Executive Committee Management
E. Bernard Jennings
Executive Director
Professional
Mr. E. Bernard Jennings serves as the Executive Director of Lawndale Business Renaissance Association, having taken a role in its formation. Prior to assuming this role, he worked eleven years as Vice-President of Industrial Programs for Lawndale Business and Local Development Corporation on Chicago’s Westside.
Since beginning his economic development career in 2002, Mr. Jennings has proven himself in economic development proficiency by having completed over $127 million in projects. He has demonstrated his ability to analyze and interpret the industrial needs and concerns of companies in the Western/Ogden, Little Village, Midwest TIF and Roosevelt/Cicero industrial corridors. Mr. Jennings is competent in the use of economic development incentives and programs available from the city, county, state and federal government.
Before joining Lawndale Business and Local Development Corporation, Mr. Jennings was the Business Development Manager for Shore Staffing Works, an affiliate of Shore Bank where he worked collaboratively with the Mayor’s Office (Chicago) on Workforce Development.
E. Benard Jennings
Executive Director
Professional
Mr. E. Bernard Jennings serves as the Executive Director of Lawndale Business Renaissance Association, having taken a role in its formation. Prior to assuming this role, he worked eleven years as Vice-President of Industrial Programs for Lawndale Business and Local Development Corporation on Chicago’s Westside.
For over a decade, Mr. Jennings has proven himself in economic development by having completed over $70 million in projects. He has demonstrated his ability to analyze and interpret the industrial needs and concerns of companies in the Western/Ogden and Roosevelt/Cicero industrial corridors. Mr. Jennings is competent in the use of economic development incentives and programs available from the city, county, state and federal government.
Before joining Lawndale Business and Local Development Corporation, Mr. Jennings was the Business Development Manager for Shore Staffing Works, an affiliate of Shore Bank where he worked collaboratively with the Mayor’s Office (Chicago) on Workforce Development.
Other Professional Accomplishments and Community Involvement
- Advisory Board of the U.S. 7th Congressional District’s Economic Development Taskforce
- Economic Development Advisory Board member – Current and past two State of Illinois Treasurers
- Co-Chair of Cook County 2nd District Economic Development Advisory Board
- Founding member of Government Partnership for Economic Development (GPED)
- Guest speaker and judge for the SBA Emerge 200 classes
- Past African American Advisory Board member for U.S. Senator Mark Kirk
- Past Advisory Board member for the State of Illinois Comptroller
- Past Advisory Board member for the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Licensing
- Past Advisory Board for Small Business Development under Mayor Daley’s administration
Education and Professional Development
In addition to holding a B.S. degree in Marketing from Northern Illinois University, Mr. Jennings has completed all courses for his MBA from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. In addition to his collegiate studies, Mr. Jennings has received certification in the following areas:
- Economic Development – Southern Illinois University
- International Trade by the State of Illinois – Bradley University
- Construction Project Management by ReHab Network – University of Illinois – Chicago
- Certified by the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as a Small Business Advisor – Illinois State University
Personal
Mr. Jennings is married and resides in Chicago, Illinois.
Evan Birnbaum
Board Chair
Evan Birnbaum is Vice president of Charter Steel Trading a Carbon Flat Rolled steel service center that specializes in slit coil, cut to length sheet metal, blanks and shearing applications. Charter Steel services a wide range of customers in the automotive business, HVAC, agriculture, mechanical tubing, racking systems, and home appliances. Evan is the 2nd generation to work at Charter which was started by his father Gary Birnbaum in 1976. Currently, Evan and Gary work together to ensure continued success of the family business which takes great honor in employing roughly 100 people most of whom are from the Lawndale area.
Education
- University of Kansas where he received degrees in business and history
Tom Ragen
Vice Board Chair
CEO Color Communications
Color Communications Innovations (CCI) prides itself on its mission to develop, manufacture and deliver superior quality products to any business with a need for accurate color. The advanced color replication methods used at CCI enable us to serve even the most specialized of coating industries.
E. Benard Jennings
Executive Director
Professional
Mr. E. Bernard Jennings serves as the Executive Director of Lawndale Business Renaissance Association, having taken a role in its formation. Prior to assuming this role, he worked eleven years as Vice-President of Industrial Programs for Lawndale Business and Local Development Corporation on Chicago’s Westside.
For over a decade, Mr. Jennings has proven himself in economic development by having completed over $70 million in projects. He has demonstrated his ability to analyze and interpret the industrial needs and concerns of companies in the Western/Ogden and Roosevelt/Cicero industrial corridors. Mr. Jennings is competent in the use of economic development incentives and programs available from the city, county, state and federal government.
Before joining Lawndale Business and Local Development Corporation, Mr. Jennings was the Business Development Manager for Shore Staffing Works, an affiliate of Shore Bank where he worked collaboratively with the Mayor’s Office (Chicago) on Workforce Development.
President and CEO of Precision Dialogue
- Guided strategic transformation from direct mail company to integrated marketing services company
- Initiated two acquisitions and directed integrations to increase profitability
- Successful sale to RR Donnelly
Senior VP at Quebecor World
- Led company in lowest incidence rate across his 3 facilities – 600 employees of $5b company
Ragen and Ragen
- Consulted with Fetter Printing – largest client was Benjamin Moore
- Led Strategic planning process that led to transformation of company
Chief Operating Office Smyth Companies
- Led company in turn around effort that realized profit in year 1 for first time in 3 years
Group President Fort Dearborn Company
- Led facilities that produced labels for paint customers including Sherwin Williams, Valspar, PPG
- Set 75 yr. old company records for no lost time and incidence rate while leading $120mm business unit
.jpg "James W. Buik (1)")
Jim Buik
Board Secretary
Professional:
James Buik is the President of Roscoe, where he started full time in 1982, and subsequently purchased in 1999. Roscoe is a personal service provider of image enhancing, identity and protective uniform rental programs to a wide range of business customers with ancillary services to include floor mat, wiping towel, mop & linen rental, in addition to restroom service products.
This family owned business has been owned by the Buik family for three generations, since 1921, and operated in the Lawndale community of Chicago since 1926, employs over 75 people -- many from the surrounding neighborhoods.
E. Benard Jennings
Executive Director
Professional
Mr. E. Bernard Jennings serves as the Executive Director of Lawndale Business Renaissance Association, having taken a role in its formation. Prior to assuming this role, he worked eleven years as Vice-President of Industrial Programs for Lawndale Business and Local Development Corporation on Chicago’s Westside.
For over a decade, Mr. Jennings has proven himself in economic development by having completed over $70 million in projects. He has demonstrated his ability to analyze and interpret the industrial needs and concerns of companies in the Western/Ogden and Roosevelt/Cicero industrial corridors. Mr. Jennings is competent in the use of economic development incentives and programs available from the city, county, state and federal government.
Before joining Lawndale Business and Local Development Corporation, Mr. Jennings was the Business Development Manager for Shore Staffing Works, an affiliate of Shore Bank where he worked collaboratively with the Mayor’s Office (Chicago) on Workforce Development.
Other Professional Organizations:
James is involved in other organizations where he serves on the board or as an active member:
- Business Executives Association
- DePaul – Family Business Council
- Textile Rental Service Association
- WPO – Chicago Chapter / YPO – Windy City Chapter (1997-2010)
Community:
As an avid supporter of community development, James is involved in many charities and programs, personally and on behalf of Roscoe. The most notable being United Way – Crusade of Mercy with consecutive years of 100% Team Member participation. Other programs include:
- Rotary One of Chicago and Rotary One Foundation
- Illinois St. Andrew Society
- Boy Scouts of America
Education & Professional Development:
James has earned a Bachelor of Business from Western Illinois University with a major in Marketing and a minor in Economics, and he completed his MBA from University of Illinois at Chicago with concentrations in Strategic Planning and Information Technology. He continued his professional development by completing five years of EMI (Executive Management Institute), the industry’s premiere training program for executives.
Personal:
Married to Teresa with two children, Julia and Daniel, residing in Wheaton.
George Gatto, Jr.
Board Treasurer
George Gatto, Jr. is the president of Gatto Industrial Platers, a metal finishing company that has been in the Lawndale/Austin area since 1988. Gatto Industrial Platers provides Zinc Plating, Zinc- Nickel Plating and Aluminum Chromating for commercial and industrial components requiring a rust preventative coating. Gatto Industrial Platers has been a proud member of the Lawndale Business Renaissance Association for over two decades.
George has served on various industry association boards including the Technology & Manufacturing Association and Chicago Surface Finishing Foundation. Prior to joining Gatto Industrial Platers in 2011, George worked in the commercial real estate industry. George is a graduate of Drake University.
Over the many years that we have been members, LBRA has helped us by making us aware of local grants and assisting us through the application process, providing opportunities for employee training, and gaining access to job fairs and local resident who are seeking employment. We have also enjoyed the networking opportunities that have been provided. This has helped us establish relationships with neighboring businesses, community organizations and local leaders.
George GattoPresident
Gatto Industrial Platers