ELGIN, Ill., Jan. 18, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Horatio Alger-esque story of Dan Nugara has all the elements of those late 19th-century tales of young men who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps to achieve fame and fortune. Alger's genre came to be known as the "city story" -- evocative of the more than 1,400 communities that have been showcased through VillageProfile.com, Inc., a name renowned and respected in the U.S. Chamber industry.

Village Profile (http://www.villageprofile.com) was founded as Progressive Publishing, Inc. in March of 1988 by its current president and publisher, Dan Nugara, and his wife Joan Nugara, who presently serves as Treasurer. Both still work at the office daily, overseeing, directing, and administrating day-to-day operations as well as setting and planning for Village Profile's future business goals.

Many long-time employees have grown from entry-level positions into management over the past 20 years to lead a formidable, multi-talented team who share Nugara's vision of "advancing publishing innovation for the mobile and online generation."

Here's a timeline of Village Profile's 20 years in community publishing:

1988: Progressive Publishing, Inc. is founded by Dan and Joan Nugara.

1989: Nugara begins publishing Builder Profile magazine; moves to Bensenville, IL.

1990-1991: Al Zahringer (presently Village Profile's Central States Acquisitions Manager) and his wife Lori join Progressive Publishing to manage builder brochures.

1992: Nugara sells and publishes the first Village Profile community guide, for the City of Bloomingdale, followed by publications for Glendale Heights and Richton Park.

1993: Village Profile produces eight community magazines and publishes its first map, for Morton Grove, Illinois.

1994: Fifteen more communities engage VP to produce profiles and maps; moves corporate offices to larger quarters in Bloomingdale.

1995: One of the single most significant events in Village Profile's 20-year history: Nugara is the first Chamber publisher to post its publications online, on the Community Profile Network at its new website www.villageprofile.com, giving many Chambers of Commerce their first websites.

1996: VP moves to Roselle, Illinois.

2000: VP moves to its current location, in the historic district of Elgin, Illinois and produces some 250 publications. Although 2000 is regarded as the year of the "dot-com bubble burst," VP's online presence continues to grow and revenues top $10,000,000.

2001: Village Profile reaches the $5 million dollar benchmark in royalties paid to Chambers.

2002: Village Profile introduces its exclusive Convergence Publishing Program(tm) with conversion of print publications in their entirety online on the Community Profile Network(tm), along with eBooks for handheld devices.

2003: Village Profile debuts Mobile Directory Program(tm) and online interactive business locator map; produces 285 publications for Chambers in 36 states.

2005: Production surpasses another benchmark with 314 publications delivered; Lifestyle magazine is introduced; VP becomes exclusive publishing corporate sponsor of the national Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), and first Platinum Circle Member of the Western Association of Chamber Executives.

2006: VP introduces wireless mobile versions of its community maps, and NewView(tm) eBooks; produces the Chamber industry's first directory with 3D cover; and segues into the higher education market with College Town Profile publications.

2007: New R.S.V.P. Chamber Scholarship Program contributes additional revenues to Chambers for executives and staffs to further their business education; debuts CCN, the Chamber Convergence Network online forum for Chamber executives and staffs to share ideas via streaming video interviews with Chamber executives across the country; unveils Business Elite in Chicagoland with a spectacular 3D cover image of downtown Chicago at sunset, delivered to 5,000 of Chicagoland's top CEOs, presidents and business owners.

2008: Village Profile observes its 20th anniversary of service and support to the Chambers of Commerce industry. Its sophisticated communications technology continues to dominate the Chamber marketplace as the owners and staff broaden their vision and set their sights on the next innovations for the mobile and online generation.

Visit www.villageprofile.com to learn all about Village Profile's exclusive Convergence Publishing Programs(tm). To join the more than 1,400 Chambers who have partnered with Village Profile the past 20 years to produce their community profiles, maps and membership directories, contact Joseph Nugara at jcn@villageprofilemail.com or call 800-600-0134, ext. 220.

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