William Wallace
When William Wallace started a new job for a traditional chemical distributor in Chicago that would ultimately lead him down the path to his current role as president of Interra Global Corporation, he was handed a plane ticket to China and told to travel the country to understand the supply side of the desiccant business. […]
William Foret
When William Foret was young, he watched his dad build computers from home, watching intently. For his 16th birthday, he took every lawn mowing and random job to buy about $2,000 worth of computer parts for his first computer instead of a car like all the other kids. His passion for all things related to […]
Wilbur Milhouse III
On Dec. 12, 2001, from the basement of his home on Chicago’s southwest side, Wilbur Milhouse III launched a startup business. He had a vision to create a better engineering firm, one driven by a desire for greatness for its clients and communities. Since its founding, the Milhouse family of companies has expanded to seven […]
Valarie King-Bailey
Growing up on the southside of Chicago in the Stateway Garden housing projects, Valarie King-Bailey always believed that there was more to life than her experiences and she was repeatedly advised that education was the way out. “I always wanted to be a leader and not a follower, so I challenged myself to pursue a […]
Tim Schumm
Tim Schumm has always been entrepreneurial. Whether he was starting a lawn care business in middle school, a t-shirt company in college or starting a new business line with an existing multi-billion dollar organization, Schumm was and is motivated. After spending a decade working at one of the largest staffing firms in the country, Schumm […]
Tigist Reda
Tigist Reda’s early years were marked by the challenges of living in Ethiopia during a period of political instability and civil war. Her family’s decision to relocate to the capital city due to these circumstances would eventually play a pivotal role in her culinary journey. Growing up as the seventh of eleven children in a […]
Thomas Kehoe
Thomas Kehoe’s passion for flowers and events blossomed from a young age, nurtured by his parents who allowed him the creative freedom to redecorate their house using vibrant colors. Throughout high school, Kehoe worked at a flower shop, eventually buying the business in the suburbs and renaming it KEHOE DESIGNS. The business thrived, catering to […]
Swathi Staley
The COVID-19 pandemic awakened a sense of urgency in the context of Swathi Staley’s career. She realized that in her role as the chief community investment officer and general counsel, she had the opportunity to play a more significant role in supporting at-risk Chicago residents. “She saw the power of organizations joining forces to increase […]
Steven Perlman
At 23, Steven Perlman took over a struggling family-owned manufacturing business founded in 1953 by his grandfather and father – The Intec Group, Inc. He had just earned his MBA and initially intended to gain experience working for other companies, but his family asked him to join the family business immediately. His younger brother joined […]
Steve Schroeder
As an Eagle Scout and Peace Corps volunteer, Steve Schroeder’s personal mantra always centered on helping others. So, in 1999, when Schroeder spun off the packaging division of a family-owned business, he set out with the following purpose: To positively impact the lives of associates, their families and the community while helping clients grow, innovate […]