Business Briefs | August 2015

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August 2015 View more

Appointments

Photo of Raj Bhatia courtesy RMB Capital

Photo of Raj Bhatia courtesy RMB Capital

RMB Capital, an independent financial services firm based in Chicago with more than $4.3 billion in assets under management, has named Naperville resident Raj Bhatia to its leadership team as director of information technology. In his new role, Bhatia will ensure the firm’s strategic vision and technology platform are aligned. Bhatia, who began his career as a programmer and analyst, has more than 20 years of experience in technology. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and Mathematics from Lawrence University and has served numerous roles including senior vice president, head of enterprise services at Calamos Investments and most recently, chief technology officer for Rotella Capital Management. 

Photo of James Wagner courtesy Sikich LLP

Photo of James Wagner courtesy Sikich LLP

Sikich LLP, a leading professional services firm specializing in accounting, technology, investment banking and advisory services, recently named James Wagner, partner-in-charge of its manufacturing and distribution practice. Wagner will assume his new responsibilities while continuing to serve as a partner in Sikich’s Milwaukee office and working with local middle-market businesses and their owners. His core areas of specialization include cash flow analysis, multi-state tax issues and sales and use tax compliance. As partner-in-charge, Wagner will lead Sikich’s manufacturing and distribution practice, which provides consulting services to an array of manufacturers, wholesale distributors and warehousing and storage companies. He also will oversee business development for key service lines, including accounting, audit, tax and technology. Prior to Sikich, Wagner served as shareholder of auditing and accounting at Kolb+Co. and as a director at Deloitte & Touche LLP. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Photo of Dr. Bisher Tarabishy courtesy of DuPage Medical Group

Photo of Dr. Bisher Tarabishy courtesy of DuPage Medical Group

DuPage Medical Group (DMG), the largest independent, multi-specialty physician group in the Chicago area, recently welcomed board-certified radiologist, Dr. Bisher Tarabishy to its radiology department. Tarabishy earned a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed a diagnostic radiology residency at Wayne State University. He also completed a fellowship in neuroradiology at Henry Ford Hospital. His medical interests include neuroradiology, head and neck imaging and musculoskeletal radiology and ultrasound. 

John Lipinsky recently joined the Lisle-based business law firm Clingen Callow & McLean. Lipinsky will concentrate in commercial litigation, bankruptcy and creditor’s rights. He has a diverse bankruptcy practice which includes representing secured lenders, landlords, unsecured creditors, creditors’ committees, acquirers of troubled companies, debtors in Chapter 11 and out-of-court workouts pending throughout the U.S. Clingen Callow & McLean has 15 attorneys in its Lisle and Geneva offices. 

Microsystems, a leading provider of software and services that drive document quality, production efficiency and risk mitigation based in Downers Grove, appointed Stacey Kacek as vice president and chief technology officer to oversee the strategic expansion and evolution of product offerings and platforms. Kacek, who most recently served as general manager of Asset Intelligence at General Electric Intelligent Platforms, brings to Microsystems a proven track record in developing and integrating commercial software solutions. She was previously vice president of Product Development at SmartSignal (now a part of General Electric) and held senior positions in product development and product management at Motorola Solutions.

Awards

TheDuPage Convention Visitors Bureau (CVB) has been chosen as Best Convention and Visitors Bureau – Outside Chicagoland by the readers of Illinois Meetings + Events (IL M+E) magazine. The award was presented in May at IL M+E’s 10th Annual “Best Of” Awards party at Pinstripes Chicago. The DuPage CVB’s director of marketing and operations, Nanette Traetow, was on hand to receive the award and said in a release that this is especially gratifying, because they were chosen by meeting and event planners who read the publication. Several DuPage CVB member businesses were also finalists for “Best of” awards, including Arrowhead Golf Club, Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center, The Morton Arboretum, and Westin Lombard Yorktown Center. 

Naperville-based Delta Dental of Illinois announced Jaime Chowaniec and Christopher Greenwaldt as the recipients of its 2015 student grants program. Each year, Delta Dental of Illinois awards two $2,500 grants to graduating dental students at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry. To be eligible, grant recipients must pass their National Boards, be in the top 25 percent of their class academically, plan to practice in Illinois, demonstrate an interest and/or participate in community outreach initiatives, or have declared interest in the advanced pediatric dentistry specialty. Chowaniec plans to pursue a career in pediatric dentistry and work in a private practice and as a faculty member at a dental school or hospital. Greenwaldt will begin a one-year General Practitioner Residency program at Advocate Illinois Masonic. After his residency he plans to practice dentistry in a rural area of the state.

Mike Feigenbaum, board chairman for the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau, received the Ambassador of Hospitality Award at the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association’s 20th Annual Hospitality Awards Luncheon recently at McCormick Place in Chicago. The luncheon was held in conjunction with the 96th Annual National Restaurant Show. Recognized for his 40 years of service to the hotel industry, Feigenbaum was one of three recipients of this year’s Ambassador of Hospitality Award. Feigenbaum is currently the general manager at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center. He is active with SCARCE, DuPage County’s educational recycling resource center, and members of the organization were also present at the luncheon to help honor him. Feigenbaum has served on the DuPage CVB board of directors for six years, and as chairman for the last three. 

New Business

NMAG0815_BusinessBriefs_SafetyTown

Photo courtesy Naperville Junior Woman’s Club

Naperville’s Safety Town renaming and dedication took place in May in honor of former Mayor A. George Pradel and his wife. In celebration of the Pradel family’s decades-long commitment to the children of Naperville, and to continue the Pradel legacy at Safety Town, it has been renamed, The A. George and Patricia Pradel Safety Town of Naperville. Before Pradel began his tenure as mayor of Naperville, he was known as Officer Friendly, to countless Naperville school children. In an effort to increase safety education outside of school, Pradel strove to bring the national Safety Town program home to Naperville.

Run by the Naperville Junior Woman’s Club in cooperation with the Police and Fire Departments, this miniature town includes streets, tiny buildings, a railroad car and a classroom building. Safety awareness programs are held in the summer for children entering kindergarten and first grade.

Photo courtesy Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare

Photo courtesy Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare

Linden Oaks Behavioral Health and the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders hosted the 12th annual Candlelight Vigil for those affected by eating disorders in the Healing Garden of Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, on the campus of Edward Hospital, in May. Nearly 300 people attended the event, which is held each year to motivate and encourage recovery, provide support for families, to commemorate those who have lost their lives and recognize those who have recovered and survived. The theme of this year’s Vigil was “Unlock Your Freedom” and featured Stacey Prussman, a stand-up comedian, as keynote speaker.