Now that the 7^th annual Chicago Fashion Focus has come to an end, this is the perfect time to reflect on the city’s initiative to cultivate local talent. Having just seen a parade of various trades, be it designers, producers, stylists, models, photographers and more, it’s comforting to know that the city is trying to help these emerging artists find a voice. Chicago definitely has been and still is a launching pad for many careers.

The locally based high fashion, boutique, modeling agency Factor Women is no stranger to developing talent and launching them into the world of high fashion. As a matter of fact, the Spring Summer 2012 show season was dominated by some of Factor’s Chicago models.

-Katrina Hoernig, 19 year old,  Whom you may have seen this week at the Millennium Park Tent, has just returned from fashion week, where she was featured by Marc Jacobs, Jeremy Scott, Charlotte Ronson and many more.

-Brittany Burke, 16 years old, spent several weeks traveling from New York to Paris and Milan. She was booked for one of the most coveted shows of the season –a Calvin Klein exclusive. She also walked in shows such as Rochas, Ungaro, Cacharel to name a few.  She is back in the Midwest now, finishing high school.

-Ava Smith, the 22 year old Chicago native ended up booking shows such as DKNY, Helmut Lang, Mugler and many more. She was also featured in a show by the uber talented Chicago grown and New York based, design duo, Creatures of the Wind, as was the aforementioned Katrina.

-Maria Bradley, who is 17 years old, started her first show season with a bang, booked by her stellar agent straight from Chicago. She opened the much talked about Alexander Wang show. Ashley Brokaw proclaimed Maria one of top three new comers on Style.com. Maria was then also featured in Proenza Schouler, Tommy Hilfiger, an exclusive show for Versace and their other line Versus, as well as an exclusive show for Balenciaga in Paris. New York Magazine then featured Maria, three times, including an exclusive interview, as did WWD, Models.com and countless fashion blogs.

It’s exciting to know that all of these talented individuals started here in Chicago and that every year, there will be many more successes like these. As a matter of fact, many new models debuted this year in Factor’s exclusive shows during Chicago Fashion Focus, as well as many other emerging talents.

- Kasia Koniar, Guest Blogger

I woke up at 5am this morning for a BIG press day with Billy.  We had to do 5 radio shows, a live tv show & a PSA all in 5 hours when he literally just stepped off a plane from France, Hungary, and Austria 12 hours prior.  When he initially told me about how much press he wanted to do BEFORE he was live on Windy City Live- I thought it was absurd, but in all the time I have known him, I can say he pushes himself to work beyond what most people think is feasible.  The main purpose behind all this press was to talk about two events that are the very important to him to support art & theatre in Chicago & raise scholarships for kids -  The Madhatter’s Ball & The Piven Theatre Gala.

The schedule of the day went as follows:
6am – Picked up  Chicago Reader, heard BD won “Best Person to Follow on Twitter”                                                                                                                                          6:15am – Car Pickup

6:30am – Stop at Rockit to pick up Burgers
6:45am – Live on Kiss FM with Angi Taylor at Brother Fred
7:30am – J & Julian Show on B96
7:40am – Fresh with Scotty & Rebecca
7:50am – K-Hits with Eddie & Jobo
8:30am – Make-up & Producer’s Session for ABC’s Windy City Live
9-10am – Live on ABC’s Windy City Live
11am – Steve Dahl Show
11:30am – PSA Shoot for Chicago’s Go Do Good Campaign that Connects Art to Action
1-3pm – Work at Rockit Ranch Productions
3pm – Call in with Andy Giersher

I took my camera with me to show you guys what it’s like to be Behind the Scenes when you are live on radio & tv!!! It was a crazy, fun-filled day, and I was shocked to see that Billy was still even standing to make it out that night! (Billy attended a party for Factor Models and worked at Sunda later that night.  I, on the other hand, was asleep by 10pm)

By the way, for those who follow Billy on facebook & twitter – You may have seen the picture of the bird that he posted that seemed to be injured right outside his office on that day.  I’m very happy to report that by the end of the day, the bird was saved thanks to the help from the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors – we will post a video we took and share the whole story here tomorrow!

-Amy

Hey fellow Chicagoans – Dana Ragazinskas from Billy Dec’s office here! I’d like share with you this “up and coming” photographer that I dig -  even Perez Hilton has taken note!

Gino Gusich, also known by his artist name Gino Baileau, is a self-proclaimed photographer who grew up in the suburb right outside of Chicago called Melrose Park. At 20 years of age and a college student at the University of Illinois, his talent is far beyond his years. I’ve always said that you can’t judge a book by its cover, nor can you really understand what’s going on inside it until you’ve really taken a look at it. That’s exactly how I feel when I look at Gino Baileau. Although he has a strong “tell it like it is” personality, he remains mysterious and hard to figure out. This is what drew me in, leaving me wanting to know more about him. One thing I knew for sure was that when it comes to photography, he means business! Gino first picked up a camera about 3 years ago and he hasn’t put it down since. He pushes the creative envelope every chance he gets.

Since the time I sat down with Gino about a year ago (which you can find on his website under: Reflection Magazine Interview), he has definitely hit his “to-do list” hard since! Gino has recently recorded 3 songs, created a blog for himself, and updated his website with even more pictures and interviews to add to his already large collection.

Photos seem to make the world go round.  We take pictures to remember, to share, to connect with others, and to express ourselves. With just a click of a button and a sudden flash, a camera instantly captures a moment in time, freezing it for all of eternity.  It has been said that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” but when it comes to young photographer Gino, a picture seems to be worth so much more. So be sure to follow Gino Baileau with me, as we watch him turn his dreams into a reality because he definitely has a one-way ticket to the top.

I laughed yesterday when I tweeted that I was going to be a guest talking about Social Media in Business on a new live show with Cardinal Francis George & Second City, knowing that immediately thousands of people who follow me stopped what they were doing and went… “HUH?!”  That’s what I love about this new show called “Chicago Live!“  It sounds so diverse, entertaining, relevant, alive & Chicago!

This unique Tribune & Second City production is filmed in front of live studio audience on Thursdays at 6:30p, at Chicago Theatre’s Downstairs Stage, hosted by Rick Kogan, featuring special guests that represent the city’s top newsmakers, entertainers, athletes, artists… w/quick sketches by Second City members! After the show, the audience is invited to a reception with the cast, crew & guests.. Seriously, sounds like a blast!

With that, I’m truly honored to be part of the show this Thursday, May 5th! I’m psyched to join filmmaker Melissa Pierce, and Social Media editor & radio host Amy Guth, on stage to discuss the use of Social Media in Business! Other guests will include Catholic archbishop of Chicago Cardinal Francis George ( interviewed by Manya Brachear), Arlington Park’s Howard Sudberry previewing the upcoming race season (interviewed by Phil Rosenthal), Local bluegrass band Cornmeal, and again… Peformances by Second City!

Please be in the audience, enjoy & cheer us on! Tickets: http://trib.in/fLEtrt AND BTW, would love to get some questions, advice, feedback, thoughts… from you about what all you think I should talk about ahead of time!?  Please let me know on Twitter, Facebook and/or comment below as soon as you can! If you can’t make the show, Chicago Live! re-airs on WGN radio the Saturday following the Thursday tapings from 11p-midnight.  Podcasts are also posted to the Chicago Live! website the Friday after each show.Thanks!!!!

From CSN Chicago – March 9, 2011

This week’s guest…one of the nation’s premier and most popular dining and entertainment entrepreneurs…however, our guest this week is more than that…he’s become a city leader for his 24/7 philanthropic work helping those in need around the world…plus, his venues around the city continue to attract the biggest names in both sports and entertainment …a Chicago native who continues to give our city a good name, here are “5 Questions with…BILLY DEC!”

For full article, visit: http://bit.ly/fh76lD

From City’s Best – February 14th, 2011

Billy Dec is the unofficial host of Chicago. He’s an entrepreneur, a restaurateur and quite possibly, Chicago’s biggest supporter. He’s generous to causes important to his heart (Chicago Food Depository) and passionate about work. He’s a private guy (he declined to talk about his personal life), but an open book when discussing how he built his career from the ground up. Chicago already knows it, but to the rest of America: take note. Billy Dec’s just warming up.

For full article, visit:

http://www.citysbest.com/chicago/news/2011/02/14/billy-dec-the-unofficial-host-of-chicago/

From Crain’s Chicago – Business of Life – August 6th, 2007

Billy Dec is looking for more than a good time.

The ever-smiling king of Chicago’s club scene is on a self-improvement kick. He’s studying management at Harvard Business School. He’s making connections on the city’s civic and political scenes. He even bought a suit.

At 34, Mr. Dec is no longer content to mingle with post-graduates until the wee hours.

Now, he mixes with the gray-hairs at charity balls and political fundraisers.

As president of Rockit Ranch Productions, his role has been to generate the buzz that attracts hordes of twentysomethings to the company’s Underground nightclub and Rockit Bar & Grill. But playing the hipster frontman while Rockit Ranch CEO Brad Young and Chief Operating Officer Arturo Gomez ran the company behind the scenes wore thin. Mr. Dec wants a bigger management role and some respect as a businessman.

“I know all there is to know about marketing a company, but I’m going to Harvard because I want to learn how to manage the company better so it will grow. It’s something I needed to do,” says the 1994 economics and pre-law graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The question is whether his quest for respectability will compromise the hipness that brings crowds to Rockit Ranch’s clubs. Mr. Dec says he’s schooling underlings in the promotional role he has played up to now.

“The functions I did as a promoter are now done by younger people who I’m coaching,” he says.

TWO WORLDS

Mr. Dec straddled both worlds on a recent Friday night.

Early in the evening, dressed in a navy work shirt, jeans and his ever-present Rockit baseball hat, he mingled with a middle-aged crowd at a fundraiser for Piven Theatre Workshop at Rockit restaurant. Guests in suits and cocktail dresses sipped wine and martinis and chatted over subdued background music.

An hour later he bolted for Underground. Techno pop thumped as twentysomethings in T-shirts and mini-dresses danced on couches and shouted for beer and well drinks.

Mr. Dec says he’s cut his clubbing to three nights a week from seven. He spends most of his time overseeing the company’s marketing and consulting arm and working on new restaurant and nightclub ideas.

Last year, he started Harvard’s three-year non-degree program for business owners. He spends one month a year at the school in Boston, taking classes from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Real estate developer Albert Friedman, who owns 50 buildings in the River North area, including those housing Rockit Ranch’s restaurant, nightclub and corporate offices, has noticed changes in Mr. Dec since their business relationship began five years ago.

“He came to me as a quarterback. He was highly skilled — especially in marketing — but he couldn’t always put all the plays together. Now he’s able to do that,” Mr. Friedman, 58, says of Mr. Dec’s improved skills at managing employees and working with investors.

Mr. Dec (who also holds a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, but never practiced) and his partners also have learned some lessons the hard way. Rockit lasted only a year promoting two restaurants at the Hard Rock Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“It wasn’t managed well because they weren’t there enough,” says Richard Tavano, 36, a partner in the venture who says Mr. Dec didn’t have the same cachet in celebrity-studded South Florida that he has in Chicago.

Mr. Dec disagrees. “We did well when we went out there. But what happens at home then slows down, so we realized that wasn’t consistent with our mission statement (to grow entertainment in Chicago).”

That’s why earlier this year, the company backed out of a project to build a Rockit Ranch restaurant in Las Vegas — for which they had raised $13 million. “When it came down to who was going to move to Vegas, none of us wanted to,” he says. “We realized we wanted to stay here.”

Above: In June, Billy Dec joined actor Jeremy Piven, left, and his mother Joyce Piven to host a benefit for the Piven Theatre Workshop. Below left: In January, singer Ryan Cabrera joined Mr. Dec at an event to promote the film “Smokin’ Aces.” Below right: Mr. Dec and actress Sophia Bush at a North Avenue Beach promotional event.   Newscom photos

RESTAURANT RESEARCH

Mr. Dec’s latest project is a yet-to-be-named Asian fusion-themed restaurant due to open next year and expected to push Rockit’s annual revenue to $20 million. Research for the project took him to Cambodia, Hong Kong and Singapore.

“I wanted to discover great things that Chicago hasn’t been necessarily exposed to,” he says.

Mr. Dec is finding his promotional skills come in handy in raising his profile in new realms. He’s showing up as a guest speaker at organizations like the Young Professionals Club. He’s also hosting fundraisers for cultural organizations, like the Piven Theatre event and another for the Lookingglass Theatre Company.

Shrewdly, he’s parlaying his reputation as pied piper to Chicago’s young adults into political connections that can advance his business ambitions. He calls Mayor Richard M. Daley “my hero” and hosted a campaign event for him during the last election.

“He’s very much in touch with Chicago’s young professional crowd. That’s a desirable group from a political standpoint but also for consumer retailers and business people,” says Peter Thompson, Mr. Daley’s nephew and former campaign finance director, who’s now CEO of money manager Chicago Asset Management Co.

That explains why Gov. Rod Blagojevich invited Mr. Dec to the signing of the new state law banning smoking in public places. The club impresario’s imprimatur provides Mr. Blagojevich with some political cover for a measure unpopular on the city’s night-life circuit.

He’s also thrown fundraisers for Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. The Obama event in June raised $25,000 for the Democratic senator but also served as a coming-out party of sorts for the new Billy Dec.

In his suit — a dark gray number tailored for him in Vietnam — he introduced the guest of honor to a crowd of 1,000 at Union Station.

“I’ve had other suits but didn’t like them because they never seemed to fit,” Mr. Dec says. “This one feels right.”
Full article: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20070804/ISSUE03/100028237/the-education-of-billy-dec#ixzz1G8nkN53k

From Chicago Tribune Magazine – January 1st, 2006

IT’S A FRIDAY NIGHT IN OCTOBER at Rockit Bar & Grill, the restaurant and watering hole on Hubbard Street where trendy beer flows, bass thumps and the young and affluent jam into the vast, top-floor bar, abuzz like so many charged particles in a magnetic field.

Bears quarterback Rex Grossman is playing pool with wife Melissa and friends in one corner, roped off by velvet cord to keep the hordes at bay-though “hordes” hardly describes this crowd of buff twenty- and thirtysomething alpha males and attractive young females whose expensive hair shimmers with possibility.

Enter Billy Dec-the baseball cap-wearing part-owner of Rockit and its swank sibling, Oak Street’s Le Passage. With his Blackberry in hand and earpiece hooked on tight–so he can talk to his managers at both clubs–the 33-year-old is armed for what he calls a night “in full host mode.” He looks around, preparing to wade into the crowd, and a grin of anticipation opens across his tan face. “If anyone steps on my new Nikes,” he shouts suddenly, like a war cry, “I’m gonna kick their ass!”

For full article, visit:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-01-01/features/0601010431_1_nike-magnetic-field-shoes