Hattie Foster...
Biographical Sketch
Ms. Foster became CEO and co-owner of Foster Management Group (“FMG”) in 1985. FMG owns, develops, and manages residential and commercial properties in the greater Chicagoland and surrounding area. FMG provides education and a variety of seminars and workshops to educate and enlighten business professionals, entrepreneurs, as well as future business leaders on the acquisition and management of properties, growth management of mid-sized companies, mobile computing technology, franchising, and educating youth on managing and utilizing their finances to gain competitive advantage. Ms. Foster’s business portfolio is evidence enough of her business savvy and success.
Ms. Foster is Broker/Owner of Metropolitan International, LLC (“MI”), a Licensed Real Estate Limited Liability Firm. MI was founded in February, 2006 and is a full service real estate company. The company’s mission is to be unique to the industry with goals of expanding worldwide. We pride ourselves in providing unparalleled service and look forward to developing a long-term relationship with each client we encounter. In short, MI provides superior service to all clients no matter how large or small the purchase or rental.
Ms. Foster is Executive Vice President – Finance of Habakkuk Music, Inc. (“HM”), an independent gospel music recording label, Ms. Foster joined forces with HM in April, 2007, and is actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the entity. HM will prove to be a 21st Century driving force in the gospel music industry. Habakkuk Music’s timely entrée into an exploding consumer market is fueled by a response to feed the consumers’ hunger for more music with a gospel message. To this end, Habakkuk seeks to fulfill its vision and mission by rendering a roster of gifted and talented new comers, as well as nationally recognized recording artists and songwriters.
Ms. Foster is CFO of Seed Entertainment, LLC (“Seed”), an Illinois corporation founded in April, 2007. Seed’s mission is to aggressively pursue opportunities to spread the word of God through media, image development, publishing and public presentation. Each member is totally committed to the mission to “. . . cover the earth with the glory of God” (Habakkuk, 2:14).
Ms. Foster was the former Vice President and co-owner of ARP Consulting, L.L.C. (“ARP”). Established in 1988, ARP is a multi-disciplinary team of professionals providing planning, facilities development and program/financial management services to airport operators and airline carriers and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Foster served in a variety of roles from 1988 through 2003, including the provider of financial management services, cash flow management, financial statement construction and analysis, earnings and labor distribution reports.
Ms Foster was the former Vice President and shareholder of Air Stores, Inc. (ASI). ASI is an airport concessions venture with stores at airports throughout the country. Its mission is to build a premier concession retail company beginning with strong brand identity, supplemented by top-quality customer service and superior operation expertise. ASI will reach its goals through affiliations with business partners who provide nationally-recognized branded concepts, with strong growth potential in airports both domestic and international. Ms. Foster provided project support for airport concessions, merchandising pricing surveys and vendor support activities from 1998 through 2003.
Ms. Foster served three years on the Board of Directors and later on the Advisory Board of The Support Group, a not-for-profit organization headed by former professional NBA Player, Tim Hardaway, whose mission is to create an overall balance that will ensure the best opportunity for young men and women to understand the importance of excelling academically and athletically, through emphasis on education, test taking skills, athletic conditioning, strengthening and character building.
Current affiliations include being a Member of Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Oak Park, Member of Harrison Street Building Alliance, Member of Austin Boulevard Building Alliance, Chicago Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, Member of National Black MBA Association, and Member of Darfur 23.
career highlights...
- Speaker, First Global Summit presented by The European Federation of Black Women Business Owners (EFBWBO), October, 2005
- Hosted Fundraiser for Congressman Danny K. Davis, October, 2002
- Hosted & Sponsored travels to America of Baroness Rosalind Howells, Member of Parliament, House of Lords, October, 2002
- Speaker, National Black MBA Association, Annual Conference, September, 2002
- Appointed by President of the Village of Oak Park, Joanne E. Trapani, to serve on an Ad Hoc Committee for Affordable Housing, September, 2002
- Speaker, Black MBA Association (UK) Ltd., November, 2001
- Keynote Speaker at The House of Commons, Parliament, Westminster, London for the 5th Annual Black Women’s Conference, July, 2001
- Speaker, National Black MBA Association, Annual Conference, September, 1998
- Co-Hosted Town Hall meeting for then First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, 1997
- Company Recognition in South Shore Bank’s 1997 Annual Report
- Hosted Fundraiser for Congressman Danny K. Davis, Fall, 1996
Ms. Foster became a Licensed Realtor in 2004, a Licensed Real Estate Broker in 2006, a Licensed Business Broker in 2009, and she attended DePaul University for undergraduate studies from 1991-1996, received a Business Development Certificate from Roosevelt University in 1989, Real Estate Sales Certificate in 1985 and earned an Associates of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Chicago College of Commerce in 1980.
She is wife of James E. Foster, IV and mother of twin daughters, Jasmine Marie and Jonay Michelle, and one son, Jordan Hakeem.
Hattie Foster
Broker / owner