RENOWN AFRICAN AMERICAN CORPORATE EXECUTIVE TO BE APPOINTED TO CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Bonita Parker
Bonita Parker

 

RENOWN AFRICAN AMERICAN CORPORATE EXECUTIVE TO BE APPOINTED TO CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 

LONGTIME COMMUNITY ORGANIZER BONITA PARKER ENERGIZED, AND PREPARED TO ASSUME THE LEAD POST

 OF THE HISTORIC ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS ADVOCATES

 

PARKER BECOMES THE ORGANIZATIONS THIRD

 AFRICAN AMERICAN TO HEAD THE WELL-REGARDED COMMERCE ORGANIZATION

 

 

Thursday, February 23rd, 2023@ 5:00 PM

Idlewild Country Club, 19201 Dixie Highway, Flossmoor, Illinois

 

 

(Flossmoor, Illinois)-Hundreds will gather and celebrate the appointment of one of Cook County’s most respected and premier community advocates, Ms. Bonita Parker.  Ms. Parker is being installed as the Chairman of the prestigious Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce. (CSCC)


The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce will officially install Ms. Parker and other individuals to leadership of the 38-year-old business-led organization. Ms. Parker will be the third African American installed as Chairperson of the Chamber.


Tom Fagan, the outgoing Chairman of the CSCC recommended Ms. Parker to fill his post due to her immense love for the Chicago Southland as well as her vision of what the Chicago Southland Chamber should reflect throughout the region.


“Ms. Parker has been serving on the Chicago Southland Chamber Board of Directors since 2014, has served on several committees and on their Executive Board. Ms. Parker is extremely passionate about business growth in the Southland, and we are thrilled to have her leading our organization. She is the External Affairs Manager, South Region of ComEd where she is responsible for cultivating relationships with elected officials and their government staff, local clergy, NFP Organizations, and small businesses. She serves as a stakeholder gateway to all things ComEd related while simultaneously sharing information about ComEd programs and offerings to enhance the Southland.” says Mr. Fagan.


Bonita’s passion for people and patriotism inspired her to serve six years in the United States Army Reserve. Bonita has received numerous awards over the years and most recently she received: We Dream in Color Humanitarian Award (2019), Women Empowered for Civic Engagement (2018), GSU Chapter Phi Alpha Outstanding Community Partner (2017), Thornton Township Jefferson Award (2016) and she received the Chicago Defender Woman of Excellence Award (2015).

Ms. Parker has enjoyed a long career in community advocacy as well as her current 12-year career at Com Ed. She has trailblazed a path for other African American women to not only aspire, but to ensure that the upward mobility of the African American community is always regarded.

Bonita Parker has served or led numerous community and government based organizations. Some of which include but or not limited to the following:

Chief of Staff to Alderman Sandi Jackson (7th Ward, Chicago)

Director of Financial Education, Office of the State Treasurer (Alexi Giannoulias)

COO and National Director of One Thousand Churches Connected, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition (Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.)

Director of Investments and Economic Empowerment, Salem Baptist Church of Chicago (Rev. James T. Meeks)


In addition, Bonita has served on the Board of Chatham Business Association, Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce, Calumet Area Industrial Coalition, Exelon African American Resource Alliance and Exelon Military Actively Connected. She has held membership in a broad variety of professional and civic organizations. She has served as Principal for a Day and volunteers to speak with youth throughout various school systems and shelters for women and children. She served as a contributor to Dollars and Sense radio program on1690 AM/WVON for eight years.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve as your Chairperson for 2023. We look forward to working with all local chambers, villages, municipalities, colleges and universities, workforce development partners and legislative officials to ensure that we continue to be a strong Chicago Southland region. “says Chairwoman Parker.

Parker adds, “The CSCC is also focused on legislative initiatives which include business expansion plans for the Southland and is focused on business growth.”

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