Coaching clients to find a job they love

When a Wheaton business owner was in a public relations job that was the wrong fit, she knew she had to take action and find something new.

The experience eventually prompted her to start her own company to assist others in finding the job they love.

"I decided I would never hate my job again and wanted to help others love what they do," said Vickie Austin, founder of Choices Worldwide, a business and career coaching company that involves public speaking.

"I help the best get better," said Austin, who enjoyed a career in hospital marketing that placed a heavy focus on strategic planning. She was vice president of marketing at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton and started doing some career coaching on the side in 1997.

Austin used aspects of strategic planning with her coaching. "People need a marketing plan when going through a career transition," she said. She launched her full time business in 2002. "I help people create plans to help them get from where they are to where they want to be," she said.

The entrepreneur, who also spends time public speaking, says she specializes in professional services, accounting, law firms and health care. Austin, 59, enjoys seeing her clients succeed and knowing that she was there to help make it happen. She has offices in Wheaton and Chicago and works with clients across the country.

Austin, who describes herself as energetic and enthusiastic, enjoys her job. "I feel blessed. My mission is to create a world where people love what they do and do what they love," she said. She understands that people are happier if they enjoy their job. She also points out that companies are more successful if their workforce is engaged.

In growing her company, about a year ago, Austin formed a strategic alliance with Nashville-based The Rainmaker Companies, an organization that provides training and consulting that support accounting and consulting professionals. She has also been named the incoming president of the National Speakers Association of Illinois. The Wheaton resident has raised two children with her husband, Bill, a retired teacher and full time artist.

Austin admits that she is an avid reader and enjoys reading business books about leadership, innovation and creativity. She understands that others don't have the time to read as much as she does, so she holds a book review on the third Tuesday of every month at the Wheaton Library to talk about what she has learned through the inspirational books. "Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action," by Simon Sinek is the next book on the agenda.

Medical development planned

With ultimate plans to develop a hospital system-based medical office building complex, Ryan Companies US Inc. in Naperville completed the $4 million acquisition of a 9.5-acre land site within the Cantera Business Park in Warrenville.

When complete, the development is likely to have a construction volume exceeding $15 million.

With the acquisition, Ryan Companies is looking to leverage continued health care system expansion in the Western suburbs.

The 80,000-square-foot complex envisioned by Ryan Companies would include two office buildings, each two stories and totaling approximately 40,000 square feet of space, with shared amenities and common space linking the two.

Health care systems located within a 15-mile radius of the site include Elmhurst-Edward Hospitals, Northwestern Medical Center's Central DuPage Hospital, NWMC's Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. These systems, and other health care providers, have made significant commitments to the area with service and facility expansions that have included Northwestern Medicine's Cancer Center and Orthopedic Surgical Center and Edward Hospital Sleep Center.

A new ace

Jaime Albizures, 52, of Gainesville, Virginia, recently became the national sales director at Ace Computers in Elk Grove Village.

At Ace Computers, he oversees the sales staff and looks forward to growing the business. While at his previous employer, PCMG, he contributed to the start of the public sector sales division, which grew to $300 million in yearly sales.

Albizures obtained a Novell Technical Engineering Degree from UCLA. Prior to PCMG he spent 8 years with Morgan Stanley as the IT Director managing the West Coast day-to-day real-time operation.

Ulta deal complete

Northbrook-based Pine Tree Commercial Realty signed a new lease with Ulta Beauty at Poplar-Prairie Stone Crossing in Hoffman Estates.

The newly-leased 10,676-square-foot Ulta Beauty joins TJ Maxx, World Market and Ross Dress for Less, among others, at the 312,000-square-foot shopping center at the intersection of Interstate 90 and Route 59. "The addition of Ulta Beauty at Poplar-Prairie Stone Crossing will greatly enhance the shopping center's overall tenant mix," said Michael Gold, Pine Tree's VP of Leasing. Ulta, with its headquarters in Bolingbrook, is expected to open in Hoffman Estates late this fall.

Renting luxury

Chicago-based M&R Development recently broke ground for a new luxury rental community, The Residences at Hamilton Lakes, in Itasca.

The project is a joint venture between M&R Development, Itasca-based Hamilton Partners and equity partner Chicago-based Murphy O'Brien.

The 10.7-acre community will be the first rental property developed adjacent to the Hamilton Lakes Business Park, which includes over 3 million square feet of office space, as well as restaurants and two hotels.

The project includes 7,500 square feet of luxury amenities, including a resort-style clubhouse with an outdoor pool, media room, fitness facility, business center and event space, as well as a spa, sauna and steam room.