The costs related to a build-out that becomes technologically obsolete are enormous — with significant disruption risk associated with all moves, adds and changes needed in today’s building IT and cabling systems. The resources, expertise and design decisions needed early on are crucial to ensuring your development or redevelopment is always ahead of the IT curve.

In this discussion, smart building experts and structured cabling professionals will address how developers work toward greater functionality, flexibility, and future-readiness for whatever comes into the technology buildscape, through mobile capacity planning, conduit points of entry, and electrical resiliency, among many elements WiredScore engineers cover when certifying the best digitally connected buildings.

Join Mark Higgason of Encompass AV with Lars Haus Olsen from WiredScore who will address key questions, such as:

• -What is a WiredScore Score?
  • -Why is it important?
  • -What types of spaces need it?
  • -What are the levels?
• -How can developers build to specs that will deliver against ideal tenants’ increasingly complex internet and mobile connectivity needs?
• -What steps are needed to ensure buildouts can evolve with technology to offer class-leading experiences today, and 20 years from now?
• -What equipment can run off a fully converged network?
  • -How does wireless change needs?
  • -Security risks?
• -How does it help the marketability of buildings?

Panel

• -Mark Higgason, Executive Vice President at Encompass AV
• -Lars Haus Olsen, Head of Midwest at WiredScore

Moderator

• -Anatoly Nirshberg, Co-Founder BizCastHQ and ParadigmNEXT

GC's, architects and developers turn to Encompass AV when cutting-edge building AV/IT, cabling and connectivity solutions must be designed thoughtfully, installed correctly and run predictably. We are where passionate research meets hardcore technical ability meets ROI and dependability. No other founding team can claim our technical daring, track record and project management skills. Our average tech has more than 10 years of field experience. You’ll understand every choice we make and appreciate our responsiveness and ability to deliver on time—even with the most challenging and difficult builds. Find out how we will out-plan, out-think and outperform any other AV/IT designer and installer you’ve ever hired. Follow us on Twitter @EncompassAV and on Facebook @Encompass AV

I love technology, and I love real estate. Separately and together. That's why I love helping developers and owners of real estate understand what's important to think of when designing and managing their assets from a technology perspective. You've heard the real estate term "good bones" before I'm sure. Now, more than ever, it's becoming increasingly important with good technology bones. As all solutions and services building management and tenants are completely dependent on will have to live on top of the underlying digital infrastructure of buildings. We can all appreciate that technology is evolving faster than real estate is being built. And having worked with lots of pioneering technology, on both sides of the Atlantic, and seen them become ubiquitous I can't stress enough the importance of being prepared. I encourage anyone to reach out to chat about all things real estate and technology, or sailing, skiing, and Formula 1 for that matter!

In today’s crowded marketplace, brands that deliver packaged goods emerge every day — and loyalty is thin. To achieve a competitive advantage, companies must remember that their packaging contains far more than the product. It holds the potential to serve as an organizing principle for business and springboard for value creation.

Joining me today is Roland Jacobs from AspireUp and David Molo from Paper Tube for an engaging discussion on how packaging creates experience, communicates brand value, and drives marketing and merchandising. 

Today we are going to discuss: 

• How does packaging bring a product to life?
• What features should companies look for in new packaging?
• How does packaging support sustainability?
• What key industries are most impacted by packaging design? 

Conceived in 2013 when our founder David needed a short-run of unique, ultra-premium packaging for a crucial product launch: it's safe to say Paper Tube Co. was formed out of necessity. After weeks of fruitless searching, frustrated and unable to find the quality he needed without overpaying on an excessive minimum quantity, David made the decision to venture the path of manufacturing tubes on his own, and thus ... Paper Tube Co. was born. Today, we offer both ready-made and custom-engineered tubes with our reach proudly spanning start-ups and product inventors to major marketing agencies and global consumer brands. Quantities of 1 to 1 million: no order is too large or too small. Our purpose is to help smart companies innovate and stand out amongst competition in a crowded marketplace through sustainable, eco-friendly packaging that gets noticed, transforms basic unboxing into an event, and simply sells more product. And we’re here to guide you through the entire process so you can focus on your product launch, be it a handmade bath bomb, vegan caramels, luxury soy candles, fair trade coffee, organic face serum, or a Humboldt-grown CBD extract. Command attention worthy of your brand.

Roland Jacobs is President & CEO of AspireUp, a strategic marketing consultancy dedicated to helping companies grow. Roland founded the company in 2002 and has overseen its rapid expansion. He is a recognized expert in the areas of marketing strategy, branding and innovation and consults with large corporate clients and nonprofits across a wide range of B2B and B2C industries. Among his clients are Microsoft, Wells Fargo Bank, Staples, Reynolds Consumer Products, Johnson Outdoors, WernerCo, ITW, Univar, GHX, Materion, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and Wausau Homes. In addition to his work as a consultant, Roland has served as a guest lecturer in marketing strategy and innovation in the MBA programs at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business. Previously, Roland served as the top marketing officer at three different companies that grew rapidly under his leadership. He was the chief marketing officer responsible for the launch of Orbitz, the online travel company founded by the major airlines. At Orbitz, Roland oversaw a team of 500 people to deliver what was labeled “the most successful e-commerce launch in the web’s history.” Roland also served as SVP Marketing & Business Development for DigitalWork and VP Marketing for Petopia.com. Roland developed a strong foundation of marketing skills in the packaged goods industry. He spent 10 years with The Clorox Company focused on building brands, introducing new products and expanding into new countries. During his tenure, he rose to Global Category Director with marketing responsibility for Clorox products across 33 countries. Roland began his career in financial services as an Assistant Vice President in corporate banking with Bank of Boston (now Bank of America). Roland serves on the boards of several companies and nonprofit organizations. He is also an advisor to CEOs of early-stage companies and an active angel investor with Hyde Park Angels and Harvard Business School Angels of Chicago. Roland received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA, magna cum laude, from St. Lawrence University.

In light of recent events surrounding COVID-19 and work from home orders, Aleksandra was faced with a choice she never considered before; Keep everyone working remotely or bring the team back to the office.  To make the decision, Aleksandra solicited the feedback of her entire team and the results were unanimous (and unexpected).

Businesses of all shapes and sizes continue to grapple with the challenges presented by COVID-19 and shelter-in-place orders.   As we work to flatten the curve, many companies struggle with the decision to keep everyone working remotely or bring the team back to the office.

How do we drive productivity and collaboration in the pandemic-stricken environment?

Noah Turner of CBIZ Gibraltar Real Estate Services and Aleksandra Efimova of Russian Pointe and FLX & 5.6.7.EIGHT share their unique insights and discuss strategies that address this question and more.

• What was your overall experience with working with a remote team?
• Has your team worked remotely before (all or part of the time)?-
• How has the pandemic affected your business?
• What changes have you seen in the business post the pandemic?
• As an industry insider, what trends are you seeing/hearing about?
• What are some initial changes you’re seeing in space planning needs as we emerge from the pandemic?

5.6.7. EIGHT Podcast for people on the move A series of interviews geared towards people who are interested in dance, yoga, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and entrepreneurs. The podcast launches a new episode every week that provides inspiration and education for those looking to accomplish their dance or entrepreneurial goals. Under the RP Group International corporation, 5.6.7.EIGHT continues to attract famous guests and thousands of listeners.

Aleksandra Efimova is CEO of RP Group Int'l, a Chicago-based corporation est. 1998 & home to global brands offering products, services and education that motivates movers to learn, grow and achieve. RP Group’s brands are best known for consistent innovation, the highest quality materials and crafting, and outstanding responsiveness to the needs of its customers. RP Group retains brands such as Russian Pointe, 5.6.7.EIGHT for people on the move, and FLX, the home of the Flexistretcher®. Aleksandra is an entrepreneur and leader with extensive experience in developing collaboration among individuals and organizations throughout the business, non-profit, governmental and educational sectors. She holds an executive diploma from Harvard Business School, has appeared on the Inc. 5000 List, was an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist in 2017, and has been featured in many publications including Forbes Women, Bloomberg, NBC, and Crain’s Detroit Business. Ms. Efimova organizes, hosts and speaks at events related to entrepreneurship, women’s leadership, international relations and the arts. She has served on the boards of multiple organizations and led delegations on overseas trips. Leadership: VP of US-Russia Chamber of Commerce, Founding Co-Chair of Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs, Chair of IL Senator Mark Kirk’s Eastern European Leadership Board, Co-Chair of Sister Cities Int'l Moscow Committee, Mentor EY Women Athletes Business Network Mentoring Program. Membership: Economic Club of Chicago, HBS Club of Chicago, Int'l Women’s Forum, Council on Global Affairs, Union League Club, Lyric Opera Young Professionals Awards: EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist 2017, Inc. 5000 List, Metro Chicago Export Challenge Finalist, Bank of America Small Business of the Month, Stevie Women in Business Award Speaking: Executives’ Club of Chicago, International Women's Forum, EMU Business School Alumni Awards, Brand Activation Association, DePaul University, University of IL

Learn the 6 Key Pillars to Grow Your Business for Fun and Profit

It’s a pandemic out there. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1-in-4 businesses could close this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. How can you ensure that your company won’t become a negative statistic during these troubled times? What are the key pillars that your business needs to survive and thrive in a post-pandemic world?

In this informative webinar, Anatoly Nirshberg of ParadigmNEXT talks to EOS expert-guru Dan Zawacki, President of 4Mores Group about the new business challenges created by this current pandemic.

Learn the 6 KEY COMPONENTS to growing your business – and have fun doing it! Find out how new, state-of-the-art EOS solutions could help grow your organization, with better ROI.

For over 30 years, Mr. Zawacki has been helping companies and organizations, big and small, achieve better EOS results, with simple, practical, and common-sense business solutions. As a successful entrepreneur and talented EOS teacher-coach, Dan is passionate about helping others launch their own businesses and achieve the marketplace success they deserve. “What wakes me up every day is creating value for my clients” says Dan.

This insightful webinar will help teach you how to run your organization like the big boys do. Learn the tools your need to grow your business, for fun and profit.

THE 4 MORES℠ will help your organization implement an EOS business operating system to help you do three things great. Vision Alignment – getting your leadership team 100% on the same page on where your organization is headed by using the EOS process. Gain Traction® – helping leaders become more disciplined, accountable and executing on the vision using the EOS Traction tools. Healthy – employing the EOS process we help leaders to be functional, more cohesive and have more fun by using a proven business operating system. Dan Zawacki, our founder, is a serial entrepreneur. Dan has seen the great, the good, the bad and the ugly in his 30 years of being a leader. In 1987, he founded a company called Lobster Gram that delivered live lobsters and seafood around the country as gifts. Dan was the first person in the world to do this and actually built a new market.  

In 1987 Dan Zawacki founded a company called Lobster Gram out of his garage in Chicago when he was just 24. He was the first person to ship live lobsters as gifts and actually built the market for shipping seafood to homes. Dan and Lobster Gram were featured in Forbes, Fortune, Oprah, WSJ, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Rachael Ray, Time, ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN and many others.  After 30 years of running Lobster Gram, Dan sold Lobster Gram so he could focus on teaching Traction and the Entrepreneur Operating System.  He wanted to help entrepreneurial companies get what they want from their businesses. He is now a full time Certified Traction Implementer, one of 90 in the world. Dan has been a speaker for Northwestern University’s College of Entrepreneurship Master’s program, the Chicago Association of Growth, the CEO Solo Summit, Wintrust Bank and many others. Dan says, “I feel very lucky to find my second passion in life and that’s helping businesses grow and have fun doing it, by using EOS.”   And yes, he still loves eating lobster.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented incredible challenges for all businesses. Heavy restrictions, shelter-in-place orders, and efforts to minimize the spread of coronavirus forced most companies to shift their work to function remotely for an unforeseen time. As businesses begin to reopen, however, many adjustments to the workplace will now be required to ensure the safety and wellness of employees, as well as productivity and continuation of business in general.

In this webinar our panelists discusses strategies for returning to the office, with experts that will address key questions — including:

• What should companies do now to prepare, communicate and transition employees back to the office?
• How will the workplaces of tomorrow support talent development, foster culture, and increase productivity and collaboration?
• What will our “new normal” look like when we re-enter the workspace, and in the mid-term and future?
• How will health and wellness demands and expectations evolve?
• What workplace strategies exist to ensure the safety of employees?
• How can companies evaluate their need for more or less square footage, private offices, cubicles, open space and conference rooms?
• What amenities are appropriate for teams and how will building concepts change?
• How will office layouts and design concepts evolve?

Established in 1987 with offices in Cleveland and New York, Vocon creates distinctive, productive work environments for private- and public-sector clients across the globe through the delivery of full-scale architectural project capabilities including architecture, interior design, branding, graphic design, workplace strategy and change communications. Licensed in all 50 states, Vocon is one of the largest design firms in the country as well as one of the top 40 design firms internationally. Some of the largest organizations worldwide are Vocon clients including KeyBank, Goodyear, Willis, Cliffs Natural Resources, Nestle, Colgate-Palmolive, Avon Products, J. Crew and Thomson Reuters.

As lead of Vocon’s strategic consulting practice, Megan helps organizations make decisions about the design and use of their work space to support their culture and business goals such as improved productivity, employee attraction and engagement, innovation to increase market share and real estate portfolio optimization. Megan and her team are experts at understanding the impact space has on an individual’s work performance. By studying how people work and use space – blended with their academic and industry knowledge – she and her team develops strategies that influence employee achievement, collaboration and wellbeing in positive and measurable ways. Megan’s experience in the fields of strategic workplace planning, design and account management has allowed her to successfully influence business outcomes for a broad spectrum of clients and project types, including corporate office, public, healthcare, legal and non-profit assignments.

Anatoly Nirshberg, Managing Partner at BizCast HQ & ParadigmNEXT, hosts this webinar with JD Gershbein, CEO of Owlish Communications to share insights on the “new normal”, and how the business world is now virtual. They highlight the importance of displaying your professional value on LinkedIn in a way that generates interest and demand of your brand in the business community. JD further expands on how this digital format of getting the message out, is challenging the executive level (as well as the entire team) which, has now become a strong component.

Watch this interview to get the best strategy tips for branding yourself on LinkedIn and ensure you’re not missing the mark going forward!

ParadigmNEXT is a Chicago, Illinois-based digital marketing agency that delivers best-in-class solutions and support that improve decision making, maximize organizational performance, and create a winning culture. The firm partners with small and medium-sized businesses as well as major brands. At the heart of each engagement is an unwavering commitment to client service. The term ‘paradigm shift’ denotes a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions. ParadigmNEXT was established to address gaps between agencies and the B2B ecosystem and operates on the notion that business knowledge and the right mindset are mission-critical for successful marketing. The firm’s name signifies this shift, honing each client’s message, generating insights, and taking marketing to the next level.

Throughout his career, ANATOLY NIRSHBERG has excelled in reimagining and repositioning brands for profitable growth. He is a design thinker who brings a strategic and holistic approach to problem solving and proven success in developing processes that help companies scale, establish a mission-driven culture, harness the power of technology, and manage rapid change. As managing director of ParadigmNEXT, he leverages his natural creativity, versatility, communication skills, and deep experiential knowledge to execute integrated, next-level marketing campaigns that consistently hit customer targets and increase stakeholder value. Early on, Anatoly developed an interest in business and worked various odd jobs to earn money. As a young entrepreneur, he carried forward a strong work ethic instilled in him by his parents and learned the intricacies of growing an enterprise. He founded and ran his own independent mortgage brokerage at age 21 before embarking on a journey that would take him from residential finance to call centers and logistics companies to multiple endeavors in the commercial construction space. His exposure to various industries has taught him how to isolate the marketing opportunity and adapt his value proposition to best meet each client’s unique needs. Through the lens of digital marketing, Anatoly lends a fresh perspective to organizations facing complex business challenges in leveraging their stories and navigating the ever-changing virtual landscape. As managing director of BizCast HQ, he widens his gestalt view of business through state-of-the-art video production, an adaptation that places him at the cutting edge of brand storytelling. Clients gain a strong competitive advantage through Anatoly’s professional network of senior executives, company owners, innovators, PR professionals, media outlets, and associations, enabling them to amplify their thought leadership content and expand their audience. Anatoly understands that business success is tied to relationships and collaboration. He is especially interested in connecting with C-level executives at B2B companies in the manufacturing, logistics, commercial real estate, private equity, large-scale construction industries (and related services).  

Hosting a live discussion with Tim Pickett, CEO at Encompass AV, joined by Steve Lombardo III [President of Gibsons Restaurant Group], Scott Wiener [Founder and Owner of The Fifty 50 Group], Nathaniel Brethold [Director, Hospitality Asset Management at Marquee Development / Hickory Street Capital] and Nabil Moubayed [Area Director of Operations at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants]

The hospitality industry was one of the first — and hardest hit — industries grappling with the coronavirus pandemic. Heavy restrictions, shelter-in-place orders and efforts to minimize the spread of this virus forced most to halt operations for an unforeseen time. Many hospitality professionals are asking:

** What do operations look like right now?

** What strategies exist to weather the COVD-19 storm; right now, mid-term and for when the orders are lifted?

** What technologies are being considered and how will tech help enhance guests’ experience in the new normal?

** What, if any, is an optimal time to consider enhancements?

At Kimpton, it’s always personal. We focus on what it means to be human and an individual. You’ll quickly learn Kimpton’s not just a hospitality job. Here, you’ll join a mission to make lives better. No biggie. The real you is a job requirement; your diverse background, talents, and quirks are what help our company connect meaningfully with our guests. You’ll lead your own personal career path while you help make each guest’s journey feel more personal. You won’t just punch a clock and count the hours; you’ll make it count. That’s why FORTUNE magazine has put Kimpton on its “Best Companies To Work For” list nine times. It’s why we score 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index every year. Our guests feel it too—it’s why we’re consistently ranked as a best-loved hospitality company. Our thriving company culture, numerous hospitality career tracks, and rich benefits and perks also make us one of the best places to work. We take care of all of our people with great benefits, like paid time off; medical, dental, and vision plans; life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance; 401(k) with employer matching; 6 weeks paid paternity/maternity leave; back-up child and elder care; robust professional and personal development through our own Kimpton University; and employee discounts at our 60+ hotels nationwide. Plus, we throw in some extra Kimpton-style perks, like wellness programs and, of course, pet insurance. We’re a best place to work because we’re driven by our passion for unscripted, heartfelt care. From the first whirl of a hula hoop at your employee orientation (yes, it happens) to every Kimpton Moment thereafter, you’re going to love it here as much as our guests do.

Moubayed brings over 15 years of hospitality experience to his position, overseeing a combined 1,200 rooms and approximately 750 staff members. As Area Director of Operations, Moubayed is responsible for ensuring operational cohesiveness among the region's five properties by promoting the brand's unique culture and spirit and modeling Kimpton's hotel management philosophy of care. A Kimpton leader for nearly a decade, Moubayed also holds the general manager position at Kimpton's award-winning Hotel Palomar Chicago following management of Hotel Monaco Chicago. Since opening its doors in March 2010 under Moubayed's direction, Hotel Palomar Chicago has consistently ranked #2 in guest service among Kimpton's 50+ hotels, #4 in Chicago on TripAdvisor.com and continues to push the hotel to increasing RevPar on an annual basis. Moubayed has been influential in jump-starting the hotel's Sleeping with the Artist program, integrating the local art community through rotating exhibits by Chicago natives and aligning with the Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education to empower young people through education and the arts. An active member of the Chicago business community, Moubayed sits on the executive committee of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, Advisory Board of Kendall College as well as the Chicago Workforce Center for the Service Industries. A Toronto native, Moubayed's hotel career began with Wyndham Hotels and Resorts as operations manager at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in San Francisco. He rose to the role of general manager at various Wyndham hotels in Chicago and several city suburbs, as well as New Orleans and Denver, during his six-year tenure with the company. He is also a member of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau and the prestigious Cornell Hotel Society. Moubayed holds a master's degree in hospitality management from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and a bachelor's degree from the University of Western Ontario. He is fluent in both German and French.

Real Estate and the COVID-19 Implications — Video Insights: Business and Legal Considerations for Tenants

As the uncertainties around the impact of coronavirus continue, the workplace remains top of mind for commercial tenants as they look for cost saving in the short term and consider their office space needs in the future. Many are asking about rent abatements and if landlords can forgive rent, what force majeure looks like relative to COVID-19, and how real estate professionals and attorneys can help.

Noah A. Turner, SVP of CBIZ Gibraltar Real Estate Service, and Attorney Donald B. Leventhal address these issues on the latest webinar from BizCastHQ — and dive into:

• What’s happening in real estate and how projects are continuing to move forward
• What lawyers are seeing and how businesses can get ahead of it
• What workplace needs (space, technology, amenities, etc.) should be considered now for when we return to the office and/or when to think about new space

Areas of Practice: Corporate and Transactional Real Estate Estate Planning Probate and Estate Administration Litigation and Appeals Admitted in Illinois - 1986 Admitted to US District Court, Northern District of Illinois - 1991 Member of: Chicago Bar Association Lawyers' Club of Chicago Professional Formation: The Ohio State University College of Law - JD 1986 Law Journal Jessup International Moot Court Michigan State University, BA - 1983

Don is a corporate and transactional attorney, with over 20 years of experience representing a variety of entrepreneurial, insurance, not-for-profit, and real estate clients. Don has been involved in a number of significant transactions, including what was at the time the largest health care industry merger in Illinois history, the acquisition of a syndicate on the Illinois Insurance Exchange, state and federal registration of securities offerings, and the purchase, sale and lease of numerous office and retail properties in the Chicago metropolitan area.

In this episode, Alyssa Rapp, CEO of Surgical Solutions, and master of The Pivot answers some of our questions on navigating remote work during the current worldwide crisis, and how to best choose between Quitting vs. Pivoting. Alyssa dives into the reasoning behind when to Quit or Pivot, and further expands into the different challenges faced when shifting gears. She gives us her unique insight on Hacks for the COVID era that keep her on schedule and on track while working from home.

Founded in 2007, Surgical Solutions is a healthcare solutions company headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. Surgical Solutions has provided mission-critical services to hospital operating rooms and ambulatory surgery centers for over 10 years. Surgical Solutions offers customized programs that include “white glove” handling of scopes, repair maintenance management, and access to capital. Our services help facilities improve financial/operational performance and increase physician satisfaction. Surgical Solutions is privately held by Sterling Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm with over 35 years of experience in Healthcare and Business Services.

As of January 2018, Alyssa was named the CEO of Surgical Solutions by private equity firm Sterling Partners. Within six months, she was named one of Crain’s Chicago’s “Notable Women in Health Care” (June 2018). Starting in 2014, Alyssa joined the ranks as a lecturer-in-management at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. As of June 2019, she was also named an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago’s Booth Business School. From 2005-2015, Alyssa served as the founder & CEO of Bottlenotes, Inc., the leading interactive media company in the U.S. wine, craft beer, and artisanal spirit industries. Starting in 2015, Alyssa has also served as the Managing Partner at AJR Ventures, a strategic advisory firm for Fortune 500, $500MM+ privately-held companies, and private equity firms on their new business unit/new market development, digital and e-commerce strategies. Alyssa was named in Inc. Magazine's “30 Under 30” coolest entrepreneurs in America (September 2008)” and one of the wine industry’s top 25 of 100 most influential people by Intowine.com, from 2012 to present. Bottlenotes also received the “Best Advertising and Marketing Company” and the “People’s Choice Award” at the Empact 100 in September 2013 at the United Nations, honoring the top 100 companies with founders under 35.   Alyssa earned a B.A. in Political Science and the History of Art from Yale University in 2000 and an M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business in 2005. At Yale, she earned the Frank M. Patterson prize for the best essay on the American political system for her senior thesis on public housing reform in Chicago. Alyssa is thus honored to have been appointed by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner to serve on the board of directors of the Illinois Housing Development Authority. She currently serves on the organization’s audit committee with $1B of assets and ~$80MM operating expenses.    As of November 2019, Forbes Books will release Alyssa’s book entitled Leadership and Life Hacks: 100 Tips for Achieving Your Goals with Maximum Efficiency and Impact. When not immersed in business and civic life, Alyssa loves to run track, do yoga, ski fast, and try as hard as possible to decipher a slider from a curve ball from her husband, 1990 MLB World Series champion and partner at X10 Capital, Hal Morris. Alyssa and Hal are the proud parents of Audrey Margaret Morris and Henriette Daniella Morris.

Sean Mulroney, founder of Double Door on why you have to treat everyone like they’re part of your family!

Double Door is a live music venue located at 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. at the Six Corners intersection of Milwaukee, Damen, and North Avenue in the heart of Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. It’s been hosting live concerts, specializing in rock, metal, punk, hip-hop, funk, soul and many subgenres in between since June of 1994. The 550-capacity room has hosted an eclectic, diverse and often famous variety of live music and entertainment. Ranging from a secret Rolling Stones concert in 1997, to Rise Against filling in for a last-minute cancellation in 2003, to Sonic Youth playing a Lollapalooza after party in 2006, Double Door’s stage has seen some of the best from up-and-coming local acts to international superstars. And sometimes, those local artists end up becoming the superstars. Double Door has a main room, a hayloft-style balcony and a downstairs bar called Door No. 3, which plays host mainly to comedy nights, DJs, and acoustic shows. For more info on booking, room rentals, and live recording, please visit our Contact page.

Sean is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he studied music performance as a classically trained bass player. Sean moved to Chicago in 1985 to attend Loyola of Chicago School of Law.  As soon as he arrived, he joined an all original rock band that played extensively all over Chicago and toured nationally. This is what started it all. Sean’s first job out of law school was as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois where he specialized in death and abuse cases in nursing homes.  He then went to work for the United States Environmental Protection Agency specializing in toxic and hazardous waste litigation. All the while, he pursued both music and his entrepreneurial passion.  In 1992 he opened Sweet Alice, a small but hip tavern in the Ukrainian Village. Next he opened Delilah’s in Lincoln Park, which to this day is home to the best whiskey selection in the City. After that was Double Door where he both booked the club and closed each show while working at the USEPA.  After that, Sean opened several bars in Wrigleyville and then returned to Wicker Park where he opened Debonair Social Club, a video dance club and Santullo’s, a pizzeria that has been voted in the top 10 pizzas multiple times by Chicago magazine.   After leaving USEPA, Sean started several companies.  In 1997, Sean started GenX, a video streaming company.  GenX regularly streamed concerts live from Double Door and it shot and streamed the Presidential Easter egg hunt live from the White House lawn and also the Smashing Pumpkins live from St. Andrews Hall in Detroit which at the time was the largest and most visited on line event in history. He then started Slice Music that allowed for the live collaboration between artists, musicians and DJs anywhere in the world in real time.   Through it all music was Sean’s passion and is why to this day Sean continues to perform in his band the Avondale Ramblers and most importantly is reopening Double Door.

Paul Wilson, Owner and Artistic Director of Art + Science Hair Salon has built a culture of Mentorship.  What does that mean? In this leadership video, Wilson shares his organization’s unique cultural structure and how it builds a flourishing organization that develops and supports his best-in-class workforce.  The structure & culture of Art + Science begins with a rigorous education paired with big efforts to understand the minds of his young cadre of hairstylists so as to make for smooth implementations of policy and procedure. Art + Science brings young, new stylists into his educational program to bring the stylists into a structured & balanced. This provides a professional environment  that supports the employee financially, with benefits, continuing education all with structure to their days. This can be quite different from a traditional salon which can be filled with independent workers. Wilson’s organization with 100 plus employees, boasts a well-orchestrated, mentorship focused culture that supports his rising talent which results in an excellent experience for his clients.

With a blend of art and science, the talented professionals at Art Science Salon work to create hairstyles and color that are both modern and wearable.  Whether looking for a simple cut, a radical change, or anything in between, Art Science Salon has the services for you. With a strong belief in customer service, the salon professionals strive to inform clients of the correct product choices, home maintenance, and overall hair, skin and scalp health. Art Science stylists all complete an apprenticeship program before working with clients to ensure that the salon offers only the best, most well-trained professionals. The spacious, modern interiors help to create an atmosphere that matches the philosophy of the salon. The salon prides itself on fresh and wearable looks that are simple to maintain. Art Science stylists create hairstyles using top name products such as Shu Uemura, MENSDEPT, American Crew, Moroccan Oil and Bumble and Bumble. The combination of well-trained staff and high quality products leaves your hair looking healthy and fabulous long after your cut.

Interestingly enough, Paul's career as a hairdresser and salon owner in Colorado Springs began accidentally. His initial plan to become a commercial artist was suddenly redirected by the man who gave him his first great haircut. In that one interaction, Paul recognized that hair styling was an art form with the power to have a profound impact on people. From that day on, Paul honed his craft through a system of apprenticeship & advanced course work at Vidal Sassoon and Toni & Guy.   Inspired by the vision of David Raccuglia and Art + Science salon’s launching of American crew, Paul relocated to Chicago in 1997 to become a part of the creative movement in men’s grooming. He joined the Art + Science team and many amazing things grew from that choice. From partnership to ownership, Paul has stewarded the expansion of the salon into multiple locations. Additionally, Paul went from an American Crew All-star to the Global artistic director for American Crew and became a leader in men’s grooming worldwide. Paul travels around the globe developing and presenting new collections of haircuts and styles, both on stage and at photo shoots. His vision and work has been featured throughout Europe, Australia as well the North and South Americas. He has been highlighted in multiple publications to include making ‘The List’ in Michigan Ave Magazine for his philanthropic contributions.  Paul’s natural energy and passion for the hair industry engages audiences, whether in an intimate classroom, with an international audience or working behind the chair with one of his clients. He has an enlightened sense of art and design, allowing him to eloquently inspire through each and every haircut he executes.

In this interview with Tim Barry, CEO and Co-Founder of VillageMD tells us about his early efforts to build his business that included hiring and infrastructure. He talks about thinking how he felt that this was building his business, but he came to understand that although having a talented team and strong structure for the company is key, more importantly, adding clients and delighting them is truly what made his company what it is today. Hear more about Barry’s philosophies and how they continue to be the base for success for VillageMD.

VillageMD is a leading provider of healthcare for organizations moving toward a primary care-led, high-value clinical model. The VillageMD solution provides the tools, technology, operations, and staffing support needed for physicians to drive the highest quality clinical results across a population. VillageMD works with physician groups, independent practice associations, and health systems to improve quality, deliver a first-rate patient experience, and lower costs in the communities they serve. Practice medicine the way you've always wanted. Data, resources & clinical decision support to care for your patients inside and outside the exam room.

Tim Barry is the co-founder and CEO of VillageMD. He serves as the visionary and key spokesperson for the company and is also an active advocate for primary care as the foundation of the U.S. healthcare system. Prior to VillageMD, Tim served as president of Accretive Health's quality and total cost of care business — a business that he founded for Accretive in 2009. Prior to Accretive Health, he served as COO of Universal American's $2.8 billion Medicare Advantage business and led its growth from $250 million to $2.8 billion through the national expansion of Universal American's PCP-focused healthy collaboration model. Prior to Universal American, he held several leadership roles at Blue Shield of California and was responsible for the organization's launch into new products and business ventures in Medicare. Tim received his undergraduate degree in applied economics from Cornell University and an MBA in finance from Michigan State University.