How long have you lived and worked in Chicago?
Most of my 40 years. I grew up on the North Side until Junior High when we moved to the suburbs. After seven years out East for school I moved back to Chicago and have been here for the 17 years since then.

What area do you live in and why did you choose it?
My wife, daughter and I live about a mile West of Wrigley Field, just off of Southport. We love our neighborhood because it is a community of families, yards and parks, yet nearby is the vibrancy of Southport with its neighborhood restaurants, shops, taverns & coffee shops as well as the classic Music Box Theatre. Southport has an authenticity and vibrancy that is uniquely Chicago.

When entertaining clients or business associates, where do you go?
I love to take them to Tuscany on Taylor—world class food & drink, classic Chicago neighborhood. For breakfast or lunch its Wishbone on Washington.

What is the best thing about running a business in Chicago? What needs improvement?
The best thing about running a business in Chicago is the “can do” attitude of our people. While it can be challenging to be a tech company outside of a tech center, I am hopeful that with all of the burgeoning activity Chicago will be able to emerge as more of a tech center in the coming years.

Do you follow any pro sports teams?
I am a hard core Bears fan—there’s no more of a loyal and passionate fan in all of sports. In most cities the Saturday Night Live SuperFan skit would be seen as offensive and demeaning—in Chicago we see it as a slightly over the top tribute to our passion for the Bears.

Which of these do you utilize the most, and how: the City’s parks, libraries, museums, other?
As the father of a 3-year-old, our weekends consist of trips to the Lincoln Park Zoo, as well as the Farm in the Zoo, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Museum of Science & Industry, while in the summer it's Navy Pier, the parks and—of course—eating at neighborhood street festivals. No city offers as much that all citizens, regardless of race or income, can participate in equally.

If money was no object, how would spend a Saturday in the City?
The City is never more beautiful than from the water on a summer night. Any chance to get out on the lake or the river, especially at night, is powerful reminder of how incredibly beautiful Chicago is.

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