Chicago

Annie Diamantidis is a luxury handbag designer. Inspired by the history and mythology of Greece each Annie Handbag® pays homage to Greek Goddesses- Athena, Clio, Selene, and Eris. Annie Handbags® are for today’s goddesses. Upon launching her namesake collection in 2009, editors and stylists alike were captivated by the unique combination of exotic crocodile, python, […]

From the time she was 8, Kimberlee Moore was intrigued with the culture and language of other countries. Being inspired by her travels, she earned a degree in International Business and pursued a career with a fashion flair. After several years of managing different businesses, she settled at John Allan’s. At the forefront of the […]

Private chef Aaron Crumbaugh of Home Cooked Catering (“HCC”) is making entertaining easy for Chicagoans on the go and looking to impress. Crumbaugh, a former Peninsula Hotel chef, model and Amazing Race 6 contestant is creating multi course gourmet meals for intimate dinner parties, hor d’oeuvres for celebrations, corporate events and in-home cooking lessons. Together […]

Kelli Zink grew up with a microphone in her hand, always knowing she wanted to be a reporter. From knocking on the door of a Fox Sports production truck after a basketball game in her cheerleader uniform to winning an ESPN reality show, she did whatever it took to get her foot in the television […]

“I’ve never had a job and I don’t want one,” photographer Jeff Kauck says with a laugh. It’s not entirely true, of course, as Kauck has built a successful career based on his expertise behind the camera. To him, however, it has never felt like work; instead, it’s an expression of passion for his subjects […]

Chef Lee Ann Whippen is Chef/Partner of urban BBQ restaurant Chicago q. Lee Ann Whippen is also President and Owner of Wood Chick’s BBQ Restaurants & Catering Company, Lead Pitmaster for Wood Chick’s BBQ Competition Cooking Team, Member Kansas City Barbecue Society, KCBS Certified BBQ Judge, former Newspaper Food Columnist, 15 years in Hotel Catering […]

Emmanuel Nony was raised in the French countryside. He often accompanied his parents to open-air markets and dairy farms, which profoundly influenced his taste and career path. After attending culinary school, he fixed his sights on the front of the house. After moving up in the ranks with the Chefs de France (Orlando, FL) in […]

With a colorful culinary repertoire under his toque – and a knack for technical perfection – Executive Chef Dan Tucker is part of the extraordinary team at SUSHISAMBA rio. A member of the restaurant industry since his teenage years, he was drawn to the creative freedom of the culinary world and the satisfaction of executing […]

Billy Dec is CEO / Founder of Rockit Ranch Productions, Chicago’s premier restaurant and entertainment development company, specializing in the creation, marketing and management of some of the city’s top venues including its latest concept, the New Asian restaurant Sunda, as well as the Underground and the ever-popular Rockit Bar & Grill (with locations in […]

Sarah Vargo developed Maven after working at some of the nation’s top talent agencies and promotional companies. She started her career at International Creative Management (ICM) as an Assistant to a Talent Agent in Concerts. After gaining experience at ICM, she worked for boutique agencies where she was able to put her skills to test […]

Robert Wolcott, Ph.D. is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Clareo Partners LLC, a corporate strategy and innovation management consultancy specializing in new business creation and growth (www.clareopartners.com). Subsidiary Clareo Capital owns equity in companies in social enterprise and luxury markets. Clareo’s headquarters, Clareo Studio, created in partnership with Herman Miller, Inc., serves as a […]

Nicole Pearl, The Beauty Girl and founder of www.thebeautygirl.com, is a nationally acclaimed beauty expert who delivers behind-the-scenes scoop, hot tips and trends on all things beauty to Chicago. A former New York-based beauty writer/editor originally from Chicago’s North Shore, Nicole has written for various national magazines such as In Style, Allure, Self, Health, Marie […]