There were lots of smiles and hugs Wednesday as Niles Mayor Robert Callero swore in 2013 Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry officers and board members at the Chamber's holiday party, held at Playbook Sports Bar.

2012 President Iwona Filipiak, of Koenig & Strey Real Living, handed the gavel to 2013 President Barb Kruser, of the Niles Library, and Callero almost immediately helped Filipiak into the traditional red blazer of the Chamber's Ambassadors, a group which, as immediate past president, she now belongs to.

Chamber members also networked, sampled appetizers and socialized as they informally welcomed the officers and board members.

"Our biggest goal this year will be reaching out to members and seeing what they want from us, in order to retain their membership," Kruser said. 

She said the Chamber has a great executive director, Katie Schneider, and staff, and she wants to keep the momentum going. 

The new board members include: Commander Joe Penze of the Niles Fire Department, Bill Kivit of Northside Community Bank, Filipiak, Dominick Celli of Celli's Beef, Bruce Glickson of GFS Marketplace, Bill Griffis of Wells Fargo Advisors Wealth Brokerage Service, Gene Jurczak of Stalwart Systems LLC, Monika Kalicki of Golf Mill Shopping Center, Krystyna Koda of Ridgewood Gardens, Kevin Morris of Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Rich Mangolf of RCM Home Inspections LLC, Chris Schyvinck of Shure Incorporated and John Skaja of Skaja Terrace Funeral Home.