Elgin businessman a worldwide warrior
Jerry Paulsen of Elgin was a sergeant in the U.S. Army post-Vietnam. Now, he's turned road warrior, traveling 200 days of the year to his offices in China, Brazil and the U.S. territory of Guam.
The CEO of Elgin-based Paulsen Productions Inc., a professional development and training firm, recently opened an office in Hagatna, Guam, and holds classes and workshops in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas and the Pacific Rim.
Paulsen is leaving this week again for Guam, providing professional training services to a variety of clients, including those involved in the new buildup of a U.S. Marine base that's moving from Okinawa.
While Paulsen has enjoyed his travels worldwide, he admits his niche in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has led to a few close moments for colleagues. One time he traveled in one car, while some colleagues traveled in a second car that was left behind at a stoplight. Those passengers were suddenly surrounded by bikers with guns. No one moved. The standoff continued for several minutes until the gun-toting bandits left empty-handed.
The car was bulletproof, so Paulsen's colleagues felt brave enough to wait out the bandits.
Every time Paulsen returns to Sao Paulo, he rents a bulletproof car.
Resale honors: Elaine Krieger, Naperville resident and owner of Naperville-based Krieger Kiddie Corp., garnered the Small Business Administration's Entrepreneurial Success Award. She operates 12 apparel resale stores, called Clothes Mentor, Plato's Closet and Once Upon A Child. She projected that sales will be about $10 million this year. SMA Regional Administrator Marianne Markowitz stopped by Krieger's Clothes Mentor store in Naperville last week to give her the regional award. Krieger also will be honored this week in Washington, D.C., at a national award ceremony during National Small Business Week.
Kicking up the heat: Jimmy Bannos, of Park Ridge, the famed chef and owner of the Heaven on Seven restaurants in Chicago and Naperville, has partnered with Tony Pontillo of Willowbrook, and Jodi Fyfe, of Oak Park and formerly of Berghoff Catering, to open Paramount Events, a catering business for weddings and corporate events.
Nap-isode: Gary Rabine of Schaumburg-based Rabine Paving, Arieah Bennett of Naperville-based Equuilibrium Holistic Therapies LLC and Dan Swartz of the Lexus central office in Naperville all appear on the latest episode of “Chamber Connection” with host John Schmitt, the CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. It's on the Naperville Community Television Channel 17 and can also been seen on www.NCTV17.com.
From the ground up: Arlington Heights resident Jim Dvoratchek, owner of Wheeling-based Hard Rock Concrete Cutters Inc., was elected president of the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association during its convention in Bonita Springs, Fla. Dvoratchek started in concrete cutting as a helper laborer and worked his way up on the industry before cofounding the company in 1987.
Fast track: Fred Broviak of Broviak Communications, a marketing firm, received the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce's Business Leader of the Year Award for 2010. The Arlington Heights resident also is a member of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce and is an adjunct instructor for Roosevelt University. ... Deerfield-based Astellas Pharma Global Development Inc., a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc., has hired Stephen Eck as vice president and head of medical oncology; Karen Reeves as vice president of global head of medical science; Mark Weinberg as therapeutic area head for CNS and pain; and Bernhardt Zeiher as vice president of therapeutic area leader of inflammation, immunology and infectious diseases.
Ÿ There's more to business than just the bottom line. We want to tell you about the people that make business work. I'm Anna Marie Kukec and I'd like to hear from you. Send news about people in business to akukec@dailyherald.com. Follow me on LinkedIn and Facebook and as AMKukec on Twitter.