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Business & Tech

Chamber of Commerce Will Welcome New Chairman Next Week

Mary Kay Slowikowski is anxious to bring new blood and new ideas to the board.

The Darien Chamber of Commerce will welcome a new chairman of the board when current vice-chairman Mary Kay Slowikowski takes the helm next week.

A Darien resident since 1972, Slowikowski is an internationally known motivational speaker, trainer, consultant and marketing strategist. With her husband, Norb, and son Eddie, she operates Slowikowski and Associates, a productivity consulting firm in Darien specializing in keynote presentations and business leadership workshops.

The Slowikowskis have lived in Darien since 1972 and raised all four children— Eddie, Anne (Dellamaria), Tim and Eileen (Chavez)—in the community. With seven grandchildren, the couple will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year.

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And now, Mary Kay is adding chairman of the Darien Chamber of Commerce to her resume as wife, mother, grandmother and entrepreneur.

“I was involved with the chamber years ago, when I first opened my business in Darien in 1975,” Slowikowski said. “About three or four years ago, I got involved with (the chamber’s) Women in Business program. And when they asked me (to become chairman) a few months back, I said yes. It’s a good place to give back. I feel like I have come full circle after starting my business in Darien years ago.”

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Slowikowski said she's delighted to be taking the helm on the chamber board.

“I have already been out and about, visiting some of the businesses in Darien, and I was very impressed as I was going around talking to everybody,” Slowikowski said. "I love building coalitions, and I plan to use my skills for bringing people together. We want to make sure our members are vibrant and help them to get more business.”

Hitting the ground running

Slowikowski said she plans to hit the ground running when she’s handed the gavel at the Jan. 3 chamber meeting.

Beginning with her first meeting and at every successive meeting, the new chairman said she plans to highlight a board member and “give them the floor for about 10 minutes.”

“I want our members to find out who the board members are and what they do, and encourage members to trade with each other, frequent each others’ businesses and give each other leads,” Slowikowski said. “I would also like to have more economic outreach to the businesses and to potential businesses that might want to come in to Darien."

To that end, the chamber is planning an economic development breakfast at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the library. 

“We are inviting office and retail brokers, businesses and park district officials, the mayor … to let brokers know that we are anxious for businesses to come to Darien,” Slowikowski said.

Building on the chamber’s success

“The chamber is doing well, with (about 260) members, one of the largest in the area. (Past Board Chairman) Angelo Imbrogno has done a wonderful job and he really built the membership,” Slowikowski said. “And (Chamber President) Clare Bongiovanni, is just wonderful too. She’s very caring and does everything to support the businesses. She has been out talking to businesses and building coalitions. I think I’m coming in at a good time.”

Slowikowski said the chamber will soon add three new board members, and she’s looking for more.

“I want to bring in some new blood to add to the wonderful board we already have and to bring in new ideas," she said. "I’m very anxious to do some new things and work with great people. I really want to see us sizzle.”

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