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Chamber chief enjoying life after merger
Terry Dason, executive director of the Winnetka-Northfield Chamber of Commerce, loves dining out at Northfield restaurants, especially at the holidays.| Karie Angell Luc~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: December 12, 2012 9:20AM
Terry Dason, a 23-year Winnetka resident, has built friendships and business relationships since 2009 when she became executive director of the Winnetka Chamber. Now the Winnetka-Northfield Chamber of Commerce, Dayson is celebrating a successful first year of that merge. While growing up, she moved nine times. At age 12, she moved to Palatine and graduated from William Fremd H.S.
Q. Why is Northfield a great place to reside?
A. Northfield is a cozy community. Easily accessible to the highway, conveniently located for those that work in downtown Chicago or anywhere around the North Shore. There are fabulous schools, amazing restaurants and wonderful retail shops with lots of parking.
Q. Who are your family members?
A. Alex Hansen, 25, working and living in Chicago for a real estate consulting firm. Graduated two years ago from the University of Wisconsin. He is also coaching a travel Bantam A hockey team for Winnetka with coaches that coached him and brought him to the National Championship game in New York when he was 11. Austin Hansen, 23, just graduated from the University of Wisconsin, living at home. Interning and studying for his series seven test. Working at Little Ricky’s. Avery Hansen, 18 is a freshman at SMU in Dallas.
Q. Talk about your position at the chamber.
A. I began working part-time at the Winnetka Chamber seven years ago specifically working on chamber membership and events. This was a great opportunity for me to meet all the business leaders in Winnetka. Winnetka has many retail shops and as a resident, has always been my first stop for shopping. I owned retail shops for 12 years in Lincoln Park which gave me the added perspective of what our local business owners go through every day. My personal philosophy has always been shop local which makes my job easy, because I am truly passionate about what the chamber does for local business.
On June 1, 2009 I began as the executive director of the Winnetka Chamber. Following in Cicely Michalak footsteps was daunting. Cicely had done an excellent job establishing many programs and events that proved greatly successful for our members and working with her for four years prior taught me the chamber business.
After one year as the Winnetka executive director, our board began speaking with the Northfield Chamber board of directors and began discussion to merge the two chambers together. The concept was to bring the two business communities from the 60093 ZIP code together to build a stronger business base.
We have just completed our first year as the Winnetka-Northfield Chamber of Commerce. The energy for both villages has grown and businesses are getting stronger while working to support each other. This is an exciting time for our chamber and as we keep growing!
Q. What are your hobbies?
A. Actually my favorite hobby is connecting people together to make business happen, my job! I also like to read, drink good red wine, shop locally, spend time with my girlfriends and travel with my children.
Q. What do you like to do in Northfield and Winnetka?
A. My favorite things to do in both villages are to eat and to shop. And to spend time with my family and friends.
Q. Who are your daily influences?
A. The friends of mine that continually work to give back to the community. I am inspired daily by dedicated women and men that care so much and do the right things to help humanity. That is what makes me happy.
