From Australia to Schaumburg, RTA exec still on track
Leanne P. Redden was at a crossroads in 1989. She had heard about a student exchange program while finishing her bachelor's degree at the University of New South Wales in Australia.
The program allowed Australian students to study abroad at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, which they considered a good school ... except for the cornfields.
"It was easy to pack up for the Midwesterners and come here to a warmer climate. But it was more challenging to get students here to go to the cornfields in Illinois," she joked.
Still, she applied. "I had finished my undergrad and was not sure what to do next," she said.
Redden, who last week was approved by the Regional Transportation Authority as its executive director, was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Her mother was a hairdresser and her father was a plumber. Her sister worked in administration for an exclusive boy's school in Sydney.
Redden was selected for the exchange program and arrived in Chicago in the middle of winter.
"I quickly went to the mall to buy a warmer coat," she said, laughing.
She then remained after the program, earning a master's degree in urban and regional planning from U of I. She also met the man she would marry, Brian Loeger. They had dated about seven years when they traveled to Australia together for a vacation. They climbed Big Red Rock and saw the sunrise. That's when he proposed - and she said yes.
"I was taken aback by it, because we were together for some time and I had no idea he would do that," she said.
They have been married for about 20 years, live in Schaumburg and are raising their twin boys.
"It's been about 20 years now and I'm certainly settled and customized here, but the kids remind me that I talk funny," she joked.
If that couch could talk
Jeff Cohen, of Highland Park and owner of Jeff Cohen Photography, is marking two years in business and hailing another milestone for his 1954 Chevy couch, which was converted from an actual car. The couch is historic, not just for its 60 years, but as a celebrity spot for photos, including Hugh Hefner and his playmates. Cohen had served as Playboy Magazine's photo editor for 30 years. He has photographed countless Playmates and models and Hefner himself on the couch. "If only that couch could talk," said Cohen. Other notables on the couch included Tom Cruise, John Candy and Pete Rose, he said.
Waiting for a new home
Vienna Beef's top dog and President Tim O'Brien and his wife, Jan, have sold their Glen Ellyn home and temporarily moved to Wheaton 121 rental apartments while building a new home, also in Glen Ellyn. The new home is expected to be finished this winter. In the meantime, they are living in a two-bedroom, two-bath loft-style unit with a private, street-level entrance. Naturally, the O'Briens have enjoyed the BBQ stations for grilling - what else? - Vienna Beef hot dogs and sausages.
FastTracks
Rebecca Parsons is the owner of Once Upon A Child in Elgin, a resale store that buys and sells children's apparel, toys, furniture and more. The store generally sells goods at 60 to 70 percent off retail prices, ... Dave Braner, principal of Newton's Cube in Naperville, hosts a grand opening on Tuesday. Newton's Cube, he said, is a new approach to corporate team building. ... Steve McShane, president and CEO of Midtronics in Willowbrook, said the company is expanding its Shenzhen, China, headquarters facility.
Tony LoBello of Downers Grove is the new Learning Studio leader at the Chicago-based SmithGroupJJR, an architecture, engineering and planning firm. ... Brothers Jeff and Tom Heinen, owners of Heinen's grocery store, the third generation Cleveland-based chain, open a new store in Lake Bluff on Oct. 29. The chain already has stores in Barrington, Glenview and Bannockburn.
Clarence Voss of Crystal Lake recently found Hall of Famer Dan Hampton's missing wallet at the Associated Bank branch on West Virginia Street in Crystal Lake. The lost wallet is part of a fan engagement and United Way program sponsored by Associated Bank. Voss found the wallet by tracking clues posted on the bank's Facebook and Twitter sites. Clues will continue to be posted for additional Hampton wallets on those social media sites until mid-November.
Russell K. Mayerfeld has joined Allstate Corp. in Northbrook as a senior managing director, and Peter Keehn has been promoted to managing director of private equity investing. ... Yahoo Tech founder David Pogue hosted a webinar last week via Colorado Technical University, part of Schaumburg-based Career Education.
Ken Diehl, a 29-year grocery veteran, is the new president and CEO of Strack and Van Til grocery chain. Diehl replaces Dave Wilkinson, who retired in August. Diehl currently lives in New Jersey, but plans to move here. His son is a student and football player at North Central College in Naperville.
•There's more to business than just the bottom line. We want to tell you about the people that make business work. Send news about people in business to akukec@dailyherald.com. Follow Anna Marie Kukec on LinkedIn and Facebook and as AMKukec on Twitter.