closing a deal. For Becky, real estate is about the relationships and experiences that are made along the way. With unmatched knowledge of the area, you can entrust that she will be by your side through every step of your home buying or selling process. Becky thrives on making your real estate experience a smooth and enjoyable one!
Manhattan Family Chiropractic
Kristy Byers has enjoyed living and serving in Manhattan since 2011. As a small business owner, she has always tried to be as active as possible in the community by hosting and sponsoring local events such as Sip of Summer Concert Series, Moms Night Out, Irish Fest and 5k, St. Joseph’s Pints and Pork Challenge, and the Labor Day Fireworks. Additionally, her business helps sponsor the Counting Stars in their St. Jude run to Peoria and the Illinois Celtic baseball team. Kristy is also very active in the Park District and serves on the Park Board, which she enjoys very much. She has always been very family and community oriented and strives to continue to grow as a professional. Kristy enjoys meeting new people and building relationships with those who share common interests in helping businesses thrive.
Village Realty
Kathi Boswell is a real estate broker at Village Realty in Manhattan. She has lived in Manhattan for eight years with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. With over 19 years of real estate experience in the Will, Cook, and Grundy areas, she has the expertise and knowledge to manage all transactions from first contact to the closing table. She is committed to providing stellar communication and customer service to all of her clients and colleagues. Today's buyers and sellers need a trusted resource to guide them through the complex world of real estate. With Kathi's extensive knowledge and commitment to providing only the best and most timely information to clients, Kathi is your go-to course for real estate industry insight and advice. Her goal is to convert a transaction into a long-term relationship. This extends to the growth of our community. Working with the Chamber allows Kathi the opportunity to be involved in programs that create business exposure for the residents of Manhattan and surrounding towns. She is excited to help and serve our local businesses and residents.
First Bank of Manhattan
Donna Bateman is the Deposit Products Marketing Manager at First Bank of Manhattan. With over 30 years of banking experience, she can assist you with all of your banking needs. In her spare time, she is a tax preparer and the treasurer for the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and the President of Lincoln-Way Area Business Women’s Organization.
VDS Promo
Shari Fiocca has lived in Manhattan for 15 years with her husband Carl and their 3 children. Shari owns and operates VDS Promo, a promotional product distributor and graphic design company located here in Manhattan. She helps businesses select promotional products or design materials that make their comany or event stand out and get noticed.As a member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, she is passionate about serving our community and helping our area businesses to grow and succeed.
D.Marie Photography
Dana Skwirut has been a resident of Manhattan for 18 years. She and her husband Ben have three kids, all active in Manhattan and Lincoln-Way West schools, sports, and activities. Dana has been a chamber member for three years, and opened her photography studio in Manhattan in November of 2020. She loves having her small business in the same great town she’s raising a family in, and looks forward to connecting with other local business owners and photographers.
Sweet Swirls Bakery
Christine Whitmer is the owner of Sweet Swirls Bakery and a current resident of Manhattan since April of 2019. She started her home based bakery over 9 years ago to be able to stay at home with her 3 kids and still be active in their lives and help with school activities and sports. Since starting her business as a part time at home job, it has grown to a full time job with many customers from Manhattan and surrounding towns all enjoying homemade cakes, cookies, and more. She is also involved in Icing Smiles which is an organization that creates cakes for children and their siblings that are terminally ill at no charge for the family. Christine stays busy with her kids through helping at school parties, watching her son play baseball with Manhattan Park District, all things theater with her daughter at Lincoln Way West, and attending Manhattan events. Christine and her family have loved living in Manhattan, spending time with new friends and neighbors they have met since they moved here and look forward to the positive growth of the town. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, she is hoping to be more involved in the community and local businesses and continue to have growth not only in her business but the town.
Judy Mitchell Consulting
Dr. Judy L. Mitchell served as Joliet Junior College's ninth president. She was unanimously approved as the college’s president by the JJC Board of Trustees in September 2016; prior to that, she had served in the role of interim president at the college since March 2016. Mitchell recently retired and was recognized with President Emerita status at the June 15, 2022, Board of Trustees meeting. Mitchell serves on various boards, including Silver Cross Hospital Board, Will County Workforce Investment Board, and Habitat for Humanity. She is a member of New Lenox Rotary and Zonta Club of Joliet. Additionally, she has led the college budgeting process through the state of Illinois’ fiscal crisis and helped the college reduce its operating costs by over $2 million over four years, in addition to encouraging the pursuit of creative revenue sources like grant dollars to offset operational costs. In FY15, the college garnered more than $5.4 million in grants to offset operational costs. Fiscal year ’22,Mitchell presented to the Board of Trustees the 49th balanced budget for the college. Under her leadership, the college’s financial team was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Best Practices in Community College Budgeting for FY20, the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. The award is presented annually to colleges based on their budgeting of resources that promote student achievement. Under Mitchell’s leadership, JJC was the 2021 winner in the Advancing Diversity category from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). She presented nationally at the AACC Future Leaders Institute on Bridging the Equity Gap in 2021. JJC has been recognized as a 2022 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges (MPPWCC) by the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD).Mitchell has been recognized for her contributions to education and the community, receiving the Gary W. Davis Ethical Leadership Award from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association in 2021,which honors individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the pursuit and support of ethical leadership and decision-making. In 2018, Mitchell was honored with the Zonta Club of Joliet’s Woman of Distinction Award for her contributions to improving the status of women in the community.Mitchell has worked at the college for 26 years, having started as an administrative assistant in the CIOS department in 1996. In 2001, she served as the program management specialist in Adult and Family Services, followed by the assistant to the director of administrative services in 2002. In 2004 she became interim director of administrative services, and then the director of business and auxiliary services in2005. In September 2012, she was appointed to the role of VP of administrative services. Mitchell received her doctorate in community college leadership from National-Louis University in June2012. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in business and technology from Governors State University. She earned an associate degree in microcomputers for business and computer programming from JJC in 1998. Most recently, Mitchell created her consulting firm JM Consulting (judymitchellconsulting.com).
