Schaumburg business leader returns to pageant circuit

Kaili Harding, president of the Schaumburg Business Association, will be heading to Orlando, Florida, in early August. It's not for a vacation, but it may include a bathing suit.

The Elmhurst resident, who was recently crowned Ms. Illinois Galaxy, is now competing with participants worldwide in the Galaxy International Pageant. It's the equivalent to the Miss Universe pageant, but Galaxy features women who are 30 and older and who are divorced, widowed or single.

“I enjoyed the experience of it all and it also gives me a platform to speak out on issues that are near and dear to my heart,” said Harding, 35.

Before leading the Schaumburg Business Association in 2012, Harding has worked in marketing, publishing and real estate, as well as the U.S. Army and the Clarksville, Tennessee, Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Center.

Outside the office, she has been active with arranging for goody bags for kids being admitted to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, helping homeless women and educating others about diabetes, among other issues. She felt the beauty competitions offered her an opportunity to get more involved in various projects and also help educate others on social issues.

And this isn't her first big win at a pageant.

About 10 years ago when she was married, she entered her first pageant, Mrs. America for Illinois and won the state title. She then competed in the nationwide Mrs. America pageant and placed in the top 10.

But a lot has happened since then, including a divorce in 2009 and raising her two children.

Harding, who has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Georgia, decided to enter the Mrs. America pageant years ago because she wanted to be as fit and as active as she could and wanted to meet more people. She picked up on that again this year.

“I felt like I had more to say now and I wanted to do more advocacy work,” she said.

Now, she's engaged to be married in August 2016 to David Kaminsky, a lawyer in Chicago and father of three. They plan to marry on a beach in Florida … just not during the Galaxy pageant.

Ricketts surprises friend

Tom Ricketts, owner of the Chicago Cubs and CEO of Incapital LLC, a Chicago investment bank, along with about 30 of his friends took a bus trip last Thursday to Draft Picks, a sports bar on Busse Road in Mount Prospect. The group wanted to surprise bar owner Spiro Kondos, a longtime friend of Ricketts.

New citizen fills goals

Fernanda Fernandes, owner of the Culver's in Darien, was born in Brazil and came to the United States more than a decade ago with some goals. She wanted to improve her English and start a career. She accomplished those things and became an American citizen a few weeks ago. Fernandes first began working at McDonald's to pay tuition bills for her English classes. After moving across the street to a newly built Culver's in Downers Grove, she took a second, part-time position there and became manager within months. A few years later, her boss, Culver's of Downers Grove owner Bob Esposito, offered her an investment opportunity in Darien. She has since been part owner and operating partner for five years.

FastTracks

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