NT_021518

12 | February 15, 2018 | The Northbrook tower news
northbrooktower.com
Hilton Chicago Northbrook earns Chamber’s
2018 Corporate Citizen of the Year honor
Submitted by the
Northbrook Chamber of
Commerce
While being part of one
of the most nationally recognized
names in the hotel
industry, the Hilton Chicago
Northbrook is also the
story of a family-owned
and -operated business that
cares about its neighbors,
quietly giving back to the
local community and helping
individuals who are
rarely in the spotlight.
The Allgauer family’s
involvement in the
hospitality industry in
Northbrook dates back
generations. General
Manager Holly Allgauer-
Cir’s grandfather founded
Allgauers, the original
building on the property,
which served as a restaurant
and banquet facility
from 1974 - 1984. Her father
Frank Allgauer built a
single hotel tower in 1984,
establishing Allgauers Hotel,
then a second tower in
1988, which later transitioned
to the Hilton flag.
But despite its growth
and brand name, the hotel
has always had a special
place in its heart and time
for those who are often the
most vulnerable and least
recognized in society —
youth of all ages and in
particular, children with
special needs.
The hotel also donates
brunches and overnight
stays to churches and synagogues
for their fundraisers,
as well as other organizations
that support youth
such as adoption agencies
and service groups. The
hotel estimates the value of
its nearly 150 annual donations
to community causes
to be around $30,000.
But the value of some of
the donations has no price
tag.
The Hilton Chicago Northbrook is the Northbrook
Chamber’s Corporate Citizen of the Year. Kellie (left),
Frank (center) and Holly Allgauer-Cir pose for a picture.
Photo Submitted
2018 Northbrook Chamber of Commerce award
winners
Corporate Citizen of the Year: Hilton Chicago Northbrook
Business of the Year: la de da!
Volunteer of the year: Brad Baskin, Northbrook resident
Read Baskin’s story on page 14 of this week’s issue.
“We support virtually
any local organization that
offers programs or services
for children or children
with special needs,”
Allgauer-Cir said.
On any given day,
amidst busy travelers
checking into the hotel or
executives listening to a
presentation in one of its
banquet rooms, children
from the nearby Cove
School, which serves
youth with special needs,
might be enjoying a pizza
making session, or engaging
in an activity to learn
about the hotel industry.
Twice a year, the hotel
opens its doors and gives
Cove students a rare, firsthand
opportunity to shadow
the staff and learn more
about the inner workings
of the hotel, including explanations
about all of the
equipment, tours of the
restaurant and the kitchen,
and a chance to meet and
ask questions of the hotel
staff.
In addition, the hotel
also helps support the Cove
School prom every year.
“Our partnership with
the Hilton Chicago Northbrook
has made a significant
difference in the lives
of our students and stands
out as a model within the
community,” Dr. Sally
Sover, executive director
said. “We are deeply grateful
for all that they do.”
For students at Glenbrook
North High School
who are interested in the
hospitality industry, the
hotel offers a chance to
attend a half-day training
session to learn more
about the hotel and also
gain valuable advice about
resume writing and meal
preparation. The hotel
also sponsors and supports
numerous other activities
at the high school, including
the business DECA
club.
For the last 10 years,
the hotel has donated
breakfast and lunch for
Please see chamber, 14
Family, customer service
front and center at la de da!
Submitted by the
Northbrook Chamber of
Commerce
Since it first opened its
doors almost 13 years ago
in downtown Northbrook,
la de da! has delighted customers
as a fun and stylish
place to shop — the kind of
store where you can grab a
quick gift, or lose yourself
while browsing amongst all
of the merchandise.
But make no mistake
about it, owner Jill Carlisle
has put her serious business
skills to work to create one
of Northbrook’s most successful
specialty shops,
developing an assortment
of selections of home decor,
baby gifts, and fashion
accessories that appeal to
women of all ages.
Over the years, the store
has survived and continued
growth despite economic
ups and downs. La de da!
now enjoys a loyal clientele
that has come to know
and appreciate its customer
service.
Carlisle opened the store
surrounded by her loving
friends and family. Her
decision was one of necessity
as she needed to support
herself and her young
children after the death of
her husband. In order to be
near her children, Carlisle
decided not to seek a “safe”
corporate job. Instead she
used the skills she knew
best — going all the way
back to when she worked
in retail as a high school
student at Young In Heart
in Hubbard Woods, to the
skills she honed during her
14-year career at Marshall
Field’s.
Over the years, the
900-square-foot store has
tripled its business and has
grown to a staff of eight.
She credits her site in
Downtown retailer la de da!, owned by Jill Carlisle, is
the Northbrook Chamber’s Northbrook Business of the
Year. Photo Submitted
downtown Northbrook for
much of her success with
neighboring retailers providing
daily foot traffic and
convenient parking.
“You have to be committed
to work hard in this
business,” Carlisle said.
“Part of the reason for my
success is that I am present
at the store almost every
single day.”
The store is deeply rooted
in family. It was her
father’s influence and his
signature expression — “la
de da!,” his personal seal
of approval — that is the
always present in the store.
Carlisle was driven by
a desire to be available for
her family while also providing
a source of income.
Her children were her daily
motivation. “I believe the
commitment to my kids in
those early days is what
drove my success,” she
said.
The store has earned the
reputation as a place to always
find something new,
but, Carlisle commitment
to personal service is arguable
her best-known quality
She offers a concierge
service that is door-to-door
— customers can call with
a request to purchase a gift,
identify a price point, explain
the occasion, and Jill
and her staff will pick it
out, wrap it , place it in the
iconic black and white bag.
“We have actually run
the gift out to someone
waiting in their car,” she
said. “This is what separates
us from the rest —
and it’s something not
available when shopping
on the Internet. I like to call
it the ‘hit and run’ because
it’s directly geared to helping
our customers right at
their moment of need.”
Having experienced success,
Carlisle believes in
the importance of giving
back. And, she learned the
impact she can have in her
community by providing a
way for her customers to
make a difference.
Several times a year,
Carlisle conducts charity
events to support others. In
2017, she planned an event
with her customers to raise
$1,500 for hurricane relief
efforts. Last Mother’s
Day, la de da! delivered
40 baskets with products
collected from her customers
to a women’s shelter in
Evanston.
Carlisle will donate the
store’s $500 honorarium
that accompanies the award
to Ann and Robert Lurie
Children’s Hospital.