Jill Hebert is owner and CEO of Matrex Exhibits, Inc., an Addison-based firm that designs, fabricates and manages custom trade show exhibits. She launched Matrex in 1987, and today the company generates $20 million in annual revenue, employs over 60 people nationwide, and is the only 100% woman-owned exhibit company in the U.S.  Hebert has been recognized by Ernst & Young as a finalist for their Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Western Michigan in 2005, 2006 & 2007. She was listed in Crain’s Chicago Business as one of the Top 30 Woman-Owned Businesses in 2006 and spends much of her time today formally mentoring emerging entrepreneurs.

Moira Staggs is owner of NuToys Leisure Products, the leading distributor of park and recreational equipment in Illinois. Over the past twelve years she has supplied and planned hundreds of playgrounds for local park districts, schools and childcare centers. Moira has been the president of NuToys since 2006, manages a staff of twelve, and continues to work directly with customers. She has a bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Washington University, has extensive background in child development, and is a certified playground safety inspector. While selling and creating fun for children, NuToys also sets out to cultivate a culture of fun for its employees as well as its customers.

Kevin Turner is a Principal with Model Metrics, one of the nation’s leading Salesforce.com partners.  Model Metrics delivers applications and services at the cutting edge of the fast growing Software-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service industries.  In addition, Model Metrics develops applications for the iPhone and other mobile platforms.  Since its founding in 2003, Model Metrics has grown to 70 employees with offices across the country, and has won numerous awards including the Illinois Technology Association “Rising Star” award in 2008.  Kevin is a past president of the CRM Association of Chicago, and has had the honor of addressing many business associations and lecturing at a number of universities.  As a principal partner of the advisory board of the DePaul University Center for Sales Leadership, he provides strategic guidance to the center’s curriculum and students. Kevin earned a Bachelor's of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and MBA with a specialization in Entrepreneurship from DePaul University.

Tom Walter, CEO of Tasty Catering, has been a food service professional for more than 37 years.  During this time he has been the owner/operator of 27 businesses and is still active as a principal in seven corporations.  Utilizing his visionary skill and entrepreneurial leadership, Tom oversees the administrative functions of Tasty Catering and is known for his expertise in developing and maintaining company cultures and business infrastructures.  This year, Tasty Catering was named the number one Best Place to Work in Illinois in the small- to-medium category. This ranking follows Tasty Catering’s number two ranking in the same category last year.  Tasty Catering has also been awarded the DePaul University Entrepreneurial Quest Award, Inc. Magazine’s 72nd fastest growing food and beverage company and is one of 35 finalists for the Wall Street Journal’s Top Small Workplace.