Page 4 - Sigma Alpha Mu - The Rhomer - Summer 2018

Rachmiel (Continued from Page 1)

member? Brand extinguishers are
As one of what seemed like very few out- the most ADA/building
of-state-students, I found an instant family in code compliant and
the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. The thing I’ve safest commercial
continued to enjoy most about being a member is extinguishers available.
that the friendships I made over 20 years ago are
still every bit as strong today. Why did you decide
to develop an anti-
After graduation, which job do you feel helped counterfeiting
inspire your career? technology?
While I’ve tried to take the best aspects of Upon joining Oval, A Sammy Cubs outing.
every company and job throughout my career I took the lead in developing an anti-counterfeiting,
with me, if I had to pick just one, I’d say my time brand protection and content management solution
with a small consulting firm named Johnson and initially designed for Oval that later spun off into
Michaels was my most memorable. The founder a standalone entity. Universal Product Registration
exemplified how to be an inspirational mentor/ enables manufacturers like Oval to early detect
boss and successful entrepreneur. counterfeits and quickly reverse engineer the
supply chain in order to pinpoint the source. In
How did you and the founder of Oval Fire Products addition, it can be used to dynamically provide up-
meet and why did you join? to-date content to consumers at the time they need
After selling my first company to a Fortune it, such as providing parts diagrams, installation
100 in 2012, I cofounded a number of investment manuals and even product recall information with
vehicles, alongside pledge brother Josh Berman, a simple scan from any mobile device.
to fund early stage companies in the Chicagoland Andy with one of his favorite animals—the llama!
area. One of those companies was Oval Fire Which creations are you most proud of?
Products. At the time, founder Kevin Kozlowski Professionally, it is starting my first business volunteer with my dog Chief, and wanted to be a
had filed patents and was in the research and with two colleagues and $7,500—building it bigger part of the mission. I was fortunate to have
development stages of releasing a very disruptive from the ground up with the help of our amazing been admitted onto the board several years back,
product to an industry that hasn’t changed in employees, and then turning it into a worldwide and just recently ended my two-year term as board
decades. After helping Kevin with his first capital consulting and software development organization president.
raise, I signed on as CFO/CIO to help build the that we would eventually sell.
business and to develop a technology that we would Outside of work, what do you do for fun?
later spin off into a separate company. We’ve since What type of leadership style to you utilize? I enjoy spending time with my family, friends,
launched five products and manufacture the only I follow a fairly Laissez-faire style. I love to hire my pets, skiing, participating in triathlon (in
non-round fire extinguishers on the market. Oval talented people, provide them the resources they spite of generally finishing last!), traveling and
need to be successful, and then get out of their volunteering my time.
way! I have been fortunate to work alongside,
mentor and be mentored by many folks over the How do you stay in touch with your fellow Rho
years. Much of my success is attributed to the brothers today?
people I’ve surrounded myself with. I see several of the guys every few months
socially, and others have stayed connected
How did you become involved with SitStayRead? professionally. It’s crazy to think about where we
SitStayRead is a terrific organization that were in life back at 301 E. Armory and how far
works with kids from low-income households we’ve all come. The Rho family, as well as our
in Chicago Public School classrooms, advancing extended family through all of our networks, has
literacy skills using an engaging curriculum, been a powerful resource.
Andy and his business partner after winning the WBBM dedicated volunteers, and dogs! I started as a
Cannon Small Business Challenge award in 2017. What advice can you give the alumni and active
members about following their creative passions?
2018 – 2019 DATES TO REMEMBER I live by a famous quote by Wayne Gretsky that
classes begin thanksgiving break I tweaked a bit. Maybe I heard it from someone—
mon. aug. 27 sat. nov. 17–sun. nov. 25 not sure. But here it is: The world misses out on
dad’s day weekend second semester begins 100% of the ideas that are never pursued. Take
TBD mon. jan. 14 a chance. Follow your passion. Nothing in life
home football games Spring break comes easy, but it is so much more rewarding
September 1, 9, 21 Sat. Mar. 16–Sun. Mar. 24 when you believe in the cause and in your ability
october 13
(homecoming) mom’s day weekend to make a difference!
November 3, 10, 17 TBD

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