Building Blocs

Hosted by Tony Michuda

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Oct 2024

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About the show

Bloc by block. Brick by brick. From downtown to small town. We share insights from people and companies who are committed to building a better future for all of us.

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11 recent

October 29, 2024Episode 1215 min

Keith Pekau | Mayor of Orland Park

Keith Pekau, the Mayor of Orland Park, is a decorated veteran and successful small businessman who will put people over politics in the 6th District. In Pekau’s first run for political office in 2017, he defeated a 28-year politician to become the mayor of his hometown, Orland Park. He ran to put an end to the political games and instead focus on doing what was best for his community—and he kept that promise. In his first term as Mayor, Pekau worked with the Orland Park Village Board to reduce operating expenses, pay down debt, lower property taxes, and institute term limits. He refused to take a pension and worked to eliminate pensions for all Village of Orland Park elected officials. As mayor, Pekau has worked proactively with local law enforcement to make Orland Park safer. During his tenure, crime has been reduced to the lowest levels in over 27 years, and Orland Park was recently named the safest city in Illinois and the 8th safest city in the county. Pekau has worked tirelessly to grow the economy in Orland Park. He helped diversify the local economy by reimagining the village’s downtown, saving Orland Square Mall, and helping local businesses survive during the pandemic. He works closely with regional municipal and business partners, co-founded an I-80 corridor development group, Chicago Southland Interstate Alliance, and currently serves on the board of the I-80 coalition. Over 600 businesses have opened in Orland Park so far during his tenure. Serving people and his community has always been a driving motivation for Pekau. As a U.S. Air Force Officer, Pekau was the Top Graduate at Undergraduate and Fighter Navigator Training. Additionally, he was the #1 graduate (out of 648) at Squadron Officer School. He is a decorated combat veteran, serving as an Instructor Weapons System Officer in the F-15E Strike Eagle. He has over 1,500 hours of flight time, including 45 combat sorties and 150 combat hours over Southern Iraq. After leaving the Air Force, Pekau was a management consultant for two international consulting firms. In 2003, he became a small business owner, starting GroundsKeeper Landscape Care, a full-service landscaping and tree service company. In 2009, he co-founded Fahrenheit Consulting which specializes in helping businesses develop market growth strategies. Pekau has also served as the Illinois Director of Vets4Energy, which focused on energy policy, national security, and American energy independence. To further his impact in the community and among veterans, Pekau hosts a Veterans Golf Outing which has raised nearly $100,000 for veteran’s groups. Pekau has volunteered with numerous local organizations, and sponsored and coached Orland Park youth basketball, and baseball teams. Pekau was born and raised in Orland Park, which is where he currently lives with his wife, Betty. They have three children, all of whom grew up in Orland Park, and one granddaughter. Pekau has a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Arizona State University and an M.B.A. from Duke University, as a Fuqua Scholar.

August 20, 2024Episode 1213 min

Devereaux Peters | 2x WNBA Champion & Developer of The Monreaux

Devereaux is a 2-time WNBA Champion, a moving story-teller, and a staunch advocate for gun safety. Over the course of her basketball career, Devereaux distinguished herself at every level while overcoming nine surgeries. Devereaux won championships with the Minnesota Lynx in 2013 and 2015 and was listed as one of the Top 20 Players in Minnesota Lynx history. Over her 6-year career, Devereaux played with the Lynx, the Indiana Fever, and the Phoenix Mercury. She also played overseas in seven countries, winning a championship in 2018 with the Slovakia Good Angels. Devereaux led Uniqa Sopron to a Hungarian National Championship in 2016 and was named Most Valuable Player. In 2011, Devereaux helped lead Team USA to a Gold Medal at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China. In college, Devereaux starred at Notre Dame, leading the Irish to two Final Fours and winning numerous awards including being named an All-American and Big East Defensive Player of the Year twice. In 2019, Devereaux launched her own production company, Devereaux Productions, and is developing a series of inspiring and empowering stories about underrepresented women leaders, starting with Check Up, an interview series with WNBA stars about their incredible achievements on and off the court. Devereaux has written for the Washington Post, the Chicago Sun Times and Bright Lite. She is a co-host of ESPN’s Around the Rim podcast. She is an outspoken advocate for gun safety and a founding member of Everytown for Gun Safety’s Athletic Council. A Chicago native, Devereaux has devoted her philanthropy to supporting local organizations that are empowering youth in her community.

February 22, 2024Episode 921 min

Adam Poock | RanksAcademy

Adam Poock stands as a distinguished expert in the realm of physical wellness and athletic training, boasting nearly two decades of specialized experience. His profound expertise encompasses postural evaluation and correction, manual therapy, pain management, and a keen focus on athletic training. Adam is particularly renowned for his innovative approaches in enhancing balance, flexibility, and pain reduction, making significant strides in improving the quality of life for his clients. As an accomplished author, Adam has contributed valuable insights to the field through his seminal works, "Muscular Age/MuscularYouth" and "The Gluing Energy Process and the 10 Preventables of Muscular Aging." These publications reflect his deep understanding of muscular aging and offer groundbreaking strategies for its prevention and management. In his quest to redefine the standards of aging in America, Adam founded RanksAcademy, a pioneering platform dedicated to the education and empowerment of the New Older Athlete. Through RanksAcademy, he provides a blend of educational forums and electronic media, aimed at advancing physical education and training. His work is driven by a passion to challenge conventional notions of aging, positioning him as a trailblazer in promoting a more vibrant, active lifestyle for aging populations. Adam's specialties lie in the intricate dynamics of muscular aging and prevention. His approach is not just about combating the physical signs of aging but redefining what it means to age in America. By integrating advanced physical education and training methodologies, Adam Poock is at the forefront of a movement that seeks to empower individuals to lead healthier, more active lives well into their later years.

January 30, 2024Episode 828 min

Stephen Parker | Stantec Architecture

A dedicated behavioral health planner and mental health design subject matter expert, Stephen is a proponent of “architect as advocate” for colleague, client, and community alike, and he believes strongly in leadership through service. Advocating by design for humanity at its most vulnerable, elevating communities in crisis, and serving those that suffer in silence, Stephen is driving purpose in Stantec’s boundaryless Behavioral Health Practice across the globe. With awards from Healthcare Design Magazine, FastCo, and the Institute for Patient-Centered Design, Stephen is a collaborative researcher and accomplished designer. An AIA Young Architect Award Winner & HFSE George Pressler Under 40 Recipient, Stephen has been named to Healthcare Design's Best Under 40 list by the AIA’s Academy of Architecture for Health and the ENR’s National Top 20 Under 40. He was the youngest licensed architect elected to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Strategic Council, and he championed the AIA Strategic Council’s Mental Health + Architecture Incubator. In his personal time, Stephen can be found building a three-generation home with his wife Carrie for their differently-abled parents or volunteering at home and abroad, most recently in Kenya and India as a medical planner, designing hospitals for local NGOs.

September 21, 2023Episode 713 min

Tom Cuculich | Chicagoland Associated General Contractors

Tom Cuculich is the Executive Director of the Chicagoland Associated General Contractors (CAGC) and brings with him a wealth of leadership and administrative experience. CAGC, revered as the leading voice for Chicagoland's commercial construction industry, operates as the local chapter of the nationally recognized AGC of America. Before taking on his current role at CAGC, Cuculich served as the County Administrator for DuPage County, honing his management skills and gathering insights that span over three decades. As he steps into the forefront of the commercial construction industry, he is primed to lead the implementation of all Board-approved programs and services. Cuculich’s career trajectory underscores his dedication to administrative excellence, and his transition to CAGC indicates his commitment to enhance the industry's landscape. With eyes set on the future, Cuculich aims to not only maintain the Association's long-standing success but also to build upon it.

April 5, 2023Episode 613 min

Michael Fassnacht | World Business Chicago

A seasoned marketing leader with more than 25 years of experience, Michael works alongside the Mayor’s office as the Chief Marketing Officer to ensure that all marketing, branding, and business development activities for the city are aligned with Mayor Lightfoot’s economic growth plan focused on inclusive growth across Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. In December 2020, Michael stepped in as interim President and CEO of World Business Chicago to ensure a smooth transition to a new leader while intensifying World Business Chicago’s efforts to attract new companies to Chicago. It became clear very quickly that Michael was the right person to lead WBC into the next chapter and he graciously accepted the full-time position in May of 2021. Michael Fassnacht has been a recurring figure in Chicago’s civic community and has led critical pro-bono work for the rebranding of the Chicago Public Library and its foundation, the city’s Amazon HQ2 pitch, the city’s Census 2020 activities and most recently “Boards of Change”, an award-winning initiative to encourage residents to register to vote. Additionally, he has been involved as a board member with: Marwen, World Business Chicago, and the Civic Consulting Alliance; while providing counsel to P33, the Joyce Foundation, and the Chicago Prize by the Pritzker/Traubert Foundation. Prior to his role as CMO, Michael served for more than 10 years as CEO at one of the city’s oldest and most successful advertising agencies, Foote Cone & Belding (FCB). He led his agency to unprecedented international creative recognition and strong above-industry topline growth over his tenure. Before then, he was a successful start-up entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, and over his long career, he has been recognized as a global expert in building and marketing brands.

March 1, 2023Episode 520 min

Allyson Hansen | The Illinois Medical District

As the CEO & Executive Director of the Illinois Medical District (IMD), Allyson Hansen leads the District with responsibility for strategic planning, vision, growth and daily operations. She is also tasked with fostering relationships and collaboration among partners and stakeholders across the 560 acre healthcare ecosystem that includes four anchor medical institutions and more than 40 health-related facilities.  Hansen developed expertise in planning and administering healthcare services across Chicago land at UChicago Medicine, Loyola Health System, UI Health and Advocate Health Care. Prior to joining the IMD, she was Managing Partner of The Red Penny Group, advising national healthcare systems, medical groups and investors on growth, integration, operations and strategic plans.  Hansen holds a Master of Health Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Carolina, and is trained in Lean Six Sigma, change management and is a certified Patient Experience Professional.

February 6, 2023Episode 432 min

Doug King | Project Management Advisors

Doug King has managed numerous large-scale international and domestic healthcare projects in his architectural and project management career. In Chicago alone, he has completed more than $1.3 billion worth of projects for some of the city’s most well-known hospital systems, including two mega-hospital projects that have won international acclaim: Northwestern Memorial Hospital Feinberg/Galter Pavilion (2.1 million square feet, $732 million), which won the ACHA Legacy Project Award in 2016, and the Prentice Women’s Hospital (945,000 square feet, $330 million).   Most recently, King played an instrumental role in the rapid conversion of the McCormick Place Convention Center into a 3,000-bed capacity alternate care medical facility in the wake of an anticipated spike in the city’s COVID-19 cases—a transformation that occurred within 25 days. In recognition of his expertise, King is helping craft the new U.S. healthcare standards addressing Emergency Response for the FGI Guidelines, a national healthcare design standard.

January 3, 2023Episode 39 min

Gaston Cordova | Evergreen Senior Living

Tony Michuda sits down with Gaston Cordova at Evergreen Senior Living - Michuda Construction's Assisted Living and Memory Care development in Orland Park. Gaston leads Select Rehab's innovative approach to physical therapy and rehabilitation for Evergreen's residents with the help of VirtuSense's VST Modality platform. Utilizing artificial intelligence and lidar, VST aids in faster and more efficient recovery for all of Evergreen's residents.

December 8, 2022Episode 219 min

Michael Marrion | Cresa

Tony Michuda sits down with Michael Marrion to discuss the new frontier of Life Sciences in Chicago. We cover real estate development, construction, venture capital, and healthcare in this episode tailored towareds Chicago's push to become a Life Sciences hub of the United States.   Cresa is the world’s most trusted occupier-centric commercial real estate firm. They strategize for the best possible results for occupiers everywhere. Cresa thinks beyond space. Partners without conflict. And applies their integrated expertise to make your business better.