BLOOMINGTON - Meet Charlie Moore. As the new chief executive officer of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, he wants to move the organization from good to great and make it a better investment for its 1,000-plus members.

On the side, he's also passionate about his family, traveling and granting wishes for terminally sick children.

Now, meet Tom Mercier.

The president and chief executive officer of Bloomington Offset Process, is the new president of the chamber's board of directors.

He's passionate about helping other businesses, horses and fundraising for Easter Seals and Timber Pointe.

Moore and Mercier work together at the helm of the McLean County chamber. They have aspirations for propelling the chamber and community forward, for they're just as much a part of this area as its more than 160,000 residents.

Dedicated to business

Moore simply can't stay away from chamber work.

The 33-year-old from Washington worked as the director of programs for the Northwest & Schaumburg Association of Commerce and Industry and as executive director for the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce before he tried a career in finance.

He was assistant vice president of First Bank, covering branches in Peoria, Springfield and Bloomington, for about two years, but the industry wasn't for him. Then came the opportunity to lead McLean County's chamber after Michael Malone left the post.

"Chambers are unique in their own right," said Moore, who graduated from Bradley University in Peoria. "We have the opportunity to do so many things."

The chamber is involved with business development and touches all aspects of the community, including health care, transportation and education, he said.

Moore wants to grow the chamber membership by finding out what businesses want so the group can provide the right fit. Though he plans to debut some new programs or add a twist to an existing service in 2009, he doesn't want to move too quickly.

Moore also talks about the importance of one business buying from the next.

Keeping money local is something Mercier also lists as his goal for his one-year presidency.

"The more turns of a dollar we can do in the community, the better the community can be," Mercier said.

Mercier, 55, of Carlock, has been involved with the chamber since 1994. He was elected to the chamber's board in 1998 and has served as treasurer, vice president and president-elect.

"I like working with business people," Mercier said. "I like being able to communicate, network, make their business better, make my business better."

The biggest business challenge this year will be the economic climate, Mercier said. For example, the credit crunch has hit some people who want to expand. Mercier wants to find ways to work with members if such economic hurdles need to be jumped.

Behind the jobs

And Mercier knows a thing or two about jumping hurdles - particularly while he is on a horse.

In addition to his full-time job at his printing, mailing and e-commerce company, Mercier and his wife, Sandy, own Hunter Oaks Equestrian Center in Carlock. He also has four children and two grandchildren.

Moore's young family basically is his hobby, he said. He and his wife, Coleen, have two children.

But the Moores also enjoy traveling, whether it's a weekend trip to the farm where he grew up in Farmington or a trek to California or New York.

Both Mercier and Moore also like to help other children.

Mercier serves on the board of directors of the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center and the Timber Pointe Charitable Foundation, which allows him to help raise money to send children with disabilities to camp.

Moore and his wife are wish granters for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

With their passion for making a difference, Mercier and Moore might just infuse more of that spark into McLean County businesses.

"When I get behind a mission, watch out," Moore said. "I've very passionate to make sure we move full-speed ahead and we are results-oriented."