Julie Yusim’s latest stint as the Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce executive director was just seven days old when Pioneer Press talked to her on Nov. 10, but it wasn’t her first time in the position. Yusim, 52, was the Chamber’s executive director between 2000 and 2009, before taking a six-year break to be marketing director for Duxler Compete Auto Care. She chatted about coming back to the job, the strengths of the local business community and what’s on her to-do list.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in Skokie and did most of my growing up in Highland Park. I started in this business at the Skokie Chamber of Commerce then came to Wilmette. I thought I’d take a jaunt into the private sector … I missed all my people in Wilmette, so when the opportunity came to come back, I was delighted. I have to say, the last six, almost seven days have been wonderful. In some ways I feel like I’ve been on a two-week vacation.
What do you think are the strengths of Wilmette’s and Kenilworth’s business community?
There are so many things here that work well – that always worked well. These are small independent shops where people put their heart and soul into what they do every single day. I think we have a huge concentration of businesses that are now in second and third generations; they have roots here. The newer businesses may be new here, but they come with the same spirit, energy and, most important, a sense of community.
Can you think of some of the challenges the community also faces?
I think the challenge is also for businesses to get the word out about themselves. Smaller business owners have limited budgets and they’re competing against online shopping opportunities, so distinguish Wilmette and Kenilworth as destinations is a big job. For service businesses it’s even harder than for retail and restaurants in some ways, because they may not even have a storefront, so they need even more networking opportunities.
What are the first three things on your to-do list?
I have to get the holiday parade together (the Chamber’s holiday parade is scheduled for Nov. 21, one day after the holiday tree-lighting on Nov. 20.)Thankfully, it’s my 11th parade, not my first. My next task is to rejuvenate some networking events that have lost a little energy. Then my third thing is talking to people. I’m having an open house every day at the Chamber office at 351 Linden Ave. from 2-3 p.m. finding out what people want and what they need.
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Finally, what do you do to relax?
I read like a maniac. I read fiction. I’m constantly ordering books on my Kindle; it’s my guilty pleasure!
– Kathy Routliffe, Pioneer Press
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