chicago

Started in Chicago

Started in Chicago

Every year, Chicago further strengthens its position as a business and tech hub, serving as home base to many fantastic young companies and well-known, industry powerhouses.

Chicago has been home to many successful businesses that started small but grew into major players. FCB, an advertising agency founded in 1873, is known for global campaigns, including one that popularized orange juice. Basecamp, originally 37signals, started as a web design firm in 1999 and now supports over 3 million users with its project management platform. Crate & Barrel began with a trip to the Caribbean and grew into a leading retailer with 122 stores nationwide.

Some newer companies, like The Mom Project and KNTXT Group, are poised for big things. The Mom Project connects companies with parents seeking part-time work and recently secured significant funding. KNTXT Group uses virtual reality to help visualize homes and office buildings before they’re …

Boss Ladies of Chicago

Boss Ladies of Chicago

Chicago is the third largest city in the U.S. but has the highest concentration of women founders. With such a large population of boss ladies in our great city, we thought it was time to celebrate the work being done by six of these visionaries.

Chicago, the third-largest city in the U.S., is home to an impressive concentration of women entrepreneurs and business leaders who are making waves across various industries. With its dynamic and gritty culture, the city has become a hub for female-led businesses. Here are six standout women who are leading the charge in Chicago’s entrepreneurial scene.

Jennifer Brandel is the founder of Hearken, a platform that allows journalists and the public to collaborate in creating relevant news stories. With a background in journalism, Brandel has worked with top organizations like Thoughtly Crew, Zebras Unite, and has freelanced for Vice and The …

Urban Exploration: Take only photos, leave only footprints

Urban exploration is the pursuit of a time gone by, involving the documentation of abandoned man-made structures and the not-usually-seen components of the man-made environment. Digital images and traditional film allow us to stop time and memorialize a way of life – before demolition, erosion and looting take their toll.

Urban exploration captures history through abandoned buildings and forgotten spaces. It preserves these remnants before time, decay, or demolition erases them. Through photography, we glimpse once-bustling places now silent and decaying.

St. Stephen’s Church was built in the early 1900s as a Christian Science Church. In the 1980s, a new congregation took over. By the late 1990s, financial struggles led to the church’s sale to a developer. The 1917 façade was preserved in the redevelopment to honor its history.

The Joliet Correctional Center operated from 1858 to 2002. It’s famous for its appearances in The …

… which awesome commercials will run during this match-up?

Sunday, February 4th. Super Bowl LII. With the Eagle’s Carson Wentz out for the season, will Nick Foles be able to take the heat from Tom Brady and the Patriots? And, an even bigger question … which awesome commercials will run during this match-up? We are looking forward to an exciting game, great food, and the best ads of the year.

Check out our new video, The Best Super Bowl Commercials Ever, a compilation of CTS Financial Group’s favorites. https://youtu.be/NqMGke-8IAQ

Chicago-Born Influencers: Ready to be surprised by some of Chicago’s significant influencers?

Chicago-Born Influencers

Chicago is a city that never ceases to amaze. Known for its vibrancy, diversity, and the unique blend of big city energy with strong hometown values, Chicago stands out as a place full of life and culture. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, it’s the people who truly make the city shine, giving it a character and heart that’s unmatched.

We’re thrilled to present our latest video, where we’ve delved into the stories of some of Chicago’s most influential figures. While researching and curating this project, we found ourselves not just learning but genuinely surprised by the impact these individuals have had. This journey has turned into one of our most fascinating and thought-provoking endeavors, filled with interesting discoveries and moments of reflection. It’s a celebration of the powerful role that people play in shaping …

Here are 6 ways to get out, get active and live healthier in Chicago.

At CTS, we believe that a holistic approach to wellness, from financial fitness to physical and mental health, are key elements to living a successful and fulfilled life. And if you’re anything like us, we know that Chicago, with its rich culture and diversity, is the perfect place to get out and explore. Here are six ways to enjoy an active lifestyle in our dynamic city.