Movers and shakers
Mortenson Construction elected 21-year company veteran Steve DeGroote of Cary to vice president of operations in its Elk Grove Village office.
KnowledgeShift, a Wheaton-based training technology firm specializing in mobile learning and podcasting, hired Jodie Eason as manager of client services and Allison Black as manager of client projects. Eason and Black will support the firm's expansion of mobile learning products and services.
MB Financial Bank, Chicago, promoted Barrington resident Bartlett Johnson to senior vice president, division manager. Johnson has worked for more than a decade in commercial banking for MB Financial.
Kevin Killips was named controller and chief accounting officer at Riverwoods-based Discover Financial Services to oversee all aspects of the firm's accounting function. Previously, Killips served as executive vice president, North American chief accounting officer and corporate controller for LaSalle Bank.
Accountant Yvonne Scott joined Oak Brook-based Crowe Chizek and Co. as chief information officer and director of the information services group. Scott previously served as senior vice president and chief information officer for GATX Corp.
St. Charles resident Fred R. McKenzie was promoted to dean of the College of Professional Studies at Aurora University. Prior to his promotion, McKenzie was director of the university's School of Social Work.
Schaumburg residents Heifat Fu and Siuwan Lam advanced to supervising coordinators, while Hoffman Estates resident Maria Elsenbroek advanced to executive coordinator, as independent distributors for Market America, a product brokerage and Internet marketing company.
Helen Y. Chang, Kathy Shaw and Marta Rodriguez were appointed to the board of trustees of Chicago-based ChildServ, a social service organization serving Cook, Lake and DuPage counties. Additionally, Millicent Collier was hired as ChildServ's new vice president of marketing and communications.
Cary resident Christopher B. Curtis, president of Schneider Electric USA, was appointed to the Metro Chicago board of directors of the American Heart Association's Midwest Affiliate.
Kevin Van Solkema joined PrivateBancorp Inc. as chief risk officer, responsible for overall risk management. He was also named a managing director and chief risk officer of The PrivateBank-Chicago. Van Solkema previously served as deputy chief credit officer for LaSalle Bank, Chicago.
Amcore Bank promoted Cheryl Chalk, branch manager and officer, to retail market manager, responsible for the growth and leadership of its Elgin branches.
The Academy of General Dentistry announced Theresa Chu was hired as the senior copywriter to serve as the primary content editor for marketing collateral; Matt Schroeder was promoted to program specialist for its Program Approval for Continuing Education; and that Jeff Tucholski was hired as a continuing education entry representative to provide clerical and data entry support.
With 25 years of combined experience, Mary Anne Smrz and Jason Dobrzynski joined to form a new financial planning team at Oak Brook-based Waddell & Reed.
Country Financial awarded Carol Stream agency manager Drew Cali of West Chicago and Woodridge agent Dave Hegji of New Lenox all American distinctions for outstanding service to clients.
With more than 20 years of industry experience, John Happ was appointed executive vice president, airlines, by Itasca-based Aircell, a provider of airborne communications. Happ will lead the group that is the company's primary airline interface for sales and support. He will also be responsible for corporate communications and public relations.
Woodridge-based Wilton Products Inc. promoted Marvin Oakes to president, Wilton Enterprises. Oakes, who joined Wilton in 1978, will also continue his role as general manager, responsible for all Wilton housewares and craft product development, sales, marketing, Internet marketing, creative services, public relations, consumer affairs and The Wilton School.
Kathleen Newhouse earned a master certification from the Window Fashions Certified Professionals program. Newhouse is the chief executive officer of Park Place Interiors, Geneva and Elmhurst.
Dr. Christopher Silber was named vice president, clinical affairs at Ovation Pharmaceuticals Inc. Silber previously served with Takeda as executive medical director and global development team leader for the company's diabetic neuropathy and neuropathic pain clinical program.
American Standard awarded John Beening and Kurt Olszewski, owners of JNL Climate Control Inc., East Dundee, with its Dealer of the Year award. American Standard also awarded JNL the 2007 Distinguished Dealer award, 2007 Customer Care Excellence award and the 2007 Variable Speed Sales award.
Hanae Kim of Chicago joined Des Plaines Office Equipment, Elk Grove Village, as a sales consultant, responsible for generating new business and bringing document technology systems solutions to clients in DuPage County.
Darren Smith joined the Des Plaines Park District as the new golf instructor for adult, youth and private lessons at Lake Park Golf Course for the 2008 season. Smith played the North Florida Tour and taught youth golf at Peter Croker's U.S. Golf School in Tampa, Fla.
Geary Kornelik joined Amcore Bank as branch manager and officer, responsible for managing the sales and service of the Wheaton branch on Roosevelt Road. Kornelik, who previously served as a branch manager for Washington Mutual in Lombard, is a member of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce.
Arlington Heights resident Timothy Geisler joined ML Realty Partners LLC as director of the firm. Geisler was previously employed by The Missioner Group and McShane Construction Corp.