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The Senior Management Team

Stephen Calk
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Stephen M. Calk is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Bancorp, Mr. Calk was appointed to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School at West Point Prep. He is a graduate of the United States Army Aviation School and served as a combat tactical helicopter pilot and commander for over 16 years. Mr. Calk received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana and holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Mr. Calk is currently attending the Harvard Business School's Post Graduate Executive Education Program for The Young Presidents Organization.

Mr. Calk is a nationally recognized expert in the field of residential real estate finance and has been featured in print and on air on news programs such as CNN, Fox Business News, CNBC Squawk Box, Reuters, Crain's Chicago Business and the Chicago Tribune. He has served on the Board of Directors, Advisory Board of Directors or Customer Advisory Board of Directors for various public and private mortgage companies including JP Morgan Chase’s Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corp., Ohio Savings Bank, CitiMortgage, Countrywide/Bank of America and the former General Electric Mortgage Insurance Company. Mr. Calk has served as an advisor to the Governor of the State of Illinois, the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate and the Office of Professional Regulation for the State of Illinois on matters of Mortgage Banking and Real Estate finance. Mr. Calk currently serves as a Trustee for the University of Illinois’ St. John’s Catholic Newman Center and the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Alumni Advisory Board. He is a member of the Young Presidents Organization where he serves as the Forum Chairman, the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, and is an outspoken proponent of the Independent Mortgage Bankers Association of America where he serves as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Calk has also served on numerous civic and philanthropic boards.

Under Mr. Calk’s leadership, Chicago Bancorp grew to become the largest privately held retail mortgage bank in Chicago within its first five years of operation. His experience and accomplishments have combined to build Chicago Bancorp into a dynamic team of professionals who adhere to the highest standards of excellence while funding billions of dollars in loans in the last decade and a half.

John Calk
President and Chief Operating Officer

John Calk was awarded a full United States Congressional scholarship to attend Indiana University. John’s success at Indiana culminated in his senior year when the University’s President awarded him the Indiana University President Award recognizing his high academic achievement, outstanding leadership and distinction of character. Upon graduation with a BS in Finance, he was appointed as a second lieutenant and served as an armor platoon leader until recruited to join GE Capital Corporation. As a graduate of General Electric’s famed 2-year management programs, John was quickly promoted and spent seven years in operations, marketing and senior financial management positions. He was recognized by the top level of GE’s management when awarded the prestigious Pinnacle award, recognition of the top performers at GE Capital from throughout the world. John’s achievements and character caught the eye of America's largest privately held teleservices company and he was asked to join their senior management team where he was responsible for all sales, marketing and Internet activity. Since joining Chicago Bancorp in January 1999, John has pioneered our entrance into the world of online lending and e-commerce. He is the father of six children, Founder and President of East Lake Academy (a private Roman Catholic school in Lake Forest, IL) and resident of Chicago's North Shore. Additionally he serves as Finance Chair for the Chicagoland Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization. He is an active member of Conway Farms Golf Club and has served on the admissions committees there.

Matt Kaufmann
Chief Financial Officer

Matt Kaufmann graduated from Bradley University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance. He earned his MBA in 1997 from Northern Illinois University. Matt has over fifteen years of financial management experience including ten plus years in the mortgage banking industry.

As CFO of the Company, Matt is responsible for all aspects of financial management including our banking relationships, payroll, health care and other expenses. Matt is a native Midwesterner. He has spent the last nine years as a resident of northwest Indiana. He is a member and leader of several community organizations and serves on their executive boards. Matt and his wife, Staci, have two young sons. He is an active participant in their lives, coaching baseball, basketball, and soccer.