Business Briefs | September 2016
By Naperville Magazine
September 2016 View more Business
Appointments:
David J. Livingston, President of Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio, has been appointed as the 10th President of Lewis University. He began his role as President on July 1, 2016. He succeeds Brother James Gaffney, FSC, who retired on June 30 after 28 years of leadership and service to Lewis. Livingston was selected after a national search by a search committee and the Lewis University Board of Trustees. Livingston was President of Lourdes University since 2013. During his tenure, Lourdes experienced an increase in the quality, retention and graduation rates of its students; expanded academic programs and renovated the campus to support their strategic growth initiatives; and successfully completed a capital campaign. Prior to his presidency at Lourdes University, he served Mercyhurst University for 16 years in various diverse capacities. Prior to joining the Mercyhurst community, he taught religious studies at Loyola Academy High School in Wilmette, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, University of St. Francis in Joliet, Joliet Catholic Academy and Loyola University of Chicago. The Dundee native earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Augustana College in Rock Island. He completed an M.A. in Theology at Loyola University in Chicago and a Ph.D. in Theology at Vanderbilt University. Joining him as part of the Lewis University community is his wife Joan, who works as a clinical social worker, and their adult children Matt and Sara.
Christy McGovern has been appointed a member of the Lisle village Board of Trustees effective immediately. McGovern is a Lisle resident and bilingual educator who has held various positions mostly teaching Spanish. She also served as a director for an English as a Second Language department. McGovern taught in three states before moving to Illinois in 2003. She recently accepted a position teaching Spanish to kindergarten through eighth grade students at St. Joseph School in Downers Grove. McGovern will complete the remaining term of former Trustee Rob Getz who resigned in July.
Naperville-based professional services firm Sikich LLP recently promoted Pamela Aman, CPA, and Greg Engelage, CPA, to partner. In their new roles, Aman and Engelage will lead the St. Louis office’s audit, attest and consulting services. Aman has worked in public accounting for more than 15 years. In addition to her extensive experience providing auto dealerships with audit, accounting, tax and business advisory services, she also works with clients in construction, real estate and manufacturing, as well as medical practices and nonprofit organizations. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Missouri—St. Louis. Engelage has 15 years of experience in public accounting. He provides audit, accounting, tax and consulting services to a wide mix of clients, including not-for-profits, medical practices, construction companies and employee benefit plans. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Missouri State University.
Jeannie Cella has been named Wellness House president and CEO effective immediately. Most recently, Cella was the executive director of the Hinsdale-based nonprofit. The title change is an important step in the history of Wellness House, and recognizes both Jeannie’s strategic role in the organization and the increasing breadth and impact of its programs. Cella has been a staff member of Wellness House since its founding, and was named its executive director in 2000. In that time, the organization has evolved and expanded, and its organizational structure has become increasingly complex. Jeannie’s focus is now primarily on the strategic direction of Wellness House, and the external relationships that are needed to meet the strategic plan’s goals. Over the last 25 years, Wellness House has established itself as a leader in providing supportive care to people affected by cancer.
Nick Merker has joined the Board of Advisors of the Jules F. Knapp Entrepreneurship Center for Illinois Institute of Technology. The Knapp Entrepreneurship Center offers a wide variety of supportive services for startup and existing small businesses in and around Illinois Institute of Technology. Merker is a partner and co-chair of Ice Miller LLC’s Data Security and Privacy Practice. He advises clients on complex privacy and data security issues ranging from emerging technologies, including Internet-based application. Merker is a former systems, network and security engineer with hands-on technical experience in both the public and private sector.
Margery Shinners has been named the new CEO of the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors. Shinners has been deputy CEO and chief operating officer of the Downers Grove based organization since 2005. Prior to that, she was the technology director for the Realtors Association of West/South Suburban Chicagoland, which was the previous name of Mainstreet. She replaces Pam Krieter who plans to retire on Dec. 31. Mainstreet’s region includes more than 200 communities in DuPage, Lake and suburban Cook counties.
Awards:
Project HELP Board Member and Naperville resident, Neil Samuels, received the Parent Mentor of the Year Award. Samuels, a Project HELP board member and parent mentor, is the first male to receive the Exchange Club of America’s award. Samuels become a parent mentor with Project HELP almost seven years ago. Samuels was recognized at the Exchange Club of America awards ceremony in Houston, Texas, on July 14. Through home-based mentoring and parent education training, Project HELP has been serving the community since 1992 and provides parents with the proper tools, tips, advice, and support necessary to create a nurturing home environment that encourages children to reach their full potential.
Elizabeth R. Bacon, has been recognized by the International Association of Privacy Professionals as a certified United States law privacy information professional (2016 CIPP/US). Brown leads the privacy, data security and information law practice at Naperville-based Brooks, Tarulis & Tibble, LLC and in combination with a seasoned business law and trail attorneys, comprise a multidisciplinary team to help clients successfully navigate today’s privacy and data security waters.
Recognition:
With a ceremony on July 20, Edward Hospital commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first person in the United States to receive Medicare benefits. On July 1, 1966, Lillian Grace Avery, a 68-year-old Naperville resident, signed papers while she was a patient at Edward Hospital that made her the country’s first Medicare beneficiary. Medicare, which was signed into law in 1965, is the federal health insurance program for people over 65, and certain disabled people under 65. Speakers at the event included Pam Davis, System CEO, Edward-Elmhurst Health; Rep. Bill Foster, who represents the 11th Congressional District of Illinois and Duane Carlson, who as a member of the communication staff of the national Blue Cross Association, was involved in the selection of Avery as the first beneficiary. Davis, Rep. Foster and Carlson unveiled a plaque that will be on display in Edward Hospital to memorialize the historic occasion.
Expansion Plans:
Naperville Running Co. is expanding to Wheaton. The Wheaton location will have its own character and energy when it opens this fall in the former train depot on Front Street, between Hale and Main streets. The building has been vacant for nearly two years. It had previously housed two retail spaces. Naperville Running Company owner Kris Hartner says the new store will maintain the historic, classic look of the train depot while freshening it up at the same time. A soft opening is scheduled for early November.
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware is expanding its operations and adding a second store in Illinois in Bolingbrook. A large supplier of woodworking and specialty products, Rockler is opening the 8,000 square foot retail store at 139 S. Weber Road in Bolingbrook. Grand opening celebrations will take place throughout the month of September. Rockler, which is celebrating its 62nd anniversary as a family-run business, has 32 retail locations in 20 states and 60 independent reseller locations nationwide as well as catalog and Internet operations.
Centor North America Inc., a manufacturer of the world’s first integrated door, as well as folding doors, hardware and screen/blind systems, plans to relocate from its current location in Batavia to a new warehouse facility at 966 Corporate Blvd. in Aurora by October 1. The new location is LEED-certified and includes 32-foot ceilings, seven exterior docks, one drive-in door and 41 trailer stalls. The space will also include a state-of-the-art showroom and corporate offices.
Loaves & Fishes and Naperville CARES have merged operations to form Loaves & Fishes Community Services as of July 1. The Naperville CARES emergency assistance and car program will be integrated with all non-food services offered by the agency and renamed the Loaves & Fishes CARES programs. Janet Derrick will become the vice president of Loaves & Fishes CARES Programs. Mike Havala will continue to lead the expanded organization as chairman of the board and will serve as interim CEO until a replacement is named. Naperville CARES employees will become Loaves & Fishes employees and four current members of the Naperville CARES Board of Directors will join the Loaves & Fishes Board of Directors.
