Team Bios

Mikki Markowicz, president and founder Art Space Creative has integrated her experience in real estate development with what she learned about arts communities. Markowicz determined that special events and interactive programs such as art classes and a robust artists-in-residence program would enhance the appeal of  residential real estate and enrich a neighborhood. Her goal is to create a large, integrated venue where artists and their patrons interact and where for-profit and not-for-profit enterprises could collaborate. Markowicz envisioned a plan to create a fine arts and entertainment destination for the neighborhood that would not only function as a going concern but also serve as an anchor for this emerging community.

Markowicz shares Richard Florida’s point of view that artists and those who care about them can define and revitalize a community. This belief guided the development of River East Art Center from its inception.

In 2000, as Executive Director of the River East Art Center, Markowicz established Chicago’s newest fine arts community under one roof. Located at 435 East Illinois Street, its 140,000 square-feet of gallery, retail, studio, classroom and special event spaces fill the first two floors of a six-story structure. Currently, the building’s top four floors are under redevelopment for residential lofts.

Markowicz was challenged to find a use for this massive property situated in the center of River East neighborhood comprised of 13 acres of land east of Michigan Ave bounded by the Chicago River and Grand Avenue and by Columbus Drive and Lake Shore Drive. Markowicz recognized that River East needed to distinguish itself from other affluent, emerging Chicago neighborhoods and proposed that an arts center and entertainment destination would accomplish that.

Before embarking on the development of River East Art Center, Markowicz’ career as an entrepreneur has been in the fields of real estate and technology.

Eileen Higginbotham has been affiliated with ASC since its inception. Her focus is on business development and opening new markets. Higginbotham is also the President of Hotel Marketing Resources, Inc, founded in 2001, a consulting firm specializing in providing sales and marketing solutions for the hotel industry.  With an entire career in the travel industry, Eileen excels in coordinating all organizational levels to achieve marketing and sales objectives.  Her leadership during economic downturns and other periods of significant change such as disasters, competitive challenges, and technical innovations has given her a unique combination of skills for responding to a market or business in transient---ideal for opening an adaptive mixed use project.  Her goal has been to achieve significant improvement in revenues, productivity and overall procedural and personal efficiency by repositioning marketing and sales.

Eileen’s experience allows her to tailor practical solutions for today’s challenging business climate based on her comprehensive knowledge and extensive experience in all facets of sales and marketing development including multi-unit sales management, training, competition analysis and e-commerce marketing.

Higginbotham has been extensively involved with the facility launch of the River East Art Center in Chicago, IL. There she consulted with the Executive Director to implement a business plan for the events department, the concierge service, hosted events and Project 465 including its artists studios, classes and the retail gallery. Eileen is also on the faculty of Hospitality Sales and Marketing International’s educational institute and is a frequent speaker at the Society of Government Travel Professionals semi-annual conference in Washington DC.

Prior to starting Hotel Marketing Resources Eileen was the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for First Hospitality Group, a multiple franchise hotel operator in the Chicago area.  At First Hospitality she directed all aspects of sales and marketing on a national level during the growth of the company.  During her 12 years at FHG the company developed from annual revenue of 5 million dollars to over 100 million in annual sales. She personally developed all of the sales and marketing systems, standards, procedures and provided the leadership to facilitate this growth.

Before joining FHG Eileen was the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Ramada Hotel O’Hare a 723-room convention resort hotel at O’Hare Airport. Other experience includes six years as the Vice President of Sales for Caravelle Travel and Omni Meeting Planners in Elgin, IL.  Here she assisted in implementing and planning the United Airlines’ automated Apollo reservation system and was a key player in opening a central reservations office for multiple travel agency locations. Eileen also worked for American Airlines.

Terry O’Brien brings over 20 years of award winning sales experience to Art Space Creative.  Terry’s outstanding track record as the Midwest Director of Sales for the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau for over 8 years has solidly positioned her to work with major associations, corporations and hotels on a national level. Prior to being part of the Dallas National Sales team she opened the Washington, DC Convention and Visitors Association Chicago office in January 1991, and ran the office until May 1998. In 1995 O’Brien was named Employee of the Year for the WCVA.

Currently O’Brien is the president O’Brien Hospitality Solutions providing sales and marketing training and services to the hospitality industry.  Tapping into her extensive network of clients, contacts and hotels Terry has provided direct sales assistance to the River East Art Center, Total Event Resources and Hospitality Performance Network. Prior to launching her own company O’Brien worked with DMI Hotels, as Vice President of Sales with an emphasis on Chicago area Association and Corporate markets.

O’Brien is nationally recognized as a leader in such prestigious organizations as Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Professional Convention Managers Association (PCMA). Terry has held regional and national positions as a committee member, Team Leader and committee chair for MPI and with PCMA Greater Midwest Chapter as Chair of the Membership committee, on the board, Secretary of the Chapter and nationally as the Membership and Chapter Relations Committees.

O’Brien has received numerous awards and recognition for excellence in the hospitality industry.  She was named a Rising Star for Meeting Professionals International, Chicago Area Chapter (MPI-CAC), as well as the Supplier of the Year Award  for service, going “above and beyond”.  Terry chaired the 2000-2001 Holiday Showcase Committee for the Association Forum of Chicagoland, the nation’s number one business services and meeting sites exhibition. This exhibition  brings together the best in learning, networking, and business, connecting all in one day and all in one place. O’Brien has also received the Supplier Partner Service Award presented to a supplier partner for outstanding contributions to the profession of association to association management and the Forum.

In 2002 she received the Dick Daignault Award, created to honor an outstanding industry sales leader, for the Greater Midwest Chapter of PCMA (GMC-PCMA). This award is presented to the supplier partner who demonstrates outstanding leadership through mentoring, integrity, and respect for colleagues.

Additionally, O’Brien is involved with the Barrington Youth and Family Services, the Barrington Junior Women’s Club, Parent Teacher Organization and her Homeowner’s Association.