b'CHAIRMANS MESSAGEA Word From the ChairmanTo this place and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have liveda quarter of a century and have passed from a young to an old man. Abraham LincolnFarewell SpeechLeaving Springfield, Illinois to go to DCDAN WAGNERCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDWe are proud to call Illinois Theture. As a major transportation hub, Land of Lincoln for a reason.Abra- all you have to do is look at a national ham Lincoln spent 31 years living inhighway map and see the network of Illinois and as his quote underscoresinterstates is far denser than for any the importance Illinois as the placeother state and we have 2,200 miles of and Illinois as the people that helpedInterstate arteries, more than any state him mature into the leader thatbut Texas and California. saved the union and freed the slaves. In 2022, Megahub Connectivity The Illinois Chamber of CommerceIndex ranked OHare the best-con-celebrates the fundamental strengthsnected airport in the world.Since we of our State that have not only givenare right in the middle of the country our country incredible leaders likeyou can fly anywhere in the conti-Abraham Lincoln, but also incrediblenental United States and return home companies from large to small thaton the same day.Chicago remains have shaped our proud Americanthe nations busiest rail huball six Business Industry. U.S. Class I railroads operate here The Illinois Chamber was found- as do many non-class I railroads, ed in 1919, and I am honored to beand Illinois waterways relieve traffic the 52nd Chair of the Chamber andcongestion and the states networks of it is important to reflect on our fun- rivers, waterways and ports con-damental strengths that make Illinoistributes $6.4 billion to the Illinois an incredible place to live, work andeconomy each year. raise a family.In addition, our fertile soil pro-Some of the top strengths in- vides for our strong agricultural in-clude our central location as a majordustry and location next to the great transportation hub and our incredibleLakes provides and unparalleled level research and educational infrastruc- of a freshwater supply. 4ILLINOIS BUSINESS LEADER'