What happens when we come together to change our world for the better? How can we help nonprofits expand their capacity and prepare for the future? And what are local organizations and individuals doing to make a difference right here in their own backyard?

This week, our podcast host Greg Bedalov joins three community leaders – representing the public, private, and nonprofit sectors – to explore how they’re creating lasting change through collective impact.

Special Guests

• Mike Sitrick, President & CEO, DuPage Foundation
• Greg Schwarze, DuPage County Board, District 6
• Jim Mark, Managing Director, Private Markets & Chief Strategy Officer, Wight & Company

Dive Deeper

• Want to make a difference? DuPage Foundation partners with individuals, families, and organizations to make a collective impact across DuPage County. Learn how you can get involved here.
• Want to learn more? Episode 18 of the DuPage Business Beat explores how the DuPage County Health Department’s new Crisis Recovery Center is helping people get the care they need—while reducing the burden on local emergency rooms. Listen here.
• Want to get inspired? To hear the story of one major DuPage County philanthropist, listen to Episode 21 of the Beat, where Greg interviews John P. Calamos, Sr.

As always, we’d like to thank the College of DuPage for supporting today’s episode. To keep up with what’s happening in DuPage County and the Chicagoland region, follow Choose DuPage on social media or visit ChooseDuPage.com/Ready.

On this episode, host Greg Bedalov joins four members of the “Century Club”—leaders of local family businesses that have been in operation for over 100 years.

What does it take to keep a family business going for decades? How have they adapted to new technologies and changing times? And what can other leaders learn from their stories?

Find out on this special episode of the DuPage Business Beat.

Special Guests

• Jerry Hinckley, 4th-Generation Owner and President, St. Andrews Golf and Country Club (Celebrating 100 years)
• Anna Ball, 3rd-Generation Owner and CEO, Ball Horticultural Company (Celebrating 120 years)
• Susannah Ball, 4th-Generation Owner, Ball Horticultural Company (Celebrating 120 years)
• Alex Anderson, 6th-Generation Owner of Oswald’s Pharmacy (Celebrating 150 years)

Dive Deeper

• Explore the roots of Ball Horticultural in our in-depth feature and learn how the company is shaping the future of ornamental plants.
• Want to hear another great local business story? Don’t miss our recent interview with iconic DuPage County entrepreneur John Calamos, Sr. here.
• Located at the heart of Chicagoland, DuPage is a pro-people, pro-business community that both supports longtime legacy businesses and welcomes new investment. Learn why businesses and top talent choose DuPage County here.

As always, we’d like to thank the College of DuPage for supporting today’s episode. To keep up with what’s happening in DuPage County and the Chicagoland region, follow Choose DuPage on social media or visit ChooseDuPage.com/Ready.

From flying combat missions as an Air Force pilot to founding Calamos Investments and Calamos Real Estate, John P. Calamos, Sr. has lived a life founded on leadership, service, and an ability to focus deeply.

Today, his businesses employ hundreds of DuPage County residents and are responsible for some of the region’s most iconic landmarks, including CityGate Centre in Naperville. Beyond his own businesses, John is a prolific philanthropist and a powerful voice of the community.

On this episode, our podcast host Greg Bedalov joins Calamos to discuss his new biography, The Sky’s the Limit, and explore his thoughts on business, philosophy, and life.

Special Guest: John P. Calamos, Sr.

Dive Deeper

• In today’s episode, we explore a few of the stories from Calamos’ biography, but we only scratch the surface of everything you’ll find in The Sky’s the Limit. Learn more and order your copy here.
• Created by Calamos, CityGate Center is a mixed-use development with offices, apartments, restaurants, entertainment spaces, and more. This iconic landmark has been featured multiple times on our annual Smartest Workplaces list, most recently in the SIMPSON Headquarters feature of our 2024 edition.

To keep up with what’s happening in DuPage County and the Chicagoland region, follow Choose DuPage on social media or visit ChooseDuPage.com/Ready.

For the first time in 27 years, the Global Botanic Gardens Congress is returning to North America—and it’s coming right here to Chicagoland.

Scheduled for summer 2027, the “Olympics of Conservation” brings together researchers and delegates from around the world to share, discuss, and amplify the work of botanic gardens. As communities face ecological challenges ranging from invasive species to climate change, the 2027 Congress will focus on restoring ecosystems.

Two Chicagoland institutions have been selected to host: The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden. On today’s podcast, host Greg Bedalov joins two leaders of these organizations to talk about the Congress, conservation, and how Chicagoland businesses can support the region’s natural ecosystem.

Special Guests

• Murphy Westwood, Vice President of Science and Conservation | The Morton Arboretum
• Kay Havens, Chief Scientist and Negaunee Vice President of Science | Chicago Botanic Garden

Dive Deeper

• Resources: Want to learn how your business can make a difference? Choose DuPage has partnered with the DuPage County Environmental Division to connect local business leaders to resources that promote sustainable practices. Find incentives, guidelines, and other resources here.
• Education: Learn how to incorporate eco-friendly practices into your business’ green space during our free webinar on August 12th, 2025.Hosted by Jim Kleinwachter, program director at The Conversation Foundation, this seminar will explore how you can reduce maintenance costs, enhance your site’s visual appeal, and demonstrate your commitment to environmental stewardship. Learn more and sign up here.

To keep up with what’s happening in DuPage County and the Chicagoland region, follow Choose DuPage on social media or visit ChooseDuPage.com/Ready.

It’s no secret that we live in a politically polarized world. But there’s one thing that most business leaders agree on: When an economy grows and thrives, so do the people, businesses, and communities within it.

On this episode, host Greg Bedalov joins two leaders from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to discuss the big picture of the state’s economy—plus the details that make a difference.

Tune in to get their perspectives on which sectors have the most growth potential, what small-business owners really want, and how the Chamber is building bridges across the political aisle.

Special Guests

• Lou Sandoval, President and CEO | Illinois Chamber of Commerce
• Dan Wagner, Chairman of the Board | Illinois Chamber of Commerce

Dive Deeper

• To learn more about the Illinois Chamber, start here.
• In this episode, we explore some of the factors that drive economic growth, including the workforce. As AI and other technologies transform entire industries, how will the workforce of today meet the demands of tomorrow? Tune into our recent episode of the Beat to hear what educators have to say.
• Speaking of AI, one of Chicagoland’s hottest sectors is the infrastructure that powers transformative tech: data centers. Read our blog to learn how communities in DuPage County are finding creative solutions to attract and support the industry.

As always, we’d like to thank the College of DuPage for supporting today’s episode. To keep up with what’s happening in DuPage County and the Chicagoland region, follow Choose DuPage on social media or visit ChooseDuPage.com/Ready.

Across the United States, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other issues related to mental health are on the rise. While these issues affect individuals directly, they also impact entire communities—and solving them requires community-wide solutions.

On this episode, host Greg Bedalov joins a pair of special guests to discuss the DuPage County Health Department’s new Crisis Recovery Center, a facility that will help individuals and families get the care they need, when they need it—while reducing the burden on local emergency rooms and law enforcement.

Special Guests

• The Hon. Deborah Conroy, Chair of the DuPage County Board
• Lori Carnahan, Deputy Director of Behavioral Health, DuPage County Health Department

Dive Deeper

• To learn more about the Crisis Recovery Center and the services provided, start here.
• On a previous episode, we discussed mental health in the workplace—why it matters, what factors can affect it, and how organizations can create healthier environments. Listen here.
• Healthy communities are built on an intentional infrastructure of healthcare, education, and jobs, as well as access to healthy foods and affordable housing. Learn why DuPage County has been ranked the #1 Healthiest County in Illinois for four years running.

As always, we’d like to thank the College of DuPage for supporting today’s episode. To keep up with what’s happening in DuPage County and the Chicagoland region, follow Choose DuPage on social media or visit ChooseDuPage.com/Ready.

We live in a world of continuous change. For educators, that creates an imposing challenge: How do you prepare the next generation for their careers when you don’t necessarily know what those careers will be?

On this episode, host Greg Bedalov joins a panel of local higher education experts to explore how they’re teaching students to be resilient, flexible, and ready for whatever’s next.

Special Guests

• Dr. Christopher White, Dean of the College of Aviation, Science and Technology at Lewis University
• Phil Hardy, PhD, the Director of Innovation & Strategic Partnerships at Benedictine University
• Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills, President of Aurora University

Dive Deeper

• Earlier in 2025, Greg spoke to a pair of talent placement experts on the workforce gap and the challenges that Chicagoland businesses are facing. Get their take.
• In addition to attracting the right talent, many businesses are struggling to adapt to a new generation of workers. Learn how employers are prioritizing mental health to create environments that foster healthy, productive employees on Episode 11 of the Beat.
• In DuPage County, we have more than a strong workforce—we have a seamless pipeline of educational institutions, workforce placement programs, and engaged businesses. This pipeline helps develop next-gen talent and place the right people in the most high-demand jobs. Learn more.

As always, we’d like to thank the College of DuPage for supporting today’s episode. To keep up with what’s happening in DuPage County and the Chicagoland region, follow Choose DuPage on social media or visit ChooseDuPage.com/Ready.

From urgent housing needs to the rapid growth of e-commerce, communities everywhere are under tremendous pressure to rethink and reuse existing spaces. On this episode, host Greg Bedalov sits down with two local leaders to discuss how their communities are adapting.

Special Guests

• Sean Gascoigne, Director of Community and Economic Development at the Village of Bloomingdale
• Staci Springer, AICP, Community Development Director at the City of Wood Dale

Dive Deeper

• In this episode, Sean and Staci discuss the growth of data centers in Chicagoland. For a deeper dive on how DuPage communities are adapting to and benefiting from data center investment, read our blog.
• One of the strengths of DuPage County is our economic diversity. Communities like Wood Dale and Bloomingdale aren’t dependent on a single industry, which gives them more resiliency. Learn more about the region’s economic diversity and other key advantages here.
• Chicagoland was recently named the #1 U.S. metro for corporate relocation for the 12th consecutive year; that was, in large part, due to the creativity and business-friendly mindset of community leaders like Sean and Staci. To learn more about Chicagoland’s #1 ranking, start here.

As always, we’d like to thank the College of DuPage for supporting today’s episode. To keep up with what’s happening in DuPage County and the Chicagoland region, follow Choose DuPage on social media or visit ChooseDuPage.com/Ready.