RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, After 35 years of dedicated service, Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) President & CEO David F. Vite has recently announced his retirement; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this occasion by 19th Ward Alderman Matthew J. O'Shea; and
WHEREAS, Dave is the loving husband of Jane Vite and doting father of Amanda and Gretchen; and
WHEREAS, Before joining IRMA, Vite served in the United States Army, graduated from University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, and worked as Executive Director of the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and
WHEREAS, In 1978, Dave was hired by IRMA as a Field Representative and later served as Manager of Member Relations, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, and Executive Vice President before becoming President in 1985. As the Association's Chief Lobbyist, he directed all legislative and government affairs activities and was name "The Best Illinois Lobbyist" by Crain's Chicago Business: and
WHEREAS, Vite served as a representative to the Illinois Department of Employment Security Advisory Board for over 20 years where he led discussions on unemployment insurance. In 1997, he facilitated negotiations on electric deregulation which led to the formation of the largest electric cooperative purchasing program in the country; and
WHEREAS, Dave also served two years on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the National Retail Federation and chaired the National Association of State Retail Association Executives; and
WHEREAS, Vite has not only achieved great professional success, but also gives freely of himself to many worthy non-profit causes serving the Board of Directors for St. Mary's Elementary School in Woodstock, Memorial Hospital of McHenry County, and Centegra Health System Board of Directors; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this eleventh day of September 2013, do hereby honor Dave Vite for his lifetime spent advocating for businesses and job creation in our state and do hereby congratulate him and his family on his retirement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to David F. Vite.
MatthewJJ. O'Shea Alderman, 19th Ward