• Send typed business announcements at least two weeks in advance of the desired publication date to Business Notes, in care of Suburban Life Publications, 1101 W. 31st St., Suite 100, Downers Grove, IL 60515. Business Notes also can be faxed at least two weeks in advance of the desired publication date to Business Notes at (630) 969-0228, or e-mailed to business@mysuburbanlife.com. Items run based on the availability of space.

• The following RE/MAX offices and were honored for their support of Children’s Memorial Hospital: Excels in Geneva, Professionals East in St. Charles, Preferred Properties in Addison, All Pro in Bloomingdale, Suburban in Glen Ellyn, Elite in Hinsdale, Action in Lisle, Action in Oak Brook, RE/MAX of Naperville-North, Professionals Select in Naperville and Central in Roselle.

Each office received a special award featuring original artwork created by patients at Children’s Memorial. To qualify for the award, every agent affiliated with a winning office donated an annual contribution or a set amount for each sale closed during the year. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network raised more than $240,000 for the hospital in 2007, placing it among an elite group of business organizations in terms of financial support for the hospital.

“The generosity demonstrated by the agents in these offices embodies their concern for the health and happiness of every family in the communities they serve,” said Jim Merrion, regional director of RE/MAX Northern Illinois. “These awards will be displayed with pride throughout the year.” 

For more information, visit www.illinoisproperty.com.

• The National Association of Credit Management has honored John Jaeger, a certified credit executive from Carol Stream, with the CCE Designation of Excellence Award. The award was presented at NACM’s Annual Credit Congress last month in Louisville.

Recipients of this award are dedicated to the credit profession, committed to improving themselves through higher education and enthusiastic about the difference they can make in the credit community. Jaeger, a credit and accounts receivable manager for Follett Higher Education Group in River Grove, personifies these traits and more. He earned his NACM CCE designation in 1999 and has been involved in the credit industry for more than 28 years. Jaeger previously worked in public and private accounting and is a former chairman of the board of directors for the Chicago-based NACM Midwest, where he has served on the board since 2004 and as an officer since 2006.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Jaeger is a highly regarded faculty member at the Midwest School of Credit, where he teaches financial statement analysis, interpretation and risk. His commitment and willingness to share his knowledge while also challenging his students earned him the 2007 NACM/Robert Half Finance Accounting and Accountemps Instructor of the Year Award.

The NACM-National Honors and Awards Committee bases its awards on a scoring system that rates nominees in nearly 50 areas of professional life, including their participation in NACM activities on the local and national levels, service to local and national industry credit groups, educational attainment in the credit field, continuing education participation, professional accomplishments and dedication to the profession.

• elements therapeutic massage is opening a location in Bloomingdale at 142 S. Gary Ave., Suite 104. Dan Benson, a local entrepreneur, will be opening the village’s first elements therapeutic massage business. The company prides itself on giving customers affordable, professional massages in a luxury setting. For more information, visit www.touchofelements.com.

• Jacques Kolzow, commercial relationship manager at AMCORE Bank in Wheaton, has been promoted to assistant vice president. In this position, Kolzow will partner with business customers to help them maximize efficiency and profitability using AMCORE’s wide array of products and services.

• Join AthletiCo, a Chicago-based leader in outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation, to reduce, reuse and recycle. Throughout the month of July, all 47 AthletiCo locations throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs will be collecting old and gently used cell phones and wireless phone accessories. Cellular phones and wireless phone accessories will be refurbished and sold to benefit the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. All other cellular phones and accessories will be recycled for precious metals, and toxic parts will be kept out of landfills. The following phones and accessories are accepted: cellular phones in any working order, wireless or PCS hand-carried phones and all wireless phone accessories. Donors must deactivate their phones before turning them in. Cordless phones meant for home use are not accepted. For more information or to find an AthletiCo location nearest you, visit www.athletico.com.

• Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas, the official hairstyling and color partner of Fashion Focus Chicago, is launching the “Mario, Make Me a Model!” campaign to discover Chicago’s next modeling star. A host of celebrity judges, including Mario Tricoci, will select five of the freshest faces to walk the runway in Millennium Park at Fashion Focus Chicago 2008. Each of the finalists will receive a makeover from Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas, modeling training by Ford Models and personal training with Equinox Fitness Clubs in preparation for the show. The excitement culminates with a fashion advertorial spread in Chicago Magazine with top photographer Matt Ferguson and spots on CBS2 featuring each finalist before the final judging on the runway at Fashion Focus Chicago this October. All finalists from the campaign also will be considered for a modeling contract with Ford Models. For more information on campaign rules and regulations, visit www.myspace.com/tricoci.

• Dan Mowinski joined Lombard-based RECI, a commercial real estate firm, as a new sales agent. Before his work with RECI, Mowinski owned his own life insurance and investment business and worked in retail leadership and residential real estate wholesaling. For more information, call (630) 942-7000 or visit www.reciusa.com.

• Cabinets at Danada, a full-service kitchen and bath design firm in Wheaton, is preparing to unveil its second showroom, Cabinets at Danada/Studio West in Geneva. Cabinets at Danada, owned by Geneva-based Havlicek Builders, decided to launch a second outpost in the western suburbs to showcase an even greater variety of new designs, products and finishes in a different type of showroom. The public is invited to attend a grand opening event from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26,. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. For more information or to R.S.V.P., call (630) 260-1200.

• SONIC, America’s Drive-In, is one step closer to calling Chicagoland home. Over the next several years, SONIC Drive-In will develop locations in the western suburbs of Kane, DuPage and Cook counties with the help of Boom Enterprises, a franchise group.

Bartlett is likely to get a SONIC, and the franchise group recently broke ground on its first location at 2974 Kirk Road in Aurora and is expected to open this summer.

The first Chicago-area SONIC Drive-Ins to break ground are in Country Club Hills and Aurora and are expected to open this summer. Additionally, a drive-in in Algonquin at 1090 South Randall Road is also scheduled to break ground in the next couple of months, with a grand opening scheduled for the fall. Other locations still are being negotiated, and there are plans to open at least 15 drive-ins over the next several years.

SONIC’s unique dining experience lets guests order at the push of a button, receive made-when-you-order meals from a smiling carhop and eat in the comfort of their own vehicle or at patio tables. The franchise is known for its specialty menu items and personal service. Favorites include Toaster Sandwiches served on thick Texas Toast, Extra-Long Cheese Coneys (hot dogs with chili and cheese), fresh-made onion rings, Tater Tots, and a variety of Frozen Favorites treats, Real Fruit Smoothies and Fountain Favorites.

• In honor of the armed forces, Christopher & Banks and C.J. Banks store locations will kick off a new 10 percent military personnel discount starting July 4th weekend. Shoppers with a military identification will receive 20 percent off of their purchases or 30 percent if they bring a friend to the store with them through Sunday, July 6.

Christopher & Banks Corporation is a specialty retailer of women’s apparel, serving the clothing needs of today’s busy, fashion-conscious woman. The lines offer fashion options suitable for work, leisure activities and athletic itineraries.

The discount applies to all active and retired military personnel and their families with the presentation of current military identification but is not available for online purchases and cannot be combined with any other discounts.

For more information about Christopher & Banks and C.J. Banks, including store locations, visit www.ChristopherandBanks.com and www.CJBanks.com.