Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Dolan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mary. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Sports are a passion of mine. I played high school sports and soccer at the University of Notre Dame before they had a Div. 1 program. I also come from a family with lots of entrepreneurial energy. Growing up, my dad talked about business opportunities at the dinner table and after discussing benefits and risks, we would have to vote on whether we would support the idea, with imaginary money, of course. I practiced law for many years, stayed home to raise my children and helped out with my children’s sports teams. It was through my children’s sports that I got to know Dave Glenn. Dave sold team uniforms and was interested in opening a team uniform and branded apparel business. In January of 2014, Dave and I launched Pro‐Am Team Sports and expanded the business by buying Mike’s Sporting Goods in October 2015. This acquisition increased our capabilities which allowed us to print more apparel and engrave trophies.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No. In May 2016, Dave Glenn, my business partner, died of cancer. Losing Dave was hard personally, but also changed our business plan. He was the face and brains of our business and I was learning the business from him. Luckily, we had really great people on staff and I wanted to continue to build the business. His passing really forced me to think about what makes a successful business and what I bring to the table. I reached out to people for advice and built up a tool box of resources that allowed me to move forward. In addition, I successfully completed Goldman Sach’s 10K Small Business program this summer. This program helps entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital and business support services.
Please tell us about Pro-Am Team Sports.
Pro‐Am Team Sports provides custom, branded apparel, including team uniforms, spirit wear, corporate wear, t‐shirts and trophies. We do all our own decoration including: screen printing, sewing, heat transfer and direct to garment printing. We are really proud to serve the needs of corporations, communities and leagues throughout Chicago and Northwest Indiana, including Frankfort Square, Schaumburg, Bloomingdale, Evanston and Oz Park and Warren Park in the city.
What sets us apart is our motivation. We imagine that moment when a player puts on her uniform for the first time and the pride she feels. It motivates us to exceed the expectations of our customer, over and over again.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
As a kid, my family traveled in the summer in a motor home, visiting sites and national parks all over the country. As much as I enjoyed the trips, including one to Yellowstone, I especially loved the planning. My dad and I would plot our path with maps and a guidebook to figure out which campgrounds to make a reservation at. Always a bonus, if it had a pool.
Contact Info:
- Address: 8940 W. 192nd St., Unit J,
Mokena, IL 60448
with additional locations in Schererville and Crown Point, IN. - Website: www.pro-amteamsports.com
- Phone: 708-995-1511
- Email: contact@pro-amteamsports.com
- Facebook: Pro-Am Team Sports
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
