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Lakeview Chamber Director Heads to Chicago Cubs After 12 Years

By Ariel Cheung | March 31, 2015 9:53am
 Heather Way Kitzes has been the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce executive director for 12 years. She is stepping down this month and will join the Chicago Cubs communications team.
Heather Way Kitzes has been the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce executive director for 12 years. She is stepping down this month and will join the Chicago Cubs communications team.
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Provided/Heather Way Kitzes

LAKEVIEW — Lakeview was a different neighborhood in 2002. Businesses have come and gone, buildings have been demolished and rebuilt and residents have moved in and moved away.

In her almost 13 years as executive director of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce, Heather Way Kitzes oversaw the changes from a small, yet bustling office just off the corner of Southport Avenue and Addison Street.

"The neighborhood is more vibrant today. I think there have been some missed opportunities, maybe on the economic development side, but I'd definitely say things have changed for the better," said Way Kitzes.

For over a decade, Way Kitzes led the charge for business development and economic growth on Lakeview's west side. Starting April 2, though, Way Kitzes is switching hats to start work as a Chicago Cubs community liaison. And while she's thrilled to be staying in Lakeview, it's hard to say goodbye.

"I think what I'll miss the most is doing cutting edge or progressive projects like the people spots and the farmers market in Southport. And I'll really miss the staff and working with our team," Way Kitzes told DNAinfo Chicago.

Among her proudest accomplishments is the Lakeview Area Master Plan, released in 2011 as a reflection on residents' priorities and a vision of what was to come. Among the top goals: developing the intersection at Lincoln, Ashland and Belmont avenues; improving sidewalks, encouraging public art and spaces and renovating the Sheil Park fieldhouse.

The master plan "drives everything the chamber does," including recent plans to improve the Lincoln Avenue hub south of Belmont Avenue, Way Kitzes said. Other areas of the neighborhood are blossoming as well.

"I think the area at Lincoln and Paulina and Roscoe is really on the cusp of becoming something very special. Southport has definitely evolved, but it was a thriving retail district before, too," she said.

Way Kitzes helped develop the west Lakeview Special Service Area, a city program designed to bolster services and programs with a specific district's property taxes. The Lakeview neighborhood gift cards, facade improvement program, sidewalk sweeping and holiday decorations are maintained with the money.

"That mechanism has allowed us to do a lot of projects and a lot of great work. I think the chamber is a really solid manager of the public dollars, which is very important," Way Kitzes said.

Interim executive director Kimberly Bares will oversee the Lakeview chamber until Way Kitzes' replacement is found, which should be in the next three months.

"At the end of the day, I've been able to work with and get to know and learn from some really amazing, innovative people. It's like learning from entrepreneurs on a one-on-one basis, a 130-year-long education I couldn't have gotten any other way," Way Kitzes said. "It's just a true honor, and I'm very grateful."

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