Rod Hastings did not care for the mandatory “small talk” required in a business environment. He found it frustrating and a waste of time.

He had the reputation of being a maverick project manager. A results driven, independent thinker that broke paradigms without hesitation. At his career’s peak, he was the go-to person for jobs in trouble. Now at age 55, he leaned towards retirement.

The industry was no longer results driven one he knew. “Job One” was now covering up management’s mistakes.

Hastings lacked the political gamesmanship required for retaining employment. His dry wit caused him trouble on more than one occasion, and his refusal to acquiesce to the ‘new’ business norms made things worse. He was a pariah in his industry.

Unable to hide his disgust for these “fast track” executives, Hastings planned to leave the profession he truly enjoyed.

At an early age, Sheryl O’Toole found herself alone in the world. The only child of only children, her parents died when she was just 17. An orphan with no living relatives, she petitioned the courts to be declared an emancipated minor.

In college, even though she did not need to, she worked at a “corporate chain” coffee shop "to get first-hand experience on how a business operates."

Introduced by a friend to the field of project management, she immediately gravitated to it, passing her certification test on her first attempt.

She excelled in her work and was targeted to be fast-tracked, when she met Bebe Adsberry. Impressed by the young woman, Adsberry brought O'Toole on as a protege, grooming her to, one day, run Adsberry's global organization.

Originally from Michigan, Bebe Adsberry now resides in Chicago. She ranks as one of the top five wealthiest people in the world. An only child from South Haven, she attended Michigan State, majoring in Economics, focusing on Macroeconomics. After earning her MBA, she certified as a CPA and moved to Chicago, securing an entry level position at one of the Big Four accounting firms.

Realizing opportunities in a then male-dominated profession were limited, she decided to leave and start her own firm.

She established a small, boutique accounting firm with a few notable clients. Though her business achieved some success, Adsberry remained dissatisfied. Her true love was macroeconomics.

With an uncanny ability to accurately predict the direction of global markets, she was able able to earn a tidy sum of money, and parlayed this into the fortune she now has.

Adsberry felt something was missing. She wanted to impact the world in a positive way and she knew the best way to effect change was with money.

“It’s pronounced ber´nerd.” Those are the first words Dr. Bernard Kistler says to everyone he meets. A child prodigy from Berlin, his intelligence often intimidates others.

Poor at social skills, he is viewed by his colleagues as an opinionated know-it-all. Unfortunately, he does. More accurately, this polymath would say, "I know what I know and I know what I do not know," but he knows a great deal.

Sheryl O'Toole said it best, "He’s just a very stoic, introverted, techie type of guy. What can I say? He’s German.”