Hoffman engineer goes from networks to bolts
Tim Gale of Hoffman Estates was an engineer who designed radio-frequency systems for cellular networks. He transitioned from Sprint to 360 and then to Altell before leaving the industry amid massive changes about a decade ago.
Then, he turned to something he loves to do — or should we say, do-it-yourself.
He and his wife Stacy opened a series of True Value hardware stores starting in Algonquin and now operating in Palatine and Arlington Heights. They're eyeing another location in Schaumburg.
Gale always enjoyed do-it-yourself projects, especially some side jobs remodeling kitchens or bathrooms while going through college.
“I just couldn't picture myself being a corporate employee all of my life,” he said.
So in 1999, at the height of the dot-com explosion, he opened a True Value store in Algonquin. He did well, but moved the store to Arlington Heights to appeal to more people, he said. Each of the stores has 14 employees.
The father of three works long hours, but he still has time to be a soccer dad or go boating. And there are some days he misses the telecom industry. Then again, he probably wouldn't recognize it after a decade of changes in technology.
“Back then we worked long hours, too, but there were no huge rewards,” he said.
Instead of helping to build a cellular network, now he's helping people build their own lives and homes.
Speaking of transitions
Bill Johnson of Naperville spent about 30 years as a tax accountant and then as director of administration with Andersen and Accenture. Instead of taking early retirement, he wanted to do something more meaningful, he said. So five years ago, he became executive director of Facing Forward to End Homelessness, a Chicago not-for-profit that helps homeless women and children move from a shelter and into permanent housing. He's planning a fundraiser at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, at Salvage One, 1840 W. Hubbard, Chicago, to help raise $50,000 for the group's programs.
The man with a plan
Larry W. Maholland, a certified public account, has been awarded the Illinois City/County Management Association Special Service Award for Service to the Community from Sikich LLP in Aurora. Maholland is director of local government management services for Sikich and the former city administrator for St. Charles, where he helped to establish the first St. Charles Business Plan. He also was the director of finance administrative services for St. Charles, director of finance for Streamwood, and business and revenue facilities manager for Arlington Heights Park District.
International ties
Dan McNamara has been named senior vice president of corporate development at Naperville-based Calamos Advisors LLC. He's responsible for pursuing development opportunities worldwide. He comes from Nomura International in Hong Kong, where he was global co-head of its financial institutions group and worked on its build-out in Asia.
FastTrack
Homer Bernal of Rolling Meadows operates Ductz, an air duct cleaning business, and has earned the Rookie of the Year Award from the corporate office. Ductz has about 170 franchise locations nationwide. ... Marketing and sales veteran Greg Carr has joined Bannockburn-based APAC Customer Services Inc. as a senior vice president and chief sales officer. ... Russell A. Holowachuk has been promoted to vice president of environmental health and safety and engineering at Deerfield-based CF Industries Holdings Inc. ... Mark G. Sander of Park Ridge joined Itasca-based First Midwest Bancorp. Inc. as president and chief operating officer of the bank and as senior executive vice president of the company. ... Eric S. Graves has been promoted from sales engineer to regional sales manager for W.H. Miner, a division of Geneva-based Miner Enterprises, a manufacturer of railcar components. ... Fareed A. Khan of Evanston becomes chief financial officer of Deerfield-based United Stationers Inc. effective July 18.
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.