Hello friendly faces! It’s that time of the week! We’re back with a new Chicago North Shore Moms spotlight brought to you in part by Mary Gifford of Gifford Law.
Lake Forest moms Pim Alley and Kate Holland are forging a local community so “suite”, it’s all in the name… and logo. “The concentric circles in our logo represents [our mission] – Community, Connection, Enrichment, and Inclusivity,” explains Pim. To that we’d like to introduce you to Suite Escape in Lake Forest. Suite escape offers stellar speaker series fit to inspire your creativity and business savviness as well as a membership with many wonderful benefits. This, all with the goal of bringing women together to share their knowledge and experiences, and learn from one another while navigating life’s pivotal and ever-evolving moments. Please welcome long-time friends and now business partners Pim and Kate!
-Pim left and Kate right
Hi Kate and Pim. Please introduce yourself. Where are you from originally? What city do you live in now? What brought you here?
Kate: I am originally from a lot of different places – I actually went to middle school and high school in Japan. But my family is from the Chicago area originally, so Chicago has always felt like home even though we moved around. I currently live in Lake Forest, we moved to Illinois from Houston in 2008.
Pim: I’m originally from Arizona. I met my husband at a wedding in Ohio while living in Washington, DC and then moved to Chicago in 2003. Three kids and two dogs later we moved to Lake Forest in 2006 and love the burbs.
You’re both moms. Tell us about your children.
Kate: I have three children – A daughter 17, a son 14, and another daughter 12.
Pim: I have three boys- 18, 15, 12. WOW- how did they get so old.
What are one or two fun facts to know about you?
Kate: I am an eternal optimist, always thinking that the next day may be even better than the last. I also enjoy cultivating my “inner nerd” I love to read and learn new things.
Pim: I value a good sense of humor and authentic people.
My house is clean when I have people over, but don’t look in the drawers.
What are your favorite North Shore places, spaces and eats to frequent?
Kate: Towne & Oak is definitely on the top of my list. The food is delicious and there is always a great energy in the space. I also love Elawa Farm – in addition to being a beautiful working farm the chef and kitchen staff are always producing delicious food!
Pim: Towne and Oak is also my favorite and I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t crave the macro bowl. My other favorite is Le Colonial – love the ambiance and the spicy chicken soup!
What gets you through a tough day?
Kate: Probably a walk with my dogs and fresh air, or a good sweat session on the treadmill or Peloton. Time with Pim is always a good way to re-center myself!
Pim: Coffee, water, chocolate, Peloton, and a funny meme.
Your mantra?
Kate: “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” -Oprah Winfrey
Pim Alley: “Quality is not an act, it is a habit.” -Aristotle
You are both the founders of Suite Escape, a community that invites members to be their best while inspiring greatness in others. Tell us more about Suite Escape. What is it?
Suite Escape was created in the fall of 2020 out of our desire to bring women together to share their knowledge and experiences, learning from one another while we navigate life’s pivotal and ever-evolving moments. By coming together, it is our hope for the Suite Escape community to realize growth, positivity, and endless possibilities for whatever the future holds.
How does it work?
Suite Escape has several monthly events that are open to all women to attend. Simply visit the website and sign up to attend. We offer a monthly Lunch Series and “Morning Brew” Coffee Hour and are always thrilled to see the familiar faces of those who have previously joined us seated alongside new faces. We take to heart the Suite Escape Lunch mantra to “learn something new, meet someone new, and eat a delicious meal” all in the span of a little over an hour or everyone’s valuable time.
We are excited to announce a new way to engage with us in 2024 – a Membership! Members will have the option of paying a one-time annual or recurring monthly fee. In addition to accessing our public Suite Escape events Members will also be invited to attend Monthly Member Engagement Events for networking and inspiration, along with several other Member-only activities. Members will also have access to a digital portal including a member directory, resources and other curated content.
Where did this idea begin?
I think the essence of Suite Escape lived inside us both as something we were each personally passionate about. Neither of us are from this area originally so the idea of creating space to meet new people, learn new things, and make authentic connections is always something we have valued.
How did you both meet, and how long have you been friends? Why did you decide to start a small business together?
We first met back in 2016 – our kids were in the same grades in school. We became good friends when we had the opportunity to co-chair a school fundraiser, which was a full year time commitment. Following the successful conclusion of that effort we decided we wanted to keep the partnership going and began to explore different business opportunities. While we considered several different options, it was the outset of the pandemic in early 2020 inspired us in a new direction, that ultimately led to the creation of Suite Escape.
– Nadia Rawlinson @chicagosky WNBA Co-Owner & Chairman with Pim left and Kate right
Did you encounter any roadblocks to opening your doors?
Fall of 2020 was definitely not a great time to be starting a business focused on in-person events! It forced us to be thoughtful, taught us resiliency, and kept us focused and committed to producing high quality events and content, no matter what the scale.
Initially your intent was to create a coworking space. When did you pivot away from that model and into the model of creating a community space?
Towards the end of 2021 we realized that what we were creating had the potential to live beyond the physical walls of our space at the Gorton Center. It was the power of the community we were creating that we felt held the real value as opposed to a specific desk or conference table.
You’ve carefully chosen a name for this space. Why did you choose to call this welcome haven Suite Escape?
The name Suite Escape did arise out of the pandemic. We were escaping our homes, where husbands had overtaken our home offices, and Zoom school was going on nonstop. While thankfully that era has ended the name still has meaning in that we can provide a space for you to take a break from the everyday routine. Suite Escape is a place to cultivate your passion and purpose and provide inspiration for endless possibilities both personally and professionally.
Do you have any workshops coming up that you want us to know about?
YES! We have a lot of exciting events going on in 2024 – there are now more ways than ever to engage with Suite Escape.
In January we will be delving into issues surrounding teens and social media. Join us for a screening of the documentary film “LIKE” at the Gorton Center on January 25th, followed by a Morning Coffee discussion with Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo on Monday, January 29th at 8:30 am. Register here.
On Friday, February 2 we will be kicking off our 2024 lunch Series with Dr. Melina Ring of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern Hospital. On Thursday, February 22nd we are excited to welcome storyteller and author Clothilde Ewing for a dialogue on race and diversity in America.
Event dates and details can be found (1) on our website: www.lfsuite-escape.com/events, or (2) by following us on Instagram @suiteescapelf. We hope you will join us!
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about yourself or Suite Escape?
“If you surround yourself with people who inspire you and lift you higher you will find yourself making dreams a reality.” The past three years have been intense – life plus raising teenagers, aging parents, and a global pandemic to boot presented lots of things to navigate. It is the power of the Suite Escape community that lifts us up every day and continues to inspire us to bring the gift of Suite Escape to the North Shore, Chicago, and beyond!
-Charlie Saffro, Founder and CEO of CS Recruiting
What is the next step for our readers who want to check out Suite Escape? Give us all the dets!
We are excited to introduce you to Suite Escape on a corporate level, a dynamic and impactful non-profit organization dedicated to fostering personal and professional growth for women. Suite Escape offers a unique and enriching environment for women, providing curated events and experiences that inspire them to become positive leaders in their communities that many companies are looking for. Our mission aligns with the values of many forward-thinking companies, and we are excited to partner with them to support women in business. Reach out to us anytime for a tour or to ask your questions by emailing [email protected] or fill out this form. If you would like to share your story with our audience of engaged women, reach out! See you soon!
About our Meet of Mom Sponsor
A very heartfelt thank you to CNSMoms’ Meet a Mom sponsor, Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
