But as one chapter closes, another one begins, and we’re are thrilled to announce the addition of three outstanding new members who will be joining our board, alongside those re-elected. Each individual brings a wealth of expertise and fresh perspectives to the table, and we are truly grateful for their commitment to contributing to the mission of EFBC.

Learn more about each position and the members who make up our 2024 Board of Directors below. With such a dynamic team in place, we can’t wait to see what the upcoming year has in store for us. Stay tuned for an exciting year ahead!

President – Dave Horvath

Dave Horvath is CEO/Co-Owner of DTE LLC, a remanufacturer of PowerTrain equipment for the Energy & Mining sector with 11 locations in the US. Throughout his 35 years at DTE, he has played a key role in the transformation of a small family business into a national organization.

Dave joined the EFBC in 2007 as a member of the Inspiration Forum. Major reason for his desire to join the EFBC board is to help others experience the same benefits he had over the last 15 years with EFBC. He is currently a member of the Lighthouse Forum. He has served as a Vice President, Forum Chair, Treasurer and Governance Director.

As President, Dave presides at board meetings, creates meeting agendas, appoints committees and committee chairs, serves as the primary contact for the board, as well as holding other board members accountable for attending meetings and participating.

Vice President – Darrin Shillair

Darrin is the current the President of Specialty Sales LLC. Prior to acquiring Specialty Sales, Darrin held several operations leadership and change management roles across a variety of industries, including several years leading consulting engagements for Fortune 100 clients.  In addition to growing Specialty Sales, Darrin serves on the board of the LYTE Collective, a non-profit organization serving Chicago youth experiencing homelessness.

Darrin shared that he’s looking forward to meeting more of the EFBC members and helping the organization grow it’s offerings and membership base.

As Vice President, Darrin prepares to assume the position of President next year, and fulfills board chair duties when the President is absent. He assists the board chair in executing duties, and serves on committees to learn board operations.

Past President – Andy Sanghani

Andy Sanghani is the President and 2nd generation owner of Systematics Inc. Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Andy earned a degree in Finance from the University of Illinois. Upon graduation, he worked in commercial banking before joining Systematics in 2004 to support his dad and help grow the business. Since joining EFBC and Illuminati Forum in 2013, Andy has served as a President, Vice President, Forum Moderator, and participated on the Membership and Marketing Committee.

As Past President, Andy serves on the Governance Committee and aids in board succession.

Treasurer – Joel Spencer

Joel Spencer is the President at Perma-Seal. In 2016 , Joel joined the EFBC and spent over 6 years in Audi Forum. He has served as Moderator of his Forum and brought his contributions to Finance Committee.

As Treasurer, Joel oversees bank accounts and financial statements, serves as finance committee chair, assists in preparing the annual budget, and reviews the annual audit to present it to the board.

Governance Director – Bob Carmody

Bob Carmody is the co-founder and owner of Diana’s Bananas, a Chicago-based manufacturer of “The World’s Best Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Bananas.” His professional journey includes working at IBM as the Director of Knowledge Management Alliances and Sales Director for KPMG Consulting.

Bob’s commitment to giving back to the community is evident through his active involvement on multiple Board of Directors. As the Chairman of the Board and Board of Regents, he supports the work of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Moreover, he is a member of the Board of Directors for the “Hatchery” and Industrial Council of Near West Chicago. He’s also a Director on the advisory board of the National Frozen and Refrigerated Association.

As Governance Director, Bob reviews Bylaws annually, ensures legal forms are filed on time, assures that documents are filed and accessible, oversees the Board calendar, and is responsible for board succession.

Education Director – B.J. Slater

B.J. is currently a 3^rd generation co-owner of his family’s fertilizer manufacturing company, Plant Marvel, based in Chicago Heights.  Prior to joining the family business in 2013, B.J. had a very different career as a commercial pilot and safety director for a regional cargo airline.  B.J. is passionate about learning and development whether training new pilots or mentoring Plant Marvel’s emerging leaders. He joined the EFBC in 2015 and is a current Moderator of his Arete Forum.

As Education Director, B.J oversees programming, emerging leaders, curriculum, and emeritus groups, addresses programming needs, creates curriculum around family business and entrepreneurship.

Membership Director – Marcus Newman

Forum Director – Dave Westerman

Dave Westerman is President and Owner of Carbit Paint Company, which was founded by his grandfather in Chicago in 1925.  Dave is a member of Lighthouse Forum and currently is a Forum Chair of his Forum.

As Forum Director, Dave oversees Forum health, chairs the Protocol Committee, and addresses issues around Forum participation, process, and management. He shared his excitement to work with the newly assembled board. Dave believes that board members are passionate about the organization and willing to work hard for its betterment, and downright smart.

Strategic Partners Director – Mary Beth McLean

Mary Beth, Senior Advisor, CFP®, MBA at Private Vista, LLC, shared that she’s excited to be a part of the EFBC board to strengthen her commitment to the organization and learn how to help it grow. She devotes much of her current practice working with women, often in transition, to take control of their financial matters. Mary Beth has been a strategic partner of the EFBC since 2019.

As Strategic Partner Director, she chairs the Strategic Partner Committee and is responsible for recruitment, engagement, and retention of the Strategic Partners.

DePaul University – Bruce Leech

Bruce Leech leads the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul which helps students and alumni develop their entrepreneurial skills, launch and grow ventures, and network with Chicago’s vibrant entrepreneur community.  As a faculty member, he teaches courses in strategic entrepreneurship and business plan development. An experienced entrepreneur, Leech is the founder of CrossCom National, an information technology data/voice company, and co-founder of Evolve USA, a membership organization for business owners. He has been inducted into the Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.