Chamber Committees
Transportation Committee

     Creating a vibrant business environment requires our participation in the legislative process - advocating those issues that will benefit our membership and keeping our membership informed of legislation that will impact their business interests.  Creating a vibrant business environment also requires that we seek out organizations that share our goals, develop common objectives, and actively pursue them together.  
     Read about our work with the area chambers on regional transportation issues.

Strategic Plan Responsibility

Goal 1:  Create a vibrant business environment

Strategy:  Advocacy  Proactively participate in the legislative process, serving as an advocate for our members.

Strategy:  Collaboration  Collaborate with organizations that share the Chamber's goal of a vibrant business environment.

Committee Focus:  Primarily focus on the improvement and enhancement of all modes of transportation that will create a vibrant business environment in the Pekin area.

Examples of Activities

• Facilitate the development of Chamber positions on transportation issues that will create a vibrant business environment.
• Advocate Chamber positions on transportation issues to the Chamber membership.
• Advocate for legislation, policies and projects that reflect the Chamber's position on transportation issues.
• Collaborate with other local organizations, units of government, and regional organizations who share common positions on transportation issues or who would benefit by a vibrant business environment.
• Host a "legislative tour" for area legislators, keeping them informed of local transportation needs, issues, and projects.

Authority:  Makes recommendations to the Board of Directors.  Can develop additional activities to support the above strategies.  Can develop sub-committees or ad hoc committees to address specific committee activities. 

Budget:  There is no money budgeted for the activities of the Transportation Committee.  Therefore, any unbudgeted expenses must be offset by unbudgeted revenues.

Schedule:  The Transportation Committee meets the second Wednesday of each month at 8:00am at the Pekin Municipal Building, 111 S. Capitol.

Committee Members

• John Anderson, Tazewell County Highway Department
• Bob Blackwell, Pekin Park District
• Jamie Crain, Representative Mike Smith
• Joseph E. Crowe, IDOT
• Scott Davis, Pekin National Bank
• John Gray, Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc.
• Ron Hawkins, Cincinnati Township
• Tom Hornstein, Board Liaison, Excalibur Seasoning Company
• Steve Jaeger, TransPORT, Heart of Illinois Regional Port District
• Jim Jones, Pekin City Council
• Dennis Kief, Vice Chair, City of Pekin
• Terry Kohlbuss, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
• Rich Kriegsman, Chairman, KMI Warehouse
• Scot LaSalle, IDOT
• Peg Meisinger, Senator Shadid/Representative Smith
• Carol Merna, Congressman Ray LaHood's Office
• Nicole Nutter, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
• Derek Parish, IDOT
• Ken Park, IDOT
• Greg Ranney, City of Pekin
• Dave Reisinger, Groveland Township
• Carol Shields, Individual Member
• Mike Smith, State Representative
• Deb Spencer, Eastern Bypass Regional Coalition, Inc.
• Ken Spirito, Greater Peoria Regional Airport
• Dave Tebben, Tebben Insurance Services
• Jim Wallinger, Individual Member
• Jerry Weiland, Aventine Renewable Energy
• Joe Wuellner, City of Pekin

Measurements of Success:  Ensuring that the Strategic Plan is a living, breathing document, the Executive Committee will continually evaluate the appropriateness of the Plan's goals. The Executive Committee will also evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies and activities. On at least an annual basis, this committee will be evaluated on:

• Examples of advocacy of Chamber positions on transportation issues.
• Examples of collaboration with others who share a common position on transportation issues.
• Participation, quality and content of the "legislative tour."