According to the Harvard Business School, 70% of Americans believe it’s important for companies to make the world a better place. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is more than a buzz word– it’s a must–have, and many entrepreneurs aspire to balance earning a profit while fulfilling a purpose in their business. Join us for a conversation and networking event about the history and upcoming trends of social entrepreneurship. Hear from a panel of successful Chicago-based social entrepreneurs who will speak to the pros and cons from their experiences, so you can determine if this is the right path for you.
About the Moderator:
Jamie D. Elder is the Manager of the Small Business Development Center at Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC). Jamie is an Army veteran and life-long entrepreneur, he started his first business when he was 21. In his most recent venture, he partnered to form an impact-minded private equity firm called I2J Group LLC resulting in their first acquisition of a small home improvement company. Over the years he has held several roles and was appointed to the Governor’s administration to serve as the Director, Office of Urban Development for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. In 2016, he relocated to Washington, DC to serve as a Director of Strategic Partnership for a national venture philanthropy firm called Stand Together Foundation–serving over five hundred wealthy business leaders across the country. In 2019, he briefly worked as the Director of Urban Development for a legacy-minded private equity firm called Ambassador Enterprises.
About the Presenters:
Brady Gott is the Managing Director of Cara Collective’s flagship social enterprise, Cleanslate. Cleanslate creates over 400 jobs annually for Chicagoans affected by homelessness and poverty. Since 2007, Brady has overseen the financial health of the business, growth strategies, and providing meaningful employment for Cleanslate workers. Brady directed Cleanslate’s expansion to more than 50 communities including outposts in suburban Chicago and NW Indiana. He has a side hustle as an Airbnb Superhost. Brady earned a BA in Urban Ministry from Moody Bible Institute, MBA at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, and was a University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy Fellow.
More speakers announced soon.
The Illinois Small Business Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC). Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Please contact the center at (312)421-3941.
