Cocktails & Conversation

Welcome to the reboot of our OPRF Chamber podcast!

We have re-invented and re-envisioned what our podcast could be, all while meeting you where you are ... busy, overworked and pressed for time. Well we have you covered! Important topics that are relevant to running your business. Right here, right now, when you need them. Grab a drink and listen!

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Village of Oak Park election for Village Trustee are in early April 2023.

Find our what our candidates think about our local business community:

♦  Their top concerns for businesses

♦  Continuing to attract & retain businesses

♦  Public safety & crime

♦  Business permitting & navigating the municipal code

♦  Multiple organizations - business districts, partner agencies, business associations, social media campaigns & an SSA - Is this the right approach for how we should support our business community? 

Inside The Chamber Podcast (on hiatus)   

UPDATE January 2022 - We have put our little Covid-project on hold while we work to help businesses re-open and get back on track. Look out for how we will reinvent ourselves and re-launch our audio offerings. You will not want to miss!

In mid-2020, we launched a podcast! Every week we were taking a deep dive into topics relevant to our small business community, through interviewing some of the most innovative and influential business leaders. By sharing our collective expertise, we wanted to empower listeners to use their own skill-set to achieve ultimate success in their business and their life. Below you can find a few of the last episodes that we recorded.

A Unique Collaboration

D.M. Burton LOVES all things Chamber, and the Chamber LOVES the innovation and ingenuity of entrepreneurship. What better way for us to align than develop a podcast to give our members a platform to discuss the successes and challenges of running a small business.

Join us as we tackle timely topics head-on and fearlessly ask the hard questions.

#chamberLOVE

Episode 22 - The Perfect Cookie & The Best Gift of All, Food.

      Sponsored By:     

Our final episode on gifting is all about consumables. Today we have Shana Taveras of Blackout Baking Co. talking to us about the gift of food.  Food and drink is not complicated, but it is from the heart and it let's people know that you are thinking about them. By baking the perfect bite of cookie, she creates deliciousness for all who receive them. Let's get some great consumable gift ideas for this holiday season or anytime of the year.

Episode 21 - Who Do We Gift, When Do We Gift, & How Much Do We Spend

      Sponsored By:     

Part 2 of our multi-part series on Gifting.  We know gifting can be difficult. Who do we gift? When do we gift? How much do we spend? Get some great insights on gifting from Oak Park's Trusted Realtor, Baird & Warner's Swati Saxena, as she shares with Darien some of her secrets on cultivating strong relationships and finding the perfect gift for all of our different associations, clients, friends, family, and more. She makes gift giving local, to support our local economy and personal, to show her appreciation and joy during this holiday season and all year long.

Episode 20 - Women-Owned Businesses, Whiskey, & The Perfect Gift

      Sponsored By:     

Holiday season is synonymous with gifts. And just in time, Darien chats with some of our amazing business mavens to share their take on gifting ideas to help us maneuver through this holiday season. Today as part of our multi-part series, we have Lisa Munro of Elle Belle Box. Founded during the height of Covid-19 to support local vendors and women owned businesses, she creates beautifully wrapped themed gift boxes for all who need help finding the perfect gift. Listen to some of her great gift ideas for this season to bring a smile to all who receive them and support Local.

Episode 19 - Village Gems, Holiday Shopping, & Business Warriors

       Sponsored By:   

We all know and love our local independent retailers but they have been hit hard by this darn pandemic - overnight closures, limited numbers in their stores and no touching of beautiful things! So how can you help to ensure the survival of our Village gems? Come and spend some time with three owners of some of the most visible businesses in Oak Park and learn right from these business warriors how you can help them weather the storm and why they love to hate pivots in each of their businesses.  Join us as we welcome Anne Pezalla from Lively Athletics, Kim Humphrey from Bead in Hand and Cheryl Vargas from Studio 928! Let Anne tell you about her favorite item in her store and how you can help Lively survive this pandemic. Find out how Cheryl's virtual painting parties are attracting bookings from Netflix to Bill and Melinda  Gates Foundation and help connect you with friends and family across the country. She even enlightens us about Google Business. And let Kim's plans for at home beading projects save your family holidays in lock-down. Nothing is predictable anymore in the retail world and these women know it. It's going to take a Village to make sure our shops are around next year - listen-in so you can do your part this holiday season.

Episode 18 - Beach Vacations, Deserted Airports, & Crystal Balls

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Who is dreaming of a beach vacation or some time away with friends? We are all craving to get out of our Covid bubble and see the world again, and with the holidays around the corner, is it safe to travel yet? Can you book family vacations? Should you travel? Is Spring break even going to be a thing next year? We checked in with our local travel expert, Lydia Villanueva-Soto from Tan Travel to bring you the inside scoop on everything from middle seats, getting your credits & refunds and where you can still travel in Mexico! And don't miss the tips and tricks to find the perfect Mimosa in a deserted airport. Our crystal ball says there could be a return of the Travel Agent - get ahead of the curve and meet Lydia! Hear it here first and get connected!