Sue Bertrand#CHAMBER_MASTER_HEADING#
Sue Bertrand, MBA, CAE

Vice President of Operations
630-256-3160
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An experienced association executive, Sue currently serves as the Vice President of Operations for the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance. Prior to working for the Alliance, Sue drove the implementation of strategic projects that crossed all functional operations within a statewide association.  She spent 15 years as the chief operating officer for the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (ASBO), where she served as COO, CMO, and CFO; responsible for membership, marketing, program development, professional development, content development, publications, finance, and overall operational leadership. An innovative thought leader, Sue is a master in change management. She has transformed systems, leveraged technology to achieve efficiencies, and built a highly productive team. Under Sue’s leadership, the Illinois ASBO’s budget grew 50%; membership categories were streamlined, simplified, and optimized to better meet members’ needs; and annual conference attendees boasted a 76% loyalty ratio.

Versed in leadership development, Sue is certified in both Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and LIFO (Life Orientations). She completed The Center for Creative Leadership’s Leadership Development Program in 2009 and has been facilitating leadership development in both public and private organizations for more than 15 years. She transformed staff culture at the Illinois ASBO early in her tenure and worked diligently to promote and maintain it, establishing cultural norms and core values, and empowering others to reach new heights. 

Prior to association leadership, Sue worked as a senior financial analyst, conducting five-year financial forecasting for school districts in Illinois. She presented findings to Boards of Education, ran scenario analysis, and consulted for her school district clientele. She has experience working with boards as the deputy executive director for the Illinois ASBO and as a trustee for the Institute for Clinical Social Work (ICSW) where she also chaired the finance committee.

Sue earned a BA in Economics at the University of Illinois and an MBA in Finance at DePaul University. She was awarded the Illinois ASBO Lighthouse Award as a volunteer member for her work in designing and creating the Illinois ASBO’s legislative body: the Delegate Advisory Assembly. 

Counties

5-Star

Accredited
Year History

119

Year History
Members

600+

Members

Core Values

We believe that the same tenets that drive you and your business also drive us. That’s why, as we work, our core values serve as our guiding principles.

Lead With Energy and Passion.

Engaging with our members and the community is key to our mutual success. Our role as the Alliance is to lead our communities to new heights. When we engage with energy and passion toward our vision to be a catalyst for business success, people will return that energy and be equally as passionate about engaging with us to build a stronger region.

Make Big Impacts.

In today’s world, we are constantly connected. It’s easy to busy our minds and our hands. At the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance, being busy is not our goal. We work strategically to make big impacts on our communities and for business in order to see our region thrive.

Put People First.

We believe we’re better together. We put people and solutions at the heart of our work. Above all else, we prioritize our members, the people behind them and the support they seek as we work together to make big impacts.

Value and Embrace Diversity.

We live and work in one of the most diverse areas in Illinois, and we believe that is an asset. It is part of who we are in the greater Aurora area—both today and into the future. We value and embrace diversity of people, businesses, backgrounds, and thoughts. When we put people first and come together as one region, we are at our strongest.

Innovate Always. Never Stop Learning.

We are never satisfied with ‘okay.’ We are a team of life-long learners who constantly seek innovative solutions to problems. We value education and the diverse wisdom that others have to offer. We will never stop learning and will always keep innovating.

History

2025
The Aurora Regional Economic Alliance (Alliance) officially launched on January 31, 2025, unveiling an ambitious vision to transform the region into a premier hub for innovation and technological advancement. The organization was established to unite the efforts of Invest Aurora, the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce, and Aurora Downtown, forming an umbrella organization that provides the collaborative structure necessary for greater impact. It became officially operational in January 2025.
2022
The Aurora Regional Chamber was re-accredited as a 5-star chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in December of 2022. 5-Star Accreditation is a distinction earned by only 1% of the nearly 7,000 chambers in the United States. The Aurora Regional Chamber achieved the highest level of accreditation for four consecutive cycles dating back to 2007.
2020
With an amazing 100 years of history, the Aurora Regional Chamber has its sights set on the next 100 years of prosperity. In June 2020, the Aurora Regional Chamber rebranded its logo and colors to reflect a more modern design that better reflects today’s technological and digital world. The circular brand mark takes inspiration from the definition of the word aurora, simply put, small lights in the sky, along with the idea of connection and working together.
2017
The Aurora Regional Chamber was re-accredited as a 5-star chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in June of 2017. 5-Star Accreditation is a distinction earned by only 1% of the nearly 7,000 chambers in the United States.
2015
The Aurora Regional Chamber was recognized as the 2015 Illinois Outstanding Chamber of the Year by the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
2014
The board of directors approved changing the name to the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, to emphasize the regional impact of both Aurora and the Chamber.
2012
The Aurora Regional Chamber became 5-star accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in June of 2012. 5-Star Accreditation is a distinction earned by only 1% of the nearly 7,000 chambers in the United States.
1980s
In the early 1980s, the Greater Aurora Chamber established a committee of chamber members to focus on increasing tourism within the area. This committee was the forerunner of today’s Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Also during the 1980s, in partnership with the City of Aurora, the Greater Aurora Chamber established the Aurora Economic Development Commission. Its goal was to bring industrial and commercial development to the economy of our community.
1956
The Board of Directors approved changing name to the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce in November 1956. Even 53 years ago, the foresight of the Chamber Board of Directors and staff realized the growth potential of this community and the impact the Chamber of Commerce could—and would—have on that growth.
1920
The Aurora Chamber of Commerce was organized in January 1920. Since then, the Chamber has been working effectively for the civic, commercial and industrial welfare of the entire community.
1913
The Aurora Commercial Club was established. Its primary focus was purely set on the commerce of the community. According to all reports, the Commercial Club had done great work, but it was not fully equipped to meet the City’s civic and commercial problems created by new conditions.
1906
Aurora’s first Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1906.