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Darien Marion Burton, Executive Director
Meet Darien Marion-Burton, the newly appointed Executive Director of the OPRF Chamber, a true dynamo with a passion for community development. Darien's educational journey led him to Augustana, where he graduated in 2015 with an impressive resume: a B.A. in Business Management & Marketing, a minor in accounting, and a certificate in nonprofit management. During his time in college, he left a lasting impact by publishing groundbreaking research on Black student attrition in Predominantly White Institutions.
Darien's career path is a testament to his versatility and unshakable determination. He began by making waves in higher education, dedicating himself to diversity services. His unwavering commitment then led him to the world of retail, where he swiftly rose to the top, achieving exceptional sales figures at the renowned Nordstrom. But Darien wasn't done challenging himself; he ventured into the dynamic realm of FinTech, where he showcased his adaptability and knack for leadership.In 2018, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit that couldn't be contained, Darien established his own venture, D.M. Burton. His dedication to excellence and innovation quickly made his brand synonymous with success.Outside of his impressive professional journey, Darien has a multifaceted life. He enjoys the camaraderie of hosting and attending dinner clubs with his close-knit circle of friends. Even in his downtime, his passion for marketing shines through, as he often finds himself analyzing marketing statistics while sipping his favorite drink at a cozy bar. And when it's time to unwind, you'll likely find him on his couch, sharing a moment with his loyal and cherished puppy, Travis.With his diverse experiences and unwavering commitment to community, Darien Marion-Burton is set to lead the OPRF Chamber to new heights, fostering growth, collaboration, and inclusivity in the vibrant Oak Park community.
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Lou Anne Johannesson, Programming & Membership Director
Lou Anne has lived in the Oak Park-River Forest community her whole life. She graduated from OPRFHS, as did her father and her three children. She attended Marquette University and Columbia College. After graduation, Lou Anne was the Production Manager of RAH Producers Center, at the time the largest film studio in Chicago. She continued in film and owned and operated Respectable Street Productions.
Once her family began to grow she began working at Oak Park District 97, where she remained for 20 years. She had many responsibilities, and wore many different hats. She worked with and supported the standing committees for the Board of Education. As Board Liaison she facilitated effective and clear communication required of these important citizen-led committees, thus ensuring that the public can exchange information and goals. Beginning in 2015, she became the Executive Coordinator for IGOV, the Oak Park intergovernmental committee, that focuses on collaboration and cooperation between the six governing bodies in the community.
Lou Anne became the Chamber representative for District 97 in late 2020, and in 2021 became the Co-Chair of the Chambers Women in Business.Contact Lou Anne: ljohannesson@oprfchamber.org
Lou Anne's LinkedIn Page - coming soon!
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Mark Walden, Program Manager
Mark is Program Manager at the Oak Park Chamber of Commerce, and at other times of the week wears the hat of a property manager, nonprofit fundraiser, or snow removal contractor. He sometime looks goofy due to wearing all those hats. Mark appreciates the OPRF area for its independent businesses, trees, garage sales, and architecture. But he lives in Chicago because that's where his wife and his ultimate frisbee game are.
Contact Mark: mwalden@oprfchamber.org
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Carolyn Henning, Office Manager
Carolyn is a lifelong resident of Cook County and lives in Oak Park. She spent 15 years working at consumer ad agencies in Traffic/Print Production. One day she responded to a Mom's Mail help-wanted ad that down the road fortuitously landed her a job at the OPRF Chamber. Carolyn likes good barbeque and beer and is thankful that she can find both in abundance in the area. She dabbles in gardening and cooking.
Carolyn is the person you will be contacting to talk about your e-blasts, your billing or updating your membership data.
Contact Carolyn: chenning@oprfchamber.org
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Luke Mahanes, Graphic Designer
Luke started his career at the OPRF Chamber in 2017 while attending OPRF High School as a Junior. He worked for two years as a part-time intern getting ingrained in the Chamber community working on Eblasts and slowly taking on larger graphic projects for events, social media, Wednesday Journal ads and more. Luke took a break from the Chamber to attend Columbia College Chicago for a year to study Audio Engineering.
After being sent home due to the pandemic in 2020, Luke reunited with the Chamber and has been their jack of all trades Designer ever since, creating many of the Chamber's flyers and social media ads during the pandemic, as well as working on video projects, event photography, and more recently designing the Chamber Advantage and Wellness Wednesday newsletters.
Outside of the Chamber Luke works a full-time job at the Oakbrook center Lululemon doing both night and day shifts. He loves walking his dogs Disco and Cooper and you might catch him walking up to three or four (or getting dragged). In his free time he loves producing his own electronic music under the name “LuKiKi,” playing video games, hiking, and hanging out with friends.