Hotel manager inspires by own health, gardening routines
Mike Feigenbaum has been passionate about running 5K and 10K races, managing a large garden and cooking for his family in Hoffman Estates.
So it isn't unusual for him to bring some of his homegrown radishes or chives to the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center, where he is the general manager. It's a passion he extends to his work without fail, he said.
"This is still one of the best jobs in the industry," Feigenbaum said.
Feigenbaum, who is also board chairman for Oak Brook-based DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau, was one of three people to receive the Ambassador of Hospitality Award at the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association's 20th annual Hospitality Awards held recently at McCormick Place in Chicago. About 500 people attended, including his wife Lynn, hotel staff, elected officials, convention bureau CEOs and hoteliers and restaurateurs from around the state.
At 62, Feigenbaum feels just as passionate today as he did when he started as a dishwasher at a Holiday Inn about 40 years ago.
During the course of his career, he has seen the hospitality industry undergo major changes. That includes the advancement of technology that has changed the way reservations and other hotel functions are done, the power of social media and trends in healthier foods.
Hotels still are considered centers for travelers and for celebrations, such as weddings, retirements and other events.
"This has been a great career," Feigenbaum said. "It is a full fledged business where you oversee sales, hotel operations, human resources, food and others. There aren't too many other industries where you run the entire business on site."
When he's not working, Feigenbaum and his wife, Lynn, often participate in running events. He has done a variety of 5K and 10K races, including the Hot Chocolate Races and won several medals for his age class in the Chicago area, Massachusetts and California.
He started running in his 50s in order to keep in shape. He also has a routine using a bicycle, elliptical and treadmill. He and his wife also did the recent Bike the Drive event by riding their bikes along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.
In June, Feigenbaum will be part of the Westin team participating in the Ragner Relay where 12 teammates will cover 200 miles.
It's all about just "doing it," he said.
"As a general manager, I need to help inspire others and so I have developed good habits and try to lead by example," he said.
<h3 class="briefHead">Returns to family business </h3>
Stan Pepper has been welcomed back to the family business as chairman and CEO of The Pepper Companies in Barrington and Chicago. He returns after a dozen years in a variety of leadership positions in the construction industry, including private equity and consulting, software development and sustainable products.
<h3 class="briefHead">FastTracks</h3>
Howard Fox of Naperville has been appointed to the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce's board of directors. Fox leads the BP's Finance organization for US Pipelines and Logistics and several functional teams.
Greg Brown, CEO of Schaumburg-based Motorola Solutions, was in New York last week speaking at the Sanford C. Bernstein Annual Strategic Decisions Conference. ... Dan Ginnetti, chief financial officer at Lake Forest-based Stericycle Inc. will be in New York on June 3 to present at the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in New York. ... Stericycle's President and CEO Charlie Alutto will stay in Chicago to talk at the William Blair 35th annual Growth Stock Conference on June 9. Two days later, Norman Smagley, executive vice president and CFO at Itasca-based Gogo, will be at the Blair conference.
Dani Noyes, general manager of Olga's Day spa of Highland Park, said the spa is partnering with the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation to donate all profits on spa treatments and services to the charity for the remainder of this year. ... Corey Chase of Riverwoods has joined Newmark Grubb Knight Frank as senior managing director in the company's Chicago office. ... John Goense, chairman of Response Team 1, said his company has acquired Elgin-based QCI Restoration and more are planned this year.
James R. Doerr, an associate at Lavelle Law Ltd. in Palatine has been named a member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys. He is the first of the 2- attorneys at the firm to receive the designation from the national organization. ... Kris Schoenberger, owner of BBQ'd Productions in Third Lake, is among a select group of local, small business owners who took part in a new business accelerator program called Accion Fast Track. The program was put on by Accion, a global nonprofit organization that helps small business owners with everything from financing to business training.
Trevor Brody, executive director of Special Kids Network, said that Coe Financial Services in Deerfield is a sponsor of the Special Kids Network 16th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament on June 22 at Twin Orchard Country Club in Long Grove. Former Chicago Blackhawk great, Jeremy Roenick, and Chicago Bears lineman, Jermon Bushrod, are honorary chairmen.
Tommy Rayburn is general manager of the newly remodeled California Pizza Kitchen in Oak Brook Center. ... Shopping industry veteran Phil Whitsel is the new Area Manager for Simon Property Group's Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora. This comes as the 10-year-old center enters the final stages of a multimillion dollar expansion that will, by late August, make it the largest outlet shopping destination in the Chicago market.
Stacey Kacek has been promoted from vice president and chief technology officer to CEO of Microsystems in Downers Grove. Kacek joined Microsystems in 2013 as CTO after leaving GE.
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