Elk Grove CEO back in the saddle for charity ride
Chip Miceli, president and CEO of Des Plaines Office Equipment in Elk Grove Village, bought a three-wheeler. Not a tricycle for a kid. A three-wheeled motorcycle for a cross-country ride.
It's not just any ride either. It's a fundraising trek from here to Washington, D.C. for the Jillian Ride/Rolling Thunder Ride for Charity starting May 29.
It will be the first time since he was 22 that Miceli rode on a Harley Davidson. This time, he will have a new Slingshot by Polaris motorcycle, said Miceli, now 62.
"We'll be joining thousands of others riding into D.C.," Miceli said. "It's going to be one noisy operation."
In February, he attended an event in Arizona where the Jillian organization showed attendees the results of their fundraising and they encouraged Miceli to participate.
The Jillian Fund was named after Jillian Lauren Gorman, who was 16 when she was diagnosed in 2009 with a blood cancer that had a life expectancy of about five years. After countless treatments, tests, and hospital stays, she died in 2013. The fund provides assistance and support so parents can stay with children and not worry about being away from work and losing money.
During the trip to D.C., Miceli won't be alone. He'll be joined by his son, Paul Miceli, 38, and they will take turns driving the 2,000-mile route.
"It will be the two of us for 14 hours and we plan to make it to D.C. in maybe one day and then take two days to come back," Chip Miceli said.
They likely will leave around midnight the day before Memorial Day to avoid heavy traffic.
Miceli also said they won't pack much for the journey and just take rest stops, fuel up and grab water or juice.
A group leaving Arizona will catch up to them and they all plan to meet in Virginia before they continue the last stretch to D.C., he said.
He's already reached his fundraising goal of $100,000 and more donations have been coming in, he said.
"I was a Boy Scout leader before, and we took some small trips or went back packing, but this is a first. I have not taken a trip like this before," he said.
For more information go to www.thejillianfund.org.
See Kukec on Page 2
FastTracks
Larry Leafblad of Grayslake, who has built a 57-year career in local newspapers, Lake County radio, advertising and as a member of the Lake County Board has recently been promoted to executive consultant for Ambit Energy, based in Dallas. Ambit provides low cost electricity and natural gas for residential and commercial customers and, has recently added Solar Energy in six states.
Bob Ibach said his Ibach & Associates, a sports public relations and marketing firm in Arlington Heights, marks its 20th anniversary this month. Before establishing his company, he ran the publicity for the sports division at Kemper Sports in Northbrook for 7 years in the 1990s and was the Chicago Cubs PR director and publications director from 1981-89. He was also a sports writer for The Washington Post and Baltimore Sun before moving to Arlington Heights in 1981.
Owners Ray Bozic and Jeff Urso of Donati's in Lake Bluff recently closed their operations in Mundelein and Lake Forest and consolidated their pizzerias into the Lake Bluff site. They then built a new production facility next to the Lake Bluff restaurant which now makes, serves and delivers about 500 pizzas a day both to consumers and corporations.
Daniel L. Goodwin, chairman and CEO of The Inland Real Estate Group in Oak Brook, won the Gold Stevie Award as Executive of the Year in the real estate category for The 14th Annual American Business Awards. Goodwin was recognized for his leadership, ethical business practices and philanthropic endeavors.
Chef Ahmed G. Mora is gearing up for a cocoa-infused brunch on Sunday, May 15, at The Chocolate Sanctuary, 5101 Washington St. in Gurnee. ... Owner Jeanne Hoogerhyde marks the 25th anniversary of her Studio 4 Hair Salon, 120 Lageschulte St. in Barrington with an open house from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on June 11. ... Two Brothers Coffee Roasters co-founder Jason Ebel said the Warrenville company has added a new packaging line and upgraded equipment, along with doubling its staff in the past year.
Brian Hogan, owner of Hogan Design & Construction in Geneva, was selected by Remodeling magazine to join the Remodeling Big50. The Big50 awards will be presented at a gala at the Remodelers Summit and Awards Gala on Oct 25-27 in Kansas City, Missouri. The 2016 Big50 winners are featured in the May issue of the magazine. ... Jay Saccaro, corporate vice president and chief financial officer at Deerfield-based Baxter International, will speak at the UBS Global Healthcare Conference Monday in New York.
•T here'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.