Appointments

Beth Marchetti has been promoted to deputy director for the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). Marchetti has worked for the DuPage CVB since December 1999, when she handled both marketing and membership. She transitioned into marketing director, then to director of development in 2008. Prior to joining the DuPage CVB, Marchetti served as senior account manager for Ivy Integrated Marketing in Downers Grove, and as marketing manager for the Chicago Office of Tourism. Marchetti has served as a guest instructor for the College of DuPage Hospitality Management Program and secretary of the Chicago Plus Regional Tourism Development Office, and she has been honored as an Influential Woman in Business.

C. B. Conlin Landscapes of Naperville is pleased to announce that Craig LaBudde, a veteran in the landscape profession, has been hired as operations manager. LaBudde has more than 40 years of experience in the horticulture industry. His background includes extensive knowledge in residential and commercial landscape installation, as well as maintenance. LaBudde has a bachelor’s degree in Plant and Soil Science and has attained the status of Certified Landscape Professional through the National Organization of Landscape professionals.

Neurosurgeon Dr. William Schueler and neurologist Dr. Yonghua Michael Zhang joined the Edward Neurosciences Institute in affiliation with the Northwestern Medical Group. Dr. Schueler, board eligible in neurological surgery, earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago and completed his neurological surgery residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. Dr. Schueler treats and performs neurosurgical procedures on patients with brain tumors, aneurysms, vascular abnormalities in the brain, brain trauma, pituitary tumors, spinal trauma, spinal cord tumors, degenerative spine conditions, spinal fractures, chronic neuropathic pain and median/ulnar nerve decompression.

Dr. Zhang is board certified in neurology. He received his medical degree from Shanghai Medical University in Shanghai, China and completed his neurology residency at The State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Zhang’s areas of interest include general neurology, stroke, headaches, Botox injections, neuromuscular disorders and small fiber neuropathy.

Corey Benjamin has been promoted to vice president of operations, from director of business initiatives at EDC Technology based in Bolingbrook. EDC was established in 1964 to provide administrative technology-based services and support to the education market. Originally formed as Educational Data Center by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, the company grew from a focus on data processing for affiliate schools, to developing and licensing financial and administrative software.

Adam Skibley has been named strategy manager at Glanbia Performance Nutrition in Aurora, from business consulting manager at ZS Associates. Glanbia Nutritionals manufactures and sells nutritional and functional ingredient solutions to the food, beverage, supplement, and animal nutrition industries. Glanbia has more than 4,300 employees worldwide, with manufacturing facilities in seven countries and sales and technical support in 14 countries.

Nickie Chapman is named chief compliance officer of Sikich Investment Banking and Wealth Management. Chapman is responsible for the regulatory elements of the Investment Bank at a firm that has expanded to employ nearly 600 people with 14 service lines. In addition, Chapman will take over compliance for the firm’s wealth management service area upon meeting additional regulatory requirements. Previously Chapman was the vice president of operations and compliance, and financial and operations principal for Sikich Investment Banking. In her new role as chief compliance officer, Chapman will also continue to oversee the investment bank’s operations and financial books and records. Chapman holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational development from DePaul University in Chicago.

New Business

The City of Naperville has received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that will assist the Naperville Fire Department in funding firefighter-paramedic positions over the next two years as part of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) program. The grant will allow the Fire Department to hire and maintain full-time firefighter-paramedics, thereby increasing the department’s ability to efficiently respond to the needs of the community. This funding will help the department fill positions that were lost through attrition, six of which are firefighter-paramedic positions.

Awards

Chicago Health Executives Forum (CHEF), the largest independent chapter of the American College of Health Executives (ACHE), has named Gina Sharp, president, Linden Oaks at Edward, as the recipient of its 2013 Early Career Healthcare Executive Award, which recognizes executive achievement for those under 40. The CHEF Awards recognize teamwork, service, innovation and community health leadership. Sharp began her career at Edward Hospital & Health Services in 1999 in the Finance Division and was promoted to controller at Linden Oaks in 2004, where she continuously grew her responsibilities from finance to operations and physician practice development. Among Sharp’s accomplishments at Linden Oaks: An improvement in financial operations; a focus on high-quality, patient-centered care; integration of behavioral and medical care; and the successful redesign of operations of the Resource and Referral Department, with a resulting increase in annual behavioral health assessments from 6,300 to nearly 10,000, and 120,000 clinical calls a year on the Linden Oaks “Help Line.” She has been a Naperville resident since 2000, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Mergers

Northwest Community Healthcare’s (NCH) Physician Hospital Organization (PHO) has agreed to join Illinois Health Partners (IHP), effective immediately. More than 500 physicians who represent Northwest Community Health Partners, NCH’s PHO, and NCH’s Clinical Integration Program will be joining the IHP network, which will expand to be one of the broadest systems of primary and specialty care physicians who care for HMO patients in Illinois. Through this agreement, IHP will represent 1,800 affiliated physicians and serve more than 110,000 patients in the West, Southwest and Northwest suburbs of Chicago with the potential to add additional physicians to the network in the future. DuPage Medical Group and Edward Hospital were the founding joint venture members when IHP was created in 2011. ELMCARE, the physician hospital organization which includes 430 affiliated and independent physicians on the Medical Staff at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, joined Illinois Health Partners in January 2014.

President, Pivotal Home Solutions

Naperville-based Pivotal Home Solutions provides homeowners with peace of mind and added financial security of home maintenance by offering a suite of home protection products and services. Robin Boren, president Pivotal Home Solutions, recently talked with Naperville Magazine about its award-winning customer service and what makes Naperville an attractive city to run a business and raise a family.

You were appointed president of Pivotal Home Solutions in July 2012. Since then, you have doubled the size of the company and expanded its reach in five states. What has been your proudest accomplishment?

I am extremely proud of the entire Pivotal Home Solutions team. By working together over the past two years, we have accomplished so much to help us continue our journey as a successful, customer-focused company. A year ago, we completed a $120 million acquisition, which increased our annual customer counts by 50 percent and grew our geographic footprint, so now we provide our products and services in several other states. We also have successfully integrated with our parent company, AGL Resources, after Nicor Gas and Pivotal Home Solutions became part of AGL Resources in 2012.

I firmly believe that our success now and going forward is due to the talent and dedication of our team of nearly 400 employees. Many of whom are based out of our Naperville headquarters near Route 59 and Diehl Road. I am proud to lead a team that is thriving and at the same time moving forward with changes that continue to bring value to our customers.

What is the philosophy behind your award-winning customer call center in Naperville?

The dedicated people who work at Pivotal Home Solutions are what make our company great. We recognize that each team member plays a pivotal role in providing our customers with exceptional customer service and a positive experience. We empower our team members to address customer needs and that is one of the main reasons we have been so successful and why Nicor Home Solutions has received seven consecutive J.D. Power Call Center Certifications and the 2013 President’s Award from Carrier Corporation in recognition of our leadership, integrity and excellent customer relations.

From our customer service representatives answering each call with, “My goal today is to provide you with exceptional customer service” to our HVAC professionals being mindful of customers’ homes and putting on booties to help ensure floors stay clean, everyone on our team is committed to meeting our customers’ needs and exceeding their expectations. We are responsible for more than 1.2 million service agreements, a testament that homeowners trust us. Everyone at Pivotal Home Solutions is committed to preserving that trust.

The renovation of your Naperville headquarters earned Pivotal Home Solutions the prestigious distinction of LEED certification. Tell us about the renovations and the award.

Designing our office space to meet LEED criteria for energy efficiency and improved environmental and human health performance is one of the ways we show our commitment to our employees and live out our corporate value of environmental stewardship. As a company that helps customers save energy through energy-efficient heating and air conditioning equipment and providing air quality assessments for the home, we believe that we also should be environmentally responsible and improve our own work area. Just as we are committed to ensuring our customers are comfortable in their homes, we also want to provide that same experience for our employees at work.

Our LEED certification project features numerous green components, including water-saving plumbing fixtures, an advanced heating and ventilation system, energy efficient equipment and appliances, low VOC materials and a reduced construction waste program. The project also optimizes the use of natural daylight to reduce the amount of energy expended on lighting.

When you are not busy at work, how do you spend your free time?

With an energetic 5-year-old at home, my free time consists of creating art projects, hosting tea parties, kicking the soccer ball at the park and riding bikes along the sidewalks of our neighborhood in downtown Naperville. We enjoy exploring our new hometown and have spent countless hours this winter sledding down Centennial Hill and enjoying some hot chocolate afterwards. This summer, my husband and I look forward to taking our daughter swimming at Centennial Beach and indulging in a scoop of ice cream at one of Naperville’s many ice cream shops. We volunteered as a family at the DuPage Children’s Museum during Nicor Gas’ 17th Annual Volunteer Day last May, and my daughter fell in love with a number of the interactive play stations there!

What do you enjoy the most about living in Naperville?

Naperville offers many big city amenities, while retaining the charm and close-knit feeling of a small town. We have been embraced by our neighbors and have enjoyed participating in the family-friendly activities they host, including caroling this winter. Our friends and family from out of town love to visit us, as they appreciate the shopping, dining and cultural attractions in our vibrant downtown, especially Ribfest and summer concerts in the park. I am proud to work, live, and serve in the Naperville area and look forward to continuing to grow the Pivotal Home Solutions business while enjoying the numerous benefits offered by our lovely town.

Rexam, North American Beverage Can, CEO

You joined Rexam in 2001 and have held several positions within the organization. As CEO of Rexam’s North American beverage can business, what is your proudest accomplishment so far?

I am proud of our people and the team we have built across our more than 2,000 employees in North America. Through education, training and recruiting some of the best people in our local communities, we’re effectively aligning together to deliver on our safety, quality, and financial objectives to provide quality beverage cans to our customers and solid returns for our shareowners.

Rexam serves some of the largest and most recognized beverage brands in the world. What are some of the biggest trends in the design and functionality of beverage containers?

What once was a standard 12 oz. beverage can market packaging large beverage brands in soft drinks and beer bought in large packs at a time has diversified to include many different sizes, shapes and functionality options. Just as consumers have increasingly sought variety in their beverage choices, they seek variety in their package options. In just the last decade, we’ve seen the slim can become an iconic shape for the energy drink market and the 24 oz. can become the recognized size for ready-to-drink tea and single serve beer. We are also leading the way with a re-sealable can option called the Rexam Cap Can, currently packaging numerous energy drinks. Our company is fortunate enough to be the major beverage can supplier for some of the biggest beverage brands in the world.

How important is recycling in the beverage can market?

It is very important. The aluminum beverage can is the ideal environmental and sustainability choice in beverage packaging. The can is recycled at more than double the rate of any other beverage package, recently achieving a 68 percent recycle rate in the US. Also, the beverage can is infinitely recyclable, meaning it can be recycled and returned to retail shelves in its original form within 60 days. So it’s good for consumers to know that when they buy beverages in cans, they are buying the best environmental choice in the market.

 How has technology and innovation changed the way beverage cans are produced in North America?

Technology and innovation has played a major role in increasing efficiencies and product advances across the market. Twenty years ago, we made cans at about 1,000 a minute. We’re now making them in excess of 2,000 a minute. We’re also using much less aluminum when we make a can, supporting the industry’s environmental superiority by doing more with less. In fact, as an industry, through these advances, we’ve reduced the carbon footprint of a beverage can by more than 45 percent. And, of course, innovation has sparked the ability to create re-sealability options as well as inks and finishes that give the can texture, color and graphic capabilities that attract attention on shelves like never before. It’s just not your grandparent’s can anymore.

You were recently named to the Board of Trustees for the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI). Tell us about your appointment and your involvement with MSI.

This was a step indicative of Rexam’s commitment to support our role in the Chicagoland area. The Museum initiates numerous community and education improvement efforts and we’re fortunate to sit at the table of such a respected organization. It’s direct involvement like this that complements current efforts of ours such as our annual beverage recycling drive at all of our locations in which we donate all proceeds to local charities. Our recent drive in the Chicago area generated more than $30,000 for such charities as the Ronald McDonald House.

You were raised in the Chicago suburbs and now live in the suburbs with your family. What do you enjoy the most about living in the Naperville area?

This is a great city to connect with your neighbors and raise a family. Knowing Naperville as long as I have, I am so very proud to call this city my home. We have the best of local flavor with establishments that cater to any need, and the ability to enjoy Chicago whenever we like. Of course, if we could do something about winter weather, that would be desirable.

When you’re not busy working as CEO, what are some of your favorite things you enjoy doing during your down time in Naperville?

Spending time with my wife Diane and our kids and enjoying the dining establishments in the city are at the top of the list. I also follow our local sports scene and remain a major Bears and Blackhawks fan. My wife is also a big Cubs fan and if we could deliver a winner from the Northside, then the Grimley family would be that much happier.

Appointments

Nicki Anderson has been named president and CEO of The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. Anderson, who is a longtime Naperville resident, small business owner, and member of the Chamber, started her new position on February 3, 2014. Anderson has ambitious plans for the Chamber, including maintaining its reputation as a Five-star Accredited Chamber – a designation belonging to only one percent of chambers nationwide. Anderson previously served as owner and CEO of Reality Fitness Inc., in Naperville, and became an active Chamber Member in 1995. The homegrown business became one of the top personal training facilities in the region, and won the Naperville Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award for Service in 2001. Anderson sold the business in 2012 and has been on the speaking circuit, active in community organizations, and is a freelance writer for Naperville Magazine.

Dr. Mark Ottolin, a board-certified interventional cardiologist earned his medical degree and completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, followed by his Fellowship in Cardiology at Loyola University Medical Center. Ottolin currently serves as chairman of the Department of Medicine at Edward Hospital and is on the Edward Hospital Executive Committee.

Lynn Hoffman has been named the new deputy director of the Naperville Public Library. Hoffman, who will work out of Nichols Library, received a bachelor’s degree in English from Boston University and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Iowa. For more than 15 years, she has worked in the library setting, starting as a children’s librarian and moving to a variety of positions in public service and administration throughout her career. Hoffman began her new position for the five-star-rated library system on January 6, 2014.

Dr. Sujith Kalathiveetil, a board-certified clinical cardiologist earned his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. He served as chief medical resident at John Cochran V.A. Medical Center. He then completed his fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Kalathiveetil is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, adult comprehensive echocardiography and cardiovascular CT.

DuPage Medical Group, the largest independent, multi-specialty physician group in the Chicago area, welcomed four cardiologists and staff from Cardiovascular Consultants of Naperville. The physicians will remain at their existing location on the Edward Hospital campus at 100 Spalding Drive, Suite 212, in Naperville.

College of DuPage has named McAninch Arts Center (MAC) Interim Director Diana Martinez director of the MAC effective immediately. Since September 2013, Martinez has served as the MAC’s interim director following the departure of former MAC Director Stephen Cummins, who left in July 2013 to take a position at California State University, Chico. Martinez, a native of Glen Ellyn, has an extensive resume of arts management experience including The Second City; the Aurora Civic Center Authority & Paramount Theater; and Pheasant Run Resort.

Martinez spent the last year developing her own consulting company, DLM Creative, where she handled projects for The Auditorium Theatre and Broadway in Chicago, and facilitated more than 30 workshops and keynotes focused on improving creativity, collaboration and innovation for companies in the medical and manufacturing industries as well as international nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Sharon Cline, a board-certified interventional cardiologist who earned her medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago, joins DMG. She completed her residency and later served as chief resident at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She completed both her general and interventional cardiology fellowships at the Krannert Institute of Cardiology at Indiana University.

Karen Dunford transferred as library manager of Naper Blvd. Library to 95th Street Library. Olya Tymciurak transferred as library manager of 95th Street Library to Nichols Library. Dave Della Terza was promoted from computer lab supervisor to library manager of Naper Blvd. Library.

Dr. James P. Ostrenga, a board-certified interventional cardiologist who earned a medical degree from the University of Illinois School of Medicine, joins DMG. He completed his residency at Hines V.A. Hospital, and served as co-chief cardiology fellow during his training at Loyola University Medical Center. He later founded Cardiovascular Consultants of Naperville in 1988. Ostrenga has served as Chairman of the Department of Medicine and President of the Medical Staff at Edward Hospital.

New Business

Illinois Health Partners ACO has been selected as one of 123 new Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in Medicare, providing approximately 1.5 million more Medicare beneficiaries with access to high-quality, coordinated care across the United States. Doctors, hospitals and health care providers establish ACOs in order to work together to provide higher-quality coordinated care to their patients, while helping to slow the growth of health care costs. Since passage of the Affordable Care Act, more than 360 (ACOs) have been established, serving more than 5.3 million Americans with Medicare.

CEO and Chief Geek, Lextech

We live in a mobile world. For many of us, that means we can’t imagine living without our smartphones and tablets. Alex Bratton is the CEO and chief geek, as he likes to refer to himself, at Lextech, a custom mobile application developer based in Lisle. Naperville Magazine recently spoke with the man behind the team and the technology at the heart of the mobile revolution.

There has been a rapid explosion of personal mobile devices within the past few years. It seems there is an app for everything. How significant will this “Mobile Revolution” continue to be for the business world and in our personal lives?

The mobile revolution has already taken place. Mobile is the new reality. Mobile devices are now our gateways into everything we do with technology, influencing how we communicate with each other, live our lives and do our jobs. In fact, mobile has become so prevalent that for the first time this year, Americans spent more time using apps on mobile devices than on computers, and more time on mobile apps and other digital media than watching television. We truly are a mobile society.

Mobile apps have literally changed the way we live on a daily basis, from the way we communicate, to how we enjoy entertainment, to the way we conduct business. Lextech is developing many of those apps. In what areas do you see the greatest opportunity for mobile app growth?

The greatest growth in mobile apps will be in helping people do their jobs better. A lot of companies ask us how we can help their teams do their entire job on mobile. But this doesn’t mean shrinking down an existing web solution to a mobile device. Good mobile apps change how companies operate and force simplicity. Before we even develop app concepts for companies, we work with them to create better workflows and business processes. That’s why our apps regularly produce process improvements of more than 50 percent.

Lextech helps sales, operations and IT teams maximize business by identifying, designing and developing custom mobile apps. How does your team come up with new app ideas?

The best app ideas are based on solving problems. Our Billion Dollar App process looks at business objectives, internal teams, workflows and the challenges that impact efficiency or effectiveness. Then we can identify the best app or suite of apps to improve the process.

Many companies fall into the trap of building the “obvious app,” which usually means shrinking a web app onto a smaller device. But then the same problems exist and the app provides little value. Our approach has been so successful that I’m writing a book on it, which is due out in the first quarter of 2014 as both an e-book and paper book at www.lextech.com.

As CEO of Lextech, what has been your proudest accomplishment?

I love the innovation involved in an app we developed to mobile-enable a grain silo. On the surface, that statement makes no sense. However, grain-hauling truck drivers had a difficult and dangerous job when filling the truck bed with grain, which required exiting the truck cab and hanging on the truck trailer to watch the operation. Now, with an iPhone, drivers can pull up and load the truck efficiently and safely from inside the truck cab—they have full view of their environment and can control the process with a single tap. This is a great example of how we applied mobility to a non-tech workflow, simplifying it and creating efficiencies.

With numerous geographical locations to consider in the Chicago area and around the country, what inspired Lextech to setup shop in Lisle?

I live just outside Lisle and really love this community. As Lextech continues to grow, we will stay headquartered in this area. We also have an office in Chicago and another at the research park at the University of Illinois. I’m a big believer in the Illinois entrepreneurial and tech community.

Lextech uses technology to change the world and help the community. Your company is dedicated to giving back to the community through education and community involvement. Tell us about some of your community projects.

I am very invested in seeing the entrepreneurial and tech communities in Illinois thrive, and have been a mentor to entrepreneurs for years. Education also is very important to me. I serve on the computer science advisory board for the University of Illinois, my alma mater, helping to guide their curriculum, and also partnered with Northern Illinois University to create a mobile app development certificate program (the first certificate was awarded in December 2013). I’m working with a few other colleges, as well. We have also donated apps to worthwhile organizations. We did this for the University of Illinois engineering open house, a large annual student run exposition of hundreds of student projects. The app helped attendees find exhibits, get more information via QR codes and vote for their favorite display all from their mobile devices. Our team has been involved in a number of charitable efforts and continues to contribute around causes that they are passionate about.

What is your favorite mobile app for business and/or personal use?

I love using Evernote for business. It helps me capture everything from meeting notes to pictures of brainstorming white boards. It’s my spare brain. The app I use most for pleasure is iBooks. I do almost all my reading on mobile devices, especially now that mobile devices are allowed during take-off on airplanes (one of the last places I relied on paper).

New Business

The City of Naperville launched Naper Notify, a new notification system that brings emergency and quality-of-life information from the City directly to the communication device of your choosing. Users can sign up at www.napernotify.com to quickly receive important City messages. Naper Notify lets the public sign up to receive emergency and community messages through a preferred method of communication. This could include a cell phone, work phone, home phone, text message or email. Citizens and the general public can receive messages about emergencies that may affect their homes, parents’ homes, workplaces, children’s schools or any other location of interest as long as those locations are within the boundaries of the City of Naperville.

Milestones

Skip Strittmatter celebrated her 20th anniversary as executive director of the DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau (DuPage CVB) in December. Strittmatter joined the DuPage CVB in 1993 when it was a three-person staff housed in a small county office. The bureau now employs 12 full-time staffers, part-time contractors and interns. During Strittmatter’s tenure, the bureau’s budget has grown from $50,000 to nearly $2 million.

Awards

Normandy Designer Ann Stockard recently received two awards for her design in a Naperville kitchen. The kitchen received a Master Design Award Honorable Mention from Qualified Remodeler Magazine, as well as previously receiving further national recognition with a Contractor of the Year Award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Stockard received a bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design from the International Academy of Design and Technology in addition to a degree in Visual Communications from Southern Illinois University. With more than 14 years experience in the design industry, Stockard has been part of the Normandy design team since 2006.

Appointments

Brian Cunningham has been named Naperville’s deputy police chief for the Investigations Divi ion. Cunningham most recently served in the Naperville Police Department as Commander of Investigations. In his new role, Cunningham will be in charge of the Investigations Division, which employs 60 individuals. This division investigates crimes that occur, ranging from narcotics to major crimes to computer crimes. Cunningham has held several positions since first joining the Naperville Police Department as a patrol officer in June 1986. He has also served as DuPage Major Crimes Task Force commander since 1999, developing and implementing county-wide protocols and handling numerous complex homicide investigations. A founding member and current president of the Illinois Homicide Investigators Association, Cunningham is also part of the Illinois Crisis Negotiations Association. He is the recipient of several Naperville Police Department awards, including the Distinguished Service Award, VFW Officer of the Year (1999) and the Pradel Award (2010).

Dr. Suzanne Kavic has been named president-elect of the DuPage County Medical Society in Wheaton. Kavic will also continue as division director of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Loyola University Health System and an associate professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology and in the division of endocrinology of the Department of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

Diane M. Shelton has been promoted to president and CEO for DuPage Credit Union. Shelton is an accomplished executive with 30 years of experience. She has served as the interim president/CEO for DuPage Credit Union since November 2012 while continuing her role as senior vice president of sales and service for the Credit Union. During her tenure, she managed the Credit Union’s consumer lending, mortgage lending, asset recovery and retail operations as well as other strategic leadership roles. Shelton is a graduate of Northern Illinois University where she earned a bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing. She is also recognized as a Certified Senior Executive, as awarded through the Credit Union Executive Society. DuPage Credit Union is a nonprofit, full-service, financial institution with more than 32,000 Members. DuPage Credit Union offers financial solutions to anyone who lives or works in DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

Ken Fishbain has been appointed to vice president of physician and ambulatory network development at Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare from chief operating officer at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital and vice president at Loyola University Health System.

Pam Davis, System CEO, Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare, has been elected to the Illinois Hospital Association’s (IHA) Board of Trustees as an at-large trustee. Davis began serving her three-year term on January 1, 2014. Davis has been President and CEO of Edward since 1988. Under Davis’ leadership, Edward has grown to become the Chicago area’s 8th largest hospital according to Crain’s Chicago. Edward has earned a reputation as a regional and national healthcare leader by providing advanced cardiac care at Edward Heart Hospital, state-of-the-art cancer diagnosis and treatment at Edward Cancer Center, world class stroke care through the Edward Neurosciences Institute in affiliation with the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation and behavioral health services through Linden Oaks at Edward. The IHA Board of Trustees is the Association’s policymaking body. The Board is made up of 31 trustees, including 15 at-large trustees elected by the voting members of the Association.

Dr. Bobbie Byrne has been named System Vice President and Chief Information Officer, and Bill Kottmann has been named System Vice President of Physician and Ambulatory Network Development for Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare. Byrne is also responsible for the Facilities and Construction departments at Edward, and the Edward Cancer Centers in Naperville and Plainfield. After practicing pediatrics for nearly 10 years, Byrne served as senior vice president and general manager of Clinical Solutions for Eclipsys Corporation (now Allscripts), an enterprise software development company. She also was a healthcare consultant for Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. Kottmann joined Edward in 1991 as vice president of Human Resources and became vice president of Operations in 1993. In 2005, he was named president of Edward Health Ventures, responsible for physician and ambulatory network development, corporate joint venture strategies, and all real estate development and management for Edward.

President and CEO of MacNeil Automotive Products Ltd.

Company: MacNeil Automotive Products, Ltd.
Type of Business: Automotive products and accessories
Corporate Headquarters and Showroom: Bolingbrook, IL
Founded: 1989
Company Size: 200 – 500 employees (Privately Held)

As the weather in Naperville turns colder, the roads turn sloppy with rain, snow and mud. For one Bolingbrook-based automotive products company, the messy weather means big business for its popular product line of floor mats and mud flaps. David MacNeil is President and CEO of MacNeil Automotive Products Ltd., known for its WeatherTech floor mats. Naperville Magazine recently spoke with MacNeil about his company’s success and how he has managed to maintain his strong made in America promise.

As President and CEO of MacNeil Automotive Products Ltd., cars seem to be an integral part of your life. You even have a small collection of air cooled porsche’s. What is the driving force behind your seemingly endless passion for automobiles?

Automobiles represent art, style, technology and freedom to me. What’s not to like about any of those? I also usually have a prime piece from my car collection for people to see at the WeatherTech Factory Store and showroom in Bolingbrook. Right now, there is a very special older model BMW on display in the showroom for people to enjoy.

WeatherTech has become an enormously popular product line featuring car floor mats, floor liners, cargo/trunk liners, side-window deflectors, license plate frames and mud flaps. What inspired your idea to create this product line?

I’m inspired by making products that actually function properly, provide a benefit to the customer, offer fair value from a price-benefit point of view, and are the best in their product category. My inspiration came from my own needs as a car owner and father of three kids. I NEED my stuff in my car!

Within the past five years, you have built more than 400,000 square feet of factory and warehouse space in Downers Grove and Bolingbrook. What attracted you to the Western suburbs to build your operation?

I have lived in the West or Southwest suburbs all my life. The Chicago area is full of great people and hiring them is a pleasure and an honor as they usually have a great work ethic. Furthermore, I grew up in the Western suburbs, which is where I still live. Why not work close to home?

While many manufacturing companies are outsourcing their production overseas, especially to Asia, to cut costs and increase profit margins, you proudly make everything in America. What is your secret to success?

The secret to my success in America is combining the great American worker with modern American technology. Saving a couple of bucks to buy the product overseas is very shortsighted.

By outsourcing, they may be cutting costs to themselves, but by supporting the outsourcing of American manufacturing, the cost to the American economy is enormous. From my point of view, the combination of the hard working American worker combined with American technology allows us to be competitive in almost every manufacturing arena.

What started out as a business in your home has turned into a production company supplying international markets. Your company has seen double-digit growth for the past decade. What has been your proudest accomplishment so far?

My proudest accomplishment has been my daughter getting into Stanford University all by herself.

If you were not busy running a successful automotive products company, what would you rather be doing with your spare time?

Helping to create a better standard of living for my fellow Americans. Building homes, cities, schools, jobs, lives, hope, freedom and a bright future for my fellow Americans.

Appointments

Annette Kenney is named system vice president of strategy and business development for the healthcare system formed by the merger of Edward Hospital Health Services and Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare. Kenney, a resident of Naperville, has more than 25 years of healthcare experience as a provider, consultant, and senior hospital administrator. After practicing for several years as a registered physical therapist, she received her Master of Public Health degree in Health Services Administration and Epidemiology from Yale University.

Susan Mitchell is named system executive vice president of Human Resources for the newly combined Edward Hospital Health Services and Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare system. Mitchell, a resident of Wheaton, was previously with the Tribune Company where she was a Corporate Officer and held various positions in Human Resources for the past 13 years, most recently as vice president. Prior to joining Tribune, Mitchell was regional vice president of Pro Staff Staffing Services, regional vice president of Kelly Services and area vice president of Adia Personnel in New York. Mitchell received her Bachelor’s degree from Millikin University in Decatur, Ill.

Judie Caribeaux has been appointed as the new executive director for Family Shelter Service. Caribeaux is replacing Karen Hurley Kuchar who will be stepping down after 16 years with the 37-year-old agency that offers shelter, counseling, and assistance with Orders of Protection for individuals affected by domestic abuse. Caribeaux brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit management to the position and most recently served as director of career development at Aurora University, Aurora.

Westell Technologies, Inc., a global leader of intelligent site and outside plant solutions headquartered in Aurora, announced that the Board of Directors has elected J. Thomas Gruenwald as a new director. Gruenwald was also appointed to serve on the Compensation Committee of the Board. With more than two decades of experience leading dynamic, technology-based growth businesses, Gruenwald has held various C-level and executive roles including serving as executive vice president of corporate strategy and chief technology officer of Tellabs, Inc.

Melissa Mrkvicka is promoted to the position of life management services program manager at PACT Inc. Mrkvicka has been a client services coordinator in the LMS division since 2007. Mrkvicka holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University and is a National Certified Guardian (NCG) through the National Guardianship Association and a Qualified Individual Disabilities Professional (QIDP). She has more than 25 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities in various settings including group homes, a mental health center, sheltered workshop, Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) agency and a foster care program.

Joseph Weidenbach, senior vice president, Chicago region head for The Private Client Reserve of U. S. Bank, has been elected to the Board of Trustees of The Morton Arboretum. Prior to joining U.S. Bank last year, Weidenbach was with J.P. Morgan Chase, where he held several leadership positions including managing director and market manager for J.P.Morgan Private Bank. Long active in the Chicago-area community, Weidenbach is a trustee of the DuPage Community Foundation and currently chairs the organization’s grant committee. He formerly served as a trustee of the DuPage Children’s Museum. Weidenbach earned a bachelor of arts with honors from the University of Dayton in Ohio. He earned a Juris doctorate from the University of Dayton, School of Law, and an M.B.A. with honors from University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

Naper Settlement welcomes Kevin Burns to its development team as vice president, Philanthropy. Burns is a veteran fundraising professional w

ith close to three decades of experience. Burns has more than 25 years of development experience with such organizations as the Muscular Dystrophy Association/Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, Paramount Arts Center in Aurora, United States Olympic Committee, Rush-Copley Medical Center, United States Equestrian Federation, Midwestern University in Downers Grove and the United States Figure Skating Association. A resident of Geneva, Burns has 20 years experience with municipal government, serving on the Geneva Library Board, as an alderman and currently as mayor.

Awards

DuPage Pads is one of 13 community partners in DuPage County awarded funding by the DuPage County Health Department to participate in Enroll DuPage activities, which includes conducting outreach, education and enrollment in the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace throughout DuPage County. Throughout the country, Affordable Care Act (ACA) outreach and enrollment will play a vital role in assisting consumers prepare applications to establish eligibility and enroll in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. DuPagePads’ grant of $50,000 will help them to participate in the effort, which will aid residents in receiving live in-person assistance as they go through the process of applying for and choosing new coverage options.

Mergers and New Business

Monarch Landing of Naperville has announced that its new health center called The Springs at Monarch Landing is currently under construction with a mid-2014 scheduled completion date. The Springs will provide health and wellness options embracing a progressive and holistic approach. Located on an 80-acre campus just outside of downtown Naperville, Monarch Landing opened its independent living apartments for individuals ages 62 and over, seven years ago. Amenities offered at Monarch Landing include a salon, library, dog park, wood shop and more. Monarch Landing also boasts an on-site Edward Medical Group–affiliated medical practice. The Springs will provide assisted living memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing.

West Suburban Angels Inc. launched an Angel Investment Group and announced plans for its first angel presentation forum for investors. Now, business start-ups in the Western suburbs will have the opportunity to raise funding and receive support from an elite group of investors. Co-founders Kenn Miller, Joe Zhu and Mike Healy have assembled a group of investors, advisors, sponsors and partners to take advantage of the growing need for early stage investing in suburban Chicago. West Suburban Angels is a nonprofit organization that will present to a small group of angel investors a hand full of companies seeking capital to begin revenue or expand the offering. Last year, nearly $400 million was raised between Angels and venture capital firms and nearly 200 digital companies were started in Chicago and the Northern suburbs alone.

Naperville based Tellabs Inc. has agreed to be acquired for $891 million dollars by California investment firm Marlin Equity Partners. The new owner will take over Tellabs later this year and take it private. The sale marks the end of an era for the technology company. Tellabs, founded in 1975, was one of the Chicago areas hottest public companies during the dot-com fueled telecom boom of the late 90s. Tellabs co-founder Michael J. Birck, the company’s second-biggest shareholder, supports the deal, according to a company statement.

Developers of the Water Street District in downtown Naperville have unveiled plans for the Hotel Indigo Naperville on the Riverwalk, an upscale boutique hotel set to open in 2015, as the anchor for the mixed-use retail, restaurant and office development on the south end of Naperville’s central business district. Hotel Indigo Naperville will bring high-end amenities and national-brand caliber customer service for business and leisure travelers alike. The Naperville hotel will consist of approximately 160 rooms, including Riverfront King Suites and Honeymoon Suites. The second-floor lobby will feature a great room with fireplace, a bistro-style dining area and wine bar, as well as a health facility. A pedestrian bridge will give hotel guests access to the Loggia Building with additional Riverfront rooms and suites as well as banquet accommodations, three intimate meeting rooms and a rooftop restaurant, overlooking the river and downtown Naperville.

Surrounding the Hotel Indigo Naperville, the Water Street District will offer a variety of restaurants, retail shops and the signature Riverwalk. A 500 plus space parking facility will be adjacent to the hotel, providing parking for the Water Street district and additional downtown visitor parking.

The new Springbrook Animal Care Center in Naperville is open for business. Joan Kaufman is a Naperville-based LEED certified residential and commercial interior designer and space planner. Kaufman designed the interior of Springbrook with the emphasis on eco-friendly products and materials. The facility has 85 skylights to utilize natural light and reduce electricity, photovoltaic solar panels installed in the roof for heat and hot water, extensive use of recycled materials, rainwater collection systems, antimicrobial and antibacterial counter tops. The walls are painted in warm earth tones and the flooring is designed to resist scratching from dog paws and accidents.

Edward Hospital’s Outpatient Breastfeeding Center, which provides lactation consulting to women regardless of where they gave birth, has a new home, in a larger space near the south entrance of the hospital, located at 801 S. Washington Street in Naperville. The expansion helps accommodate the 180 outpatient lactation consultations that the center provides each month for moms, both before their babies are born, and after they leave the hospital and return home.

Appointments

   Robaab Siddiqui has joined Edward Medical Group’s OB/GYN offices on the campus of Edward Hospital in Naperville and on the Edward Plainfield campus.  Dr. Siddiqui is practicing with Dr. Thomas Carver and Dr. Thomas Chen, and is accepting new patients. Dr. Siddiqui received her medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago and completed her residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.  She received extensive training in high-risk pregnancies, fetal intervention surgeries, and minimally invasive surgeries using the da Vinci Surgical System.

Yayati Patel, a board certified family practice physician, has joined Edward Medical Group (EMG) at its office at 2007 95th St., Suite 105 in Naperville. EMG is the primary care practice of Edward Hospital and has more than 50 board certified family practice and internal medicine physicians, and specialists who treat patients of all ages.  Dr. Patel received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Midwestern University Arizona College of Medicine.  He completed his residency in family medicine at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Dr. Patel is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association.  He is fluent in Gujarati and Hindi.

Heather Wachter has been named Communications Director for Community Christian Church in Naperville. This newly created role is designed to direct the broad-reaching communications efforts of the 12-site church. Wachter brings to Community a strong history of nonprofit communications and marketing experience from some of DuPage County’s leading nonprofit organizations, including the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Bridge Communities and Naperville Area Humane Society.  In her new role, Wachter will direct communications strategy across Community’s 12 campuses throughout the Chicagoland. Prior to joining the team at Community Christian Church, Wachter served as communications and donor relations manager at Bridge Communities in Glen Ellyn.

The health system created by the merger of Edward Hospital & Health Services and Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare has appointed three members to its leadership team: Brian P. Davis has been appointed system vice president & chief marketing officer. Davis, a resident of LaGrange, has more than 25 years of communications and marketing experience.  He joined Edward in 1998 and has overseen government relations and marketing—including advertising, customer relationship management, media relations, health promotions and wellness initiatives, e-health strategy, corporate branding, internal communications, publications and crisis communications. Davis serves on the Plainfield Advisory Task Force on Economic Development and the Advisory Board for the DuPage County FORWARD initiative to fight childhood obesity.  He is also a former board member of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, and former adjunct instructor at Lewis University in Romeoville.

Appointments

   Robaab Siddiqui has joined Edward Medical Group’s OB/GYN offices on the campus of Edward Hospital in Naperville and on the Edward Plainfield campus.  Dr. Siddiqui is practicing with Dr. Thomas Carver and Dr. Thomas Chen, and is accepting new patients. Dr. Siddiqui received her medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago and completed her residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.  She received extensive training in high-risk pregnancies, fetal intervention surgeries, and minimally invasive surgeries using the da Vinci Surgical System.

Yayati Patel, a board certified family practice physician, has joined Edward Medical Group (EMG) at its office at 2007 95th St., Suite 105 in Naperville. EMG is the primary care practice of Edward Hospital and has more than 50 board certified family practice and internal medicine physicians, and specialists who treat patients of all ages.  Dr. Patel received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Midwestern University Arizona College of Medicine.  He completed his residency in family medicine at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Dr. Patel is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association.  He is fluent in Gujarati and Hindi.

Heather Wachter has been named Communications Director for Community Christian Church in Naperville. This newly created role is designed to direct the broad-reaching communications efforts of the 12-site church. Wachter brings to Community a strong history of nonprofit communications and marketing experience from some of DuPage County’s leading nonprofit organizations, including the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Bridge Communities and Naperville Area Humane Society.  In her new role, Wachter will direct communications strategy across Community’s 12 campuses throughout the Chicagoland. Prior to joining the team at Community Christian Church, Wachter served as communications and donor relations manager at Bridge Communities in Glen Ellyn.

The health system created by the merger of Edward Hospital & Health Services and Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare has appointed three members to its leadership team: Brian P. Davis has been appointed system vice president & chief marketing officer. Davis, a resident of LaGrange, has more than 25 years of communications and marketing experience.  He joined Edward in 1998 and has overseen government relations and marketing—including advertising, customer relationship management, media relations, health promotions and wellness initiatives, e-health strategy, corporate branding, internal communications, publications and crisis communications. Davis serves on the Plainfield Advisory Task Force on Economic Development and the Advisory Board for the DuPage County FORWARD initiative to fight childhood obesity.  He is also a former board member of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, and former adjunct instructor at Lewis University in Romeoville.