Lale Ketcham
Born & Raised in Chicago, I am a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with Degree in Fashion Business. I also studied abroad at Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence, Italy. I have always had an interest in fashion. From my teenage years of perusing various fashion magazines, to my adult years working for various fashion brands. Read more>>
Shahina Hussain
My day to day lifestyle is influenced by a foundation deeply rooted in Indian culture, traditions, and values. I also like to believe that I get my creative side from my mom as I began painting at a very young age when she handed down her old canvases and oil paints to me. Read more>>
Tom Matthews
Matthews Professional Employment was founded in 1969 based on the premise that there is an ongoing need for a first-class staffing service that provides value, integrity, and superior service to its applicants and clients. It is Lake County’s longest running private employment service that provides placement for both permanent and temporary employees. Read more>>
Dr. Leigh Weisz
I have always known I loved children and would want to work with children in some capacity, whether as a teacher, speech pathologist, or therapist. I went to graduate school for psychology and specialized in children and families. After being on staff full time at the Family Institute at Northwestern University for several years, I decided to start a private practice. Read more>>
Michael Prince
Beyond Design, Inc. – a strategic product development consultancy – specializes in identifying user needs combined with engineered product solutions that meet our clients’ business and manufacturing objectives. Established in 1994, Beyond Design brings more than two and a half decades of product design experience to hundreds of companies, both large and small and in a broad range of industries including consumer electronics, appliances, medical, custom tools, educational toys and more. Read more>>
Allison Ward
The four of us, Allison, Annie, Beth, and Lisa all worked together as Pilates instructors at another studio in Chicago. While we all loved our work and felt that we were helping people rehab from injuries through Pilates, it became apparent that our clients needed something more…stress release, energizing, and healing on a deeper level. Read more>>
Michael Carney
After I completed my graduate degree at Marquette, I moved to Chicago and started in public accounting at a larger accounting firm doing financial statement audits and tax returns for small to mid-sized businesses. We’d go to the company to review their financial information and make sure it was correct. Read more>>
Chef Q Ibraheem
I moved to Chicago a few years back during the recession. The last 2 restaurants I worked at before the move had shuttered due to the economy and I’d lost the references. Had planned on working in a great restaurant in the city. Had no idea how complex it is for a female chef to score a job in a good kitchen that’s not franchise in predominantly male operated industry. Read more>>
Anne Lanski
The iCenter was founded in 2008 to be the national hub and catalyst for building, shaping, and supporting the field of Israel Education. Since that time, we have worked—and continue to do so—to support educators across all settings and to provide the tools and strategies to bring Israel into their learners’ lives. Read more>>
Helen Lee
After graduating from high school, I was flipping thru a magazine that highlighted the Hawaiian Hula. I was intrigued and inquired about classes and began a 3 year journey performing and taking class with 2 Polynesian dance companies in the Chicagoland area. Read more>>
Matt Nardella
From making 3-D mini-cities as a kid to securing a scholarship to The New School of Architecture in San Diego, California, Matt Nardella has always been passionate about improving communities through architecture. Ditching his car for a bicycle, and long before ‘green’ became trendy, he was determined to transcend everyday buildings and create solutions by adapting to each site, climate, and materials so all living creatures could live in concert with the natural world. Read more>>
Nicole Mertens and Carmine Iosue
Carmine: We started as a strategic consulting firm in 1990 primarily in the retail and telecommunications area. After one year of consulting, our Clients urged us to get into the execution area of retail. My daughter started summer interning at the company while she was at Valparaiso University in 1996 and joined fulltime in 2000. Read more>>
Steve Austin
I have always been passionate about dogs so my wife and I started a dog walking business in 2004 called Raise the Woof! As much as I loved walking dogs for a living, we knew Chicago dogs deserved a chance to be outside all day so we saved and bought 18 acres of land in Indiana. Read more>>
Keith Bjorklund
Our story began in 2012, started by Keith Bjorklund initially as Chicago Oboe Reeds. Since that time, Bjorklund Reedworks has been building a steady client base of satisfied oboists across the entire continent. With nearly 20 years of experience and a drive for constant improvement, Bjorklund Reedworks offers products and services with such attention to detail and quality that is hard to match. Read more>>
Ian Maksin
I was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia and fell in love with the sound of the cello when I was fiver years old when I heard an old record with cello music. I have been playing it ever since. I came to New York City as a teenager and have been living in the USA since. Read more>>
Sara Kooperman
Sara Kooperman, CEO of SCW Fitness Education and WATERinMOTION®, is a visionary leader that is a highly skilled and intuitive. She is a director and manager who understands how to motivate and energize teams to produce industry-leading products and services. Read more>>
Jeff Miller
I was working as a freelance musician when I first started making furniture for friends and family. It was a way to fill in between jobs. But it soon took over, and I found greater satisfaction in designing and building furniture than as a musician. Over the years I have expanded what I do to include teaching woodworking and writing about both designing and building furniture. Read more>>
Dana Sackar
I have been a physical therapist for almost 20 years. I have always been passionate about helping others and optimizing health. The birth of my daughter via C-section in 2008 prompted my desire to specialize in Women’s Health. I wanted to help other women who were going through similar post-partum difficulties, as well as women with chronic pelvic pain, digestive issues, infertility, and prenatal care. Read more>>
Victoria Quero
Graduating from Depaul University, I thought I wanted to be an attorney. My first full time position out of college was in the Legal Department of a large railcar company based in downtown Chicago. While I quickly realized I did not want to be a lawyer, I discovered that I enjoyed the camaraderie and excitement of the Freight Rail Industry. Read more>>
Bill Cigliano
I worked as a freelance illustrator for 35 years, creating paintings and drawings for magazines, books and ad agencies. As the print market started to decline due to the internet and on-line media gradually my illustration did the same. It was really frustrating. I have always enjoyed carpentry and have worked on our 100+ year old four square Victorian home restoring it over the years. Read more>>
Sara Freida
I grew up in New York and received my BFA from the University of Florida. I have always had an interest in the arts, especially painting. I used to paint more realistically, but over time, I have found abstract artwork challenging and exciting. I have always been drawn to art. However, I have struggled with finding the right aesthetic, and though it took me a while to embrace abstract painting, once I did, it was clear that it was the perfect fit for me. Read more>>
Gregg Stern
I graduated college with a finance major & accounting minor. I worked at Arthur Anderson as an auditor for a year then did real estate finance & accounting work at JMB Realty (in the city). At this point I got a call from my brother telling me if I wanted to come into the family business (jukeboxes & pinball machines), I would have to do it then. Read more>>
Laura George
Throughout my life, both during my academic and professional careers, I have always loved to write and help people tell their stories. After attending Duke University and majoring in psychology, I pursued a career in advertising for a few years before attending Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management for my MBA. Read more>>
Renee Thaler and Donald Olstinske
For over 60 years, TransWorld Exhibits has been one of the largest independent producers of trade shows in Chicago and the Midwest. Owned and operated by the Passis family, we are Chicago born and bred. TransWorld Exhibits KNOWS Chicago. We know what our exhibitors want and what our buyers need…and TransWorld delivers! Read more>>
Natalie Kaplan
JR Dessert Bakery is a full-line dessert bakery in Chicago that’s been making gourmet desserts that look as good as they taste for more than 38 years. We pride ourselves on using high quality and all-natural ingredients in our baked goods. Our business is primarily wholesale. Read more>>
Nancy Gissendaner
I started making jewelry 15 years ago in Montreal, Quebec. When my husband got a job transfer to Gurnee IL I started to attend many vintage markets and antique shows in Chicago. I’ve always had a love for vintage teacups and other vintage treasures. I got the idea of creating family heirloom jewelry out of vintage teacups, vintage chandelier parts, vintage silverware and other Upcycled items. Read more>>
Meg Smith
Ten years ago, I was in the delivery room with my sister when she had my nephew Matthew. To witness the strength a woman has bringing a child into the world was life changing! My background is in social work, so the medical role didn’t intrigue me it was the supportive role that spoke to me. Read more>>
Laura McGrew and Catherine Rondenet
When the Chicago C. G. Jung Institute moved from Evanston to Chicago, it focused on the training of analysts and professional education. The C. G. Jung Center in Evanston continued with the mission of making programs available to the general public that would bring Jung’s work more broadly into the world. Read more>>
