Interested in how faith and business go together? If so, save the date of Saturday, January 25th, from 3 – 5 p.m. to come to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba for the Nav20s Chicago event on integrating faith and work to network and hear from the following Chicago business leaders about what faith has to do with calling in a secular workplace:
1) Bob Schmid: Strategic Credit Specialist at BP
Bob has over 15 years of corporate credit experience. Currently, as a Strategic Credit Specialist at BP, Bob is primarily focused on managing the oil trading unit’s credit risk by setting appropriate credit limits with trading counterparties and developing credit risk mitigations strategies in support of new business. Bob has previously held credit research roles within BP’s oil trading unit, PPM America’s investment grade and high yield fixed income asset management team, and LaSalle’s Bank’s commercial lending business. Bob is proficient in international finance, with experience in underwriting corporate bond issuers and more recently supporting BP’s Latin American and North African growth strategies. Outside of work, Bob sits on the boards of Bethany Christian Services of Illinois and Lisle Bible Church. In his free time, he enjoys running, biking and swimming, as well as spending time with his wife, two kids and three pets. Bob holds a B.S. in Finance from DePaul University and an MBA from Loyola University Chicago.
2) C. Richard Panico: founder, Integrated Project Management Company, Inc.
After a 15 year career as an executive at Johnson & Johnson in Chicago, Rich Panico left J&J to dedicate himself fully to a new business venture. Recognizing a pressing need across industries for top-drawer project execution, Rich founded Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM) in 1988, which has since served nearly 300 clients, led more than 3,500 projects, and continues to grow in business and reputation.
Inc. 500 Magazine has named IPM among the 5,000 fastest growing, privately held companies in the U.S. for seven consecutive years (2007-2013). IPM has been named a “Top Small Workplace” by Winning Workplaces and The Wall Street Journal, as well as a “Best Small Workplace” for four consecutive years by the Great Place to Work Institute® and Entrepreneur and Fortune Magazine.
From 2001 to 2007, Rich served as Chairman of Chicago’s DePaul University Institute for Business and Professional Ethics and continues to be an active member of its board. Rich contributed to the books Entrepreneurship – Values and Responsibility and The Integrity Dividend. IPM was the subject of a study for a book published in 2012 entitled, “It’s My Company Too,” which examines the cultures of several successful companies that share a common thread of employee “entanglement.” One chapter of the book, “Building an Ethical Culture,” is dedicated to IPM.
Most recently, in October of 2013, IPM was the first recipient of DePaul University’s Institute for Business and Professional Ethics (IBPE) Annual International Award for Corporate Ethics and Excellence. Rich received this award because the IBPE determined that “IPM is a standard bearer for ethical practices set in motion and Mr. Panico’s tenacious adherence to a strong code of values for his company makes IPM the perfect candidate for our inaugural award.”
A member of Heartland Angels, an early-stage private equity group, Rich regularly advises budding entrepreneurs on how to launch their businesses based on ethical precepts. Appointed to the Board of Directors of Midtronics, Inc. in 2011, Rich was selected for his ability to provide insight to this worldwide leader of innovation in battery management.
3) Wayne Kuna: founder, The Navigators‘ Soul Priority business group; former partner at Marvin Glass and Associates / former senior pastor at Oak Community Church in Hinsdale
Wayne had a 26-year career in the global toy industry. During that time, he served God as a partner at the world’s largest toy inventing firm, Marvin Glass and Associates, before opening his own independent toy inventing firm, Wayne Kuna and Associates in Oak Park. He holds over 50 patents and his innovative toy concepts have been sold all over the world. In 1999 Wayne enrolled at The Moody Graduate School where he received his Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies and served as the Men’s Chaplain. From 2003-2010 he served as the senior pastor of Oak Community Church in Hinsdale. Wayne also serves periodically as an adjunct professor at The Moody Bible Institute. In 2011, he joined The Navigators as Director of Marketplace Ministry in Chicago. As such, he is the founder of Soul Priority, designed to teach business leaders to repurpose their careers for fulfillment and transform their workplace and the global marketplace community through the skills of shepherd leadership.
Wayne has been happily married to his wife Candy since 1973 and has two adult married children and two grandchildren. Wayne enjoys eating with friends, sailing, bicycling, reading, writing, and growing his relationship with Jesus through regular spiritual practices.
4) Eric Fields: Senior Director of Stewardship and Advocacy (HR) at KeHE Distributors
Eric is the Sr. Director of Stewardship and Advocacy (HR) at KeHE Distributors, and graduated from Benedictine University with a MBA and Purdue with a B.S. in Electrical engineering. He’s married to Audrey, with two daughters.
5) Todd Jensen: partner, the Jensen Group; former commodities trader
When I was a 12 year old, in a 7th grade civics class, my teacher, Mr. Montgomery, unknowingly planted a seed. As it happened, I also gave my life to Christ that year, and began a faith journey that became my own. The seed my teacher planted was an interest in trading, which soon became commodity trading. I received a finance degree from North Park University in 1992, then traded commodities from 1990-2012. Throughout my career I have felt God’s call to be a light, and have loved seeing who God has connected me with. Since selling my exchange seat in 2012 and feeling that God is moving me in a new direction, I’ve been an owner of rental properties with the Jensen Group and a leader in Layersaver LLC – a supply chain solution for train, truck and sea-land containers. God has challenged me to seek after him with my whole heart, soul and mind, and I’m thoroughly excited to be on a new adventure with my creator.
6) Jon Althoff: Senior Director of Global Marketing, Skyline Exhibits
Jon received his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis in 1982 and has worked as a senior sales and marketing executive for Nestle USA, General Mills, King Technology, and (currently) Skyline Exhibits in Minneapolis, Minnesota (North America’s best known Exhibit Company), as the Senior Director Global Marketing. He is considered a team builder at work, leading a team that has delivered the company’s largest new product introduction in its history, and recently winning the top industry award for marketing programs. He’s also passionate about church leadership and hospitality, and has led Sunday school and high school youth group meetings at Presbyterian, Lutheran, and nondenominational churches over the years with his wife of nearly 30 years, Jane. They currently attend Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and they have three daughters (Allison and Stephanie, twins, 25; Jennifer, 19).
7) Bob Picha: Electrical engineer, Nokia & Motorola
Bob earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1976, then took an engineering position with Motorola, Inc. Over his 36 year career with Motorola and subsequently Nokia-Siemens Networks, Bob has helped bring first, second, third and fourth generation cellular systems to market through his managerial and technical leadership. Bob also works alongside his wife, Cheryl, in developing an internet marketing business and making real estate investments.
Bob and Cheryl have been married 28 years, have two sons out of college and a daughter currently in college. He has served as a lay leader in the churches his family has attended and has a passion for mentoring young men to become leaders in their families, churches and businesses. He is an avid Bears fan and enjoys boating and water sports.
How can we make God a priority at work? What does it mean to be a God-glorifying leader in a secular context? How can we live out our faith in stressful / challenging situations?..all of these questions will be addressed, and more. Bring your business cards and
The event will be co-hosted by Allison J. Althoff and Wayne Kuna on behalf of the Nav20s Chicago – hope to see you on the 25th at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba in downtown Chicago!
RSVP to this event on Facebook, and feel free to invite friends!
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