The Chicago Journal

Why Leadership Needs Anchors: The Work and Worldview of Dr. Satpreet Singh, PhD

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 18, 2026

By: I. Wells

Dr. Satpreet Singh, PhD, is a U.S.-based scholar-practitioner, entrepreneur, and sustainability-focused leader whose work spans academia, business consulting, and community development. At a time when leadership is often equated with speed, visibility, and short-term outcomes, Dr. Singh advances a more grounded and enduring model: leadership as a system of responsibility, ethics, and long-term stewardship. His career reflects a consistent effort to anchor progress in values that outlast trends and technologies.

Trained as a leadership scholar and shaped by hands-on entrepreneurial experience, Dr. Singh occupies a rare position at the intersection of theory and practice. His academic work centers on sustainable leadership, organizational governance, and the role of senior decision-makers in shaping ethical and resilient systems. Rather than treating sustainability as an operational or compliance-driven concept, he positions it as a leadership function embedded in strategy, oversight, and culture. This perspective has become increasingly relevant as organizations confront global supply chain disruptions, environmental pressures, and rapid technological change.

A defining feature of Dr. Singh’s work is his systems-oriented view of leadership. He does not frame leadership as a set of personal traits or motivational techniques. Instead, he examines how leadership choices influence governance structures, decision-making processes, and long-term outcomes. His research explores how leaders enable or constrain responsible practices through the systems they design, the incentives they establish, and the ethical boundaries they enforce. This approach challenges organizations to move beyond symbolic commitments toward structural accountability.

Dr. Singh’s scholarship has gained international visibility through peer-reviewed research, conference presentations, and professional platforms focused on leadership, sustainability, and innovation. His work contributes to ongoing debates about how organizations can balance economic performance with environmental responsibility and social accountability. In particular, his research on sustainable supply chain management highlights the role of senior leadership in translating sustainability goals into operational reality, rather than delegating them to isolated departments or initiatives.

Parallel to his academic contributions, Dr. Singh is the Founder and CEO of Ardass Corporation, a consulting firm that advises businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations on formation, governance, compliance, and long-term growth. Under his leadership, Ardass Corporation has received repeated recognition, including consecutive Business Hall of Fame honors and international entrepreneurship awards. Yet the firm’s distinguishing feature is not its accolades, but its advisory philosophy. Dr. Singh emphasizes clarity, ethical alignment, and institutional durability over rapid expansion or short-term gains.

Clients and collaborators describe his consulting approach as deliberate and principle-driven. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, he works with organizations to examine their underlying structures, decision rights, and accountability mechanisms. This method reflects his belief that sustainable success is built not on aggressive scaling alone, but on governance systems that can withstand uncertainty and change. In this sense, his entrepreneurial work mirrors his academic research, reinforcing the connection between leadership theory and real-world application.

In recent years, Dr. Singh has emerged as a thoughtful voice on the leadership implications of artificial intelligence. While much public discourse frames AI primarily as a technological or efficiency tool, he argues that its true impact depends on governance and leadership intent. His work positions AI as a potential sustainability capability that can enhance transparency, decision quality, and long-term planning when guided by ethical oversight. Without such leadership, he cautions, AI risks amplifying bias, inequality, and organizational fragility.

This emphasis on responsible innovation aligns closely with Dr. Singh’s broader leadership philosophy. He consistently underscores that innovation without accountability can undermine trust, while ethics without structural support remain ineffective. For him, leadership is the discipline of aligning ambition with responsibility, and progress with purpose. This balance has become central to his public-facing work, particularly in discussions about technology adoption, data governance, and institutional trust.

Beyond corporate and academic domains, Dr. Singh’s leadership extends into cultural and community stewardship. He serves as President of Sikh Reference Library USA and leads Ranjit Nagara USA, an organization dedicated to restoring abandoned historical Gurdwaras and preserving Sikh heritage worldwide. These initiatives reflect a dimension of leadership often absent from mainstream profiles: the responsibility to safeguard history, identity, and collective memory. For Dr. Singh, leadership is not limited to building future systems; it also involves honoring and protecting the foundations upon which communities are built.

His community work illustrates the same principles evident in his professional life: long-term thinking, ethical responsibility, and service beyond self-interest. Restoration efforts require patience, collaboration, and respect for historical context—qualities that parallel effective leadership in organizational settings. Through these initiatives, Dr. Singh demonstrates that leadership values are transferable across domains, whether in boardrooms, academic institutions, or cultural spaces.

Recognition has followed Dr. Singh’s multifaceted contributions. He has received numerous national and international awards across leadership, entrepreneurship, and social impact platforms. However, his work resists being defined solely by titles or honors. What distinguishes his leadership journey is coherence. Across research, consulting, innovation, and community service, his approach remains anchored in the same core principles: ethics, accountability, and long-term value creation.

As global institutions face mounting uncertainty—from climate challenges and supply chain volatility to rapid advances in artificial intelligence—Dr. Satpreet Singh’s work offers a grounded perspective on what leadership requires in complex environments. He reminds organizations and leaders alike that progress is not merely about moving faster or scaling bigger. It is about building systems that endure, decisions that can be defended, and legacies that serve more than immediate interests.

In an age of disruption, Dr. Singh’s leadership stands out not for its noise but for its steadiness. His work suggests that the most effective leaders are not those who drift with every change, but those who remain anchored while guiding others forward.

Retirement Has Never Been This Deadly (or This Fun)

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 17, 2026

Whoever said retirement is about golf carts, early-bird dinners, and endless rounds of bingo clearly hasn’t met The Retirees. In her deliciously mischievous cozy mystery, bestselling author Leah Orr gleefully flips the script on aging, proving that the golden years are actually the perfect time to solve cold cases, drink boozy coffee before noon, and occasionally trip over a corpse beneath a disco ball. Equal parts witty, warm, and wickedly entertaining, The Retirees is a reminder that life doesn’t slow down just because society expects it to.

Set in the sun-soaked Florida retirement community of Ocean’s Edge, the novel opens with a scene that immediately signals readers are in for something special: a glittering disco ball, a dead body sprawled across the dance floor, and a cat who knows far more than he lets on. It’s a bold, cheeky introduction that establishes the book’s tone from page one. From there, Orr spins a mystery that feels like The Golden Girls wandered into Murder, She Wrote and decided to raise a little hell along the way. Think The Thursday Murder Club, but sunnier, sassier, and distinctly American, with a twist readers won’t see coming.

At the center of the chaos is Diana, a sharp-tongued former sugar executive who has been recently—and not entirely willingly, ushered into retirement. Diana is glamorous, unapologetic, and deeply uninterested in fading quietly into a life of sensible shoes and scheduled social hours. She has opinions, a sharp wardrobe, and no patience for being underestimated. Diana’s voice anchors the novel, offering both biting humor and surprising vulnerability as she navigates this unexpected chapter of her life.

Diana quickly finds her people in an unconventional group of retirees who are anything but ordinary. There’s Dennis, a retired detective haunted by the cases he never solved and unwilling to let justice rest simply because his badge is gone. Filomena and Estelle, identical twins with a flair for the mystical, dabble in tarot cards and conversations with the dead, sometimes for comfort, sometimes for clues. Bill, the community’s resident tech wizard, sports a glass eye and a moral compass that wobbles just enough to keep things interesting. And Carol, a nurse with an uncanny ability to understand animals, and people, often sees truths others miss.

Hovering quietly (or not so quietly) over everything is Mr. Anderson, the community cat and one of the book’s most delightful narrators. World-weary, observant, and deeply unimpressed by human foolishness, Mr. Anderson offers a perspective that is both hilarious and oddly profound. He may be the only one who truly knows where all the bodies are buried, sometimes literally, and his commentary adds an extra layer of charm and originality to the story.

What makes The Retirees such a standout in the cozy mystery genre is Orr’s pitch-perfect balance of humor and heart. Yes, there’s murder. Yes, there are secrets and red herrings and clever twists. But there’s also genuine warmth, friendship, and a radical message running beneath the mystery: life doesn’t shrink with age—it expands. These characters drink Irish coffee at breakfast, chase justice with enthusiasm, and refuse to be sidelined simply because society says they should slow down.

Orr’s writing is sharp without being cruel, funny without being frivolous. The dialogue sparkles, the pacing keeps the pages turning, and the setting feels vivid enough to smell the ocean air and hear the clink of ice in a cocktail glass. Most importantly, the characters feel alive, flawed, resilient, and endlessly engaging.

Beyond the page, The Retirees carries an impact that extends far beyond its fictional Florida setting. Leah Orr donates the profits from her books to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and has raised more than $1.4 million to support research and families affected by the disease. It’s a remarkable real-world legacy that beautifully mirrors the novel’s message: you’re never too old, and it’s never too late, to make a difference.

With its sharp dialogue, unforgettable characters, and unapologetically fun approach to crime, The Retirees proves that retirement doesn’t mean checking out. It means checking in, cocktail in hand, mystery on the agenda, and plenty of life left to live. Cozy mystery fans, take note: murder has never been this charming, or this much fun.

Learn more about Leah, her books, and her mission by visiting Leah Orr.

Bren.d.o: Building Music, Memory, and Meaning in Southern Illinois

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 16, 2026

By any conventional measure, Bren.d.o is an unlikely candidate for a contemporary R&B artist profile. Born in Carbondale and raised in the former coal-mining community of Carrier Mills, the Illinois native has chosen to build his creative career far from the traditional centers of the music industry. Yet that distance, geographic, cultural, and economic, has become central to both his sound and his story.

Operating independently under the artist name Bren.d.o, Brendan Jennings is steadily developing a catalog of alt-R&B and neo-soul releases while simultaneously engaging in historical research, community advocacy, and local civic life. The result is a multidisciplinary body of work shaped as much by place and memory as by melody.

Rooted in Southern Illinois

Bren.d.o’s connection to Southern Illinois-often referred to locally as Little Egypt- is foundational. Growing up in a region defined by post-industrial decline, racial history, and overlooked narratives, he developed an early awareness of how easily local stories can disappear. That awareness evolved into a sustained interest in regional history, genealogy, and preservation. Bren.d.o’s music also reflects an engagement with race and identity. As a biracial artist whose maternal lineage traces back to the defunct Earls of Sefton in the United Kingdom, his work often examines duality, intersectionality, and how history, class, and race intersect within modern conversations around equity and justice. This is seen prevalently in his social media activism. 

Long before releasing music, Bren.d.o was documenting lost neighborhoods and researching local Black history, particularly the historic Lakeview community south of Carrier Mills. Lakeview was a settlement established by formerly enslaved people and free Black families dating back to the early 19th century, with roots connected to the War of 1812 era. Bren.d.o’s own family history is tied to the area, which helped shape his long-term commitment to documenting its legacy.

These historical interests remain active today, running parallel to his music career rather than existing as a side pursuit. He continues to study the social and economic forces that shaped small-town Illinois, often drawing thematic connections between past and present in his creative work.

That commitment to place also carried him into civic life. In recent years, Bren.d.o ran for the county board in Saline County, reflecting his belief that artists should be engaged citizens rather than detached observers. While uncommon in the music industry, the campaign aligned with his broader focus on community accountability, representation, and local storytelling.

Music With Intentional Scope

Musically, Bren.d.o draws from classic soul and funk while blending nostalgic New Wave textures with pop sensibilities and modern R&B. His songwriting balances polish with emotional directness, emphasizing strong hooks and clarity rather than trend-driven production. That approach is evident across releases such as “Electric Love Affair” and “Boom Boom.”

The two tracks illustrate his range. “Electric Love Affair” was written collaboratively and recorded during a tightly focused studio session, while “Boom Boom” emerged through a more independent, digital-first process. Despite their different origins, both songs reflect a consistent creative philosophy: intimacy over spectacle, songwriting over algorithmic appeal.

“Electric Love Affair,” a duet with Kendra Chanae, received distribution support through UMG, Virgin Records and Alpha Recording Group. The track gained traction across streaming platforms, approaching one million combined streams and reaching #12 on the iTunes charts, an outcome that underscored the viability of a collaborative, independent-leaning release strategy.

Rather than pursuing rapid-fire release cycles, Bren.d.o has taken a measured approach, managing his own branding, distribution, and creative direction. His independence reflects a broader industry shift toward artist-controlled careers, particularly outside major metropolitan music scenes.

Historian and Artist

What distinguishes Bren.d.o is the way his historical work informs his music. Themes of survival, economic pressure, displacement, and love recur throughout his songwriting, echoing the realities of the region he documents. His work often explores the tension between staying and leaving, between ambition and responsibility.

That dual identity has positioned him as both a cultural contributor and a local historian, bridging art and archival work in a way rarely seen in contemporary music profiles. For Bren.d.o, storytelling is not confined to lyrics; it extends to preserving narratives that might otherwise be lost.

Looking Ahead

Currently, Bren.d.o continues to develop new music while expanding long-form writing and historical projects rooted in Southern Illinois. His upcoming album, The Corner, is slated for release in early 2026.

His focus remains on sustainable creativity, building a career that integrates music, research, and community engagement without abandoning his hometown ties. At a time when success is often measured by visibility alone, Bren.d.o’s trajectory offers a different model: one that suggests staying local does not limit artistic relevance, that some of the most compelling stories in contemporary music are still being written far from the spotlight, and the world will still take notice. 

Follow Bren.d.o:s journey on his website Brendoproductions.com, or his Instagram or threads at https://www.threads.com/@bren.d.o

https://www.instagram.com/bren.d.o

Healing Out Loud: How Kalise White Created Help Heal Nations to Restore Voices and Worth

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 13, 2026

By: Ciara Suesberry

Kalise White knows what it feels like to be invisible. She knows what it means to survive without support, to rebuild without a roadmap, and to carry trauma so heavy it becomes part of your identity. For more than a decade, she lived inside systems that stripped her of voice, safety, and belonging. When she came home, there were no instructions for how to start over, only the quiet question: Who am I now?

Today, Kalise is answering that question for thousands of people through the community she founded: Help Heal Nations. An author, motivational speaker, trauma recovery advocate, and entrepreneur, Kalise is not just telling her story; she’s transforming it into a movement of restoration, faith, and emotional freedom. And she’s doing it in a way that feels radically human.

A Voice Born from Truth, Not Theory

Kalise doesn’t speak from a textbook. She speaks from experience. Her journey includes childhood abandonment, abuse, generational trauma, street survival, domestic violence, incarceration, grief, and motherhood under impossible circumstances. When her younger brother died, she was still navigating her own healing, carrying pain that words could barely hold.

For years, silence was her protection. Until it became her prison. That breaking point became the beginning of her purpose. Through faith, discipline, and deep self-reflection, Kalise rebuilt her life from the ground up. She became a two-time published author, a successful business owner, and a powerful voice for emotional healing and second chances. But she knew her work wasn’t meant to be done alone. So she created Help Heal Nations.

What Is Help Heal Nations?

Help Heal Nations is not a therapy group. It is not a program. It is not a performance. It is a safe, judgment-free healing community for people navigating trauma, incarceration, abuse, grief, identity loss, and emotional pain.

It offers:

  • Guided recovery conversations
  • Faith-inspired emotional support
  • Healing-centered storytelling
  • Peer accountability & encouragement
  • Mental wellness education
  • Resource connection
  • Identity rebuilding

But more than anything, it offers a sense of belonging.

“I didn’t create this to fix people,” Kalise says. “I created it so people would stop feeling alone.”

Her approach is not clinical; it’s compassionate. She doesn’t analyze people. She sees them. And that’s what makes Help Heal Nations different.

Healing That Leads to Real-Life Change

Members of Help Heal Nations don’t just talk about healing, they live it.

People credit the community with:

  • Choosing sobriety
  • Leaving abusive environments
  • Reentering society with purpose
  • Rebuilding faith
  • Reclaiming identity
  • Breaking generational cycles
  • Speaking their truth for the first time
  • Restoring self-worth

Kalise leads from experience, not distance. She understands the emotional reality of incarceration, especially for women. The shame. The fear. The erasure. The isolation. The grief. The identity loss. She also understands what it takes to come back.

Transforming Trauma into Leadership

Kalise teaches that trauma does not disqualify you from leadership; it qualifies you for empathy.

Her work centers around powerful themes:

  • Healing after silence
  • Motherhood after trauma
  • Faith after loss
  • Identity after incarceration
  • Rebuilding with no safety net
  • Emotional truth-telling

Community-based recovery

She reminds people that healing isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen, it’s about refusing to let it define your future.

The Power of Storytelling

Storytelling is the heartbeat of Help Heal Nations. It’s not about sensationalizing pain. It’s about reclaiming truth. Kalise believes that when people tell their stories without shame or fear, they begin to untangle the lies trauma taught them.

“I’m not here to sugarcoat,” she says. “I’m here to tell the truth.”

That philosophy also shaped her memoir, No Longer Silenced, a raw, unflinching reflection on survival, faith, loss, and redemption. But where the book helps individuals heal privately, Help Heal Nations helps people heal together.

Why Community-Based Healing Matters

Kalise knows that healing in isolation is fragile. Community makes it sustainable. In Help Heal Nations, people are not labeled by their worst moments. They are honored for their courage. They are encouraged to take accountability without shame. They are reminded that dignity is not something you earn; it is something you deserve. This work is not about perfection.

It is about restoration.

Her Mission Is Simple, and Radical

Kalise White’s mission is not complicated: Healing is possible. Purpose is still available. Your voice deserves to be heard. She is proof that even after silence, identity loss, and years of invisibility, there is still light.

Help Heal Nations is not just a community. It is a sanctuary for voices that were once erased. And Kalise White is not just telling stories. She is helping people rewrite them.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, financial, psychological, or medical advice. While we strive for accuracy, we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of this information. The views expressed reflect the author’s personal experiences and are not intended to replace professional guidance. Use of this information is at your own risk.

Life Revisited: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Purpose of Existence

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 12, 2026

By: Laurent Grenier, a welcome intellectual anchor in our turbulent times

Ottawa, ON, January 6, 2026

In an age of existential uncertainty, where rapid technological change, global crises, and information overload leave many searching for meaning, independent philosopher Laurent Grenier delivers a transformative response with his essay, Life Revisited: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Purpose of Existence. Now marking its one-year anniversary since publication, this multifaceted and inspired tour de force submits that life has a profound purpose, thereby furnishing a guiding roadmap to living it, while remaining non-dogmatic, respectful of other worldviews, religious or not. 

Drawing on over four decades of dedicated mindfulness, study, and reflection, Grenier integrates insights from many sources, including philosophy, thermodynamics, evolutionary biology, psychology, and ethics. Unlike conventional philosophical texts that often raise more questions than answers, Life Revisited constructs a clear and credible framework, based on tangible evidence and grounded speculative thinking, that sheds light on the mystery of the universal unfolding and of our inquisitive presence within it. Though relatively short and highly concentrated (146 pages), the book is equally accessible and deep, without preachy and simplistic shortcuts. It will appeal to receptive and educated readers grappling with life’s big questions amid a “bewildering welter of things.”  

Scholars like the professor of chemistry, Addy Pross, and the physics professor and researcher, Adam Frank, both authors of many popular science books, have endorsed it as an “enjoyable and compelling” expression of “human creativity in its highest form, weaving together basic science and philosophy.” Santiago S. Borboa, PhD in Philosophy, praises it as an “excellent work that successfully articulates a sensible, intelligible, coherent, and plausible multidisciplinary synthesis.” Patrick Imbert, PhD in Semiotics, adds, “A very well structured and argued book. It is very clear and nuanced, written in a style that is easy to read, even when dealing with complex matters.” On Goodreads, it boasts a 4.9/5 rating from nearly 100 readers, with one reviewer stating that the book “provides a robust, logical foundation for ethics and meaning that feels unshakable.”

Grenier was born in Paris, France, in 1957 to French Canadian parents and raised in Canada. After a physically disabling neck injury in 1974 that dashed his athletic ambitions, he spent his life pursuing a “vision of things and an art of living that make the world understandable and habitable.” His last essay marks the culmination of his journey, tapping into many fields of human knowledge to address the central query: “Why live?” Through a deeply reflective and resolutely factual approach, he sought answers that bridge human experience, existential insights, and scientific views.

Offered in both English and French (La vie revisitée: une perspective multidisciplinaire sur le but de l’existence), the essay invites readers to explore the experience of being not only as a burden to endure, but also as a purposeful adventure to embrace. As we enter 2026, with ongoing debates in AI ethics, climate resilience, and mental health underscoring our collective search for meaning, Life Revisited arrives as a timely intellectual beacon. Notably, it is more than an insightful and rigorous theoretical exercise; it is a wholesome mix of time-tested science and age-old wisdom to help others navigate life’s difficulties and complexities. Furthermore, it is a call to action for a more enlightened engagement with the world that aims to better it as much as possible. 

Life Revisited can be purchased in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats at major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indigo/Chapters. Journalists, bloggers, and podcasters specializing in philosophy, science, spirituality, or personal development are encouraged to explore this work. 

For interview requests or additional information, contact Laurent Grenier directly.

Email: laurentgrenier1957@gmail.com
Website: https://laurentgrenierbooks.com

Al Wordlaw and The Al Ur Pal Project: The Chicago Soul Behind the 90s R&B Revival

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 10, 2026

Al Wordlaw, R&B Producer, Songwriter, Recording Artist, and the creator of The Al Ur Pal Project, is reviving a sound that many thought had faded into nostalgia. But for Wordlaw, it has always remained present. With roots grounded in Chicago’s soul and blues heritage, he’s bringing that authenticity back to the heart of modern R&B, and listeners are beginning to notice. His music celebrates emotional depth and storytelling, suggesting that true artistry continues to have a place in today’s soundscape.

Real R&B Is Seeing a Comeback

You can sense it from the first note of his latest single, “Still Want To Go On,” featuring the expressive vocals of Huly Ray Asidor. The track captures much of what made 90s R&B unforgettable: warm harmonies, genuine emotion, and smooth instrumentation. It continues the legacy of a time when songs told stories about love, resilience, and human connection. Through timeless grooves and heartfelt lyrics, the single reminds listeners why R&B once dominated the radio and why it could potentially do so again.

This vision guides The Al Ur Pal Project: a mission to revive the emotional honesty and musical depth that once defined the genre. For Wordlaw, R&B should feel personal and lived-in. It should move people, not just entertain them. “Still Want To Go On” reflects that belief, blending nostalgia with a sound that feels both classic and current.

Al Wordlaw and The Al Ur Pal Project: The Chicago Soul Behind the 90s R&B Revival

Photo Courtesy: Huly Ray Asidor

Chicago Roots With a Motown Touch

Born and raised in Chicago, Wordlaw carries with him the influence of a city built on soul and blues. Chicago has always been a place where music comes from the heart, and that tradition remains evident through his work. He channels that local spirit of integrity and storytelling into every lyric and production choice.

To enrich that sound, Wordlaw collaborated with Motown legend Michael B. Sutton. Together, they co-produced the single and are now completing a 10-track album. The partnership brings together Chicago’s authenticity and Motown’s polished craftsmanship, creating a sound that feels both timeless and relevant. Released on The Sound of L.A. label, the project balances rich live instrumentation with thoughtful production, staying true to R&B’s roots while appealing to modern audiences.

From the Studio to the Airwaves

The Al Ur Pal Project’s success has already been demonstrated. “Still Want To Go On” has received over 1,572 radio spins worldwide, with airplay across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Stations such as KPIU Radio in California, 105.7 RNB in Atlanta, 100.3 R&B in Raleigh, and Easy R&B in London have all supported the track.

The single has earned impressive chart positions, reaching #18 on the DRT Global Top 150, #21 on the DRT R&B Chart, #1 on the MusicBoxExpress Independent Chart, and #1 on the VideoExpress Video Chart. The project has also been recognized in Pump It Up Magazine’s 90s R&B Revival Issue and JAMSPHERE Magazine.

Staying True to the Sound

Wordlaw has faced real challenges in an industry often ruled by trends and algorithms. Maintaining musical purity hasn’t always been easy, but his foundation in Chicago’s soulful values has helped him remain steady. He believes that when you make people feel something genuine, you’ve already succeeded. His guiding principle, “Don’t chase what’s popular, create what’s powerful,” captures that perfectly. It’s not about following the crowd but about creating music that has the potential to last.

Collaborating with Huly Ray Asidor reignited that passion. Asidor’s voice brings the same emotional resonance that made the ’90s era so memorable. Together, they have shown that R&B rooted in feeling still has power in a digital world.

Al Wordlaw and The Al Ur Pal Project: The Chicago Soul Behind the 90s R&B Revival

Photo Courtesy: Huly Ray Asidor

Looking Ahead

With a new 10-track album on the way, The Al Ur Pal Project continues to grow. The record is expected to expand on the single’s success by merging live instrumentation, emotional songwriting, and polished production.

For listeners longing for the era when soul ruled the airwaves, Al Wordlaw is demonstrating that those values haven’t disappeared; they simply needed a new voice. Through The Al Ur Pal Project, he’s keeping Chicago’s legacy alive and leading a new generation toward music that feels real again.

Rethinking Presentations: Patti Schutte’s Blueprint to Speaking What Can’t Be Scripted

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 6, 2026

By: Matt Emma

From the main stage of a Chicago conference, a senior executive advances through a slide deck on biotech innovation. Her voice is steady, her timing well-rehearsed. But by the fourth slide, half the room is checked out, looking at their phones, and stifling a yawn. The problem isn’t her credentials or her content. It’s the delivery. Though not technically flawed, it’s emotionally vacant, instantly forgettable, and void of human connection. For Patti Schutte, a presentation strategist and executive speaker coach with more than a decade of experience and nearly two thousand client engagements, this moment illustrates what’s often lacking in presentations today. “Frameworks and templates can play a role,” she says, “but they may not always evolve alongside the person using them.”

During Schutte’s tenure in corporate America, she managed marketing, sales, training, and communications presentations across complex organizations. That inside view, seeing how messaging lives or dies within the intricacies of a business, taught her a truth that now guides her coaching philosophy: the ideal communicators don’t just give messages. They grasp how those messages develop, shift, and take root.

The Formula Problem

The coaching industry has long been focused on scale. Group programs, digital courses, and plug-and-play templates claim to offer quick transformation: learn this structure, follow this rule, practice this posture. And while those tools can move the needle, they rarely deepen one’s ability to connect human to human.

“Templates teach mechanics, not human resonance,” Schutte explains. “Speakers may come out polished but often predictable. The audience might remember the style, but they may not fully engage with the substance.”

She recalls watching leaders invest in the same overgeneralized training year after year, only to sound like everyone else in the room. “We’ve normalized sameness,” she says. “And sameness rarely inspires anyone.”

Customization as Strategy

Schutte’s method, which she calls Resultations, moves away from this homogeneity. Her approach begins with what she describes as a “presentation DNA scan,” a diagnostic process that assesses a client’s natural cadence, confidence, tone, and narrative flow.

From there, she moves through four stages:

  1. Observe – Record and review the speaker’s natural style.

  2. Diagnose – Identify blind spots and growth opportunities.

  3. Design – Craft adaptive exercises and live feedback protocols.

  4. Refine – Reassess and recalibrate as the speaker evolves.

“Every client has a baseline,” Schutte says. “If someone’s at 60 percent of their potential, I don’t try to take them to 100 in one go. We aim for the next best 10 percent, then the next, and so on and so forth.”

It’s a process rooted in both empathy and precision. She might start by examining a client’s word choice, tone, or pacing. In one session, she’ll strip the audio from a recorded talk and ask them to observe their facial expressions in silence. In another, she’ll tally every inflection in their voice to help them recognize emotional gaps in their delivery. “It’s not about sounding like a speaker,” she says. “It’s about thinking like one.”

The Role of Self-Awareness

If Schutte’s framework sounds scientific, it has those elements. However, her philosophy is distinctly human. She believes that effective presentation is largely about self-awareness. “You can’t coach delivery without understanding the person behind it,” she says. “Sometimes the issue isn’t tone, it’s belief. Sometimes it’s not gestures, it’s fear.”

That’s why she avoids running mass coaching programs. “The one-to-many model assumes everyone’s starting from the same place,” she explains. “But if you don’t understand someone’s cognitive wiring, how their organization operates, or where they sit in that system, you can’t support them in presenting with clarity or confidence.”

In her practice, no two engagements look the same. A marketing executive might need to translate technical jargon into accessible stories for investors. A C-suite leader might need to rebuild credibility after a crisis. A corporate trainer might need to turn compliance briefings into something people will likely remember.

The measure of success isn’t applause, but outcomes. Schutte’s clients track tangible performance indicators: higher engagement scores, increased conversions, and enhanced leadership influence. “When we define success clearly,” she says, “we can replicate it. Otherwise, it’s just noise.”

The Human Element in an Algorithmic World

Schutte’s work raises a larger question: in an age of templated systems, can communication still be truly human? Automation, AI, and standardized learning have made personalization the ultimate luxury. Yet, as Schutte sees it, these tools have also created a perception that presence, charisma, and connection can be codified.

“The real power in communication,” she says, “stems from being unmistakably you.”

That conviction has earned her a devoted following among executives and teams who return to her again and again. One client, a CMO who has brought her into three different companies, once said, “There are speech coaches, and then there’s Patti.”

It’s a distinction Schutte wears lightly but intentionally. Her goal isn’t to create dependence; it’s to cultivate independence. “I want clients to walk away knowing how to evaluate themselves,” she says. “To know what to look for, how to measure it, and be equipped with strategies to keep growing.”

Beyond the Template

What makes Schutte’s method compelling is that it bridges science and soul. She measures growth through key performance indicators but also trains the intuition that can read a room, sense resistance, and adjust in real time. She treats communication as both an analytical and emotional art.

“Every presentation is an ecosystem,” she says. “It’s marketing, it’s psychology, it’s leadership. When you understand how all those pieces fit together, you can do more than inform — you can transform.”

In a professional landscape that rewards efficiency over authenticity, her message feels almost radical. Schutte’s work reminds us that mastery isn’t about memorizing techniques or mimicking styles, but about becoming more fully aware, more intentional, and more alive in the moment.

“In transforming how professionals present,” she says, “we’re not just changing how they speak. We’re changing the act of speaking itself. From a language of performance to the language of connection.”

In a templatized world, her brilliance lies in developing within you what can’t be scripted. And that’s what makes Patti Schutte difficult to replicate.

How Superior Business Lending Is Changing Financing for Growing Chicagoland Businesses

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 6, 2026

Small and mid-sized businesses in Chicago are hungry for growth, but the capital landscape hasn’t kept up with their needs. Banks still hesitate to lend to unconventional businesses, younger companies, or firms with uneven cash flow. That hesitation leaves too many strong operators stuck, ready to take the next move but lacking the financial power to do it. 

Superior Business Lending is changing that dynamic by providing borrowers with access to more innovative options, more precise guidance, and funding strategies tailored to real-world business pressures. Whether it’s a manufacturer on the South Side needing bad-credit equipment financing, a software company seeking expert mezzanine financing in the Chicago area, or a franchisee looking to buy out a partner, Superior’s model is simple. They strive to find the right lender for the right borrower, regardless of the deal’s complexity.

Championing Underserved Businesses

“Too many great businesses are told ‘no’ just because they don’t check every traditional box,” says Jeff Gerstner, Owner of Superior Business Lending. “At Superior Business Lending, our job is to help businesses get to ‘yes.’ And that starts with understanding their story and assessing their strengths so we can place them with lenders who see their potential.”

That people-first mindset is the backbone of Superior’s work. Gerstner built the company around the idea that small- and mid-sized businesses deserve the same level of guidance, sophistication, and optionality as large corporations. Access to capital should never hinge on whether a business owner knows the “right” lender or banking language. By investing time in understanding how a business really operates, Superior can bridge the gap between what borrowers need and what lenders are willing to support.

This approach has been especially valuable in a post-pandemic landscape, where traditional lending standards tightened while entrepreneurs faced cash flow swings, staffing challenges, and rising costs. Many otherwise strong businesses have blemished credit, uneven revenue, or unconventional models; factors that can stop a bank from taking a chance. Superior steps into that gap, helping owners present their financial story clearly and navigate a lending market that can feel opaque and inconsistent.

By giving these businesses access to a broader network of funding sources, Superior helps owners secure the capital necessary to hire, expand, purchase equipment, or pursue new opportunities.

A Broker Model Built for Complexity

Superior Business Lending operates on a simple yet powerful belief that businesses shouldn’t be limited by a single lending product or a single lender’s preferences. As a wholly independent business lending broker, the firm can step back, evaluate a company’s financial picture from multiple angles, and design a lending path that reflects real-world needs.

Behind the scenes, SBL has built a vast network of regional banks, national lenders, private credit groups, and specialty financing partners. Those relationships, combined with a deep understanding of how each lender evaluates risk, allow SBL to match clients with funding sources that align with their business model and timing needs. Business owners don’t have to become experts in credit markets just to secure the capital required to grow. Instead, they gain a partner who understands how to structure deals creatively, present their strengths effectively, and open doors that traditional underwriting might leave closed.

This independence is what makes SBL especially valuable. Instead of pushing businesses toward one product, the team analyzes whether they’re better served by term loans, asset-based lending, equipment financing, factoring, SBA options, mezzanine capital, or a hybrid structure. That flexibility allows the firm to solve problems that a single bank or lender simply can’t. 

Mezzanine Financing Gains Ground

As more mid-sized companies face opportunities to scale through acquisition, new locations, or significant capital improvements, traditional senior debt alone often isn’t enough to close the gap. Mezzanine financing fills that gap, offering a flexible layer of capital between secured loans and equity.

Superior’s role in this landscape is to help business owners understand when it makes sense, how it fits into their broader capital stack, and which lenders in their network are the right match. Because mezzanine terms can vary widely depending on structure, collateral, and growth plans, many business leaders benefit from a broker that can translate their goals into a straightforward, lender-ready narrative.

Superior assists by identifying reputable funding groups, preparing financials for review, and ensuring borrowers understand the tradeoffs, such as interest costs and covenants, before committing. As demand for this type of financing increases across Chicagoland’s growing mid-market sector, Superior is an advisor that brings clarity to an otherwise complex corner of business finance.

Flexible Financing for SMEs Adapting to Economic Shifts

It’s not just large corporations that benefit from creative structuring. Superior’s approach to flexible financing considers each business’s unique lifecycle, from its high-growth phase to seasonal slowdowns.

Whether you’re an early-stage entrepreneur looking to finance new equipment, a second-generation family business eyeing expansion, or a middle-market company preparing to acquire a competitor, Superior Business Lending offers something the typical lender doesn’t: options.

By leveraging deep experience in expert mezzanine financing and providing flexible financing for Chicagoland SMEs, the company continues to earn the trust of business owners who need capital without red tape. And for those worried about credit blemishes or tight cash flow, their track record in bad credit equipment financing proves that your past doesn’t have to dictate your future.

For more information on how Superior Business Lending is changing the capital landscape for Chicago businesses, visit their website www.SuperiorBusinessLending.com, or connect with a funding advisor to explore options tailored to your growth goals.

 

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Superior Business Lending. Always consult with a professional advisor before making any financial decisions.

Breaking Language Barriers: How PR to SKY’s Tri-Language Press Release Service Powers Global Growth

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 5, 2026

In today’s hyper-connected digital economy, a brand’s reputation is no longer confined by borders. However, it is often confined by something much more subtle: language. While English remains the “lingua franca” of business, nearly 75% of the world’s population does not speak it. For brands looking to achieve true international authority, the ability to communicate in multiple languages is the ultimate competitive advantage.

PR to SKY, a leader in high-impact media placement and digital PR, offers a specialized solution for this global challenge: the Press Release on Websites in 3 Languages (English, Spanish, and French) package. By targeting these three power-house languages, PR to SKY allows brands to tap into a combined audience of over 2 billion people.

The Strategic Power of the “Big Three”: English, Spanish, and French

Why has PR to SKY specifically curated a package featuring English, Spanish, and French? The answer lies in the massive geographic and economic footprint of these languages.

  • English: The gateway to global finance, technology, and international trade. It is essential for visibility in the US, UK, Canada, and global hubs.
  • Spanish: With over 500 million native speakers, Spanish is the key to unlocking the rapidly growing markets of Latin America and the massive Hispanic consumer base in the United States.
  • French: Beyond France, this is the language of diplomacy and a primary business language in dozens of African nations—the world’s fastest-growing economic frontier—as well as parts of Canada and Europe.

By distributing a press release in all three languages simultaneously, PR to SKY ensures that your message isn’t just “available” globally—it is locally relevant.

What the PR to SKY Package Includes

The Press Release on Websites in 3 Languages package is designed to be a “turnkey” solution for busy entrepreneurs and marketing departments. Here is a breakdown of the value provided:

1. Professional Translation & Localization

PR to SKY doesn’t just use automated tools. Their service ensures that your message is accurately translated and localized. This means preserving the tone, technical nuances, and cultural context of your announcement, which is critical for maintaining brand integrity.

2. Ensured Placement on High-Authority Sites

The package ensures that your news will be published on reputable news portals and media outlets across the English, Spanish, and French-speaking worlds. This isn’t just a “social media post”; it is a formal media placement that creates a permanent digital footprint.

3. SEO Benefits Across Continents

One of the most underrated benefits of multi-language PR is Multilingual SEO. When your brand is mentioned on high-authority French or Spanish websites, you begin to rank for keywords in those specific languages. This drives organic traffic from regions that your English-only competitors are completely missing.

Why Choose PR to SKY for Your Global Launch?

The digital PR landscape is crowded, but PR to SKY differentiates itself through transparency and reach. When you invest in this trilingual package, you are buying more than just text on a screen; you are buying Digital Trust.

  • Verified Links: After the campaign goes live, PR to SKY provides a detailed report with live links. This allows you to verify exactly where your brand is being featured.
  • Speed and Efficiency: Coordinating with three different PR agencies in three different countries would take weeks. PR to SKY streamlines this into a single order, saving brands hundreds of hours in coordination.
  • Affordability: By bundling these services, PR to SKY offers a price point that is significantly lower than hiring independent translators and media buyers for each language.

Maximizing the Impact: Who Is This For?

This service is a game-changer for several types of organizations:

  • Tech Startups: Launching an app that serves a global user base.
  • Crypto & Web3 Projects: Where community trust across different regions is vital for liquidity and adoption.
  • E-commerce Brands: Expanding their shipping zones to Europe and Latin America.
  • Public Figures: Looking to build an international profile or “Social Proof.”

Final Thoughts

In the modern era, visibility is currency. If your brand only speaks one language, you are leaving 66% of your potential market on the table. PR to SKY’s trilingual press release service is the bridge that connects your vision to the global stage.

By speaking to your audience in their mother tongue—whether they are in Paris, Mexico City, or New York—you build a level of trust that English-only brands simply cannot match. It’s time to stop being a local brand and start being a global authority.

Globally Recognized Brands Take a Strong Marketing Step with PR to SKY – Partnerships with Zycus and FIDE

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 5, 2026

In 2025, the landscape of global brand visibility and influence reached new heights. In response to this trend, PR to SKY announced its strategic partnerships with internationally recognized organizations, taking a significant step forward in global marketing. Partners such as Zycus and FIDE are leveraging these collaborations to strengthen their international presence and reach broader audiences worldwide.

PR to SKY provides tailored, strategic public relations solutions to enhance brand image and ensure global recognition. Through customized campaigns and data-driven strategies, the agency helps organizations clearly and effectively communicate their value propositions to international markets.

The collaboration with Zycus focuses on expanding global brand visibility within the corporate technology and supply chain solutions sector. PR to SKY’s strategic initiatives promotes Zycus’ products and services across international media channels, reinforcing its position as a market leader. These efforts include targeted press releases, high-impact media placements, and coordinated digital campaigns designed to deliver consistent messaging across multiple platforms.

The partnership with FIDE opens new opportunities in the sports and international organization sectors. PR to SKY supports FIDE by promoting international tournaments, events, and strategic initiatives to a global audience. This collaboration strengthens FIDE’s international reputation and increases its visibility among sports professionals, fans, sponsors, and institutional partners worldwide.

A key strength of PR in SKY’s approach lies in its goal-oriented, customized PR strategies. Each partnership is supported by a unique communication plan that considers the organization’s market position, objectives, and target audience. This ensures long-term brand credibility and sustained competitiveness in global markets.

PR to SKY’s services extends well beyond traditional press release distribution. The agency works with an extensive global media network, ensuring brands receive consistent international exposure. High-profile advertising platforms, including Times Square and the Nasdaq Tower, further amplify campaign reach, allowing brand messages to be seen by millions and echoed across international media outlets.

As a result of these strategic partnerships, organizations like Zycus and FIDE experience a significant boost in their global visibility, gaining exposure across a broader range of markets and industries. These collaborations give these organizations access to new, untapped audiences, allowing them to expand their reach and connect with potential clients and partners worldwide. In addition to enhancing their global presence, these partnerships help elevate their brand value, positioning them as trusted leaders in their respective sectors.

PR to SKY’s comprehensive support goes beyond just building brand visibility. The company also provides advanced performance monitoring and analytics tools that empower its partners to track and evaluate the success of their campaigns. By measuring key metrics such as audience engagement, brand sentiment, and conversion rates, these tools offer valuable insights into campaign performance. This data-driven approach ensures that partners can make informed decisions, refine their strategies, and ultimately maximize their return on investment. Through this level of transparency and accountability, PR to SKY ensures that each partnership yields tangible, long-term results for all involved.

The strategic partnerships between PR to SKY and globally recognized organizations set new benchmarks in international public relations and marketing. These collaborations are not just about enhancing visibility, but also about creating a lasting impact on brand reputation. They are pivotal in helping companies build credible, sustainable, and highly influential global brand identities that resonate with diverse audiences across different regions.

By leveraging its expertise and expansive media network, PR to SKY plays a crucial role in positioning organizations as leaders in their respective industries. The partnerships foster long-term relationships that go beyond short-term gains, providing organizations with the tools and insights necessary to navigate the complexities of international markets.

Through these collaborations, PR to SKY helps businesses establish a solid foundation for growth, ensuring they maintain a competitive advantage in an increasingly globalized and dynamic market. Whether through targeted media outreach, strategic messaging, or tailored campaigns, PR to SKY is committed to helping organizations achieve sustained success on the international stage.