After ‘Banner' Year, Chamber Elects New Board Members

When the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce expanded to include the Ravenswood corridor, Dan Gaughan was overjoyed.

Gaughan co-owns Urban Pooch Canine Life Center at 4501 N. Ravenswood Avenue, and was part of the Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce. When the organization folded in 2011, Gaughan said the Lincoln Square chamber welcomed his business with open arms. 

In September, the chamber officially expanded to include Ravenswood and renamed itself the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce.

That expansion is exactly why Gaughan decided to run for a position on the chamber's board of directors. He hopes to encourage more Ravenswood businesses to include themselves in the organization. 

Stay tuned to Patch for more Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber news in the coming days. 

Gaughan joins Liz Songer with The Chopping Block, Laura Kohler with Matty K’s Hardware and David Trout with David G. Trout and Associates as new members on the chamber board. 

The four were elected unanimously at the chamber’s annual meeting Tuesday night at Chicago Brauhaus.

Each member spoke about something they’d improve in the neighborhood if elected to the board. 

Songer said she wanted to connect with business owners that are valuable to the community, but haven’t been as active in events and volunteering. 

The four replace outgoing members Rich Forsythe with Ruff Haus Pets; Julie Liska with Liska Architects; George Fink with Piggy Toes and Kristine Kueck with Riehn Insurance.

Board members serve a three-year term, with officers on a one-year rotation.

At the meeting, outgoing president Jason Kraus said the chamber had a “banner year,” with several new events.

The organization paired with the Square Kegs Home Brew Club for Summer and Winter Brews. Old Town School of Folk joined the chamber for the Square Roots Festival, an event that brought more than 25,000 people to the neighborhood. It was also the first year for the Unwrap Lincoln Square and Ravenswood campaign, which rewarded residents for shopping local.

Taking over as president of the chamber is Darby Putman, who owns Fountainhead with her husband, Dave. 

Putman, who served on the committees for Square Roots and Winter Brew, has been involved with the chamber for the last year and a half.

“The chamber does so much to make the neighborhood better, but also to make businesses better,” she said. “I feel really lucky and really honored to be a part of it.” 

Read more about the chamber:

• Rudy Flores to Head Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce
• Lincoln Square Chamber Expands to Serve Ravenswood
• Lincoln Square Farmers' Market Starts Fall Hours—Have You Been Yet?
• Funny Faces: Halloween Happenings Combines Candy and Laughs
• Businesses and Residents Turn Lincoln Square into Wine Country
• Apple Fest Brings Autumn to Lincoln Square: PHOTOS