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Naperville Executive Premier

The Chamber would like to recognize those Members who have elected to be Executive Premier Members. Naperville benefits from their company’s and their personal stewardship and leadership. Beyond simple altruism, these Members dedicate themselves to the continued success of the Chamber and their communities for years to come.

Ms. Kathy Bazemore
Chairman/Founder
Adeptmedia

Kathy Bazemore has more than 23 years of leadership experience in banking, healthcare, and software development firms, all focused on creating operational efficiencies through definition, design, and deployment of technological solutions, either internally or to external clients. In addition to her key role as founder and chairman of InterThink Solutions, Inc. she also is EVP - Corporate Strategy.

The company will capitalize on Kathy’s proven ability to deeply understand markets and customers, turning that insight into a strategic vision yielding products that solve problems and create opportunities for their clients. She has held roles including CEO of financial institutions, assistant controller, VP operations, VP technology and many roles in leadership of sales and marketing organizations, including her most recent role as national sales and marketing director at Lasertec, Inc.

Kathy holds a B.S. in business administration and is a member of several professional organizations.

Roger Heinz
Convergence Multicore Business Division, President
Alcatel - Lucent Technologies

Roger Heinz is president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Multicore Business Division. Roger’s team is responsible for product strategy, product development, product marketing, demand planning and advanced support to the Regional Support Centers. His team develops next-generation softswitch, call servers and media gateways.

Most recently, Roger was vice president of Alcatel-Lucent’s North America Convergence Regional Support Center, responsible for contract execution, network design, project demand and resource planning, new product introduction and customer satisfaction. His team also supported the regional sales force by providing business development, resources, complex tendering, offer control and sales support.

Roger joined Lucent Technologies in 1986 as a 5ESS software features engineer at AT&T Bell Laboratories. From 1986-1993, he championed a number of assignments with global responsibilities. In 1989, Roger led an in-country team of engineers responsible for AT&T’s first deployment of the 5ESS Switch in Spain. In 1991, Roger was responsible for laboratory verification and new product deployment of GSM wireless systems in Brunei, Spain and the UAE.

Roger became vice president of Sprint Sales in 1991. Roger and his team drove Sprint PCS on the selection of CDMA technology and Lucent as their strategic partner as well as with Sprint E on the selection of Lucent as its vendor for remote access for their data centers.

Roger holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering, Cum Laude from the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois and a master of electrical engineering from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Roger lives in St. Charles, Illinois with his wife, Janice, and their four children.

Ms. Valerie Bruggeman
Director of External Affairs and Government Relations AT&T

Valerie is the director of External Affairs and Government Relations for AT&T. In that capacity, she manages AT&T’s communications with external clients and stakeholders, including elected officials, community and civic leaders and members of the media. Valerie joined AT&T in 1999 after serving as assistant administrator for DuPage County Human Services. An active member of the community, Valerie serves on a number of civic and philanthropic boards including the DuPage Workforce Investment Board, Illinois Republican Woman Lincoln Series, Greater DuPage MYM, and was appointed to the West Chicago Fire District board as trustee in 2000.

Valerie is a graduate of North Central College with a B.A. in organizational communication and minor in business management. A lifelong native of DuPage County, Valerie resides in West Chicago with her husband, Ken, and two children, Megan and Jonathan.

William J. Carroll, Ph.D.
President
Benedictine University

William J. “Bill” Carroll, Ph.D., became the 10th president of Benedictine University in July 1995. Under Carroll’s leadership, many new initiatives have begun and he has been instrumental in the transformation of Benedictine University to a regional institution.

The Great Issues-Great Ideas Lecture Series is an issues-oriented program, providing thought-provoking lectures and discussions regarding the state of the Union, race, peace and adventures in space by bonafide American heroes, prominent world leaders and inspirational religious personalities.

Master’s degree programs and two doctoral programs were introduced, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast began during Carroll’s tenure. New campus facilities include the Kindlon Hall of Learning, Birck Hall of Science, Founders’ Woods apartments and the newly completed Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex.

Carroll was instrumental in forming a partnership with the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District, participating in fire training, offering a campus building as a training facility and establishing a scholarship program where firefighters can earn a college degree by takingclasses at fire stations.

Benedictine University formed a partnership in 2003 with Springfield College in Illinois, providing junior-senior level classes and graduate programs in the state capital. Benedictine University also expanded into Naperville in 2006, with the opening of the Margaret and Harold Moser Center for Adult and Professional Studies.

Mr. Bill Mitchell
Owner
Benefits Insurance Group

Bill Mitchell is the founder, owner, and principal of Benefits Insurance Group. Bill has over 30 of experience in financial services, including management roles at an international CPA firm and a Fortune 500 company. Bill is a CPA and also holds the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) professional designations.

Bill has been a resident of Naperville for almost 15 years, and has dedicated himself to community service. He is a former chairman of the board of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and has served the Naperville United Way through six years as a board member and by leading two record-setting annual fundraising drives as campaign chair.

Bill currently serves his community as the president of the Board of Trustees of the Naperville Public Library, and as a board member of the Heritage YMCA Group and the Rotary Club of Naperville.

Mr. James D. Lowry
Manager, Chicago Facility Operations
BP America Inc.

Jim is currently general manager for BP’s property portfolio in the Chicago area. His responsibilities include the safe, reliable and efficient operation of BP’s facilities as well as providing, design and construction, safety, medical and business services to 4,000 employees here in Chicago. He has nearly 30 years of management experience, on both domestic and international issues, focusing primarily in the areas of technology development, engineering, safety leadership and facility operations. He holds a B.S. degree in chemistry and an M.S. degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University.

John P. Calamos, Sr
Chairman/CEO/Cheif Investment Officer
Calamos Investments

Since the 1970s, John P. Calamos, Sr., has pioneered investment strategies and techniques to help manage risk for institutional and individual investors. As founder of Calamos Asset Management, Inc., John developed groundbreaking research and investment processes and built a team-based approach focused on controlling risk, preserving capital and building wealth for clients over the long-term. He has established a record of out-performance across an array of investment strategies.

John received his undergraduate degree in economics and an M.B.A. in finance from the Illinois Institute of Technology. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a combat pilot during the Vietnam War, ultimately earning the rank of major. During his time in the Air Force, John became intrigued by the risk management benefits of convertible bonds. Today, these securities remain a central component in many of the Calamos strategies.

John is a member of the Investment Analysts Society of Chicago and has taught graduate level courses on finance and investments. John has written two books, Investing in Convertible Securities: Your Complete Guide to the Risks and Rewards and Convertible Securities: the Latest Instruments, Portfolio Strategies, and Valuation Analysis, along with numerous articles in financial journals. He is often quoted in the press, including The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Barron’s, Fortune, BusinessWeek, and Pensions & Investments. He has appeared on CNBC, CNNfn, Louis Rukeyser’s Wall Street, and Nightly Business Report.

Ms. Leigh Ann Hughes
Area Vice President
Comcast

As the area vice president for Chicago West, one of the Comcast’s fastest growing areas, Hughes’ team has been consistently near the top of the company in the delivery of video, voice and data services, while dramatically improving the customer experience.

Since Comcast entered the market in late 2002, Chicago West has gained over 28,000 customers. She is responsible for over 800 employees and the service delivery for over 500,000 customers.

Hughes moved to Chicago, the country’s third largest market, as part of Comcast’s acquisition of AT&T Broadband. Under her leadership, the Chicago West Area has been a stellar example of the success of this major acquisition, being recognized in 2004 as Midwests Division’s “System of the Year.”

Hughes joined Comcast as a business manager in Tallahassee, Florida in 1994 after graduating from Florida State University with a master’s of accounting degree. Within two years, Hughes was promoted to director of business operations, where she continued Tallahassee’s tradition of strong margins and subscriber growth. She later served as general manager of the almost 80,000 customer market.

When Comcast acquired Media One in 2001, Hughes was transferred to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she was the vice president/general manager of the new system with over 200,000 customers and 150 employees.

Her two years in Ann Arbor were marked by solid subscriber growth, the launch of the Comcast brand and the imprint of Comcast’s financial discipline.

In 2005, Hughes was recognized by Business Ledger as one of “Today’s Young Executives,” recognizing leaders in Chicagoland under the age of 40, for excellence in business. Hughes is an executive member of Women In Cable and Telecommunications (WICT) and in 2005 she received the organization’s Breaking the Mold Award. In 2002 she was nominated for the Carla Laufer Achievement Award, also from WICT. Hughes is a graduate of the inaugural Class of Leadership Comcast, now known as ELF, in 1999 and a graduate of Comcast’s 2002 Management Development Program.

Mr. Bill Bartlett
President/Owner
Corporate Strategies & Solutions, Inc.

Bill Bartlett has over 30 years of selling experience. He started his sales career in 1973 after graduating from college in upstate New York. In 1994, Bill founded Corporate Strategies & Solutions, Inc. after meeting David Sandler. Bill is one of America’s foremost business coaches and has a client list that reads like a Who’s Who of American business. His “Strengthen Your Spine” coaching methodology helps his clients modify their behavior and eliminate self-limiting patterns. Corporate Strategies and Solutions specializes in business consulting that helps companies develop strategies that achieve their vision, sales training that creates sales professionals and executive coaching that eliminates roadblocks. Bill has over 400 clients, nationally and internationally, that trust their growth and development to him. Using advanced training and coaching strategies to help clients focus on new productive behaviors, he creates strategies and tactics designed to move them closer to their personal or professional vision. Bill has a proven track record of success and has helped thousands of professionals triumph over the challenges that rob them of their dreams. “Companies and individuals who are exceeding their mission view continuous learning and personal development as their keys to success.” This belief has helped Bill mentor clients to achieve unprecedented growth.

Mr. Steve Riehs
Vice-President & General Manager
DeVry University Online

As vice president and general manager of the online business unit for DeVry Inc., Steven Riehs is responsible for the overall management of the DeVry’s online programs and initiatives.

Prior to joining DeVry, Riehs served as chief executive officer at BrainX, an education software company based in California. Before that, he served as vice president of e-learning and production for Medsn (formerly Medschool.com), a medical education and marketing company that designs and implements customized interactive educational programs for pharmaceutical, medical devices, biotechnology and healthcare organizations. His previous positions include vice president in the medical division of Kaplan and chief operating officer and vice president of Compass Medical Education Network, which was an affiliate of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago.

Riehs holds a MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Northwestern University.

Ms. Annmarie Siwik
Director of Marketing
DiGiovine Hnilo Jordan & Johnson Ltd.

Annmarie is the director of marketing at DiGiovine Hnilo Jordan + Johnson Ltd., a CPA/ business advisory firm with a staff of 60 employees and offices in Naperville and St. Charles. She is the ambassador for the firm and it is her responsibility to oversee all aspects of internal and external marketing, business development. Her career has included both public and private industry and expands over 30 years. Annmarie has held many leadership positions within the community and currently is a board of director of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. She believes and lives the firm’s core values, which are: Faith, Family, Excellent Client Service; and Respect for One Another.

Ms. Pam Davis
CEO
Edward Hospital & Health Services

Pamela Meyer Davis joined the staff of Edward Health Services Corporation in 1988 as President and CEO. Previously, she served for 11 years in senior administrative positions with Christ Hospital and Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois, including chief operating officer. Prior to that time, she served for two years as assistant administrator of Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. She holds a B.A. in economics/social studies and an M.A. in hospital and health services administration from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

Pam is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, serves on the Harris Bank Board and is chairperson of the Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network Board. She has also served on the Editorial Board of Frontiers of Health Service Management. Pam received the Year 2000 Business Ledger’s award for “Influential Women in Business,” and the Maimonides Health Care Leadership award by the Anti-Defamation League in 2003 honoring individuals in the medical community whose leadership and character are demonstrated in both word and deed. She was named “2005 Person of the Year” for Naperville by the Daily Herald.

Mr. Arthur Littlefield
Managing Director
Financial Strategies & Solutions Group

Art is managing director of Financial Strategies & Solutions Group, a team of autonomous, professional financial service advisors. FSSG provides strategic, customized, and comprehensive planning in the following areas: Estate Preservation, Wealth Transfer, Business Succession and Continuity, Investment, Retirement, and Owner/Employer/Employee Benefits. The firm specializes in working with successful business owners. A select group of executives, professionals, and retirees are also served. FSSG has chosen to affiliate with Lincoln Financial Advisors (LFA) since 1997. LFA, a full-service planning organization with offices throughout the United States, was formed in 1949.

Prior to starting FSSG, Art had a highly successful 22-year career at NBD Bank, last serving as first vice president and group head for the Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Group. He counseled business owners and corporate executives nationally in a broad array of industries regarding a variety of topics, including merger and acquisitions; financial and secured and unsecured debt restructuring; and international expansion/financing.

Memberships include the DuPage County Workforce Board, Naperville Community Career Center Board, Aurora University Dunham School of Business Advisory Board, and USA TODAY Small Business Panel.

Art holds an MBA from Indiana University and a B.A. from DePauw University.

Mr. David Lillis
Executive Vice President
First National Bank Naperville

David J. Lillis is a 1997 graduate of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. While at Notre Dame, David earned his degree in accounting and computer application programming.

David’s employment began at the accounting firm of KPMG Peat Marwick, where he worked for two years as an auditor. For the next four years, David gained additional analyst experience working for Pfizer Corporation, starting in the Chemical Sciences Pre-Clinical R&D Group. Moving up the ranks, David gained international experience managing the Global Supply Manufacturing Group, and rounded out his employment at Pfizer as a senior financial analyst.

David joined First National Bank of Naperville in January of 2004 as the vice president of Lending. His responsibilities include Commercial and Consumer Lending and managing the process of lending at the bank as well as developing community relations.

E. Barry Greenberg
Counselor & Attorney At Law
The Greenberg Law Firm

Prior to receiving his Juris Doctorate from Northern Illinois University’s College of Law in 1978, Mr. Greenberg served our country with U.S. Army Intelligence during the Vietnam conflict. He was chosen to attend the Defense Language Institute where he became conversant in Vietnamese. Decorated for his military service, Mr. Greenberg received the Army Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.

After serving his country, Mr. Greenberg became a law instructor for Multistate Legal Studies, Inc. for the next 11 years, leading courses in Constitutional Law, Contract Law, Criminal Law, Federal Rules of Evidence, Personal Property Law, Real Property Law, and Tort Law. For the past 28 years, Mr. Greenberg has been in private practice, concentrating primarily in business transactions, criminal defense, estate planning, family law as well as real estate.

Mr. Greenberg is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals, United States District Court, Illinois Supreme Court, and the Florida Supreme Court. He is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, The Florida Bar, the West Suburban Bar Association (past president), the DuPage County Bar Association (arbitrator), and the Federal Trial Bar.

In addition to being a member of the Chamber Board of Directors and the Audit & Governance Committee, Mr. Greenberg serves on the Board of NCO Youth & Family Services (president), Naperville Township Republican Organization (secretary), Naperville Exchange Club and Rotary International. Mr. Greenberg was also previously on the City of Naperville Historic Sites Commission.

Mr. Greenberg lives in Naperville with his wife and three children.

Mr. Keith Beckmen
Regional President
Harris N.A.

Keith Beckmen is a regional president for Harris, responsible for developing and executing strategies to deliver the breadth of Harris’ Retail Banking, Business Banking and Wealth Management services in his market, while creating a culture of consistently exceptional service resulting in an excellent banking experience for Harris customers. His DuPage and Will county markets consist of 10 bank locations in Lisle, Naperville and Plainfield, in addition to the surrounding communities. Beckmen joined Harris Naperville in 1996.

Beckmen graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor of science in business. He is a life-long resident of DuPage County and active with numerous community organizations.

Currently, Beckmen sits on the finance committees for the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary and the Alumni Golf Committee for St. Francis High School. He also serves on the Board for Naperville United Way. He has previously served on the Naperville Chamber of Commerce, the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, the Heritage YMCA, St. Peter’s Church where he was chairman of the finance committee and Metropolitan Family Services, where he was a board member.

Mr. Carl J. Sorgatz
President
Hawthorne Credit Union

Carl J. Sorgatz has been president of Hawthorne Credit Union since 1987. Hawthorne has offices in Naperville, Bolingbrook, and at Lucent Technologies, and provides financial services to employees of over 125 companies and to people who live or work in Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane and Kendall counties. Mr. Sorgatz has 28 years of financial and operational experience. He also serves as chairman of Spectrum Business Resources, LLC, CUSO joint business venture. Additionally, Mr. Sorgatz serves as chairman of the Illinois Credit Union League and its Service Corporation. He also is chairman of Services Credit Union. Mr. Sorgatz has also served as a plan commissioner for the Village of Winfield and has volunteered extensively for the Winfield in Action Sports Association.

Mr. Tom Beerntsen
President/CEO
Heritage YMCA Group

Tom Beerntsen is the president/CEO of the Heritage YMCA Group that serves Aurora, Naperville, Oswego and the surrounding communities. He moved to Naperville in mid-2004.

Beerntsen owned and operated a family confectionery business in Manitowoc, Wisconsin from 1983 to 2003. His family had operated the business since 1932. Prior to his work in Manitowoc he served as a professional YMCA director in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota.Beerntsen attended college in Downers Grove at George Williams College and graduated in 1971 with a degree in applied behavioral sciences.

Tom has a continuous recorded of involvement with the YMCA as a volunteer at every level of the national organization and from 2001-2003 served as chairman of the board of the YMCA of the USA serving as the primary volunteer ambassador worldwide for the YMCA in America.

In Naperville, Beerntsen serves on the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the School District #203 Business Partnership Committee and is a member of the Rotary Club of Naperville.

Beerntsen and his wife, Penny, have two children. Julie is a social worker in Manhattan and Mike is a teacher in Colorado. Penny is a speaker and advocate on criminal justice issues and restorative justice.

Mr. Brad McGuire
President/CEO
Jackson Moving & Storage

Brad McGuire is the owner of Jackson Moving Services, Inc. An Allied agent, it is a full-service moving, distribution and storage company that was founded in 1888. It has been under its current ownership since March of 2001 and a Member of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce since 1986. Prior to purchasing Jackson Moving Services, Inc., Brad held senior executive positions at Allied Worldwide, Allied Van Lines and NFC (Allied’s parent company). He is a Chartered Accountant, having articled and worked with Price Waterhouse for 10 years. Brad is currently on the board of the Naperville United Way and is a District 203 Business Community Education partner. He received his business degree from the University of Alberta and his Canadian Chartered Accountant designation in 1983.

Mr. John Schmitt
President, Broker
john greene Realtor

After a highly successful career in Real Estate sales and management, in 2003 John was chosen to become the president of john greene, Realtor. John manages all aspects of the company’s operations for the five john greene, Realtor offices located in Naperville and the surrounding western suburban area. He is dedicated to maintaining john greene Realtor’s commitment to providing superior service to its customers, placing major emphasis on training, education and john greene Realtor’s guiding principle of teamwork among its associates. John is deeply involved in community affairs. As an advocate of this area, John has held or presently holds many leadership positions:

• Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board
• Naperville United Way, Board of Directors, President Elect
• Riverwalk Foundation, Board of Directors.
• Naperville Rotary-Sunrise, Board of Directors, President Elect
• Harris Bank, Naperville, Board of Directors.
• NEF District 203, Director
• Naperville 175th Anniversary Steering Committee
• Riverwalk Realtors & Fredenhagen Park, Member and Fundraising Co-Chair.
• Naperville Chamber of Commerce, Chairman, Education Committee
• Community Leadership Task Force, Chairman.
• School District 203, Future Search Steering Committee.
• School District 203 Career Education Advisory Committee.
• School District 203 Education for the 21st Century Committee.
• DePaul University, Naperville Campus, Advisory Board.
• Naperville Development Partnership, Board of Directors
• Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois, Board of Directors

On a personal note, John has resided in Naperville since 1957. His wife of 33 years, Pat, is a fifth-grade teacher at Kingsley Elementary. They have two grown sons. John and wife Allison, live in Richmond, Virginia and Andy and wife Emily, live in Oswego, Illinois.

Ms. Leigh Cooper
Naperville District Manager
KinderCare Learning Center

Leigh Cooper entered the early childhood education field in 1986 and is the district manager of Naperville’s KinderCare Learning Centers. Prior to beginning her tenure as a district manager, Leigh served her communities of Seattle, Los Angeles and most recently Naperville, as a Center Director. KinderCare has spent over 35 years providing exceptional programs and services to children and families and is currently the nation’s leading and preferred childcare and education provider. In the Naperville area, KinderCare services over 1,200 children on a daily basis.

In her leadership role, Leigh supports the Naperville KinderCares in continuously identifying methods to provide the highest level of service to our children and their families. In her mission to ensure the highest quality early childhood education, Leigh is very active in the accreditation processes of the National Association for the Education of the Young Child. She also serves on the Naperville Early Learning Summit, which addresses the pressing challenges of providing affordable, quality pre-school and childcare for at risk children in the Naperville community.

Leigh is also KinderCare’s Illinois region representative for the March of Dimes Walk America campaign. Her team of center directors, teachers, parents and children raises over $100,000 each year in support of research to end the epidemic of premature birth.

As the daughter of an FBI agent and in her earlier career as a hotel manager, Leigh had lived in a dozen different cities before moving to Naperville in 1996. She has raised three children in our community and Naperville will always be “home.”

Mr. Paul Kats
Executive Director
M & M Orthopaedics, Ltd.

Paul Kats joined the staff of M&M Orthopaedics, Ltd (M&M) in 2006 as the executive director. M&M is an orthopaedic group practice consisting of 21 physicians and six physician assistants practicing in five locations. In addition, the practice provides on-site radiography, MRI, physical and occupational therapy services. The physician staff includes most of the subspecialties of orthopaedic surgery, such as pediatrics, spine, hand and sports, along with podiatry and physiatry services.

Paul has over 20 years of experience managing group practices, both multi-specialty and single specialty practices. He holds a B.S. in accounting from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. In addition, he is a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives and is a CPA.

Mr. Tom Miers
Senior Vice President,
Retail Banking
MidAmerica Bank

Tom Miers is senior vice president, Retail Banking at MidAmerica Bank. He began his career at MidAmerica Bank in 1979 as a branch manager in Naperville when the Bank operated seven branches. In his current position, Miers oversees the operations of MidAmerica Bank’s 82 retail branches in Chicago, Milwaukee, and their surrounding areas. Additionally, he sits on the Senior Management Committee and plays a key role in setting bank policy and developing strategic plans. A 37-year resident of Naperville and former chairman of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Miers has a long history of community involvement. After graduating George Williams College in Downers Grove in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, he joined the Naperville YMCA as program director. Since then, Miers has continued to demonstrate his deep commitment to the Naperville community through volunteer involvement and board participation with the Naperville YMCA, Naperville Jaycees, Indian Prairie Educational Foundation, and Edward Hospital Foundation. Currently, he serves on the board of the Millennium Carillon Foundation.

He and his wife of 34 years, Pati, have four children: Jennifer (Wischmeyer), Sarah, Becky, and Jon.

Ms. Teresa Ryan- Owner
Mr. Jack Persin- President/CEO
Ryan Hill Realty

Teresa Ryan - Owner
Teresa Ryan is the owner /broker of Ryan Hill Realty, a full-service residential and commercial brokerage, with their corporate office located on Jefferson Street in downtown Naperville. The company philosophy of “the client comes first” has been the cornerstone of the company’s success.

Teresa’s background includes 25 years in public relations, advertising and marketing. This extensive marketing experience and business acumen has enabled Teresa to establish Ryan Hill Realty as a major realtor in the Naperville and surrounding area with sales that will surpass $125 million in 2007.

Teresa Ryan is also the owner of Casa Bella Kitchen & Bath Design Center located on the main level of Ryan Hill’s office in downtown Naperville, with the philosophy of “Buy a House with Ryan Hill . . . make it a Home with Casa Bella!”

Jack Persin - President/CEOJack Persin joined Ryan Hill Realty in 2004 as an agent, and was promoted to broker/manager in 2005. Jack brought over 20 years of real estate experience, management skills and a commitment to enhance the company’s “culture” and expand the firm’s business opportunities. Within a year Jack Persin was promoted to president of Ryan Hill Realty — managing the firm’s affairs with the conviction that success should be driven by a balance of spiritual, family, business, financial and personal development.

Jack Persin’s commitment to the maximizing agent’s potential and developing new areas of opportunity will continue Ryan Hill Realty’s success and growth for the future.

Dedicated to community and giving back, Persin was one of the initial groups that started the Naperville Responds project and serves on the Board of Directors. Jack also serves and holds many leadership positions in the real estate community and local charity and community groups.

Mr. Ray Kinney
Owner
MinuteMan Press

Longtime Naperville resident, Ray Kinney, is owner of MinuteMan Press and Maclyn Group. He has been a Chamber Member since 1984; sitting on the Board of Directors from 1992-1997 and president in 1996. Small Business of the Year Award – service category (Chamber), Business Man of the Year Award (Illinois Crime Commission), Kids Best Friend Award (Education Center), and Lifetime Achievement Award (Naperville Jaycees) are a few of many awards Ray has received. He currently sits on the North Central College Board of Trustees, Carillon Foundation board, Naperville Development Partnership board and Naperville Heritage Society board of directors and is a trustee of the Heritage YMCA. Representing the Naperville Development Partnership, he has co-chaired the Chamber’s legislative committee since 2004.

Ms. Mindy Munn
Acting Executive Director

An executive director is appointed by the Park Board to manage day-to-day operations of the District. Currently, the District is being overseen by acting executive director, Mindy Munn, while the Park Board seeks a permanent executive director. Munn, who came to the Naperville Park District in March 2005, also is the business services director.

The Naperville Park District is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners, elected at-large by Naperville voters. Previously elected to six-year terms, as of the 2007 election, Commissioners will begin serving four-year terms. Board meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. Kristen Jungles currently is serving as the Park Board president.

Mr. Jim Lynch
Editor/Publisher
The Naperville Sun

Jim Lynch is editor-publisher of The Naperville Sun and various other Sun Publications, having been on the job a little over a year. Lynch has a hands-on approach to newsroom management that defines the role of the editor-publisher, a job that differs from the typical role of the publisher. He and his family moved last spring to south Naperville from Florida, where Lynch worked as a magazine publishing executive Lynch has always worked in journalism. He is a former managing editor of the New York Post and a former executive editor of the New York Daily News. He is a New York native who earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. “My mission is to grow circulation through compelling local news coverage while at the same time connect on a human level with the community of Naperville,” Lynch said.

Ms. Margie Schiemann
Community Relations Manager
Nicor Gas

Margi Schiemann is manager of community relations for Nicor Gas. She began her Nicor career in 1987 as a writer in the Corporate Communications Department. She also served in the company’s Media Relations Department as media spokesperson. In her current position, Schiemann manages a staff whose primary responsibility is to enhance relationships with municipal, community and media constituents in about 640 communities in the northern one-third of the state of Illinois. Additionally, Schiemann is responsible for administering the company’s local contributions program and managing the company’s franchise agreements with municipalities. She also spent four years with Quaker Oats where she was benefits communications specialist. Schiemann holds bachelor’s of arts degrees in journalism and speech communications from Eastern Illinois University. She also holds a master’s of arts degree in organizational communications from Northern Illinois University. Schiemann is on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Fire Chiefs’ Research and Education Foundation and the Community Career Center. She is also on the Board of Executive Advisors for Northern Illinois University’s College of Business. A 17-year resident of Naperville, she is married and has three children.

Dr. Hal Wilde
President
North Central College

President of North Central College since 1991, Harold R. (Hal) Wilde describes his position as “the best job in the world...to be the number one fan of an extraordinary community of students, faculty and staff...and live on a historic campus in the heart of one of America’s finest cities.”

Deeply committed to the mission of the College, “a community of learners dedicated to preparing informed, involved, principled and productive citizens and leaders over a lifetime,” Wilde’s tenure has been marked by a sevenfold increase in North Central’s endowment; continuous balanced budgets; the largest individual, corporate and foundation gifts and bequests in the College’s 145-year history (making possible eight endowed professorships, a 400 percent rise in scholarship support, major construction projects and significant campus expansion); 57 percent growth in full-time undergraduate enrollments (from 1,290 to 2,020); adoption of the College’s first comprehensive new curriculum in 30 years; and a broadened commitment to international programming, service- learning and interdisciplinary studies.

Under Wilde’s leadership, significant changes in North Central’s physical campus have included total renovation of the College’s oldest building, Old Main; two new residence halls; two state-of-the-art stadiums, for football and track and for baseball; a new “cyber cafe” for students and the community; a complete renovation of the building that houses the College chapel; and the wiring of the entire campus for voice, video and data. The College successfully completed a $50 million capital campaign in May 2003; is presently engaged in fundraising for a $26.5 million Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center, scheduled for completion in 2008; and is in the planning stages of preparing for its Sesquicentennial in 2011.

After graduating from Amherst College with high honors in 1967 and earning a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University, Wilde, a native of Wisconsin, served several years in Wisconsin state government, including four as that state’s insurance commissioner. In 1979 he became special assistant to the president of the University of Wisconsin System and two years later, vice president for external relations at Beloit College, where he served for 10 years before being named ninth president of North Central College in 1991.

Mr. Scott Przybyla
O’Malley & Associates

I take great satisfaction in helping small business owners and others find solutions which protect all the pieces to life’s puzzle and the ability to explain these options in simple terms. I get to know my clients in order to really understand their needs; then offer professional recommendations from the experts I have at O’Malley & Associates.I believe every small business owner needs a financial professional they can trust.

Whether it’s Business Succession Planning, Deferred Compensation Plans, Key Man or Buy/Sell agreements, we show you strategies to maximize your business dollars. I will use my own knowledge and my professional resources to find suitable options for you.

I am very active in the community and my local church. I strive to make life easier for others both professionally and personally. I have been very involved with the Rotary Club of Naperville where I work on raising funds for local and overseas support and sit on the Board of Directors. I am also on the Board of Directors for NCO Youth and Family services. I am an active member of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce and get involved by either greeting business owners new to Naperville or working on the dynamic education programs. I am a charter member of my local church and have not only been a visible leader of my church, but yearly contributed to local and overseas needs, and coordinated “Couple’s Retreats” that focus on healthy and happy families.

I will put you, the client, first. I can be trusted and relied upon for sound recommendations. Call me today.

Mr. Dave Martin
Owner
Russell Martin Carpet & Rugs, Ltd.

Dave Martin has owned and operated Russell Martin Carpet for over 30 years. Never content to stand still, he helped the business grow from a small local carpet cleaning venture with one shampoo scrubber to six truck-mounted carpet cleaning units and one of the busiest carpet retail showrooms in the Midwest. Committed to his community, Dave has served on several boards of directors including United Way, Rotary and the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition he has been routinely generous in donating products and services to not-for-profit agencies like Little Friends Inc. and DuPage Pads. He is supervised and guided on a daily basis by his elegant spouse Rae and his wonder-dog Bogart.

Mr. Roberto Ramirez
President
Universal Purpose Group, LLC

Roberto Ramirez was born in 1959 in Matamoros Tamaulipas, Mexico. When Roberto was nine years old, his family decided to leave Mexico and immigrate to the United States.

In 1991, with little more than $20 needed to open a checking account and $100 he borrowed from his mother, Roberto founded TIDY INTERNATIONAL, INC., a full service, janitorial and custodial company serving commercial clients in the Chicagoland region.

In 1996, just six years after starting his company, Ramirez and TIDY INTERNATIONAL, INC. were honored with the “Chicago Hispanic Business of the Year” award presented by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA). Later that year, Ramirez was officially granted U.S. citizenship. Soon after, he was elected to the HACIA Board of Directors. Ramirez founded The Jesus-Guadalupe Foundation in 1997. Since then the foundation under his leadership has awarded scholarships to successful students who were in need. In 1998, Tidy appeared in the July/August issue of Hispanic Business as one of the fastest growing Hispanic companies in the U.S. Revenue began to be measured in millions of dollars. In 1999, several years later, Roberto went back to the same high school he had left many years ago as a young man and received his high school diploma. In 2000, Roberto was named by Governor George Ryan (Illinois) to the Governor’s Commission on Capital Punishment.

At the same time, Roberto was elected to the Board of Directors of Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), a national organization based in Berkley, California.

A shy individual, Ramirez does not discount his hard work, which has resulted in the growth of his company, but generally credits others. “I have been lucky and blessed and there have been so many people who have believed in me and in what I have wanted to accomplish.”

Now Roberto is president/CEO of Universal Purpose Group, LLC (UPG). UPG is a health insurance broker as well as a communications provider.

Mr. Eric Ginn
President/CEO
Verlo Mattress Factory Stores

Verlo Mattress Factory Stores - Naperville president/CEO is Eric Ginn. Eric bought the franchise in Dec. 2004 with three stores; he has closed one of them and opened three new stores in less than two years. The stores are located in Geneva, Plainfield, Willowbrook, Schaumburg, with Naperville being the factory and a showroom. Eric believes in creating a great product and insuring customer satisfaction.

Eric owns the company with his wife Sharon and they live in St. Charles, Illinois. Eric and Sharon are very dedicated to insuring the highest quality in service and the product they create. They are proud to be part of the Naperville community and Chamber.

Eric received his master’s from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business - The Executive Program in 1990. He is looking forward to continued growth and serving the community.