People

Paige Meagher and Zach Greatting met in a 6 a.m. culinary class in 2010. This summer their company, Brix Catering, opened at 1463 W. Leland Ave.

Former waste industry sales manager Mark Lestina founded Wastemaster, a broker that helps businesses and condo boards compare garbage hauling rates.

Jason Schwartz left a corporate creative director job to start Bright Bright Great, an Avondale design firm that also runs Avondale Type Co.

Ting-Ting Zhao came to Chicago to teach Mandarin. Now with Hansen Realty, she handles residential sales, commercial moves and translation for clients.

A year into covering Uptown for ADP, Brooke Selis works with owners who want payroll, tax and HR compliance off their plates. Here is how she approaches it.

Peace Corps veteran and former Microsoft employee Brent Whistler built a pickup and delivery laundry service run out of a Portage Park laundromat.

Bill Millholland left television for culinary school, then talked partner Terry Groff into a Wilson Avenue bakery. How Baker & Nosh got its start.

Brian Wells and Steve Milford met behind the bar at Roscoe’s Tavern and opened Crew Bar + Grill, Chicago’s first gay sports bar, at 4804 N. Broadway.

Lu DiPaolo turned around a struggling video store before opening Aardvark Insurance Agency at 1228 W. Wilson Ave. in 2009. How he grew it.

Janessa Knodt grew up around her grandparents’ California flower shop. A year ago she opened Forget Me Knodt at 1313 W. Wilson Ave. in Uptown.

Terry Bergdall spent 18 years running ICA Kenya before returning in 2009 to lead ICA USA, which works on community development from 4750 N. Sheridan Road.

Kendall College-trained chef Kristine Subido built Pecking Order around her family’s Filipino marinades, served in a format diners find familiar.