FROM MEETINGS TO MYTHIC

Joanna Rolek, executive director of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce, receives the prestigious Local Legend award.

Stepping into the tiny building west of the Lake Forest train tracks, Joanna Rolek’s face lights up with memories.

“This is where I spent my first 15 years with the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce!” says Rolek, Executive Director of the Chamber for the last 28 years. “My office was back there,” she gestures, smiling, “and over here, the welcome area. I know it seems small, but we did so much out of this space!”

Named 2025’s Local Legend by the History Center of Lake Forest–Lake Bluff, Rolek will be honored at the center’s Local Legend Benefit from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 14. Sharing stories and anecdotes drawn from four decades as a leader in the community, Rolek will be interviewed by local author and journalist David Sweet.

An exclusive Patron Sponsor event will also be hosted by the History Center on September 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Le Colonial restaurant in Lake Forest. As the organization’s signature fundraiser, the Local Legend event engenders support through sponsorships that range from $500 Stagehands to $1,000 Chorus, $2,500 Director, $5,000 Producer, and $10,000 Diva levels.

Taking a moment to reflect on the people and projects that have been such a big part of her career, Rolek says she is humbled at being singled out for the Local Legend honor.

“I am just one of many, many people who are actively involved in making this community thrive,” she says. “I am continually struck by the entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, generosity, and resiliency in so many people I have met living and working here.”

Rolek moved to Lake Bluff with her husband Bob from Boulder, Colorado, where she had worked for the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the Denver Symphony.

A performing artist who studied at Boston University and starred in musical theatre, Rolek’s creative spirit and strong people skills quickly led her to engage with the community here. Among her early roles, Rolek served as Publicity Director for the Lake Forest Symphony, followed by a position overseeing Programming and Publicity for the Gorton Center. When the Lake Bluff and Lake Forest Chambers of Commerce were merged in 1997, Rolek was the natural pick for Executive Director.

Rolek says it continues to be a great pleasure to lead the Chamber.

“I am very proud of our ability to have evolved through the years to build value for our members, have rewarding partnerships with our municipalities, and continue to grow as one of the region’s largest chambers,” she adds.

Over the years, one of Rolek’s favorite special events at the Chamber was Community Capers, a musical revue Rolek co-created with theater friends to raise money for the United Way, local nonprofits, and other initiatives.

“We ended up producing the show for four years featuring song parodies, skits, and more that made good fun of our towns and featured casts with community members of all ages—and raised about $100,000 doing it,” Rolek recalls.

She also loved creating the North Shore Home, Health & Leisure Show, an award-winning, two-day home and garden trade show that at its peak included 100 booths for vendors, sponsors, and collaborators.

Also close to her heart? Connecting community to arts and culture on the North Shore. Rolek had a hand in creating two versions of an arts and cultural alliance. The first—called LF/LB ArtsLink—was launched by the Chamber 12 years ago to create opportunities for promotion and collaboration among 17 arts entities in the Chamber. Post-COVID, the alliance was reincarnated as Arts Link North, with 55 member entities throughout Lake County (artslinknorth.com).

Looking ahead, Rolek says she will continue to focus on resiliency, evolving to meet change, addressing disruptions, and sharing opportunities in the business arena.

“When I first stepped into the role of Chamber Executive Director on April Fool’s Day, 1997, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff looked very different. Who could predict the pandemic, or project how massively our retail and business districts would change?” says Rolek. “Moving forward—in the words of a wise former military friend of the Chamber, ‘We will continue to assess, strategize, and execute,’ on behalf of our members and communities.”

For more information on the Local Legend Benefit, visit lflbhistory.org.