HPCG_2018.proof

Heart-Led Leaders
Photo provided by scott mcdougall photography
Left to right (standing): Jon Levey, Barbara Lansing, Tom Decker, Nicolas DeGrazia
Left to right ((seated): Rachel Lansing Sotoloff, Ronna Fisher, Eric Ephraim, Gurv S. Anand
In today’s dynamic business landscape, leaders
are challenged with balancing an abundance of
activities and critical success factors. One area that
is important not to overlook is community outreach
and engagement. By finding a cause or community initiative
that you can truly get behind, you will discover the joy and
fulfillment of leadership at a new level. The benefits are
immeasurable and long-lasting. It takes people who put a
focus on keeping the “human” element forefront in building
community, and who sincerely put joy into their work.
Here in Highland Park, we are blessed with a large and vibrant
Featured Community Leaders:
JON LEVEY
• President, Highland Park Bank & Trust, A
Wintrust Community Bank
• Highland Park Community Foundation
(Board Member since 2017, Co-chair
HPCF Development Committee;
Investment & annual Event Committee)
• Community Partners for Affordable
Housing (Advisory Board member since
2011)
• HP/HW Rotary Club (Member since
2015, Board member since 2017, Chair
Charities Grant Committee)
GURV S. ANAND
• Owner, Amber Insurance Services, Inc.
• Highland Park Chamber of Commerce
(Board member since 2010, Chair 2014-
2016)
• Highland Park-Highwood Lions Club
(President since 2010)
BARBARA LANSING
• CEO/President, Idlewood Electric
• Jewish United Fund (40+ years)
RACHEL LANSING SOTOLOFF
• Director, Marketing & Public Relations,
Idlewood Electric
• United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum (12 years)
• Jewish United Fund (Since childhood)
• The ARK (5 years)
DR. RONNA FISHER AU.D.
• Founder & President Hearing Health
Center, Inc.
• Fisher Foundation for Hearing Health
(Founder 2005)
NICOLAS DEGRAZIA
• Co-founder & Creative Director, Bitter
Jester Studios
• Artistic Director, Bitter Jester
Foundation for the Arts
group of committed individuals, across a wide range of
businesses, who we feel do just this. Individuals who take the
time to build communal values and kindle a collective optimism
for their lives and the lives of their neighbors. They use their
resources and abilities to give back in specific ways that are
important to them both for personal reasons, and because they
see a value in helping to bolster the local environment to which
we are all connected.
We at the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce are more than
appreciative for these individuals. It is our proud honor to take
the time to introduce a small group of them here and allow them
to discuss what they do and what drives them to do it.
ERIC EPHRAIM
• President and COO, First Bank of
Highland Park
• Board of Education NSSD 112 (Since
2014, President since 2017)
• Family Network/Family Focus Highland
Park (Board member/Treasurer since
2003)
• Community Family Center, Inc. (Board
member/Treasurer since 2009)
• 112 Education Foundation (Trustee since
2012, Treasurer since 2013)
TOM DECKER
• President, Chicago Green Insulation, Inc.
• Groovefest Human Rights Music Festival
(Co-Founder 1986)
• Community Partners for Affordable
Housing, Youth Build of Lake County,
Sustainable Partners for Lake County
(Advisory Board member)
• Lake County Workforce and the Obama
Foundation
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