Gary Rabine, CEO and founder of the Rabine Group, will join a panel of successful entrepreneurs at the 13th Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza from 5:30 – 8:45 pm May 14, 2015 at TechNexus in Chicago.
The 13th version of this highly popular premier Chicago networking event will focus on how to leverage relationships to start, build and grow a company since relationships are crucial to finding customers, partners, advisors, capital and peers with whom to share the journey.
Gary’s competitive drive over the last 33 years has helped transform Rabine Paving, a small Northern Illinois driveway company, into a group of facilities maintenance companies that lead the paving, roofing, snow removal and fuel distribution industries. It includes Rabine Paving America, one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing commercial paving companies.
Gary, who began his quest to build a paving company in the early 80s at 18 years old, attributes “most of his business success to mentors. My formal education ended with high school,” Gary said. “The friendships I gained from dozens of great mentors helped me to envision a road map to industry leadership and individual success.
“I am honored to be asked to share my experiences and knowledge at the Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza so I can pay forward from all that I have received,” Gary added.
The Rabine Group has grown over 3,000 percent and now paves more parking lots than any other organization in America. It was included on Crain’s Fast Fifty List 4 years in a row and Inc Magazine’s Fastest Growing Companies list the last 3 years.
Gary and more than 400 Rabine Group team members work locally, regionally and nationally with a focus on serving America’s largest facilities and utilities distribution companies. They have produced many industry innovations that are trademarked and patented and have received recognition from The World of Concrete, The Edison Awards, Inc 5000 and Chicago’s Innovation Awards.
In 2011 Gary received Schaumburg’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In 2012 he was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and the same year was inducted into the UIC Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. In 2013 Gary received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Illinois for entrepreneurial achievement and making an impact on Chicago’s business landscape.
Gary is an active member of Young Presidents (YPO), World Presidents (WPO) and Job Creators Network (JCN).
Gary is proud that is company is family integrated. His wife, Cheryl, oversees the Rabine Group Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that focuses on enriching the lives of children, elderly and underprivileged. The two oldest of their four children are managers in Rabine Companies.
To register and/or get sponsorship information about the even, visit www.greaterchicagonetworking.com
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