Episode 126: The Aux
This week, on Inside the Skev, we sit down with Tosha Wilson, Tiffini Holmes and Jaqui White, who are co-developers of the Aux, which is a planned commercial hub dedicated to racial equity and wellness in Evanston.
Episode 95: Michael Edgar from GWDC/SelectChicago®
This week on Inside the Skev, we are joined by Michael Edgar, President of GWDC/SelectChicago. SelectChicago® is a curated program helping foreign investors and international businesses tap into regional Chicago area economic development programs. The organization has a large impact on bringing global investment to Skokie and Evanston.
Episode 92: Jeff Schankerman with a Market Update
This week on Inside the Skev, we are joined by Jeff Schankerman from One to One Financial. Jeff is a return guest, and a local Skevanston resident. He works with One to One Financial, which is a family-owned financial planning firm. Jeff grew up in Indianapolis, and now lives in Skevanston. In this episode we will talk about what’s been going on in the stock market with Game Stop, AMC and the overall economy.
Episode 85: Robert Masliansky-First Class Moving & Storage
This week on Inside the Skev, we are joined we are joined by Robert Masliansky, my brother. Robert is the President of First Class Moving & Storage, which is a local, independent moving and storage company that has been in business since 2001. We discuss the history of the company, the moving industry and how it works to maintain its excellent reputation. We also discuss Robert’s connection to the community with Skokie Central Congregation and his many years as a musician and most recently as the drummer for Damaged Justice, a Metallica tribute band.
Episode 67: Linda Darragh-Northwestern University
This week, on Inside the Skev, we sit down with Linda Darragh. Linda is the The Larry Levy Executive Director and Clinical Professor Kellogg Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative at Northwestern University. She is leading a program that is partnering Northwestern with the City of Evanston to help local businesses navigate the pandemic. To help Evanston's small businesses weather this current crisis, local Kellogg alumni and students will provide pro bono consulting to Evanston business owners in high-demand areas, including digital marketing and social media, public relations, financial planning and analysis, and human resources management. The program can be found by clicking here. In this conversation we also speak about her background in entrepreneurship, the program at Northwestern and how businesses are adapting to the pandemic.
Episode 66: Lena Kim-niceLena & Friends
This week, on Inside the Skev, we sit down with Lena Kim from niceLena & Friends. niceLena & Friends is a crafts shop located at 1235 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, in the Main Dempster Mile. Lena says incredibly innovative and custom crafts including prints, candles, mugs, cards and so much more. We talk about her innovative and engaging marketing efforts including the fairy door project, crafting parties in the store and her fun social media posts. We also talk about Lena’s background as moving to America as a 10 year old from South Korea and how that has taught her to be so creative.
Episode 63: Jan Schakowsky on Inside the Skev
This week, on Inside the Skev, we sit down with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 9th District, which include the Skev. In this episode we discuss the government’s response to Covid-19, the stimulus programs, and her work to protect nursing home employees and residents. We also discuss her story in getting into politics and her encouragement for more people to get involved.
Episode 57: Shalom Klein-Get Down to Business
This week, on Inside the Skev, we sit down with Shalom Klein. Shalom Klein is a master networker and connector and a true champion of Skokie. When he’s not meeting people for coffee (or now Zoom meetings), Shalom is accomplishing more in a day than most do in a year.
Episode 53: Marnie Dawson-Dawson Relocation Services
This week, on Inside the Skev, we sit down Marnie Dawson from Dawson Relocation Services. In this episode we talk about the services Dawson Relocation offers, the challenges of moving and the solutions they provide. We point out that move management is above and beyond what a moving and storage company provides, and how Marnie works hand in hand with the clients, the movers and the property managers to make transitions be seamless.
Episode 50: Aaron Masliansky-Inside the Skev
This week, the 50th episode on Inside the Skev, I flip the table on myself, and take up an offer from former guest Victoria Reeves to interview me, Aaron Masliansky! In this episode, you will learn what inspired me to start Inside the Skev, my life, passions and profession.
Episode 48: Paul Hletko-FEW Spirits
This week, on Inside the Skev, we sit down with Paul Hletko, the Founder and Master Distiller at FEW Spirits in Evanston. In this episode we talk about why Paul decided to open up FEW Spirits in 2011 after a career in the law and music industry and used his creativity to make award winning craft whiskey and gin that is now sold in 4 continents.
Episode 41: Kayla Strauss-Looking Glass Pet Shop
This week on, “Inside the Skev,” we sit down with Kayla Strauss from the Looking Glass Pet Shop. Kayla recently purchased Not Just Thee Fishbowl. The Shop was formerly Not Just Thee Fish Bowl, and changed hands after 40 years of ownership by one family. Kayla is deeply devoted to her store and the animals and she has renovated the space and put her own stamp on it.
Episode 32: Sean Simpson-Lanzatech
This week on, “Inside the Skev,” we sit down with Sean Simpson, the co-founder of Lanzatech. LanzaTech is based in the Illinois Science and Technology Park that is located in Downtown Skokie. Lanzatech is a company that recycles carbon waste from steel mills and other carbon producers and turns it into fuel and chemical by-products. In this episode we discuss what brought Lanzatech from New Zealand to the Chicagoland area and specifically Skokie, and what they do.
Episode 31: Sam Glassenberg-Level Ex
This week on, “Inside the Skev,” we sit down with Sam Glassenberg from Level Ex. Sam is a Skevanston resident, and founder of Level Ex, which is a company that creates breathtaking video games for doctors that capture the challenges of practicing medicine: from puzzling diagnoses to rare surgical complications. Level Ex has been dubbed the, “Deep Dish Hotdog of Chicago Tech.”
Episode 28: David Sutton-Sutton Studios
This week on, “Inside the Skev,” we sit down with David Sutton from Sutton Studios. David has been a photographer for many years and specializes in taking square black and white photos of people and their pets. He is also a musician and writer. He is located in Skevanston at the corner of East Prairie Road and Church Street at 3417 Church Street Evanston, IL, 60203.
Episode 27: Elisabeth Foran-Industrious
This week on, “Inside the Skev,” we sit down with Elisabeth Foran, the community manager at the Industrious coworking space in Downtown Evanston. We talk about what coworking is, what Industrious offers and how Elisabeth got to this position.
Episode 26: Nina Barrett-Bookends and Beginnings
This week on, “Inside the Skev,” we interview Nina Barrett the owner of Bookends and Beginnings. Bookends and Beginnings is an independent bookstore located in, “Bookman’s Alley,” located at 1712 Sherman Ave, Alley #1 Evanston, IL 60201. We discuss her ties to the store, why she became a bookstore owner, the book selling industry, her career in writing and her connection to Evanston. Her store is purpose driven in a personal way.
Episode 20: Katherine Gotsick-The Main Dempster Mile
In this episode, we sit down Katherine Gotsick, the executive director of the Main Dempster Mile. The Main Dempster Mile is a Special Service Area for the commercial districts that currently make up the Chicago/Dempster business district and the Main Street business district.
Episode 15: Yuval Degani-President of Dream Town Realty
In this episode, we hear the story of Yuval Degani, the owner of Dreamtown Realty. Yuval started Dreamtown in 1998 from scratch. Capitalizing on the early internet, he developed a website that was ahead of its time, and helped lead to explosive growth. Now he leads a company with over 400 agents spread out in offices across Chicago and Evanston.
Episode 8: Mickey and Liz Natale-Kings Kuts
In this episode, we sit down with Mickey and Liz Natale. Mickey and Liz are father-daughter partners of the barber shop called King Kuts in Skokie. Mickey started the business with his brother Kenny in 1962. Mickey has been working with Liz for many years. Kings Kuts epitomizes the neighborhood, family-owned barber shop. Some would say it’s a community center, or the Cheers of Skokie, where everybody knows your name.