Glen Ellyn entrepreneur forsakes tech's nomadic life
Saad Rehmani of Glen Ellyn is following in his entrepreneurial father's footsteps, but he's not aiming to have any of his children born in a different country like his parents did.
Instead Rehmani, 38, has left behind the global trek and has been establishing some roots here for his entrepreneurial ventures. He has left his job as the technology director at Oakbrook Terrace-based Redbox and is the new chief technology officer for Chicago-based Kapow Events, a corporate events company.
While technology lends itself to a nomadic existence for some, Rehmani said he aims to stay a while here with his wife and 16-month-old son.
"In a way, it's the thrill of the unknown," Rehmani said. "You get different experiences from different sized companies. I have enjoyed working at 100,000-person companies as well as the 10-person companies, but I want a bit of something more ... I want to put in five or more years at a place to see how the new technology platforms evolve over the years, see how it all works."
Rehamni's father was an entrepreneur who looked for the next big business to follow, regardless of the location. That led the family on a global trek, where Saad Rehmani was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a brother was born in Pakistan, one sister was born in England, while another sister in California, he said.
Actually, all of that moving around may have led to why Rehmani strives to live a frugal lifestyle, "So if I were to lose my job, it wouldn't be the end of the world," he said.
Early in his career, Rehmani worked at various startups. Then, he became chief architect and applications architect at Oracle, before heading to Redbox, which helped to revolutionize the movie rental industry.
Redbox, and other innovations, including Facebook, have led consumers to look for the next simple, yet intuitive approach for different areas of their lives, he said.
"Consumers are demanding simplification," he said.
Offers consulting services
Peter Burchard, a former Naperville city manager, left in 2008 to be the chief operating officer at inVentiv Medical Management in Augusta, Georgia, but the public company was taken private by a private equity group, so he decided to return to DuPage County. He lives in Geneva and is an executive coach and a speaker/trainer on employer health care matters. He recently met with 15 executives and entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka participating in Northern Illinois University's International Training Office. Burchard is also an adjunct instructor at NIU.
Zengeler employees retire
Tom Zengeler, president of Northbrook-based Zengeler Cleaners, bid farewell to Barbara Geske, manager at Zengelers' Peterson Road store, and Carol Hartnett, who both retired after the two wrapped up a collective 30 years with the company.
FastTracks
Kristin M. Coleman of Glencoe is the new senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings. She recently served as Brunswick Corp.'s vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. ... Associate Judge Joseph Waldeck of the 19th Circuit in Lake County joins law firm Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP's Lake Forest office. ... Eduardo Paras of Barrington is the new regional vice president for the Midwest United States at Hamilton Group Funding in Chicago. Paras formerly worked at Citibank.
Dentists and brothers Alan Acierno of Schaumburg and Michael Acierno of Chicago, as well as Molly Hayes of St. Charles and others partnered with Clearbrook, an Arlington Heights-based nonprofit that serves children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and provided free dental care to Clearbrook clients last week at the Acierno Dental firm in Schaumburg. ... Owner Shari Ralish, owner of Peaceful Parlour in Geneva, opened in 2010 and now marks four years offering eco-conscious, earth friendly and natural products. The shop also again offers Twilights on the Terrace, featuring music from singer Julie Patchouli and guitarist Bruce Hecksel.
Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson received the 2014 Partner America Small Business Advocate Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors during a gathering of the Schaumburg Business Association. ... Batavia resident Nancie Dorjath opened an elder law practice called The Dorjath Law Center in downtown Batavia. ... Darren R. Huston, president and CEO of The Priceline Group, has resigned from the board of Downers Grove-based DeVry Education Group ... Highland Park residents Frank and Stephanie Orsi, owners of Orsi's Italian Ice in Highwood, will launch the new ice cream shop on Thursday with a ribbon cutting.
Paul Hoffman of Glenview has been promoted to director from senior vice president at Dresner Partners, a middle-market investment bank. ... Co-Founders Howard Nixon and Aaron Izenstark said Northbrook-based IRON Financial, an independent asset management investment firm, marks its 20th anniversary. ... Evanston native and artist Jon Bollo created a large, stained glass butterfly sculpture inside the fountain on the corner of Green Bay Road and Central Avenue in downtown Highland Park.
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