48 Tom Ricketts Age: 50 Occupation: Chairman and co-owner, Chicago Cubs Ricketts owns one of the most powerful sports brands in the universe. And when the Cubs finally play well, the world will likely be watching—and buying—as much of the team as it can. But five years into the Ricketts era, the team enters this season … Read more
33 Paul Kahan Age: 51 Occupation: Restaurateur This food genie (Blackbird, Avec, Publican, Big Star) doesn’t just launch trends, he creates tidal waves. No one carries more weight on the local culinary scene right now than this chef, who knows what Chicagoans want to eat next and delivers it first. He spoke to Chicago on January … Read more
17 Dick Durbin Age: 69 Occupation: U.S. Senator This Obama loyalist is on track to make history in November as the first Illinois Democrat to win four terms in the Senate. Despite an October kerfuffle with the White House over an off-the-cuff Facebook remark, he’s still a pivotal player on big issues such as spending and immigration … Read more
45 Richard Gonzalez Age: 60 Occupation: Chairman and CEO, AbbVie What a way to start your first CEO job: with revelations from Crain’s that you never earned a master’s or even a bachelor’s degree, despite claims to the contrary on your employer-disseminated bio. (A spokesperson called the misstatements the result of a “clerical error.”) But … Read more
35 Brad Keywell Age: 44 Occupation: Cofounder and managing partner, Lightbank; cofounder, Groupon The brain behind Chicago Ideas Week and the $200 million venture capital fund Lightbank continues to make connections and bet big on tech startups. In November, he introduced the Warehouse, a coworking space at Lightbank HQ that now houses 10 companies (and charges … Read more
39 Ed Burke Age: 70 Occupation: Alderman, 14th Ward The City Council’s longest-serving member drops 17 spots after getting tangled up in the UNO charter schools mess: He helped the group secure a $65 million loan, and UNO returned the favor, later hiring Burke’s daughter-in-law and awarding a contract to a company owned by one … Read more
90 Patrick Fitzgerald Age: 53 Occupation: Attorney, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom When he was the U.S. attorney in Chicago, Fitzgerald put away former governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich. At Skadden, Fitzgerald handles internal investigations, government enforcement matters, and civil litigation—which is just a way of saying that the law firm has a lion … Read more
Influence. Ability. Clout. These are the people who make big things happen in Chicago.
There’s a good case to be made that the team will get the right to bargain with the university—and it could make them stronger on the field, too.
It’s not warm out. But, before long, it may not be freezing. Is it too soon to dream?
