Michael Fassnacht’s Post

Great catch up with the outstanding leadership team of Lake County Partners with CEO Kevin Considine and Business Development Director Ronald Lanz, AICP. I have known the Lake County Partners team for many years and I have always been very impressed with the team's strategic vision, business development acumen, and never ending spirit of collaboration. Lisa Dziekan, Mary Sturgeon, AIA, and I from the Clayco and Lamar Johnson, FAIA Collaborative family enjoyed the productive conversation of how to position Lake County and the whole state of Illinois as a leading destination for corporation, capital, and talent. Let's keep winning together.

Our college and university system requires continuous reinvention and robust support from local, state, and federal entities. It’s not an either-or situation; we need both—a reimagined, relevant educational offering that resonates with today's needs and financial backing from our collective tax dollars. The decade-long decline in overall enrollment at Illinois Public Universities is alarming: since 2014, undergraduate enrollment in Illinois has decreased by over 20%, representing 144,000 fewer students. However, this trend has not affected all institutions equally. Chicago State University and Northeastern Illinois University have faced significant challenges, despite their outstanding academic leadership. In contrast, the University of Illinois Chicago has seen an 11% increase in student headcount, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has experienced a 15% rise. It is crucial that all these esteemed institutions thrive. The future of our city and state depends on providing young people with the most holistic and inclusive education possible.

Over the last decade, Chris Gladwin has been one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the Midwest but he has remained humble and grounded, always willing to help other leaders in the start up ecosystem. He is a rare leader who leads both a tech start up with a few hundred million in venture funding, Ocient, and a nature ecosystem outside of Chicago, "The Forge Charitable Adventures", where 300 acres of a rare ecosystem are being restored.

After a week filled with the excitement of the DNC Convention, my wife and I traveled to Boston to help our son, Ryan Fassnacht, settle in for his sophomore year at Boston College. These moments of transition in a parent-child relationship are always emotional, offering a chance to reflect on the fundamental dynamics between a father and son. Just days before, at the United Center in Chicago and later amplified on social media, I witnessed Gus Walz’s beautiful, emotional expression for his father during the Vice Presidential nominee’s speech. The moment and its subsequent backlash reminded me of the deep-rooted cultural norms and expectations surrounding father-son relationships in our society. Gus, who is neurodivergent with a non-verbal learning disorder, shared an unfiltered display of love and admiration for his dad—challenging the traditional, often restrained ways men are expected to express their emotions: cool, reserved, more handshake and bro-hug than tears of joy and love. I believe that the evolving definitions, expectations, and cultural context of “male identity” are at the heart of this conversation. Many still think that showing deep emotions, especially in public, should not be part of a man’s identity. While there has been a gradual shift and a growing acceptance of emotional expression among male role models, we still lack sufficient examples of men who embody a modern male identity—one that harmonizes professional success with emotional vulnerability, intellectual wisdom with the acknowledgement of one’s ignorance across a wide range of topics, physical strength with public displays of affection between a father and son. So tonight, I won’t hold back. I’ll allow myself to shed some tears as I say goodbye to my son, another step in his journey toward independence and becoming his own person. We all need more tears of love in any father/son relationships.

The final day of the DNC in Chicago was nothing short of electrifying. The United Center buzzed with energy, and Vice President Kamala Harris's acceptance speech deeply resonated with her personal story as the daughter of two immigrant parents. She eloquently conveyed the values she holds dear, her authentic self, and her steadfast belief that we have more in common than what divides us. Her optimistic and hopeful vision for a better America felt genuine and compelling. The speakers leading up to her were equally impactful, with Gabby Giffords delivering a powerful address on gun violence, followed by inspiring words from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Mark Kelly as well as a strongly supportive message from basketball star Steph Curry. It was truly rewarding to conclude the four-day event at one of the most stunning venues in the U.S., the Salt Shed in Lincoln Park. I had the chance to express my gratitude, along with many others, to Governor JB Pritzker for his pivotal role in bringing the convention to Chicago, ensuring it was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our city on a global stage. Now, many of us have to catch up on some much-needed rest, it's time to gear up for the next 70 days leading to election day. A heartfelt thank you to all Chicagoans who contributed to displaying our city’s beauty, diversity, vibrancy, and welcoming spirit. Special recognition goes to the Chicago Police Department for their remarkable restraint, respect, patience, and unwavering commitment over the past week. They ensured that people could exercise their right to freedom of speech while maintaining a safe and secure convention. Your service is deeply appreciated!

I’m thrilled to bring you the newest insight from my "Beyond the Status Quo" series, dedicated to helping young professionals thrive in their careers: Build & Nurture Your Network Today, we’re focusing on a key lesson I wish I had learned earlier: the importance of building and nurturing your network. Throughout my professional journey, I came to realize rather belatedly the profound significance of networking and nurturing relationships. Initially in my career, I held firm to the belief that my success would be solely determined by the quality of my work, the tangible outcomes I produced, and my accomplishments within the organization. I was wrong. Find out why I was wrong and discover the importance of networking and more on the Beyond the Status Quo website: www.beyondthestatus.com Join the conversation: How do you actively maintain your network? How has it supported you during tough times? Share your experiences in the comments below! Stay tuned for next week’s insight, where we’ll explore how to navigate the challenges of feeling like an outsider.

A great OpEd piece by entrepreneur, civic leader, and thought leader all around Rohini Dey, Ph.D.. Amongst many of her accomplishments are the founding of the Vermilion restaurant & Let’s Talk Womxn, an economic empowerment collaboration among women restaurateurs. Her piece focuses on the importance & power of founders of small businesses, the critical role of immigration for the economic & cultural future of the U.S. and the power of optimism. I love the opening of her must read OpEd: "None of us is a monolith. I am an immigrant from India, a woman and champion of women with Let’s Talk Womxn, an entrepreneur/restaurateur, a former World Bank economist, and former management consultant with McKinsey & Co. My identities intersect with the lens of our economy, small business policy, and women’s rights to contrast the stark choices we face in this election. Apt as Chicago is in the throes of the Democratic National Convention."

Congratulations to my very good friend, super talent, and extraordinary human combination of creativity and business acumen: Marianna Ruiz: Weber Shandwick just announced that it has hired her as Chief Creative Officer of creative growth for North America, a newly created role. Over 10 years ago, I met Marianna when she was a junior creative at FCB Chicago and I was the agency's CEO. One day she stormed by my office to tell me that I was completely wrong on a particular topic. I have forgotten what I was wrong about but since this day, we have been friends. Congratulations Marianna! Read more at https://lnkd.in/dnCFhYtJ

Day 3 at the DNC began with an insightful breakfast meeting featuring California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose career I’ve closely followed since living in San Francisco during his tenure as Mayor. In the afternoon, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, Esq. hosted a lively and dynamic event with Lieutenant Governors from across the country. The evening at the United Center was once again filled with excitement, passion, and optimism, but also a moment of sobriety and reflection as the family of American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin shared their story of how their son was taken hostage on October 7th in Israel and remains captive in Gaza. The chants “Bring them Home” were loud and clear. Last night’s speakers included Senator Amy Klobuchar, House Minority Leader Hon. Hakeem Jeffries, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former President Bill Clinton, and Governor and Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz. My two favorite moments of the night were the performance by the Queen of words and rhythm, Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, and legend Oprah Winfrey. Every night, certain lines resonate deeply, but last night, Oprah’s words truly brought the house down: “When the home of a childless cat lady is on fire, we are saving the cat, too.” One more day to go!

Grateful to the University of Chicago and Crain's Chicago Business for allowing me to share my experiences in building my professional life in Chicago and getting heavily involved in the civic fabric & life in my home city for the last almost 20 years. If you don't want to watch the whole 30 minutes, the key take away might be my firm belief that nowadays a business leader can't be successful without being a civic leader, too.