By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — John Groh, who has led efforts draw visitors to Rockford and lift up the city’s sense of pride, was named the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce 2024 Citizen of the Year.
Groh, who has been president and CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau since 2009, was surprised with the honor Thursday night during the chamber’s annual dinner at the Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley.
“John embodies all the qualities we seek in consideration for this award,” said Caitlin Pusateri, president of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce. “He is the definition of a leader and has dedicated his career to elevating the Rockford region.”
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The award honors an outstanding individual from the Rockford region for their contributions and dedication to making the Rockford area a better place to live, work and play.
The chamber said Groh has done that in a multitude of ways, from spearheading initiatives such as the massive Stroll on State holiday festival to the CRE8IV mural program that enlivened buildings around the region with public art.
Groh and his team at the visitors bureau also celebrated local restaurateurs with Restaurant Week, which is now in its fourth year, secured sculptures to bring more public art around town and has recently reignited the Made for Rockford campaign, which promotes the city has a place to live and work.
Groh and the visitors bureau also recently partnered with state Rep. Maurice West to administer a program that doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars to local restaurants that were struck with spikes in unemployment insurance costs because of the pandemic.
Groh is also on the board of directors for the Laurent House Foundation, which cares for a property that is the only Frank Lloyd Wright designed home for a person with a disability.
He also leads the River District Association, and is on the board for the Illinois Destinations Association and Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
Groh said it felt surreal when he heard Ed Geeser of PNC Bank, which sponsors the award, read his list of accomplishments before being presented the award.
“I was very surprised. I feel very honored,” he said. “I feel much too young to be the Citizen of the Year.”
Groh has led the area to 10 years of consecutive growth, which outpaces all large metro regions outside of Cook County, the chamber said.
“These civic roles are not always easy because we live between the hopes and dreams and the expectations and the doubts and the complaints and the gratitude of our elected officials, and the private sector, and our residents and our partners,” Groh said. “It’s good work but it’s not always easy work. It was quite an honor and it was a little surreal.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas