Entrepreneurship & Startups

Denise Oros is the owner and master goldsmith of Linnea Jewelers, a full-service fine jewelry studio in La Grange, Illinois. With decades of experience at the bench, she specializes in custom design, stone setting, restoration, and personalized pieces that reflect each client’s story. Her approach blends traditional craftsmanship with modern tools and techniques, allowing customers […]

Danielle Drabkin is Founder & CEO of Chicago-based startup, Pear Chef, disrupting the way Food & Beverage is brought on-site to urban, luxury buildings. Pear Chef brings this exciting culinary amenity to multi-family and office buildings through the use of RFID technology and smart fridges.  Prior to founding Pear Chef, Danielle Drabkin was Chief Sales

John Lee Dumas is the host of Entrepreneurs on Fire, an award-winning podcast where he interviews inspiring Entrepreneurs who are truly ON FIRE. With over 2500 episodes, 1 million++ listens a month, and seven figures of annual revenue, JLD is just getting started. Visit EOFire.com to set YOUR Entrepreneurial journey ON FIRE! Why This Episode

Jay Leonard is a Managing Director in Bernstein Private Wealth Management’s Chicago office, where he helps lead strategy and growth in Chicago and the Midwest markets.  As a Principal of the firm & co-leader of the business owner and entrepreneur task force, he also advises clients and their professional advisors regarding asset allocation, investment strategy,

Ian Duignan began his career in Dublin as a bar manager, gaining early industry insights before transitioning to sales during the economic recession. At Arnotts, he quickly rose to managerial level, achieving €1.3 million in annual sales. He then joined Apple as a top-trained sales executive, refining his expertise in customer engagement and brand strategy. 

President of RIM Logistics, Robert Mueller, is driven by a passion for inspiring creativity and challenging the status quo. Following in his father’s footsteps, he built his career in logistics by forging strong client networks and later took the helm of the family business after his father’s passing. Mueller was instrumental in expanding RIM’s presence

Adam Codilis is a legal professional specializing in the banking and default services industries, with extensive expertise in mortgage law, real estate law, default litigation, defense of consumer litigation, title insurance, and regulatory/compliance issues. Alongside his legal practice skills, Adam possesses substantial experience in management and enjoys collaborating with a team of leaders to provide

In Episode 37 of Light Bulb Moments, I’ll be speaking with Barry Waitte. Barry has a remarkable story of transformation, shifting from a thriving tech career in Silicon Valley to becoming a renowned winegrower in Napa Valley. A proud graduate of California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, Barry found success in the early

In this episode, I dive into the fascinating differences between extroverts and introverts, especially when it comes to entrepreneurship. Interestingly, many entrepreneurs identify as introverts, and I’ve found this dynamic particularly intriguing as an extrovert myself. I reflect on how balancing extroverted and introverted personalities is crucial in both business and personal life. Extroverts bring

In Episode 22 of Light Bulb Moments, I sit down with Ken “Bucky” Buckman, an entrepreneur whose ADHD-driven approach has fueled 30 years of success in the trade show industry and beyond. Ken has transformed challenges into opportunities, leading TradeTec to national acclaim with multiple INC 5000 rankings. As the founder of Rainy Investments, he