Teams and Judges

Teams

The presentation order was predetermined by a random drawing.

Eazy Pass
Wheeling High School: Drew Araujo, Chris Headlam, Sam Patel, Pawel Rakoczy, Chris Rivera and Patrick Tinsley

Drip Dash
Elk Grove High School: Matthew Micek, Miles Nenkov, Justin Novoselsky and Bartek Sarat

Expand-A-Pot
Rolling Meadows High School: Catherine James, Julisa Ramon and Gaby Zielinski

Healy Kits
Buffalo Grove High School: Kyana Luyando Penski, Alex Soroka, Kara Vlachos and Maja Wegrowski

Foamy
John Hersey High School: Kris Grossman, Josh Kiss and Josh Ogiba

The Everything Bottle
Prospect High School: Brandon Casey and Alex Styka

Judges

Kenneth Thompson is the founder and managing director of LevelX Consulting, an interim financial management and advisory firm serving Fortune 1000 and Private Equity clients across a wide range of industries, with clients including Abbott Labs, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and McDonalds. Ken has served on the board of advisors for the Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University, the board of trustees of the Chicago Zoological Society, and two trustee subcommittees at The Art Institute of Chicago.

Richard Olejniczak serves as Senior Vice President for Data Programs and Business Analytics and Reporting at Wintrust Financial Corporation. He is also a Board of Education member for Arlington Heights School District 25, and a faculty member of the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Rich served for 14 years in the US Army, leaving with the rank of Major. He is the father of a District 214 student.

Margarita Geleske is Chief Evangelist for Uncharted Learning, where she led the development of the INCubatoredu entrepreneurship education program, creating a nonprofit organization with the mission to kickstart students for life. She previously held VP Directorship roles at Leo Burnett Company in Chicago. Margarita has served as Chairperson and Trustee for the Barrington 220 Educational Foundation, and also as a Trustee for Barrington Youth and Family Services.

Steve Gootee serves as Vice President for Village Bank & Trust in Arlington Heights, where he manages the organization’s community outreach, Community Reinvestment Act activity, and Money Smart programs. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Northwest Compass, which provides emergency crisis support for families throughout the Northwest suburbs, including temporary housing, food, clothing, and individual case management to those in need. 

Schedule of Events

6:00 p.m.: Welcome
6:10 p.m.: Team Presentations and Questions
8:10 p.m.: Judges Deliberation and Refreshments
8:45 p.m.: Presentation of Awards

Location

Forest View Educational Center Theater
(Door 34)
2121 South Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, IL

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