
How do you capture 20 years or an entire lifetime in just six words? It may not sound like enough, but six short words can communicate a powerful message of a life filled with meaning, discovery and growth. CFBC members share the stories of their life and the CFBC in six words as we reflect not just on 20 years of the CFBC, but decades of life and journeys.
Jim Buik / Roscoe Company

My Life: Grow, learn, provide, protect and enjoy!
My CFBC Experience: We all walk a similar path
The Meaning of CFBC: Shared experiences creating new possibilities
Marcus Newman / GCG Financial

My Life: Happy cluelessness, de-evolution, rebuilding, learning
My CFBC Experience: Community, communication and camaraderie
The Meaning of CFBC: Collaborative environment where I can grow
Sara Poss / Shapes Supply

My Life: Great, hard, blessed, and faithful
My CFBC Experience: Nervous, personal growth, blessing, commitment, stronger
The Meaning of CFBC: People that want to see you succeed
Jeff Conner / Liners Direct

My Life: Always forward, never straight
My CFBC Experience: Growing vicariously through others
The Meaning of CFBC: Continuous learning opportunities
AJ Jania / Diamond Envelope Corp.

My Life: Forget the past and move forward
My CFBC Experience: Many ideas shared, not enough time
The Meaning of CFBC: Second business team without judgement
Brian McIlwee / McIlwee Millwork

My Life: Boy Scout, Businessman, Family Man, Deplane
My CFBC Experience: Weird beginning, foundation built, beyond expectations
The Meaning of CFBC: Could never return the volumes learned
Jim Padden / Padco Financial Services
My Life: Learn everyday, fight hard within rules
My CFBC Experience: Don’t be afraid to step up
The Meaning of CFBC: My private club of favorite strangers
Donna McCaleb / Noland Sales Corp.

My Life: Loving family, amazing experiences, truly blessed
My CFBC Experience: Eye-opening, jaw-dropping, self-examination
The Meaning of CFBC: Safety, insight, growth, depth, friendship, knowledge
Bob Stahurski / Nyco Products

My Life: Pair of Kings in a game of Jacks
My CFBC Experience: Nine Strangers bond quick & share big
The Meaning of CFBC: Support and a great resource
Art Lukowski / Oil Express

My Life: Power through vigilance, conviction and love
My CFBC Experience: Family plan, pain, gain and repay
The Meaning of CFBC: Friendships and heroes cherished, devotion returned
Darrin Shallcross / Shallcross Financial Planning

My Life: Self-made, husband, father
My CFBC Experience: Short time meeting wonderful people
The Meaning of CFBC: Meeting new people and sharing experiences
Judy Hogel / Chicago Family Business Council

My Life: The unmistakable Molly Brown finds JOY!
My CFBC Experience: Anton’s hug healed my soul
The Meaning of CFBC: With grace comes acceptance of all
Mike Baines / Prairie State Packaging
My Life: It’s like climbing Mt. Everest everyday
My CFBC Experience: Having my father appreciate our involvement
The Meaning of CFBC: My sanctuary away from judgement
Tom Donlon / Standard Equipment Company

My Life: Loving mutual admiration, dependable hard worker
My CFBC Experience: Safe place to discuss highly personal
The Meaning of CFBC: Healthy perception and fellowship
Neil O'Donnell / Progressive Industries

My Life: I’ve only just begun…
My CFBC Experience: Great friends, invaluable knowledge
The Meaning of CFBC: Allows me to find balance
Mike Graham / A to Z Sales

My Life: Beautiful exploration
My CFBC Experience: Listening to grow
The Meaning of CFBC: Genuine human interaction
Sharon Wong / NOW Foods

My Life: I have lived a full life.
My CFBC Experience: CFBC helped me with family conflict
The Meaning of CFBC: CFBC provides a safe learning place
Michael Jania / Diamond Envelope Corp.

My Life: Love and forgiveness with no regrets
My CFBC Experience: Building a never-ending bond
The Meaning of CFBC: Deep rooted relationships with incredible peers
Kevin Walter / Tasty Catering

My Life: Blessed
My CFBC Experience: Wonderful
The Meaning of CFBC: Warm, genuine, sincere, bonding
Jim Armbruster / ATMI Precast

My Life: Veni Vidi Vici
My CFBC Experience: A place to open up
The Meaning of CFBC: A haven where they can’t get you
Guy Ockerlund / OX BOX

My Life: Blessed
My CFBC Experience: Wonderful
The Meaning of CFBC: An oasis. Safe place.
Don Domanus / MEGAPros

My Life: On the ocean holding my wife
My CFBC Experience: Set me free from bad marriage
The Meaning of CFBC: Nonjudgmental opportunity to share and grow
Chris Prestegaard / American Chartered Bank

My Life: Good examples leave lasting memories
My CFBC Experience: Great people are great to know
The Meaning of CFBC: Excellence, goes without saying
Brian Bernard / SPEC Engineering

My Life: Some magic, some tragic…great ride
My CFBC Experience: Learning that self-honesty is liberating
The Meaning of CFBC: Eight friends I can’t live without
Jay Smith / William V. MacGill

My Life: Brief encounters with reality, then pizza
My CFBC Experience: Growth from an employee to leader
The Meaning of CFBC: My best friends with no bs
Mary Koonce / Cal's Electrical Services

My Life: Imaginative, fortunate, and itchy
My CFBC Experience: First retreat: Nervous, relieved and rejuvenated
The Meaning of CFBC: Priceless
Shea Roche / Carbit Paint

My Life: Always looking out for others
My CFBC Experience: Sharing experiences, knowing I’m not alone
The Meaning of CFBC: Life, love and happiness are key
Neil Houtsma / Nuance Solutions

The Meaning of CFBC: Personal growth, extraordinary insights, lasting friendships
Mike Moran / American Chartered Bank

My Life: Work hard, play hard, repeat
Stewart Lipton / Scientific Device Laboratory
My Life: Rags, hope, work and sharing
The Meaning of CFBC: A means for further contentment
Alan Jania / Diamond Envelope Corp.

My Life: If he can, anyone can
My CFBC Experience: Realizing we all have problems
The Meaning of CFBC: Learning to cope with family issues
Cathie Cushing Duff / Cushing & Co.

My Life: Constantly learning how blessed I am
My CFBC Experience: Safe place to be vulnerable
Jason Bone / Bone Roofing Supply

My Life: Graduated, worked, started a great family
My CFBC Experience: Opened up, learned to listen, grew
The Meaning of CFBC: Knowledge friendship, openness – leads to improvement
John Friedman / Northern Container

My Life: Born comfortable, helping others, doing both
My CFBC Experience: Buying friends? No, trusting and giving.
The Meaning of CFBC: Friendship, trust, advice, support
Michael Nitti / Isola Imports

My Life: I thought things would get easier
My CFBC Experience: An uplifting and fulfilling friendship
The Meaning of CFBC: A constant learning experience
Sean Hoffman / Nuance Solutions

My Life: Fun, regret, laugh, anger, love, hope
Nirel Inman

The Meaning of CFBC: Striving for your definition of success
Kerra O'Donnell / Progressive Industries

My Life: Unique
My CFBC Experience: Life-changing
The Meaning of CFBC: Inspiration
Don Wallin / Joule Technologies
My Life: Shame, addiction, satori’s, love, grateful, content
My CFBC Experience: Lifted up, expanded, pressed, new friendships
Deanna Salo / Cray, Kaiser Ltd.

The Meaning of CFBC: Most genuine group of business professionals
Anton Gfesser / Trendler

My Life: Innocence, Wonder, Adventure, Education, Listening, Reflection
The Meaning of CFBC: Trust, Friendship, Family, Clarity, Wisdom, Heart
Gina Krusinski / Krusinski Construction Company

My CFBC Experience: Exceptional friends found under unique circumstances
Brent Ogle / Blazer Manufacturing

My Life: Blessed with an incredible family and friends
The Meaning of CFBC: It made me a better person
Heiko Mitzkus / Vaxcel International

The Meaning of CFBC: Audi, listen, appreciate others & yourself
Janet Nitti / Isola Imports

My Life: Work, love, play with your heart!
My CFBC Experience: Mind expanding, knowledge, willingness to help
The Meaning of CFBC: Honesty, acceptance, personal growth, true friendship