James Breen Takes on Leadership at St. Charles CVB

James Breen, director of the St. Charles Park District for 19 years prior to his retirement in early in 2011, has assumed the responsibilities of president of the Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Breen brings 38 years of experience in park and recreation plus a reputation of commitment to the greater St. Charles area, as evidenced by his former positions as pesident of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership and the United Way of St. Charles. Breen has served as director of the local visitors bureau since 2009, with his term following that of Steve Martin, vice president of First State Bank in St. Charles.

Martin had fulfilled his duties as the board’s president since August 2011. He will step into the role of Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau secretary, with Tim Foley, general manager of Pheasant Run Resort, serving as vice president and treasurer.

In announcing the leadership change, Bureau Executive Director Amy Egolf said, “We are very pleased to have Jim step into the role as president. His well-respected tenure with the St. Charles Park District, with whom we partner in producing the annual Scarecrow Fest and in identifying and servicing sports events to enhance the area’s economic health, will be invaluable to the Bureau’s annual program of work.”

Breen, Martin, Egolf and members of the Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau staff represented the visitors bureau on Monday evening, June 3 when Egolf addressed the City of St. Charles Government Operations Committee with a list of last year’s achievements, the coming year’s initiatives and a request for continued funding from the local hotel tax collected by the city of St. Charles.

The request was for $526,500, mirroring the amount requested by the area’s tourism sales and marketing organization since 2009/2010. Aldermen voted unanimously to recommend approval of the request.

“I am pleased that my fellow directors on the SCCVB Board have entrusted me with the position as president,” said Breen. “I look forward to working with the board and our executive director, Amy Egolf, to ensure that the bureau is following sound financial practices, is adhering to its established bylaws and providing staff members with whatever guidance is necessary to continue the bureau’s successful program of work.”

Other Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau directors are: Lynn Caldwell, Fine Line Creative Arts Center; Thomas Donahue, Q Center; David Hunt, Town House Books and Café, Ron Onesti, Arcada Theatre; Joe Salas, Hotel Baker; and ex-officio director, Alderman Dan Stellato, recently appointed to the position by St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina.