The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce PAC brought together civic leaders, elected officials, and business champions on Tuesday, February 10 for the 10th Annual Advocacy Champion Award Reception—an evening dedicated to celebrating pro-business advocacy and recognizing those who lead the way. The highlight of the event was the presentation of the 2026 Advocacy Champion Award to Michael Fassnacht, President of the Chicagoland Region and Chief Growth Officer at Clayco. 

Held annually, the reception serves as the primary fundraising event for the Chicagoland Chamber PAC, which supports candidates and policies that promote economic growth and business development in the region. But the reception is about more than policy: it is about honoring a figure whose career has helped shape Chicago’s business community for decades. 

In accepting his award, Fassnacht spoke about the importance of a robust and vibrant business sector. “We need to celebrate businesses more,” he said. “Without business there is no city of Chicago.” 

But with business success comes civic responsibility, Fassnacht added, saying he envisions a business community that lifts the entire city of Chicago, from downtown to the south and west sides.  

“There is no greater cheerleader and ambassador for Chicago whose tireless work and leadership drives the Chamber’s mission for innovation, jobs and growth to build our global city for the future,” said Jack Lavin, President & CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, in his opening remarks.

“Every day, Michael fights to make the narrative of Chicago, as a vibrant, thriving, world class city, second to none, as the reality throughout the country and the world. The Chamber and the entire business community are grateful for his leadership, dedication, and tireless advocacy for Chicago,” Lavin added.

Michael joined Clayco as its first ever Chief Growth Officer and President of Chicagoland in early 2024. Prior to this role between, Michael led as President and CEO of World Business Chicago, the City’s economic development organization, with more than 100 C-Suite executives from all over Chicagoland on its business centric board between 2020 and early 2024. Additionally, Michael worked alongside the Mayor’s Office as the Chief Marketing Officer to ensure that all marketing, branding, and business development activities for the city were aligned with Mayor Lightfoot’s and then Mayor Johnson’s economic growth plan focused on inclusive growth across Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. 

Michael is known for leading crucial pro bono initiatives. His contributions include rebranding the Chicago Public Library and its foundation, developing the city’s bid for Amazon HQ2, supporting the City’s Census 2020 efforts, and spearheading “Boards of Change,” an award-winning voter registration campaign. He recently co-chaired Mayor Johnson’s transition subcommittee on Economic Vitality & Equity. Michael’s extensive board service includes the Chicago Public Library Foundation, The Civic Consulting Alliance, CURRENT, The Poetry Foundation, Intersect Illinois, the Executives’ Club of Chicago, and World Business Chicago. He also advises P33 and The Chicago Prize by the Pritzker/Traubert Foundation. He is a 2022 Daniel Burnham Fellow. 

For his decades of service, his courage to lead on tough issues, and his unwavering belief in the potential of Chicago’s business community, Michael Fassnacht was honored as the 2026 Advocacy Champion—a title well-earned, and richly deserved. 

View the full photo gallery from the reception here.