847.720.4495 [email protected]

ABOUT US

Alexander J. Barton, President

As President, Alexander is primarily responsible for the management and recruitment of all talent related to events. This includes project oversight for all creation and production, business development and onsite logistics fulfillment as well as revenue and visitor promotions for events. Alexander also oversees all digital and print advertising plans including social media. Alexander writes a monthly column for a magazine along with a supporting blog and has been responsible for the editorial, graphic design, layout, printing, and mailing of many different trade publications. These duties include managing the various units of a production team, market research and publicity.

Alexander is a Dean’s List graduate of the University of Wisconsin (Madison) with a degree in Life Sciences Communication from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He also played Big 10 football for the Badgers.

Other career highlights:

  • Member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the Sierra Club, Chicago Area Clean Cities and the Knights of Columbus
  • Creator of The Green Zone tradeshow pavilions for the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA)
  • Internationally published writer for Harley-Davidson’s Enthusiast magazine which has a circulation of 1,000,000

Richard L. Barton, APR, Chief Operating Officer

As Founder and COO, Richard brings 40+ years of experience in publicity, event marketing, project coordination, and client service. His background includes years as a newspaper reporter, Bureau Chief for the Daily Herald (Arlington Hts., Ill.) and owner/operator of a foreign auto parts business.

He has been a national director of sales/marketing, public relations, and communications for a variety of corporations and professional societies. He has been responsible for a wide variety of newsletters, journals, and society publications for several national associations.

Richard has a degree in Journalism from Northern Illinois University and was honored as Author of the Year by Convene magazine, the official journal of the Professional Convention Management Association. He has also been awarded for publicity and special event projects that have received national attention.

He works with a variety of clients to market tradeshows, events, products, and services. Although working in a variety of markets, he has expertise in marketing to seniors, working with government units, creating community events and fundraising.

Other career highlights:

  • Founder/President of Winner’s Circle Auto Parts
  • Marketing Consultant to Toyota Motor Company and Ford Motor Company
  • Founder/President of Barton Marketing Group, business consultants/sales reps.
  • Past President Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce. 2013 President’s Award winner and 2014 Community Star Award winner.
  • Park Ridge Park Commissioner and later Board President. Founder/Chair of Environmental Impact Task
  • Force which created several citywide initiatives.
  • Publicity Chair for The Taste of Park Ridge
  • Founder of the Historic Tours of Park Ridge

Bob Dudycz, Event Manager

He is best known for his event organizational abilities as demonstrated when he chaired the successful Taste of Park Ridge and coordinated the Swing into Spring Senior Expo for the past decade. Bob has achieved a successful 25-year record in retail and wholesale management with local and large businesses, and 10 years with local governments and non-profit organizations.

Bob has worked in the local public service sector in Northwest Cook County, was a member of the Park Ridge Center of Concern Advisory Board and the District 63 Education Foundation Board. He has received many awards that included the 2004 “Community Star” award from Maine Center and “Supervisor of the Year” award from the Township Officials of Illinois.

A former small business owner and a U.S. Army veteran, Bob graduated cum laude from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Liberal Arts and minoring in Political Science.

Karen Larsen, Editorial Associate

An award winner in the National School Public Relations publications competition, Karen Larsen contributes the writing and editing skills honed over a career that has included newspaper reporting, editing, feature writing and public relations for several nonprofits as well as more than14 years as Director of Public Relations for Maine Township High School District 207. Her extensive writing experience includes work in the areas of agronomy, the arts, developmental disabilities, legal matters, senior and retirement issues, and small businesses where clients have appreciated her ability to translate specific technical knowledge into user friendly language that communicates. Lead event docent for Park Ridge Historic Tours, she was recognized as a “Community Star” by the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce for her efforts in a grassroots community wide campaign spearheaded by The Kalo Foundation of Park Ridge which saved Iannelli Studios Heritage Center in 2011. A graduate of the University of Illinois earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Communications with a minor in history, she has done graduate work in public relations at Roosevelt University.

Sue Kirchner, Social Media Associate

Our Content and Social Media Manager, Sue Kirchner, is an event marketing and brand strategy expert who has helped large and small trade shows successfully identify their unique brand and increase sales for over 20 years. She has unique expertise in qualitative brand research, brand and marketing strategy development, as well as content and social media marketing campaigns. She speaks for numerous organizations and has taught MBA classes on branding, marketing, social media marketing, entrepreneurship, and international business topics.

For over 10 years, we collaborated on projects that enhanced the standing of the Summit of Uptown in Park Ridge and the local area. With their intimate and thorough knowledge of the senior market, local media and organizations, and ‘who’s who’ of influential citizens, the Barton team was instrumental in positioning Summit of Uptown as a strong Park Ridge community partner.

Irene Sawka

Retired Executive Director, Summit of Uptown