Brent is a Vice President of GCG Financial, having been a member of the firm since 1995. He has been serving clients, their families and businesses since 1989 with an expertise and focus on the accumulation and effective use of retirement assets and risk management. Brent received his B.S. degree in economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with honors with a concentration in entrepreneurial management. He received his Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation in 1999. He is a registered representative with Securian Financial Services, Inc.
Brent played seven seasons in the NFL. He was with the Chicago Bears in 1988 and the Minnesota Vikings from 1989-1994. In a career that included over 100 special teams' tackles, Brent retired after a serious neck injury. He is also treasurer of the NFL Players Association Retired Chicago Chapter and vice president for the B'nai B'rith Sports Lodge, where he is chair of its scholarship program.
Elliot Richardson, President, Small Business Advocacy Council
Elliot espouses that meeting folks with shared interests and working together towards a common goal significantly enhances the value of networking. With only so many hours in each day, business owners must maximize the time spent developing business, and with numerous options available where they spend that time is extremely important. Elliot will share practical ways to plan where to spend your time, efforts and money.
Elliot Richardson is the President of the Small Business Advocacy Council, an organization that empowers small and mid-market business owners and their employees. The SBAC brings business owners together and advocates on their behalf, lowers their overhead through strategic partnerships and helps its members generate revenue through strategic introductions. Through the power of critical mass, the SBAC is giving business owners a voice, drafting and supporting legislation laser-focused on addressing the issues important to small businesses.
Elliot is also an attorney and founding partner at Korey, Cotter, Heather & Richardson, where he litigates business and commercial disputes. He also serves on the board of directors of ChildServ, a social service agency helping at-risk children and Youth Conservation Corps, an organization that introduces at-risk youths to construction trades and ensures they receive a high school diploma or GED.
Sherrin Ross Ingram, CEO, International Center for Strategic Planning
The profit is in the follow-up, so says Sherrin. You not only have to be mining in the right location or at the right events, but you also have to have a method for quickly qualifying contacts and a strategy that you consistently implement for staying top of mind. Sherrin will share proven strategies and techniques that can help you fully leverage your networking efforts.
Sherrin is CEO of the International Center for Strategic Planning and Chief Strategist for The Strategic Thinker’s Mastermind. With over 100,000 followers, Sherrin was recently recognized as #1 in the "TOP 100 STRATEGIC PLANNERS most followed on Twitter" ranking. Networking is an essential part of Sherrin’s marketing plan. She works closely with her staff to ensure that all networking efforts are explored and fully leveraged.
She is also an attorney, best-selling author, and founder of The Foundation for Real Nutrition and Sustainable Living, an organization she founded after witnessing the positive impact that a diet of traditional nutrition had on her son’s recovery from autism. As an attorney and trusted advisor to executives and professionals at some of America's most successful privately held companies, Sherrin confidentially helps business and thought leaders develop breakthrough strategies, gain insight into professional challenges, and enhance their strategic thinking skills to improve performance. To find more about her, go to www.sherrin.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SherrinIngram
Corliss V. Garner, Vice President, Commercial Banking, BMO Harris Bank
Corliss views networking as the process of being genuinely curious about the well-being of others as well as an opportunity to give rather than receive. If approached in this manner, the return is plentiful.
Corliss V. Garner is a Vice President with the Commercial Banking Group at Harris Bank and has been in the financial services industry for more than two decades. Prior to joining the Commercial Banking Group, Corliss managed relationships in the Private Bank, providing unique personal trust, estate and retirement planning financial solutions to high net worth clients. In her current role as a commercial relationship manager, Corliss is primarily responsible for delivering the bank's lending and cash management services for current and prospective business clients across all industries. Corliss is a graduate of DePaul University . She has earned the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designations. Corliss serves on the advisory board of the Chicago Community Trust African American Legacy Initiative and the DePaul Coleman Entrepreneurship Center.