Arlington Hts. businessman to say closing prayer at breakfast
Greg Padovani, an Arlington Heights businessman, volunteer and organizer of veterans' events will say the closing prayer at the Arlington Heights Mayor's 30th Annual Prayer Breakfast.
Tickets are now on sale for the event that will be from 7-9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Doubletree Hotel, 75 Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights (just west of Arlington Heights Road). The event features a breakfast buffet, Scripture readings, music and a keynote address by retired U.S. Army Major General James H. Mukoyama Jr., who is president and chief executive officer of Military Outreach USA.
Padovani has strong ties to the community. He lives and works in Arlington Heights and is a graduate of Forest View High School in Arlington Heights; earned a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from the University of Illinois, Chicago; and received his MBA from DePaul University, Chicago.
He is president and founder of PENS Communications Systems, LLC. His company provides the Patient Education Newsletter System (PENS) for hospitals, medical schools and state Medicaid departments. PENS is a unique and proprietary system that provides individualized health information to consumers with the objective of helping people live healthier lives.
Padovani has been married to Char for 31 years. They have two grown children: Cassie a nurse practitioner and Greg Jr. a salesman.
Padovani describes himself as a devout Catholic who began his faith journey at St. Raymond's Catholic School in Mount Prospect. He currently worships at St. James Catholic Church in Arlington Heights.
Padovani states that he is "living each day with Jesus Christ attempting to make myself better and the world a better place."
He believes in the power of faith and prayer and cites as an example an incident that occurred 10 years ago when a young family member was in a terrible car accident and doctors did not think he would survive. Padovani's family, friends and many others joined together in prayer asking for healing. The young man recovered to the profound surprise of the doctors.
Padovani is actively involved in the community with an impressive list of organizations in which he either holds or has held leadership positions or serves as a volunteer. They include the Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development; the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce; village of Arlington Heights; U.S. Army Reserves, Major, Medical Service Corps 1975-1986 (retired); American Legion Post 208: Arlington Heights Park District Foundation; Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights; Marine Corps League NW Suburban Detachment 80; Toys for Tots; A Soldiers Journey Home; Honor Flight of Northern & Western Illinois; American Cancer Society, U.S. Climbing Association; and Sound of the Big Band. He also organizes the Village of Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade in May and the annual Veterans Breakfast in November.
In recognition of his volunteerism and dedication to the community, Padovani has received numerous awards. They include: Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce 2011 Business Volunteer of the Year; Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce 2015 President's Award; Village of Arlington Heights 2012 Hearts of Gold for Community Spirit; Illinois 10th Congressional District Leadership Award Top Ten Nominee in 2012; North Chicago Rotary Club, Rotary Clubs International 2013 Humanitarian Patriot Award; Honor America's Valor Foundation, 2015 America's Valor Recognition; American Legion Post 208, Arlington Heights, Illinois Legionnaire of the Year 2016, and Honorary Member, Northwest Suburban Marine Corps League, Detachment 80.
In addition to Padovani and the keynote speaker Mukoyama, there will be an opening prayer by Father Matt Foley of St. James Catholic Church, music by Pastor Randy Thompson of Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, and Scripture readings by Natasha Adler, a local attorney and Cindy Schroeder, a longtime resident of and volunteer in Arlington Heights whose late husband, Dr. Michael Schroeder, gave the keynote address at the 2016 prayer breakfast. Michael Schroeder's presentation can be viewed online on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veS9tbrzMcE&feature=youtu.be.
Lutheran Life Communities is the sponsoring organization for the prayer breakfast. Tickets are $20 per person and may be ordered and paid for on line at arlingtonheightschamber.com. Individuals and organizations may also book tables. Click on events for February and then click on the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast.
For information, contact chamber staff at the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce at (847) 253-1703 or by email at info@arlingtonhcc.com.
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