Latin School of Chicago

32 E ven as a student at Latin, Beth Goldberg Heller '93 was a self- starter. She did not shy away from making her voice heard and being a leader, whether it was as co-founder of the cheer squad or as captain of various sports teams. It is hardly surprising that Heller, who had had jobs in hospitality since the age of 14, didn't hesitate to speak up when she came to work at Harry Caray's restaurant as a hostess the summer after freshman year of college. Grant DePorter '83, president and owner of Harry Caray's – which later grew into Harry Caray's Restaurant Group – soon took note. "She always had ideas to improve the restaurant," recalled DePorter, "ideas that none of the managers had come up with." He invited her to return to Harry's the next few summers, and when Heller graduated from college, DePorter offered her a job as HCRG's first-ever marketing associate. Although he was initially not aware of their shared connection to Latin, DePorter has been pleased to support a fellow alum. With this began an extremely successful 22-year working relationship and business partnership that has been integral to HCRG's growth from one flagship restaurant to seven restaurants, a catering company and the Chicago Sports Museum. Today DePorter is a leader in hospitality locally and nationally, and Heller, as a vice president and partner in HCRG, continues to serve as his right hand. "Grant and I are a great team. ere is a trust that exists," Heller emphasized, and then half-joked, "We're like [Chicago Blackhawks] Kane and Toews." DePorter concurred, "We know each other so well. It's kept us nimble." Heller credits DePorter for being an excellent mentor, teaching her everything she knows about the business. "I've learned so much about how to be successful from watching Grant for 22 years," Heller said. DePorter's no-nonsense approach and belief in tackling issues without hesitation, the effectiveness of always being direct and honest, and the importance of building networks are just some of the invaluable lessons she has taken to heart. As life-long Chicagoans, both DePorter and Heller have deep ties to the community with connections in politics, sports, the arts, and charitable and community groups that they bring with them as they continue to foster HCRG's success. ey also appreciate the importance of staying connected to Latin and other alumni. Heller is a former alumni board member, continues to work closely with the Alumni Office and serves on Latin's Board of Trustees. She also reaches out to the school when she knows that there are internship positions available at HCRG. Meanwhile, DePorter can rattle off dozens of names of alumni from all eras with whom they have collaborated over the years, including Roe Conn '82 of WGN Radio, who leads the annual toast for Harry Caray and is a business partner; Kara Bachman '02, in her role as executive director of the Chicago Sports Commission; and Danny Weil '83, who handles the group's insurance, to name a few. For photos of some of those familiar faces, just stop by Harry Caray's. According to DePorter, no restaurant in Chicago has more pictures of Latin alums. His advice to young alumni? "Stay in touch with your classmates. ose friendships can last a lifetime, and you will have the world's biggest support group." But he is also quick to stress that Heller would have been a great success with or without his help. She disagrees: "We are a good team because we believe the same things and have the same mindset. Our ideas feed off each other," Heller said. "I know I would not be where I am today without everything that I learned from Grant." Beth Goldberg Heller '93 & Grant DePorter '83 I like to help provide opportunities for young alums. I know that if they are coming from Latin, their quality of work is going to stand out." – Beth Goldberg Heller '93

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