VibeSociety

Aldo de Martinez and his family immigrated to the United States from Mexico City, Mexico when he was in elementary school. They settled in Aspen, Colorado finding work in the hospitality industry. Aldo didn’t know a word of English at the time and struggled to assimilate into a new culture and language.

After a visit to Chicago as an adult, Aldo immediately fell in love and relocated to our great city. He eventually found his way into Real Estate and began sharing what he learned over the years with his clients. At one point, after acquiring ten residential properties, he lost everything after trusting the wrong people. He ended up on the street with his single mom, his sister, and her son without a car or a place to stay.

He only had a suitcase that he inherited after his dad passed away that he didn’t open for ten years. When he finally did, he discovered broken gold that he was able to trade in for $3,200. That money wasn’t much but it was enough for him to bounce back stronger than ever.

Aldo works hard for his clients because he knows first hand what it’s like to lose everything and have to rebuild from the ground up. Furthermore, he knows what it’s like to be Mexican, LGBTQ, and an immigrant in America trying to pave the way for success. He’s still building his empire but it’s safe to say that thus far, he’s found a piece of his own American dream along the way. 

Splitting her time between Peoria, IL and Chicago, Sarah MccSpedon is a force to be reckoned with. She graduated with an MBA in Finance from Fordham Gabelli’s School of Business while working for MTV Networks obtaining many accolades for her work.

After almost a decade, she moved on to more local ventures as a Managing Partner for Pops Champagne. Somewhere in there she also found time to create her own online guide for North Shore’s Food, Fun, and Festivities called The NoSh Guide. With a combination of a true entrepreneurial spirit and a goal to bring out the best in everyone, she pivoted her focus to the world of boxing.

Sarah became a franchise owner for Mayweather Boxing and Fitness in May 2020 and is quickly expanding beyond just a regular boxing gym to include programming for inner city kids through the Gloves over Guns initiative. She’s determined to provide a space for individuals from any walk of life looking to get healthy. She measures her success by helping others become the best they can be.

Born and raised on Chicago’s south side, Natalie Carpenter started her career in Real Estate as a means to afford the furniture she wanted. Throughout her 30+ year career, exclusively with Coldwell Banker, she has seen both her community and industry change drastically for women and minorities - and she’s proud to have been a part of that change. As a managing broker, Natalie coaches men and women to launch and grow their real estate businesses and live exceptional lives by training, mentoring, and coaching them towards success. 

Taking a page from her own mentor’s playbook, she’s been a staunch advocate for her brokers and truly cares about their business growth and development. As a result of her effort, Natalie has been recognized with several awards throughout her career: Rookie of the Year, Top Sales Awards, Diamond Society, President’s Circle Award, Chairman’s Circle Award, Phenomenal Woman Award from the Expo for Today's Black Woman, 2020 Managing Broker of the Year Award for Large Real Estate Offices, and most recently promoted to District Vice President. 

Natalie draws inspiration from her family and strives to make her son proud. She has always encouraged him to shine and embrace his greatness. She knows how much it means to him to see her living her best life and enjoying every minute of it.  

When Natalie is not busy mentoring her brokers, she donates her time and money to nearly 30 housing-related charities, participates in community efforts to  improve the quality of life for senior citizens and is currently organizing a business professionals development group for high school juniors and seniors to mentor those wishing to pursue entrepreneurship.

Celi Velazquez grew up in Franklin Park, IL. With a rough upbringing and a mostly absent father during her young adulthood, Celi could have gone down many different paths in her life. Finding bodybuilding in her late teens, she has transformed her love for fitness and wellness into a platform.

Using social media, she gives back to her followers by providing them with content and information for them to grow spiritually, mentally, and physically. She became a full-time entrepreneur at 18-years-old and is now the CEO of her personal brand, a sponsored athlete and Influencer.

Not only is Celi focused on building her own brand, she helps other businesses grow as well through marketing and support through her platform. She wants people to know where she comes, her struggles, and that if she can do it, so can they.

A self-proclaimed Leadership Coach, Marketing Shark, and Business Strategist Megan Robinson boasts an impressive resume. Originally a West Coaster from Portland, Oregon she’s hopped around making her mark at various companies developing and implementing successful lead generation and marketing strategies.

Settling down in Chicago with several lifetimes worth of business acumen, Megan co-founded and is acting Principal at E Leader Experience providing Millennial Leadership Coaching programs designed to help “emerging” leaders develop self-leadership skills. Starting out with 0 clients, within the first year she was able to achieve 90% of her previous salary.

Megan’s success is due in part to her genuine investment in the success of others around her. She’s passionate about and for them holding them to the same standards she holds herself to.

Born and raised in the Maywood/Bellwood area, Sharon Ringier is on a mission to help every female entrepreneur she can through her company, I’m Possible Women’s Empowerment Collaborative, Inc. Their vision is to create value, make a difference, and empower entrepreneurial women. After going through her own set of struggles on her business journey, Sharon is dedicated to helping other female entrepreneurs realize their full potential by creating solutions and delivering high quality resources and tools. By gaining their confidence and clarity, they can live a more productive and vibrant life while monetizing on their strengths, passions and expertise.

She also is focused on providing educational experiences that make everyone feel elevated, educated, and empowered. I’m Possible stems from the famous and powerful Audrey Hepburn quote, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, I’m Possible.” Sharon knows and sees the stress, the self-doubt, the imposter syndrome that so many female business owners and entrepreneurs go through. The collective she’s creating is providing what Sharon dubs as “Sister Synergy”: your idea plus my idea equals a totally enhanced idea that could change the trajectory of how women do business. 

I’m Possible WEC has been rapidly growing over the last two years and there is still so much to come. In between managing the movement she’s created, Sharon volunteers for various organizations across the Chicago community. In her own words, “wherever my heart leads me is where I go!” On the sidelines you’ll find her sons and husband rooting for her. They’ve watched her journey through the good, the bad, and the ugly. They know better than anyone who much it means to Sharon to be successful in helping others, especially female entrepreneurs.

A United States Marine Veteran and Virginia native, Raleigh Wilkins made Chicago his home a number of years ago. In and out of foster care as a youth with little direction, Raleigh found a home in the Marine Corps and along his way, discovered his inner warrior. Now he works with at-risk youth and transitioning military to navigate through life successfully by embracing their own inner warrior. 

In addition to his countless hours of mentorship, Raleigh runs a successful business, Sales Platoon, through which he teaches people the art and science of sales and makes the complex world of business development accessible to a wide audience. Through everything he does, both professionally and personally, Raleigh teaches that there is an untapped potential within us all and that transformational change is possible for anyone.

Sabrina Schottenhamel lives by the power of two hands and one voice to support and educate her clients. A young child who struggled with school and shyness, Sabrina found her purpose when she started massage school. After finding the gift of touch, things started to open up for her and she became more confident. 

A child of entrepreneurs, she followed in her proud parents footsteps quitting her job two weeks after her wedding and creating Be Touched Massage. It is a company where her and her dedicated team of massage therapists bring the spa to their clients allowing them to relax in the comfort of their own homes. Through her involvement and experience with the Woodridge Toastmasters’ Club (where she won Best Speaker in 2016), Sabrina started speaking to a larger audience furthering her message of self care and promoting her healing services. 

As she continues to bring her voice and her healing hands to others, she’s also excited to get more involved with her community and giving back to those in need by donating and delivering meals.

Brenda Swauger has been bringing confidence to the boardroom in the form of luxury custom tailored garments for over two decades. Starting out her career with national and international brands like Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Paul Stuart, she eventually started her own business as a custom stylist over 20 years ago and continues to build her empire. 

She’s taken her expertise from the boardroom to the classroom teaching Fashion Business courses at both Columbia College and IADT. A caring and devoted family woman, Brenda has set her dreams and goals high continuing to crush them year after year. 

Vanessa Hammer will be the first to tell you that a good education, hard work and hustle will get you anywhere you want to go. Moving to Chicago for a job after law school, Vanessa quickly rose up the ranks winning Illinois Rising Star for Attorneys in both 2012 and 2013. After a move back home to Texas with her son where she also won the Texas Rising Star accolade in 2017, she returned to Chicago to settle into Family Law at Hoffenberg and Block, LLC.

She’s been named an Illinois Super Lawyer every year since 2018 and when she’s not helping families navigate the legal system, she’s mentoring high school students, judging essay writing contents and mock trial competitions, and she provides pro bono legal services. Vanessa wants to teach others to not be afraid of their own power and to not be afraid to ask for the things that they want or need.