HR0564 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0564 LRB104 15578 ECR 28744 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to commend Kerry Frank of Rockford on her remarkable achievements in business and as a public speaker; and

WHEREAS, Kerry Frank is the former leader of Comply365, one of the most transformative and innovative aviation software companies in the United States of America; she co-founded the business in the basement of her home in South Beloit in 2007; in the process, she became the first female chief executive officer (CEO) of a technology company in the aviation industry and the first CEO to introduce the commercial application on iPads for pilots in the global aviation markets; she quickly developed Comply365 into a fast-growing and international aviation software provider, offering a complete suite of enterprise optimization solutions and business intelligence tools to automate business, before selling the company in 2018, and the business continues to dominate the aviation industry today; and

WHEREAS, Kerry Frank has also contributed significantly to entrepreneurship in her community and the State of Illinois; together with her family, she established Hidden Creek Estates in 2021, which serves as a restaurant, venue, and resort in Roscoe, north of Rockford; her establishment has grown rapidly, experiencing an estimated 400% increase in growth in a span of three years and generating a revenue of about $4 million in tourism in the Rockford area in 2025 alone; her business has also been recognized by the Stateline Chamber of Commerce as the 2024 Small Business of the Year and won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2024 and 2025; and

WHEREAS, Kerry Frank has become a public speaker who strives to spark courage, shift mindsets, and inspire resiliency in those ready to create lasting legacy over fleeting success; she continues to empower purpose-driven leaders through honest storytelling, bold mentorship, and hard-won wisdom, helping her clients build innovative solutions to transform industries, communities, and lives without compromising their standards and integrity; and

WHEREAS, Kerry Frank has been recognized as a business leader by local, state, and national organizations, placing second in a business pitch competition by Innovate Illinois in 2011, being featured in the competition launch video for Innovate Illinois by Governor Pat Quinn that same year, being named one of the 25 most interesting people by Northwest Quarterly in 2016, and receiving the Ken Hendricks "Seize the Day" award at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Conference in 2018; and

WHEREAS, Kerry Frank has overcome rejection and discouragement through adaptability and bravery, impacting the aviation software industry, navigating the highly complex field of entrepreneurship, and contributing to the development of new business leaders; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her immeasurable contributions to the State and country, Kerry Frank has successfully raised a family with her husband, Dude Frank; and

WHEREAS, Kerry Frank serves as a symbol of excellence, dedication, and passion, and she should be celebrated as a significant figure in the State of Illinois and the United States of America; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend Kerry Frank on her invaluable contributions in business and as a public speaker, and we extend our best wishes to her continued success; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Kerry Frank as an expression of our esteem and respect.