River North Business Association Holds Annual Meeting

Announces Winners of Annual River North’s Best Awards

and New RNBA Board

The River North Business Association (RNBA)  holds its annual meeting Wednesday, February 27 at Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard Ave. The meeting includes the election of new board directors as well as the announcement of RNBA’s River North’s Best annual award winners. The program begins with registration at 5:30 p.m. and concludes with a celebration reception beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Guests are invited to enjoy Rockit Bar & Grill’s hospitality and a motivational presentation by RNBA member Jonny Imerman of Imerman’s Angels. The cost for registration is $35 for members and $40 for non-members. Register on-line here or visit http://www.rivernorthassociation.com or call 312-645-1047 for additional information.

New to the River North Business Association’s board, being elected to a two-year term, are: Paul Rudewick, Optimal Facilities Management Services; Liz Schulze, John Barleycorn and Moe’s Cantina; Brian Taich, Mesirow Financial Group; Erica Poppe, Sullivan’s Steakhouse; Joe Virgil, MacMall; and Aaron Zaretsky, Urban Innovations.

The River North Business Association’s slate of board members being re-elected for a two-year term include: Art Bryan, The Redhead Piano Bar; Robert Gottfred, Erie-LaSalle Body Shop & Car Care Center; Josh Hauer, Rockit Bar & Grill; Adam Havrilla, Artistic Blooms; France Langan, Holiday Inn Mart Plaza; Grace Napalitano, Michigan Avenue Magazine; Mayo C. Walcott, North Ban; and Ryan Wynia, Firebone.

The 8th Annual River North’s Best Awards winners also will be announced. This year’s nominees include: Best New Restaurant: Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ, Underground Wonder Bar, John Barleycorn River North, and Untitled; Best Restaurant: Mastro’s, Maxwell’s at the Club, Sullivan’s Steak House, and LaMadia; Best Sustainable Business: Urban Innovations, Merchandise Mart, and Greenheart/Center for Cultural Exchange; Best Entertainment/Hospitality: Cityscape Bar, Paris Club, The Baton Show Lounge, and ZED 451; Best Business/Service: Comcast Business Services, River North Gym, Serpe Insurance, and The Chopping Block.

"Everyone will have the opportunity to win great prizes by purchasing door prize tickets," says Sharon Romack, president of RNBA. "Additionally, we are collecting books that are in good condition, either new or used, to donate to Open Books, a literacy nonprofit that collects and sells donated books in their River North store (213 W. Institute Place) to support their transformational reading and writing programs for high-need students in Chicago. We ask that guests bring any book - fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and textbooks."

The River North Business Association annual meeting is sponsored by North Bank.

River North Association represents more than 275 businesses in the area bounded by the Chicago River to the south and west, Division on the north and Wabash on the east. It's the mission of our Association to promote and support members in every way possible, and to help improve the quality of life within the community. We also work hard to keep River North a top-of-mind destination. The area boasts Chicago’s highest concentration of restaurants and entertainment venues and is Chicago's most exciting neighborhood to live, work, shop, dine and play. For information, contact RNBA at 312-645-1047 or visit www.rivernorthassociation.com.