Sylvia & Augie Emuwa

Sylvia and Augie Emuwa are “couple-preneurs” with deep connections to the people they serve. In April 2019, they took the entrepreneurial leap of faith, with intention, and started Dinobi Detergent LLC, a sensitive skin focused detergent that’s changing how we do laundry – less waste, more inclusivity & authentically natural! The idea came from their passion to provide the best possible product for their family and friends.  Their needs, translated into the development of a product that demystifies the idea that social good and business should be separate.

Augie is co-owner and supports marketing efforts, sales and community outreach.  As a former school principal in Chicago and lead consultant at Identity Capital Consulting LLC, Augie's passionate about Dinobi Detergent being a positive disruption in the marketplace and believes that the company will create an ecosystem of commerce, job creation and innovation in his hometown. Augie graduated with a BA in Marketing and Management from Jackson State University. He also holds an MA in Diverse Learning and an MA in Educational Leadership from Roosevelt University. 

Sylvia is the founder and co-owner and her focus is business operations, product development and brand management. Sylvia’s background as an internal auditor and real estate accountant provides her with the experience necessary to lead and operate a fiscally solvent business that stands the test of time.  Together, they believe that their vision will require both of their experiences and a resilient commitment to listening and learning from customers and stakeholders. Sylvia holds a BA in Accounting from Jackson State University.

Isra Omar

Isra Omar manages the Polsky Small Business Growth program, which supports small business owners on the south and west side of Chicago to help them grow and scale their businesses through consulting work completed by top student talent.

Isra has a strong passion for helping small businesses and the local Chicago community. She previously volunteered for the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA) where she managed the oral recording sessions of its storytellers in partnership with StoryCorps. In recognition of her hard work, Isra was named the first recipient of the Emerging Young Leader Award presented during the 2018 Annual MALA Gala. Isra is a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in accountancy and a minor in Arabic studies.

Liz Abunaw - Booth '14

Liz Abunaw is the founder and operator of Forty Acres Fresh Market, a grocery startup launched in January 2018. Alarmed by the lack of fresh food options on Chicago’s west side, after leaving her sales job at Microsoft in November 2017, Liz committed to opening an affordable specialty grocery store with a bountiful fresh food selection on Chicago's Westside. Using an innovative mobile strategy centered on full-selection pop up produce markets to test and develop the right business model, she has grown Forty Acres from idea to a social impact small business built to scale.

Since its inception Forty Acres Fresh Market has serviced over 1000 customers residing in underserved communities. It continues to expand its reach through a delivery service option and participation in Veggie Rx programs. Forty Acres’ impact on Chicago’s Westside has garnered investment from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the USDA Healthy Food Financing Initiative, the American Heart Association Social Impact Fund, and other funders.

Prior to launching Forty Acres Fresh Market Liz was a partner manager in Microsoft’s sales division and before that spent ten years at General Mills, Inc. A native of New York state, Abunaw moved to Chicago in 2012 when awarded a full-tuition fellowship to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, from which she graduated in 2014. Liz is a 2002 Cornell University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Policy Analysis and Management. She holds the staunch position that while Chicago deep dish is delicious, it is not pizza. It is casserole. Pizza folds.

Duane Jackson

Duane Jackson is a Director at BDT & Company, a Chicago-based merchant bank that provides advice and long-term capital to help family and founder-led businesses pursue their strategic and financial objectives. The firm works with business owners to find solutions to their most complex challenges, while preserving company culture and providing access to a world-class network of industry leaders. The firm’s affiliate, BDT Capital Partners, has raised more than $16 billion across its investment funds and has partnered with well-known brands including Panera, Krispy Kreme, Lou Malnati’s Pizza, and Caribou Coffee.

Prior to joining BDT, Duane worked with Vista Equity Partners, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and Merrill Lynch. Duane serves as a Trustee of his alma mater, Lake Forest Academy. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from The George Washington University and an MBA from Harvard Business School where he was a Robert L. Ryan Fellow, Robert Toigo Fellow and MLT Fellow. He and his wife have two kids and reside in Lincoln Park.

April C Troope

April C. Troope is the Managing Broker of TADD Realty Incorporated, the owner of Start to Finish Coordinations Inc., the founder of the Make Real Estate Real conference, and an Adjunct Professor at South Suburban College. Start to Finish Coordinations provides a means for General Contractors and project managers to work with out of-state investors on real-estate projects in the Chicago area. The Make Real Estate Real conference simplifies the process of investing in real estate. Launched in May 2019, the conference has been instrumental in changing the lives of thousands of families by giving them a practical step by step guide and access to the dynamic team at TADD Realty Inc to help them navigate their transactions to successful closings, time and time again.

During her career, April has held many roles. A self-described community activist, in 2000, April ran for State Representative of the 6th District in Chicago. Her platform was rooted in her desire to help Chicago citizens access the resources that would allow their basic needs to be met.

With 26 years in the real estate industry, April is passionate about providing services to customers that leave them with more knowledge about the real estate investing process than when they began. She believes that everyone should know the benefits of real estate investing. In 2013, South Suburban College offered April the opportunity to teach the Real Estate Licensing class. She has found great satisfaction in the fact that so many realtors are in the world investing in real estate as a direct result of her course.

April’s goal in her career is to inspire as many people as possible to be in control of their own destiny; she hopes to help others use Real Estate as a tool to generate generational wealth.