Company Profile

Company:
S&S Activewear LLC
Type of Business:
National wholesaler to the promotional apparel market
Corporate Headquarters:
Bolingbrook, IL
Founded:
1988
Company Size:
500-1,000 employees
Privately Held

Active and sporty clothing has seen steady growth in the past decade, from corporate branded apparel, to customized t-shirts and promotional clothing for community events. Servicing this growing demand is Bolingbrook-based S&S Activewear, a national wholesaler to the promotional apparel market, with more than 60 brands ranging from basic garments, to fashion-forward styles, it is the industry’s largest single location supplier. Naperville Magazine talked with Jeff Adams, CEO and co-owner of S&S Activewear, about the company’s growing warehouse footprint and the hottest trends in the apparel industry.

S&S Activewear has more than doubled its warehouse footprint with several acquisitions of apparel companies across the U.S. since 2010, including the recent purchase of the Americana Company in Santa Fe Springs, California, and Eva Tees in New Jersey – now covering the East coast and the West coast. What’s behind this business strategy?

The business goal (behind the purchase of additional apparel companies) is to reach the most populous areas of the U.S. with our products within a one or two-day transit time. Getting our products to our customers fast is just as important to us as it is to our customers. Service is a major contributing factor to our sales growth over the past several years.

S&S Activewear has several apparel product lines available including t-shirts, fleece, sports shirts, hats, bags performance apparel and uniforms. What is your most popular product line?

Our most popular product lines are basic t-shirts and sweatshirts manufactured by brands such as Gildan, Hanes, and Fruit of the Loom.

Technology seems to be impacting nearly every business, especially the retail industry. What has been the most significant change in the apparel business in the past 5-10 years and how has S&S Activewear adapted to this change?

The advent of the corporate apparel market and the e-retail segment including ecommerce, have been the most significant changes recently in the apparel business. We ensure that our website is easy-to-use for ordering, we provide selling tools for our customers such as customizable websites and digital catalogs, and we consistently ensure that we are shipping the final product in the best and fastest way possible.

Where do you see the biggest growth potential for your company?

We see the biggest growth potential in the areas of e-retail and corporate promotion. Fortunately, these are areas and markets where we have already seen a lot of success. So, we are hoping to continue to grow and expand in these areas.

Material for clothing and apparel has changed over the years ranging from wool and cotton to synthetic fibers. What are some of the hottest new trends in the apparel business?

Performance products are very popular these days. Customers are demanding moisture-wicking polyester that is comfortable and breathable. In addition, lighter-weight and ultra-soft cottons and poly/cotton blended fabrics in casual apparel are also in high demand.

With so many options available across the Midwest to locate your company headquarters, what makes the western suburbs such an attractive location for your business base?

What’s attractive to the Bolingbrook area is the availability of large distribution centers with very high ceiling clearance for warehouse inventory. Also, the emerging and growing southwest suburban labor market is a big plus.

Being CEO and co-owner of a major apparel wholesaler in a competitive marketplace is a demanding job. What gets you out of bed in the morning and motivates you to come into the office? 

The enormous potential for future growth and our very talented and motivated management team and work force.

New Business

Swedish-based industrial manufacturer SKF Group has selected Naperville as the location for its new North American research and development facility. This facility is expected to create 40 full-time jobs within the next two years and an additional 40 jobs within four years. SKF Group chose a Naperville-based site over several locations around the U.S. The new 130,000-square-foot facility will be built at 1203 Warrenville Road. Chosen for its proximity to Interstate 88’s business corridor, the business will house engineers, scientists and administrative staff. SKF received a state incentive package worth $2.2 million over 10 years in addition to a $20,000 grant for job training. Under the state’s Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program, companies must meet agreed-upon targets for job creation or retention and capital investment to receive credit against state income tax liability. SKF’s agreement calls for the company to invest at least $18.6 million in the Naperville location over the next decade.

Appointments

The Hobson School Advisory Board has named Beth Wilson as Hobson School’s next director. Hobson School is one of Naperville’s oldest schools, and Wilson is just the fifth director to serve the preschool in its 50-year history. An early childhood educator with more than ten years experience, Wilson most recently was director of Early Learning Initiatives at Chicago Children’s Museum. Wilson succeeds Patrice Sullivan who retired in July after 13 years in the position, to teach Early Childhood Education at College of DuPage. Wilson earned a Master of Science in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, with a double specialization in Early Childhood and Environmental Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. 

Dr. Jonathan Gibson, a board certified family medicine physician, has joined Edward Medical Group (EMG) at its office at 1247 Rickert Dr. in Naperville. Gibson received his medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. EMG is the primary care practice of Edward Hospital and has more than 70 board certified family practice, internal medicine and specialty physicians who treat patients of all ages.

Dr. Zaineb Qayyum, a board certified family medicine physician, has joined Edward Medical Group (EMG) at its office at 2132 Deep Water Lane in Naperville. Dr. Qayyum received her medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital. She speaks Hindi and Urdu.

The Edward Neurosciences Institute in affiliation with Northwestern Medicine has announced Dr. Kevin Bockhold, a board certified neurologist, is joining its team. In addition to general neurology, Dr. Bockhold has a particular interest in clinical neurophysiology. He received his medical degree from the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and completed his neurology residency at Rush University. Dr. Bockhold is a member of the American Academy of Neurology. The Edward Neurosciences Institute offers world-class care for patients with neurological disorders such as stroke, migraines, concussions and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Philip G. Janicak has joined Linden Oaks as director of the new Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Center. TMS is primarily used to treat patients with treatment-resistant major depression, a disorder in which traditional medications are not effective. Dr. Janicak’s areas of clinical and research expertise include the psychopharmacology of mood and psychotic disorders. He comes to Linden Oaks from Rush University Medical Center where he was director of the TMS Center, medical director of the Psychiatric Clinical Research Center and professor of Psychiatry. Dr. Janicak is board certified in psychiatry and neurology. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow in the American Psychiatric Association, a founding board member of the Clinical TMS Society, and a member of the International Society of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Neurostimulation and the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Dr. Janicak has been named in the Best Doctors of America since 1997 and Psychiatrist of the Year by the Illinois chapter of NAMI in 2003.

Awards

Lisle-based Lextech is ranked on Inc. Magazine’s Annual List of America’s Fastest-growing private companies. Lextech, which develops enterprise mobile apps that reinvent the way people work, is ranked #1911 on the annual Inc. 500|5000, a prestigious list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. This is Lextech’s second consecutive year on the list. Lextech’s three-year growth rate was 215 percent, which ranks the company among the top 150 software companies on the list.

Expansion

National Christian Foundation Greater Chicago, an affiliate of the National Christian Foundation (NCF), joined 27 other NCF offices across the country to launch a new online giving platform at www.nationalchristian.com/greaterchicago. NCF’s new website is designed to encourage greater generosity for those who use NCF Giving Funds. The new NCF site offers a streamlined look with simpler navigation and a user-friendly interface for desktop and mobile versions. Later this year, NCF will also launch two additional features including a Discover section that will help donors research charities, and a Connect section that allows users to connect with family and friends and form giving circles.

Community Christian Church celebrated the Naperville Yellow Box expansion grand opening in September. The 18,000 square foot expansion project includes an auditorium space with 1,150 seats along with a movable 22’x12′ LED screen, two 16’x9′ screens, and a concert-level sound system. The venue can also function as a recording studio for capturing live performances. The space is ADA accessible and is designed to not only function as weekend worship space, but also to accommodate such outside functions as weddings, expos, conferences, and special events. The expansion also features a café with a coffee bar and caterer’s kitchen. The lobby has been expanded to 9,200 square feet on two stories, with more room to gather before and after services, as well as during the week for casual meet-ups and small group gatherings. The lobby features an indoor-outdoor fireplace, Welcome Center, and multiple gathering areas. Additionally, a 1,000 square foot technologically advanced training space has been added to develop, equip and deploy future church leaders. This space is also available to businesses and other organizations looking for off-site training facilities. Community Christian Church is a non-denominational Christian church.

With shrinking natural resourcesaround the world, and the growing demand for a clean and sustainable water supply, Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, is using technology to find new solutions. Naperville Magazine recently spoke with Timothy P. Mulhere, executive vice president and president of Global Water and Process Services for Ecolab, about the biggest challenges facing his company.

As leader of Ecolab’s Global Water and Process Services, which operates under the Nalco name, what is your proudest accomplishment?

It’s hard to point to one specific accomplishment I’m most proud of, but I think in general, I’m most proud of our people. It’s very gratifying to see our people take an idea and turn it into a solution that solves an issue a customer may have, and this happens every day in R&D, in sales, in our functional groups. I also love seeing our associates develop and excel. It’s very rewarding when you see people take on new roles or new challenges and they flourish as a result of that growth.

Nalco has several products designed to reduce energy, water, and other natural resource consumption. What is your most successful product?

3D TRASAR^™ technology is definitely Nalco’s keystone technology. It originated as a program for treating the water in industrial cooling systems, but it has since expanded to many other industrial and institutional applications, including process and wastewater, and continues to grow. We recently sold our 25,000th unit and are preparing to roll out enhancements that will lay the foundation for the next generation of this technology that will keep it in on the leading edge of monitoring and control offerings for years to come.

3D TRASAR technology monitors water systems in real time and applies control technology and 24/7 information management capabilities to detect, determine and deliver improved performance in cooling, boiler and membrane systems. It detects upsets that precede common system challenges and delivers the appropriate chemical response, either remotely or by sending corrective information to our onsite sales and service team. The result is a balanced, efficient and safe cooling, boiler or membrane system. There’s less maintenance, no over- or under-dosing of chemistries, lower operating costs and maximum asset protection.

What is the biggest global challenge Nalco is addressing in terms of dwindling natural resources?

The world is facing unprecedented challenges related to water—an area of considerable expertise for us—so we’ve been working to expand our reach beyond our operations to advance sustainable water management practices around the world, specifically in many of the world’s most water stressed regions.

As an example, we have a customer who cannot increase their capacity to meet demand because local water supplies are limited. We are helping to increase the amount of water they are able to recycle and reuse, and decrease overall water consumption to allow for increased production, which help the customer meet demand and grow their business, while considering overall community impact. 

We also work through partnerships and initiatives to advance water stewardship practices. In 2013, Ecolab field-tested the Alliance for Water Stewardship’s “beta” water stewardship standard at two sites within China’s most critical watershed, to test its feasibility and applicability. Learnings from that pilot shaped the first International Water Stewardship Standard launched in April at the UN CEO Water Mandate multi-stakeholder working conference in Lima, Peru. The Standard helps water users implement responsible water practices to reduce risks related to water quantity and quality, work collaboratively with neighboring water users to address shared challenges and minimize environmental impact.

What type of work is being done at the company’s Naperville office?

I mentioned earlier the work being done to both expand and strengthen our 3D TRASAR offering—much of this work is occurring within the R&D and marketing groups in our Naperville office. Much of the strategy work for our overall industrial water offering is occurring here as well. We’re evaluating market opportunities and determining how best to meet a market need, either through in-house innovation or, when appropriate, through an acquisition. We’re currently working to bring three recent pretreatment acquisitions within the Nalco brand. 

You are involved in various community and professional organizations including the American Chemistry Council and the Executives’ Club of Chicago. How do you maintain a work-life balance? 

I believe having the right components in place helps to ensure one area of your life doesn’t consume a disproportionate amount of time. The organizations you mentioned are work-related, but the time I spend doing this work is very different from the work I do in the office, and this variety helps me stay energized. I also try to be as disciplined as possible about leaving work at work. Technology has made it far more challenging to stay in the moment, but I try to unplug as much as I can when I’m taking vacation or spending time with my family.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

It’s very satisfying to see the impact of the work our company does, both for our customers and for society. Ecolab’s purpose is to make the world cleaner, safer and healthier, to protect people and vital resources and ensure clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy environments. Having a profound impact on things that are so vital to life makes Ecolab a great company to work for. I am also on the board for the Ecolab Foundation, and the focus on giving back to our communities is a very important part of our company culture. Working for Ecolab is incredibly energizing when you see the positive impact we have on people throughout the world. 

Appointments

Dr. Dara Pumphrey-Ruiz has joined Linden Oaks Medical Group’s behavioral health team. Dr. Pumphrey-Ruiz earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical College. She completed her residency training at Northwestern University. She is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Illinois Psychiatric Society. Dr. Pumphrey-Ruiz’s areas of interest include mood disorders, addictions and psychotic disorders. Linden Oaks at Edward has a 108-bed behavioral health hospital on Edward Hospital’s Naperville campus, a 45,000-square foot Outpatient Center at 1335 N. Mill St. in Naperville and offices in Elmhurst, Naperville, Plainfield, St. Charles, Woodridge and Yorkville. 

Also joining Linden Oaks Medical Group is Dr. Erika M. Shavers. Dr. Shavers will be working in the Linden Oaks Medical Group’s behavioral health team. Dr. Shavers earned her medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She completed her psychiatry residency as well as a fellowship in addiction psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and the Illinois Psychiatric Association. Dr. Shavers’ areas of interest are substance use disorder, anxiety and depression. Linden Oaks has more than 45 psychiatrists on its medical staff and 500 employees to serve residents of Chicago’s west and southwest suburbs. 

Macarena (Rena) Tamayo-Calabrese has been appointed as the Heritage Society and Naper Settlement’s second full-time President and CEO in its 45-year history. Calabrese succeeds Michael S. Krol, who served as Interim President and CEO for 14 months. Tamayo-Calabrese is an attorney with more than two decades of experience in both the practice of law and association management. She previously served as executive director of the National Association of Women Lawyers, where she was responsible for managing all internal and external aspects of the organization’s $2.5 million budget. Prior to this role, she directed several departments at the American Bar Association in Chicago. Tamayo-Calabrese received a Bachelor’s Degree from Loyola University in Chicago and a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law in Hempstead, New York, and was a visiting student at DePaul University College of Law. She began her new position July 14.

Sikich LLP, a leading accounting, advisory, investment banking, technology and managed services firm, recently named Jim Drumm as the partner-in-charge of the firm’s technology practice. Drumm has extensive expertise in business and management consulting, finance, marketing, sales and technology. In his new role, Drumm will focus on strengthening the practice’s cloud, mobility and security solutions. Drumm has worked at Sikich for more than 15 years and served as an account executive, sales manager and partner prior to his new role. He spent the last six years leading the firm’s Microsoft Dynamics sales team.

Duncan Ward joins Loaves & Fishes Community Services in Naperville as director of empowerment programs, where he will focus on expanding the wraparound client support programs and establish a new client engagement model. Ward was previously assistant program director at Thresholds.

The University of St. Francis in Joliet has named Lola Prince of Naperville a new associate dean for Graduate Nursing Programs to the Cecily & John Leach College of Nursing. Prince will oversee USF’s master’s degrees for family nurse practitioners, nurse administrators, nurse educators and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. Prince has worked as a nursing professor at USF since 2011.

Awards

Two Bostons Pet Boutique, a leading pet care and wellness resource carrying specially selected dog and cat foods, products, and supplements, won the Pet Product News International 2014-2015 “One to Watch” Retailer of the Year Award. Leading trade magazine Pet Product News International annually recognizes top retailers that have demonstrated outstanding service excellence and entrepreneurial achievement within the pet industry. Two Bostons was presented with the official award during SuperZoo 2014, the national pet retailer expo which took place in July. Two Bostons was recognized for its innovative promotions, extensive involvement with charity and service organizations, outstanding employee training practices, ongoing support of homeless animals and pet adoptions, pioneering business strategies, community partnerships, and general industry influence

Hospitals & Health Networks named two hospital systems within Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare—Edward Hospital and Elmhurst Hospital—to its 2014 list of the nation’s Most Wired Hospitals and Health Systems. Edward Hospital and Elmhurst Hospital were among 15 hospitals or health systems in the Chicago area and two of five in the west suburbs to make the Most Wired list. The recognition is based on the 16th annual Health Care’s Most Wired Survey, which was conducted by Hospitals & Health Networks January 15–March 15.

Partnership

Chiro One Wellness Centers chiropractic offices has partnered with healthcare management company Medulla LLC to provide the management and administrative functions for all 41 Chiro One Chicagoland offices. Medulla will manage the real estate, supplies, marketing and office administrative support for those offices, which will remain open throughout the transition. Chiro One chiropractic offices are independently owned. 

Expansion

Edward Hospital has opened a two-floor addition to the West Building on its Naperville campus. The $63.7 million, 86,500-square-foot project, which started in mid-2012, features a new Orthopedic & Spine Center on the 3rd floor and Intensive Care Unit on the 4th floor. The Orthopedic & Spine Center includes 36 private patient rooms, a rehab gym and dedicated nursing and rehab teams. The Intensive Care Unit has 24 private patient rooms with a dedicated nursing team, state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and computers at each bedside with the capability to view patient information and imaging so nurses and doctors don’t have to leave the room. Both new floors feature conveniences for patients and families, including a sleeper sofa; spacious, comfortable family waiting areas and several consultation rooms for physicians to meet with family members.

Appointments

R.J. McMahon has been named the new CEO of the Robert Crown Center (RCC) for Health Education in Hinsdale. McMahon will lead the organization in its efforts to develop educational programs and to teach kids to lead safe, healthy, and happy lives. McMahon is a seasoned leader who has 20 years of experience providing leadership and advocacy for educational nonprofit organizations, with extensive experience and knowledge of the development and marketing of educational programs, as well as board and resource development. Before joining RCC, McMahon served as Vice President, Director of Development for Fenwick High School where he established highly successful constituent initiatives, restructured development operations and formalized key organizational structures.

The Edward Neurosciences Institute, in affiliation with Northwestern Medicine, has announced that Dr. Li Zhang, neurologist, is joining its team. Dr. Zhang is board certified in psychiatry and neurology. She received her medical degree from China Medical School in Shenyang, China and completed her neurology residency, followed by an electrophysiology and neuromuscular fellowship, at the University of Chicago. Dr. Zhang’s areas of interest include neuromuscular conditions, including neuropathy, myopathy, motor neuron disease and myasthenia gravis, epilepsy, migraines, dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, neck and back pain, and other rare neurodegenerative disorders. Before joining Edward, Dr. Zhang maintained a private neurology practice in the region for the past 15 years.

Dr. Gary Cianci, a board certified family medicine physician, formerly of Full Scope Family Medicine, has joined Edward Medical Group (EMG). Dr. Cianci received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago and completed his residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem N.C.  He has received many honors and awards, including the 2013 Vitals Compassionate Doctor Recognition and the 2013 Patient Choice Award. Dr. Cianci has a special interest in sports medicine and minor surgical office procedures.

Dr. Anne Schneider, a board certified family medicine physician, joins Edward Medical Group (EMG). Dr. Schneider received her medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn.  She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association and the American Medical Association.

Naperville-based Sikich LLP recently announced two new appointments at the accounting, advisory, investment banking, technology and managed services firm. Frank Jakosz, a certified public account, has been hired as the firm’s newest partner for its nonprofit services practices. Tara Giuliano has been recently named the firm’s new chief marketing officer.

The McTigue Financial Group has named Aurora resident Michelle Romano as its new chief financial officer. The McTigue Financial Group is a network office of Northwestern Mutal based in Chicago. Romano joined the firm in 2011 as controller. Romano has more than 19 years of experience in financing and accounting roles. She is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and a certified public accountant.

Georgia Fournier has joined the DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau as sales manager for the fraternal, reunion and religious/faith-based markets. Fournier’s focus will be to showcase DuPage County as a preferred destination and help groups plan and successfully conduct their meetings, events, and tours in the area.

Awards

Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce during the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Awards gala on May 30. This award is presented to those individuals who have made signification contributions to the community through their business, service, philanthropy and dedication to making the Naperville area a great place to live. Pradel is Naperville’s longest serving Mayor and will mark his 20th year in the office in 2015. A resident of Naperville since 1939, Pradel proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959. Prior to his election as Mayor in 1995, he served on the Naperville police force for almost three decades before retiring as a Lieutenant. Pradel will be married to his wife Pat for 54 years this August and together they have three children, George, Gary and Carol.

Steven BeLow, senior financial adviser at U.S. Bank in Naperville, was among 30 other advisers who were honored with the 2013 President’s Club Inner Circle Recognition Award in May. U.S. Bancorp uses the award to recognize the region’s top achievers and for displaying outstanding leadership qualities and superior dedication to their clients. BeLow brings more than 30 years of financial experience in helping folks build, manage and preserve wealth.

Design & Promote, a Naperville-based SEO and web design company, was named the 2014 Small Business of the Year by the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. Design & Promote also took honors in the business-to-business category during the May 30 award ceremony at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. The company is a long-time supporter of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. Bruce Jones, CEO of Design & Promote, serves on the Chamber’s B2B Team and has hosted, sponsored, and spoke at numerous Chamber events over the years. Earlier this year, Design & Promote was recognized in the small business category for the Daily Herald Business Ledger’s Annual Award for Business Excellence (AABE).

President, EDC Technology

Technology is changing higher education. Bolingbrook-based EDC Technology, which provides a wide array of technical products and services to higher education institutions throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, is a privately-owned company that’s transforming the traditional higher education landscape. Naperville Magazine recently spoke with Jay Sebben, president of EDC Technology, about the new wave of innovation and how it’s reshaping higher education.

How is technology changing higher education?

Higher education will be profoundly effected over the next 5 to 10 years by changes in the way people learn and how they leverage skills and knowledge acquired to earn a living. As with everything, the Internet has had a tremendous impact on higher education over the last 15 years or so. This has resulted in new ways to consume content and facilitate traditional methods of learning in the university or traditional college setting.

The next wave of innovation will have a more radical impact on what it means to obtain education beyond the formative years and how that knowledge is applied. The traditional 4-year college model, as a means to a better career, will be disrupted. Industry will place less value on a degree or diploma as justification for employment and will be focused instead on outcomes and competencies. What did you learn and what can you do? This will inevitably have an impact on the monopoly of the traditional physical college environment and lay the groundwork for alternate credentialing and learning paths.

Some of this change will also be driven by well-known economics as well as every changing social and societal expectations of what it takes to be successful and lead a fulfilling life. People will become lifelong learners and leverage a variety of skill sets and knowledge to find their career path.

One of EDC Technology’s flagship software packages is CampusAnyware. How is it being used by educators around the world?

CampusAnywareTM is a Student Information System (SIS) in the higher education world or what would often be called an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. Essentially, our systems run the colleges and universities. It’s the core repository for students’ records including all contact and historical information, grade reporting, degree path, and billing information. We have modules that provide for recruiting students and managing the enrollment process, managing financial aid, handling the financials of the school and related payments and billing, registering for classes, managing alumni and donor relations.

CampusAnyware also offers services for faculty, students, and prospective students.

The platform offers several online avenues for recruits, students, and faculty to interface with the system. A prospective student may initiate communication with a college or university by completing one of our online application forms that is then fed into the recruiting and enrollment management CRM portion of CampusAnyware. Accepted students can access their financial aid and billings online, register for classes remotely, or access grades and credentials. Faculty have the ability to interface with the system for course management and grading as well.

EDC Technology has been around since 1964. How has the company evolved to meet the changing demands of the marketplace?

EDC was originally a data processing company founded in the IT Department of Lewis University in Romeoville. Lewis is still a client of EDC, although we have moved off the Lewis campus. In the late ‘70s the company began building software in addition to executing data processing. This business expanded to what we are today. CampusAnyware is the third generation of what is 50 years of systems and higher education knowledge.

Presently, we are developing Pathway, our next generation platform, which will be 100 percent cloud-based and architected from a student lifecycle perspective. Mobile and ease of user experience are probably two of the biggest drivers in what we are building these days.

As president of EDC Technology, what do you see as your biggest opportunity for growth?

The biggest opportunity is to insert ourselves in what we believe will be an ever fragmenting education market. We believe the focus is shifting from a traditional 4-year higher education model to one of lifelong learning and achievement.

This must be learner or student focused, not institution focused.

Areas for opportunity include digital badging, alternate credentialing, unaccredited learning institutions, outcomes and competencies. All of this ultimately plays out in an economic model that facilitates a more filtered way in how employers find talent and employees find their passion. And ROI (return on investment) will be a big part of that. Not just economically, but from a quality of life perspective. We believe we can help facilitate that and bring those ideas to life through the use of technology.

You have more than a decade of experience with start-ups and new ventures, what has been your proudest accomplishment?

As an entrepreneur you quickly learn to be wary of taking victory laps too soon. There are just too many ups and downs. But I wouldn’t be an entrepreneur if I didn’t find things to get excited about.
EDC Technology is part of a larger group of companies called L Street Collaborative. LSC is essentially a holding company comprised of acquisitions and start-ups that are under our umbrell They would appear disparate to most but we share resources and it provides a very exciting and unique working environment. This environment, which promises the ability to work on exciting and meaningful things, has become a calling card of ours. It is a fantastic recruiting tool we can leverage for growth. I have basically taken what should be called my inability to focus and institutionalized it into a cohesive vision with purpose.

Appointments

Project HELP, a child abuse prevention program serving the community since 1992, has hired Peggy McGuire as its new executive director. McGuire’s resume includes 13 years with the DuPage County Regional Office of Education, first as a parent educator and then as the program coordinator for the Parents as Teachers curriculum. Prior to working with the Regional Office, McGuire spent 10 years with Adoption World as both a case worker and director of foster care. Her experiences, coupled with her degree in Human Development and Family Studies and certifications through the Parents as Teachers National Center, will help her to lead Project HELP.

Trust Company of Illinois, based in Downers Grove, has added two directors to its client service team. Michael McMorris will direct the retirement plan services team. He joined TCI after more than 17 years in qualified plan administration, design, consulting and sales. His clients included hundreds of Midwestern small business, as well as billion dollar pension plans. Business-owner clients and their employees will benefit from his broad marketplace knowledge and personalized hands-on service. He is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University where he earned his BA in business administration.

Deborah Shoemaker was hired to lead the Trust Company of Illinois’ fiduciary services team. She is a certified financial planner™ and certified trust and financial advisor (CFTA) professional with more than 20 years of successful experience in financial services. Prior to joining TCI, Shoemaker served as senior VP Vice of Business Development for ING National Trust where she successfully delivered sophisticated financial, estate and planning strategies for high net worth clients. Shoemaker earned a MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a BS, with an emphasis in finance, from Northern Illinois University.

Claudia Colalillo has been named vice president of Robinson Resource Group in Naperville. Colalillo was previously senior vice president of human resources and corporate communications at Nicor Inc. and Nicor Gas. Robinson Resource Group is a premier boutique firm specializing in senior level retained search and executive coaching.

Winfield based Cadence Health named Maureen Bryant president of Delnor Hospital and executive vice president of Cadence Health in Geneva. Bryant was president and CEO of the Fox River Valley region at Presence Health. Bryant has more than 25 years of executive healthcare leadership and management experience and tremendous knowledge of the western suburbs. Bryant replaces Robert Friedberg, who left the system earlier this year to pursue an opportunity with a healthcare system in New York.

Delta Dental of Illinois in Naperville hired Bob Maxwell as its senior sales executive, strategic accounts. Maxwell was previously a consultant for Alliant Insurance Services. Delta Dental of Illinois is one of 39 independently operated member companies of the Delta Dental Plans Association.

Milestones

Naperville-based Buddingh & Associates, Inc. celebrates 20 years of innovative marketing. Jeanne and David Buddingh, have been enjoying their short morning commute of the basement staircase and working side-by-side in their Naperville home for the past two decades. Buddingh & Associates, Inc. is a strategic marketing and consulting firm that offers unique, research based marketing solutions. They provide marketing answers modeled on the individual company they are working with, industry research and the company’s goals. Jeanne and David both received their advanced degree from Texas Tech University and work with a number of local and regional clients including an award-winning realtor, an upstate manufacturing company, information technology firm, a wireless Internet provider, as well as a number of nonprofits.

Awards

Edward Hospital, in Naperville, and Elmhurst Memorial Hospital each earned an “A” in the Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2014 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries and infections. In addition, Edward was recognized as one of only 251 hospitals in the U.S. to have achieved an “A” in all five releases of the Hospital Safety Score. The Hospital Safety Score is compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety and is administered by The Leapfrog Group, an independent industry watchdog. The Hospital Safety Score uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” score representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm. More than 2,500 U.S. hospitals were assigned scores in spring 2014, with about 32 percent receiving an “A” grade.

New Business

Russell Martin Carpet and Rugs owners Dave and Rae Martin traveled to New Zealand to build a global partnership with Wools of New Zealand, a cooperative of more than 750 premium farms selling New Zealand wool. The Martins visited shearing sheds and spoke with the partners to learn more about the process and the product. Russell Martin is one of just five premier partners of Wools of New Zealand in the state. It is an exclusive partnership for stores with a commitment to high quality wool products, staff training, and customer service. Award-winning Russell Martin Carpets and Rugs is the premier carpet dealer and rug cleaning firm in the western suburbs. The family-owned and operated business has more than 50 years experience in the carpet industry.

President, ConnectSense

Naperville-based ConnectSense is connecting families and businesses with the things that matter the most through home automation and business monitoring. ConnectSense uses cloud-powered WiFi-based sensors for monitoring just about everything in your environment including temperature and humidity, water, motion, security, and lighting. In addition, these sensors send text alerts and messages notifying customers about potential problems and solutions.

Naperville Magazine recently spoke with the founder and president of ConnectSense, Adam Justice, about how innovation and technology are keeping us connected and changing the way we live our daily lives.

Advances in technology have made it possible to remain connected to things that are important to us in our daily life. How is ConnectSense using technology to keep us connected at home and at work?

The next evolution of wireless technology is connecting devices to the Internet that could never be connected before. This is called the “Internet of Things,” and it opens the door for all sorts of smart devices that can be used in everyday life. ConnectSense makes wireless sensors that monitor things you care about at home and at work and then notifies you if something goes awry. Our sensors monitor changes in your environment, such as temperature/humidity, water, motion, security and light, and uses Wi-Fi to send alerts by text, email, Twitter or phone. This gives peace of mind to people who have invested in their homes, businesses, and collections.

With the rapid growth of wireless technology, there are a number of other home monitoring systems and products available to consumers. How is ConnectSense different from other traditional monitoring systems already on the market?

Traditional systems require recurring monthly fees that can add up significantly over time. In addition, products are complicated to install. ConnectSense is a DIY (Do It Yourself) system and can even be installed in places without an electrical outlet. This allows for a lot of flexibility in monitoring your home that traditional systems do not offer.

ConnectSense is a brand within the Grid Connect company. How did you come up with the concept of Wi-Fi monitoring at ConnectSense?

Grid Connect has been manufacturing and distributing sensors and networking products for many years. We heard from our customers that they were looking for affordable sensors that are simple to use and install. At the same time, we noticed that we were using the cloud more in our personal and professional lives. We realized combining sensors with notifications through the cloud made a lot of sense. We decided to develop products that connected via Wi-Fi because it is the most ubiquitous platform in the home and office.

As your company and brand continue to expand, and technology continues to evolve, what do you see is your biggest growth opportunity in the future?

The entire Internet of Things space has tremendous growth potential and is just in its infancy now. We are using our 20 plus years of experience with networking and embedded technologies to help other companies add customized networking to their devices and create their own smart products.

How important is “The Internet of Things” in developing new products and services?

Going forward, virtually all product manufacturers will need to consider whether they should enable products with wireless communication. As networking technology becomes more affordable, we’ll start to see more products wirelessly enabled. Not everything needs to be or should be connected, but many products will be improved by adding connectivity.

There are countless locations within the Chicago area where you could have based your operations. ConnectSense is headquartered in Naperville on Diehl Road. What makes Naperville an ideal location for your business?

Naperville is an ideal location for us for several reasons. We’ve found that we have good access to talented engineers and employees in other fields. Our employees, many of whom live in Naperville or surrounding communities, find the area great for raising families. Being close to the airport and highways makes our location convenient. Plus, there are terrific restaurants in the area, which is really important to us, since we provide our employees a free catered lunch once a week. It’s been fun to try the many different restaurants the area has to offer while bonding with the rest of the Grid Connect team.

President and CEO,  Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce

Leading the largest Chamber of Commerce in the state of Illinois is the perfect fit for long-time business owner Nicki Anderson. Anderson shares her goals, vision, and inspiration as she settles into her new role as president and CEO.

You are the first female president and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. Tell us how you landed your dream job?

I’m a big believer in serendipity. After 20 years of business ownership and frustration with the industry that I was in, I decided to move on. After I sold my business, I continued to write and do some business consulting. Last August, I was offered a position with a start-up company out of Austin, TX. It was a great opportunity. However, I promised myself that whatever I did in the next “phase” of my life, I had to be passionate about it and it had to serve a greater purpose. On the flight to Austin, where the company is located, I realized that this was not my calling. A bit frustrated, I came back home realizing this job was not a good fit for me right now. Four days later, I received a call about the Chamber CEO position. After many discussions with community leaders, friends, and family, I realized this was a perfect fit for me. A long-time Chamber advocate, small business owner, and passionate leader, it had all the markings of my dream job.

You have a solid background as a business owner in Naperville. How will this understanding of the local business community help you in your new role?

Considerably. I see through the eyes of a small business owner and I get it. I understand their challenges, dreams, and frustrations. During my time as a small business owner, I worked a lot with very large businesses and it became clear that the two have many things in common, just on different scales. But at the end of the day, all businesses have the same goals, to be efficient businesses that are profitable. Additionally, all businesses strive to create a loyal following, which in turn, becomes an advocate for that business.

As a former business owner, what advice do you have for others just starting out, especially women business owners?

Be very clear on what you want. Build relationships, network, and never lose sight of your mission. Very often I see business owners (men and women) that are all over the board just to try to get a customer. The less focused you are, the less focused your business becomes and you lose sight of your ideal market. Not knowing that is disastrous. As a woman owner, lose the “I can do it all” attitude. You can’t, that’s what employees and mentors are for. Lean on people, don’t be afraid to ask for help. And most importantly, do not undervalue yourself. Women are terribly guilty of that. Be proud of what you do and what you deliver. Never undersell your worth just to get a client, they’ll never value you completely.

There is a renewed sense of economic growth in the Naperville area with several new business and commercial projects under construction. What do you see as the biggest challenge for the chamber and business owners?

I’m not sure I’d use the word challenge. I’d use the word focus. What is the biggest area of focus for the Chamber and business owners? As I referenced above, focus is key to success. You’ve got to know what you want and if you’re clear on that, and you have a solid plan, it will be forthcoming. Again, if you have your hand in too many pots trying to drum up business, you lose focus and ultimately miss some opportunities. Speaking from the Chambers perspective, our focus this year is our members. We are dedicated to their success. The sky is the limit for them and it’s our job to facilitate that through quality member service. Helping our members understand how to use the chamber in a way that will benefit their business. Some people don’t know how to fully utilize the Chamber. It’s our job to make that happen. I’m very optimistic about not only the Chamber, but our community.

The Naperville Chamber is the largest chamber in Illinois. What are your goals for the Chamber?

To build trust and confidence. It’s important to remember that we are a business and that our members are our customers. In my previous life as a business owner, customer service was my number one priority. No customers, no business. It’s that simple. I want to continue to build the quality of our programs, and find new and innovative ways to engage our members. Attracting more diverse members and not forgetting about the start-ups that aren’t really sure how the Chamber can help them grow. We have some amazing success stories here at the Chamber. So building trust and confidence within our members and potential members allows us to better do our job which is helping them grow and maintain a successful business.  

What do you enjoy the most about living and raising a family in Naperville?

I love this community because I love the people. I’ve lived in a few different cities over my lifetime and there is no other community that gives back and steps up to the plate like Naperville residents. I could talk about the charm of the city and the amazing businesses that create a vibrant town, but it really comes down to the people, business owners, neighbors, community leaders. It’s a town of support and compassion, that’s very unique. 

Appointments

Dr. Fowzia Ghouse has joined Edward Medical Group (EMG) at its new office located at 2132 Deep Water Ln. in Naperville. Dr. Ghouse received her medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago and completed her residency in family practice at MacNeal Family Practice in Berwyn. Dr. Ghouse is member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Kaleem Khan, board certified family practice physician, also joins Edward Medical Group (EMG) at its new office located at 2132 Deep Water Ln. in Naperville. Dr. Khan attended medical school at the Deccan College of Medical Sciences in India. He completed his internship at Flushing Hospital and Medical Center in New York, and family practice residency at UIC-Christ Hospital and Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Dr. Khan is a member of the American Medical Association and American Academy of Family Practice.

The City of Naperville announced that Rachel Mayer, who previously served as the finance director for the City of Joliet, has been named Naperville’s new finance director. Mayer, who will be responsible for Naperville’s total city budget of $436 million, was selected from more than 200 applicants. Prior to serving as finance director for the City of Joliet, Mayer served as a capital budget manager for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and a budget analyst for the Illinois Bureau of the Budget Office of the Governor. Mayer holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting from Saint Xavier University and is also a certified public accountant.

Naperville CARES, a volunteer-driven organization whose mission is to provide emergency financial support and resources for local families in crisis, announced that Greg Kunkel, senior vice president and chief credit officer of Wheaton Bank & Trust, has joined the nonprofit as a member of its board of directors.

Lee Ann Goodson has been named director of community and government relations for Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare, effective April 9. Goodson will focus her efforts on Edward’s service area including Naperville, Plainfield, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Lisle, Oswego, Romeoville, Warrenville, Woodridge, Yorkville and surrounding areas. Goodson, a resident of Plainfield with two children, replaces Sandy Benson who retired April 11 after nearly 25 years at the health system. Benson plans to continue as an active Rotarian and President of the Naperville Library Board of Trustees, and maintain her involvement in numerous other community volunteer activities. Goodson had been a District 5 Will County Board Member since first elected in 2002. She also worked as County Government Coordinator for House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and is a Commissioner of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. She resigned her current posts when she joined Edward-Elmhurst in April.

New Business

john greene Realtor™ goes green with the remodel of its Oswego office. After 15 years in the Ogden Avenue location, john greene Realtor’s Oswego office recently underwent a major remodel that included adding sleek finishes, high tech components, and a coffee bar. These new amenities were unveiled in March at an open house attended by leaders of Oswego’s business community, including Chamber President, Angie Hibben and Oswego Rotary Club co-Presidents, Brian Caldwell and Michelle Brown. The remodeled office also includes two 10-foot wooden tables created by a local woodworker using reclaimed barn wood from a nearby dairy barn that dates back to 1870.

Edward Medical Group (EMG) has opened a new Walk-In Clinic at 3 South 517 Winfield Road in Warrenville. The Walk-In Clinic is in the same building that is home to offices of the Edward Neurosciences Institute. The Walk-In Clinic offers routine treatment and preventive care, without an appointment, seven days a week, Monday–Friday, 4–7:30 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Clinic services are provided by board certified family nurse practitioners and physician assistants of EMG, the primary care practice of Edward Hospital, which has more than 70 board certified family practice, internal medicine and specialty physicians who treat patients of all ages.

Awards

Design & Promote, a Naperville inbound marketing company, was honored with the Annual Award for Business Excellence (AABE) in the 24th annual competition sponsored by the Daily Herald Business Ledger. Bruce Jones, CEO of Design and Promote, accepted the award at the recognition event, which was held March 12 at Medinah Banquets in Addison. The AABEs recognize business achievement, growth, and community involvement. Design & Promote was one of four businesses honored this year in the Small Company (1-50 employees) category for their impressive growth, community involvement and business achievement. The six-employee team at the Naperville web design firm includes SEO specialists, marketing consultants and graphic designers who are committed to creating effective websites, graphics and marketing programs that convert customers for their clients. Design & Promote is an active supporter of many organizations in the area, including the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. They are a past finalist in the Naperville Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award competition.

Forbes Travel Guide unveiled its official 2014 Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating list, naming the luxurious Hotel Arista as a new Four-Star Hotel. The hotel will be showcased with all of the 2014 Star Rating recipients on ForbesTravelGuide.com. Hotel Arista is the latest addition to the luxury travel ratings that have been the gold standard in the hospitality industry since 1958. Hotel Arista, which prides itself on being an independent, boutique hotel, has received a number of recognitions in recent years. The hotel was the first LEED certified hotel in Illinois and is a AAA/CAA four-diamond award winner. Of the eight Illinois hotels that received a rating from Forbes Travel Guide, Hotel Arista is the only recipient not located in the city of Chicago.