Doyle, Romano, Named Honorees for Evanston Chamber of Commerce, Non-Profit and Small Business Leaders for 2014

Jane Doyle, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Independent Futures and Joe Romano, President of Romano Wealth Management will be honored by the Evanston Chamber of Commerce on January 14 as the winners of the Non-Profit Award and the Small Businessperson of the Year. Doyle and Romano were selected by past winners of those awards who reviewed several nominations, according to Evanston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Elaine Kemna-Irish.

Doyle and Romano will be honored at the Chamber’s 94th Annual Meeting to be held at the Hilton Orrington Hotel from 5:30 p.m. ‘til 9 p.m.  Cost for the event is $55 per person and will include a buffet dinner and cocktails prepared by Chef Kerri Heiber of the Hilton Orrington.  The event will also include an exciting raffle with items from peace by piece, the AutoBarn Evanston, Duxler Tires, Downtown Evanston, NorthShore University HealthSystems and Koi Fine Asian Sushi &  Lounge.  First Bank & Trust is a major sponsor for the event.

Doyle founded the Center for Independent Futures in 2002.  “My daughter,” says Doyle,

“was the inspiration for CIF”.   Doyle saw a critical need to find programs which would give her own daughter and others an opportunity to grow, learn and live independently after high school.  Today CIF serves over 600 individuals with disabilities by providing a full range of programs, support and education so that these individuals and their families have hope for a full life for their children, rather than one of isolation and despair.   CIF has become a model for other communities working to support young adults with disabilities.

Joe Romano was named President of Romano Wealth Management in 2003.

The firm was founded by his father, Richard and his uncle, Robert. Today Romano manages over $1 billion in funds for its clients and recently marked its 51st year of operation in Evanston.  Joe Romano directly oversees all day-to-day operations of the firm and leads the Investment Committee. He served as President of the Illinois Securities Industry Association (ISIA) from 2005-2007. He is currently a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) District 8 Committee and the FINRA Small Firm Advisory Board.   His civic commitments include board memberships on Connections for the Homeless and the Youth Job Center.  He was appointed to the Firefighters Pension Review Board by Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and was an early sponsor of the highly successful Evanston Mash-Up.  Romano is a member of the Young Presidents Organization and a former board member of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.

 Click here to register online or contact Jessica VandenBergh at 847-328-1500 x24 or jessica@evchamber.com.