Chicago: 2000 and Beyond

March 23, 2000 -- Following are the comments from Lois M. LeMenager, Chairman and CEO of Marketing Innovators, and Board Member of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.  Marketing Innovators has been repeatedly recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of the ten largest woman-owned businesses in the metropolitan area.

 1)  What are the greatest challenges facing your industry in the next 25 years?

"As companies continue to understand and quantify the importance of human capital, incentive companies like Marketing Innovators are becoming increasingly important to companies of all sizes.  It’s becoming a greater challenge for companies to retain good people... they have to keep them well motivated, compensated, recognized and rewarded.

In the future, I believe that employee incentives will begin to relate to a vested interest in the company, including ownership and benefits that accrue with tenure."

2)  What are the greatest challenges facing the Chicago-area business community in the next 25 years?

"The city will need to provide tax benefits to attract new businesses to the city and hold onto existing business tenants.  As other cities and suburban areas offer expanded benefits, the city will need to enhance its advantages in order to be competitive. Commuting time, roads, parking and public transportation will continue to be big challenges.

Expanding technology will allow flexibility in people’s work.  As more households are set up with electronic access to work, executives will gain the flexibility to handle business from home, and will find more leisure time in the process."