Batavia grad making his mark in the business community

Batavia High School grad, Michael Preuss, '06, is making his mark in the Chicago business community. The young entrepreneur is CEO and co-founder of Visible, a company that provides a software program for entrepreneurs and investors. It offers the "opportunity to organize important investment and performance data while keeping shareholders informed - all from a single online platform."

Recently, Preuss was interviewed on Bootstrapping in America, an online show, about Visible and what it is like to start a business and run a company.

"At the end of the day, starting a company is all about the people. Your team members, customers, investors, etc." said Preuss. "If you do right by them, you'll build a great business."

Visible was also nominated for Inno's "50 on Fire award," honoring inventors, entrepreneurs, and companies that are the ones to watch in Chicago.

Starting a successful business, while in your 20s, is pretty impressive.

Salon snippets

Speaking of business, Sue Heidelberg's salon, Sue's Family Hair Co. is up for sale. It's one of the oldest salons in Batavia (34 years), with a large customer base. It would be a great opportunity for the right person. Sue has been a great downtown business owner, always supporting Batavia.

"I hope to remain as a stylist," she said. "It's just time for someone else to wake it up in the morning and put it to bed at night."

The other shop with a Batavia history is Foltos Tonsorial Parlor, owned by Craig Foltos. Originally it was the Foltos Barber Shop that was opened by Craig's dad, Joe, in 1951.

Now Craig's 10-year-old son, Sam, is getting into the business creating signs for the window. One reads "Organic and Gluten Free Haircuts."

"When the Farmers Market was in operation, we actually had people stop in and ask about it," said Foltos.

The other sign boasts "Best haircuts in the World."

"When your son believes in you that much," he added, "it gives you something to live up to."

Music man

It wasn't long ago that Andy Bruhn was leaving audiences at Batavia High School in awe of his cornet skills soloing with the concert band. I was able to catch up with him recently and learned that not only is he teaching music in Rockford, he is now doing composition. The young composer just had his second choral piece published and he has others out for evaluation.

"It can take up to two years for a publisher to decide whether or not to publish the music," he told me.

It's no surprise that Andy has this gift. His dad, Karl Bruhn is an accomplished organist and his mom, Danielle, is the director of the Fox Valley Children's Choir. Must be in his genetic makeup.

Decorating the White House

Getting my house decorated for Christmas is a difficult task. I can't imagine adding the decoration of the White House to my Christmas to do list. Mary Mazzeffi, a Batavia floral designer, was among 89 volunteers chosen this year to decorate the Washington, D.C., Landmark.

One of the trees that Mazzeffi decorated was 3-foot tree bound for "Mr. Obama's elevator."

I don't know how many people will get to see that tree, but more than 68,000 visitors are expected to view the decorations at the White House this holiday season.