Leadership Team

Michael Rodgers: Director of Human Resources and Information Technology
Nicole Vensas: VP - Creative Services
Michelle Jerge: Director of Finance

 
 

Fun Facts


Jenny Niemann
President, Chief Executive Officer and Owner
 

Where were you raised? Where have you lived?
Raised in Grand Rapids MI, also lived in Portland ME, Cincinnati OH, again in Grand Rapids Michigan, then Boston MA and now Chicago!

What is your favorite inspirational quote?
“Que Sera, Sera” (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) which was from song sung Doris Day, but my dad used to play it for me as I sat on the piano bench next to him when I was a little girl.

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working?
Cooking with and for my family.

When growing up, what was your favorite TV show?
The Brady Bunch

When I was a kid, I always wanted to be an ARCHITECT when I grew up.


Amy Long
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Where were you raised? Where have you lived?
I was raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago and then Ann Arbor, Michigan. I went to college in Evanston (Northwestern University) and then have lived in Chicago, Portland (Oregon), Flint and Salt Lake City since college.

What are three things still left on your bucket list?
I would like to attend the French and Australian Open tennis tournaments, do a safari trip to South Africa, Botswana and Zambia and bicycle ride across the United States.

Winter or summer?
Winter. I actually like the snow, except maybe when driving in a blizzard, and like that it is easier to warm up by putting on more clothes but much harder to cool down with the heat and humidity of Chicago summers.

Thin crust or deep dish pizza?
Always deep dish. I was a waitress for Giordano’s for a bit in college and remain loyal to deep dish pizza.

When I was a kid…
I always wanted to own my own clothing store when I grew up.


Chris Cole
VP – Sales and Space Solutions

Where were you raised? Where have you lived?
Raised in Western New York, in the first house to get electricity in Middleport NY (town of 1800 people)
*Note: the house got electricity way before my family moved in.

How did you get into your current career?
I was selling chemicals to steel mills in Indiana and my wife was selling contract grade textiles here in Chicago.  She made more money and was having way more fun so I took a 50% cut in pay to work at an education and healthcare furniture company, and it was the best work decision I ever made – before joining Forward Space, of course!

What are three things still left on your bucket list?
Attend the Masters on Wed-Friday at Augusta National, Attend a Formula One race, Downhill ski out west with my family

What was your favorite toy as a kid?
GI Joe with the scruffy beard.

The most inspiring part of my role is…
Helping create winning formulas for my sales team members individual success!


Kirk Dakarian
VP – Sales and Space Solutions

Where were you raised? Where have you lived?
I was raised on the northwest side of Chicago.  I have never left the Chicagoland area and still hang out with my friends from my childhood.

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working?
Spending time with family at our lake house in Michigan

What are three things still left on your bucket list?
Travel to Australia and New Zealand. Play golf at Pebble Beach. Skate in Wayne Gretzky’s Hockey Fantasy Camp -time might be running out on that one.

What, or who, are you a “closet” fan of?
I am a closet Beatles fanatic.  I don’t think any musical group or performer will ever match the musical progression they exhibited in the short time they were together.

If I won the lottery tomorrow, I’d…
Move to Kauai, help my girls pay off their school loans and donate money to the charities and causes that my family supports.


Elizabeth Lewis
VP + GM – Milwaukee Division

What about you would most people not believe unless they knew you?
Most people are surprised to learn that I grew up on a dairy farm in Northern Wisconsin. I absolutely loved my childhood, which was primarily spent outdoors. I learned to love and respect the world around me and how to work hard.

What are you doing when you are not working?
Spending time with my husband and two kids (currently 5 and 7). We try to get our for a hike almost every weekend, even in winter. In fact, we just began a family challenge to spend 1,000 hours outside in the next year! We also plan to visit all the National Parks as a family.

What are three things still left on your bucket list?
I love to travel, so two of my bucket list items are to visit Machu Picchu and to hike the Cinque Terre. The other is to write a book!

What is your favorite drink or cocktail?
A well muddled Old Fashioned, Wisconsin style (with Brandy).

In another life, I’m pretty sure I was…
A Parisian write who drank Absinthe and hung out with Henry Miller and Anais Nin.


Michael Rodgers
Director of Human Resources and Information Technology

Where were you raised? Where have you lived?
I was born in Tampa Florida, then moved to Mobile Alabama, then a small town outside of Rockford called Poplar Grove, and currently live in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.

What are three things still left on your bucket list?
Skydive, learn to fly a plane, and surf pipeline on the North Shore.

The most inspiring part of my role is…
Helping to grow our amazing culture.

Winter or summer?
Summer, I am not a fan of cold weather or being cold.

When I was a kid…
I wanted to be a fighter pilot! (If I were flying, Goose would still be alive)


Nicole Vensas
VP – Creative Services

Where were you raised? Where have you lived?
I spent most of my first 9 years (though born in Illinois) living in Kennesaw Georgia. Since then I have hopped around the NW Suburbs of Illinois.

How did you get into your current career?
Spatial design is a jigsaw puzzle, and it’s a new challenge each time.  Also, I have always been interested in the psychological effects space can have on its users. People spend more waking time (or at least did) in the office than in their own homes.  I was interested in the impact I could have in making those hours for comfortable, productive, and enjoyable.

What are three things still left on your bucket list?
South America, Australia, and Antarctica. They are the only continents I have not yet been.

What was your favorite toy as a kid?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Also, Barbie’s Dreamhouse. I never cared much for the dolls, but I space planned the hell out of that house!

The most inspiring part of my role is…
Helping to grow people and provide them with rich experiences.

Winter or summer?
Pfft, autumn.


Michelle Jerge
Director of Finance

How did you get into your current career?
In 6th grade I was a big fan of the X-Files.  I discovered the FBI frequently recruited accountants so I knew if I ever wanted to be Agent Scully, I had to start as an accountant.

What was your favorite toy as a kid?
A giant bucket of Legos.  I would spend hours building things

Where were you raised? Where have you lived?
I grew up in Pendleton, Indiana – a traditional small town where everybody knows everybody.  Went to college in Bloomington, Indiana with a study abroad in London for 6 months.  Couple years later, I made my way to Chicago and have been here since!

What are three things still left on your bucket list?
Visit all 50 states (36 of 50 so far), attend a game at every MLB stadium (15 of 30 so far), and explore all the National Parks (12 of 63 so far)

Winter or summer?
Definitely summer.