Since its inception 14 years ago, Sheridan Road magazine has sought to empower women with a long-standing commitment to engage and champion the leaders who build, uplift, and inspire our communities. Please join us in celebrating some of the North Shore’s remarkable women and all that they contribute, personally and professionally to the towns that we call home. This new annual feature showcases many of the North Shore’s influential women across a variety of fields—agents, designers, business owners, executives, matchmakers, healthcare experts, architects, photographers, community leaders, and philanthropists. We believe that the hand that rocks the cradle also rules the world, and in the spirit of those words, we toast all the amazing women in our midst.

PRODUCED BY KEMMIE RYAN

WORDS BY SHERRY THOMAS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK ISHMAN

STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA

HAIR AND MAKEUP BY DANA HAMED

SHOT ON LOCATION AT HILTON/CHICAGO OAK BROOK HILLS RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER

If you like what you see in these pages, please know that this feature was met with resounding enthusiasm and will be a recurring annual feature. Feel free to contact our team if you would like to recommend a North Shore Power Woman for our 2021 feature.

THE VELVET HAMMER

As a residential real estate broker with the Dawn McKenna Group, ANNIE ROYSTER LENZKE is known for getting things done with grace. She earned a reputation for her direct-yet-poised business style when she worked at global advertising agency, Leo Burnett, and later adapted it for her real estate clients who primarily live in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. A lifelong resident of the North Shore, she is a passionate advocate for these communities. “When I was 9 years old, I told my mom that I felt like I was growing up in a secret,” Lenzke recalls. “Even then, I knew how special it was to live here. Now I love sharing these treasures with others.” She learned from the best. Her mother, Jean Royster, is a highly accomplished real estate pro and her role model. “She taught me everything I know,” says Lenzke. “I get my tenacity from her.”

Annie Royster Lenzke is with the Dawn McKenna Group, Coldwell Banker Realty, located at 225 E. Deerpath Road, Suite 50, in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847-414-4045, Instagram @annie.royster.lenzke or visit dawnmckennagroup.com/page/annie-royster-lenzke

THE ROLE MODEL

AMY ERB, owner and principal designer at the Divvy House, a full-service boutique design firm specializing in timeless interiors, knows from experience that anything is possible with persistence and faith. “And of course, it doesn’t hurt to be in the right place at the right time,” says Erb, who earned a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and a graduate degree from Harrington School of Design. “Know your strengths but focus on your weaknesses. Put yourself out there where it’s not comfortable and try to grow a little each day. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. It’s our biggest failures that reveal our “true” work.” Erb says one of her role models was her father, who she describes as “not threatened by a strong woman.” Not only was he a proponent of helping women to succeed in the workplace, but objective and honest enough to help her grow into adulthood. “My father taught me the value in fairness and equality, and that having integrity is something nobody can ever take away from you,” she says. “He allowed me to make mistakes, and be accountable for my actions, which grew my abilities and confidence.” She uses those life lessons to be a role model for the team of young women who work for her at the Divvy House. “I feel it is my responsibility to mentor, teach, and pay forward what I have found to be successful in life and the workplace.”

Divvy House is located at 130 Euclid Avenue in Glencoe. For more information, call 312-371-0832 or visit divvyhouse.com.

Dress by Rohit Gandhi available at RedE Mas in Hinsdale, redeboutique.com

RISK TAKER

After AMY CHUNG completed her degree in industrial-organization psychology, she was offered a position working for the Walt Disney Company in Southern California. “I had already committed to a job for the summer, so I had to turn that offer down. A few months later after completing the previous obligation I called my contact at Disney to see if the position was still available. It was not, but there was a different job opening in two weeks,” says Chung, a real estate broker with the Dave and Amy Chung team at Compass. “I panicked and turned it down again thinking the timing was too tight. After a day of thinking, I realized if I didn’t take the risk it would be the mistake of a lifetime. So, I packed up my car drove 700 miles to Burbank and started the job a week later. If I hadn’t done that I never would be where I am today because I met Dave, my husband, on my second day of work and we have been partners in work and life ever since.” She also considers herself lucky to have been surrounded by a solid crew of female mentors throughout her life and career. “They inspire me with their determination, hard work, and passion for helping others,” she says, noting that it is those same qualities she tries to infuse into her own business style. “Caring for the needs of my clients is paramount to success in real estate,” Chung adds. “Listening to their needs and helping them achieve their goals is always a priority for me.”

Amy Chung works with her husband, Dave, at Compass, located at 851 Spruce Street in Winnetka. For more information, call 847-461-8856 or visit daveandamychung.com.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Marketing guru AMY LANGAN knows that to be successful in business, sometimes you need to just roll with the punches and do your best in any situation—even if it might seem doomed to fail. Her favorite example is the time when she was speaking at her first national sales event in Vail, Colorado. “I was soooo nervous,” says Langan, Chief Marketing Officer for Kit Check, the leading provider of automated medication tracking and diversion detection solutions for hospital pharmacies. She and her husband went out early to get in some skiing and she practiced her presentation in the mirror for two days, a technique she highly recommends because in addition to realizing that she needed to color her hair, she also “couldn’t pronounce my boss’s boss’ name for the life of me.” When the big day finally came, she was heading down and asked her hubby how she looked. “He proceeds to let me know that I look like Prince, the singer!” she says. “Clearly, I didn’t look in the mirror when I chose my outfit. The purple velvet, long duster- like jacket with the white frilly shirt-color might have been a tad too much for the stage. However, the commitment to be memorable, funny, and nail the speech that people found interesting paid off dearly.” This go-getter has been knocking them dead ever since, cultivating a business style she describes as both democratic and transformational.

For more information about Kit Check, visit kitcheck.com.

HALL OF FAMER

ANN LASALLE LYON of the Lake Forest office of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Chicago is a professional with 20 years of experience practicing architecture and overseeing construction, and more than 15 years in residential sales and marketing. Lyon is a North Shore real estate leader who is consistently ranked at the top of her profession. She’s detail-oriented and dedicated with a mantra to “produce results for my clients while maintaining the highest standards of integrity.” Lyon’s five-year bachelor of architecture gave her the credentials needed for her specialty in residential historic preservation and restoration—one that has taken her from design and construction to luxury real estate. Citing her parents as her role models, Lyon takes pride in being “a proactive agent who responds rapidly with the highest level of professionalism and confidentiality.” Considering her awards, including a place in Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago’s Hall of Fame, we think most everyone who has worked with her would agree that she has a high degree of energy, knowledge and professionalism.

Ann LaSalle Lyon is with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, located at 778 N. Western Avenue in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847- 828-9991 or email [email protected].

BEDROCK FOR SUCCESS

ANETA SZULAKIEWICZ is the Owner and CEO of General Masonry Construction, Inc., a residential and commercial construction company that serves the North Shore and has for nearly two decades. General Masonry Construction works directly with homeowners, general contractors, builders, and developers, and has completed award-winning commercial masonry projects. Some of the company’s signature commercial masonry projects include: Starbucks, Christ Oasis Ministries, Xsport Fitness, Advance Auto Parts, Underwriters Laboratory, Chicago Behavioral Hospital, and more. In addition to commercial projects, Szulakiewicz’s company has completed nearly a hundred residential new construction buildings and many repairs and build-outs for the residential sector. Her dedication to the masonry industry for over a decade led Aneta to a realization of the high demand for the best masonry products on the market today. Recently, Aneta opened a sister company, General Masonry Supply Venture, LLC., with an upscale showroom and new corporate office. There, customers can browse topof- the-line brick, stone, paving, pillars, balustrades, landscape stone, and porcelain products for any new masonry construction and remodeling projects they have in mind. Both companies work with interior designers and architects to make their clients’ visions a reality. In September 2020, General Masonry Construction reached its 1000th completed neighborhood masonry project. Aneta and her entire team are a part of the success and phenomenal growth of both companies and share this exciting feat. The bedrock of both company’s success is her ability to plan, communicate, execute, and deliver to meet the client’s satisfaction. Delivering quality services and products has been the key to her success in the masonry construction field and she is excited for you to visit her at the Northbrook showroom very soon.

The new showroom for General Masonry Supply Venture, your North Shore supplier, is located at 824 S. Waukegan Road in Northbrook. For more information, call 847-715-9955 or visit generalmasonrysupplyventure.com.

SEAMLESS SERVICE

When BRANDIE MALAY SIAVELIS (ABR, ASP) started in the real estate business almost 20 years ago, she says there was really no guidance or classes offered by brokerages to learn how to manage your business like they have now. “It was basically a pat on the back and being told good luck,” says Siavelis, Senior Broker with the @properties office in Winnetka. “I remember knocking on doors all over Chicago trying to secure business, but it taught me perseverance, the art of working from the ground up, and how to deal with people on a personal level in what can be a very emotional process.” These lessons have contributed to her success today. “I try to make the process for my sellers and buyers as seamless as possible,” says Siavelis, who has a BA from Miami University. “I don’t hard sell. I do my best to make my homes show in the best light possible and I help my buyers see homes through clear lenses.”

Brandie Malay Siavelis is a senior broker with @ properties office at 30 Green Bay Road in Winnetka. For more information, call 773-968-4550, 847-881-0200, or visit chicagototheshore.com.

Dress by Dorothee Schumacher available at Sweet William in Hinsdale, sweetwilliaminc.com

THE ARCHITECTURE OF LIFE

CELESTE ROBBINS says her love of design and craft began at an early age. “Growing up in Ohio, I would spend hours constructing elaborate forts using safety pins and blankets tucked into drawers, and my passion for architecture continued to grow through the years. Architecture and artistry are in my DNA,” says Robbins (AIA), who founded her eponymous firm, Robbins Architecture, in Winnetka in 1995. From that moment through today, she follows her mother’s example as a role model. “She taught me that you can accomplish a lot with just hard work and kindness.” Robbins says one of her career-changing moments came when she least expected it. “I was just starting out and had recently performed extensive renovations for a client. The project had gone very well, and one day I got a call asking if I would design their home at the base of Grand Teton in Jackson Hole. It was a dream project with the perfect site to build something really special.” That home was featured in Architectural Digest in 2008, and her success has continued. “This was where I first fully gave form to my language of timeless modern, warmth, and connection to nature. I am always grateful that the clients had unwavering faith in me, and I’m very excited to once again be embarking on another project with them—a family retreat on the shores of Lake Michigan.”

Robbins Architecture is located at 976 Green Bay Road in Winnetka. For more information, call 847-446-8001 or visit robbins-architecture.com.

THE PERSONAL TOUCH

CARLY JONES was working as a litigation attorney in a big financial law firm when the housing bubble burst in 2008. “Because I was in general litigation and one of our clients was a big bank and we also had smaller bank clients, I started handling hundreds of foreclosures of big subdivisions, commercial properties, and other residential developments, including some where houses were already built,” says Jones, a founding advisor of Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore. “I went through the foreclosure process and once it was complete and the bank owned the property, I would also be involved in the legal side of selling the properties. It gave me my first taste of real estate.” She also went through some personal experiences in the market at that time, using the experience of the money she and her husband lost and what they learned to forge a new career in real estate. “It was the perfect marriage of my legal knowledge and financial litigation background and something I found fascinating,” says Jones, who has a BA from University of Michigan, a JD from Loyola University, and a LLM in Health Law from DePaul University. “After more than four years, I love it and I also love the design portion and seeing all the unique qualities of different houses.” Her business style is to combine a personal touch with constant communication. “Also, with my legal background, I have a strong attention to detail and organization and provide my clients step by step instructions on what to expect and willingness to answer any questions.”

For more information about Carly Jones and her listings, visit carlyjones.evrealestate.com

Dress by Dorothee Schumacher available at Sweet William in Hinsdale, sweetwilliaminc.com

THE POWER WITHIN

DR. CHARISSE HUDSON-QUIGLEY says she founded her Aesthetics and Wellness for Women, LLC in 2018 so that she could support the needs of women seeking personalized and holistic-based care, while also being present to the daily needs of her own family. As a young girl growing up on Chicago’s south side, she was drawn to the compassion and commitment she saw in the physicians who cared for her in the public clinics, experiences which motivated her to pursue a medical school education and help change the lives of others. “What I have achieved is only possible through faith, hard work, and the love of family,” says Dr. Charisse, who earned her medical degree from the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Building a business style that combines personalized care with a sophisticated flair, she looks to Oprah Winfrey as a role model and another example of a woman who found success, against all odds. As a gynecologist with a special interest in integrative and aesthetic medicine, Dr. Charisse’s holistic health philosophy is inspired by another strong woman—her beloved 99-year-old grandmother. “I am fascinated by what science and life experience has proven—the undeniable benefits of healthy living and the powerful natural healing potential that we all possess.”

Aesthetics and Wellness for Women LLC is located at 900 Technology Way, Suite 260, in Libertyville. For more information, call 224-433-6010 or visit doctorcharisse.com.

THE NATURAL

CONNIE DORNAN says she got into the real estate business over a glass of wine and a bet with her father. “He said I would be a natural at real estate and I told him he was wrong. Dad won the bet,” says Dornan, who now works as a real estate consultant with the @properties office in Glenview. A Chicago native, Dornan had been an accountant with a firm specializing in residential and commercial real estate management. After the birth of her children, her attention shifted even more toward real estate, and the rest is history. Today, she is happy she lost that bet with her father. She also continues to be inspired by her role model Madam C. J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove)—an entrepreneur, activist and the first female self-made millionaire in America.

Connie Dornan is a broker with @properties, located at 1517 Waukegan Road in Glenview. For more information, call 847- 208-1397 or visit conniedornan.com.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

CHERYL MANKOFF of Lake Forest was volunteering at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission near her winter home in Palm Desert, California, a few years ago when she discovered that the one thing homeless shelters need most is probably the most obvious (though least likely to be donated)—underwear. In November 2017, she launched a company to serve that need throughout the nation. Feel Good Undies is the only e-commerce intimate apparel company in the United States that donates one pair of gorgeous, high-end underwear to shelters for every customer pair purchased. “You have to believe in your passion, no matter what it may be,” says Mankoff, adding that she tries to follow the example set by her role model, her mother with a business style that’s informative and enlightening. “Because you may be the change in many lives!”

For more information about Feel Good Undies or to purchase a pair, visit feelgoodundies.com.

ART OF LISTENING

One thing CHRIS PUSZYNSKI learned early on in her real estate career was how to zone in on individual client’s tastes and needs. “I was sitting one of my first Sunday open houses with a colleague and we were talking about the loud orange and yellow wallpaper in the kitchen. I was giving one of the visitors a tour, and when we walked into the kitchen the potential buyer remarked that orange was her favorite color, says @ properties broker Puszynski, explaining that she chose real estate specifically because it was the one field where women had a chance at leveling the playing field. “I quickly learned that we all have different preferences!” As she showed more homes to the family, she began to realize that what mattered more than wallpaper patterns or luxury finishes was the wellbeing of their youngest child. “The house was important, but the child and a neighborhood for him was really at the top on their list. Knowing this, I searched for and found a street where children were outside, riding their bikes, playing ball, selling lemonade, having a great time. A new listing came to market, and I decided to add it to our tour list. They visited and although it was much larger than they needed it felt perfect and they bought it.” This innate skill of listening is not only the secret to her success but also a core part of her business style. “Facts and research are important whether representing a buyer or seller, and knowledge is powerful,” she adds. As a product of Catholic education (and a lifelong learner) Puszynski puts Mother Theresa at the top of her list of role models, along with Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Julia Child. “All of these women faced great challenges professionally and yet they maintained their dignity and never gave up.” Those who have worked with Puszynski might say the same about her.

Chris Puszynski is with the @properties office at 600 N. Western Avenue in Lake Forest. For more information, please call 847-812-7265, 847-295-0700, or visit atproperties.com/agents/4456/chris-puszynski.

BE REAL

For DENISE HAMBURGER, Founder and Executive Director of BE REAL, a Chicago-based nonprofit devoted to creating a more body confident world, the inspiration for her work did not come from a report or a spreadsheet. She was seeing it and hearing it in person, on the ground, in the classrooms of Chicago area schools. “A few years ago, I was guest lecturing in a health class in a high school north of Chicago. The teacher told me that four of the 24 students in my first class already had been diagnosed with an eating disorder. I was shocked,” says Hamburger, who has a JD from University of Michigan. “These children were only 14 and 15 years old, and that was already twice the national average for a devastating mental illness. I asked the teacher what was going on. She told me of an epidemic of body image issues the kids were facing because of their social media that had become more and more visual in the last few years.” Teachers and parents didn’t know how to deal with this problem, so Hamburger went to the Department of Health and Regulatory Wellness at the Illinois State Board of Education. “Together we worked on an idea to deliver information to teachers on how to create body confident schools in Illinois.” BE REAL developed Body Confident Schools, a teachers’ professional development workshop created from a robust field of body image research. “Last year I spoke to over 400 Illinois teachers, coaches, administrators, school social workers, and guidance counselors—giving them an in-depth, evidence-based professional development workshop.” Hamburger’s workshops get rave reviews, and over the next year she plans to expand beyond Illinois to teachers in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Texas.

For more information about BE REAL, visit berealusa.org.

PROBLEM SOLVER

DIANA M. PETERSON says that early in her career she had a boss who micromanaged her. “Working for her inspired me to become the successful, serial entrepreneur I am today,” says Peterson, who is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Northbrook-based AW Properties Global. Her company provides real estate consulting, brokerage and auction services, offering clients local market expertise and a proprietary marketing database with national and global reach. A University of Chicago graduate with a JD from University of Minnesota Law School, Peterson says her “hard working, always reliable and highly determined” mother was the role model for her success. Currently, her company is working on some high-profile projects, including the sale of a large industrial property near O’Hare and the auction of Whitehall, a five-acre Lake Forest estate. How does she define her business style? “I pride myself on being able to creatively solve complex problems and deliver rapid results to owners of commercial and residential real estate nationwide.”

AW Properties Global is located at 707 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 600, in Northbrook. For more information, call 847-509-2757 or visit awproperties.com.

Pink blouse and black pant by Kobi Halprin, both at Neiman Marcus Northbrook Court, neimanmarcus.com.

THE SERVANT LEADER

One year ago, after 34 years working clinically and teaching physical therapy, DR. ELLEN COOK HUMPHREY founded a new kind of private, outpatient clinic with the vision of creating the change she wanted to see in the physical therapy world. “So, rather than continue on the safe path, I embraced the words of Gandhi,” says Dr. Humphrey, who has a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Rosalind Franklin University, a Master of Physical Therapy from Stanford University, and a BA in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology from University of Colorado Boulder. “Motivation for this venture came from growing disappointment with changes in physical therapy, which seem to favor profit over personalized patient care. Frankly, I was tired of being a cog in the wheel of assembly line rehabilitation.” Dr. Humphrey was 59 when she opened Physical Therapy of Lake Forest, specializing in orthopedics, sports medicine, and women’s health, with a goal of providing expert hands on care, as well as, an integrated health network. Beyond the business, her own personal story is one that could be an inspiration for many. “My husband had died from leukemia in 2012, leaving me with the seemingly impossible task of raising our three young sons while working full time to support us. The solution was learning to put my pride aside and graciously accept the outpouring of love and help our community provided.”

Physical Therapy of Lake Forest LLC is located at 840 South Waukegan Road, Suite 212, in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847-455-6674 or visit ptlakeforest.com.

Pants by Veronica Beard and python print booties by AGL available at Sweet William in Hinsdale, sweetwilliaminc.com

HONESTY AND INTEGRITY

GLO MATLIN’s favorite story about how she got to where she is today in real estate is an unexpected one. “I lost a sale by helping my clients realize they would like an area I didn’t serve,” says Matlin, a broker and realtor with The Matlin Group at Compass in Winnetka. “They treasured my honesty and integrity and knew it wasn’t about me, but what was best for them. They’ve referred many clients since then and I treasure our relationship.” That kind of personal attention to what the client both wants and needs has resulted in 33 years of success. With a business style that’s more fun than formal (“I love dresses,” she says), those who know Matlin know she will be with them every step of the way.

Compass is located at 320 Tudor in Glencoe. For more information, call 847-951-4040 or visit compass.com/agents/gloria-matlin.

Silk dress by Ulla Johnson available at Sweet William in Hinsdale, sweetwilliaminc.com

LEADING LADY

Since 1996, ILENE CHASE Design has been transforming spaces and making home dreams come true across the North Shore. But Chase, Principal Designer/Owner of Ilene Chase Design LLC in Highland Park, says none of her success would be possible without the influence of her family. “I am 100 percent here today because of a natural gift of design handed down to me by my parents,” says Chase, who majored in art at Indiana University and studied kitchen and bath design after college. “My mother, who was an artist and a wonderful designer, was blessed with the most exquisite taste and eye for the smallest of details. My father was the most gentle man, and he loved design as well. While I was growing up, he was in the drapery business. Before his passing eight years ago, his happiest days were when I took him with me to see the beautiful homes that I had the pleasure of working on. I knew he was very proud.” Chase, who also has a line of custom furniture, says she looks to the Chicago design community as a collective role model for how to use her talents to create beauty and make a difference in the world. “From the time I am hired, my direction is completing my work for the client and achieving my goal,” she says. “Along the way, we enjoy the process, get to know each other very well, and always try to laugh and appreciate the good things we are surrounded by.”

Ilene Chase Design’s North Shore Showroom is located at 667 Central Avenue in Highland Park. For more information, call 847-828-0305 or visit ilenechasedesign.com.

BEST DRESSED

Since 1922, The Lake Forest Shop has been dressing women throughout Chicago with a verve and style that has been noted on a national level. The name that fashion designer Bill Blass once dropped when talking about the iconic boutique’s nearly century of success wasn’t that of founder, Chicago socialite Margaret Baxter Foster, or even another famous family member, Conde Nast, of Vogue magazine fame. It was ELLEN STIRLING and the work she did to take over the family business and give it new life in a new century. “After uncle Conde Nast had died, The Lake Forest Shop was a virtually bankrupt family toy and my father was planning to close it, but I knew he didn’t want to do so,” explains Stirling, today the owner and CEO. She asked if he would let her “give it a go.” “He tried to talk me out of it, but I knew he didn’t want to close his mother’s favorite toy. We changed the name, repaid the debt, closed the unprofitable branches, remerchandised the Shop and set out to build a fortress balance sheet,” she says, including her grandmother and writer-explorer Gertrude Bell as her role models. “With the support of Town & Country, Vogue, Chicago Tribune, Sheridan Road, Forest & Bluff and many others we are 98 years young and doing all we can to support our wonderful communities.”

The Lake Forest Shop is located at 265 E. Market Square in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847-234-0548 or visit thelakeforestshop.com.

FOLLOWING IN HER FOOTSTEPS

Those who know the story of JENA RADNAY’s road to real estate can appreciate how her notso- linear path led her exactly where she was meant to be. After earning a nursing degree from Georgetown University, she worked in marketing at DDB Worldwide, and was presenting ideas to McDonalds—almost straight out of college. It was a crash course in client management, and it serves her well to this day. When asked about her role model, however, Radnay points straight back to her Czech grandmother, Mary Wolf (aka “Babi”). “She never had a car, never had a license or a credit card her whole 97 years of life,” says Radnay, a luxury home consultant and broker with @properties. “She used to say ‘Jennika, everyone is stupid … it’s up to you to always make sure things get done right. Never be afraid to speak your mind’.” For example, Radnay says Babi always kept a running count of her bill when checking out at the grocery store. “She was a walking machine … and she always keep her head high and never felt sorry for herself. She was the definition of women empowerment.” Radnay continues to follow in those footsteps, describing herself as a micromanager of details and creative thinker of vision with a casual and approachable style. “I’m also direct in terms of information and conveying my thoughts,” she adds. “And inside, I have a huge heart so always want the best for all.”

Jena Radnay is based in the @properties office at 30 Green Bay Road in Winnetka. For more information, call 312-925- 9899, 847-881-0200, or visit atproperties.com/agents/2213/jena-radnay.

FINDING GRACE

One of the reasons that JUDY GIBBONS is a top producing realtor with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty is because she understands the emotions that surround a home purchase or sale. This compassion was developed at an early age. “Having survived a devastating tornado as a young girl, I saw my parents pick up the pieces and move forward with grace and strength to help us five kids get back to a bit of ‘normalcy’ after we lost everything,” says Gibbons, who still considers her father, who died 10 years ago, a role model for how to be a true entrepreneur. “Being in real estate, I get to help a lot of people and it is fulfilling but it is not life and death. Sometimes, I have to take a breath and remind people that everything we have can be gone in an instant. COVID-19 has definitely exposed how things can change in life in moments.” Her motto in life and in business is to “work hard, play hard, and celebrate everything.”

Judy Gibbons is with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, located at 425 W. North Avenue in Chicago. For more information, call 847-274-4983 or visit judygibbonsproperties.com.

NO BOUNDARIES

JENNIFER M. MCGREGOR (NCIDQ, LEED AP) was always destined for a role in architecture & design. Between her late father’s vintage car and wooden boat collection and traveling to San Simeon to marvel at the work of architect Julia Morgan, McGregor grew up in a world of design. “Staying true to this passion has guided my 25-year career,” says McGregor, who studied interior architecture and today works as Director of Business Strategy at MG AEC Technology Partners. Among other projects, her company recently completed a prototype technology platform to enable instant building permitting for the City of Dubai. “Design is about what’s next,” she says. “It’s about uncovering new solutions and anticipating needs; it’s a result of intense and collaborative problem solving. Design has no boundaries and limitations, just like leading teams across multiple time zones. Today we must find solutions with the optimism that lies in future of design. This is our time to course-correct and rethink how we will help others live, work, and play better.” She became intensely involved in philanthropic organizations, primarily because she was so moved by how a well-designed and executed event setting could transport guests and fuel dynamic purpose. McGregor’s decades of philanthropic leadership began with the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) and many others including Melanoma Research Foundation, City of Hope, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Benjamin Marshall Society and local involvement including Citadel Theatre, Lake Forest High School Foundation Trustee and Alumni Wall of Fame Chair. “To lead and to serve in so many capacities informs and educates my critical thinking.”

For more information about MG AEC Technology Partners, visit mg-aec.com.

PUSHING OUTSIDE HER COMFORT ZONE

When KAREN ARENSON’s mother passed away a few years ago, she shared advice that Arenson continues to hold close to her heart, today. As proud of her mother was of Karen’s life achievements, she didn’t want her daughter to stop pushing the limits of her comfort zone. Today, Arenson, a licensed partner and real estate broker with Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore, continues to honor her mother by breaking through to new markets and new opportunities. “I recently left a familiar and comfortable national brokerage with whom I’d worked for 17 years. I invested and become a partner in this boutique franchise so that I could introduce the iconic global brand of Engel & Völkers to the North Shore of Chicago” she explains. “I chose to align with a company that shares my values. We have developed a franchise that is completely focused on the client experience by fully supporting the aspirations of the real estate advisor. As an owner, I am intrinsically invested in their success, and it is extremely exciting to see it take shape with amazing advisors who recognize the difference.” It’s no surprise that when asked who her role model is, Arenson points to the woman who left her with the greatest gift of all—inspiration. “Through everything she experienced, good and bad, my mother took it in stride, remained positive, and responded to her challenges with strength, turning them into opportunities and successes.”

Karen Arenson’s Engel & Völkers, Chicago North Shore brokerage franchise is located at 903 Green Bay Road, Winnetka. For more information, call 773-501-6201 or visit karenarenson.evrealestate.com.

SAYING “THANK YOU”

KAREN MALKIN is a woman on a mission, one that not only changes the way we practice medicine and health care but also addresses the health and well-being of the whole person. “After caring for my mother with advanced stage lung cancer and my father with Alzheimer’s disease, I became inspired to share my gifts of healthy living and help people prevent age-related diseases,” says Malkin. She is also a certified ReCODE brain health coach, which allows her to support patients with cognitive decline and those wanting to prevent cognitive decline, who built her Glencoe-based Karen Malkin Health Counseling on principles of giving back. “My latest philanthropic project was inspired by the front-line health care staff taking care of our communities through COVID-19. Determined to find a way to say, ‘thank you’ for working tirelessly on our behalf, I developed a healthy protein brownie bar, The Thank You Bar, and donated 15,000 bars to hospitals across the Chicago area.” Malkin also serves as a board member for The Environmental Working Group, Spiral Sun Ventures, Gardeneers, and the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern Medicine. A graduate of the University of Arizona, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, she prides herself on always learning and adding to her credentials. “I am currently enrolled in a fellowship with Wild Health in genomics based personalized medicine to learn a comprehensive analysis of genomics, lifestyle, laboratory results, and patient goals to fully optimize health.”

Karen Malkin Health Consulting is located at 630 Vernon Avenue, Suite B, in Glencoe. For more information, call 847- 835-0500 or visit karenmalkin.com.

STRONG FOUNDATIONS

Compass real estate brokers LORI GREGORY BAKER and ALISSA GESELL MCNICHOLAS both have deep roots in the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff communities. For this dynamic mother daughter duo, creating the Baker McNicholas Group combines their decades of knowledge of the plentiful Lake Forest/Lake Bluff neighborhoods and institutions with a keen understanding of the building and renovation process, making them an unbeatable combo. “We work very hard, with integrity and hyper-focus on our clients’ needs and expectations,” says Baker, a lifelong Lake Forester who received a BA from Barat College in Lake Forest, a business certificate from University of Chicago, and studied Medieval Art & Architecture in Oxford, England. “We all are faced with trials and tribulations in our lives. Home selling and buying can be especially emotional and stressful.” Staying positive through those highs and lows is central for this team. “Having multiple generations of our family members in Lake Forest, I always knew I wanted to come back to this very special town after college and living the city life in Chicago,” says McNicholas, who graduated from St. Mary’s elementary school and junior high and Lake Forest High School before earning a BA from The University of New Hampshire. “I married my high school sweetheart and together we are raising our three boys, close to family and friends in the place we have always called home. I feel beyond fortunate to have made that dream come true, and through real estate, be able to help others do the same.” Both women count their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers as role models, citing the strength, independence, and perseverance of these women as paramount. They both learned that a strong foundation is key to any relationship but is especially critical when it comes to real estate. “We want our clients to feel they can come to us with any question and it will get answered,” she adds. “We are here to be their one-stop shop, scouting, sourcing, helping to put their minds at ease, and being their confidante throughout their real estate journey.”

The Baker McNicholas Group of Lori Gregory Baker and Alissa Gesell McNicholas are with Compass’s new flagship office, which just opened at 284 E Deerpath Road in Lake Forest. For more information, email [email protected] or visit bakermcnicholasgroup.com.

Both women are dressed in attire from women-owned businesses. Lori’s wardrobe is from The Lake Forest Shop, thelakeforestshop.com; Alissa’s wardrobe is from LUXE Wearhouse, luxewearhouse.com.

REINVENTING YOUR LIFE

JODY MICHAEL’s path to becoming Founder and CEO of Jody Michael Associates Inc. didn’t come from a board room. It came from a café where the future entrepreneur was stewing about how much she didn’t like her current job. “I suddenly got the inspiration to grab pen and paper and start writing. I listed everything about my job and life that wasn’t working for me. When I finished, I had 232 items listed,” says Michael, a University of Chicago-trained licensed psychotherapist, Master Certified Coach and Board-Certified Coach. “It was shocking. Sitting back and reviewing, the answer jumped off the page at me—I needed to start my own company. That was the birth of Jody Michael Associates and I’ve never looked back!” Today, her nationwide executive coaching organization specializes in the growth of high-performance leaders. Michael got her professional start as an options trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. She went on to become a financial executive where she honed her management skills. Later, she returned to school to become a licensed psychotherapist. For over 20 years, she has helped Fortune 500 C-level executives transform themselves and their organizations to reach their full potential. She’s a renowned keynote speaker, author, and thought leader who has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Oprah magazine and Crain’s Chicago Business. She has appeared as an expert on MSNBC Primetime, CNN, The Today Show and NPR.

Jody Michael Associates Inc. is located at 405 N. Wabash Avenue in Chicago. For more information, call 773-275-5566 or visit jodymichael.com.

INSPIRING OTHERS

MEGAN MAWICKE BRADLEY, luxury real estate broker at The Mawicke Group and with @properties’ Winnetka office, believes the best way to influence behavior is to inspire it. “I have lived my life committed to inspiring others through telling stories and engaging at the human level,” says Bradley, who spent 22 years working as a TV sports anchor for CBS, NBC, and Fox Sportsnet, making her one of the longest tenured female sports anchors of our generation. “I have been fortunate to have had many inspirational people and moments in my life, including covering three Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championships, both a White Sox and Cubs World Series, and a Bears Super Bowl.” She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University and a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University, all while also excelling in sports as a four-time Big Ten Tennis Champion. Her role model was her late mom, Barbara Mawicke, a local legend in the real estate world. “She was the first realtor to reach one billion in sales on the North Shore,” says Bradley. “She was a brilliant mind, a tough negotiator but the most humble and kind person around. She taught me real estate is always about people first.” As for Bradley’s business style, it might be best described in the words a Chicago professional sports team owner wrote to her recently. “He said that I am ‘tough but fair, classy, approachable, and professional.’ I try to live by those principles every day.”

The Mawicke Group is with the @properties office, located at 30 Green Bay Road in Winnetka. For more information, call 312-307-1157, 847-881-0200 or email [email protected].

Dress and accessories available at Bunny and Babe in Winnetka, bunnyandbabe.com.

PHILANTHROPIC SPIRIT

KATHLEEN COOK, COO of Whole Beauty® Institute, says she learned early in her career how important it was to keep a good sense of humor. “My name is the most popular nickname of my vintage. Everywhere I worked multiple Kathys were employed. It was difficult to get my telephone calls appropriately. Upon a new job at a very large studio I thought it prudent to use my formal name plus my unused-to-date married name. The studio staff decided that I was a participant in a witness protection program because I never responded to a greeting. They had a great deal of fun testing the theory.” For more than two decades, she has partnered in the creation of Whole Beauty® Institute, a leader in aesthetic plastic surgery and advanced medical aesthetics. Earlier in her career Cook produced national television commercials and international business films in studios and advertising agencies from New York to Chicago— utilizing her BFA in Theatrical Technical Direction from the Art Institute of Chicago/Goodman School of Drama. One of her role models is her mother, who Cook describes as a good businesswoman who had a positive attitude, was good fun to be with, and was always ready to help others. She continues that spirit of philanthropy and service by volunteering and working with the Art Institute of Chicago, The Service Club of Chicago, and Alliance Française de Chicago. Cook is also the author of two award-winning children’s books: Budgie Bird Blues and The Defense of Kenilworth Avenue. In business, she describes herself in one word: efficient. “I like to work with a team to identify a task and get it accomplished on time, on target and on budget.”

Whole Beauty® Institute is located on the North Shore at 118 Green Bay Road in Winnetka and in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago at 737 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 760, Chicago. For more information, call 312-751-2112 or visit wholebeautyinstitute.com, Johnqcookmd.com, SkinShopMD.com.

EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITY

MICHELLE PARNELL, real estate broker with Griffith, Grant & Lackie, believes that no job is too big or too small—you just have to get the work done. She has lived and worked in Lake Forest for 20 years and loves being a part of the community. Her business style is to tell it like it is. “My clients’ needs are my first priority,” says Parnell. Her background in mortgage banking finance, in conjunction with a large networking pool, create the ultimate tool kit of skills to help her clients buy and sell in an increasingly competitive market. Through it all, she looks for models of kindness to follow, citing Mother Theresa as one of her inspirations. “She touched so many lives.”

Griffith, Grant & Lackie Realtors is located at 280 E. Deerpath Road in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847-457-0226 or visit gglrealty.com.

Cashmere sweater, jacket, and wide leg pant by Madeline Thompson available at ikram, ikram.com

MAKING MAGIC

Every day is a new beginning, and for Lake Forest artist and photographer KERRI SHERMAN, it’s also an opportunity to make new connections. From launching art events in the community, teaching photography classes at Gorton Community Center, hosting her weekly radio show broadcasting eclectic music at Lake Forest College’s 88.9 FM, engaging with a diverse range of clients during photo shoots on location or inside her Market Square studio, collaborating with fellow colleagues on branding projects for local businesses, or escaping to capture her Lake Michigan fine art series—Kerri Sherman’s passion is seen and heard. “There’s an incredible energy exchange in my circuit that is so rewarding, and that’s where the magic happens,” says Sherman, a former film editor who continues the craft of storytelling behind the lens with her photography business launched over a decade ago. Her commercial work spans from portraits and interiors here in Sheridan Road, to product and food photography for businesses and restaurants in the city and the North Shore, along with her collection of fine art commissioned pieces for interior designers and private clients. Kerri describes her business style as engaging and creative, balanced with integrity and inspiration.

Kerri Sherman Photography is located at 273 Market Square in Lake Forest. For more information, call 773-610-3481 or visit kerrisherman.com.

DYNAMIC DUO

There is an expression about the family you are born with and the family you choose. In the case of NOAH & JANET the dynamic group of Noah Levy and Janet Karabas, real estate advisors with Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore, the bond they have built as business partners is a sisterhood in every possible way. “Although we are not related, we are often asked if we are sisters,” says Karabas. “While we have similar hair and coloring, it’s also because of our dynamic. We are both sisters ourselves, and like sisters, we have great communication and keep each other honest.” Known affectionately by colleagues as the “real estate sisters,” the women share a business style that is professional and high touch. “While real estate is definitely a business, few things are more deeply personal or emotionally charged than home,” says Levy, a graduate of Tulane University. “Both of those things are true at the same time, so we commit to carrying our clients through the whole process with attention to the transaction and the human factors.” Karabas, who earned a bachelor’s degree at University of Illinois, says they both prize integrity and transparency, sharing a strong work ethic, and commitment to family. As for role models, Levy’s was none other than television’s Mary Tyler Moore, a hat-in-the-air trailblazer who inspired young women in the 1970s to reach for the stars. Karabas found inspiration in the story of her grandmother, a young immigrant who tragically lost her husband and had to work hard to provide for three children—all with love and an unwavering commitment to her faith. It’s no surprise then that these shared values of home and family are how this dynamic duo came up with their signature statement—”Working Together to Bring you HOME.”

Noah Levy and Janet Karabas are real estate advisors with Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore, 903 Green Bay Road, #2N, in Winnetka. For more information, call 847-441-5730 or visit evrealestate.com.

On Noah (left): light blue silk blouse by Theory available at Saks Fifth Avenue, saksfifthavenue.com; Faux Fur Vest by Splendid. On Janet (right): Geoprint blouse and black trouser by Veronica Beard available at Sweet William, sweetwilliaminc.com; cream leather boot by Rag and Bone.

SHOW AND TELL

Sometimes it’s the smallest moments in our lives that have the greatest impact. In the case of KIM FLASHNER, who founded her world-class firm, Kim Flashner Interior Design Group, in 2003, it was an invitation to a show house. “I was about 10 years old,” says Flashner, now a 20-year veteran of the industry and member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). “I was completely inspired by the idea of raising money for a charity and at the same time helping people enjoy a beautiful home environment. To me this was an amazing way to combine intellect, inspiration, and interior design all by helping others.” That mindset has guided her through a successful career and has made her a leader in using her skills to make a difference, inspiration she says also came from her role model mother. Flashner graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University and later attended graduate school at Chicago Illinois’ Harrington Institute of Design, cultivating a personal business style that evokes relaxed comfort. “I always try to be stress free,” she says. It certainly has served her well.

For more information about Kim Flashner Interior Design Group, call 847-208-5411 or visit kimflashnerinteriorsgroup.com. Red silk dress available at RedE Mas in Hinsdale, redeboutique.com.

FAMILY TIES

It’s hard to tell the story of SARAH ELDER LYONS, a real estate broker with Compass in Winnetka, without mentioning her family history and the strong work ethic it gave her. “My family owned the Mason City Lumber Company in Mason City, Iowa, so I grew up watching my dad and grandfathers design and build so many homes in my hometown,” says Lyons, who went on to work in advertising, marketing, and sales for BBDO, Fallon Worldwide, and Dun & Bradstreet after graduating from the University of Iowa. Her great-grandfather founded the lumber company in 1903 and her family built the town, which is noted for having one of the largest collections of Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie-style homes in the world. She still counts her mother and two sisters as examples of strong women role models who ‘never give up’ and have supported her throughout her life and the career she eventually built in real estate more than 15 years ago. Lyons has a business style that’s entrepreneurial with a focus on relationship-building, problem solving, and the belief “God has a plan.”

Sarah Elder Lyons is with Compass Real Estate, 851 Spruce Street in Winnetka. For more information, call 847-436- 4351 or visit compass.com/agents/sarah-elder-lyons.

Creme embelished full-sleeved dress by Rotate at Saks Fifth Avenue, saksfifthavenue.com

JUST SAY YES

LISA HUTCHERSON, Vice President of Client Relations at Selective Search Matchmaking, believes that an opportunity often presents itself when you least expect it. “A serendipitous conversation at a cocktail party years ago turned into a passion to assist my clients find true love,” says Hutcherson, a graduate of University of Iowa. “I’m grateful every day that I was given the opportunity to join the Selective Search family.” Lesson learned? Say “yes” to every opportunity. Hutcherson looks to a crew of faithful girlfriends as role models. “I am inspired daily by some truly fierce and dynamic women who work hard, run companies, and are the CEOs of their families,” she says. “Their wisdom and words are incredible and an important part of my life. They know who they are.” Her business style is timeless classic, with a twist. “I travel to meet clients all over the country, so keeping it comfortable is key. And never forget that you only have one chance to make a first impression.”

To find the love of your life, contact Lisa Hutcherson by calling 630-234-4664 or visit selectivesearch.com/lisa.

NORTH SHORE ROOTS

SUSAN JACQUELINE MAMAN, a luxury consultant with @properties in Winnetka and @properties in Glencoe, remembers meeting agency co-founder Thad Wong over a decade ago. “He and I had numerous meetings where we talked about the possibility of my leaving the local Glencoe brokerage where I had worked for six years and coming to join the new office opening up in Winnetka. I actually felt a strong sense of loyalty to that brokerage and felt guilty leaving,” says Maman, a New Trier Township High School alumna who attended University of Michigan/University of Arizona. “Thad drove up to Glencoe one stormy night and I finally took a leap of faith to join @properties the day they opened the doors in their Winnetka office. I only wish I had made that decision the first time Thad and I met. Not only has my experience as a broker with @properties been financially rewarding beyond my wildest dreams, but equally as important, I have made life-long friendships with many of my colleagues and managers. I am grateful for Thad’s persistence in recruiting me, for his faith in my abilities and for the company’s unconditional support.”As a role model, her late mother Vera had a positive influence on her life. “Her ability to be resilient when faced with incredible challenges, showed me the importance of being a strong woman.” Maman says she approaches her career in real estate with similar grit and determination. “Having a positive attitude to tackle the everyday challenges I encounter in the market is one of the keys to my success.”

Susan Maman is with @properties, 30 Green Bay Road, in Winnetka and @properties, 356 Park Avenue, in Glencoe. For more information, call 847-881-0200, 847-878-5235 or visit atproperties.com/agents/2682/susan-j-maman.

Hair by Sam Griffith of Griffith Parc Salon Makeup by Suzanna Avakian of Faces by Suzanne

A DREAM IN BLOOM

MISSY CROWE POTH can’t tell the story of how she came to own her M on the Square flower shop in Lake Forest without recalling her late friend and colleague Molly Flavin. “I started as Molly Flavin’s kids’ camp counselor and babysitter. Molly and I became very close and often dreamt about our flower shop together, says Poth, who earned a BA in Business Management from Auburn University. While in college she was trained further while working at the renowned “Flower Store” located in Auburn, AL. Later studying under Meredith Perez of Belle Fleur and completing a wedding design course at The Flower School of New York. “I can still remember being 16, sitting on her Navy- Blue sofa dreaming about what we could do and how we could grow.” Six years later, Flavin opened her shop and Poth managed it. “Molly lost her fight to breast cancer last September and had sold me the shop that we both had worked tirelessly at building in October of 2018,” she says. “I named it M on the Square. The M standing for Molly, Missy, and my Mom—who has been an instrumental part in growing both Molly’s and my dream. I know Molly would be so proud of where we are today as the shop continues to grow.”

M on the Square is located at 259 Market Square in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847-604-4255 or visit monthsquare.com.

LOVE OF COMMUNITY

SUZANNE CONOLLY MYERS—a native Lake Forester—has worked successfully as a North Shore real estate agent in Lake Forest for Coldwell Banker Realty since 2000. After serving on Capitol Hill as a legislative director and speech writer for North Shore Congressman John Porter, Suzanne returned to Lake Forest to raise her family. She kicked off her career in real estate by earning Rookie of the Year honors. She is currently the No. 1 individual real estate agent in Coldwell Banker’s Lake Forest office. Suzanne has been involved with city government and community organizations, and she enjoys sharing her love of Lake Forest and helping clients make the right choices. As an alumna of both public and private Lake Forest schools, and as a mother of two children, Suzanne has deep personal experience with local institutions. When she takes a pause from work, you will find her playing paddle tennis or walking her retriever around town.

Suzanne Conolly Myers is with Coldwell Banker, 225 E. Deerpath Road, Suite 50, in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847-421-4635 or visit suzannemyershomes.com.

AWARD-WINNING DESIGNER

SHELLEY JOHNSTONE PASCHKE of Lake Forest is nationally recognized for creating elegant, modern European-influenced interiors with projects that have taken her from London to Newport to Naples. But she says it was the decision to take a leap of faith and start her own firm—Shelley Johnstone Design— that solidified her place in the international design world. “After returning from London, going to design school, and then working for both a designer and fabric showroom, I had to decide if I wanted to follow that path again stateside or venture out on my own,” says Paschke, who studied at the University of Wisconsin in Madison before going off to London’s Inchbald School of Design. “The decision to start my own company, trust my own aesthetic, and build my direct client relationships has made all the difference.” She points to her entrepreneur parents as role models. “My father was a landscape architect and real estate developer and my mother owned a beautiful flower shop. They created a home where we enjoyed the indoor-outdoor lifestyle and details mattered. Fresh flowers, music, and a candle going make it feel like home. Most importantly, they demonstrated every day how to run a business while always being present and involved as a parent.” As a business owner and interior designer, Paschke prides herself on attention to detail. “It is important that there is trust on both ends and I am able to listen and really create a place everyone loves and wants to spend time.”

Shelley Johnstone Design is located at 207 E. Westminster Avenue, Suite 105, in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847-235-2076 or visit shelleydesign.com.

THE MATRIARCH

TINA BALLIS, office manager for her husband Steve’s dental practice in Lake Forest and CEO of their family, believes “The true heroines are the women who live their lives unnoticed and are seldom appreciated and yet continue to give their absolute everything to their family, their career, and their community.” Those who know Ballis and all the work she does in her role at Lake Forest Dental and beyond might say she more than embodies that ideal. Ballis’ philanthropic support runs deep. Among the organizations she has dedicated her efforts to are Friends of Gorton for the Gorton Community Center in Lake Forest, Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s Gateway for Cancer Research Gala, the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Junior Women’s Club, the Hellenic American Academy, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County. The mother of three counts her children’s ability to make her laugh among her many blessings, “Our kids are hilarious, and our home is filled with laughter. Laughter is medicine for my soul,” she says. A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, Ballis says she has a personal and business style similar to one expressed by the writer Nikos Kazantzakis, “I knew that no matter what door you knock on in a Cretan village, it will be opened for you. A meal will be served in your honor, and you will sleep between the best sheets in the house. In Crete, the stranger is still the unknown god. Before him, all doors and all hearts are opened.”

Lake Forest Dental is located at 1025 W. Everett Road in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847-457-9200 or visit drballis.com.

Silk skirt by Kobi Halprin available at Neiman Marcus Northbrook Court, neimanmarcus.com

DESIGN DIARIES

STEPHANIE KASLOW was meant to be an interior designer. It was practically written in the stars. But when Kaslow graduated from Syracuse University, like most of her peers, she was uncertain about her future. “I tried fashion and PR in Los Angeles and advertising and marketing in New York City. After a multitude of challenging positions and experiences, I realized I wouldn’t be content until I found something that I was truly passionate about” explains Kaslow, who today owns Chicago- based design firm, Stephanie Kaslow Interiors. “As I began the process to uncover what interested me most, interior design came to me relatively quickly. After I mentioned this to my family, I soon received an email from my dad. Attached to the correspondence was a picture of an old diary entry I had written when I was 10 that read, ‘When I grow up, I want to be an interior designer.’” Seeing this message from her younger self was the last piece of confirmation Kaslow needed. She left her marketing job at a Fortune 500 company and enrolled at the New York School of Interior Design. She soon began working at an Architectural Digest top100 firm and eventually opened her own business. Inspired by design visionaries such as India Mahdavi and Patricia Urquiola, Kaslow says she quickly learned that the greatest deterrent of creativity is fear. “That’s why it’s so important that I cultivate an environment where everyone can share new ideas and take risks without being criticized or judged,” she adds. “It’s the only way that we can produce our best work.”

Stephanie Kaslow Interiors is based in Chicago. For more information, call 917-575-5408 or visit stephaniekaslow.com.