Grayslake 'Apprentice' fired, but don't worry about her
On Thursday night, Stephanie Castangier, a finalist on NBC's “The Apprentice,” heard the words every contestant dreads: “You're fired.”
Trump booted the Grayslake resident after she and fellow team member Liza Wizner failed to produce a winning 30-second TV commercial that promoted AT&T Wireless' mobile TV.
As they have for most of the season, Castangier and Wizner mixed it up on-screen, pointing fingers at each other for the spot's failure. Wizner blamed Castangier for lack of a clear concept, and Castangier countered that Wizner's inability to come up with props and a viable shooting locale doomed the project from the start.
But ultimately since Castangier was project manager on the task, Trump let the ax fall on her.
“Liza, I'm not happy with you either,” Trump said. “But Stephanie, you were project manager and you failed. You're fired.”
After surviving two months of working for Donald Trump, the Chicago-based commercial banker isn't taking her firing lightly.
“I enjoyed the ride, it was very fulfilling,” Castangier says, “but I'm very disappointed in the outcome. I strongly disagree.”
The 34-year-old's strong opinions got her a spot on the show in the first place, when she beat out nearly 25,000 other would-be contestants, and caught the eye of Trump during a vigorous debate with a Harvard University graduate in the final audition rounds.
“Having worked in commercial real estate, Donald Trump's always been my idol,” Castangier says. “I thought I could learn a lot from him by being on the show and that it would be a great experience and way to showcase my talents.”
Castangier is a native of Montreal, who brought a mix of business acumen and musical training to the show, having studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
She was a self-made millionaire by the age of 30, as president and CEO of the Hudson Financial Group headquartered in Chicago, but also had a compelling story to tell. Castangier grew up in a home where her father was a drug addict and both parents eventually died of AIDS when she was a young teen.
As a successful businesswoman, Castangier started a nonprofit organization, Child Cause/Fear to Fire, which provides a peer network to teens affected by AIDS and substance abuse, using the arts as inspiration.
One of the most visible outlets for the organization is its high school concert tour, featuring American Idol alumni and partnering them with teens in the audience, while promoting substance prevention.
Her Live 4 concert tour started in October at Grayslake High School, featuring American Idol Shaun Barrowes.
“I'm so entrenched in that community, and I know so many people who have kids at Grayslake High School,” Castangier said. “I wanted to start with my roots.”
Looking back on her “Apprentice” season, Castangier says she has no regrets, and that she would do it all again, and the same way.
It didn't all end badly for Castangier either. At the end of Thursday night's show, it was revealed she accepted a job within Trump's empire, representing his brand.
It was a great learning experience and very inspiring,” she says. “I feel rejuvenated, now more than ever, to build my own empire and help jump-start the economy.”
As for the Donald himself, she says he is what he appears on TV.
“He's very professional, very determined and polished,” Castangier says. “He's a very strong personality, who is all business. It was kind of like being around your boss.”
• Daily Herald staff writer Kathleen Danes contributed to this report