Obituary: Stephen Erickson

Stephen Erickson passed away on Oct. 23, 2018 in Minneapolis. At the time of his death Erickson was Executive Director for the North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce serving four cities within the metropolitan area. Previously, Erickson led the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which served eight cities, all in the western Chicago suburbs.

Erickson was born Sept. 26, 1945 in Fargo, to educators, George and Ida Mae Erickson. Erickson
was a superb writer, marketer and business generator who supported both business and family with uncurbed devotion and enthusiasm. He worked fiercely in programs to motivate and "bridge the gap" between businesses, and especially as a catalyst to help youth become business-ready.

A graduate of Brown Institute of Broadcasting and Electronics in Minneapolis, Erickson began his business career as a radio announcer in the Twin Cities. Over time, Erickson served as president, senior sales and marketing officer and general manager for several services, loyalty, performance management and manufacturing companies including S&H Motivation, Inc. in Hillside, Motivation Excellence, Inc. in Schaumburg, Winsert, Inc., Dahlberg Electronics, Inc., Carlson
Marketing Group, and his own management and marketing consultant firm, The Performance Alliance, Inc. In the process, he created over 2,500 marketing, business, communications
and performance management solutions for the majority of the Fortune 500 industrial firms as well as a host of financial institutions and a large number of small and mid-size companies, many in the Twin Cities area.

Erickson earned a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and completed advanced studies in Product Development and Implementation from the University of Chicago.

He is survived by his brother, Craig Erickson; a son, Barton; two daughters, Christine and Elizabeth; and five grandchildren, Travis, Benjamin, Nicholas, Brooke and Olivia. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Stephanie Erickson Newkirk and his parents, George and Ida Mae Erickson.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in
Clarendon Hills, 60 55th St., Clarendon Hills. For more information please call 630-703-9131 or www.powellfuneraldirectors.com

Photo provided.