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Danielle Gulli

‘Economic impact was incredible’: Annual February festival not just fun, but boon for Woodstock and its businesses

February 13, 2023

Groundhog Day and its movie-inspired festival provide ample opportunity for economic growth in Woodstock, local officials and businesses agree. “This being the 30th anniversary of the film helped,” Real Woodstock marketing manager Melissa McMahon said of this year’s five-day festival. “We noticed an uptick in interaction with social media and websites for both Real Woodstock […]

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Public Works director named city’s new executive director of operations

May 5, 2022

Staff Report news@thewoodstockindependent.com Woodstock’s third new executive director is the city’s second internal hire under its new local government organizational chart. Christina Betz, director of Public Works since October 2020, will be the city’s executive director of operations, effective Monday, May 9. According to a news release, Betz will work with the City Council and […]

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All-in on Woodstock: 12-year resident Brad Ball takes over as chamber president, CEO

March 29, 2022

Brad Ball, the new president and CEO of the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, remembers being a third- or fourth-grader when his family lived in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C. His teacher assigned students to report on U.S. cities. Ball was tasked with writing about Houston. “How do I find out what’s […]

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City seeks new, consistent image by adding marketing, communications department

January 26, 2022

Woodstock’s new executive director for business development has a plan to improve public communication from city government while developing a “cohesive” branding strategy in marketing what the city offers. “It’s a top priority,” Danielle Gulli said last week in her first meeting with the City Council since taking on the new role Dec. 31. “It’s […]

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Reorganized City Hall has new emphasis

January 4, 2022

Woodstock should feel good about the recent hirings of two new executive directors for city government as the City Hall organizational chart was officially restructured. Paul Christensen, the city’s director of Finance, was named executive director of strategy and planning. Danielle Gulli, president of the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry since 2015, was […]

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City adds executive directors of development, strategy/planning

December 22, 2021

Two new executive directors were hired over two days last week from within two blocks of City Hall as Woodstock restructured its city government. Danielle Gulli, president of the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry since 2015, was named Tuesday as executive director of business development, effective Dec. 31. And city Finance Director Paul […]

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Communication Concentration: Woodstock Square Business Connection forms

November 17, 2021

The continuing popularity of the Woodstock Square as a filming site is good news and bad news for downtown businesses. On the one hand, filming crews mean more traffic and potential diners and shoppers. On the other hand, accommodating equipment and setting up camera angles can disrupt or block off traffic. And often, schedule changes […]

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‘This is a big deal! ‘Today’ show will profile Woodstock Friday morning about the ‘Hometown Techover’ news

August 31, 2021

Winning the nationwide T-Mobile ‘Hometown Techover’ contest? $3 million Media exposure for Woodstock’s winning? Priceless Woodstock will be featured on NBC’s Today Show on Friday morning, the day after T-Mobile formally announces to the world that the city will become its 5G model for communities across the U.S. to showcase “the power of the country’s […]

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New signs for these times, Part 2: ‘Help wanted’ signs indicate ‘long COVID’ for restaurants

August 24, 2021

Restaurants were “the first casualties of the pandemic” said Krista Coltrin, Woodstock’s Economic Development coordinator. Beginning March 21, 2020, Illinois restaurants were closed to indoor dining by state order. When McHenry County restaurants were permitted to reopen on Jan. 26, it was at 25 percent capacity. “We lost 70 percent of our revenue overnight,” BBQ […]

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New signs for these times: ‘Space available,’ ‘now hiring’ reflect post-pandemic business climate

August 17, 2021

If you take a walk or drive around the Woodstock Square, your eye can’t help but be drawn to two fire-engine red banners – one in each of two vacant storefronts. The banners, the work of Real Woodstock, are meant to prod along economic investment in the city. The sign at 105 Van Buren St. […]

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