Dr. Laura Bokar is the CEO of Fox Valley Institute and has been an individual, marital and family therapist for over 30 years. Fox Valley Institute (FVI) was started in 2001 with one therapist (Dr. Laura). Since then FVI has grown into a thriving practice and continues to seek new professionals to expand their services.

Dr. Laura's team has been awarded numerous accolades for their distinguished work over the years including Best of Naperville in the Marriage and Family Therapist category, The Business Ledger Influential Women in Business Award, Naperville Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards, Jaycee's Distinguished Service Award in the Health and Wellness category, The Business Ledger Award for Business Excellence in the Emerging Entrepreneurial Company category and others.

Dr. Laura has been featured in the media including WGN's Daytime Chicago, WGN Radio, ABC7 News Chicago, Inside the Chamber (Naperville, IL), The River 95.9, and others. Dr. Laura is a public speaker, writer of articles published in industry magazines and author of her most recent book We Need to Talk: 24 Simple Insights for Relationships.

Dr. Laura received her Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision, and holds a Master's Degree in Human and Child Development with a specialization in Marriage and Family therapy. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical professional counselor, and an approved clinical supervisor. She is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), certified in Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT), a safe, gentle, and effective approach to dealing with trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Critical Incident Response, Prepare/Enrich Pre-Post Marital Assessment, Primary Care Behavioral Health and Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Michael Calabrese is the principal of Calabrese Associates in Warrenville, Illinois.  His practice of nearly 30 years is concentrated in all areas of family law litigation, and his firm also provides services in estate planning, probate, real estate, civil litigation, and tax matters.  He serves the community through his board of director’s positions on the Executive Committee as as the Governance Chair of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Program Chair of The Rotary Club of Naperville as well as Treasurer of the Sons of the American Legion.  His is past chair of the Family Law, Law Practice Management and Professional Responsibility Committees of the DuPage County Bar Association, and has served as advisor to CASA of DuPage and Family Shelter Service. He has written and lectured on a wide range of legal topics, is a frequent speaker and volunteer at free legal clinics, and his firm consistently provides pro-bono services to indigent clients.  He is also fluent in Spanish. He and his wife Rena Tamayo-Calabrese have lived in Naperville for over 30 years where they raised three successful adult daughters.

Anita Knotts is a highly accomplished senior executive with over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. As a woman of color, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry and advocating for diversity and inclusion. Anita is a respected advisor, keynote speaker, and mentor, dedicating her expertise to empowering women and traditionally under-represented groups in finance.

As the Founder and CEO of Lotus Women's Institute, Anita is passionately committed to bringing more women and people of color into the wealth management industry. Through her leadership, she works tirelessly to bridge the gender and diversity gaps by providing opportunities, mentorship, and resources for both seasoned and aspiring professionals.

With a wealth of knowledge in sales, marketing, and business development in the competitive wealth management market, Anita has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership and communication skills. Her ability to recruit, develop, and lead diverse teams has resulted in exceptional outcomes and propelled her success in the industry.

Anita firmly believes that the wealth management industry is at a critical juncture, and organizations that embrace diversity by implementing initiatives to hire diverse teams, particularly for frontline roles, will gain a competitive edge in serving the clients of the future.

Anita holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from University of Illinois Champaign Urbana, and a Masters in Business Administration from DePaul University. She is an active member of her community and is engaged in several organizations.

Connect with Anita on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on her insights and initiatives. For more information and to subscribe to her free weekly email, visit www.lotuswomensinstitute.com, where you can access valuable resources and join the movement towards a more inclusive and empowered financial industry.

Vice President & Managing Broker Chris Landis 

Chris Landis serves as vice president and designated managing broker at Calamos Real Estate, at the Chicagoland commercial brokerage, property manager and developer.

Landis joined the firm in 2019 as an analyst and, in February 2023, was named vice president. He is engaged in development and investment sales, and leads property leasing for the firm. Among his achievements, Landis brokered Naperville’s largest office lease of 2022 when M/I Homes relocated its Midwest headquarters to the firm’s flagship development, CityGate Centre where office leasing exceeds 86 percent and retail exceeds 90 percent.

Landis also brought to market “CityGate Flex”, a solution for early-stage businesses in growth stages, which has maintained more than 90 percent occupancy since launch; and he created Calamos Real Estate’s residential property management vertical focusing on the small multifamily niche. Since joining Calamos Real Estate, Landis has leased more than 60,000 square feet of Class A commercial space.

As an entrepreneur, Landis also runs a small business focused on workforce development and durable construction of affordable, modern homes in underserved markets. He volunteers with the nonprofit SEAL Future Foundations, leading the Chicago Chapter, bridging the transition for military personnel into private sector roles.

Prior to joining Calamos Real Estate Landis served in active duty with the U.S. Navy for nine years. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Miami University in Ohio and is a member of the Urban Land Institute.

Calamos Real Estate LLC provides brokerage, property management and construction management services throughout Greater Chicagoland. It is also involved in acquisitions, development opportunities and joint ventures. The firm's flagship development, CityGate Centre in Naperville, is a unique mixed-use development offering superior opportunities and high-caliber property management for corporate and commercial tenants. In a joint venture with Lincoln Property Group, Calamos added a luxury apartment in 2022 to CityGate Centre. Calamos Real estate was named among The Best of The Best by Midwest Real Estate News for 2022 and 2023, and is a subsidiary of Calamos Property Holdings LLC.

Ashley Shi is the proud owner of Office Evolution Naperville and Office Evolution Lisle, two vibrant coworking spaces in DuPage County. Ashley loves developing the community and the people there. She spends a lot of time mentoring and facet new relationships to help local business owners and professionals to bring their business to the next level. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Young Professional Network Committee liaison, past board liaison of Women in Business. Ashley is also a classical music instructor, and she has been the recital chairperson of the Naperville Music Teacher Association for over a decade. Ashley lives in Naperville with her husband and three children.