Tech CEO keeps his creative side busy with band, filmmaking

Patrick Stakenas of Libertyville is president and CEO of Determine Inc., a software platform provider that helps companies manage their contracts and supplies.

But don't let the tech side fool you. He's a former farm boy with a creative side.

He enjoys being an executive producer for Born Ready Films but he says it's just his hobby.

He works with his son and cinematographer, Grant Stakenas, to help fund the documentaries, including one called, "Exile by Choice," which aired OnDemand with Comcast and Cox Cable last year. It also was recently picked up by Hulu, he said.

It's a movie about homeless young adults who choose to live off the grid, he said.

"The crew traveled for about five months with some homeless kids and hopped trains with them and hitched rides with them," said Stakenas, 55. "Every day I called to make sure they were OK."

The filmmakers plan to do more projects this year, he said.

Stakenas carries his creative side further with The Usuals, a band with seven musicians. He plays guitar and sings with friends he met while his kids were going to school in Libertyville.

The band does some charity events and also plans an appearance at Mickey Finn's in Libertyville later in the year.

Stekenas, who grew up on a dairy farm in Michigan, moved to Libertyville in 2000. He founded a tech company, Forcelogix.com, which he then sold in 2012. Then he worked for Gartner for about two years.

By January 2014, he started with Selectica, where he was in charge of strategy. He led acquisitions of two companies over 18 months and then was promoted to president and CEO.

Last October, Selectica was rebranded as Determine Inc., and was relaunched. He then rang the bell on the Nasdaq trading floor, he said.

In recent years, he also was an active director and board member of Mainstreet Libertyville until 2015.

Stakenas oversees about 160 workers, including those in Carmel, Indiana, and in France. Many work virtually, including him.

So when he's not working, he's enjoying his creative side, he said.

"While I work for a software company now, I just love the creative aspect," he said.

A loss at Shure

Condolences to the family and colleagues of Shure Chairwoman Rose L. Shure, who passed away last week. Niles-based Shure makes microphones, headphones and other equipment. "Mrs. Shure served as an inspiration to all Shure associates, and she was a role model for the company's core values and basic principles, which were created by her husband and company founder, Sidney N. Shure," said company spokesman Camden Wicker. "These core values and basic principles have guided the company since it was founded in 1925."

QVC boosts cookies

Jennifer McGuire of Lake Villa and president and co-founder of Gurnee-based The Frosted Baker said she recently appeared on QVC and sold out of their cookies in about 10 minutes. "We had 1,000 people on a waitlist," McGuire said. "Now, she is confirmed for 3 shows so far this year." The bakery produces about 5,000 cookies a day for weddings, baby showers, birthdays, sports teams, holidays and other occasions. They've been sold at Macy's, in catalogs and at its own retail storefront.

FastTracks

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Manny Miranda has joined Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Wheaton as a new agent in central DuPage County. ... Layne Bodily and Tom Parker have been promoted to managers at Rozovics Group LLP, an accounting and business advisory firm in Park Ridge. ... Sue Ellen Hollingshead has joined Paxem, a relocation firm in Cary, to help develop, service and support the DuPage area and work in an office in Naperville.

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Mike Benjamin has been named the 17th manager of the Kane County Cougars. The organization is the Major League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Benjamin's field staff includes pitching coach Rich Sauveur, hitting coach Jonathan Mathews, coach Shawn Roof, athletic trainer Ryne Eubanks and strength and conditioning coordinator Skyler Zarndt.

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Mike Burgstone, a franchisee of J.D. Byrider, earned Franchise of the Year for its operations in Joliet, Glendale Heights and East Dundee. Franchise of the Year winners were selected from among 171 locations across the country.

J.D. Byrider is a franchised used car sales and finance enterprise. ... Dick Carraher has joined the staff of Lakeside Travel Advisors-Wauconda as a travel consultant.

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