Father-daughter team sets healthy goal for fundraisers

A father and daughter launched a business using their professional and personal experiences.

The idea for the company originated when Angie Maguire and her friends grew tired of supporting local sports teams and organizations through the same fundraising efforts. Maguire wanted to help out the organizations, but did not particularly enjoy buying wrapping paper, cookie dough and candy bars.

Maguire joined her father, who has 25 years experience in the food brokerage business, in starting a fundraising company that would offer something healthy. "We wanted a healthy option to fundraise with," said Maguire, who is a nurse.

Maguire and her dad, Paul Beckwith, launched Go Go Go Fundraising in Oak Park offering energy bars to be sold for fundraising efforts. The company currently offers two flavors, peanut butter and chocolate chip. The energy snacks are brand equivalent to a Cliff Bar, said Maguire, 43.

Maguire said her father, 72, is an entrepreneur and has had many businesses over the years while working in the private label food industry. The father-daughter team used Beckwith's sources in the food industry to launch the product. "My dad had a relationship with a manufacturer," Maguire said.

She added that her background in nursing was a big factor in creating a healthy alternative.

She said they have had success selling the bars to high school sports teams and soccer clubs. The bars sell for $2 each.

A box of 12 bars goes for $24. The organization or sports team pays $14 a box and makes 41 percent profit on the bars.

Maguire said the selling process is explained online at www.gogogofundraising.com.

"We know that people are busy. We live in a busy society," Maguire said. She believes the energy bars offer a good way for teams to make money and offer a healthy snack for kids before a game or event.

The business, that started about a year ago, is growing. Maguire said her husband, Gerry, is joining the company. "Gerry works in the food brokerage business and brings another level of experience," Maguire said. The entrepreneurs are working to add additional products, including fruit and nut bars.

Promotion

Mortenson Construction promoted Andy Frank to director of operations for the Chicago operating group, which is based in Elk Grove Village.

Frank brings nearly 30 years of experience in construction management to his new position. Most recently, he has been leading the Mortenson Construction team that is building the Jeanne Gang-designed residence hall at the University of Chicago. As a construction executive since 2009 and senior project manager at Mortenson starting in 2006, Frank also has overseen such projects as a new residence hall, student union and parking structure for Valparaiso University and a major data center for a leading technology company.

Next Realty inks suburban leases

Next Realty LLC has completed lease transactions - new leases and extensions - totaling 62,779 square feet of space at retail centers it owns and manages in Lombard, Schaumburg, Lincolnshire and Oak Lawn.

In largest of the transactions, The Sports Authority completed a lease extension of the 42,206-square-foot space it occupies at Sports Authority Plaza, 1015 E. Golf Rd. in Schaumburg.

• At Hobby Lobby Plaza in Lombard, Harbor Freight Tools USA Inc., whose tagline is "quality tools at discount prices," has completed a lease renewal for 14,958 square feet of space. The center is located at 225 W. Roosevelt Road.

• Next Realty also has completed leases at Lincolnshire Commons, the lifestyle center in Lincolnshire that it acquired last fall. Menchies Frozen Yogurt, quick serve specialty restaurant, leased 1,559 square feet of space within the center. ATI, which provides physical therapy services, leased 2,776 square feet.

• And Fantastic Sams, a national hair salon franchise, completed a lease extension for 1,280 square feet of space at Oak Lawn Promenade. The center is at 6352 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.

Four decades of care

Northbrook-based MAGA Ltd., one of the nation's original long term care insurance specialty brokers, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. While this is a feat for any family-owned business, it's especially noteworthy because long term care insurance is only 41 years old.

When the first LTCI policy was introduced in 1974, few people understood this new type of insurance. Yet MAGA's founder, Murray Gordon, was so convinced of its value, he left his position as sales director with a national insurance carrier to focus exclusively on the new firm.

MAGA is thriving, and Gordon, now MAGA's CEO, is joined in the business by two LTCI specialists: his son, Brian Gordon, and son-in-law, Peter Florek.

"So much has changed over time," says Gordon. "The product and benefits are very different today."