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‘I Don’t Fit The Mold, And That’s A Good Thing’

New Glenview Chamber Board President Takes Helm Next Week

Chris Falcon.

The Glenview Chamber of Commerce will welcome a new president, Chris Falcon, starting Wednesday, Jan. 8. At 40, Falcon is poised to become both the youngest and first black chamber president in the Glenview organization’s long history.

“I don’t fit the mold, and that’s a good thing,” Falcon said. “I don’t look at filling anyone’s shoes, we bring our own shoes (to the job). I will study the past of what’s been done.

“Becoming the president of the Glenview Chamber is not a role I take lightly. It’s an opportunity to help improve the business climate in Glenview, and to show what happens when a group of people work together to achieve a common goal.”

Falcon said he would approach leading the chamber with a “member first orientation,” first looking to see how chamber programs benefit chamber members, and then how those programs benefit the larger community.

A resident of Highland Park, Falcon opened the Reactive Performance Enhancement Center fitness studio at 1725 Chestnut Ave. 13 years ago. He is also a motivational speaker, author, artist, musician, inventor and entrepreneur. He has a pop-up art gallery in The Glen and a media company, Media Pods, creating video, web and other content for clients, hosts “The Rebel Mindset” and was awarded the Glenview Civic Awards Special Committee Award in 2017. He also co-founded the “Take No Bullying” nonprofit, which worked with Glenview schools, and co-created the Glenview Chamber of Commerce’s first Young Professionals Group.

Falcon comes at a key time of transition, as he said the chamber is crafting a new long-term strategic plan which will re-establish the chamber’s values and establish a new vision and mission statement in a world where retail, business and people are rapidly changing.

“We’re not trying to fight the trend of technology, that ship has sailed, we’re looking to help educate businesses,” Falcon said.

He said one way in which retailers might bring shoppers back into brick and mortar stores is for people to get to know the people who run those businesses. “We’re looking to bridge the gap between the consumer and the people behind the business.”

Much of that can be done through social media outreach. He said most businesses have the general infrastructure of a website and Facebook page in place, but some fail to keep that information updated. He said the chamber will continue to offer members classes to keep those and other skills up.

Falcon listed former chamber President Jerry Doetsch as a friend and mentor. Hearing of Falcon’s appointment, State Sen. Laura Fine (D-9th) said, “He’s awesome.”

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