Chicago Community Ventures

Susan brings more than a decade of experience in community and economic development to Chicago Community Ventures. In her current role, Susan is responsible for fundraising and marketing strategy for the organization.In this capacity she has raised over $4 million through investment, donations and the implementation of new earned income strategies. She also oversees the delivery of client services and the development of strategic initiatives.

Susan joined CCV in February 2004 as assistant director and subsequently director of the Chicago West Side Entrepreneurship Center (CWSEC), a partnership between the University of Illinois at Chicago and CCV. In addition to working with more than 125 clients and helping to access over $5.5 million in capital and contracts, Susan created and launched INNOVATEIllinois, a competition engaging over 100 stakeholders to identify the most innovative small businesses across the State of Illinois.

Prior to joining CCV, Susan worked as an analyst with Foursome Investment Management in London, an early stage fund making ‘positive impact’ investments in environmental technology, renewable energy and organics; and provided business-planning consulting to start-up for-profit and not-for-profit organizations in Chicago.

Previous experience includes managing more than $20 million in public health projects in Africa and the Middle East for the Lions Clubs International Foundation and tripling programmatic impact as Director of Foundation Programs and Administration for Zonta International, a global association of female executives.

Susan holds an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Michigan, a Master's in Public Service Management from DePaul University and an International MBA from the University of Chicago. Having lived, worked or traveled in over 40 countries, Susan now lives on the northwest side of Chicago with her husband and two children, where she is involved with her local community organization and schools committee.

Anita, CCV Co-President since 2006, has been a member of the CCV team since 2000. As the third employee hired when CCV, formerly known as the Chicago One Stop Capital Shop, was a small business resource center, Anita played an integral part in the organization’s transformation from a small business resource center to what it is today.

Anita, an advocate for community and economic development, is responsible for CCV’s financial and administrative strategy. Anita is integral to the success of CCV’s lending programs that consist of CCV’s Neighborhood Transformation Loan Fund and the management of the City of Chicago Small Business Development Loan Fund. Currently, Anita is responsible for managing over $4 million in investments through both loan funds and the approval of over $300,000 in loans since 2007 to businesses located in Chicago’s low- and moderate-income communities as well as those owned by women and/or minorities. Anita also oversees CCV’s government contracts at the local, state and federal level, amounting to over $700,000 in funding.

Anita was drawn to community and economic development at a young age. Growing up on Chicago’s Southside, she saw the impact on her neighborhood when major and local retailers and manufacturing plants either closed or moved away, leaving abandoned buildings and vacant lots in the community. It was through the challenges associated with blight that Anita’s passion aligned with CCV’s mission to empower business owners, grow sustainable businesses, and create jobs and generate revenue in Chicago’s disinvested communities.

Prior to joining CCV, Anita worked in South Carolina and dedicated 13 years to the IT field. During this time, she worked as a Senior Systems Engineer, Systems Engineer, Management Specialist, and Database Manager, where she not only provided support but also was instrumental in developing client databases as well as statewide information systems. Anita also has a background in funeral service.

Anita holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Spelman College and a degree in Funeral Service from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. She earned a Master of Science in Human Service Administration from Spertus College, and served as a 2006 Association Forum of Chicagoland Workforce Diversity Scholar. Anita volunteers her time by serving on boards, various projects and committees around the city.

Hans Bonner is the Director of the Chicago Minority Business Enterprise Center (CMBEC), a partner program of Chicago Community Ventures (CCV) and the Chicago Minority Business Development Council (CMBDC) funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency. The Center focuses on assisting minority high-growth companies with access to debt and equity capital, procurement opportunities, strategic planning and management consulting. Hans came to CCV to help medium and large size businesses grow and develop them to become more competitive and profitable.

Much of his time is spent assisting minority companies in the manufacturing, construction and service industries. His 10 years of financing, procurement and management consulting experience demonstrates his ability to assist growing companies in developing and become more competitive. Hans has assisted minority companies in
obtaining over $90 million in contracts and over $40 million in financing. He has also helped his clients create over 400 jobs.

Previous to CCV, Hans served as a Senior Vice President at the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, where he also provided management consulting services to small businesses. Hans also has experience in the manufacturing area with a Mexican company in building oil tanks and metalworks. He also taught a Finance course at Mexico’s Universidad Panamericana Hans achieved his MBA in International Banking from Texas A&M International University. Hans also holds a B.S. in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering from Mexico’s Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara. He has also completed the program, “Implementing a System for High Quality Service: Building Adaptive Minority and Native
American Businesses” at The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Hans is also a member of the National Association of Hispanic MBEs.

Bryan is the Director of the Chicago West Side Entrepreneurship Center, a partner program of CCV, the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Bryan came to CCV to explore his passion for bringing life to ideas with double and triple bottom line goals of community/social change and a positive impact on our environment, in addition to financial profitability.

Bryan's 15 years of entrepreneurial experience demonstrates his ability to balance broad strategic vision with the foundation of understanding day-to- day operations of early stage ventures. Over the last eight years he has participated in over $250 million of private and public equity dealflow and debt transactions for businesses from the seed stage to acquisition.

Bryan currently spearheads the SustainIllinois Innovation Challenge Grant Competition and Award, a sustainable business and manufacturing program/competition for 2009. He serves on the Steering Committee of the Chicago Sustainability Business Alliance and was appointed by the Chicago City Council and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley as a commissioner to the Chicago West Town Special Service Area in 2005, a position he still holds, where he pioneered Chicago’s only successful and still operating municipal free WiFi system.

Prior to joining CCV, Bryan was President and Founder of Symbiotic, inc, a Chicago based business consulting, distribution, and marketing organization for companies in the media and entertainment industries, where he organized a successful acquisition of the firm in 2003. Bryan also served as the Director of CenterPoint at Governor's State University's Entrepreneurship Center, and as Director of the Small Business Development Center Director for the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago.

Bryan achieved his MBA from the University of Illinois, where he concentrated in Entrepreneurship and graduated Beta Gamma Sigma. He has lectured at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, Columbia College, Governors State University and the Chicago City Colleges. He holds a BA from the University of Kansas.

Gail joined CCV in 2002 as an AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer focused on community outreach. Today, she holds the position of Marketing & Communications Manager where she oversees development of collateral and marketing pieces, and maintains the organization’s website. Additionally, Gail is responsible for managing CCV's volunteer Client Advisory Committee. Previous to joining CCV, Gail worked as a public policy intern at the Elizabeth Glasier Pediatric AIDS Foundation in Washington, D.C..

Gail graduated with University Honors from American University in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelor of Arts in International Service and a concentration in International Development. Gail has also attended the Freie Universität in Berlin and the American University of Rome.

Hussain joined CCV as an Americorps*VISTA Volunteer in April of 2005 and is currently the program specialist for the Neighborhood Transfomation Loan Fund as a full-time staff member. Currently, Hussain helps manage both the City of Chicago Small Business Development Loan Fund and the Neighborhood Transformation Loan Fund. Hussain assesses initial inquiries and assists in underwriting potential loan deals. Hussain also assists in helping business owners obtain access to additional financing sources from other financial institutions.

Hussain has also assisted in coordinating CCV’s Small Business Development Initiative program. The program consisted of 11 small businesses in the Mid-South and Near-West regions of Chicago that received one-on-one consulting and access to small business workshops through the Initiative. Hussain assisted in organizing small business workshops that included topics such as Marketing on a Shoestring Budget, Cost Cutting, Reading Financial Statements. Through the program, all of the business owners were able to network with each other and utilize CCV’s business advisory services to help resolve particular business issues.

Prior to joining CCV, Hussain assisted his father in running the family business, Broadview True Value Hardware. At True Value, Hussain helped integrate the current accounting system, market commercial supplies to manufacturers, and design the company’s market strategy through direct target marketing and networking.

Hussain graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He is currently pursuing and set to complete a Master’s degree in Public Service Management from DePaul University in November 2008.  Hussain is also a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Young Nonprofit Professional Network.

Manjima began at CCV as an AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer and has since joined CCV as a full-time member. She works with the development team on cultivating and maintaining a portfolio of donors. Along with fundraising efforts, she also assists with the development of marketing and collateral materials. Prior to joining CCV, Manjima worked on marketing and fundraising at several other Chicago area nonprofits including CommunityHealth, Bangamela, and Aavegh Dance Troupe.

Manjima graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and minor in Psychology. She is also a member of Aavegh Dance Troupe, a socially aware group focused on giving back to local charities.

Doug Cannon is a Business Analyst working with the Chicago Westside Entrepreneurship Center and the Small Business Development Center at Chicago Community Ventures. These two centers focus cumulatively on assisting small businesses from idea stage through maturity. Doug brings to CCV a wealth of knowledge and experience in sales and marketing having spent years in high-dollar, intangible inside sales with a global B2B events company. In addition, he has decades of expertise in the culinary field focusing on cost control, operations, human capital and negotiations. 

As a veteran of the restaurant business Doug is familiar with every aspect of the restaurant industry. For the past ten years, Doug has used his experience and skills to help independently owned restaurants, taking start-ups from concept to fruition and guiding the turnaround of those in trouble.

One of Doug's major accomplishments at CCV has been the development  and implementation of the Marketing and Customer Development Program which received the State of Illinois DCEO Program Excellence Award. The program is a 4-month intensive one-on one class designed to help the small business owner develop an actionable marketing plan utilizing their industry expertise. The program has helped several companies, not only remain viable, but reach beyond their expectations.

Doug also spearheads the Commercial Revitalization Deduction (CRD) program, which involves managing the oversight of $12 million in federal tax deductions for building and/or remodeling in Renewal Communities. The program is responsible for helping to build the Food 4 Less in the Englewood neighborhood, which was considered a food desert.

Doug received his MBA from the University of Illinois with concentrations in Entrepreneurship and International Business. Doug is a frequent lecturer at Loyola Law School and The City Colleges of Chicago. Doug holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas and is a graduate of the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, a Cordon Bleu School. 

As Director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at CCV, Tom advises start-ups and young companies on financing, marketing, and business development, and provides individual business counseling. Before arriving at CCV, Tom served as SBDC Director for the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago where he was responsible for helping small business owners receive over $2 million in financing.

An entrepreneur for the last 8 years, Tom owned several businesses including Route 101 Guitars, a company that manufactured custom electric guitars and JB Music, a guitar factory in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Before joining CCV, Tom was a business coach helping clients grow their business by identifying new and emerging markets. Tom’s previous posts include promotion manager at Penguin Publishing (New York) and product/brand manager at Dana B. Goods (Los Angeles). In his spare time, Tom enjoys playing music, writing, and traveling abroad.

Lauren joins the team as an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer. During her year she will support CCV counselors offering technical assistance to CCV’s small business clients as well as support CCV’s Marketing & Communications Manager in marketing efforts.

Prior to joining CCV, Lauren worked in brand management at Kraft Foods. During her time there Lauren worked on the Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese, Kraft Natural Cheese and Kraft LiveActive businesses.As a member of the brand team, Lauren was responsible for conducting business analysis, leading new product launches and executing the marketing plan.

Lauren received a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Michigan.

Christyn joins CCV as an AmeriCorps*VISTA to work with the Small Business Development Center and consult with business in various stages of development.

Prior to joining CCV, Christyn worked as a business consultant for WDB Marketing, primarily offering business consulting services for small, minority-owned companies in the south suburbs. She assisted in the development of business plans, marketing and promotional strategies, and event planning, as well as, creating training programs and employee incentive plans. Christyn also has five years of technical recruitment experience, most recently working at Interactive Business Systems in Oak Brook for clients such as McDonalds, Kraft Foods, Northern Trust and other Fortune 1000 companies.

Christyn received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with an African American Studies minor from Northwestern University in Evanston.

As the Financial Analyst for the Chicago Minority Business Enterprise Center, Joshua identifies resources applicable to client company needs and assists with finance and business development efforts. Joshua brings to CCV his analytical approach to building businesses, having previously counseled entrepreneurs as an attorney and business consultant. As a business attorney with Tenney & Bentley, LLC, Joshua focused in the areas of corporate formation, property and asset acquisition and sale, raising capital, and contract matters. As business consultant, Joshua served as the Director of Business Development for Companions for Seniors, Inc.

When Joshua counsels businesses, he draws on his own experience as the inventor of the Stayclip®, a collar stay organizer with selection of collar stays (www.stayclip.com).  After researching the marketplace, Joshua founded BG & Sons, LLC, and brought the Stayclip to market. As part of his role as president of the company, Joshua developed a marketing and sales strategy to generate revenues that resulted in strong sales that doubled yearly. The Stayclip can now be found in Neiman Marcus, Mark Shales, and boutique stores and hotels in all states of the US. 

Previous to founding BG & Sons, Joshua specialized in securities law, assisting small to mid-sized businesses in raising capital through private equity offerings. Joshua regularly spoke in seminars and adult education courses regarding capital raising. 

Joshua holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from University of Michigan, a Juris Doctor from American University’s College of Law, and an M.B.A. from American University’s Kogod School of Business.

Diane is responsible for reception and general organizational support, including maintaining CCV’s database, supporting communication flow, and meeting the organization’s logistical needs. Before joining CCV, Diane gained over fourteen years of experience working in a not-for-profit environment as the Computer Operator/Membership Coordinator for the American Judicature Society, a membership based organization.

A lifelong resident of the nearby Bucktown area, when Diane is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and watching or participating in sporting events.

Duane currently serves as the Loan Officer at CCV where he assists the Director of Lending with managing CCV's loan programs.

Prior to joining CCV, Duane served as Business Development Manager for the Rebirth of Englewood Community Development Corporation. In that position he oversaw the Business Capitalization Initiative, a program that identified local, capital-ready businesses and helped them secure lines of credit and term loans. He was also responsible for overseeing an IDOT grant which helped small businesses assess their technology needs. Duane also has nine years of experience in retail management.

Duane holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management and a Master of Science degree in Workforce Education and Development, both from Southern Illinois University.

Mwikali recently joined CCV's team as an administrative intern where she is responsible for maintaining the organization's timesheet management and financial coding systems, providing board support as needed, as well as other administrative duties.

Mwikali is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in International Finance. She has previously worked as a beauty consultant for both Mary Kay and Clinique where she developed her business and communication skills.

Mwikali currently volunteers with various non-profit organizations including World Vision, Feed the Children, and St. Jude Hospital. She was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, East- Africa, and is now a member of United Kenyans in Chicago.