Bidding Farewell to 2023 with EFBC President

Happy New Year! As we bid farewell to 2023 and step into the possibilities of 2024, it’s a time of fresh beginnings, renewed ambition, and the excitement of setting new goals.

Personally, this is my favorite time of the year, as it allows us to reflect on our achievements, dream big, and set our compass for the journey ahead. Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals that will guide you throughout the year.

My favorite December read was “How To Know A Person: The art of seeing others deeply and being deeply seen” by David Brooks. It dives into the essential skill of truly understanding others and fostering meaningful connections, at home, at work, and throughout our lives.

Here’s what’s on the horizon for our EFBC community as we dive headfirst into January & February 2024.

• Flex Forum – January 17th, 2024
• Financial Wrap-Up Seminar Hosted by Private Vista – January 24th, 2024
• Fireside Chat – February 8th, 2024: “NIL Name, Image, Likeness” a topic with profound implications for business and sporting industries. The event will feature EFBC Strategic Partner Eric VanderPloeg from Burke Law and special guests Jahvae “Jay” Giddens from Purdue University and Megan Jerabek from von Briesen

Remember, your journey towards your goals doesn’t have to be a solitary one. EFBC is your community, a network of support, and a source of inspiration.

Wishing you a prosperous and goal-driven January!

Dave Horvath
EFBC President 2023-2024

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

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

Propelling Ourselves Toward Success At the Year’s End

Dear EFBC Members,

As we find possible hopes for a Bears Super Bowl diminishing, we pivot forward to the classic Chicago Marathon on Oct 8th to highlight our city. As EFBC business leaders we find ourselves in the final stretch of the business year. October marks the beginning of the last quarter of 2023, and it’s the perfect time to refocus our efforts, set our sights on year-end goals, and finish the year stronger than ever.

Q4, Finish Strong! Now is the time to double down on our efforts and work collaboratively to achieve our year-end goals. Let’s harness the energy of the season to propel ourselves toward success. Whether it’s meeting sales targets “Always be Closing (DTW)”, launching new projects, or achieving personal milestones, let’s approach this final quarter with determination and enthusiasm.

October is a special month for many of our forum groups as they embark on their yearly retreats. These retreats provide an invaluable opportunity for members to step back from their day-to-day routines, gain fresh perspectives, and engage in meaningful reflection. We encourage all members to make the most of these retreats and return with renewed focus and clarity.

DePaul’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center 20th Anniversary Celebration – October 17th We are excited to join our friends at DePaul’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center in celebrating their 20th anniversary on October 17th. Over the years, this center has played a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in our city. This milestone is a testament to their dedication and impact on our business community. Please join us in congratulating them on this remarkable achievement.

EFBC Fireside Chat Series – October 26th We’re delighted to announce the kickoff of our EFBC Fireside Chat conversations on October 26th at the beautiful Morton Arboretum. Our first guest is the renowned author Pete Wilkins, who will be discussing his latest book, “Purpose First Entrepreneur.” This promises to be an inspiring evening filled with insights and thought-provoking discussions. Make sure to save the date and view the event page for further details on registration.

As we embrace the opportunities and challenges that October brings, let’s remember that our strength lies in our unity and commitment to each other’s success. EFBC is not just an organization; it’s a community of driven professionals who support, inspire, and empower one another.

Dave Horvath
EFBC President 2023-2024

End of Summer New Beginnings

EFBC President, Dave Horvath, shares a few words this month about the transition from Summer to Fall and all the exciting things that come with it!

Dear EFBC Members,

As the vibrant colors of summer give way to the warm hues of autumn, we welcome September with open arms. With the start of a new season comes exciting opportunities and events for our EFBC community. Here’s what’s in store for the month ahead.

Summer Farewell and Celebrations: As the summer sun sets on another remarkable season, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to all members who joined us for the memorable summer social event at Avli on the Park. The evening was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and the joy of reuniting with fellow members. With just over 100 attendees, it was a beautiful occasion to celebrate Andy and his outstanding contributions during his presidency. The event not only marked the end of summer but also showcased the unity and strength of our EFBC family.

Celebrating Milestones: Let us also join hands in recognizing the remarkable journey of Mike Moran, who has been a valued Strategic Partner for an impressive 15 years. Mike’s dedication, insights, and unwavering support have been instrumental in our collective growth and success. We look forward to celebrating this incredible milestone with Mike and expressing our gratitude for his longstanding commitment to EFBC.

Upcoming Events:

• Leadership Application Course 2.0 Kick-Off – September 20th: We are excited to announce the commencement of our Leadership Application Course 2.0 on September 20th. This transformative program is designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and strategies necessary to excel in leadership roles. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or seeking to enhance your existing leadership skills, this course is tailored to meet your needs. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your leadership journey.
• Community Engagement Forum – September 26th: Mark your calendars for September 26th as we gather for a Community Engagement Forum, a biennial tradition that fosters open dialogue and collaboration within our EFBC family. This forum provides a platform to exchange ideas, address challenges, and collectively contribute to the growth of our community. Your active participation is highly encouraged, as your insights and perspectives play a crucial role in shaping our shared future.

As we move forward into September, we remain committed to advancing our goals, supporting one another, and creating an environment that encourages learning, growth, and innovation. EFBC is more than just a business group; it’s a community of professionals dedicated to mutual success and progress.

Thank you for being a part of our dynamic and engaged EFBC family. Your presence and involvement are what make our community truly exceptional. Wishing you a fulfilling and inspiring September ahead!

Thank you!

Dave Horvath
EFBC President 2023-2024

Hello EFBC

Dear EFBC Members,

Summer Greetings to all EFBC members! As the warmth of the season envelopes us, we hope you are finding time to relax, rejuvenate, and spend quality moments with loved ones. August marks the peak of summer, and we have some exciting updates and events to share with you.

First and foremost, we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our outgoing President, Andy. His dedication and leadership have been instrumental in guiding EFBC to new heights during his tenure. To honor his contributions, we will be hosting a special event on August 2nd, where we can come together to express our gratitude and bid him farewell. Please mark your calendars and join us in celebrating Andy’s achievements.

We are thrilled to announce that I will be assuming the role of President for EFBC in 2024. It is an honor to serve such a vibrant and dynamic business community. I look forward to working closely with all of you and continuing the legacy of excellence established by our past leaders. Together, we will strive to further elevate EFBC and foster an environment of growth and success.

In preparation for the upcoming year, we have assembled a strong team of professionals who will be working alongside me to shape the future of EFBC. Let us extend a warm welcome to Darrin, Bob, Marybeth, and Marcus, etc, who have graciously accepted their respective positions. Their wealth of experience and diverse expertise will undoubtedly contribute to the overall success of our organization.

Looking ahead to 2024, we have already begun the strategic planning process for EFBC. My primary focus for 2024 will be to investigate option for EFBC geographic expansion, as we aim to extend our reach to new markets and communities. By expanding our presence, we can create more opportunities for collaboration and growth, fostering a thriving business ecosystem for our members. We will keep you updated on the progress and initiatives related to this strategic endeavor. For more information on the strategic planning initiatives for 2023 please click here.

As always, we encourage all members to actively engage with EFBC. Your feedback, suggestions, and involvement are crucial in shaping the direction and success of our organization. If you have any ideas or initiatives you would like to propose, please feel free to reach out to me or any member of our leadership team.

Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to each and every one of you for being a part of the EFBC family. Your unwavering support and participation have been the driving force behind our accomplishments. We are excited to embark on this journey together and create an even more prosperous future for EFBC and its members.

Wishing you all a fantastic August filled with joy, relaxation, and memorable moments. We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming event for Andy on August 2nd.

Dave Horvath
EFBC President 2023-2024

Thank You, EFBC

This month, EFBC President Andy Sanghani, reflects on his year as president and expresses gratitude towards EFBC as we usher in a new year and look forward to the onboarding of new EFBC president, Dave Horvath!

My year long term as President of EFBC will come to a close in a few days. Like many moments in life, this is bittersweet. This was my first time serving as President of an organization other than Systematics. I’ve learned so much throughout this experience but what is top of mind right now is a feeling of appreciation and admiration for all of those who have served in this position prior to myself. Accepting the opportunity to be in this position is one thing – to make a positive impact is another.

I wanted to say thank you to all who have served along with me. Our board, committees, and strategic partners volunteer their time and energy in an effort to push our organization forward to new heights. Our goal is ultimately to provide our members with as much value as possible from the EFBC.

Also, thank you to Liz, Danielle and Cha Mi for all of the work you do each and every day.

Looking forward to the upcoming new fiscal year, we’ve got the honor of having Dave Horvath and Darrin Shillair as our President and Vice President, respectively. I’m especially excited to have these brilliant minds leading the EFBC. They both bring such diverse perspectives and experiences to the position. Stay tuned as you’ll be hearing more from them very soon.

I look forward to seeing each of you at the Summer Social on August 2nd and many more events to come!

May President’s Message

Earlier this month EFBC had an event titled “Strategic Partner Night of Knowledge” at Ditka’s in Oakbrook and all of our stars were out! It turned out to be an amazing event as our Strategic Partner firms shared their wisdom and experiences on hot topics in their respective fields. The room was filled with 64 attendees. I appreciate the time and energy that our Strategic Partners put into this evening and this entire year. We are blessed to have some of the finest firms and individuals in their respective fields serving our community.

It is events like this that continue to bring our community together and make us stronger. When I began my term as President of EFBC, I felt it was most important to get as many members as possible to events. Forum is a cornerstone of the EFBC experience and one that nearly all members benefit from. Events are where we all have an opportunity to expand our EFBC community beyond the 7-9 members in our forum.

EFBC is filled with amazing individuals of varying backgrounds and vast experiences to share. If you didn’t make it out to an event this year, I urge you to make it a point to attend at least one next year. You won’t be disappointed.

Andy Sanghani
EFBC President 2022-2023

Experiences in International Outsourcing

This month, your EFBC president, lent a direct look into his companies experiences in outsourcing employees internationally.

2 weeks ago I traveled to Aguascalientes, a city in Mexico in a state with the same name. The name, “hot waters”, doesn’t describe the sunny shoreline and sandy beaches. Aguascalientes is located in north-central Mexico and unfortunately this wasn’t a vacation to an all inclusive resort. However, I did happen to be there during the San Marcos Fair which is the largest fair in Mexico and one of the largest in Latin America.

Over the past 2 years, we’ve been growing a team of remote employees. What started out as hiring 2 estimators in Aguascalientes has multiplied to 12 in various roles as well as 1 in Macedonia. The roles include estimating, engineering, graphic design, logistics and account management. If you would have asked me 3 years ago whether I thought it would be possible for us to have any remote employees, let alone 13 in a foreign country, I would have have said “No.”

Changes due to Covid, ease of access thanks to technology and shifts in lifestyle are a few reasons why a small business like ours even thought about nearshoring to Mexico. We quickly experienced the great benefits of moving specific operations to a nearby country with a qualified workforce, reduced cost of living and no time difference.

How did we take the first step? With a little bit of luck. A client of ours had offshored their entire sales support and purchasing team to India. I asked myself “If they can do something like that, why can’t we?” I initially felt like India would be tough because of the time difference and not having any business contacts there. We eventually thought about Aguascalientes due to connections that several of our team members have to the city as well as the international business presence – Nissan has 2 factories there which combined produce more than half a million cars per year.

Managing and training the team members in Mexico and Macedonia was the most difficult considering we’re in the Visual Marketing industry. We offer creative design solutions to our clients and follow through with manufacturing. We’ve created a structured onboarding process which incorporates training videos, reading materials and other visuals all kept well organized in Monday.com, a project management workflow application.

During this recent trip we began our search for an office space to allow our team members in Aguascalientes an opportunity to collaborate with each other a few days each week. While we’ve been faced with some resistance to this change but we feel it is key to our company success as well as the individuals.

We’re still learning as we move forward. It isn’t always perfect but it has been exciting to see the team grow in a way I never expected.

Andy Sanghani
EFBC President 2022-2023

President’s Message – January 2023

Happy New Year, EFBC. See a special message from EFBC President, Andy Sanghani!

January is a special month for many reasons. As the beginning of the new year, we have an opportunity to hit the reset button and start with a clean slate. The gyms are packed with those focused on improving their physical health. Businesses are implementing new plans to boost performance. The excitement of NFL playoffs is upon us. Last but not least, I am fortunate to call it my birthday month :). January 29^th to be exact. That makes me an Aquarius. I don’t know what that means but my girlfriend Tina reminds me of it all the time.

I’m not sure how you all are in those days leading up to your birthday, but my mind gets filled with so many thoughts, mostly of reflection. At 42 years old, I’ve made more than my fair share of mistakes and poor choices. What has gotten me through each of those has been my family. My strongest feelings these days are those of unconditional love for my family. I’m happily in love with my partner in life (and lifetimes prior), Tina. Blessed father of two children, Ava and Ayaan. Spoiled baby brother of two sisters, Nisha and Grishma. Son of the most generous parents, Govind and Nalini.

With each of these relationships I’ve learned countless lessons. My children teach me everyday the importance of patience. Tina has taught me the growth that comes through feeling uncomfortable. My sisters have always provided mentorship – even when I didn’t care for it. Finally, my parents have shown me what it means to truly sacrifice and persevere.

As an owner of a 2^nd generation family business, it all starts with family. I’m excited to celebrate my 42^nd birthday with them and my other passion, pizza.

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	Andy Sanghani EFBC President 2022-2023