Hampshire Area Chamber mixes it up with new faces

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From left: Hampshire Village President Jeff Magnussen; Hampshire Area Chamber Executive Director Bonnie Hanson; State Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Hinckley); and Hampshire Trustees Jan Kraus and George Brust.

Updated: January 27, 2012 2:28AM

HAMPSHIRE — The Hampshire Area Chamber of Commerce held an after-hours mixer this week to welcome Bonnie Hanson, the chamber’s new executive director.

Hanson was formerly the executive director of the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce.

“You will find that Bonnie is a great addition to our chamber,” said Lynn Acker, chamber president.

The mixer was held at the Hampshire Professional Center, 895 S. State St., which is managed by Bruce Burklow Properties.

New rep

The event was attended by about 25 chamber members and state Rep. Robert Pritchard, R-Hinckley. Due to redistricting, parts of Hampshire and all of Burlington fall into the district now represented by Pritchard.

“With the redistricting, I’m taking a little different mix that is still agricultural and rural in nature,” Pritchard told attendees. “I look forward to becoming better acquainted.”

The mixer was also attended by Village President Jeff Magnussen, Trustees Jan Kraus and George Brust, and village attorney Mark Schuster.

Brust, who is a member of Metro West Council of Government, said that he nominated Pritchard for 2011 Legislator of the Year. The trophy for the honor was presented to Pritchard last June in Elburn.

“Mixers are great for meeting fellow business people,” said Monica Lee, Illinois territory manager for the Association of Personal Photo Organizers.

“After-hour mixers are an example of the opportunities that the chamber can bring together,” Hanson said.

Expo on tap

Acker said the next big chamber event will be the annual Home & Garden Expo on Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18, at Hampshire High School. The expo will include an Antiques Roadshow where, for a fee of $20, attendees can have an antique evaluated. There also will be food, a bounce house, a springtime cooking demonstration by Chef Kelly Donlea, a martial arts demonstration, and electronic recycling of computers, monitors and televisions.