The Chicago Journal

Keith Ross Nelson Doesn’t Let His Age Slow Him Down

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 6, 2021

Most people often take old age as a sign of slowing down. It’s true that it often comes with a feeling of resignation, but being old shouldn’t be something to be sad about. Keith Ross Nelson doubles down on old age as something humorous, so much that he uses it as fuel for his comedic performances.

As a seasoned stand-up comedian who has been in the industry for 30 years, Keith Ross Nelson has had a variety of amazing experiences in the industry. He’s had the great opportunity of performing at various prestigious venues such as cruise ships and colleges.

He is also a comedy club regular, performing at venues such as The Ice House, Ventura Comedy Club, Laughs Unlimited, Punchline, Comedy Underground, and Flappers Comedy Club, just to name a few. Keith Ross Nelson has gained some popularity not only among live audiences but also on television. He has been featured in television shows and movies such as Comedy Time, Entertainment Tonight, A&E’s An Evening at the Improv, The R.M., Mormons and Mobsters, and Electives.

With his tenure in comedy, he has gained a lot of experience and has become such a reputable name in the industry. He has appeared alongside famous Hollywood celebrities like Steve Harvey, Tim Allen, Brain Regan, Ron White, The Greg Wilson, Rich Snyder, and Larry Miller.

Keith Ross Nelson has been in the business for so long that he has grown along with the trends of comedy and humor as a whole. With 30 years of comedic experience on his belt, he has managed to keep a clean act throughout his career, even earning himself an award as one of the top-rated clean comedians in the United States.

His style of humor has been well-received among young adults. They see him as a cool, young, and hip dad that tells the best jokes. Keith Ross Nelson absolutely loves the comparison and greatly admits and owns up to it.

Keith Ross Nelson consistently grows with age. He never lets the times leave him behind, which is what makes him such a successful comedian in his own right. Nowadays, with the massive boom of social media, he has found himself joining the latest trend bringing his comedy to a wider audience. Rather than the closed spaces of a comedy club in front of a live audience, he now has the great opportunity of sharing his jokes through the internet.

His social media presence has been well-received by audiences worldwide. His Instagram account has gained over 16,000 followers, which is constantly growing to this day. Keith Ross Nelson makes it a point to inspire his audiences with his comedy and his outside life. When he’s not outside performing at live shows, he is out there performing as a successful athlete.

He has competed in various high jumping events and has managed to win second place in the High Jumping World Championship in 1998. Keith Ross Nelson also managed to become a three-time national champion for high jumping. He even broke a track record at the age of 45.

Recently earned a third-degree black belt in kung fu, further proving that he wasn’t going to let his age slow him down. Keith Ross Nelson is an inspiring man that sees the humorous things in life through his comedy. He observes the beauty of the things around him and speaks it into existence through his humor.

You can watch Not for Nothing, which Keith wrote and co-stars in, on Amazon Prime. Follow Keith Ross Nelson on Instagram, @Keithrossnelson, to know more about him and his comedy.

How Cookies N’ Kicks Become the Heart of the Sneaker Industry

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 5, 2021

The modern sneaker era began 50 years ago. Since then, many different shoe brands have risen to claim that they produce the best sneakers. At present, people can find sneakers at every price point, but people still want to invest in high-quality ones. On a mission to dominate the shoe industry for the right reasons, Cookies N’ Kicks launched last April 13, 2019, carrying the most in-demand brands like Nike Air Jordan, Adidas, and Vans. 

Being new in the shoe industry, CEO Eli Hayman has his mind clouded with a series of mixed thoughts. Despite this, he continued to open his doors to the complexities and competition that goes hand in hand with opening a shoe store. This physical store is located on Melrose Avenue. 

Cookies N’ Kicks is popular for buying and reselling carefully chosen sneakers. This growing popularity accompanies an instant escalation of its followers in different social media accounts like Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Now, the shoe industry recognizes Cookies N’ Kicks as one of the biggest stores and the most popular one on the internet. What makes Cookies N’ Kicks even more impressive is the delicious cookies they offer free of charge with every purchase. This marketing strategy is why they are making a noise in the shoe industry and the media.

A year after its inception, Cookies N’ Kicks has flourished in ways that Eli Hayman did not expect. At first, he was overwhelmed. But then he began to accept how the sneaker culture has become the heart and soul of people’s lifestyle and realized that Cookies N’ Kicks is where it needs to be. 

Although the COVID-19 outbreak has compelled many businesses to shut down, the crisis has only driven Cookies N’ Kicks to step up its game. Having tripled its previous years’ revenues in the past few months, the company has shown everyone that it is a force to be reckoned with. “Customer experience is what we prioritize above all else. I think our focus on creating a community for our customers, and social media growth is the reason why we’ve been so successful during a time where most businesses were failing,” said partner Luca Schnetzler. 

Indeed, Cookies N’ Kicks also knows how to value their people, which is one of its most vital points. The company treats every staff member like family, and gatherings are always present to strengthen the bond these people have. Businesses still thrive and expand when working together to achieve the same goals, which is evident in Cookies N’ Kicks and its management. The way Cookies N’ Kicks operates reflects the way people see it.

Cookies N’ Kicks will not only make shopping convenient in its physical store, since it also has an online store where people can choose from the available brands for sale. The online store is accessible 24/7. This method of selling helped Cookies N’ Kicks reach a global presence. People from different countries will still be able to catch a glimpse of what this merch has in store for them. 

Years from now, Eli Hayman wants Cookies N’ Kicks to revolutionize and dominate the shoe industry by making a global footprint in the media or business. He sees himself expanding Cookies N’ Kicks to cater to more people and gain more patrons. With a mindset like this, Cookies N’ Cookies will bring another era of the shoe industry to become an integral part of people’s lives and stay there for many more years. 

“Ever since I was young, I’ve always loved creating things on my own. Whether it was for art or class get-togethers, my main objective was affecting the environment that surrounded my life in a positive way,” shares Eli as he recalled his beginnings. 

To catch a glimpse of Cookies N’ Kicks, you may visit this official website. 

De’Andre Salter Unlocks Secrets to Sustainable Wealth for People of Color Through His Book “The Culture of Money”

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 5, 2021

For financial expert De’Andre Salter, one of the essential civil issues that need to be addressed today is the evident racial and economic inequality that continues to plague society at present. It is undeniable that the glaring wealth gap anchored on racial differences gives rise to deeper societal imbalances passed down from one generation to another. Due to this reality at hand, Salter came up with The Culture of Money, a book that serves as a blueprint for people of color in unlocking the secrets to sustainable wealth.

The book, The Culture of Money, goes beyond giving financial advice; it embodies several ideologies geared towards establishing sustainable black wealth and attaining financial freedom. Fueled by his relentless passion in fighting for economic empowerment and equality, De’Andre Salter guides readers in identifying negative behaviors and mindsets that ultimately hold them back from building generational wealth. “This book will change the way you think about your finances. It will help you wake up and learn how money has affected your past, is a driving force in your quality of life today, and will be the largest determinant of your future lifestyle,” explains the rising author.

Behind The Culture of Money is the visionary author, De’Andre Salter. He is one of the most celebrated entrepreneurs in the field of commercial insurance in the United States. At present, he serves as one of the leading black senior executives with over three different Fortune 100 insurance companies. He is also responsible for the establishment of the largest black-owned wholesale insurance brokerage in the country. Moreover, he is an inspirational speaker, pastor, and renowned financial expert. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Drew University and pursued a master’s degree in Theology from The King’s Seminary. Today, he is pursuing his Doctorate of Ministry and serves as the senior pastor of Impact Church in South Plainfield, New Jersey. On top of this, he is a consecrated Bishop of Administration of the Macedonia International Bible Fellowship. 

At the early age of 21, De’Andre Salter learned the difference between “making money” and “building wealth.” While the realization ended up with him declaring bankruptcy, he was determined to change his behaviors and become a better version of himself. Equipped with extensive knowledge of finance, he went on to build a stellar career as a senior vice president for three Fortune 100 insurance companies. By 30, he was already building a multi-million dollar company.

De’Andre Salter strikes the perfect balance between entrepreneurship and faith. While his life in business and the ministry has been extremely blessed, the path towards success was never easy. However, the obstacles and challenges molded him into the iconic maven he is today. Bearing this in mind, he hopes to remind readers about the striking scripture: “A righteous man passes down wealth to his children and his children’s children.”

With an unbending faith and a relentless passion for economic equality, De’Andre Salter strives to address the overwhelming racial wealth gap by building a black wealth movement founded on community-shared values. Through his latest book, The Culture of Money, he guides readers to know more, own more, and pass down more wealth. Essentially, The Culture of Money paves the way towards measurable financial healing that will last from generation to generation.

To know more about De’Andre Salter and The Culture of Money, please visit their official website.

Eblouir Group (Switzerland) Pioneers Skin Repair

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 5, 2021

The beauty industry is a highly competitive one, but it is also one of the world’s biggest industries with an estimated $532 billion worth. And within that market, the 182 major beauty companies fall under the massive umbrellas of seven huge manufacturers: L’Oreal, Jonhson & Johnson, Shiseido, Estée Lauder, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, and Coty.

How do brands differ from one another? Eblouir Group, a Swiss dermo-cosmetics lab based in Geneva, has been pioneering Minimalist Skin Repair since 2014. Switzerland is famous for banks, luxury, and healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. Being half medical and half beauty, Eblouir Group has remained true to the “Made in Switzerland” by introducing medical-grade skincare to the beauty business. Co-Founder and Group CEO, Mr. Vu-Hoang Lê, confirms “The focus on dermatologically proven ingredients is paramount to our business. In reality, the cosmetics that really work are the ones that can prove what your skin problem is, and they have the right solution/ ingredients for your skin problems”.

Hence the “Less is More” philosophy was born: removing all potentially toxic elements (fragrance, colorants, paraben, etc.) and focusing on proven active ingredients including Copper Peptide Serum (skin cure and antioxidant), Bio-Cellulose (second skin), Idebenone (anti-Aging), and B5 (wounds healing). For this reason, being a Swiss lab with substantial investment in R&D is an important advantage to leverage in the skincare industry. 

Mr. Vu-Hoang Lê continues “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. If you compare beauty standards, they are all different around the world, but they all have one common denominator: they are supposed to be the reflection of your health. This is why we say “Beauty is Vitality” revealed. The healthier you are, the more beautiful you look, regardless of the culture.” In other words, Eblouir Group has been trying to redefine the cosmetics industry by mixing beauty and medical research. 

How successful has it been so far? Eblouir has been operating on the B2B model, meaning that they mainly focus on serving the professional clientele. Within the six years of business, their portfolio represents a network of 6,000 distributors (hospitals, medical groups, hotels, spas, retailers, among others), 140 shops, and 85% repeat business globally. Such authority in the skincare and dermatology arena does not go unnoticed, and the brand awareness is growing strong: their Instagram profile, aimed at educating the beauty consumers towards “Less is More” has now reached over half a million fans. Back in 2014, there was no such thing as minimalist or even medical grade skincare. 

Nowadays, there is no denying that most beauty consumers have now grown very savvy and care about what ingredients they put on their skin. The saying goes like “You are what you eat”. In the same way, “You are what you put on your skin”.

For more information on Eblouir Group, visit their website and follow @eblouir on Instagram.

Erik Bernal on Bringing Innovative Solutions to Homebuilders

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 4, 2021

The entrepreneurial landscape has earned a reputation for being one of the most dynamic and competitive spaces out there. With new players and pumped up go-getters trying to make their way to the top, acquiring success in the industry is getting more challenging than ever. But as someone who continually strives to come up with revolutionary solutions, Erik Bernal, the esteemed CEO of Elite Water Systems, sustains a competitive advantage with his innovative efforts. 

Sharing with the world his remarkable vision and outstanding expertise, Erik Bernal addressed himself to the challenge of developing affordable yet highly effective means of keeping up with the changing times. His brilliant ideas are geared towards bringing convenience, comfort, wellness, and safety to the homes of as many people as possible. And because of his service-oriented outlook, he takes greatness and excellence to a whole new level. 

Aside from being the leading authority behind Elite Water Systems, Erik Bernal is also hailed for being a well respected authority figure and influencer in the residential construction industry across Texas and the rest of the nation.. But before taking the reins of these two powerhouses, he still had to go through a journey that would test his abilities and push him to transcend limits. And sure enough, he has proven that he is a force to be reckoned with. 

Originally coming from Winters, Texas, Erik Bernal moved to San Antonio and married Heidi Bernal. The couple would soon become the parents of five beautiful girls. In 2003, Erik graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Logistics and a Minor in Marketing. Thereafter, he kicked off his career with Accenture in Atlanta as an information technology consultant working with SunTrust Bank and the State of North Carolina. 

A year later, Bernal left Accenture and became a sales representative for Schindler Elevator in New Orleans. But when Hurricane Katrina struck South Louisiana in August of 2005, he became overly concerned with the calamity’s environmental impact. And taking heed of the problem, he decided to venture into water quality and began taking on various roles in the Central region of the United States. 

Due to his exceptional performance and unmatched expertise, Erik Bernal got an exclusive contract with GE Water and Pentair Water Filtration for San Antonio, Texas. Since then, he has expanded his horizons by slowly dominating Central and South Texas and finally becoming the largest Pentair Residential Water dealer in the country. And in 2017, he was hired by Healthway Home Products to help conceptualize and bring to market the healthy home concept, Certified Pure Wellness.

This year, Erik Bernal, has a assembled a team of highly trained experts to bring the nations top home builders advanced healthy home technologies. These solutions are related explicitly to intuitive diagnostic tools integrated with best-in-class air and water quality solutions. Their goal is to give homebuilders and homebuyers the space that they deserve. 

As can be gleaned from his journey, Erik Bernal has skills and abilities that are deeply rooted in service. For him, nothing is more rewarding than being able to contribute to the welfare of individuals and society as a whole. 

To know more about Erik Bernal, you may visit his company website of Elite Water Systems or one of his social media accounts on FB, IG, or LI.

Dr. Konstantine Trichas Takes the Lead in Smile Design

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 2, 2021

Very few dental and cosmetic surgeons have fully maximized the emerging technology and techniques available in the industry today. Dr. Konstantine Trichas is part of the very few. Dr. Trichas embraces the remarkable benefits of modern-day technology in assisting smile design and dental aesthetics, and he holds the United States Patent on Dental Impression Technology. He is also heavily involved in Digital Workflow, making him an industry leader. 

By prioritizing education and implementation of Digital Impression Technology, Guided Surgery, and Cone Beam Technology, Dr. Konstantine Trichas is able to come up with exceptionally beautiful smiles designed to suit the special features of any client. Whether it is a dental implant or cosmetic dentistry, every need is given due attention and care. With the help of his 20-year trusted colleague Jason Kim, a reliable master ceramist, Dr. Trichas has crafted many of the most unforgettable smiles in the northeast area. His remarkable work opened an opportunity for him to be featured in the National Cosmetic New Beauty Magazine. 

“Making patients emotionally comfortable is just as important to me as procedural details are,” shares Dr. Trichas. 

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Dr. Trichas has an impressive educational background that makes him one of the most competent dental surgeons in the United States today. Dr. Konstantine Trichas finished as a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) at SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. He completed his General Practice Residency at Muhlenberg Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and subsequently received his Fellowship at the Academy of General Dentistry. He finished Advanced Educational Training with The Hornbrook Group, founded by Dr. David Hornbrook, one of the world’s top 3 cosmetic dentists. Dr. Trichas is currently an active member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Dr. Konstantine Trichas’s passion for dentistry is something that his patients readily feel in the kind of compassion and warmth that he exhibits when interacting with them. Every member of his immediate family is a witness to his dedication and hard work. Dr. Trichas’ wife is a board-certified periodontist, while his father-in-law is a dentist who teaches at New York University’s College of Dentistry at present.

At least once every month, Dr. Trichas makes sure to do pro bono work no matter how busy he gets. He believes that the more he gives back to the community, the more he will succeed. Also best known for his compassion to and kind accommodation of all his clients, they are easily drawn to his warm nature. At the end of the day, making a lasting connection with his clients is something that he prioritizes. 

As he continues to draw attention to the admirable kind of work he delivers to his clients, Dr. Trichas is poised to dominate the smile design and detail aesthetics industries in the next few years. He also aspires to be a leader in the dental implant reconstruction sector. As he invests heavily in his personal training on the latest trends and state-of-the-art technology available in his field of expertise, Dr. Konstantine Trichas is on his way to becoming a very influential practitioner who will lead the future of cosmetic dentistry.

Find out more about Dr. Konstantine Trichas by visiting the Downtown of Dental Arts of Montclair website.