James A. Kapche, AIA, MBA

James A. Kapche AIA is President of Absolute Architecture in Chicago, Illinois. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana in Architecture 1974, and DePaul University Chicago with a Masters Degree in Business in Finance 1991. He is licensed Architect and has attained certification by National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Mr. Kapche has a broad range of experience in architecture and real estate development. In the thirty plus years he has practiced architecture he has worked on a variety of hospitality, restaurant, and food service oriented projects including restaurants and major high rise hotel projects. Mr. Kapche particularly enjoys the practice of architecture as it applies to helping a client start a business venture. Major recent restaurant projects include LaStrada Italian Restaurant in Hoffman Estates, Alhambra Middle-Eastern Cabaret in Chicago, and Usagi Ya Pan-Asian Restaurant in Chicago – ranked by Chicago Magazine as one of the ten best designed in Chicago.

Gregory J. Kachoris, AIA, NCARB

Gregory J. Kachoris has been a registered architect since 1970 with extensive experience in a variety of project types in the areas of commercial office, retail, hotels, restaurants, residential high rise and senior residences.  His portfolio includes Guest Quarters (Double Tree) Hotel and Restaurant, Cornerstone Center, Marriott Residence Inn, 550 West Washington Office Building, One Magnificent Mile Condominiums, Montclare Senior Residences and Park Shore Condominiums and Apartments. He holds both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Architecture. 

Jim Sayegh

James J. Sayegh has served as Owner, President and/or Manager of several real estate development projects. In 2005, Mr. Sayegh founded Absolute Equity LLC, a design/development firm with a concentration in the hospitality and restaurant sectors. Prior to starting his own company, Mr. Sayegh was Vice President of The Cummins Group, a real estate development firm. Mr. Sayegh is a member of the North Shore Board of Realtors and maintains his license with MJ Partners. Mr. Sayegh's civic work includes acting as the Chairman of the Winnetka (Illinois) Commercial Property Owners Association (WCPOA).  Mr. Sayegh holds degrees in Real Estate Finance, Marketing and International Business from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.

David B. Phillips, CFSP, FCSI

David is the president of F&B Equipment Services, Inc.  He worked for over 17 years as an ACF Certified Executive Chef and Restaurateur, achieving CFSP level 1 status. Dave now works as a Food Service Equipment Project Designer and is experienced in Installation and project management working in all 50 States & the Caribbean.  He applies his talents with Casual Theme Restaurants, Clubs, Family Restaurants, Fast Food Restaurants and Fine Dining facilities.  He advises clients Concept Development, Facility Design, Food Safety, Management Recruiting, Menu Development, Operations Procedures and Review.  Recent projects include The Glenn Hotel Atlanta, GA, Reynolds Plantation CC Greensboro, GA, Souk Restaurant Chicago, IL, LaStrada Chicago, IL, Papa Jacks Flowery Branch, GA, Frank's BBQ Hoschton, GA.  David also serves on the Design Team for Manning Brothers Food Service Equipment & Supply in Athens, Georgia

Tom Lemanski

Tom is the President and Founder of Vista Development a Chicago based Strategic Development firm specializing in Strategic Thinking, Business Planning and Execution.  He works with service company executives as a Business Catalyst and Executive Coach.  He has facilitated and enhanced successful business strategies in over twenty different industries, generating significant improvement in growth, financial results, management effectiveness and getting and keeping customers .  >> more >>