For Immediate Release...
Bolingbrook, IL - Toni Greathouse from the Bolingbrook Sun Times Newspaper highlighted African-American business owners who have all either won in the past, or are nominees for, a Best of Bolingbrook Business Award from the Chamber of Commerce.
Bolingbrook business owners are great role models
February 23, 2007
View the Bolingbrook Sun Article
I'm closing out Black History Month with an article highlighting three African-American business owners who have all either won in the past, or are nominees for, a Best of Bolingbrook Business Award from the Chamber of Commerce.
On Feb. 23 at the Bolingbrook Golf Course, a total of 25 area businesses will be honored during the third annual business dinner and awards ceremony, which recognizes select owners for their skill in running a business and their commitment to the community.
Those being highlighted include nominee Anthony DeAndrea, 2006 Service Business winner Greg Dover and Service Business to Business nominee Joe Johnson, who have each stepped out on faith and wholeheartedly embraced the community, deciding to make Bolingbrook not only their business base but their home.
As a friend of his late mother's, I have watched with a certain degree of pride the evolution of Anthony DeAndrea from an idealistic young man to a competent business owner.
He is a decorated veteran of both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm who, after being honorably discharged in the mid-1990s from the Navy, moved from Brunswick, Maine, to Bolingbrook to help his mother, Trish, raise his younger siblings.
Initially employed by Powerhouse Gym, he told everyone who would listen that it would be a short-time gig. He said his primary goal was to make his lifelong dream of owning an electronics business a reality.
In his off time, he kept his dream alive by building, fixing and generally tinkering with computers for friends and family.
Then in 1997, Anthony took the first step by launching the Ateki Corp., with himself as the sole employee from the basement of his home. Taking baby steps, he consistently challenged himself to learn new and innovative systems while networking with software and design professionals who were willing to support his quest in moving the business to the next level.
Starting his own family ignited a fire in his belly that has enabled him to expand Ateki into a premier digital media services company. Now at 277 S. Schmidt Road, the company employs a staff of five who offer a full range of Web site development options.
A prime example of Ateki's capabilities and the quality of its work can be found by visiting the Bolingbrook Golf Club's Web site. Nominated for the third year, Ateki's diverse customer base includes corporate, athletic, nonprofit, small and startup businesses.
In addition, Anthony believes in giving back to the community, contributing either time or Web hosting services to programs such as Athletes Against Drugs, the Kids at Work Program, Bolingbrook/Romeoville Character Counts, Heart Haven Outreach and the Bolingbrook Buccaneers football team.
"I have no idea who has nominated us, but I'm glad they did," he said. "It means a lot to me to have customers say nice things. I am a part of Bolingbrook, and this is where I intend to stay, so I want to offer the best level of service that can be found anywhere. I think business is all about building relationships, and that is what I really put time into here.
"I would like to encourage more African businesses to be represented in the chamber. It is so important to get involved and stay involved if you want to be successful," he said. "What I like most is the support that you get. One of the reasons the business was able to grow was the support I received from Greg Dover, who back then was the director of IT for the village of Bolingbrook. He put a lot of confidence in us, and others started to use our services."
Although Dover and his wife, Frachon, were born, raised and educated in Chicago, a job offer from Microsoft lured them to Charlotte, N.C. After a four-year stint there, Microsoft relocated Greg to Naperville and, as fate would have it, set off a chain of events that led the Dovers to stumble upon their true calling.
"First and foremost, it was a great honor to be chosen among your peers and customers," he said of the business award. "From what I understand, the nomination process entails getting your company's name thrown into a hat by a local business leader or word of mouth. The chamber called us and asked us to fill out information and talk about our customers. From what I'm told, they look at your information and compare it to other businesses in that same sector; then they choose the winner of that category. We are up against three other companies, but regardless of the outcome, we are just happy to be nominated."
Dover said he is grateful to the chamber because the awards program gives businesses a chance to get some publicity that they wouldn't normally receive.
He said his business began about five and a half years ago after he worked for the village to start the GAD Group.
"I believe being here and being in this business was meant to be," he said. "When we came back to Illinois, we were staying in temporary housing, and I happened to see a posting for an open IT position with the village of Bolingbrook. It was advantageous because I was looking for something more challenging, and Bolingbrook was looking someone with IT experience.
"Before I came to the village, a commission was handling all the IT activities," he said. "As the first director of IT, there were opportunities to expand on what had been in place and to create customized systems that would serve the municipality. I held the position for three years. After working with the mayor and municipal leaders, I knew it would be a good idea to start a company that offered IT service for municipalities."
The GAD Group's office is at 101 Royce Road in Bolingbrook. The business provides "everything in the IT food chain to municipal customers," he said.
"We also service medium-sized businesses, as well," he said. "So, for instance, let's say the municipality needs a system to manage permits. Then they would hire us to come in and scope out that process, find and implement the software, train the users and stick around for post support."
The GAD Group can be reached at www.gadgroup.com.
Joe Johnson of JLJ Investments, who has been a resident of Bolingbrook for two decades, has an enviable client portfolio. Concentrating in vending services, Joe boasts serves a clientele that includes Village Hall, the village water treatment plant, the Bolingbrook Police Department, the Bolingbrook Fire Department, DuPage Township and the Levy Center.
A jack of all trades, Joe additionally co-owns, or in some ways has a financial stake in, several other companies. The oldest is his family's 25-year venture, Skyway Elevator, which performs maintenance, repair work and new construction for clients including O'Hare Airport, McCormick Place and several Chicago Park District facilities.
He also is involved in a catering company that serves parties from 20 to 2,000 called R Little Secret Caters, which he launched three years with his wife, Joyce. Yet another business he is involved in is a prepaid legal business, in addition to a banquet hall on the west side of Chicago.
"I am home-based, but I also have a business office in Chicago," he said. "Sometimes I feel like I am the main juggler, and it takes effort to keep all the balls in the air. But I come from one of the few families that if you find yourself in trouble you have support. They are remarkable because they encourage everyone in the family to be a part of what they are doing. They want us all to do well financially, and they don't mind sharing."
He said his family has always believed in helping others.
"It was the way I was raised, and it's the way I'm raising my two children," he said. "We try to set a good example so that they know they will have to earn whatever they want in life. They are young, but they are already showing signs of fiscal responsibility. My son comes with me to Chicago, where we have theaters with vending machines that have stuffed animals in them. I have him separate the tokens from the dollar bills, and I explain about making choices. He realizes that money doesn't just appear out of the air. He also see's firsthand that just because he is African American doesn't mean that he can't have a business.
"He knows just from watching us that if he wants to be a business owner, there is nothing stopping him."
He said he is not sure who nominated the business for an award, but he is happy they did.
"I have been blessed enough to be very well-respected in the business community," he said. "I'm a longtime member of the chamber, and I have a history of being involved in Bolingbrook."
Contact Toni Greathouse at P.O. Box 1061, Bolingbrook, IL 60440.
About Ateki Corporation - Ateki Corporation, a Bolingbrook, Illinois based company, is an established and documented provider of successful Internet web sites and effective multimedia marketing solutions. The Ateki Corporation specializes in premiere business services such as; promotional marketing, advanced web site design and development, corporate photography, video production, IT support services, web site hosting, audio creation, and training solutions. Ateki Corporation clients include well-known business executives, small business, mid-sized corporations, not-for-profit organizations, commercial facilities, and government agencies. Ateki Corporation solutions and services allow their clients to efficiently accelerate business growth while achieving current and future business objectives.
http://www.ateki.com
About Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry - The Mission of the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce is to foster a competitive enterprise system of business, and to promote the growth and development of our business community.
http://www.bolingbrookchamber.org
