#HASHTAG: JEFFREY CONDREN

JEFFREY CONDREN has been part of the Ravinia Associates Board since 2016. Originally from Cincinnati, Condren didn’t know what to expect the first time he visited the park. He was blown away during that first concert and now can’t imagine life without Ravinia. Generally speaking, he is more of a fan of the lawn over the pavilion, but certain concerts he feels are a “pavilion must,” including any time the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is playing. Condren is excited to for Music Matters 2024 on May 11 where he and the board hope to explore different ways to enhance guests’ park experience including allowing guests in the pavilion during the cocktail hour. “This will be a wonderful chance for guests to have an experience similar to a musician or conductor taking the stage,” he says. Music Matters will honor The Negaunee Foundation and its President, Richard W. Colburn, and may have a surprise or two in store for everyone. Condren put aside his party planning tools to share how he stays current in an ever-changing world.

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

The last book I finished was Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk. In finance, risk is something that everyone thinks about and handles differently. The book does a nice job of going through the perception and history of risk, how things like Modern Portfolio Theory came about, and the challenges of relying solely on risk to make decisions. In my day to day, though, I enjoy reading The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and other online publications.

#ON MY MOBILE

Simon Sinek and Gary Vaynerchuk are the two people I follow the most.

#IN MY EARBUDS

I’m supposed to say Taylor Swift here, right? The music I listen to is dependent on my mood. If I’m around the house with my family, we likely have “Tropical House” music playing. We came across this genre during COVID, and it’s one style that everyone in the family can agree on. If I’m by myself and need a bit more energy, I’ll put on popular music from the 1990s and 2000s.