CHICAGO — Mekky Media, led by Founder and CEO Michelle Mekky, took a leading role in co-hosting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council 2026 Spring Meeting in Chicago, held April 22 to 24, bringing together nearly 50 business owners from across the country for a multi-day event focused on innovation, collaboration and growth.
In partnership with fellow Council members Couch Clarity and Bill Rossi of Rossi Enterprises, Mekky Media helped plan and execute the experience, curating a dynamic agenda that combined high-level business discussions with immersive local experiences. The Council serves as the U.S. Chamber’s principal policy committee dedicated to representing the interests and priorities of small business owners nationwide. Programming throughout the event addressed key issues impacting small businesses today including artificial intelligence, economic trends, workplace innovation and mental health.
“As a Chicago-based agency and member of the Small Business Council, it was an honor to co-host this event and showcase our city,” Mekky said. “It created an opportunity for meaningful conversations, idea sharing and support among business leaders navigating similar challenges.”
The meeting opened with a welcome reception at Wrigley Field rooftops, offering attendees a signature Chicago experience while fostering early connections among participants. Sessions at Google’s Fulton Market offices featured expert-led discussions, including candid CEO roundtables on the challenges facing small businesses and in-depth conversations on how to leverage AI as a strategic and operational tool.
A key component of the event included a visit to Couch Clarity in Elmhurst, where attendees participated in an interactive session focused on burnout prevention and mental health in the workplace. The experience highlighted innovative approaches to employee well-being, including the practice’s “walk and talk” therapy model. The visit also included remarks from the Mayor of Elmhurst.
Mekky Media also showcased its client work by hosting an experiential evening at Giordano’s. Mekky presented on the brand’s history, growth and national expansion, as well as the agency’s role in elevating its visibility. The event featured an interactive dining experience with deep dish, thin crust and tavern style pizza, along with a signature cheese pull demonstration and competition that engaged attendees.
Mekky also helped facilitate a welcome from the mayor of Chicago, coordinated with World Business Chicago, further highlighting the city’s support for small business leadership and innovation.
Members of the Mekky Media team, including Carleigh Rinefierd, Rachel Chick and David Viggiano, attended and were recognized for their contributions, reflecting the agency’s collaborative approach and impact.
The event concluded with recognition of member contributions and reinforced the value of the Small Business Council as a platform for connection, knowledge sharing and advocacy among entrepreneurs nationwide. The Council will reconvene this fall in Washington, D.C.
About Mekky Media Relations, Inc.
Mekky Media Relations, Inc. is a boutique public relations agency dedicated to delivering powerful publicity for a diverse roster of business and nonprofit clients in Chicago and beyond. Michelle Mekky, a veteran, award-winning broadcast journalist and PR executive, launched the agency in 2016, to provide clients with PR strategy, media relations, media training, event promotion, social media strategy and influencer outreach. To meet demand, the agency has added integrated digital and PR programs, personal branding and internal communications, and has increased its media training capabilities. The agency emphasizes personal attention and creative storytelling and has been widely recognized for its tremendous growth and success in its first eight years. In 2024, Mekky Media earned a Golden Trumpet Award and a PRSA Chicago Skyline Award for Hyde Park Summer Fest 2023. In 2022, the agency received the Publicity Club of Chicago Golden Trumpet Awards for client work for Adalina and Abt, as well as a Bronze Stevie Award for Media Relations PR Campaign of the Year for Abt. Honors in 2021 included Gold and Silver Stevie’s for PR Agency of the Year and PR Campaign of the Year, as well as Ragan’s Workplace Wellness Award. In addition, Michelle Mekky was named PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards 2023 Professional of the Year, Niles West High School’s 2022 Distinguished Alumni, a 2020 PR News Top Women in PR Honoree and a 2019 Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Entrepreneur, and she won the 2023 Daily Herald Entrepreneurial Excellence Award along with a 2018 Bronze Stevie Award for Women in Business, in the Entrepreneur of the Year category. Mekky Media is a member of the Forbes Agency Council, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and International PR Network (IPRN). Based in Chicago, the agency has a team of nearly 20 PR professionals who come from top firms and leading media outlets. To learn more, visit www.mekkymedia.com.
