Global Industry Spotlight

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.

Jaime Garza is a musician, producer, and cultural promoter in Chicago. In the past few years his band Dos Santos has tour the US extensively performing in festivals, breweries, independent spaces and venues. Mr. Garza is also a part of Pachanka Music Culture who have produced, co-produced and organized festivals, events and concerts booking local, national, and international acts. His unique experience comes from performing and booking independent latino artists ranging from roots, folk, and rock to electronic and modern music.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.

With nearly three decades of experience as an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder and a dedicated advocate for the creative economy in central Indiana, Polina has earned her stripes as a true go-getter. Throughout her journey, she has launched and managed multiple ventures, showing her mettle as a business owner, creative thinker, and influential leader.

One of her notable endeavors is PATTERN, a non-profit organization she co-founded in 2010. Taking on the role of Editor-in-Chief for PATTERN magazine in 2012, Polina has been at the helm of over 170 successful events, mentoring over 150 interns and Creative Fellows, and publishing 23 issues of the magazine. She has also spearheaded more than 90 campaigns and projects, collaborating with local companies and brands that value culture and community.

Although as a commercial photographer Polina has taken hundreds of portraits and executed diverse lifestyle campaigns for businesses of all shapes and sizes, her heart truly lies in building entrepreneurial ecosystems, enhancing community infrastructure, and creating inclusive opportunities for creatives and makers in the Midwest. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, driven by her passion to make a positive impact in these areas, fostering growth and empowering the vibrant creative community.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.

Orly K.G. – as seen in The Chicago Tribune, on WLS Radio, CBS Chicago, WGN News, and nationally on The Kelly Clarkson Show on NBC – continues to hustle her way into the comedy scene with her antics about marriage, shame eating, and her constantly decaying body. She’s appeared at Zanies Rosemont and Chicago, Laugh Factory, Comedy Bar, Laughing Academy, The Lincoln Lodge, and at her weekly Wednesday open mic (Guinness & Giggles) at Chief O’Neill’s. Orly K.G. also produces Bad Momz of Comedy. This Jewish mom is funny -- but PLEASE do not call her Mrs. Maisel. Oy!
For a listing of all upcoming shows, visit: chicagocomedyworks.com

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. 

Piqued Jacks are pure energy. Alt/rock from Italy with an international appeal. With their latest single "Like an Animal", they represented San Marino at Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
Their successes include: opening act for Interpol, Chevellle, Balthazar and The Boomtown Rats, plays on Virgin Radio,Radio Rai 1, SiriusXM, MTV and BBC Radio and performances during some of the best showcase festivals such as Eurosonic 2023, Linecheck, Canadian Music Week, SXSW and Mondo NYC.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.

Lester Rey is an ethereal Latin Soul singer who brings “chanteo,” a popular reggaeton flow with fast melody and rhythm, to his productions. The music strips down familial Caribbean rhythms and combines them with the modern sounds he has observed in his upbringing in Chicago. Listed on NPR World Cafe on "Latin Roots: The Best Alternative songs of 2019 and on Chicago's very own Vocalo radio "Live from Studio 10: Our 20 favorite performances of the decade," Lester Rey has spent the last few years taking his sound to a national and international audience called Juketeo, developed in collaboration with producer MoonDoctoR. Catch his latest project putting his innovative dance music and flow on display, Strawberry Moon, released June 2nd, 2023 on all streaming platforms.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.

Aga Samitowska is a music business professional and Web3 consultant, passionate about new technologies in the creative industry. For nearly a decade was related with Kayax - an independent record label based in Warsaw. As a Head of Digital Distribution, she was responsible for modernizing distribution in response to the dynamic development of streaming platforms. Manager of major Polish artists (Brodka, Nosowska). Initiator of the My Name Is New incubator for young talents. She also pursued her curiosity for new technologies in San Francisco / California, working for the venture capital fund Fifty Years. Today Aga focuses on Web 3.0 space offering training and advisory for projects operating on the intersection of Web 3.0 and the creative industry. She gave her first talk on Blockchain and Music in 2017.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.

Nick Heineman is dad to human Riley and pitbull Wall-E, an all-weather E-Biker, and has enjoyed playing the guitar, flute, and French horn. Being of service to social justice platforms that support communities has guided Nick’s entire career; including creative professional development for young adults who are court-involved or within social services. 

Nick first experienced the uniqueness of Chicago’s independent music community as a youth attending shows throughout Chicago. As an organizer at an independent bar in Logan Square, he saw an opportunity for shows to provide material support for Chicago’s hyper-local non-profits through organizing ‘community impact concerts’. Their modest successes and Nick’s leadership caught the attention of SocialWorks, a not-for-profit founded by Chance the Rapper. 

In late 2017, Nick was appointed SocialWorks Director of Programs and Project Director where he developed the hallmark event A Night at the Museum at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, as well as created national initiatives like My State of Mind. Subsequently, Nick served has also served with distinction at Trans Lifeline (the first transgender crisis hotline in the United States and Canada), Movement BE (an initiative empowering Southern California’s at-risk youths through creative storytelling), and Mindful Philanthropy (a program the develops direct connections between donors and mental health, addiction recovery, and community wellbeing initiatives). Nick has also enjoyed working to support music/arts education, life skills development, and family professional development throughout Chicago up until joining CIVL in 2022. 

As Executive Director, Nick's priority is to maintain CIVL's position as an advocate for Chicago's independent live music and performing arts venues. Nick has enjoyed serving the organization for one year as of May 2023. 

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.

Starting as an independent director and producer in France, Inès Bensalem directed and produced acclaimed short films (UN Women France Grand Jury Prize, Amnesty International) before becoming a professional producer of international award-winning feature-length documentaries and fiction films.

Realizing how difficult it is to enter the creative industry without a network, to access jobs and talent in an efficient and simple way, she founded Onset: an app that helps artists, cast, crew and talent scouts to connect around audiovisual, performing arts and photography projects, for professionals and students.
Thanks to a smart-matching technology, Onset helps you target jobs that match your profile and talents that match your search in real time.

Onset allows creators access to a network, talents and employment opportunities in a free, efficient, and easy way to connect creators locally and beyond borders, and contribute to build equity in creative industries.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.

Fiona McEntee is a U.S. immigration attorney, a former international student from Ireland, and a naturalized U.S. citizen. She is the founding and managing attorney of McEntee Law Group and is a frequent media commentator on immigration options for startups. Fiona is a member of the Media & Advocacy Committee for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the bar association of over 15,000 immigration lawyers. She just wrote an eBook, U.S. Immigration Options for Startups: Accelerate Your American Dream, a comprehensive guide to the possible pathways to immigration for startup founders in the United States.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.

Melissa Villanueva is the CEO and Founder of Brewpoint Coffee in the Chicagoland suburbs. Over the past eight years, Brewpoint Coffee has grown to four coffee shops, a coffee roastery, an event space, and wholesale operations. Melissa is proud of building a thriving business that she 100% owns and leads, focused on social and environmental impact. Brewpoint Coffee has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Sprudge, and other publications for their mission on building an equitable and inclusive business ecosystem.