Strictly Business Podcast

This episode of StrictlyBusiness is sponsored by the 2022 Made in Elk Grove Manufacturing & Technology Expo on October 17th. Save the date and make plans to join other innovation forward companies there.

This episode of StrictlyBusiness is sponsored by Shop Elk Grove, a free online resource highlighting and celebrating the restaurants, retailers, and service providers that are woven into our community. Meet Chicago Northwest is the convention and visitors bureau that serves Elk Grove Village as well as seven other communities in Chicago's Northwest suburbs. President and CEO, Heather Larson, recently joined us on the StrictlyBusiness podcast to discuss a variety of current economic development drivers impacting restaurants, attractions, and the hospitality industry. Learn more about where to eat, shop, play and stay in the area by visiting Meet Chicago Northwest today.

With 41 million square feet and 43% of all the building inventory in the O'Hare area, Elk Grove Village is leading its unprecedented vacancy rates. Once 13% a decade ago, vacancy rates are now under 2%. Find out why when Josh Grodzin sits down with Chad Buch, Brian Carroll, and George Cutro of Jones Lang LaSalle in the first Strictly Business podcast episode of 2022. Their conversation touches on the following topics: -The leading role Elk Grove Village is playing in the all-time low vacancy rates in the O'Hare market. -How the pandemic has created an increased need for warehousing manufactured goods. -The impact of international supply chain issues on regional economic development. -Examples of the public and private sectors working hand-in-hand.

In the 2021 End of Year ‘Strictly Business' podcast episode, Nick steps in to interview Mayor Craig B. Johnson about the exciting initiatives accomplished during the past year. Mayor Johnson recaps the ways in which the Village helped residents and businesses adjust and adapt to the ongoing pandemic by hosting two vaccination clinics in partnership with Jewel-Osco, two very successful job fairs, and the eighth annual Manufacturing and Technology Expo. Mayor Johnson also talks about Elk Grove's support of the young workforce through grants to the local high school as well as its global support for three USA Olympics teams competing in Tokyo.

In this ‘Strictly Business' podcast episode, our hosts Josh and Nick sit down with HR Source CEO Mary Lynn Fayoumi. HR Source has been working with Illinois companies for over 120 years on becoming better employers and an ideal destination for top industry talent. During this conversation, you will hear Mary Lynn talk about what it was like to offer HR services to companies during a pandemic. She also talks about what HR looks like moving forward for those companies who choose to make remote work permanent.

In this episode, Josh speaks with Olympic Gold Medal winner Mike Conley about what it's like to train for the Olympics, including maintaining the motivation and discipline needed to work towards an event that is years away. Mike also shares stories about his life after sports. As CEO of both MMG Sports Management Group and HTWO, and as a registered NBA agent and represents his son, Utah Jazz Forward Mike Conley Jr., Mike shares the value he finds from his “thinking partners” and why he believes you should always surround yourself with people who are smarter than you are.

In this episode of “Strictly Business,” learn how an accident during a snowstorm led Termico Technologies, specialists in highly versatile heating technology, to discover a life-saving solution. And how a chance encounter with Elk Grove Village made it possible to test out their idea in real life.

Thinking about moving or growing your business? In this episode of “Strictly Business” we talk about why now is the time to make moves in Elk Grove Village. Learn how Elk Grove is helping to lead the post-pandemic recovery and how data centers, like the $123 million Microsoft data center that kicked off construction in Elk Grove in February, are helping to impact that growth. Joining host Josh Grodzin for this episode is: Craig Hurvitz, Senior Director of Industrial Market Research at Colliers, a leading diversified professional services and investment management company with operations in 67 countries. He and Josh dive deep into growth numbers and insights for business leaders to plot their next move to Elk Grove Village.

Mayor Craig B. Johnson, who talks about how Elk Grove took community, experience, and solid foundations from old-fashioned ideals into innovative groundworks. From a Microsoft contract to community support during COVID-19 and Olympic sponsorships—2020 has been a tough year, but it’s not stopping the forward-thinking progress of Elk Grove.

Josh interviews … Justin Mayer, Managing Director at F45 Training in Elk Grove, who discusses the creative ways he and team are keeping Elk Grove moving during the coronavirus pandemic. He offers tips for relieving stress and staying fit and healthy in this era of social distancing. Kyle Burritt, Associate Principal at Elk Grove High School, who talks about the school’s brand new advanced manufacturing lab. Made possible thanks to a $500,000 grant from the Village, the lab is just the latest example of the unique partnership between Elk Grove Village leaders and Township High School D214.

Ask local manufacturers what keeps them up at night and you’ll likely hear: “workforce development.” Kathleen Burley, Executive Director of GCAMP—the Golden Corridor Advanced Manufacturing Partnership—sat down with “Strictly Business” host Josh Grodzin for a thought-provoking discussion about the pressing need to fill manufacturing jobs as workers retire. That includes efforts to “lift up manufacturing and make people understand what it truly is right now.”

Empty store shelves were one of the first, most visible signs that the coronavirus pandemic put a huge strain on global supply chains. Now as U.S. businesses race to increase inventories, there’s a lot of buzz about reshoring. That’s why “Strictly Business” podcast host Josh Grodzin sat down with John Hamilton, Industrial Broker at CBRE Chicago, this month. He talks with John about what he’s hearing from clients across a range of industries. What’s the outlook for the rest of 2020? And what would it take for the Chicago area to meet the needs of a higher-demand market? Tune in to find out.

You won’t want to miss this month’s “Strictly Business” podcast. Jeff Taylor, President of Crafts Technology in Elk Grove, shares a gripping story about how his company got an urgent call from an OEM during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The OEM had an emergency use authorization. They needed a tool to make a precision medical device part critical for new coronavirus testing kits. And they needed Crafts Technology to manufacture the tool in 3 days—not 14 days, which would be typical.

Min Bowler, principal at Lakeshore Title, teamed up with NLNW Coach Jeff Williams during a growth phase for her business. Working mostly virtually to save time, they made some key changes, and business is now up 30%. Bowler says: “We found it to be a huge success and want to continue to develop our strategies together moving forward.”

Manan Joshi, owner of Country Style Donuts, applied to NLNW and was paired with Coach Sybil Ege, who brought fresh perspective to his business. She evaluated everything from marketing and operations to accounting and more. Calling it a “game-changer and an eye-opener,” Joshi says sales are already up 23% one month after completing the program.

Business leaders are grappling with many emotions during the coronavirus pandemic. The right mindset is everything right now, says John R. Dallas, Jr., Co-Chairman, President and CEO of ENCLAVE Foundation for Entrepreneurs, Inc. in Elk Grove Village. John sat down with “Strictly Business” co-hosts Josh Grodzin and Nick Radcliffe to discuss how the ENCLAVE team is helping entrepreneurs develop new ways of thinking, so they can move through denial and fear to solutions and creativity. Making the shift from playing to win to playing “not to lose” isn’t easy, but it can be done.

Tom Cassell, director of the Harper College Small Business Development Center, provides an overview of coronavirus relief programs available for small businesses. Learn about the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance; the Paycheck Protection Program; the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund; and SBA Debt Relief among others. Kevin Hundal, CEO of Atrend in Elk Grove Village talks about how, after initially laying off staff, this global manufacturer of audio components was able to bring everyone back to work. Now they’re manufacturing face shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE) that are desperately needed during the coronavirus emergency. Learn how he and his team made it happen.

Elk Grove Village is a founding partner of Next Level Northwest (NLNW), a nonprofit business accelerator that supports businesses in the Northwest Chicagoland region with free business coaching and community support. Blink Tees owners Steve Long and Jeff Staten chat about their experience in the program and how business coaching has helped them grow and work smarter.

Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson joined Josh Grodzin and Nick Radcliffe for a special episode to recap 2019, an exciting year for our business residents on many fronts. They also discussed some big announcements to start the new year.

Elk Grove aims to be among the first communities in our region to deliver a Village-wide 5G wireless technology network by 2021. The platform will make the future possible: autonomous transportation, diagnostic sensors, robotic communication on the shop floor, and more. On this month’s episode of Strictly Business, Ed Barrett, Senior Director & Practice Leader for Fiber and Broadband Services at HR Green, Inc. explains exactly what 5G is and how it will be a game changer for local companies.

On this month’s episode of Strictly Business, the real estate experts from JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) discuss what commercial real estate trends are taking hold in the Elk Grove area, share the tools available to help determine the best location for your business objectives, and identify when you should be looking to make a move based on your organization's growth. Listen now to learn why Elk Grove is the ideal location for businesses on the move.

On this episode of Strictly Business, Josh Grodzin and Nick Radcliffe welcome two Expo veterans - Gladys Moscoso, sales and marketing director at E-M Metal Fabricator, and Jeff Taylor, president of Crafts Technology. Take a listen and hear their tips for developing a gameplan to identify new partners, how to tighten your supply chain with local suppliers, and ultimately secure qualified leads for your sales and talent pipelines.

There are many benefits to establishing your business in Illinois, and Brent Case, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Intersect Illinois, is the person who helps organizations understand all the reasons why they should call our state home. From identifying available locations and tax incentives to calculating the cost of moving a business, Intersect Illinois is a go-to resource for doing business in the Land of Lincoln.

John Dallas, CEO of ENCLAVE, recognized that Europe's overwhelming support for new businesses and their ways of developing future leaders are quite different from typical practices found here in the US. This motivated him to spend two weeks traveling across England and Scotland to learn more about what drives these advanced initiatives for new start-ups. It also gave him the opportunity to share the global Beyond Business Friendly views of Elk Grove Village and demonstrate how ENCLAVE's international model illuminates and facilitates venture-relevant opportunities for deeper learning.

John Eggert set out to create a from-scratch catering business in 2013 that would get people's taste buds talking. After growing Relish Catering Kitchen to nearly 20 employees, he was ready to take his company to the next level. Coincidentally, John discovered Next Level Northwest, a not-for-profit business accelerator program founded by several Chicagoland municipalities - including Elk Grove Village. Listen to John and his business coach Jeff Williams on the latest episode of Strictly Business to learn more about Next Level Northwest and how YOU can get involved.

Chris McCarthy is a professional painter who was always on the lookout for a greener, more sustainable paint product. After being actively involved in Little City Foundation(an organization that provides disability development services), he founded EarthPaint - a non-profit organization that recycles unwanted latex paint while providing jobs for those with disabilities.

Thomas Tkaczyk, owner of Rada Auto, was the very first participant to complete the Next Level Northwest(NLNW)accelerator program. NLNW is a not-for-profit public-private partnership that helps local businesses grow through strategic coaching and mentorship. In this episode of Strictly Business, Tom is joined by his coach, Sybil Ege, to discuss the process and how quickly he saw improvements in his business from culture to sales.

On this month’s episode of Strictly Business, Mayor Craig B. Johnson joins Josh Grodzin to reflect back on one of the biggest years for Elk Grove Village. Now standing at the lowest vacancy rate to date, the Mayor discusses what it takes to build a thriving community for both residents and businesses. Learn about Elk Grove Village's current and future initiatives, including the 2025 Elk Grove Infrastructure plan, the EGV Cares program, and the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl sponsorship.

On this month’s episode of Strictly Business, John R. Dallas, Jr. joins Josh Grodzin to celebrate ENCLAVE's first anniversary of opening its doors to the business community. At ENCLAVE for Entrepreneurs, Dallas and his team have created a safe space to help leaders and entrepreneurs become better by focusing on the emotional growth of themselves and others. Dallas believes that the real measure of success is prioritizing people first. It's about people first, ventures second, and profit third.

Founder and President of GHP Group, Gus Haramaras, started the company in 2003 with nothing but grit. Today, GHP Group, a consumer goods manufacturer and distributor, continues to grow with locations in Illinois, Indiana, and Canada, plus international accounts. Hear what Gus has to say about starting a business from scratch, the challenges he faced, and the secrets to growing a business.

On October 15, Elk Grove Village is hosting their 6th annual Made in Elk Grove Manufacturing and Technology Expo. The Expo is free for both exhibitors and attendees and is a great way to connect with local companies, get face time with customers, and ultimately secure leads. On this month’s episode of Strictly Business, Josh Grodzin invites Gladys Moscoso, sales and marketing director at E-M Fabricator, and Jeff Taylor, president of Crafts Technology, who both continue to see the value in exhibiting at the Expo. Take a listen to learn about their personal experience as well as how they continue to capture leads at the Expo!

Elk Grove Village’s industrial park, the largest in the U.S., is seeing a record-high occupancy rate standing at 98%. On this episode of Strictly Business, Josh Grodzin invites top local real estate brokers, Chris Lydon, Jack Brennan, and Kevin Brennan to talk about the many factors that are fueling the industrial real estate market from changes in e-commerce to the need for more data centers.

Next Level Northwest is an accelerator program for established businesses that are ready to ignite new ideas that lead to major growth. The public-private partnership was founded by five municipalities to better support Northwest Chicagoland businesses as they work towards reaching the next level. This month, Josh Grodzin is joined by four top economic specialists who helped design, develop, and launch the NLNW program. They discuss how the program works, from pitching your business to working with a business mentor.

Mike Edgar from the Greater Waukegan Development Coalition and Doug Petroshius from SelectChicago joins Josh Grodzin to discuss what foreign direct investment (FDI) means to the Chicago economy and how SelectChicago is creating a local network for businesses and global investors to connect. SelectChicago is a subset of SelectUSA and is focusing primarily on bringing global investors to the Chicago communities with an upcoming event in June 2018.

Marc Lawrence is part of the family owned Lawrence Foods’ leadership team, which has operated in its current Elk Grove facility since 1960. A producer of premium bakery ingredients and one of the longest established businesses in the Village, Lawrence Foods has found a permanent sweet spot in EGV. The fourth-generation business recently expanded to a second building in the nation’s largest industrial park. Learn why Marc and his family are committed to Elk Grove, and how the fantastic city programs support the success of local EGV businesses.

October was a big month for Elk Grove Village! First was ENCLAVE for Entreprenuers at O'Hare's grand opening, a not-for-profit economic development education initiative supporting the entreprenuership community.   A week later, Elk Grove hosted its 5th Annual Made in Elk Grove Manufacturing and Technology Expo with over 80 exhibitors and over 100 attendees. During the Expo luncheon, ENCLAVE Founder John R. Dallas spoke upon his Lead. Solve. Sell. strategy, which provided exhibitors with practical business practices they could utilize on the Expo floor.   Also during the luncheon, Mayor Craig B. Johnson and Governor Bruce Rauner introduced the four Business Excellence Award winners, including the new award category: Industrial Development of the Year. If you missed Rauner's speech during the luncheon, here's your chance to listen in.

Brian Walker worked in marketing and advertising. His wife, Sonia, was an attorney. When their oldest son was diagnosed with a peanut and tree nut allergy, they struggled to find baked goods he could enjoy without worry. They started baking nut-free cupcakes at home and their neighborhood caught interest. Six years later, you can find their cupcakes in major Illinois grocery stores, including Mariano’s, Whole Foods, and Fresh Thyme. They’re also known for their incredible custom cakes. Learn more about how they started a bakery without any past culinary experience.

Jon Pieper is the chief manufacturing instructor at Elk Grove High School. In this month's podcast, Pieper walks us through the curriculum and the many benefits it offers for students. Through various tools and programming, the program exposes students to real-life industry experience to prepare them for a successful career in marketing. Take a listen to learn more about EGHS' manufacturing program.

Meet Teodora Boteva. She heads the Commercial and Economic Office in Chicago at the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria. Teodora helps both US and Bulgarian businesses with trade, investments, and other financial needs. She also offers services for US businesses looking to work with Bulgarian businesses or expand into the Bulgarian market. Check out what resources and services she has to offer.

Craft Brew Maker Mike Pallen was looking for the ideal facility to expand his craft beer company, Mikerphone Brewing. He found the perfect place in the heart of Elk Grove's industrial park, equipped with a production warehouse and tasting room. Check out why Mikerphone Brewing is now the place to meet for makers, EGV residents, and Chicago beer lovers.

ENCLAVE for Entrepreneurs at O’Hare is a new learning-and-earning center located in Elk Grove Village. The center makes self-awareness a priority over business venture and offers workspaces, workshops, events, education programs, and the support needed to become a successful business leader. Listen to the latest episode featuring ENCLAVE founder John R. Dallas Jr.

How do you grow the pipeline of skilled workers in manufacturing? Provide makers with a space full of industrial tools, 3-D printing equipment, CNC machines, and opportunities to develop as entrepreneurs. On this episode of Strictly Business, Paul Heitman from Heitman Architects discusses the vision for the Golden Corridor Maker Space and the impact of the makerspace phenomenon around the world.

Chad Froeschle teaches the Business Incubator program at Elk Grove High School. This program teaches students, hands-on, how to take an idea and make it a reality. He's not the only one who teaches the class either! Froeschle invites local entrepreneurs and idea makers into the classroom to help mentor the students throughout the process. On the latest episode of Strictly Business, two of Froeschle’s students share their experience taking his class.

This month on Strictly Business, CEO of Schaumburg Bank and Trust, Joe Bohne, joins us to talk about the benefits of building a relationship with your local community bank. As the landscape of business changes so does banking. Bohne discusses the demand for bankers to provide “trusted financial advisory services,” such as financial support for entrepreneurs.

With its vacancy rate down to 3.98%, Elk Grove Village’s industrial park is stronger than ever before. It’s time to make Elk Grove a regional powerhouse, but we need your help. In the latest Strictly Business episode, we introduce a new program exclusively for Elk Grove businesses. Learn how you can help transform the entire business community into a center of EXCELLENCE to ignite INNOVATION and GROWTH.

Several years ago, as more companies started to outsource jobs, Harper College’s manufacturing program dwindled. In 2012, a group of business leaders came to Harper College seeking skilled workers. Seeing this as an opportunity, Harper College decided to take the lead and rebuild the program. Today, the college’s new and improved curriculum is thriving with student enrollment up by 50% from last year. Tune in to learn more about this incredible success story.

Will Busch III is the managing consultant of economic development at Gallup. Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help organizations solve today’s biggest challenges. On Episode 8 of Strictly Business, host Josh Grodzin and Busch discuss why identifying, evaluating and improving strengths over focusing on weaknesses is the best strategy to enable productivity and organic growth. And yes — there’s data to prove it!

Host Josh Grodzin invites three manufacturing leaders for a business roundtable discussion. Anne Gruber, president of Ashland Lock and Security Solutions; Jeffrey Taylor, VP and general manager of Crafts Technology; and Michael Goeringer, president of Arc-Tronics, Inc. discuss the many struggles of keeping a business afloat, and why the hard work is so worth it.

President of GuideStar, Ray Benedetto, stops by to discuss the meaning of Character-Based Capitalism and the positive impact it has had on businesses. Drawing on his personal experience within the military and working first hand with several companies, Benedetto goes on to establish himself has an expert on making employees feel truly valued and empowered in their jobs.

Gladys Moscoso and Kathryn Miller, two women leading the manufacturing industry in their respective areas, stop by to discuss all things women in business. They touch on topics such as what being a woman in manufacturing means to them, as well as delve into the potential difficulties they face being in a largely male-dominated industry.

Seasoned business advisors Daven Morrison and John Dallas join us to discuss how important it is to have a trusted mentor in your business ventures. They also discuss potential leadership pitfalls and out to navigate them. Whether you have been in the business for years or you're in the beginning stages of an entrepreneurial adventure, mentors can be seen as essential to success.