Chamber Ambassadors
The Mission of the Chamber Ambassadors is to support Chamber Members through mentorship, education, goodwill, and public relations.
The Chamber Ambassadors serve as the public relations and goodwill arm of the Chamber. Ambassadors are appointed to serve by members of the group. They serve as representatives of the business community at public and governmental events, groundbreakings, and business recognition ceremonies. They also serve as the link between the Chamber membership and the community.
Brad Heldt
Ambassador Chair
Home State Bank
Home State Bank
40 Grant St.
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815.477.2000
www.homestateonline.com
For the past decade, Brad M. Heldt has been involved in philanthropy and has served on numerous boards in McHenry County. A Crystal Lake resident, he brings over 20 years of banking expertise to his roles as Senior Vice President and Commercial Lending Manager at Home State Bank. Heldt earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He most recently served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation. In his spare time, Brad enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah, playing golf, and tagging along with his two children, Ava & Ari, as they participate in all their activities.
Gary Bonick
Neis Insurance
Neis Insurance Agency
45 N. Virginia St.
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815.815.8821
www.neisinsurance.com
Accomplishments
Gary has received many honors including the Pride In Crystal Lake Award in February, 2020 and the Crystal Lake Chambers’ Presidential Award of Excellence in 2017. He also achieved industry designations from The Life Underwriting Training Council and the Society of Certified Insurance Councilors
In addition to his Chamber work, Gary serves on the Turning Point Board of Directors as Vice-President. He coordinates the Purple Purse collection drive every year to benefit Turning Point of McHenry County. They have donated over $35,000 and numerous items over the last three years to benefit clients of Turning Point.
He was past president of NAIFA McHenry County for two years. As an Allstate agent, Gary had qualified for the company’s Honor Ring, National Conference and other awards.
At Allstate, Gary provides quality insurance products to help our clients protect their most valuable assets including their homes, automobiles, boats, motorcycles, RV’s. In addition, we protect our clients’ families against a catastrophic loss of income, by providing a vast portfolio of life insurance solutions. They also help business owners retain employees by offering a robust workplace benefits program.
Gary and his wife, Leslie, and their two boys are proud to reside in Crystal Lake. Leslie works for District 47 and where both of their boys attend school.
Peter Affrunti
Affrunti Design
 
Affrunti Design & Management
651 W. Terra Cotta Avenue, Suite 130
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815.459.4822
www.affruntidesign.com
Peter has been the principal of Affrunti Design & Management since 1986. He has served as Chair for all three Leadership tables of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce: Board of Directors, Ambassadors, and President’s Council. He currently serves as chair of the Annual Golf Classic and has served as Ambassador since 2000. Peter served on many Chamber committees including the Home & Business Expo and the Referral #1 Network Group.
Peter has received many business and community honors:
- GEM Leadership Award – 2020
- Carl E. Wehde Award - 2016
- Pride In Crystal Lake Award - 2011
- Crystal Lake Chambers’ Presidential Award of Excellence - 2009
- CIA - Community Investment Award
In addition to his Chamber work, Peter is currently or has been a member of the following organizations:
- International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
- National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)
- The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)
- Green Business Task Force
- U.S. Green Building Council - Illinois Chapter Member
- Crystal Lake Economic Development Committee (CLEDC)
- Crystal Lake Civic Authority Board
Jason Herbster
Crystal Lake Park District
Crystal Lake Park District
1 East Crystal Lake Avenue
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
779.994.7276
www.crystallakeparks.org
I am the Executive Director of the Crystal Lake Park District and have served in that role since May of 2010. The Park District has been a long-time member of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce and business community. While I have not served on any chamber committees, I have attended many events and functions over the years that have provided me the opportunity to meet many great business owners, residents and leaders in our community. The strength of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce is unmatched in any other community. The leadership and membership have always been strong even during transitionary times. The genuine care shown by businesses and local government to make Crystal Lake a great place to live, work and conduct business made accepting the opportunity to become a Chamber Ambassador an easy decision. It is an honor to join the Chamber Ambassador and I look forward to carrying on the strong tradition placed by the many that have served in an Ambassador role and continue to do so.
Jennifer Johnson
Exemplar Financial Network
Exemplar Financial Network
413 E. Terra Cotta Avenue
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815.459.4550
www.exemplarfn.com
Accomplishments
- Chamber Board of Directors (Chair 2002-2003)
- Ambassador since 2003 (Chair 2007-2008)
- Member of the Year 2003
- You Can Count on Me Award 2007
- Presidential Award of Excellence 2009
- Pride in Crystal Lake Award (PICA)Â 2011
- Athena Award 2016
Sandra Kerrick
The Waggoner Law FirmÂ
The Waggoner Law Firm, P.C.
4 North Walkup Avenue
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815.477.0830
www.waggonerlawfirm.com
Sandra Kerrick has been practicing in McHenry County since 1974. Â She lives in Crystal Lake and was raised in Huntley.
Sandra graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history. She received her Juris Doctor degree in 1974 from the Ohio State University, Columbus.
Her areas of practice include estate planning, estate, trust, and probate administration, contested trusts and estates; guardian incompetency proceedings; representing businesses; commercial real estate, including zoning, zoning litigation, contract negotiations, and commercial real estate assessments; also
Appeals to the Appellate Court in multiple areas, including contested estates,  zoning, including the appeal to convert the Illinois Institute of Technology’s campus in Crystal Lake into a shopping center, real estate assessments, annexation of 690 acres into Algonquin,  gravel mineral law for the county’s natural resources, and representing objectors in  siting proceedings for a regional sanitary landfill.
Sandra previously served as attorney for McHenry County College and as part of the firm representing the Crystal Lake Park District.
Sandra served on Crystal Lake’s first Economic Development Committee, as president of the McHenry County Estate Planning Council, on the Board of Directors for the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce.  She presently sits on the Chamber’s Ambassador board, for which she previously served as president, and served on the  Chamber’s Economic Development committee when it was first organized.
Sandra  served as a Commissioner of the Illinois Supreme Court on the hearing and inquiry boards which discipline attorneys for ethical violations.
Sandra is a member of the American, Illinois, and McHenry County Bar Associations.
The Waggoner Law Firm practices in all areas of commercial real estate, business, estate planning, and probate.
In her spare time, Sandra reads history and politics.
Heather Maieritsch
City of Crystal Lake
City of Crystal Lake
100 W. Woodstock St
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815.459.2020
crystallake.org
Accomplishments
- Led the acquisition and redevelopment of Depot Park and Downtown East Dundee
- Oversaw the transformation of Crystal Point Mall into a thriving regional retail center
- Serve on boards including McHenry EDC, Naturally McHenry County Tourism, Workforce Network, Manufacturing Pathways Consortium, and Chairman of EDGE.
- Active member of the ICSC State Committee and Next Generation Leadership Network
- Recipient of the Crystal Lake Chamber's 2021 Presidential Award of Excellence
- Speaker at 2024 Bisnow Chicago Northern Suburbs Real Estate, 2024 ICSC Illinois Chicagoland, and 2025 Illinois city conferences.Â
Currently serving as the Economic Development Manager for the City of Crystal Lake with over 19 years of municipal experience in communities of all sizes. Her background includes public-private partnerships, real estate development, business attraction, and strategic incentive creation.
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Kathryn I. Martens
Emeritus Member
Retired From:
Crystal Lake Public Library
126 W. Paddock St
Crystal Lake, IL 60014-6194
815.459.1687
crystallakelibrary.org
Accomplishments
- Chamber Board of Directors (Chair 2002-2003)
- Ambassador since 2003 (Chair 2007-2008)
- Member of the Year 2003
- You Can Count on Me Award 2007
- Presidential Award of Excellence 2009
- Pride in Crystal Lake Award (PICA)Â 2011
- Athena Award 2016
Stacy Mason
New York Life
New York Life
520 Lake Cook Rd., Suite 600
Deerfield, IL 60015
847.471.4556
www.newyorklife.com/agent/sbrown11
Accomplishments
- 2022 President's Award Recipient
- Chamber Board of Directors
Helping clients understand their options and achieve their goals are what make my job so rewarding. Every client is unique, so together we can develop a personalized approach that meets today's needs and tomorrow's as well.
Dr. Jeff Moore
Dr. Jeff Moore D.C.
Dr. Jeff Moore D.C.
333 Commerce Dr. Suite 175Â
Crystal Lake IL
Dr. Jeff Moore specializes in helping adults and seniors enjoy every moment of their lives. Many patients visit Dr. Moore for nutrition advice, and for the relief of many types of pain - even chronic pain. Dr. Moore is expert in painless and gentle methods of treatment that speed and encourage the body's own healing process.
Be on the lookout for Ambassadors at Chamber events!