Boardroom Media (CEO News)
At CEO (Boardroom Media) we track over 1,000,000 startups and over 5,000,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top Chicago based CEO’ operating in the Industrial space. If you think a CEO’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on [email protected].
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Bradley Keywell
Chief Executive Officer of Uptake Technologies
Brad Keywell is a lifelong entrepreneur and co-founder of seven technology companies, a cultural curator of innovation platforms, and a philanthropist. He is the co-founder and CEO of Uptake Technologies, an Industrial AI software platform harnessing predictive analytics to deliver outcomes of increased productivity, reliability, safety, and cybersecurity to global industry. Uptake was named “Startup of the Year” in 2015 by Forbes, was #5 in the 2017 CNBC Disruptor 50, and was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. Brad is a co-founder of Tempus, Groupon (NASDAQ:GRPN), Echo Global Logistics (NASDAQ:ECHO), MediaOcean, Drivin (acquired by NYSE:KAR), and the venture capital firm Lightbank. He is on the Board of Trustees of Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR). He is the founder and Chairman of Chicago Ideas, which has grown into one of the largest innovation and ideas gatherings in the world. He is the Chairman of Future Founders Foundation, providing entrepreneurial education to inner-city students in the Chicagoland area. Brad is an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He earned a J.D. at the University of Michigan Law School and a BBA from the University of Michigan School of Business. Brad and his wife, Kim, signed The Giving Pledge in 2016.
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About Chicago Ideas Week, Drivin, Echo Global Logistics, Groupon, Groupon Netherlands, Lightbank, Mediaocean, Uptake Technologies, Zest Health: Uptake Technologies designs and develops enterprise software.
Kayne Grau
Chief Executive Officer of Uptake Technologies
I am in my dream job and serving as CEO and Board DIrector of Uptake. While working with an amazing team, I am refining the company’s products, expanding its global footprint and developing/nurturing a high performing work environment. Previously, I served in various senior executive functions with KAR Global (NYSE: KAR), the acquirer of DRIVIN, a company I co-founded and served as CEO until April 2017. Prior to KAR, I held senior management roles with Music Dealers, Apartments.com, Cars.com, eToys.com, and Allstate. In my free time, I assist various companies as a board member, advisor, and investor.
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About Uptake Technologies: Uptake Technologies designs and develops enterprise software.
Jack Durburg
Global Chief Executive Officer – Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) of CBRE Group
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About CBRE Group: CBRE Group is a holding company that conducts all of its operations through its indirect subsidiaries.
Eric Mara
CEO of Right Lane Industries
Eric Mara currently works as Chief Executive Officer of Right Lane Industries. He previously worked at Pavis Capital LLC as Jr Partner/Senior Investment Analyst.
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About Right Lane Industries: Right Lane Industries is an industrial holding company that focuses on acquiring manufacturing and industrial services businesses.
Riana Lynn
Founder and CEO of Journey Foods
Riana Lynn is a leader in food innovation, technology, and venture strategy. As a serial entrepreneur, she develops high-growth, nationally recognized technology and food businesses. Scaling a family juice company inspired her to develop FoodTrace, supply chain software that impacts thousands of food businesses across the US and beyond. Riana’s development strategies are pivotal to some of the world’s most innovative food and agriculture startups. She also works with Fortune 500 companies on new innovations. Her accomplishments have been featured on CNBC, Forbes, USA Today, Wired, TechCrunch, INC, Entrepreneur Magazine, Crain’s “20 in their 20s”, among others.
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About Journey Foods: Journey Foods solves food science and supply chain inefficiencies with enterprise software to help companies feed 8 billion people better.
Bruce Duncan
President & CEO of First Industrial Realty Trust
Bruce Duncan President and Chief Executive Officer of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. in January 2009, Bruce Duncan brings more than 30 years of real estate management and investment experience to the Company. He was appointed Chairman of the Board in January 2016. Bruce presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world, a position he has held since 2005. From April to September 2007, Bruce served as CEO of Starwood on an interim basis. He has been a member of Starwood’s Board of Directors since 1999, and was a Trustee of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, a real estate investment trust and former subsidiary of Starwood, since 1995. Bruce is also an independent director of the T. Rowe Price Funds. Bruce previously served as President and CEO of Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR), a publicly traded apartment company, from 2002 through 2005. From 1995 to 2000, he was Chairman, President and CEO of Cadillac Fairview Corporation, one of North America’s largest owners and developers of retail and office properties. From 1978 to 1994, Bruce served in several management roles at JMB Realty Corporation, most recently as President and Co-CEO of JMB Institutional Realty Corporation. During his tenure at JMB, the firm grew its asset base from $800 million to more than $25 billion. From May 2005 to December 2005, Mr. Duncan was Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of Equity Residential (“EQR”), a publicly traded real estate investment trust, and held various positions at EQR from March 2002 to December 2005, including President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee from January 2003 to May 2005, and President and Trustee from March 2002 to December 2002. Bruce’s past professional affiliations include serving as a member of the following Executive Committees: the Canadian Institute for Public Real Estate Companies (CIPREC) and the National Multi-Housing Council (NMHC), as well as past Trustee of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). He also previously served as Trustee of commercial real estate firms: The Rouse Company, Cousins Properties Incorporated, and The Rubenstein Company. Additionally, Bruce was a senior advisor to Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts & Co. from July 2008 to January 2009. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) and as Trustee of RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago and a BA degree in Economics from Kenyon College.
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About CyrusOne, First Industrial Realty Trust: First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT).
Kathy Bolhous
President & CEO of Charter Next Generation
Kathy Bolhous has over 25 years of leadership experience in the plastics industry. She has a proven track record of leading companies through significant growth and transformation. She has done this through executing highly successful acquisitions and mergers, as well as through driving organic growth. Kathy’s experience in the plastics industry includes large-scale plastic injection molding, blow molding and industry-leading blown film extrusion. Kathy serves as a board member of the Flexible Packaging Association.
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About Charter Next Generation: Charter Next Generation is a manufacturer of monolayer, coextruded and barrier films, including stand-up pouch and flexible packaging films.
Mehdi Bentanfous
CEO North America and CRO Industries of KINEXON
Mehdi Bentanfous is the CEO North America and CRO Industries at KINEXON.
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About KINEXON: Real-time location intelligence for the Internet of Things.
Akshat Thirani
Co-Founder & CEO of Amper Technologies
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About Amper Technologies: Real-time factory visibility deployed in minutes to always meet your production goals and avoid surprises
Tim Taylor
CEO of Light Efficient Design
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About Light Efficient Design: Light Efficient Design
