B25 Austin Weekly News • October 30, 2013 Special Advertising Section

Fall 2014

WomeninBusiness

Strengthen | Create | Build | Transform | Mentor

Austin Weekly News • October 30, 2013 B26Special Advertising Section

Lori Hannigan remembers the time she built her fi rst chimney after being hired by Edward Cross & Son, Inc. in

Oak Park. Mr. Cross put her in his garage on a rainy day, mixed mortar and laid out a pattern for a chimney. He started the structure, handed the trowel and bucket of mortar to Lori, said it was all hers and left. She wanted to insure she did the best work possible and therefore decided to start the structure over. When Mr. Cross returned two hours later, he was impressed to fi nd a chimney about eight courses tall that was both exactly plumb, or aligned, and level.

Edward Cross & Son, Inc. has been in business since 1937. After years of dedicated, quality work, Lori became the owner in 1987. She continues to strive for perfection in all her projects and does not expect her staff to complete any task she herself cannot do. Whether it is setting up a forty foot ladder or pulling up a heavy bucket of mortar to the roof of a house, Lori shows her employees she is not just the boss, but a determined laborer and tuckpointer. Consequently, she is proud to have made a name for herself in a male dominated industry.

Lori specializes in chimney rebuilding and masonry repairs. With her attention

to detail, Lori and her team use their skills as artists to rebuild and repair old structures to their former glory. She has even worked on many Frank Lloyd Wright homes. The project with the biggest challenge, but that resulted in the biggest success, was rebuilding the large chimney on the Adams Home at 710 Augusta in Oak Park. It involved a large scaffolding system, cleaning all the bricks, and restoring the chimney to the exact same design in order to satisfy the Frank Lloyd Wright Historical Board.

Lori helps clients understand the standards of the industry so they know what to expect from contractors in the future. She even teaches her customers about what caused the problems that are being fi xed. These qualities truly make Edward Cross & Sons, Inc. a unique business.

Building a business one brick at a time

Lori Hannigan518 N. Lombard Ave.Oak Park, IL 60302

708-848-8631

• Tuckpointing

• Building Cleaning

• Window Caulking

• Chimney Repairs

• Fully Insured

Lori Hannigan

Make Connections and Grow Your Business Today

Your Partner in SuccessDawn FerencakLocal Advertising ConsultantAssociate Publisher of the Austin Weekly NewsSales Manager - Wednesday Journal Publications

(708) 613-3329dawn@oakpark.comIllinois Press Association Sales Representative of the Year 2011 & 2013

Dawn Ferencak, building strong bonds of trust

Dawn Ferencak helps her clients grow business beyond their expecta-tions by truly understanding their

needs. She knows how important it is to learn their background; why they started their business; what their goals are; what their challenges are; and what drives them to succeed. This uniquely personal ap-proach builds strong bonds of trust. Her clients know that she always has their best interests in mind and as a result they truly consider her a partner with them in their success. Dawn says that she believes in bringing the best skills, research and products to the table every time she has a chance to help a client.

Through her community outreach, Dawn saw the need to offer more support to the West Side community. In 2011, she success-fully advocated for this and the Austin Weekly News expanded its coverage to include the entire West Side of Chicago.

In 2012 Dawn founded the West Side Business Network and its subgroups, in-cluding the Austin Weekly News Business Development Luncheon Group, West Side Women, West Side Men and West Side Bridge, all with the goal of bringing profes-sionals from Chicago’s West Side together with those from Oak Park and nearby

suburbs to network, grow and discuss challenges. With anywhere from 35 to 100 attendees per meeting, Dawn has success-fully sewn another thread across the com-munities she dearly loves.

Dawn was named Illinois Press Association Sales Representative of the Year in 2011 and 2013. In March 2014, she was named Associate Publisher of the Austin Weekly News. In July 2014, she became the Sales Manager for Wednesday Journal Publications. She is co-founder of the Austin Weekly News Foundation for Community Organizing and Journalism with Wednesday Journal’s publisher, Dan Haley. Dawn is excited about the future and looks forward to helping her clients and the community-at-large continue to tell their unique stories across many platforms

12 Austin Weekly News • October 30, 2013 Special Advertising Section

After receiving a degree in Business Administration/Business Information Systems from Illinois

State University, Kamil Brady worked as a software developer for 10 years. During these years, she gained a passion for planning events for family, friends, and co-workers.

Kamil lost her job in the 2008 housing market crash, and took this time to think about what she really enjoyed doing. The answer had been in front of her the entire time: she enjoyed planning events!

AKB Events was founded in 2010. Since then, her clients have been consistently satisfied with the memorable experiences she creates.

We are all plagued by the hustle and bustle of daily life. With busy work and family lives, many of us don’t have much time for anything else. An event planner can take care of the tasks there just isn’t

dedicated time to handle, so both the host and the guests can completely enjoy the event.

Not only does AKB Events plan

weddings, but they coordinate seminars, workshops, parties and even Girls’ Weekend Getaway trips. With extensive hospitality training, Kamil provides planning services to customize an event that’s all about the individual client’s personality, vision, goals, and expectations. It is her responsibility to take

ideas, concepts, and visions and put them together to fit within the constraints of budget, space, and specific details.

A Turn of Events Leads to SuccessMaking your

event memorable!

We offer services for all types of events!Weddings

including coordinating your honeymoon travel plans

Party & Social Events from baby showers to group trips

Corporate Events such as launch parties or employee appreciation day

708.612.1290 • info@akbevents.net • akbevents.net

Package and a la carte services include:• Budget Analysis• Venue & Vendor Selection• Contract Negotiations• Theme & Decor Development• Entertainment Ideas• Guest List Management• Detailed Event Planning Timeline• Manage & Coordinate All Event Logistics• On-Site, On Event Day Event Coordination

Kamil BradyFor the last two years, AKB Events provided excellent service planning and coordinating the annual Christmas event for the women of my family. AKB Events has made each event a memorable experience! AKB Events will always be our go-to source for planning any future event!- Tana B.

I attended a very beautiful 40th anniversary party put on by AKB

Events. I loved the colors, event flow, and couples games. The anniversary

couple will forever appreciate the details and effort that went into

planning this event! - Charlene B.

Meet the Editorial Design team!

Austin Weekly News • October 30, 2013 13Special Advertising Section

Michelle Collins has joined the Commercial Lending team at ABC Bank, as Vice-President Commercial

Lending Officer. In this role, Ms. Collins will be responsible for commercial lending in the greater Chicago area and is looking forward to continuing to develop many lasting customer relationships. “The opportunity to join ABC Bank, who has served the Austin Community for more than 100 years, is a match made in heaven”, said Ms. Collins, who is deeply committed to the economic development and welfare of the Austin and surrounding communities.

Prior to her employment with ABC Bank, Ms. Collins launched the SBA’s Community Advantage Loan Program for SomerCor 504, a certified development company, who is the capital partner of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative in the Chicago metro area. The Community Advantage program provided access to capital to support small business growth and job creation.

Ms. Collins holds more than 25 years of experience in community development lending in Chicago. She is an active volunteer and leading advocate in the Austin Community, where she serves on the Board of Trustees for Loretto Hospital, the Austin Chamber of

Commerce and the Advisory Council of Bethel New Life’s Small Business Development Center. Ms. Collins commitment and contributions to the community have been acknowledged by numerous organizations throughout the years.

Ms. Collins is from a devoted family. She is a “PK” (preacher’s kid) who is committed to the ministry at Rose of Sharon Church, where she serves as choir director and Sunday school teacher. Ms. Collins is an alumnus of Austin High, Elmhurst College and Loyola University Graduate School. She and husband, Cedric Sr., long time residents of Oak Park, are proud parents to daughters, Chevonne and Candisse

and son Cedric Jr.

ABC Bank is pleased to have Michelle Collins, an activist for the community and accomplished lending professional, join their continued endeavors as an outstanding financial resource for the communities they serve.

Michelle Collins joins ABC Bank

Michelle Collins

We’ve been accused of being a littleold fashioned, and frankly

we kind of like that.

5645 West Lake StreetChicago, IL 60644 773.854.2900

6400 West North AveChicago, IL 60707 773.804.3600

9443 South Ashland Ave9443 South Ashland AveChicago, IL 60620 773.445.9300

The opportunity to join ABC Bank is a match made in heaven.

- Michelle Collins