Jessica is the CEO of Chicago Ideas, a unique nonprofit platform designed to inspire action through entertaining and accessible events, grassroots initiatives and thought-provoking content.

Jessica is also the Chief of Staff to Brad Keywell, co-founder and CEO of Uptake, a Chicago-based predictive analytics firm. Uptake partners with major industry leaders to leverage data and improve performance, reduce failures and enhance safety.

At Uptake, Jessica is responsible for managing company-wide special projects, operations and strategic initiatives. 

Sandee Kastrul is president and co-founder of i.c.stars, an innovative nonprofit leadership and technology training program founded in 1999 to prepare inner-city adults for technology careers and community leadership. An early pioneer of the social enterprise model, i.c.stars has graduated more than 300 community leaders, and will expand into multiple cities in 2016 and 2017.

Under Sandee’s leadership, i.c.stars was highlighted by the U.S Chamber of Commerce for its work in youth employment. She is a proud board member of Good City, The Ryan Banks Academy, and HICC (Hispanic Innovation Center in Chicago) she is also an advisor for the Axelson Center, and the Experience Institute.

Leslie Vickrey is the CEO of ClearEdge Marketing, an agency specializing in outsourced marketing solutions for high growth technology and talent management companies, she manages a team of more than 30 marketing professionals. 

Leslie is a Co-Founder of ARA, and is also a founding partner of the Chicago Executive Women’s Networking Group, which cultivates and nurtures relationships among senior-level women in IT leadership roles through quarterly dinner events.

Leslie is actively involved in local tech organizations, serving on the Board of Directors as Vice Chair of the Marketing Committee for i.c.stars and on the Board of Advisors for the Chicago Innovation Awards. Leslie was named to the prestigious Techweek 100 list, recognizing her significant impact on technology and innovation in Chicago, and The Blue Sky Vault, Blue Network, featuring 100 of Chicago’s most compelling innovators and entrepreneurs and was recently inducted into the UIC Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Leslie has also been named as one of the 2016 Enterprising Women of the Year, which recognizes the world’s top women entrepreneurs and was also part of Chicago’s 50 on Fire, which celebrates visionary individuals and companies across Chicago’s top industries.

Clear your calendar - It's going down! Splash Blocks kicks off on April 21st, and you're invited to take part in the festivities. Splash HQ (122 W 26th St) is our meeting spot for a night of fun and excitement. Come one, come all, bring a guest, and hang loose. This is going to be epic!