Cuban roots keep chamber's Sosa in tune
Not long after Roger Sosa became the new executive director of the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce in December, Cuba's doors opened to American businesses.
While it's something to explore on the suburban level, Cuba's historic turnaround means something deeper for Sosa. His parents came from Cuba and they sought the American dream. He was even told to just speak English at home, although he remains fluent in Spanish, said Sosa, 56.
"They really wanted us to be Americans," he said.
And when he's not working at the chamber, he celebrates his Cuban heritage by performing as the lead singer/guitarist in a group called Los Perros Cubanos. The group performs vintage, pre-Castro music from the 1940s and other, more modern pieces, he said.
The Highland Park resident has been with the group since 2009 and the musicians perform at several festivals and Hispanic events throughout the Midwest. Some major events include the Chicago White Sox Hispanic Heritage Month, and others in St. Louis, Milwaukee and elsewhere.
While Sosa has been with various groups before, it's his work with Los Perros Cubanos that helps him to celebrate his heritage and keep it close, he said.
"I just wanted to express my own heritage," he said.
Sosa was born in Peoria and grew up in Germantown, Illinois, near St. Louis, and came to the Chicago area when he attended Northwestern University. He soon started a career in the information technology and telecommunications industries, working for both AT&T in California and then-named Ameritech in Illinois. He also worked for a consulting firm in Dallas for a while before relocating to the Chicago area by working for nonprofits, including as director of commercial development for the Back of the Yards Council in Chicago.
The nonprofit work led him to apply for the executive director's position at the chamber. He replaced Lynne Schneider, who retired in December. She will be feted on Thursday at Sullivan's Steakhouse in Lincolnshire.
"Lynne helped me during the transition and everything was in good shape," he said. "Things were very well organized and it's now my job to take it to another level."
He aims to grow the chamber, reach out to larger businesses to encourage their participation at the chamber, and to find ways to enhance the entrepreneurial spirit in the community, he said.
"I want to deliver what the chamber members want, but also bring in some innovation as well," he said.
And before you connect him to Sammy Sosa, the baseball player from the Dominican Republic, Sosa immediately says they're not related.
"My dad ran into him a long time ago in Miami. They were at a restaurant and my dad sent some drinks to his table. Sosa came over and they talked, but no, we found out we're not related," the suburban Sosa said.
Ace is the place for acquisitions
John Venhuizen, president and CEO of Ace Hardware Corp. in Oak Brook, said the company acquired Jensen Distribution Services in Spokane, Washington. After serving as Jensen's CEO for more than 25 years, Mike Jensen plans to retire. Jensen's son and daughter, Chris Jensen and Micah Dunlap, will remain with the company. ... Also at Ace, Hoyoung Pak has been promoted to president of Ace Wholesale Holdings, reporting to John Surane, executive vice president of marketing, merchandising and sales. Pak joins Ace Hardware from IRI where he served as chief operating officer.
FastTracks
Communications industry veteran Bryan Sheppeck was appointed to senior vice president of worldwide sales at Cambium Networks, a global provider of wireless broadband based in Rolling Meadows. ... NASCAR racing pro Danica Patrick makes a promotional stop on Jan. 22 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Hotel Grand Ballroom in Lombard, on behalf of Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare. ... Jamal Scott of Oswego is the new vice president of strategic development at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove.
Jeff Nance joined R.A. Smith National, a civil engineering and surveying firm in Naperville, as development director in the land development services division. ... John Nelson, regional vice president, recently marked 15 years of service at Hanson Professional Services Inc.'s Chicago regional office in Oak Brook.
Andrew Maletich and Terry Herlihy of Cawley Chicago Commercial Real Estate in Downers Grove have completed 7 transactions last quarter, including AVC Tech, which leased 19,000 square feet in Des Plaines; 14,154 square feet in Itasca on behalf of client Westmount Capital Partners; among others.
Doctors Melissa Longo and Sean Royer, a husband-and-wife team, have been practicing in Mount Prospect for 15 years. They began as a chiropractic and physical therapy clinic. In November 2013, they integrated their practice to include traditional medicine, now called Midwest Integrated Physical Medicine.
Beth Kreisman now specializes in property sales in Lake and northern Cook County for Century 21 Kreuser & Seiler in Libertyville. ... Troy Bristow is the new director of conference services, camps and noncredit programs at North Central College in Naperville. ... Aziz Nathani, president of Nathani Elite Management Network, which owns and operates multiple Dunkin' Donuts restaurants, has opened its latest Dunkin' at 231 W. Northwest Highway, at the corner of Smith and Northwest Highway, in Palatine.
Chief Executive Officer Mary Porter said her company, Safety Supply Illinois, a national distributor of safety products in Batavia, has completed its name change to Emergent Safety Supply. ... Tom Myers, owner of Thomas O. Myers Jr. Real Estate, will be honored as 2014 Ambassador of the Year, and attorney Mark Daniel, owner of Daniel Law Office, will receive the 2014 Chairman's Award, at the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry's annual awards at the Waterford Banquet and Conference Center on Jan. 30.
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