Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry

What Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry does

Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a private 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1934 in Des Plaines, Illinois, governing approximately 600 member businesses spanning single-person operations to multi-thousand-employee firms, anchored by Platinum-tier sponsors including Advocate Healthcare, Rivers Casino, Village Bank & Trust, O'Hare Offices, Baird & Warner, and Porte Brown. Operating from a single office at 1400 E. Touhy Ave, the Chamber runs with three named staff (Executive Director Alyssa Lombardo, Marketing and Sponsorship Specialist Sophie Bixenman, Strategic Partnerships Jane Hogan) supported by a Board of Directors that includes ex-officio representation from the City of Des Plaines Community & Economic Development office, enabling direct legislative and economic-development linkage. Revenue is generated through tiered annual membership dues (starting at $275 for businesses up to four employees), event sponsorships (Golf Outing, Winter Garden Ball, monthly networking), advertising and promotion (bi-monthly mailer, e-newsletter to 1,300+ subscribers via Constant Contact, Community Guide, Hot Deals, social media), and ancillary services including notary, conference room rental, certificate of export documentation, and member mailing lists.

The Chamber's core deliverables are structured as a portfolio rather than a single product: a searchable Business Directory, recurring networking events (First Friday, Networking After Hours, Women in Business, DP Pros, Multi-Chamber), three structured referral groups (D.E.N., B2B, GB2) producing reported millions in member-to-member referral revenue, professional development workshops, legislative advocacy, and the signature Veterans Back-to-Work Boot Camp, an annual cohort program that has served over 200 veterans and military spouses since 2016 with equipment packages valued at more than $10,000 per participant and now including an emergency-assistance module. Content production has expanded through the "Please Stop Here!" 28-episode video series and the "Small Talk" podcast produced in partnership with Ian Ryan Interactive.

The Chamber serves Des Plaines and the broader Northwest Suburbs region of Illinois; it does not serve a national or international footprint. Its wholly-owned subsidiary is the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce Foundation (established 1989), which administers three $2,000 annual scholarships and educational initiatives. Multiple strategic partnerships extend reach: SCORE Chicago provides weekly in-chamber counseling, the Daily Herald provides media amplification, and American Legion Post 36 hosts boot camp graduation ceremonies. The 2026 Board composition reflects planned continuity under President Eli Williams with President-Elect Terry Casey.

Name

Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Legal name

Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Website

https://dpchamber.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry, founded in 1934, is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) membership organization serving approximately 600 local and Northwest Suburbs businesses in Illinois through tiered membership dues, networking events, structured referral groups, the signature Veterans Back-to-Work Boot Camp, legislative advocacy, and content partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Plaines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues based on number of employees. Starting at $275 for businesses with up to 4 employees. Provides access to networking events, marketing opportunities, business directory listing, and member benefits.
2. Event Sponsorships: Revenue from event sponsorship opportunities including monthly events, Golf Outing, Winter Garden Ball, and community events.
3. Advertising & Promotions: Bi-monthly mailer sponsorship, e-newsletter advertising, Hot Deals listings, Community Guide and Business Directory advertising, social media promotion.
4. Member Services: Conference room rental, certificate of export documentation, notary service (members only), member mailing list sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a membership-based business association that provides local businesses in Des Plaines, Illinois and the surrounding Northwest Suburbs with networking events, a member business directory, referral groups, marketing exposure (newsletter, Community Guide, social media), professional development workshops, legislative advocacy, and community programs such as the Veterans Back-to-Work Boot Camp and Foundation scholarships. Revenue is generated through tiered annual membership dues (starting at $275), event sponsorships, and advertising placements.

Product overview

The Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry operates as a membership-based organization offering a unified portfolio of business development services rather than a single software product. The core offerings center on membership with benefits including a Business Directory, Networking Events (First Friday, Networking After Hours, Women in Business, DP Pros), and Referral Groups (D.E.N., B2.B, GB2). Supporting services include Marketing Services (bi-monthly mailers, e-newsletters, Hot Deals, Community Guide advertising), Business Services (SCORE counseling, job posting, notary, conference room rental), Professional Development Programs (workshops, seminars, leadership series), and Legislative Advocacy. The Chamber also operates signature community programs including the Veterans Back-to-Work Boot Camp (annual career training program with equipment packages), the Foundation Scholarship Program (three $2,000 annual scholarships), the Please Stop Here! video series for local business promotion, and the Small Talk Podcast. The Veterans Boot Camp Emergency Assistance module provides financial support services for veteran participants. With over 600 member businesses, the Chamber serves as a primary business support organization for the Des Plaines, Illinois region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce Foundation: The foundation arm of the chamber established in 1989 to provide educational opportunities, scholarships, and community support programs.
• Veterans Back to Work Boot Camp

Products and services

• Business Directory
• Networking Events
• Referral Groups (D.E.N., B2B, GB2)
• Marketing Services
• Business Services
• Professional Development Programs
• Veterans Back-to-Work Boot Camp
• Foundation Scholarship Program
• Legislative Advocacy
• Veterans Boot Camp Emergency Assistance
• Please Stop Here! Video Series 28-episode video series produced with Ian Ryan Interactive showcasing local Des Plaines businesses, distributed via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Des Plaines TV Channel 24.
• Small Talk Podcast Podcast series produced with Ian Ryan Interactive featuring interviews with local Chamber businesses, the Mayor of Des Plaines, and community topics. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 chamber members served
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Surrounding Chambers of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-chamber collaboration providing networking events that connect members with businesses throughout the Northwest Suburbs region.
• SCORE ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCORE hosts free counseling sessions weekly at the chamber, providing small business owners with experienced business advisors and mentorship.
• Daily HeraldmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for Veterans Boot Camp, featuring special sections 'Giving Veterans a Helping Hand' and ongoing coverage of boot camp activities.
• American Legion Post 36majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for boot camp graduation ceremonies and community partnership supporting veterans programs.
• Rivers CasinomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum member and sponsor of Women in Business program. Board member Marne Deithorn represents Rivers Casino.
• Oakton CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner supporting veterans boot camp and providing leadership development programs.
• Maine TownshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting veterans programs and workforce development initiatives.
• Village Bank and TrustmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor and major community partner supporting veterans boot camp initiatives.
• Ian Ryan InteractivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner for 'Please Stop Here!' video series and 'Small Talk' podcast, creating content showcasing local businesses.
• Local Schools of BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local colleges and universities for annual Leadership Series providing certified professional development programs.
• Cook County Small Business SourceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for small business assistance programs and resources.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Schaumburg Business Association: Direct neighboring suburban Chicago chamber serving Schaumburg and surrounding areas; competes for overlapping Northwest Suburb SMB members and sponsors with comparable networking events, referral groups, and advocacy programming.
• Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce: Neighboring Northwest Suburb chamber with overlapping member geography and near-identical service set (membership dues, networking mixers, directory, community guide); competes for member mind-share on the same multi-chamber events circuit.
• Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce: Adjacent suburban Chicago chamber serving Arlington Heights with very similar membership tiers, networking events, business directory, and community guide — the most directly comparable peer in scale and offering mix.
• Glenview Chamber of Commerce: Nearby North Shore / Northwest Suburb chamber with comparable membership tiers, networking events, and directory offerings; competes for adjacent geographic members and shared multi-chamber events.
• Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce: Neighboring Northwest Suburb chamber serving Palatine with overlapping SMB member base, monthly networking mixers, and community guide; one of the closest peer chambers for size and member demographic.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: National federation representing chambers nationwide; defines the broader chamber model (membership dues, advocacy, networking, CO— index) that Des Plaines Chamber operates within at the local level.
• Illinois State Chamber of Commerce: Statewide umbrella organization of which Des Plaines Chamber affiliates as a local member; provides legislative advocacy and resources the local chamber leverages and is the parent-level reference point for state policy positioning.

Direct peers

• Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce: Suburban Chicago chamber of similar scale and 501(c)(6) nonprofit structure, offering membership dues, referral groups, ribbon cuttings, advocacy, and community programming — a useful benchmark for member count, staffing, and sponsorship revenue.

Others

• Cook County Small Business Source: County-level small business assistance resource featured as a 'Chamber Spotlight' partner; provides complementary programming for members and illustrates the broader small-business support ecosystem the chamber participates in.
• SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): National nonprofit providing free small business mentoring and counseling; Des Plaines Chamber hosts SCORE Chicago weekly sessions, making SCORE a partner/ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dpchamberil
• Facebookfacebook.com/desplaineschamber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/des-plaines-chamber-of-commerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry