Thursday, October 10, 2013

Quinn draws techy crowd at schmoozy fundraiser


Quinn draws techy crowd at schmoozy fundraiser
October 10, 2013






Pat Quinn

There were lots of laughs the other night at a schmoozy political fundraising party for Gov. Pat Quinn, held by Howard Tullman at his West Loop loft.

Mr. Tullman, the high-tech entrepreneur, introduced J.B. Pritzker, saying the Chicago venture capitalist “made a huge contribution to 1871,” the digital center for startups located at Merchandise Mart.

Mr. Pritkzer followed, saying he was very sensitive to anyone using his name and “huge” in the same sentence.

Mr. Pritzker is a hearty fellow, though he's a leaner form of himself since becoming a customer and investor in Chicago-based Retrofit, a weight-management system.

Mr. Quinn talked about a recent trip he took to Israel with Mr. Tullman. The governor credited Mr. Tullman with saving him while floating in the Dead Sea. Apparently the governor's flip-flops weren't working with the bumpy surface; Mr. Tullman gave him better footwear.

And Mr. Quinn teased Thad Wong, one of the founders of @Properties, who also was on the Israel trip. Mr. Quinn said Mr. Wong kept disappearing to look for cigars. “And we always thought he was lost.”

Some 60 people attended the event, including Brad Keywell, who's gearing up for Chicago Ideas Week, which he founded; Wrapports Chief Technology Officer Josh Metnick, CBRE Inc. Senior Vice President Dan Lyne, Illinois Technology Association CEO Fred Hoch, and Chicago Ventures Partner Kevin Willer.

Follow Shia on Twitter at @ShiaKapos.


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