Rick Galfano, president and CEO of the Lombard Chamber of Commerce, has been named the 2026 Lombard Man of the Year by the Lombard Rotary Club.
Galfano took over as president and CEO in May, 2023. Prior to his role with the Chamber, Galfano was the owner of Universal Sales, a promotional products company in Lombard, for 10 years. He and his wife, Sheila, have two children and two grandchildren.
“Total surprise was my reaction,” said Galfano after being named Man of the Year. “There were so many candidates this year, more than past years, that I just thought others would be deserving, so I just wanted to be there to congratulate the Man of the Year in person. It is an awesome honor. It didn't really hit me until I read the names of the past Man of the Years and the history of the award that I realized the company that I keep now. It makes me want to do more for Lombard.”
He succeeds Mike Kennedy, the 2025 Lombard Man of the Year.
“My parents, Joe and Ann, moved here in 1967, so I have lived here most of my life,” Galfano said. “My wife also has lived here most of her life, so when we married at Sacred Heart in 1990, it was only natural to stay and raise a family here in Lombard; we loved the town so much. My wife's parents, Larry and Sharon, still live here.
“What makes Lombard such a special place to live and work is the community and all the groups that make up the town. Lombard is truly unique in all that it offers in comparison of other towns in DuPage. The schools, churches, organizations, government and of course the businesses makes it a great place to live.”
The Lombard Jaycees sponsored the Man of the Year program from 1952-2014, with past Jaycees presidents continuing from 2015-19. The Lombard Rotary Club took over sponsorship in 2020.
