On August 13, America's Best Companies, a small business-focused organization, hosted some 60 people at the Owner's Club of One Museum Park (a new condominium complex overlooking Chicago's Museum Campus) to mingle and meet the first winner of The Apprentice, Bill Rancic. The occasion was meant to mark "75 Years of Progress" in honor of the anniversary of the World's Fair and the Century of Progress Exposition in 1933, which served to inspire business owners during the Great Depression. "This event was a chance for the active voices in Illinois to network with one another," said America's Best Companies' event planner Frances Foley. "Our goal was to bring together politicians with small business activists in Illinois to network with one another."
While the cocktail reception was kept simple to focus on meeting and greeting, America's Best Companies used the forum to screen its new viral videos on flat-screen TVs stationed around the event space and distribute copies of its publication. Execs gave sound bites in front of a step-and-repeat bearing the company's logo to use in future promotions.
A few hours into the party, America's Best Companies president Jim Tracy took to the stage, welcoming the group and explaining his organization's mission of promoting the country's small businesses. Then Bill Rancic addressed the crowd about his experiences as an entrepreneur and reality show contestant. He also signed copies of his new book, Beyond the Lemonade Stand, a kids' guide to entrepreneurship that he co-wrote with his sister, Karen Soenen, who was also present at the event.
