Our Team
Becca Girsch
Executive Director
Becca brings to the Chamber nearly ten years of retail experience as a small business owner. As a result, she has a passion for supporting small businesses, and a commitment to developing thriving and sustainable commercial corridors. Becca joined the Chamber's staff in 2018 and before that owned She One Boutique, a women's clothing store located on Southport Avenue. Prior to owning She One, Becca spent eight years practicing commercial litigation in Chicago as an attorney at Freeborn & Peters LLP and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP. Becca has a B.A. in History from Villanova University and a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law.
Contact Becca about:
Organizational management questions
Strategic partnerships
Advocacy and policy issues
Planning, zoning and development issues
Robert morvay
Community Development & SSA 27 Director
With four years of experience in the Chicago Chamber of Commerce and SSA community, Robert brings his passion for urban development to Lakeview and Roscoe Village. Prior to joining the chamber in 2023, Robert was Business Development Coordinator at the Northalsted Business Alliance and Program Manager for SSA #18, working with the Northalsted Staff/Chamber and SSA #18 to create events and marketing plans, coordinate street festivals, develop and manage budgets, maintain the streetscape, and much more. Robert holds a B.A. in Acting with a Marketing Concentration from Columbia College Chicago.
Contact Robert about:
Lakeview Special Service Area (SSA) 27
Community relations
Placemaking, public spaces and public art
Landscaping and streetscape enhancements
Sidewalk maintenance
Internship opportunities
Sandy O’KANE
Business Services Manager
Sandy’s journey with the chamber began as a local business owner of Winnie Cooper Boutique in Roscoe Village. Her enthusiasm for the chamber’s mission led her to join the board and eventually serve as president. Driven by her passion for business advocacy and the value the chamber brings to its members, Sandy stepped into her current role as Business Services Director.
Before becoming a business owner, Sandy was a Managing Director in the financial services industry, where she specialized in streamlining payments for global organizations and leading business process improvement initiatives. She studied Business Management at DePaul University.
Sandy is passionate about connecting with local businesses and brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial insight and corporate experience to support and guide our membership.
Contact Sandy about:
Membership questions and services
General business assistance and problem solving (marketing, referrals, financing, permitting, etc.)
Business to business event sponsorship opportunities
Available storefronts and site selection
New business assistance
Teresa Hull
Events & Marketing Director
Teresa joined the Chamber in 2024 and brings a love for the city of Chicago and a passion for making it a better place. Having studied Film & Digital Media as well as Entreprenuership, she has a unique blend of skills and interests to apply to the Chamber’s mission. Prior to joining the team, Teresa spent three years working as the Box Office Manager at the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture, where she collaborated with many businesses from around the neighborhood and the city on sales strategies and event coordination. Teresa holds a degree in Communications with a concentration in Film & Digital Media from Loyola University Chicago.
Contact Teresa about:
The Roscoe Wine Walk
Porchfest
Sunday Funday Coffee Stroll
Sidewalk Sales & Tails
Burgerfest
Tacofest
Holiday Cocktail Crawl
Julie Star
Engagement Manager
Julie joined the Chamber in 2021 and has over 15 years of retail, management, event planning and marketing experience. She has a passion for connecting people and businesses and planning exciting events that bring the community together. Julie enjoys being active and traveling with her husband and two daughters, who currently attend Coonley Elementary School. She has been a Girl Scout Troop leader, worked on the fundraising committee and Co-chaired school dances throughout the years. She has partnered with GLOW (Girls Leading Others Wisely) to lead courses with tweens to help lead and provide girls with the self-confidence and skills necessary to become effective influential leaders. She is also partnered with Impact Parents where she is being trained, certified and licensed to deliver a proven behavior management training program to parents and educators in the community. Julie has a BA in Textile and Apparel Management from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Contact Julie about:
Low-Line Market
Roscoe Village Farmers Market
Summer Sidewalk Sale
Shop for Schools
Trick or Treat on Southport
Small Business Saturday
Lakeview Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremonies
Deana Martin
Bookkeeper
Deana Martin has a BS in Accounting and 20 years of experience in bookkeeping and accounting. Deana started with the Chamber in 2015 and also works at the West Town Chamber of Commerce.
Contact Deana about:
Accounts payable and receivable questions