How do you make a significant impact on the community and regional economy?
Anyone in Chicago knows that we have a major problem with violent crime in the inner city.
One day, while attending a speech by Mayor Daley, he said something that continues to ring true for me. He said that we all have a responsibility to putting a stop to crime by ending our “code of silence.”
I approached him with an idea on how to do that. Subsequently, we started working with the Chicago Police Department on a campaign to promote the use of cell phone texting to anonymously report crimes before they happen.
Mayor Daley is right (and he’s not running again so this isn’t an unpaid political announcement). We all have the power to do something about ending the code of silence that keeps us from speaking up about what we currently fear to be unspeakable. The campaign is themed “Stay Silent, Stay Scared” and will soon be running as Public Service Announcements on TV stations that agree to run it.
How to reach: ESW Partners, www.eswpartners.com
In October 2010, Smart Business and U.S. Bank recognized nine business leaders for their commitment to business excellence and the impact their organizations make on the regional community. Treated to a keynote address by Middleby Corp. Chairman and CEO Selim Bassoul, these nine leaders composed the honor roll:
Nancy Ruscheinski
Bill Skeens
Dave Brittsan
Amanda Lannert
Scott Morey
Joel Fruendt
Jason Beans
Jim Signorelli
Larry Neibauer