As one of the smaller chambers in the Region, the Highland Griffith Chamber of Commerce tries to strike a balance in its outlook, according to President and CEO Lance Ryskamp. This means that while the chamber is closely aligned to the two communities it directly serves, it still tries to maintain a broader point of view on regional issues as well.
And its size carries another benefit for its members.
“As a smaller chamber, we tend to be a little less formal, giving our members a more prominent voice and the opportunity for more personalized contact,” he notes. “This gives everyone a chance to tap into the collective success and knowledge of our members, especially for start-up businesses.”
A great example of this ethos was Start-Up Business Expo the chamber launched last November, which Ryskamp says was the result of months and years of productive discussion among the membership. That kind of teamwork is one of the reasons for the Highland Griffith chamber's success.
“With each success, it is both an opportunity and an obligation to work harder, both to grow as an organization and to be worthy of the support we have been given.”
‘Merica JunkBoss may be classified as a junk removal business, but co-owner Sabrina “Bean” Burgos believes clients appreciate the fact that it’s much more than that.
“We deal with real-life situations — loss, divorce, downsizing — not just ‘junk removal,’ ” she explains. “We don’t judge. We make a plan, we show up, we listen, we follow through and we care. A lot of businesses focus on income, but we think it’s better to focus on people.”
That message has resonated on social media, where Bean and her team have documented their story to give people a better idea of why they’re not just a junk-removal outfit.
“We’ve shared the failures, the growth, and the grind of starting this business with less than $1,000 and a homemade trailer and building from there,” she says. “And I think our work and our journey have really spoken for themselves.”
As a car guy, Brandon Phillips knows how important it is to get everything just right when he’s providing mobile detailing services to his customers.
“I treat every vehicle like it’s my own and never cut corners,” he explains. “Customers know they’re getting honest work, real results and the convenience of a fully mobile service.”
Indeed, Phillips Legendary Detailing shows up fully equipped with a commercial-grade pressure washer, onboard water tank and generator for complete interior and exterior detailing. From deep interior restorations to high-gloss exterior finishes, Phillips says the goal is to deliver a shop-level detail right to the customer’s driveway.
“I get to work with amazing clients every day, and there’s nothing better than seeing their reaction when they see their vehicle transformed,” he says. “That moment makes all the hard work worth it.”
Location, location, location. Not just a mantra for finding a home. Dyer town manager David Hein says it’s also the kind of attribute that makes a town or village attractive to residents and businesses alike.
“Dyer offers some unique dining experiences that are in convenient locations,” he says. “With easy access to Calumet Avenue and Route 30, our establishments have become destinations for many. And the recent addition of the NICTD Munster/Dyer Train Station now provides convenient access to Chicago for work or recreation.”
That means more and more people will be able seek out Dyer’s hometown feel and wide variety of amenities, including its combination of new construction and existing housing, more than 20 parks and a parkside pavilion and event center coming soon to Central Park.
Most of all, Hein believes they’ll discover what so many longtime residents already know: That Dyer is a great place to work, live, and raise a family.
What are people looking for in a house of worship? Pastor Brandon Rukes believes the answer lies in a combination of honesty, authenticity, and, above all, community — areas in which he feels Griffith First Christian Church delivers week after week.
“One of the things that worshippers love most about GFCC is that we are like a family,” he explains. “I believe at times we can be a dysfunctional family, but we are still a family. It is this authenticity that permeates throughout our time of worship, during our weekly groups and Bible studies and our various events. We welcome one another like family, just as we are called to do so.”
And just as people tend to feel loved, welcomed and supported among their families, Rukes thinks people walk away from GFCC services with those same feelings.
“It's a good feeling to have our church family feel as positive about GFCC as I do,” he says.
