
There is a Place for Contractors in Small Business
Leveraging freelance resources is no longer just for Goliath cutting edge tech firms like Google. Hiring isn’t easy and it isn’t a perfect science. Maybe it’s time to consider the hybrid option, the “try and buy.”


Growing Your Business with Shared Experiences
Paul Spiegelman started his career as a bootstrap entrepreneur. What began as a business operating out of his garage grew to become BerylHealth, a customer call center with $40 million in annual revenue. Their claim to fame? The culture. Culture… Read more→


President’s Message – It’s a Matter of Time
Last month I was contemplating the effect of personal tech devices on us and wondering if the way folks live with their smart phones is as wrong as it feels to me or if it’s really a revolution or perhaps… Read more→

President’s Message – Monthly Talks & Thoughts
I’ve been contemplating our membership statistics; one in particular points out a great opportunity. Over 80% of our members are “Family” businesses while less than 20% are “Entrepreneurs”, like myself. Why is that? Could it just be our name? Could… Read more→

DePaul Spotlight on Dr. Patrick J Murphy
Chicago Family Business Council: Could you tell us a little bit about your programs and responsibilities? Dr. Patrick J. Murphy: Last year I founded the Social Enterprise Collaborative (dpusocent.org), which is a donor-funded operation at DePaul that connects our students… Read more→

Member Spotlight on Bryan Doherty of Erin Rope
Chicago Family Business Council: What year was your company founded? Bryan Doherty: Erin Rope was founded in 1998 CFBC: Tell us a little bit of the history behind the company? BD: Erin Rope was founded by my father James Doherty… Read more→

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
A recent Illinois Appellate Court case made life a lot easier for those who love to spend their summers in Chicago but can no longer tolerate the long, cold winters and the Illinois income and inheritance tax systems. Old Man… Read more→

Member Spotlight on Jacqui McGrew of Hoodz
Chicago Family Business Council: What year was Hoodz founded? Jacqui McGrew: Hoodz was founded in 2010. CFBC: Tells us a little bit about your company and the history behind it. JM: Hoodz is a commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning company. We are part of a… Read more→

DePaul Spotlight on Dr. Joel Whalen
Chicago Family Business Council: Tell us a little bit about your department? Joel Whalen: Over the past 10 years, DePaul’s Center for Sales Leadership has become the largest sales organization in the world; a thought leader in sales education. Our… Read more→

Member Spotlight on Al Youna of YMI Mechanical, Inc.
Chicago Family Business Council: What year was YMI Mechanical, Inc. founded? Al Youna: YMI Mechanical, Inc. was founded August 31, 2009, right at the start of the downturn. CFBC: Tell us a little bit of the history behind the company?… Read more→