[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO ROLLING MEADOWS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1997 HONOREES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize several special 
business leaders in my district who will be honored today by the 
Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce.
  Tom Rivera, President of Greater Woodfield Convention and Visitors' 
Bureau, will be honored as the 1997 Business Leader of the Year. Under 
Tom's guidance, the Bureau has grown to serve 13 northwest suburban 
communities, and produces more than $25 million in tourism business for 
the Greater Woodfield area. In addition, Tom is an active member of the 
boards of Northwest 2001 and the Northwest Cultural Council. He also 
serves as the Co-Chair of the Illinois International Convention Center 
Authority and ``The Friends of the Northwest Suburbs.'' For the past 
four years, he has been the President of ``Visit Illinois,'' the 
state's public and private sector tourism association which engaged in 
marketing, lobbying and educational efforts on behalf of Illinois' 
tourism industry. In 1995, I was pleased to appoint him to serve on the 
White House Conference on Travel and Tourism. Tom is certainly an 
expert in his field and contributes a great deal to the Rolling Meadows 
community.
  Mr. John Conyers, Superintendent of Community Consolidated School 
District 15 will be honored as the 1997 Community Leader of the Year. 
John is a dedicated educator, having been a classroom teacher and 
principal in inner-city and suburban schools. He is a member of the 
Advisory Committee to the State Superintendent of Schools, and also 
serves on the board of the Palatine Township Senior Citizen Council as 
well as the Roosevelt University-Robin Campus Community Advising Board. 
In addition, he serves on the Board of Representatives of the Northwest 
Suburban Education to Careers Partnership. John also has had articles 
published in several well-respected educational trade journals, and has 
served as a member of the State of Illinois Governor's Commission on 
Japanese Economy and Educational Interchange. Through John's 
participation, School District 15 has received a due amount of 
recognition of its excellence.
  Incredible Technologies, Inc. will be honored as the Small Business 
of the Year for 1997. The company is the coin-operated game 
manufacturer of the popular Golden Tee 3D Golf game. The success of its 
games has earned the company a reputation for being able to develop 
innovative games that consumers enjoy playing. The company, and its 
owners Elaine and Richard Ditton, have been in the Rolling Meadows 
business community since 1993.
  The City of Rolling Meadows has been selected to receive the 1997 
Business Beautification Award. In the past four years, the City Council 
has transformed a virtually unidentifiable downtown area into a place 
that area residents are proud of. A key improvement was a new community 
events sign, located in the downtown area, which has an electronic 
message board to relay messages related to city events and activities.
  Also receiving the 1997 Business Beautification Award is the Harris 
Bank Arlington-Meadows, a long-time member of the Rolling Meadows 
community. The new building constructed in 1997 has given great appeal 
to the local downtown area. This state-of-the-art banking center adds 
convenience to residents' lives as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate these leaders of Rolling 
Meadows for their hard work and dedication. Rolling Meadows and the 
Eighth Congressional District of Illinois is a better place to live 
because of them.




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