Author
Heather Larson

Partner Spotlight: Meet Hasan Ali

General Manager of the Westin Chicago Northwest and Meet Chicago Northwest Board Member Hasan Ali grew up in Karachi, a cosmopolitan city in Pakistan. He grew up the only son with six sisters. He finished his first bachelor’s degree from University of Sindh in Business Administration and his second…

Read More

Partner Spotlight: Meet Michael Kudrna

Owner of Frato's Culinary Kitchen and Co-Founder of District 214’s Culinary Arts Apprenticeship Program Please tell us a little about yourself and how you got into the restaurant business. Since I was a child, I've had an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to problem solve which fueled my craving…

Read More

Partner Spotlight: Meet Adriannah Beckham

Welcome to Partner Spotlight! A highlight of the diverse and talented individuals in our Chicago Northwest region’s hospitality industry. MEET Adriannah Beckham, Owner of SoCo Restaurant Adriannah is the Owner-Operator of SoCo, a new comfort food restaurant located at 812 East Higgins Road in Elk…

Read More

Partner Spotlight: Meet Michael Benjamin

Welcome to Partner Spotlight! A highlight of the diverse and talented individuals in our Chicago Northwest region’s hospitality industry. MEET Michael Benjamin, General Manager at ENTERRIUM Michael grew up in south suburban Oak Lawn and attended Marist High School. He later studied hospitality…

Read More

Partner Spotlight: Meet Shirlanne Lemm

Welcome to Partner Spotlight! A highlight of the diverse and talented individuals in our Chicago Northwest region’s hospitality industry. MEET Shirlanne Lemm, President & CEO, GOA Business Association, Chairman of the Board, Meet Chicago Northwest Shirlanne grew up in Peoria, Illinois and moved to…

Read More

Partner Spotlight: Meet Katy Garcia

Welcome to Partner Spotlight! A highlight of the diverse and talented individuals in our Chicago Northwest region’s hospitality industry. MEET KATY GARCIA of Riccardo’s Restaurant in Schaumburg Katy Garcia moved to Hoffman Estates in the 1970's from Birmingham, Alabama. Her birth was actually…

Read More

Partner Spotlight: Meet Gus Diones

Welcome to Partner Spotlight! A highlight of the diverse and talented individuals in our Chicago Northwest region’s hospitality industry. MEET Gus Diones, Owner of Gus’ Diner in Rolling Meadows Gus Diones grew up in Chicago’s Northwest suburbs and is a graduate of Conant High School in Schaumburg…

Read More

Partner Spotlight: Meet Ted Boufis

Welcome to Partner Spotlight! A highlight of the diverse and talented individuals in our Chicago Northwest region’s hospitality industry. Meet Ted Boufis, Owner of Local Bar and Grill in Wood Dale Ted grew up in the restaurant business. His parents, along with his aunts and uncles, owned a family…

Read More

Partner Spotlight: Meet Carmie Antongiovanni

Welcome to Partner Spotlight! A highlight of the diverse and talented individuals in our Chicago Northwest region’s hospitality industry. Meet Carmie Antongiovanni, General Manager, Aloft Chicago Schaumburg in Rolling Meadows Carmie grew up in Melrose Park with her five siblings and her parents who…

Read More

Partner Spotlight: Meet Grace Goudie

Welcome to Partner Spotlight! A highlight of the diverse and talented individuals in our Chicago Northwest region’s hospitality industry. MEET GRACE GOUDIE, Executive Chef at Scratchboard Kitchen Chef Grace grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago as the youngest of five siblings. She attended the…

Read More