EFBC NEWS: Congratulating Cha Mi on her Promotion!

This month we are excited to announce that intern, Cha Mi Fung, has been promoted to Marketing Coordinator! We are excited to keep her on with us and looking forward to what she has in store for EFBC!

Please tell us about you experience as an EFBC Intern and prior experience prior to your time with us!

Reflecting on my journey, I have had the privilege of gaining invaluable knowledge & skills and working in a dynamic and collaborative work environment through my time as an intern at EFBC. Working closely with a teeny tiny but the BEST team, I had the opportunity to learn and grow, acquiring hands-on experience not only in marketing, but in event planning as well. Prior to joining EFBC, I had the opportunity to undergo management training in the hospitality industry at Hilton Chicago.

How did you hear about EFBC originally?

Well, let me take you back to my days as a graduate student at DePaul University. During that time, I was on the lookout for internships that could provide valuable real-world experience in the marketing field. My search led me to a job posting site affiliated with the university, where I stumbled upon EFBC and it caught my attention and curiosity!

What are you most excited about in regards to working for EFBC in a full time capacity as opposed to an intern?

As I step into this new role, I am most excited about the chance to be more involved in decision-making process and contribute fresh ideas to ensure our marketing efforts align with the organization’s goals and objectives. On top of that, now as a I hold a full-time position, I can fully immerse myself in the EFBC’s culture and build stronger relationships with my team as well as EFBC community. I look forward to taking on new challenges and contributing to the growth and success of our marketing and programming efforts!

In your spare time, what do you like to do for fun?

I absolutely love exploring new coffee shops and restaurants here in Chicago. Being a total foodie at heart, this has become a weekly tradition for me! If you have any hidden gem recommendations or favorite spots, I would love for you to share them with me! Beside indulging in delicious food, I’m also taking jiu jitsu classes and recently started attending salsa dancing classes!

What is your go-to karaoke song?

I have 3 staple karaoke songs!

1. Imagine Dragons – “Demons”
2. Adele – “Someone Like you” I gotta admit that I can’t hit those high notes though
3. Black Eyed Peas – “I gotta feeling”

CLICK HERE to read Cha Mi’s full biography.

How to Delegate Like the Boss You Are

Delegating, the art of transferring responsibilities from one person to another. Not only does learning to delegate free up time in your schedule to focus on higher level tasks, it also helps you grow a team of empowered and self-sufficient employees for your business. In fact, according to a Gallup study, CEOs adept in delegation generate 33% higher revenue.

But just because delegating is an important management skill, doesn’t mean it’s an easy one. A study from the late London Business School professor John Hunt tells us that only about 30% of managers think they can delegate effectively. So if delegation doesn’t come naturally to you, you’re not alone, and we at EFBC are here to help with five steps you can take to learn to delegate and lead like the boss you are:

1. Identify What to Delegate
   Not everything can be delegated but identifying what can be is half the battle. Start by making a list of all your responsibilities. Then, decide which tasks absolutely need to be done by you. Usually, these will be the tasks that are both important and urgent. If something is neither of those things, it can be delegated. If it is urgent but not important, it can probably also be delegated. The grey area comes when a task is important, but not urgent. For these tasks, ask yourself probing questions about why or why not you might want to delegate them. Will delegating a certain task free you up, as a manager, to help move the business forward? Or will it help one of your employees grow further towards a goal or future position? If the answer to either of those questions is “yes,” the task should be delegated.
2. Know Your Team
   Each of your employees comes with a set of strengths and goals. The best managers know what those are and take them into account when delegating, whether to grow that employee or put them in a position at which they will excel. And taking time to learn employee strengths has proven payoffs. The Gallup Organization’s “State of the American Workplace” study found teams that focus on strengths have 12.5% greater productivity than those who don’t. So if you get to know your team and put your aces in your places, half of the delegation battle will already be won.
3. Define Success
   When delegating tasks and responsibilities, it is important to make sure your employees know how to handle their new roles successfully. Think of what success looks like when you complete a task and make sure your delegatee has the required information to achieve that same success. They should have a good idea of what a “job well done” looks like, as well as the metrics you will use to evaluate them and how everything ties into the overall mission and values of your company.
4. Establish a Failure -> Feedback Loop
   Even if you do a great job defining success, your employees still may fail in their new roles, and that’s okay. Offer constructive criticism and check in to make sure your employees implement your feedback in subsequent tasks. To ensure that you are delegating effectively, also provide employees opportunities to give YOU feedback. One company that does this in an innovative way is the MITRE Corporation, where Senior Principal Systems Engineer Dan Ward has implemented a “failure ritual” that involves eating cake while reflecting on past failures and learning from mistakes. According to Ward, “being honest about failure and having something sweet…helps reduce the pain and shame of the experience.” Think about what a failure ritual might look like for your company. Maybe it doesn’t involve cake, but perhaps there’s something you can do to ensure that your employees can be forthright about their failures and ameliorate them for the next time.
5. Give Authority and Recognition
   This is where you need to fight the urge to micromanage. Once a task is assigned, it is beneficial to give a delegatee authority to make decisions within the scope of their new responsibilities. Establish a communication channel in which questions can be asked of course, but if your employee feels like you’re looking over their shoulder at every turn, they won’t be able to have those moments of failure that lead to growth. Not to mention the fact that you won’t have achieved the point of delegation in the first place: getting a task off your plate. And when someone does a good job, give them credit! This can be something simple, like a shout out in a meeting, or you can follow in the footsteps of over 80% of Fortune 500 companies and implement a formal employee recognition system like Bonusly, Bucketlist, or Motivosity.

Delegating isn’t easy, but following our five tips will help you to cultivate a dynamic and motivated team that contributes to the success of your organization. And the more you practice delegating, the more effective you will become in your role as a manager.

Meet Tiffany Rotondo, Senior Human Resources Manager at The Jel Sert Company

Get to know Tiffany, a new member of EFBC!

The Jel Sert Company
Founded: 1926
Location: West Chicago, IL

Tell us about your career leading up to where you are now:

My name is Tiffany Rotondo and I’m with The Jel Sert Company. I’ve been here for almost 16 years. I started in HR about 25 years ago. I originally started in HR at another family owned company in West Chicago, that specialized in horticulture. I took a 4 and a ½ year break to stay at home and raise my children and re-entered the workforce at The Jel Sert Company as an HR Assistant and have moved my way up to a Senior Manager of Corporate Human Resources. I have two older children, ages 24 and 22 and I’ve been married for 25 years. Actually, this past May we celebrated our 25th anniversary by going on a 12-day trip to Europe. It was a trip of a lifetime!

What do you like most about what you do?

I like the variety. Prior to being promoted to Senior Manager, I used to be an HR Generalist, and I still have some of the generalist responsibilities in my day-to-day work. Overall, I handle compensation, policies, and procedures, implementing state and federal laws, and implementing new policies to ensure we remain compliant. Additionally, I manage our budget, performance evaluations, and of course employee relations, so it’s just a little bit of everything.

How did you hear about the EFBC?

Nisha Patel, of Systematics, Inc. and EFBC member, used to work for me at Jel Sert as our HR Assistant. At the time she was part-time and eventually left to go to work with her family at Systematics. We stayed in touch over the years, and she encouraged me to join and has been talking to me about her experiences, basically since she joined EFBC. She felt it was an opportunity that would be beneficial to me because we are a family-owned business, almost 100 years old, with the third generation currently running the company and the fourth generation working in the business, in sales and marketing roles.

Why did you join, and what do you hope to gain from your membership?

Working for a family organization and specifically in human resources, you do not get a lot of outlets to talk to people or to try and come up with solutions outside of talking to those within your department. I felt that this would be a great opportunity for me to open up and share with others about different things that might be going on for me personally within the business. I hope to be able to use shared experiences for how other companies have handled various situations and how to apply their experiences to where I am at when I am problem solving. Additionally, the community building piece truly intrigued me. Being able to get to know other people from other family owned businesses and the opportunity to join a group of people that I can trust and count on is important in my role and in my life.

Join us in welcoming Tiffany to the EFBC community.

Meet Giovanna & Jonathan Capitanini

Get to know Giovanna & Jonathan, new members of EFBC!

Italian Village Restaurants
Founded: 1927
Location: Chicago, IL

Tell us a little about yourselves:

(Giovanna) Jonathan and I have started the process of transitioning the business from our mother to us. We are the fourth generation to run the business. In the day-to-day, I handle the marketing side of things. I am responsible for any of the ads, social media, influencers, PR, signage, website, menus, etc.; all that good stuff. In January of last year, we refreshed The Village brand, so I spent a lot of time on that project and implementing it across channels. The next big project I am working on is our newest concept, Bar Sotto, an Italian take on a Chicago dive bar.

(Jonathan) I more recently joined the business and come from a background in management consulting, and I also worked with another restaurant brand prior. We call my role the ‘Head Dishwasher,’ which has been passed down through the generations; but it is essentially the operations role. I focus on operations, finance, HR, and the opening of our newest concept with Giovanna.

I studied economics in college, which was a pretty generalist degree, and a good way to figure out what I wanted to do. From a young age, both of us were told not to go into the restaurant business. Our family wanted us to go work in Corporate America because they knew how hard the restaurant industry could be. But I think, as with many things, the more your parents tell you not to do something, the more drawn to it you are. Still, we both pursued alternative career paths after college, which was how Giovanna got into marketing and I got into consulting.

But once the pandemic hit, it was an incredibly hard time for the restaurant industry, so I began to focus more on the family business knowing the skillsets I had built in consulting would be particularly valuable in this time. Slowly, as the business started to stabilize, we realized that our mom was nearing retirement age and started looking at our succession plan. At that point, we realized our different strengths and what we both brought to the table and the differences we have that both add value to the business.

We also identified that, aside from the first generation, previous generations were missing prior work experience in different restaurants. We thought our business was stuck in the ‘old ways’ a little too much and did not have enough outside perspective, so I found an opportunity to work for another restaurant group, Boqueria Restaurants, they have a location in Chicago, but are based on the East Coast. I was able to run through their manager-in-training (MIT) program, where you rotate through each role in the business, from back of house to front of house, and then the corporate team where I worked on strategic initiatives across all units. Finally, I came back home, just over a year ago, to start to apply some of those learnings.

(Giovanna) So Jonathan took a more direct route, in learning the ins-and-outs of the restaurant industry while I took more of a roundabout route. I graduated college with a marketing degree, focused on digital media. I had a few internships with marketing firms in Chicago, and one global firm before ending up at Modern Luxury in their digital media department. I was part of a 5-person digital team – we were doing everything from digital ads, SEO tracking, website management, everything you can think of for the digital brand. After about 3 or 4 years there, there was an opening at the restaurant for a person doing what I was doing and so I started working closely with our PR firm. And then when COVID hit, I started taking over more of the website maintenance and more of the social media on my own as we cut costs and let go of the outsourced marketing/PR partner.

Tell us how you work with each other, especially given the nuances and unique aspects of being in business with your family members.

(Jonathan) It’s definitely something we are working on and will continue to work on as we move forward. As a wise person once told us, in family business, “your business is in your family and your family is in your business.” It’s interesting to navigate the different hats and relationships we have with each other, from siblings, to colleagues, to manager, etc., and sometimes it can be challenging expressing thoughts or concerns when you haven’t clarified which hat you’re speaking from at that time. If you are trying to give feedback but they are approaching the situation like a family member the response is totally different than, for example, if you are coming to the person as a colleague. We have made a lot of progress in the past year, and I am proud of how far we have come and looking forward to what we can accomplish in the future. Our ability to collaborate and come together has proven successful in elevating us to further heights and a big step for us was joining EFBC. We were looking to find mentorship beyond the family, because sometimes when you are seeking shared experiences outside of your family others just don’t understand the different dynamics. We are excited to build community from a broader audience and hear perspectives on other people’s challenges with communication and problem solving.

(Giovanna) We often get asked about how working with family is, and we regularly joke that we haven’t killed each other yet. But aside from that, Jonathan and I have a real passion for our business. We grew up in this business, it’s in our blood. And at the end of the day, we have the best interest of the restaurant and our employees at heart and at the end of the day we are family. To us, that’s the most important thing. That way, when we approach each other, we have a basis of understanding of where both of us are coming from and it helps us understand each other a little better. We joined the EFBC to be able to gain an outside perspective, especially because most friends and other colleagues do not have the experience of what it’s like working with your family.

How did you first hear about EFBC?

(Both) Our uncle, Al Capitanini.

(Jonathan) When you are the fourth generation in a family business, you understand that no matter what the previous generation does to ‘solve’ certain problems, you run into the same sorts of family problems, like communication among family members and figuring out a way to get support from people who know what you’re going through and so he [Al] had an understating of the EFBC when he was involved with the business, found it helpful, and recommended it as an option for us as we start to make that transition into ownership and leadership roles.

What made you want to finally join EFBC and what are you hoping to gain from your membership?

(Jonathan) I knew, at the time, we weren’t doing our best in terms of communicating and working together, and we were struggling to find the proper ways to collaborate. So it became obvious that we each needed some outside perspective on things to alleviate having to include other family members, like our mom having to be the referee, which ultimately wasn’t getting us anywhere as our mom just wants us both happy and getting along. Great in family, but that approach doesn’t really help the business. We needed to be able to make some tough decisions and have agreement and commitment to those decisions, which is what pushed me to explore EFBC more.

(Giovanna) In general, we were kind of looking for someone, a third party, just to give us an outside perspective on things. When you are close with your family and are in business together, everyone you talk to about it is so inclined to give their own opinions on every matter and you end up with a lot of advice from people, but they haven’t necessarily worked in the day-to-day nor do they have an understanding of how the business operates. I think, additionally, the EFBC community is so great because there are so many different types of businesses, multiple generations, and perspectives that will be helpful for us to learn from.

(Jonathan) Just to drive home Giovanna’s point on community, at the end of the summer, we attended the Summer Social at Avli, and it truly felt like folks went out of their way to talk to us and make us feel comfortable and included. As we were making our decision on whether to join, so many shared their own experiences from the value they get out of EFBC, which really “sealed the deal” for us.

(Giovanna) Everyone was really welcoming and excited to talk about EFBC and how it has improved their lives, their businesses, and so many other aspects – that was really the cherry on top!

Join us in welcoming Giovanna & Jonathan to the EFBC community.

Member Spotlight: Krusinski Construction 50th Anniversary

This month we’re celebrating Krusinski Construction Company!

In the ever-evolving world of construction, it is a remarkable achievement for any company to reach the momentous milestone of 50 years in business. Such an accomplishment showcases not only perseverance, but also a steadfast commitment to their core values and the community they serve.

Krusinski Construction Company, a family-owned business, has consistently operated under the belief that treating clients, employees, and the community the right way is the only way to do business, lovingly referred to as the “Krusinski way.” When working with them, you can truly feel the difference in their approach and dedication to delivering exceptional results. Today, on behalf of the EFBC Community, we proudly extend our heartfelt congratulations to this valuable member, as they celebrate their remarkable journey of half a century.

To celebrate this significant milestone, Krusinski Construction has released a special video featuring the founder, Joe Krusinski, along with CEO Jerry Krusinski and President Jeff Krusinski. In this video, the three leaders reflect on the company’s journey and discuss their vision for the future. Their insights give us a glimpse into the family’s strong values that have undoubtedly contributed to the company’s longevity and success. Check out their special video HERE!

Looking ahead, Krusinski Construction Company continues to forge a path of innovation and industry leadership. With a solid foundation built over the past 50 years and a clear vision for the future, they are well-equipped to navigate the evolving construction landscape and shape the industry for years to come. Congratulations to Krusinski Construction on this remarkable milestone, and here’s to the next 50 years of success!

Gratitude and Reflection – A Letter From The President

Dear EFBC Members,

As we prepare to bid farewell to another eventful year for the EFBC, December arrives, adorned with the warmth and joy of the holiday season. It’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and showing appreciation for the people who make our business journeys worthwhile.

As business leaders and professionals, it’s essential to remember the significance of showing appreciation for our partners, coworkers, clients, and everyone who has played a role in our successes throughout the year. This holiday season, let’s take a moment to express our gratitude and spread the spirit of appreciation. A simple gesture or a heartfelt message can go a long way in strengthening relationships and building a supportive network.

In celebrating milestones within our community, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to two of our valuable members, Krusinski Construction Company and Brucher Machining, Inc., on their exceptional achievement of marking their 50th Anniversary! It’s an honor to have them as part of our EFBC community!

In the past month, we had the privilege of hearing from one of our own, B.J. Slater, who shared an insightful analogy between business leaders and changes in the aviation industry. The psychology of human factors “Soft Skills” used a flight crew team and business leadership team. Also, the white paper from Strategic Partner Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. regarding year end compliance issues for business is a necessary tool for the leadership toolbox.

As we approach the new year, our planning for 2024 continues. Your input and engagement are crucial as we shape the direction and initiatives of EFBC for the upcoming year. Look out for updates on planning sessions and opportunities to contribute. We have an exciting lineup of events for the upcoming months:

• “Name, Image, Likeness” Fireside Chat featuring Strategic Partner Eric VanderPloeg from Burke Law on February 8th, 2024.
• “Unlocking Potential: The highest form of leadership” event featuring renowned speaker Sam Silverstein on May 16th, 2024.

We encourage you to mark your calendars and make the most of these opportunities to learn from industry leaders and foster meaningful connections within our community.

As we approach the close of 2023, let’s carry the spirit of appreciation and reflection with us. EFBC is not just a business group; it’s a community built on support, collaboration, and shared aspirations. Thank you for being a part of our remarkable EFBC family.

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season!

Dave Horvath
EFBC President 2023-2024

Meet Dan Migacz, CFO at A.M. Woodland Outdoor Design

Get to know Dan, a new member of EFBC!

A.M. Woodland Outdoor Design / Lotz Custom Carpentry, Inc.
Founded: 2009
Location: Mundelein, IL / Salem, WI

Tell us about your career leading up to where you are now:
I studied accounting in undergrad (IWU) and grad school (ISU). Once I graduated, I went to work at a public accounting firm, McGladrey (now RSM US) and passed my CPA exams. After a couple of years there, however, I knew that I didn’t want to stay in public accounting. I transitioned over to Cardinal Health and was there for a short time. I moved on to a private equity firm called Sherman Residential, where I was the Controller for five years. That was a fantastic role, and I learned a lot about deal making, acquisitions, and running large multi-family properties. And now, for the past six years, I finally came to work with my brother!

What do you like most about what you do?
As the CFO, I work a lot with numbers. I wouldn’t necessarily say numbers are my favorite thing, but I definitely have a knack for them. I just really enjoy getting to spend every day with my best friends. I work directly with my brother and other family members and then our business partners have basically become family. And it’s just great to be able to get to do what we do, while also being able to spend every day together. When it comes to problem solving, it is exciting that we are the ones problem solving, and collectively coming together to make a decision. But of course, there’s pros and cons to that, because the full responsibility of the decision making does fall on us as well.

How did you hear about the EFBC?
So, I’ve known Marcus Newman (EFBC Membership Director and Strategic Partner) for several years now. He does our company group insurance benefits. We were talking about some health insurance items and he brought it up. He asked us if we had ever heard about EFBC and mentioned that it would benefit our business and that it would be really good for us. A week or so later I reached out to him and expressed that I was interested in heard more and he sent me over some information and the website and said that if I wanted to know more to get in contact with Liz Fidanovski (EFBC Executive Director) and have her come out and sit down with you guys and explain what EFBC Is all about.

Why did you join, and what do you hope to gain from your membership?
I would say it was a combination of two things. The first is the programs. Liz described the programs EFBC hosts, and I was excited at the opportunity to not only participate but my brother, our partners, and our key employees. Whether it’s an HR roundtable, a finance roundtable or different programs that we can send our employees to. We are always interested in continuing learning opportunities and staying up to date on current policies and best practices. In addition to that, the second and for me, personally, the biggest draw were the peer groups, or forums. I was excited to have a group, that meets regularly who have been through a lot of the same things I am going through. I was excited for the shared experiences with a group of businesspeople who are on the same level to gain insight but to also share my own experiences in a safe, confidential environment on both personal and professional lives. It was just exciting to have regular sit downs and have a good, honest conversation with a group of people that actually care about me. In other groups I have participated in, the interpersonal experiences varied drastically, and this just feels on a different level from that. Our business partner, at the moment, is busy with his family but I have been sharing with my brother who will hopefully be joining soon.

Join us in welcoming Dan to the EFBC community.

A Season of Growth – Letter From The President

Dear EFBC Members,

With October ending soon and us moving towards November, we find ourselves in a season of focus and determination. It’s a time for Midwesterners to buckle down and turn their attention to business strategies and plans for the year ahead. Here’s what’s happening in our EFBC community this November.

For those who participated in our forum retreats last month, November presents the perfect opportunity to put those newfound leadership skills and perspectives into action. Take the insights gained from your retreat experiences and apply them to your daily endeavor’s family & Business. Let this be a season of growth, both personally and professionally.

As we dive into November, here are a few key highlights to look forward to:

• Leadership 2.0 ends tomorrow, Oct 25th
• Nov 2nd Sales and Marketing round table
• Nov 8th finance round table
• Nov 15th Flex Forum

Keep an eye on our event calendar for details on these opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals.

As we move forward into November, let’s remember that our strength lies in our collective determination and dedication. EFBC is more than just a business group; it’s a community that supports, empowers, and uplifts one another.

Thank you for being an integral part of our dynamic EFBC family. Your contributions and commitment are the driving force behind our shared success. Here’s to a focused and productive November!

Dave Horvath
EFBC President 2023-2024