MOVING FORWARD Advocacy for our business communityValue Added Branding, Addressable Geofencing brings to advertisers a powerful, efficient, and accurate new way to target specific households and businesses with digital advertising. Addressable Geofencing Whether you want to precisely target 100 or 1 million addressable for your campaign, household geofencing is the perfect solution. You can use this technology on its own or to enhance the outputs of direct mail and TV campaigns as well as other marketing efforts. This platform also allows you to extend your reach, boost your frequency, and receive foot traffic attribution by tracking your conversion zones. It also makes targeting campaigns more effective by using automated plat line geofencing drawing. Here’s how the technology works: Our team will use your list of addresses or create a roster based on demographic and psychographic information. We upload the target addresses to our platform. We match the addresses against our plat line to determine the precise location, size, and shape. S C A N H E R E valueaddedbranding.com | valueaddedgeofencing.comHow to Enjoy A Choice Retirement CUSTOMIZE YOUR RETIREMENT OPTIONS AT WESTMINSTER PLACE At Westminster Place, we offer independent living options you can customize to your needs. From our wide choice of housing options, flexible floor plans, and generous decoration allowances. To our delicious and customizable dining options and a wide range of activities and amenities. So, if you’re looking for the security and peace of mind of a Life Plan Retirement Community, make the right choice – Westminster Place. Call 847.570.3422 or visit WestminsterPlace.org today to arrange a private tour. 3200 Grant Street, Evanston, IL 60201 | 847.570.3422www.evchamber.com 2 COVER PHOTO BY ERIC ALLIX ROGERS Index 3 ABOUT THE CHAMBER 4 PUBLISHER’S NOTE 5 LIVING 14 EDUCATION 16 EARLY LEARNING 18 HEALTHCARE 28 BUSINESS 33 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY 12 24 73 www.evchamber.com About the Chamber Evanston Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1920 and since inception has been changing with generations to serve its business community. From Prohibition to Pandemic, Evanston Chamber of Commerce has grown and matured to fulfill its mission of being an advocate for the business community. Angela Iantosca, Membership and Development Director, has been with the Chamber for five years. During her tenure Angela has created operational processes and provided membership support. For example, every new member receives a welcome letter, a decal, and an email with instructions on how to create their unique page on the Chamber’s website. Sara Jane Abbott, Director of Marketing, works with business owners on their business’ marketing, strategic partnerships, and marketing plans. Sara Jane has been instrumental to help strengthen the Chamber’s social media and online presence. When the world went into shelter in place, Angela and Sara Jane stepped out of their comfort zone and created avenues to connect with members to give them support. They facilitated weekly Zoom gatherings and brainstorming sessions to provide support to businesses. Sara Jane initiated weekly video zoom recordings called “Water Cooler Chats“ series where she checks in with a featured member around a virtual water cooler. It’s become a continued series where the featured business gets an opportunity to share what they do, describe any new projects (a free advertisement for the featured business) and talk about their work/life balance. As we all know people buy and support businesses that they know and feel a deeper connection. ANGELA AND SARA JANE ARE DEDICATED TO THE CHAMBERS MISSION: To create an inclusive, equitable and welcoming environment for all businesses to thrive in Evanston. We value diversity, respect for all cultures and inclusion of all voices. We encourage ongoing anti-racist conversations and practices. The Evanston Chamber of Commerce takes our leadership and advocacy role in the business community seriously, and does not tolerate systemic oppression or racism in any form. We continuously search for and provide access to a broad range of economic development resources such as training, education, mentoring, and networking to promote the success of local businesses of all sizes. If you are a local business owner, we hope you will consider joining the Chamber in 2022. As a member you will witness first hand how Angela and Sara Jane (Ladies) get the job done! A wise person said, change is the only constant in life! 2020 has proven this statement to be true. 1007 Church St. Suite 106 Evanston, IL 6020 Please feel free to contact the Chamber office at 847-328-1500 or at info@evchamber.com to find out more about the Evanston Chamber of Commerce visit www.evchamber.com www.facebook.com/evanstonchamber www.linkedin.com/company/evanston-chamber-of-commerce/ twitter.com/EvanstonChamber www.instagram.com/evanstonchamber/ www.youtube.com/channel/UCyuazYeCpivxbxFD0jmVXqg PHOTO BY BORDEAUX STUDIOwww.evchamber.com 4 HARRIS HARRIS Publisher’s note Every year we produce a community profile and directory that represents the voice of the community and a map that offers a visual layout of the community. These publications both in print and online are the voice for the community and a tool for the chamber to reach out to families and businesses throughout the area. We have experienced great change and adversity with the impact of the pandemic and yet our community has faced these issues head on, and we finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. The chamber and its team have shown great leadership throughout these difficult times and have exemplified the importance of great leadership in a community. Despite the lockdown and economic issues, the chamber has been a beacon of growth and stability. It has helped many businesses stay afloat and brought together the leaders of Evanston to act in unison. I am constantly surprised by the innovation that the chamber team brings forth and I wait in anticipation for what the chamber team has in store for us. Support your chamber and become a member if you have not already signed up. DAVID HARRIS CEO HarrisChamberTeam.com As the publisher of the Evanston chamber of commerce community profile and directory, I would like to thank the chamber members and the Evanston chamber of commerce for their continued support with our publications. All Rights Reserved. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information in this publication. Evanston Chamber of Commerce and Harris Chamber Team assume no responsibility for misinformation. Please contact the Chamber with any additions or corrections. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of Harris Chamber Team is prohibited. This includes electronic or mechanical including photocopy, recording or any information retrieval system without written permission from publisher. HARRIS CHAMBER TEAM Your Chamber Publisher www.harrischamberteam.com Sales@HarrisChamberTeam.com (850) 296-0759 Start a . Schedule a . we strengthen operations. Process optimization Program & project management Operations support Financial management & analysis (312) 383-8693 www.lavendereucalyptus.com How can we help you your s ? operational capacity increase ® project call5 www.evchamber.com Chamber Businesses Getting Involved We can end homelessness. It is not a naturally occurring phenomenon. Connections for the Homeless is mobilizing our community to end homelessness, one person at a time. We take a two-fold approach to achieve our mission by meeting the immediate needs of our neighbors and addressing the root causes of homelessness. Annually, we serve 4,000 people across three primary programs: eviction prevention, shelter, and housing. Our work is amplified by our community and the 1,600 annual volunteers who extend the impact of our direct services. We also address the systemic issues that perpetuate homelessness through our advocacy efforts and work with dozens of partners across the region through the coalition we lead, Joining Forces for Affordable Housing, to advocate for solutions that eradicate homelessness. ELIZABETH NOVAK ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT This work is more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated deep inequities in health, access to housing, and financial stability, and we have transformed the way in which we do our work to create a dignity-based safety net for people who are at-risk or experiencing homelessness. We can’t do this work alone, join us! Partners like Koi, Jennifer’s Edibles, La Cocinita, Cross Rhodes, Clarke’s Off Campus and La Principal have provided essential and delicious meals for participants in our programs. YOU CAN GET INVOLVED TOO: Volunteer: Directly engage in our work through remote and onsite volunteer opportunities that are flexible and open to all. Donate: Thousands of donors provide the in-kind and financial donations that make our work possible. Advocate: Help us create change and support community- solutions that end homelessness. Ending Homelessness in Evanston LIVING TOGETHER, WE CAN ENSURE EVERYONE IN EVANSTON HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE, THRIVE, AND ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.www.evchamber.com 100% of profits support YWCA's domestic violence and economic advancement programs. Beautiful designer clothing and accessories Shop. Consign. Volunteer. 820 Dempster Street Evanston, IL 60202 847-475-1135 ywca-ens.org/crowded At Houlahan Travel we specialize in bespoke leisure travel and plan exceptional journeys for families, as well as group and single travel, honeymoons and destination weddings. Personal experience paired with a personal touch is what sets us apart. We believe that the future of the travel industry depends on focusing on conservation, sustainability and supporting the local communities where we travel.Contact us for more information! 2901 Central St. Suite 1 Evanston, IL 60201 847-868-4502 miles@houlahantravel.com7 www.evchamber.com Two Evanston Sisters, Three Businesses and a whole lot of Optimism When a fire engulfed Mayra Jackson’s home two days before Christmas last year, she and her family lost everything. “Daddy, there’s a fire in my bedroom!” Mayra’s 9-year-old son exclaimed. It was just before seven in the morning; Mayra’s husband struggled to open their newly-bought fire extinguisher, still wrapped tightly in its thick plastic packaging. Running into the bedroom, he woke a sleeping Mayra, and the family proceeded to evacuate out into the frigid winter air. Nothing was spared from the unforgiving flames of the house fire, including all of Mayra’s art supplies and baking equipment. One year before the fire, Mayra and her sister, Ivette Camarano, officially founded Cake Pop and Roll, a bakery on 1806 Dempster Avenue. Using artistic techniques and delicious ingredients, they bake customized cake pops and other baked goods. Mayra and Ivette have recently expanded their bakery to include personalized catering orders for large events. Conveniently located right next door to Cake Pop and Roll is Gamestersbay, a gaming lounge that Ivette co- founded; it offers a space for any video-game aficionado to play and buy games. In addition to Gamerstersbay, Ivette also has her own accounting firm: Camarano Account & Tax Services. Ivette and Mayra’s bond far surpasses their business ventures together. Ivette opened up her home to Mayra and her family after the fire. For the following three weeks, their families blended into one. Then, another tragedy struck. Mayra and Ivette’s brother, Wilson, a police officer in New England, died from complications of heart failure. Still grappling with the loss of a home, they were also forced to grieve the loss of their older brother’s life. Since then, both Mayra and Ivette have poured themselves into their passions, finding strength, healing, and peace through their crafts. Mayra finds her strength and peace through art. Channeling her finely-tuned decorating skills from Cake Pop and Roll, she creates a mosaic recreation of Van Gogh’s “A Starry Night.” In her rendition, she includes the Puerto Rican and Pan-African flags, as well as the glimmering city skyline of Chicago. If you look closely at the piece, you can also find the names of each member of her family, with Wilson's name perched in between the stars. In addition to art and music, Ivette derives her strength from her work. She immerses herself into her businesses,using her determination and ambition to bring Gamesterbay and Camarano Accounting to new levels. Mayra and Ivette’s determination has empowered them on their journey through a difficult year. Searching for peace within the chaos, they are able to begin anew. A few months ago, Mayra and her family moved into a new home, creating a nest of safety and security after the fire. Additionally, just last month, they welcomed a new baby boy and named him honorably, Wilson. These beams of light mark a future with brighter days for Mayra and Ivette, days full of love and stability. Although life is unpredictable, they find their strength through family, compassion, and perseverance. Evanston Sisters Persevere Through Tumultuous Times 1720 Maple Ave. Evanston, Il. 60201 223 6th st. Racine, Wi 53403 cakepopandroll@gmail.com www.cakepopandroll.com LIVING INTERVIEW BY ALLYSON BARKERNext >