Howard Tullman Named CEO Of Chicago Tech Hub 1871

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Tullman,  an iconic business leader in the city, has been appointed to take control of the  hub that has become a focal point for the city’s rapidly developing startup community.

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Howard Tullman / Getty

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Chicago’s leading digital hub, 1871 recently announced that announced Howard Tullman will be taking up the position of CEO of the high-tech incubator,  succeeding. Kevin Willer, who was in charge of the organization for the past two years but had to leave his position in June of this year.

The 1871 tech hub operates under the auspices of CEC, a city of Chicago financed non-profit organization whose role is to support,  promote and generally encourage the growth  of  the rapidly developing startup community in the city..

According to a spokesperson for CEC, Howard Tullman’s appointment to take control of the 1871 hub serves as a classic example of what we in the Windy City describe as “Chicagoness”. Chicagoness is a situation where talented people such as Howard Tullman  who have been the mastermind behind the launching and success of some of the countries leading organizations have returned home to pass on their knowledge to the next generation of entrepreneurs to allow the cycle to continue.

Despite his busy schedule Howard Tullman  has taken on the role of CEO at 1871, as well as his duties as President and Chief Executive Officer of Flashpoint Academy,  CEO of Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Experiencia, Inc., and President Emeritus of Kendall College  as well as a number of other positions that he holds in Chicago.

The 1871 tech hub first began operating in May of 2012, since when, it has earned itself the number one niche for providing ground breaking programming,  becoming in the process a local, national and global model of how a successful tech hub incubator should operate. Since opening its doors  1871 has provided thousands of hours of individual mentorship from leading entrepreneurs to budding ones as well as  hands on training and important provision of working space to allow digital entrepreneurs to get their projects physically off the ground.

1871 also serves as home to two major national incubators including Tech Stars Chicago. Currently close to 250 high-tech companies operate out of 1871, having drawn a total of $40 million in investment capital, as well as creating close to  1000 jobs, making for a substantial contribution to Chicago’s economy.

Headquartered in a 50, 000-square-foot facility within the central Merchandise Mart, 1871 is the flagship project of the CEC, a non-profit organization committed to supporting the spirit of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in the city of Chicago.

Accepting the position Howard Tullman pointed out that there’s little doubt that an entrepreneurial renaissance is taking place within the city of Chicago and 1871 are a major driving force behind the drive which may well see 1871 become nationally known as a center for entrepreneurship.

“As a serial entrepreneur for more than 40 years, I can honestly say that there has been no more exciting time to be part of a startup organization in Chicago than today.” Mr. Tullman summed up.

Howard Tullman was born and raised in  St. Louis, Missouri. After the end of World War Two,   Howard the oldest of  six siblings, took it upon himself to try and help the family fortunes, doing all kinds of part-time jobs as well as entertaining at children’s parties by clicking on magic performances.

In the mid-50s Tullman and his family moved to Highland Park, Illinois where he graduated from High School going on to  study for his undergraduate degree at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illanois  graduating Cum Laude with a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics in 1967.

Harold then went on to receive his Jurus Doctor from Northwestern’s School of Law graduating with Honors in 1970.

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