Articles & Blogs
“How Ball Horticultural is ‘Coloring the World’ from DuPage County”
When I first started working on this article, I thought I may have bitten off more than I could chew. Ball Horticultural is a sprawling company that, for more than a century, has shaped humanity’s relationship with plants—how do you tell that story in a relatively short piece? Fortunately, once I shifted my focus from the company itself to the people who built it, the ‘roots’ of a story began to emerge. Then all I had to do was write it!
“Collaboration is in the DNA of Downers Grove”
I’m including this piece because it really demonstrates my #1 rule: always tell a story. The assignment itself was pretty dry; I was told to write a medium-length piece highlighting an economic development group in a Chicago suburb. Knowing that this kind of topic usually puts people to sleep, I started digging deeper into the history of Downers Grove, and what I found gave the story a whole new dimension (one that involves… oxen?). Here’s proof that no subject is boring; you just have to stay curious and keep digging.
“From Cairo to Chicago: A Family’s Global Journey”
In this feature story, I chronicle the journey of the Elganzouri family as they travel from a farming village on the banks of the Nile to Kuwait, the UK, and eventually Chicago, Illinois. It’s an inspiring story of hardship and perseverance, and it reminds us that the world is (and always has been) shaped by immigrants.
“The Lifecycle of a Vaccine”
Written in the early days of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, this story offers a behind-the-scenes look at how one region brought vaccines to the public. The story takes readers inside a mass vaccination clinic, includes input from experts, and reveals the complex system of people and organizations behind distribution.
“Plant-Based Pioneer”
In 2020, I worked with Choose DuPage to tell the stories of awesome businesses and people across DuPage County. This was one of my favorites. Markus Schramm, who immigrated to Lisle from Bavaria, partnered with his wife, Tammy, to open the County’s first-ever vegan restaurant. There are so many compelling elements to this story, but my favorite is the quote from Markus at the very end.
“Big Fish, Small Ponds”
I love it when a seemingly ‘normal’ assignment spirals into something totally unexpected. For “Big Fish, Small Ponds,” what started as a routine case study for an accounting firm transformed into a winding narrative about the rise and fall and redemption of a pond-building business—and the ridiculously interesting guy who built it.
“Kate’s Story”
By the time I wrote this piece, everyone was completely burned-out of COVID-19 content. So, instead of writing a big, sweeping pandemic narrative, I zeroed in on Kate Kemph, a local business owner. Her personal story illustrates how the community came together to support businesses—and vice-versa.
“The Pitmaster”
To be honest, I rarely eat meat. But when I stepped into this local BBQ joint and met the passionate (and apparently fearless) pitmaster, I was inspired. This piece highlights a local restaurant owner to bolster the Altoona region’s reputation as an emerging culinary hotspot.
“With Compassion & Creativity, Antunes Grows Amid Pandemic”
In 2020, businesses across the board struggled—but Antunes was an exception. In this editorial, I tell the story of how a family-owned manufacturing business managed to pivot their approach and actually grow their business in 2020. My favorite part is that Antunes managed to cover all of their employees’ personal and financial needs, even when they were forced to temporarily furlough some staffers early in the pandemic. When you think of a smart business strategy, you may not think of ‘compassion’ and ‘generosity’, but they were key to Antunes’ success.
“For Food Industry, DuPage Has All the Right Ingredients”
In 2020, I partnered with Choose DuPage, the economic development initiative of DuPage County, to develop and execute “Right for Today. Ready for Tomorrow.” The campaign aimed to attract businesess from several key industries, largely using targeted content such as this piece, which focuses on the strategic benefits DuPage offers food manufacturers and distributors. Side note: Who knew that making cracker sandwiches looks so freaking cool?