Chicago Chapter Event | From Advisors to Anchors: Building a Strong Governance Foundation
mHUB 1623 W Fulton St Chicago, IL 60612 USA
Wednesday, February 05, 2025, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM CST
Category: Chicago
From Advisors to Anchors: Building a Strong Governance Foundation
Overview
Effective governance is vital for startups looking to scale and succeed. This program’s focus is an essential step: creating and leveraging a board of advisors. Whether assembling a first group of trusted advisors or formalizing their roles into a structured board, this program offers a practical roadmap to building a strong governance foundation.
Program features:
- Expert Insight: A seasoned PDA governance consultant working with startup advisory boards and organizational development. Their expertise combines practical strategies with real-world examples, providing attendees with actionable takeaways.
- Startup Stories: Two startup leaders will share their experiences, highlighting challenges, successes, and practical tips for working with advisors and transitioning to formal governance.
Registration
Members - $35 Non-Members - $45
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Speakers

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Rudi (Rudolph J.) Schick Chief Science Officer Spraying Systems Co.
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Mr. Schick leads research, testing and analysis of applications and products at Spraying Systems Co. as the Chief Science Officer. His goal, in this role, is to use scientific innovation as a key business driver, invest in cutting-edge software and tools, and increase scientific awareness through education, mentorship, and outreach. Concurrently, he serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Africa and the Middle East. Consistent throughout his role is a drive to ensure the most efficient and operationally excellent experience for company clients. Throughout the world, Mr. Schick is highly regarded as a subject matter expert, and someone always open to new thought and ideas, business development, and the mentoring of tomorrow's scientists. Mr. Schick has an extensive academic and technical background in spray research, fluid dynamics, computational fluid dynamics and more. He also has a strong background in managing the relationship between information and technology including development, analysis, strategic planning, and problem-solving, communication and presentation skills. Spraying Systems Co. is the world's leading manufacturer of industrial spray products, producing high-quality spray nozzles, manifolds, systems, and accessories. With over 80 years of experience, our worldwide presence and highly skilled sales staff make us uniquely qualified to help with specific spray applications. We are experts in spray technology and our products are used in almost every manufacturing industry. www.spray.com

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Mark Karasek Karasek Consulting
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Experienced Business Executive, Strategic Advisor and Board member with a solid track record of advising and leading high-performing teams to drive transformative growth through innovative ecosystem platform development in consumer and industrial durables markets. I bring a unique combination of governance experience, strategic insight, operational expertise, and industry knowledge that supports governance priorities and long-term value creation. Industry Expertise: Consumer and Commercial Durables, Electrical and Electronic Manufacturing, IoT and IIoT, Hard Tech. Core Competencies: Strategic Growth and New Business Development, Organic Growth Strategy and Execution, Innovation and New Product Development, Project and Intellectual Property Management, Organizational Development, Connected Ecosystem Platform Development, and Mentorship. I am passionate about guiding organizations toward sustainable growth and resilience, contributing my experience in dynamic markets to strengthen governance, drive innovation, and enhance stakeholder value.

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Aaron Rose CEO and Co-Founder Sandbox Carbon, Inc.
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Aaron Rose is the co-founder and CEO of Sandbox Carbon, a startup that has developed the Carbon Dumpster, the easiest and most cost effective way for commercial property owners to slash their building's emissions. Prior to founding Sandbox Carbon, Aaron studied electrical engineering at MIT and was an innovation engineer at Xylem, a leading water technology company. In his free time Aaron loves to go for long bike rides or explore new parts of Chicago with his dog.

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Tyler Zanon CEO Endoshunt.
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Tyler Zanon is the CEO of EndoShunt. He has 8 years of experience leading new product development for Medline Industries and AbbVie Pharmaceuticals, including as a Project Management Professional. He consulted cross industry to support bench-top to market product launch including vendor selection, technology transfer, and regulatory application. He has a Masters in Public Health from the University of New England.
Moderator

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Elaine S Vorberg Partner McCarthy Duffy, LLP
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Elaine is a Chicago attorney and partner at McCarthy Duffy. She represents early stage and middle market firms, some with roots at mHub and other innovation labs, as she likes to say, “From Start Up to Sell Out.”
She leads the corporate and transactional team, and with her partner, Tom Cox, the Private Investment Practice, at McCarthy Duffy, supporting the legal and business needs of clients in a wide array of industries in connection with equity and debt financings, and M&A, as well as day-to-day legal matters.
Elaine is the Corporate Secretary and outside General Counsel for PDA, and also serves on the PDA Chicago Chapter Programming and Nomination and Governance committees.
Her motto – “G is for Governance” – reflects her passionate belief in the power of profit-driven private business owners to create lasting value for themselves and all stakeholders with strong board leadership.
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