Justin Ahrens is principal and creative director at Rule29. His passion for design is rooted in his creative firm’s commitment to “making creative matter.” For more than 10 years, Ahrens has led Rule29 in its commitment to both great design and helping others think differently about the world around them. Through a collaborative approach in both strategy and design, Rule29’s culture is just as important as its work. This is particularly evident by the company’s involvement in numerous social causes, including their substantial work in Africa. Justin has also been a consistent voice for the design community as it relates to balancing life, design and business. His obsession for design is only overshadowed by his passion for being home with his wife, Sarah, and their four amazing kids (who think Dad’s job is listening to music, drawing pictures and playing on the computer). Ahrens’ book, Life Kerning, comes out in fall 2011.
Books Authored: Life Kerning
Extendr Page: Rule29 Extendr
Caitlin is a recent graduate from the University of Iowa, having studied mathematics, economics and german language. Currently she is pursuing a Masters in Business Administration with emphasis in the field of marketing.
She has studied cello for 16 years and has traveled abroad to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France in a performance group in 2005. Caitlin also played with the Chicago Symphony Youth Orchestra while in high school.
Richard has been a serial entrepreneur since the age of 16 when he started purchasing and renting out properties in the north of England. He has built small medium and large companies in Europe, Canada and the US. He is currently President of Apogee Books, a space book publisher, Founder of Local Impressions a local digital signage company and a consultant to Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) working on their nascent DragonLab project, a new commercial free flying microgravity laboratory. He was the first person to sit on the Board of Directors of both the National Space Society and the Space Frontier Foundation simultaneously.
He lives in Naperville with his wife and two sons.
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Websites: Apogee Books Apogee Prime
Recommended Books: View above websites
Links to Other Website: spacefrountier.org nss.org spacex.com
Mark Hattas co-founded Geneca, a $20M+ award-winning software product development firm, in 1998 as a 26-year old entrepreneur. During the past decade, Mark served as CEO, leading Geneca through 12 years of profitable growth, including consistent double digit expansion through the 2009-2010 recession. Under Mark’s leadership, Geneca earned wide recognition as one of Chicago’s most respected IT services firms and best places to work.
In recent years, Mark’s strong work ethic, ideas and passion led to more civic involvement. In 2010, he transitioned from CEO to Chairman to pursue civic opportunities that impact economic competitiveness and quality of life both regionally and throughout the world. In addition to civic and community initiatives, Mark has an ongoing role in Geneca’s continued growth.
Mark is actively involved on the Boards of i.c. stars, Charles Tillman's Cornerstone Foundation, and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. He was recently invited to join the The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and will participate on CMAP’s Economic Development Committee where he will work with other business, academic, and government leaders on policy matters relevant to regional economic growth.
Mark is an invited speaker on topics such as Generational Theory, business and innovation. In November, 2011, he will be moderating a panel of business, civic and academic technology leaders for the Center for Healthcare Innovation to address US-Israel healthcare innovation. He is also working on a book to spark collaboration amongst academia, government and business to speed the growth of innovation and raise the standard of living across the world.
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Recommended Books: The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy by William Strauss and Neil Howe Beating the Business Cycle by Lakshman Achuthan and Anirvan Banerji The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Recommended Blogs: architectthefuture.org gettingpredictable.com forthturning.com martinarmstrong.org
Richard Hill has been a consultant for businesses leaders on issues of strategy, performance enhancement, and leadership excellence since 1988. He has worked with CEO’s of over 300 organizations ranging from small, entrepreneurial startups, to established Fortune 100 companies. Additionally, He has conducted numerous workshops and seminars for YPO and EO Forums in the Chicagoland area.
A graduate from the University of Illinois in 1984, Rich has studied and trained extensively in the areas of Organizational Coaching and Organizational Transformation. Prior to founding Gabriel Consulting Group in 1996, Rich served as a senior consultant with The Clarion Group, a firm specializing in cultural transformation in the healthcare industry. While at Clarion, Rich not only consulted to business leaders but also created and led programs designed to train and develop other coaches and consultants seeking to impact individual and organizational performance. Additionally, Rich brings a diverse background to his work that includes a bachelors degree in theatre, meditation, varied experience as a small business owner, and personal transformation.
Rich lives in Geneva, Illinois with his wife and two young children. He and his wife also have four adult children. Rich is a top ranking 25 year veteran amateur triathlete, having qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. He also enjoys writing, composing music and performing, and currently serves as board president for the Four Winds Waldorf School in Warrenville, Illinois.
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Tracey has been actively involved in gifted education for 16 years, starting this journey first as a parent of a highly gifted boy. Recognizing the lack of understanding and support for these kids, Tracey became an advocate for not only her son but for all gifted children. In 1998, Tracey did extensive research on acceleration learning using districts in the Northern Illinois area as well as contacting many experts in the field of gifted education. She worked with Yorkville School District to set up the first whole grade acceleration policy. Her son was radically accelerated in 1999.
In 2002, Tracey went back to school to complete her MATC and focused all of her education towards gifted students. Since then, Tracey has been a 5th grade gifted teacher, a gifted resource teacher for students grades 3-8, Director of Gifted Education working to create a K-2 enrichment, 3-8 gifted program and a consultant for grades 9-12. She has also published four language arts units for the gifted and become a consultant, trainer, and mentor for the state of Illinois and the Gifted Education Seminar. It is her dream to change the way we educate gifted students, inform parents of the special needs of their children, and raise awareness within gifted students themselves, in order to help them become captains of their ships and not passengers in the river of life!
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Books Authored: Voice of Courage Adventures in Science Fiction Going for Gold Mythology
Recommended Websites: USFirst.org Yorkville Grade School
Todd Kelsey, PhD, is a Chicago-based tech professional, author and educator. His research ranges from website building in multiple languages to digital story telling. He has appeared on television as a featured expert, and has written books on topics such as Social Networking, Facebook Advertising, and Google Adwords. Todd has served as a volunteer for and advisor to organizations such as One Laptop Per Child, Teachers without Borders, and the DotGreen Foundation. His recent projects involve digital archaeology, a system of helping people capture, preserve, and share their stories, especially if they are stored in antiquated technology.
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Facebook Page for Stock Exchange for Non-Profit Organizations
Books Authored: Romerica
A national champion in paragliding, Othar is also an expert B.A.S.E. jumper and skydiver; and as the originator of the Red Bull Air Force, he established the group's reputation and masterminded epic flying adventures. Born in 1974, Othar John Lawrence grew up in Carbondale, Colorado (the town he still calls home), where he explored just about every alpine sport. "In college, I was looking for fresh challenges, and that's when I met my nemesis, the air," he recounts. Othar made it his goal to conquer the skies, and he had the best possible teacher to get him started: his longtime friend (and now Red Bull Air Force teammate), paragliding wizard Chris Santacroce. At 34, he's still looking for new challenges. Othar’s latest objective is airplanes, having passed his private pilot exams, he's voraciously learning aerobatics. "By the time I'm an old man, I want to be accomplished at skydiving, B.A.S.E. jumping, paragliding, hang gliding, ultralights, sailplanes, airplane aerobatics, everything," Othar states. "I really do want to be a master of the air."
Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, MS, PT is a clinical psychologist and physical therapist who helps people have less stress and more happiness, regardless what is going on in life. Working with individuals around the globe, she is a highly sought-after consultant, media personnel and professional speaker.
Dr. L has been quoted by some of today’s top media outlets including CNN, Newsweek, MSNBC, National Public Radio, Glamour, Redbook, Elle, Self, Woman’s Day and Real Simple magazine.
Her writings have been published in peer-review journals as well as print for the general public. She co-wrote a leading book for psychologists on how to best treat their patients. Dr. Lombardo’s upcoming book, “A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness” teaches the necessary skills to lead a happier life, regardless what is going on.
Books Authored: A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness
A self-proclaimed symphonic connoisseur and master of intrigue, he is also a writer, musician, and art historian who lives and works in Chicago. He was the frontman of the eclectic rock band Three Years Ghost, and regularly lectures on Art Nouveau and Weimar era Berlin cabaret. He is also the founder of Century Guild, an art gallery specializing in late 19th, early 20th century artwork with styles ranging from Art Noveau to Silent Cinema and Opera. His passion for archaic musical forms has lead him to do many fascinating experiments on antique musical and recording devices.
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Books Authored and Exhibitions: The Union of Hope and Sadness: The Art of Gail Potocki
Grand Guignol: An Exhibition Celebrating The Legendary Parisian Theater of Terror
Nitrate and Kinogeists
Love and Other Violations
10'' Records: By Popular Demand The Divine Eye/Welcome to my Nightmare
Wax Cylinder: The Divine Eye
Recommended Books: Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson Love, Medicine, and Miricles by Bernie Siegel
Recommended Websites: Borriaudiolabs.com olympianrecords.com
Jill Salzman is currently growing her third entrepreneurial venture, The Founding Moms, the world's first and only kid-friendly collective of monthly meetups for mom entrepreneurs.
A graduate of Brown University and law school after that, she started paperwork media LLC, a music management firm and her first entrepreneurial venture. (Her parents still wonder why she opted for the music business over the seductive and alluring career of a bankruptcy attorney.) She went on to create The Bumble Brand, LLC, to sell Bumble Bells, audible anklewear for the newest of human beings (she sold it in 2011.) Having built two successful companies, she launched The Founding Moms to connect mom entrepreneurs around the globe with one another.
A sought-after speaker, Jill has been featured in national media outlets including People Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Daily Candy Kids, Business Matters, WGN TV, The Wednesday Journal, The Des Moines Register and WAHM Talk Radio. She's been profiled in A Cup of Cappucino for The Entrepreneur's Spirit, Volume II and was recently featured in a film on social media. Jill currently writes for NBC5's small business blog, Inc. Well as well as eHow.com and Patch.com's Mom Council.
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Books Authored: Found It: A Field Guide for Mom Entrepreneurs
Recommended Books: Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeir Hansson Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
Recommended Websites: FoundingMoms.com Speaking
