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Thursday, September 25, 2014 Suburban Life
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Thursday, September 25, 2014
Suburban Life
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This section was produced by Suburban Life editors Alex Soulier, AnnaSchier, David Good, Jes Spivak, Mark Busch, Mary Beth Versaci, MatthewHendrickson, Ryan Terrell and Scott Helmchen; reporters Ed McMenamin,Dan Farnham, Evan Shields, Joe Sinopoli, Kristin Pedicini, Mari Grigaliunasand Nathan Lurz; copy editor Sarah Minor; photographer Erica Benson; andfreelance contributor Zachary White.
Dan Arriola …………………… 2Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz 4Michael Carpanzano ……… 6Whitney Cimaglia ………… 7Lesley Dawravoo …………… 8Tricia DiCianni ……………… 8Tracy Frizzell ………………… 9Steve Golembiewski ………… 10
Erica Granada ……………… 10Joshua Jones ………………… 11Robert Knuepfer …………… 12Courtney Mikulcik ………… 13Kristina Nemetz …………… 13Tricia Riberto ………………… 14Tim Ritchey …………………… 15
A select number of Suburban Life staff chose 15 outstanding young profes-sionals who are younger than 40 in Chicago’s western suburbs and whomake significant contributions to their profession, company and commu-nity for an inaugural event and this Best Under 40 Suburban Life Mediapublication. Shaw Media is the parent company of Suburban Life Media.
CONTRIBUTORS
SPONSORS
ABOUT BEST UNDER 40
WHO’S INSIDE
People are the heart of Wood Dale CEO’s businessBy MARY BETH [email protected]
Dan Arriola is a peopleperson. At 38 yearsold, he is the CEO of
iD Commerce + Logistics inWood Dale, and he says it’shis focus on people that hasmade him – and his business– successful.
“It’s a focus on people, 100percent on people – this sort ofrelentless pursuit of talent, tryingto get the best talent we can on ourteam and organizing and retainingthem,” Arriola said.
That focus also led one of hisemployees to nominate him forSuburban Life Media’s Best Under40 recognition program.
Tim Mastrino, iD Commerce+ Logistics’ talent acquisitionspecialist, works with Arriolain finding talented employeeswho are a good fit for the
company, which manages productinventory and distribution forother businesses.
Rather than being a hands-offCEO “up on a throne,” Arriola isactive in every part of his busi-ness, pushing his employees to betheir best, Mastrino said, describ-ing why henominatedArriola for theaward.
“He’s reallyempoweredme to feelcomfortableenough towork with people who have beenin the industry for 15 to 20 years,”he said.
Arriola started iD Commerce +Logistics with his brother, Ricky,in 1997.
Born to a family of entrepre-neurs – his father owned his ownprinting business for 35 years –Arriola knew he wanted to carry
Dan Arriola
Photo provided by Michael OlsenSee HEART, page 14
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She has two children,who inspired her to be-gin writing books aftershe was diagnosed withcancer at 21 and againat 23.
“It was a very diffi-cult time,” she said.
But it ended uphaving a positive affecton her life. She wrotea book detailing herexperiences and busi-ness tips. She said shewanted to leave a legacyfor her kids, so they
would know about theirmother, should some-thing happen.
After the book waspublished, compa-nies began contactingCamacho-Ruiz aboutspeaking engagements.After each engagement,she got higher profilegigs. Now, she’s writtensix books and is in themiddle of a nationaltour promoting hermost recent work.
Writing, she said, has“completely taken mylife to a new level.”
Camacho-Ruiz is inthe process of startinga nonprofit to bene-fit Latina girls. She
estimates it’s about three monthsfrom getting off the ground and isworking to secure funds.
The concept for the organizationstarted last year around the time ofher birthday. Camacho-Ruiz saidshe didn’t want to do anything big,but wanted to give back.
“I decided I was going to dosomething that would impact thecommunity,” she said.
Instead of a party for her, shehosted one for 20 to 30 Latinagirls at Medieval Times. Theybegan sharing stories with Cama-cho-Ruiz, and she noticed theirpain and doubt.
The girls also shared theirdreams. One 16-year-old whohadn’t gotten a quinceañera – atraditional Latin 15th birthday cel-ebration – wanted to be a princessfor a day.
Camacho-Ruiz decided to makethat dream come true, taking thegirl on a plane ride, a trip in a fan-cy car and a $250 shopping spree, aswell as giving her a quinceañera atMedieval Times, which 166 guests
attended.“It was the most
beautiful experience,”she said. “She wasblown away.”
Laura Pietrzak,who works at JJRMarketing and nomi-nated Camacho-Ruiz
for Suburban Life Media’s BestUnder 40, said she is “amazing.”
“Her efforts have helped dozens ofcompanies become vibrant, focusedand growing entities,” Pietrzak saidin the nomination letter.
Camacho-Ruiz was born in Mex-ico City and moved to the UnitedStates at 14. She has an associate’sdegree in marketing from Collegeof DuPage and a ToastmastersInternational Certification.
She’s also sits on boards for theDuPage Foundation and the YWCA,often speaks at colleges and univer-sities for free and enjoys runningraces and doing triathlons.
“I’m grateful to be in the posi-tion I am,” she said. “I think thebiggest gift I have is the positivity Ibring to people.”
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Mark Busch - [email protected]
Naperville businesswoman encouragesLatina girls to pursue their dreams
Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz
By EVAN [email protected]
Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz began read-ing motivational books when she wasa young girl. “I knew I wanted to be an
entrepreneur,” she said.She decided to start her own marketing
agency and founded JJR Marketing – aNaperville-based marketing and public
relations firm – in 2006 at age 23. It since hasgrown to a 13-person staff.
JJR mainly works with small- andmedium-sized businesses but also has donesome work with Fortune 500 companies.
Camacho-Ruiz, now 31, lives in NorthAurora and wears several hats, includingentrepreneur, speaker, author and, mostlyimportantly for her, mom.
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Bolingbrook Chamber’s Carpanzanobuilding on already successful career
Humility shouldn’tcome easy for the Jolietresident.
Two years ago,he was named to theBolingbrook Chamber’stop spot at just 26 yearsold, instantly becomingone of the top up-and-comers in the westsuburban businesscommunity.
He learned the keysto leadership throughhis education – he holdsbachelor’s and master’sdegrees in business
administration fromthe University ofSt. Francis – andthe launch of hisprofessional careerwhen he was just ateenager.
Carpanzano ascendedfrom an entry-levelcustomer serviceassociate to an assistantvice president/bankingcenter manager at MBFinancial Bank, wherehe worked from 2005-2013.
At MB Financial,he honed relationship-building and brandingskills that carried over
to his role with the chamber.“Building relationships was
what I did with [MB Financial],and building that brand wasreally no different than helpingbusinesses here in Bolingbrookgrow. Whether it’s relationshipswith nonprofits, governmentofficials, townships, the parkdistrict or the library – thoserelationships have helped formwho I am and have helped mebecome a center of influence,”Carpanzano said.
Those skills will carry overto a new role for the 28-year-old.In October, he will leave thechamber’s top spot to becomeregional director of sales with WillCounty-based physical therapypractice PT Solutions, a move bornthrough relationships as chamberdirector, he said.
“I worked very closely with[PT Solutions]. Relationships hadformed and they made me an offer... It’s an opportunity I couldn’t nottake,” he said in August.
Is his youth an advantage overhis colleagues in the businesssector?
“Advantage is a strong word.I don’t look at it as age butmore about what you bring.I think it gives me differentcommunications tactics, andyouth in general leads to differenttypes of conversations. Thatenthusiastic smile or the positiveattitude, I think, goes a long wayfor me,” he said.
While already one of the mostaccomplished young businessleaders in the western suburbs,Carpanzano eyes a greater role inhis professional future.
“The impact [the chamber]has had on a macro level hasbeen tremendous, but I amyoung enough to aim higher. Iwould love to eventually be in acommunications role on a largerstatewide or national basis,” hesaid, mentioning campaign workas a possibility.
For now, he’s busy planningfor his new role with PT Solutionsand a new bride – he’s planning awedding with fiancée, Nadia. Theywere engaged in June and areplanning a fall 2015 wedding.
By RYAN [email protected]
Ask Michael Carpanzano what his secretfor success is and he’ll give you aformula for humility.
“It’s kind of odd, but really, it’s all abouttoning down your pride and ego,” saidCarpanzano, the 28-year-old executivedirector of the Bolingbrook Area Chamber of
Commerce. “Pride and ego can get in the wayof success. If you can keep them down andfacilitate relationships, people are more likelyto come back to you. No one is too small orinsignificant. We’re all in this together.”
As the leader of the Bolingbrook chamber,Carpanzano works with leaders of businessesof all sizes. Giving each of them – no matterthe size – equal time and consideration asmembers of the chamber is key, he said.
Ryan Terrell - [email protected]
Michael Carpanzano
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By DAVID [email protected]
I t seems anywhereWhitney Cimaglia goes inLombard, she runs into
someone she knows.That’s exactly how
she likes it. Cimaglia is apeople person, whethershe’s working for a localbank, volunteering for localcharities or shopping at thelocal grocery store.
“My husband for the last fewyears calls me the mayor,” shesaid.
The 28-year-old Lombardnative, however, has no plans ofrunning for public office anytimesoon. She’s perfectly happy rightwhere she is in her professionaljourney.
“I don’t thinkI’d want to moveup anymore andlose the face-to-face interaction,”she said.
As vice presi-dent/branch salesmanager for Republic Bank in OakBrook, Cimaglia said she worksdirectly with owners of small andmoderate businesses to help themachieve their financial goals.
“I know my customers by nameand I know what their business isand maybe about their family lifeand what keeps them up at night,”she said.
Banking is just one element ofwhat roots Cimaglia in the commu-nity. She’s the board secretary atTri-Town YMCA, she serves Mealson Wheels for the DuPage SeniorCitizens Council and she rings theSalvation Army bell outside York-town Mall.
And she’s not just a memberof the Lombard Area Chamber ofCommerce and Industry. She’s thepresident.
Cimaglia was sworn in aspresident in January and said thefirst few months were challengingas she adjusted to the position. Shecredited members of the executiveboard with helping her find herfooting.
“I don’t even think I knew whatthe chamber was until maybe fiveor six years ago so I definitelydidn’t expect it,” she said of beingpresident.
Now, nearly nine months into
the job, she said she’s comfortablewith her role and setting goals forthe chamber’s future.
Attracting more membersand expanding into neighboringcommunities are amongCimaglia’s goals before the endof her one-year term. And if theywant her to stay on as presidentanother year, she said she’d
gladly continue the mission.Joining the chamber as
a 24-year-old proved to bean important step in herprofessional career. Despite beingthe youngest member, she saidshe immediately was welcomedby the others.
“Nobody ever treated me likesome young kid that didn’t knowabout life,” she said.
Cimaglia hopes to extend thatwelcoming environment to others
in the same situation. One idea isto create a chamber networkinggroup specifically for young profes-sionals.
“I think it would be a niceprogram because there are youngpeople who attend networkingfunctions that don’t feel as wel-comed as I did.”
She also works with aspir-
ing professionals when they’reeven younger – sometimes muchyounger. Cimaglia has taughtkindergartners and second-grad-ers in Lombard as part of theJunior Achievement programand mentored a high school jobshadower.
After piling up an impressivelist of accomplishments before age30, there’s still one title Cimaglia,who lives in Lombard with herhusband, Eric Voelker, hopes to
earn one day.“I sure would like to be a mom
someday. That’s probably a biggerjob than anything else I’m doingright now.”
Then she might be ready forthat run at public office.
“Who knows, maybe myhusband’s right. Maybe I will bemayor,” she said with a laugh.
Mark Busch - [email protected]
Lombard chamber presidenttakes success to the bank
Whitney Cimaglia
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By MARI [email protected]
T o Tricia DiCian-ni, Elmhurst hasalways been her
home, which is whyshe loves helping oth-ers make the city theirhome as well.
“It’s so easy to sellbecause I really be-lieve in it,” said the36-year-old presidentand founder of DiCian-ni Realty.
When she decided toopen her own real estatecompany at 26, she didn’tconsider other locations.She chose Elmhurst whereshe and nearly all of her sixsiblings live within blocksof each other.
When DiCianni, foundout her brother, Pete, hadnominated her for Subur-ban Life Media’s Best Under40, she was humbled.
“I’m not used to being inthe limelight,” she said.
Her brother believedshe deserved recognitionfor her business accom-plishments and dedication
to her hometown.While she’s grateful for
the honor, DiCianni insistsmany others have workedjust as hard as she has.
Entrepreneurship runsin the family, and DiCiannisaid her brother, Pete, setan example for her whenhe started his own printingbusiness at age 18.
“I really didn’t eventhink of working for any-body else,” DiCianni said ofchoosing to open her ownbusiness as a single mom.
With a broker’s license,two associates degrees – onein paralegal studies and onein science – and a bachelor’sdegree in behavioral sci-ence, Tricia was preparedfor the challenge of launch-ing her business.
“I would say the biggestchallenge was being takenseriously,” she said.
Despite her qualifica-tions, pride in Elmhurstand ambition, she foundmany people couldn’t lookpast her age and gender.
“I had to earn a lot of re-spect,” said DiCianni, whoreceived several requeststo leave her business andwork for another company.
The Internet has proven
Elmhurst mom helpsclients feel at home
By ED [email protected]
M edicine is a science, butthe art of building relation-ships with patients can
often be just as an important for aphysician.
That’s especially true for gas-troenterologists and hepatologistssuch as Hinsdale resident Dr. Les-ley Dawravoo. Physicians in herfield diagnose and treat a varietyof notoriously difficult to identifyconditions such as Hepatitis C inthe liver or Crohn’s disease in thegastrointestinal track.
“You really need to make a close rela-tionship with your physician to figure outwhat is going on,” she said. “And some-times, yes, that can be challenging.”
Many people with Hepatitis C can livewith the condition for years without symp-toms and without knowledge of the afflic-tion. That can cause serious repercussionssuch as liver failure down the road.
“If people have Hepatitis C that is notdiagnosed, it can go on to end-stage liverdisease that would eventually require aliver transplant,” she said. “If patients are[diagnosed in time], they can actually becompletely cured and lead a normal life.”
Dawravoo lives in Hinsdale with herhusband Kevin Dawravoo, who also is a
physician, and their children. She seesand treats patients at Good SamaritanHospital in Downers Grove and HinsdaleAmbulatory Care Clinic in Hinsdale.
The 34-year-old compiled an impres-sive resume even before settling into herclinical practice.
While in medical school at Loyola, shewas chosen as chief resident. Three yearslater, she became the chief of gastroin-testinal fellowship. During training, shepublished medical chapters, researchpapers and made scientific presentationsat several national and regional medicalconferences.
Her practice, along with Northwesternand University of Chicago, are the onlypractices in Chicago to perform clinicalstudies, advancing the treatment of Hepa-titis C, helping to create a new standard ofcare for patients across the country.
She also is one of the few gastrointes-tinal physicians who works with AccessDuPage, a nonprofit medical organizationthat treats uninsured patients in DuPageCounty. In addition, Dawravoo is theyoungest teaching volunteer for HinsdaleFamily Practice Residency program.
She said following her positive expe-rience as a resident, she knew she wouldwant to incorporate teaching into hercareer.
“I think what I like most about teach-ing is just being a role model and beingsomebody they can come to for bothmedical advice and personal advice,” shesaid. “There was a lot people I looked up toand went to for medical advice. I want tobe that person.”
Hinsdale doctor buildingrelationships through medicine
Tricia DiCianni
Mark Busch - [email protected]
Erica Benson - [email protected]
Lesley Dawravoo
See MOM, page 9
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By ZACHARY [email protected]
S aving for retirement andspending less moneythan you earn seem to be
prudent, if not obvious, stepsto take when handling person-al finances. But Tracy Friz-zell, executive director of theEconomic Awareness Council,said financial foresight doesn’tcome easy for everyone.
That’s why the Hinsdale residentand some of her colleagues foundedthe Economic Awareness Council in2003 – to teach children and youngadults how to save and spend theirmoney in a fiscally responsible way.
Frizzell works with a varietyof students – from young childrento young adults heading to college– with the goal of educating thoseyoung learners to understand thatthey too can be financially success-ful and save money.
“Our real focus, and kind ofgrowth, is on serving low income fam-ilies and low income youth,” she said.
However, Frizzell said one of theproblems that many of the childrenshe works with face is a lack ofknowledge regarding what is outthere as a resource for them.
When she asks her students– many of whom have recentlyreceived their first paycheck – whatthey plan to do with their money,they are eager to go cash it.
“The neighborhoods in which wework, there are many more checkcashing establishments than thereare banks,” Frizzell said.
Using funds allocated by thecity of Chicago, she once polled herstudents to try and find out whatthey thought about saving, and whatsaving meant to them.
“About half of them thought thatthere weren’t any banks that wouldwant to work with them,” Frizzellsaid. “They thought that it wassomething for somebody that wasolder and had more resources.”
She tries to teach her studentsthey need to save, that saving forcollege or emergencies is important.
“It’s all about teaching them to savefirst, to budget, to figure out wants andneeds,” she said. “Simple things, butagain, it’s new to a lot of them.”
During the early days of the eco-
nomic Awareness Council about nineyears ago, Frizzell said the plan was tofound it as a small volunteer company.
“Maybe an hour or two a month,and some of us, whoever had freetime, would go out and do a presen-tation and then we would call it aday and that would be it,” she said.“We never really anticipated that itwould go farther than that.”
But the organization’s reach spreadexponentially, serving more peoplethan Frizzell could have ever imag-ined. The Economic Awareness Coun-cil worked with 50 students when itwas first founded, but now the agencyserves more than 20,000 annually.
“It kind of has been a fast butsteady progress,” she said. “Fora long time it was just myself andvolunteers.
“There hasn’t been one year wherea lot of growth happened at once,there has just been a lot of growtheach year for many, many years.”
She said she owes the growth andsuccess to the donations and supportshe received.
The Economic Awareness Coun-cil’s mission is to prepare studentsand families for the economic andfinancial decisions they will maketoday and tomorrow.
Hinsdale woman’s nonprofithelps youth with personal finance
Tracy Frizzell
a valuable tool forDiCianni, who attractsclients from out of townand out of state by postingphotos and details abouthomes she is listing on themarket. She also targetednew construction andworked with builderswhile she was breakinginto the business.
Channeling her strongfamily values into her pro-fessional life, DiCianni saidshe always values relation-ships over money.
“One of the things that Ibase my business on is it’snot necessarily money-driv-en,” DiCianni said of whyshe’s succeeded for 10 yearsin a market full of other realestate firms.
“I would say family iswhat I do. That’s the biggestpart of my life,” she said
Her brother, Pete, didn’tjust inspire her businessaspirations but also led herto get involved with localnonprofits dedicated toserving children.
She served on the boardfor the Elmhurst Chil-dren’s Assistance Foun-dation for several yearsbefore she took a positionon the board of SpecialKids Day.
“I think there’s nothingmore rewarding in life thanbeing with kids and work-ing with kids,” DiCiannisaid.
She’s found sheespecially enjoys workingto provide opportunitiesfor children with specialneeds and their families.Special Kids Day featurescarnivals and othercelebratory eventsspecifically designed toaccommodate childrenwith special needs.
“I think once you’rearound kids with specialneeds you want to help,and you want to do more,”DiCianni said.
When she’s not busy atwork or volunteering hertime, Tricia loves spendingtime with her husbandSteve Buonsante and herthree children, John, Stefa-no and Elisa.
“My biggest accom-plishment in life is being amom,” she said.
• MOMContinued from page 8
Zachary White - For Shaw Media
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By ALEX [email protected]
S teve Golembiews-ki’s passion forthe outdoors
sprouted when he was ayoung child growing upin central Wisconsin.
A native of Neillsville,Wis., a small town ofless than 3,000 peoplethat is fondly knownas the the home of theworld’s largest talkingcow – a mammoth statuethat was part of thestate’s contribution tothe 1964 World’s Fair –Golembiewski said someof his fondest memorieswere spent playingsports and exploring thenatural world.
“We didn’t have videogames or anything like that,”the Westmont resident said.“So at every opportunity, wewe played sports or we wereoutdoors hiking in the woodsby my family’s home.”
The innate bond with thenorth woods and his love for
sports are sentiments thathe’s carried with him eversince – from an adventuretravel class he took while at-tending college to becoming apitcher for the Winona StateUniversity baseball team.
It’s impacted his career,too, as he was hired as West-mont Park District recre-ation coordinator aboutseven years ago.
The now 30-year-oldGolembiewski has excelledduring his career with thePark District, branchingout to the local business andtheatre communities, serv-ing on local committees,founding and overseeingyouth programs, and rack-ing up award and recogni-tion’s along the way.
As a result, Golembiews-ki was promoted to ParkDistrict assistant super-intendent of recreation in2012, a position that still al-lows him to wear a varietyof hats and participate in awide range of initiatives.
“Every day is differ-ent, which is a good thingbecause I’m not a big fan ofsitting still,” Golembiewskisaid. “Having so many roleskeeps me moving and keepsme busy. During my time
Park District employeeis active in business,
youth programs
By KRISTIN [email protected]
When she’s not functioningas a program coordinatorfor the Special Education
department at Lyons TownshipHigh School, 35-year-old EricaGranada is serving on the boardfor the Chicago English BulldogRescue organization, raising twoteenage daughters and renovatingher home.
With her many different hats, Ericawas recently nominated for the My Sub-urban Life, Best Under 40 by her husband,Gerry. He said his wife and other teachersare the unsung heroes.
“[Teachers] are behind the scenes,”Gerry Granada said. “And I thought it’d begreat if she was recognized for the thingsshe’s doing because she does all that andthen she does the bulldog thing and all the[house design].”
Gerry Granada explained that evenwith such a demanding job, Erica stillcomes home with energy to work at thehouse, raise their daughters and partici-pate on the board with the bulldog rescueorganization.
Being nominated came as a strangeevent, according to Erica Granada.
“I don’t see what I do as any different as
anybody else,” Erica said. “All you can dois yourself ... For me, I’m just doing me. Iguess, different strokes for different folks.”
Erica, who began her career as a highschool Spanish teacher, said what sheloves most about her job at LT is that notwo days are alike.
“It’s just different and that’s what I loveabout it,” she said. “I love working with fam-ilies and I love working with the students.”
On top of her hours teaching at school,Erica spends a lot of time rehabilitatingher Countryside home. Recently, she’sbuilt a hen house in her yard, designedand renovated her kitchen, created a Jap-anese garden in the backyard and all thehome’s landscaping.
“I’m just very blessed to have a lot ofdifferent passions and a lot of things thatI find fulfilling,” Erica said. “So for me,it’s not about doing this and that, it’s thethings I enjoy doing.”
When she’s not redesigning her homeor in the classroom, Erica is working withthe Chicago English Bulldog Rescue or-ganization. Along with raising their ownbulldog, the Granadas also are fostering abulldog through the group.
“It’s super rewarding,” she said. “Youget back 10,000 times of what you give.”
Whether it’s working with the bulldogs,students or renovating her house, Ericasaid her love for what she does is whatkeeps her going.
“At the end of the day, it’s only workif you’d rather be doing something else,”Erica said.
Lyons Township High Schoolteacher is an unsung hero
Erica Granada
See YOUTH, page 11
Steve GolembiewskiErica Benson - [email protected]
Erica Benson - [email protected]
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here, I have helped out withso many things, and I likethe responsibility of con-tributing and watching thesuccess of all these initia-tives grow.”
Golembiewski said someof his most favorite respon-sibilities are overseeingthe Park District’s kidsand teen programs, helpingfound and produce the an-nual Frozen Film Festivaland starting the NFL Punt,Pass and Kick event.
“It’s important to stayabove the trend in terms ofpopularity,” Golembiewskisaid. “You can’t keep doingthe same things becausepeople, especially childrenand teens, will get bored.You have to keep pushingthe envelope or they willnot come back.”
Additionally, Golem-biewski is chair of the ParkDistrict’s Holly Days event,manages the annual haunt-ed forest, oversees commu-nity service projects, is aWestmont chamber commit-tee co-chair and is active inthe Downtown WestmontBusiness Alliance.
In 2013, he was honoredwith the Illinois Park andRecreation AssociationYoung Professional of theYear award. He also serveson the youth committee forIllinois Park and RecreationAssociation.
“I remain very activebecause my goal is alwaysto continue to move up andimprove personally andprofessionally,” he said.“I want to reach the top,although I’m not quite surewhere the top is, I just wantto keep improving.”
At the moment, Golem-biewski is thrilled to workwith a tight-knit group atthe Park District that hecalls his extended family.
“Being a smaller ParkDistrict, its kind of like be-ing welcomed into a secondfamily,” he said. “You cantalk to them on a profession-al and personal level.
“It’s great to come intowork and see all these peo-ple you really care about.They think of you as familyyou think of them as family.Sometimes you don’t thinkof it as work because we aresuch a close bunch.”
• YOUTHContinued from page 10
Matthew Hendrickson - [email protected]
Mortgage banker’s motto: To besuccessful, work hard and give back
By MATTHEW [email protected]
J oshua Jones is what youwould call a hometown boy.
He moved to Riversidewhen he was 4, and despite afew years away at college andfirst starting his career, hehasn’t been away for long.
“I never wanted to get out oftown,” he said. “I love this area.I always wanted to come back.”
He attended A.F. Ames Schooland then Hauser Junior High inRiverside before moving on to adgraduating from Riverside Brook-field High School.
While most kids are interestedin becoming doctors, firefighters orpolice officers, Jones said he alwayswanted a career in business andlater found his calling in banks andthe world of mortgage finance.
“[Banks] are the back bone of theeconomy,” Jones said. “Everyone needs[to interact with one] at some point.”
Jones said he learned early onfrom his parents that if you wantsomething in life, you need to go forit. He was never allowed to sleep inas a kid, which is why he didn’t mindwaking early in the morning forhis high school job at the RiversideCounty Club as a caddy. In additionto teaching him how to work hard,Jones said his job as a caddy also
introduced him to people who wouldinfluence his later career path.
“You’re surrounded by doctors,lawyers and bankers,” he said. “Andbeing a caddy makes you want cash.”
While growing up in Riverside,he also was a committed member ofthe Boy Scouts, which he said taughthim that if you have free time, dosomething with it. It also taught himto give back. For his Eagle Scoutproject, Jones cleaned up the RBfootball field of litter and weeds.
His family was never wealthy, butnever went without, he said. His fa-ther, who worked as a school teacherin Chicago’s public schools, taughthim the importance of education anda sense of the struggles that people canface that are outside of their control.
That’s part of the reason he saidhe and his wife, Michelle, who nom-inated him for Suburban Life’s BestUnder 40, work to give back to theircommunity each year. Jones met hiswife for the first time at age 13 andthey started dating in high school.
His brother introduced him toa mortgage banker when he was22 and that’s when he decided thatwould be his calling. At it’s mostbasic, Jones said, being a mortgagebanker is about making people’sAmerican dream come true.
In the years since, he’s estab-lished his own business, a branchof Mortgage Master, and has nevertired of the thrill when a young cou-ple comes into his office to sign theirfinal paperwork. Jones has been con-sistently recognized in his industry
for his performance and was profiledin Chicago Agent magazine’s “Who’sWho of 2014,” and was nominated forNational Mortgage Profession Mag-azine’s “Most Connected MortgageProfessional” award.
When hardship hit the mortgagebanking field around 2008 as the hous-ing market collapsed, he started tosee people he’d long worked with, andfor, getting laid off. The time was hardfor Jones too and there was a monthwhen he didn’t receive a paycheck,since he was working on commission.
“When you go a month without apaycheck, it changes you,” he said.
It also led him to try and help outothers in financially tight situations.It’s why he and his wife started theJM Foundation to help others inneed of a little help to get by.
Jones and his wife now work toraise funds throughout the year so thatthey can support area families havinga hard time. Last year, they adoptedseven families through the foundationin Brookfield with a focus on peoplewho had recently lost their jobs, orfamilies where both parents work, butcan’t get by on their two paychecks.
“We hope it helps them enoughto start to get out from that hardplace,” Jones said.
In the end, it helps the family andis a rewarding experience for him aswell he said.
“If you want to be successful, be agood person,” he said. “Give back toyour community. If it helps your com-munity, it will help you. And workhard: If you die rested it’s not good.”
Joshua Jones
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By ZACHARY [email protected]
Cancer affects everyone,which is the reason whyRobert Knuepfer hasdecided to help those atthe Wellness House inHinsdale.
Knuepfer, a 34-year-oldHinsdale native who worksin Chicago at the tradingfirm DV Trading, recentlyjoined the board of theWellness House, a cancersupport group, in order togive back to the communityhe grew up in and to thepeople who are in need ofhelp.
He said helping those in needisn’t justsomethinghe likes todo, it’s some-thing he hasto do.
“Youhave to,”he said. “Ifyou’re so blessed and privileged,its a responsibility.”
When dealing with cancer,he said everyone needs a littlehelp, because everyone isaffected.
“I think one out of two men willget cancer in their life, one outof three women,” Knuepfer said.“Cancer is something that affectseverybody.”
The Hinsdale based WellnessHouse is neither a hospital nora clinic, rather a welcominghome filled with people, andprograms to help people sufferingdiagnosed with cancer. Withsupport groups, classes, socialevents and much more, thenonprofit was built to give backthe strength, community andcontrol that cancer can takeaway, according to the WellnessHouse website.
Knuepfer explained theprograms put on at the WellnessHouse, such as cooking andyoga and aerobics classes, don’taim to just help people who aredirectly fighting cancer, they helpeveryone.
“But there’s also these otherissues that you’re dealing with,”Knuepfer said “Your kids, oryour parents or your spouse. TheWellness House offers all these
programs to help assist with all theother things that happen in life,other than the cancer.”
Along with the healthy bodyand healthy eating classes, theWellness House offers support
groups, one-on-one counseling andeducational programs.
“All these different outlets tonot only help the patient, but thepatient and their families to getthrough this complex time in theirlives.”
Knuepfer said the added bonusis that the Wellness House islocated in town, at 131 N. CountyLine Road.
“And all of the programs are
100 percent free,” he said. “Allthe finances come from outside[donations].”
The oldest of four childrengrowing up in Hinsdale, Knuepfersaid the only thing more important
to him than giving back andhelping others is being around hisfamily.
He and his wife both havefamily living in Hinsdale, so itwas easy for him to come backto the neighborhood when hedecided to settle down with hisown children. He currently hastwo children with a third on theway.
Knuepfer said being home
with his family is one of the mostimportant things to him.
“I try to get home by 6, havedinner with the kids, put them tobed, and just lay low,” he said “Apretty quiet lifestyle.”
Hinsdale’s Kneupfer gives backthrough Wellness House initiatives
Robert Knuepfer
Zachary White - For Shaw Media
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Erica Benson - [email protected]
Erica Benson - [email protected]
French teacher lovesintroducing students
to new cultures
Wheaton Park Districtemployee brings enthusiasm
and creativity to events
By DAN [email protected]
Courtney Mikul-cik is all thingsFrench at Hins-
dale South High School.In her seventh year
at Hinsdale South, sheis the school’s onlyFrench teacher, in-structing everythingfrom the basic class toAdvanced PlacementFrench 4.
Mikulcik is thesponsor of the Hin-sdale South FrenchClub and NationalFrench Honor Society,works with studentson the National FrenchExam and celebratesNational French Week.
She also is working oncreating a foreign languageoutreach program for localmiddle school students,with some of her Frenchstudents serving as ambas-sadors.
“I think it is very import-
ant for people to embraceother cultures and to havethose connections,” Mikul-cik said. “For me, Frenchis the way that I’ve beenable to do that and explorethe Francophone culturein Canada, as well as inFrance, and see how thelanguage is part of every-thing.”
Mikulcik credits KellyErcoli, her French teacherat Lemont High School, forinspiring her to become aFrench teacher.
“When I was younger,my dad did a lot of travelingto Quebec and Canada,” shesaid. “He would come homewith little things that hadsome French words, so itreally sparked my interest.But I didn’t really have anopportunity to study lan-guage until I went to highschool.”
She said Ercoli en-couraged her to becomea French tutor to otherstudents.
“I really started to enjoythat interaction with otherpeople and helping peoplelearn new things,” shesaid.
Besides the language, her
By NATHAN [email protected]
I n Wheaton, hardly a month goesby without a major event creat-ed or co-sponsored by the local
Park District. Jazz Fest, the Fourthof July, Shakespeare in the Park,the Reindeer Run – the list goes on.
Behind each one is KristinaNemetz, the Wheaton ParkDistrict’s superintendent ofmarketing and special events.
“Her professionalism sticks out – she’sa leader,” said district Marking DirectorMargie Wilhelmi. “She is always bringingnew ideas and new opportunities to thedistrict and taking the time to make surethat things are done correctly.”
Nemetz started working at the district in2008 as the catering manager at ArrowheadGolf Club – a position she said mainly meant“wedding planner.” She worked there until2012 when she took her current role.
“I went to Arrowhead not knowing itwas part of a Park District,” she said. “Ithought I was just going to a bigger venue.”
Now her work with the district hasbecome a calling, she said.
Since she started, the district’s event num-bers have grown to include the Fun Run in
Color, Jazz Festival, Wine and Cultural ArtsFestival, Light the Torch Run and Shake-speare in the Park in the last two years alone.
“The Downtown Wheaton Associationapproached the Park District for the wineand culture festival,” she said. “Appar-ently we have a pretty good reputation ofhosting events.”
Part of that success is because ofNemetz’s work with the district’s manycohosts, Wilhelmi said.
“She works with a lot of our partnersat a lot of the events, working with themclosely to make sure the event is succeed-ing, not only for the Park District, butfor their organization,” she said. “She’salways the first one to get involved withsomething new, getting involved withevents when someone else could do it.That’s her attitude and work ethic.”
Nemetz was quick to praise her co-workers.
“It’s just a few of us that work together,the special events team, and we just kindof run with it,” she said.
One of her favorite parts of her job withthe district are the partnerships that offera good experience for taxpayer attendeesand raise awareness or funds for localgroups and nonprofits, she said.
“It’s humbling, working with all thesepeople and agencies, getting to build com-munity,” she said. “I was in the privatesector right out of college and I don’t knowif I can ever go back.”
Courtney Mikulcik
Kristina Nemetz
See FRENCH, page 15
Under Riberto’s leadership,volume is up 49 percent, Coldwellbanker is No. 1 in units sold, has thehighest increase in market shareand is selling homes faster and at ahigher average sales price that theprevious year.
Originally from Orland Park, theLa Grange resident comes from a longline of Realtors, including parents,grandparents, godfather and cousins.
“We’re just a real estate family,”she said. “When I was a kid I worked inreal estate offices, answering phones,helping Realtor’s. It was a tradition toget a real estate license after college.”
A graduate of Purdue Universityin West Lafayette, Ind., Riberto hasa degree in communications. Sheplanned to go into public relations butinstead followed the family tradition.
She began by managing her ownreal estate office with more than 50 Re-altor affiliates. She earned Top Produc-er status by the Chicago Association ofRealtors. In her role as office manager,Riberto said she only periodically willput on her sales hat to sell to friendsand family. She said she doesn’t wantto compete with her agents. “It’s notmy business model,” she said.
Still there issomething aboutthe sales end thatshe misses.
“I miss thepeople, espe-cially when youget establishedand start getting
referrals,” she said. “You get closeto some of these families and that Imiss for sure.”
In the second year after Ribertotook over the office, it has raisedmore than $14,800 for local charities.
Riberto has lived in La Grange for alittle more than two years with her hus-band, Russ. They have two daughters,age 3, and an 18-week-old baby. Ribertosaid she love the town they call home.
“The sense of community is likenothing I ever experienced, or everimagined,” Riberto said. “From thebusinesses to the families, there’sjust a pride in supporting one anoth-er. There’s such a passion behind it.
“I love what I’m doing now,” shesaid. The agents here are fun andkind and helpful. … I’ve been very,very fortunate.”
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on that same kind of spiritand go out on his own in thebusiness world.
He earned a bachelor’sdegree in business fromXavier University inCincinnati and recentlycompleted HarvardBusiness School’s owner/president managementprogram.
A native of Miami,Arriola moved to theChicago area because herecognized its location atthe center of the countryas a great place to do hiskind of business.
While iD Commerce +Logistics originally startedoff as a company thatfulfilled orders for printers,Arriola quickly recognizedthe potential in workingwith online retailers, as theonline presence of manybusinesses grew in the late’90s.
The 200,000-square-footiD Commerce + Logisticswarehouse at 1269 N. WoodDale Road is filled withproducts from the majormakers of toys, books,coffee, sports equipmentand more. Arriola’scompany houses these itemsat its site and then sendsthem to customers whenthey order them online.
The company employsabout 100 people, andduring the busy holidayseason, that number triplesthrough the addition oftemporary workers.
ID Commerce +Logistics has been nameda “Best Place to Work”several times by variouspublications, includingCrain’s Chicago Business,the Chicago Tribune andmore.
What helps to make thecompany a great place towork goes back to Arriola’sfocus on people.
It’s all about finding theright people and placingthem in the right positions,Arriola said of the businessphilosophy he’s developedover time. Doing hishomework up front as aboss helps the company toavoid trouble down the line.
“I felt that if you can geatthe people part right, thateverything will fall intoplace,” he said.
• HEARTContinued from page 2
Matthew Hendrickson - [email protected]
La Grange Realtor: ‘Communityis like nothing I ever imagined’
Tricia Riberto
By JOE [email protected]
A sk Tricia Riberto whereshe would like to be in thefuture and she’ll tell you
right where she’s at is just fine.
It’s been three years sinceRiberto took on the role of man-aging broker/branch managerof the Coldwell Banker officein La Grange. In those years, itbecame the fastest growing realestate company in town.
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French classes also areabout teaching her studentsFrench culture.
“I try to use as manyauthentic resources as pos-sible, whether it’s a videoclip or a commercial or asong or a reading piece,”she said. “We start lookingat ‘How is it different? Howis it similar? What’s theperspective?’”
She uses her passion forfood and cooking as partof the lessons, too, makingcrepes, cream puffs andcroque monsieur.
“One of the things I liketo do in the classroom isa cheese tasting becausethe variety of cheese thatAmerican students areexposed to is generallylimited to white andorange,” she said.
Besides her students,Mikulcik also is a leaderamong French teachers inthe area.
She has given presen-tations for the AmericanCouncil on TeachingForeign Languages and theIllinois Council on Teach-ing Foreign Languages.
She is a Teachers forAssessment and LanguageLearning Illinois leader,serving as a ICTFL resourcefor area foreign languageteachers.
Outside of her work,Mikulcik has a family withtwo young children to raise.
She said she has to setboundaries in order to bal-ance her school and homelives.
“I’m committing myselfto when I’m at school andwhen I’m at work, I’m 100percent invested here,” shesaid. “I do have to bringmy work home with me,and I set a time limit. ThenI focus on myself and myfamily because that’s whatmakes me happy. When Iget back to school, I’m re-energized and can go aboutmy day.”
Mikulcik said she is hon-ored and excited to receivethe Suburban Life BestUnder 40 award.
“It just warmed myheart that I was getting thisaward and that it reflectsthe love and passion I havefor my craft and my stu-dents,” she said.
• FRENCHContinued from page 13
Photo provided
Tim Ritchey
Lisle lawyer has passionfor helping others
He now specializes in estate,guardianship and elder law inDuPage, Cook and Kane counties asa partner with the Chicago-basedfirm Peck Bloom.
Ritchey said he enjoys working inhis area of expertise because peopleoften leave his office happier thanwhen they arrived.
“I really like giving back,” he said.The 35-year-old graduate of the
Chicago-Kent College of Law conducts
pro bono work for the Center for Dis-ability and Elder Law, Chicago Volun-teer Legal Services and the 100 Club,where he provides legal assistance tofamilies of fallen police officers.
Ritchey also helped create andpromote SB 2955, a bill allowing civilrecourse for victims of financiallyexploitive elder abuse. It was signedby Gov. Pat Quinn in August.
“I think it will affect a lot of peo-ple’s lives,” he said.
Ritchey recently served aschairman of the Probate PracticeCommittee and president of theChicago-Kent College of Law YoungAlumni Council. He is involved withthe Illinois State Bar Association,the Chicago Bar Association and theDuPage County Bar Association, andhe has been recognized as an IllinoisSuper Lawyers Rising Star in estateand trust litigation.
“Tim has made a name for him-self in the legal community as beinga great attorney,” said 13th DistrictCook County Commissioner, attor-ney and lobbyist Larry Suffredin,who nominated Ritchey for Subur-ban Life Media’s Best Under 40, inhis nomination letter.
Ritchey is a member of the LisleArea Chamber of Commerce andlives in Lisle with his wife, AmyRitchey, a teacher, and their twochildren.
By ANNA [email protected]
A ttorney and Lisle resident Tim Ritchey said if he won thelottery tomorrow, he would keep practicing law for free.
Although he dreamed of becoming an accountant as achild, he found himself fascinated by the required law courseshe took while studying finance at the University of Illinois atUrbana-Champaign.
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