President’s Letter: New Connections

The EFBC is always looking to improve upon ourselves, Whether it’s internally through the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Strategic Partners, Forums, fellow members, or via potential partnerships. I’m proud to announce that we have collaborated with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program (10K SB). This program serves as an educational opportunity that was founded and supported by Goldman Sachs, to “help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital and support services.” The “education” piece of this, along with the entrepreneurial base and job creation goals, aligns with the EFBC and our overall mission, vision, and values. 99% of all employer firms are small businesses, 10K Small Businesses is there to help these fledgling companies or businesses that are looking to take it to the next level. They do this by providing businesses with a practical business education and curriculum that covers the fundamentals of business growth. They also provide access to capital for organizations that need assistance for expansion.

Join us on Tuesday, May 24th at Goose Island Brewhouse for a happy hour with 10K SB associates and alumni. We’ll hear shared experiences from participants of both programs to learn how our programs support one another. Our hope is to enlighten 10K SB alumni on Forums and experience comradery with the EFBC community. As Liz and Patty would say, we want to “share the brilliance” that is the EFBC members and partners! I very much look forward to the opportunity to engage with fresh entrepreneurial cohorts of a top-tier program, that exists to help others, much like our own.

Neil O’Donnell
VP of Business Development, Progressive Industries
EFBC President 2021-2022

President’s Letter: Spring has Sprung!

Things are starting to warm up, the smell in the air is fresher, and Spring is about to kick off. I love spring. Springtime reenergizes me about business and life. Although the economic outlook is seemingly volatile for the near future, I am trying to remain optimistic, and the change in weather is definitely helping. Baseball and other seasonal sports are starting back up, the NCAA brackets are in full swing, and golf is back on the local menu. Of course, my kids are getting anxious to be closer to summer break and I too will be happy to put winter behind me.

As the clock “springs forward” this season, my wife, Annette, and I have a few trips coming up to the Southwest that we’re looking forward to taking. We’re stoked for the multiple opportunities to travel together again, because like many others, we haven’t taken a real trip in a while. I’m excited to be with the whole family for my sister, Kerra’s wedding in Scottsdale next month, and then we’re off to try our luck in Vegas with my dad the following month. The opportunity to be back to traveling is slowly feeling like a return to semi-normalcy. Again, it’s slow, but I’ll take it!

We have some really solid events this Spring, and I am fired up to see our members and engage with our community once again, face-to-face. On 3/23, a Wealth Management panel and Annual Leadership award is being held at Elements in Naperville. The award is celebrating my predecessor, Nirel Inman, who served on the EFBC Board of Directors for four years. I’m also looking forward to making up for lost time and celebrating our extraordinary organization at our >25 Gala Celebration on May 7th. We’re ecstatic to finally celebrate our members

Plenty of additional programming and content coming up. It’s my hope to see as many of you as possible as we continue to add more educational opportunities. Please keep in mind any of your business associates, internal or external, that might benefit in attending these upcoming events. Spread the EFBC word!

Neil O’Donnell
VP of Business Development, Progressive Industries
EFBC President 2021-2022