Wings help Uncle Dougie’s fly with boost from investors

Advertising executive Tim Condon of Elmhurst was hosting a party during the Master’s Golf Tournament in 2010 when a friend brought some chicken wings that literally changed his life.

He liked the marinade used on those wings so much that he invested in the company, Uncle Dougie’s, which recently moved from Elgin to Chicago.

“I remember asking him, “ok, how did you make them, Larry?’ And he kept saying Uncle Dougie’s. I finally asked again and he said it’s the marinade. You just grill them or throw them in the oven,” Condon said.

So he went to a local Jewel store, bought a bottle and “had to find this Dougie guy.”

He found Hampshire resident Doug Tomek, who founded Uncle Dougie’s in 1989 and has since dished up marinades, sauces, rubs, salad dressings and drink mixes without preservatives or fillers. The company playfully promotes the products with its “No Crap” symbol.

Tomek found it hard for a small business to break through the maze of distributors to get the products out in front. So more investors were included and some of that money was used to relaunch the products, Condon said.

So far, the products are used in Lettuce Entertain You restaurants and sold at Jewel, Sunset Foods, Woodman’s and Whole Foods, said Condon, who is also co-founder of Scahfer Condon Carter, an advertising agency in Chicago.

While the products could hit the shelves of more stores soon, the men are enjoying their journey together as entrepreneurs, Condon said.

“Doug is like a Renaissance Man,” said Condon. “He’s also a musician and enjoys playing the drums and guitar and likes to jam with us. He’s very creative.”

Bergeron has influence

Russ Bergeron, CEO of Midwest Real Estate Data LLC in Lisle, has again been selected as one of the top 100 most influential real estate leaders at last week’s Inman Real Estate Connect in New York. The Inman 100 is an annual list of individuals whose actions have helped change the real estate industry in the last year through their leadership, innovation, ingenuity, power and persistence, the organization said.

Brown heads to D.C.

Greg Brown, CEO of Motorola Solutions in Schaumburg, is expected to head to Washington, D.C., in February to lead President Obama’s Business Roundtable and work on immigration reform. Brown said he’s likely to be involved with that group for the next four to six months.

Honduras mission helps hospital

John Rapp, vice president of ministries and mission for Hinsdale-based Adventist Midwest Health, said about 30 people representing four of its hospitals traveled to Honduras to provide medical care and assistance to Hospital Adventista Valle de Angeles. Past missions have included Costa Rica, Ecuador and Ghana.

FastTrack

Pam Hollander, senior director of marketing for Northbrook-based Allstate Insurance Co., said the insurance company, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association have created the Allstate NABC Good Works Team and the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team. The awards will recognize college basketball student-athletes who stand out for their charitable achievements and community involvement.

Mike Paradise will receive the national 2012 Clyde Hirt Media Award from Hinsdale-based Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association for his contributions to the publicity of Illinois harness horse racing. The award will be presented by the Harness Horsemen’s International at the Dan Patch Awards Banquet, the culminating event at the Harness Congress VI weekend in March.

James Bartholomew is the new president of Le Cordon Bleu North America, one the largest providers of quality culinary arts education worldwide under Career Education Corp. He’ll be based in Schaumburg. ... Luke Slawek has been appointed president at FONA International Inc., a Geneva-based company that creates and manufactures flavors for many of food, beverage, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical companies worldwide. ... Kathy Scortino has been promoted to clinical director, and Program Manager Sandra Manley, and Clinical Specialists David Efken and Renie Stoller-Zak have joined the Wellness Place cancer resource in Palatine. ... Peter M. Caliendo of Hoffman Estates said his Caliendo Sports International Baseball members left for the Dominican Republic for spring training.

Ravi Saligram, president and CEO of Naperville-based OfficeMax Inc., appointed to the board of directors of the National Retail Federation. ... Mitch Levinson of Buffalo Grove and managing partner of mRelevance LLC was honored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago with the Associate of the Year award for 2012. Levinson joined the HBAGC in 2006 and has been a member of the executive board for four years. ... Joanne Levine, president of Lekas and Levine Public Relations in Libertyville is marking its 25th anniversary. Specializing in publicity for small business, the company works with various clients.

Cary Wood, CEO of Sparton Corp. in Schaumburg, was at Noble Financial’s 9th annual Equity Conference at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Fla., last week presenting an overview of Sparton’s operations, financial results and industry achievements. ... Susan Tinnish of Arlington Heights has been named dean of the Kendall College School of Hospitality Management. She earned her Ph.D. from Benedictine University in Lisle. ... Steven Handmaker of Northbrook has been promoted to chief marketing officer at Assurance in Schaumburg. ... Susan Hansen is the new business development manager at The Hire Solution Employment Agency in Oakbrook Terrace.

Joseph A. Wolsfeld of Westmont is being promoted from vice president at MB Financial Bank in Chicago to division manager at MB Financial Bank in St. Charles. ... Patricia Taflinger is the new vice president of media at Blue Chip Marketing Worldwide, an independent, full-service global marketing agency in Northbrook. ... Julie Smolyansky, president and CEO of Lifeway Foods Inc. in Morton Grove was at President Obama’s inauguration last week, and no doubt, touting health snacks.

Executive Director Suzanne Hoban said the Family Partnership Clinic in Crystal Lake will open its new facility in the fall across from the Pingree train station with more specialists, twice the exam rooms while still allowing people to pay based on family size and income. ... Steve Diebold is owner/manager of Proactive Sales & Marketing Inc., which just opened at new office in the Weaver Parkway Offices, 4580 Weaver Parkway in Warrenville, a building owned and operated by DynaCom Management.

Frank P. Novel has been appointed to the board of directors for the Chicago Cultural Mile Association. Novel is past director of the Lombard and Naperville chambers and recently completed his duties as treasurer of the village of Winfield. ... Michele Samuels has been promoted to senior account manager at TSMGI, or The Specialized Marketing Group Inc. in Skokie.

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