HR0752

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives have learned that Michael Skarr, who has served 
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as President & CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce 
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since 1996, will retire from that position at the end of 2007; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Under Michael Skarr's leadership the Naperville 
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Area Chamber of Commerce's Membership has nearly doubled and 
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its financial fortunes have brightened considerably; he 
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oversaw the organization's relocation to its modern 
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headquarters in the Main Street Promenade, its move to a new 
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Membership model, its receipt of Five-Star Accreditation from 
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the United States Chamber of Commerce, and the recent strategic 
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planning initiative, Chamber 2020; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Michael Skarr received an engineering degree from 
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Marquette University and an MBA from Lewis University; he also 
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graduated from the Middle Management Development Program at 
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Aurora University, where he received their Outstanding 
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Performance Award and Distinguished Alumni Award; he has served 
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as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Aurora University's Management 
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Development Center and at Lewis University; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Michael Skarr received a Distinguished Alumni 
 


 






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Achievement Award in community service from Lewis University 
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and was recognized with their Distinguished Alumni Award, in 
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addition to currently serving as a member of the President's 
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Council; he was a recipient of the Naperville Jaycee's 
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Distinguished Service Award in business, the Illinois State 
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Crime Commission's Business Leader of the Year Award, the 
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DuPage Workforce Board's Business Leader Recognition Award, 
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and the Extraordinary Citizen Award from the Three Fires 
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Council Boy Scouts of America; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Michael Skarr served as a member of the Naperville 
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Community Unit School District 203 board of education and as 
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founding president of its Business & Education & Community 
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Partnership, and he was a founding member of the Illinois 
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Advisory Council on Business/Education Partnerships; he was 
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appointed to the Illinois State Board of Education by former 
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Governor Jim Edgar and served four years as chairperson; he has 
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served as a member of the Governor's Economic Development 
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Coordinating Council, the Joint Education Commission, and the 
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Illinois Human Resource Investment Council, where he served as 
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co-chair of the Illinois Education-To-Careers steering 
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committee; and he is also a board member of the DuPage 
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Workforce Board; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Michael Skarr has  served as both president and a 
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founding member of the board of directors of the Naperville 
 


 






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Development Partnership, a public/private economic development 
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not-for-profit corporation; he  is also a founding Board member 
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of DuPageBiz, DuPage County's economic development 
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partnership; he serves on the Board of the World Trade Center 
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Illinois; he is chairman of the board of directors of the 
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Harris Bank Naperville and a member of the Center for 
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Applications-Based Learning board of directors; he is a past 
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President of the Naperville United Way and is a member of the 
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board of directors of the Millennium Carillon Foundation; he 
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serves as treasurer for the Transportation for Illinois 
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Coalition; he serves as a member of the Naperville Downtown 
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Plan Implementation Committee; and he has also served on the 
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Executive Committee of the Chicago Area Council Boy Scouts of 
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America; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Michael  Skarr has had an extensive career for 
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NICOR Inc., a Fortune 500 energy holding company; he is also 
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President of Human Dynamics Associates; he  has been appointed 
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to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Committee 
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of 100 (CCC100) and also served on the American Chamber of 
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Commerce Executives Board of Directors; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Michael  Skarr has been married to Mary Ann since 
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1965; he is the proud father of  Mike Jr., Mark, and Matt, and 
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the loving grandfather of Alex, Ryan, Ashley, Jack, Sarah, 
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Nolan, and Kaden; therefore, be it
 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Michael Skarr on his retirement and wish him the 
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best in his future endeavors; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Michael Skarr as a symbol of our respect.