Board of Directors
Kirk Dakarian
Kirk Dakarian is a Senior Account Executive with Office Concepts in Lake Forest, IL. He has over 27 years of experience in the corporate interior furnishings industry both as a dealer salesperson and as a manufacturer’s representative. Kirk oversees a team of Office Concepts’ specialists, which includes design services, installation specialists, inventory management and sales operations. He has managed projects of all types and scale, from individual office needs to large corporate installations that include several hundred workstations, private offices and meeting spaces. Kirk has served several high profile Fortune 500 customers on a national and international basis. Kirk is married, has three daughters and resides in Lake Zurich, IL.
Franco Pacini
Franco Pacini joined The French Pastry School on August 1, 2005 as Director of Operations. Franco is responsible for strategy and development of The French Pastry School. He oversees the school's business development, financing, marketing, and admissions departments.
A Chicago native born and raised on the north side, Franco experienced a true immigrant lifestyle. With his mother from Paris, France and his father from Luca, Italy, it’s quite clear where Franco acquired both his love and passion for food. At the age of sixteen, Franco Pacini started working in the food industry for Service Systems, a subsidiary of Marriott Food Service. He thrived at Marriott for a combined thirteen years. During his time with Marriott Food Service Franco earned his B.A. in Business from DePaul University and achieved the position of General Manager of the Commerce Clearing House account. In 1990 following the direction and guidance of his client, Franco pursued a new career in sales with Albert Uster Imports, Inc. Since 1990, Mr. Pacini’s devotion for selling has been steadily rewarded. In 1995 he became the company’s top sales person having grown the territory five-fold. In 1997 he was promoted to National Sales Manager, and in 2000 to the position as Vice President of Sales.
Franco also devotes his time and talent to numerous other organizations. He sits on the board of directors of For the Love of Chocolate Foundation which provides scholarships to qualified students in the specialized training of the pastry arts, specifically to L’Art de la Pâtisserie program taught by The French Pastry School for the City Colleges of Chicago. For the Love of Chocolate Foundation promotes commitment in pastry arts education for individuals looking to change careers, as well as individuals who have shown potential in the culinary field but who have no formal pastry education.
Franco also is a member of the American Culinary Federation Windy City Chapter and is an advisor to the Board of Directors, is a member of Pastry Chicago, sits on the board of directors of Zagone Studios LLC, sits on the board of directors for Esperanza Community Services and chairs the Development Committee, and is a member of the French American Chamber of Commerce.
Theodore R. Timm
Mr. Timm is a founding member and Partner of the law firm of Timm & Garfinkel, LLC. Prior to the formation of Timm & Garfinkel, LLC, Mr. Timm was a Partner at Grobart & Levick, LLC where he concentrated on corporate and business law, commercial real estate, land use and development. Prior to joining Grobart & Levick, LLC, Mr. Timm was General Counsel of Spence Group Services Inc., one of the largest and most successful franchisees of Burger King Corporation, where he negotiated and handled all corporate and real estate matters for the company.
Prior to his affiliation with Spence Group Services Inc., Mr. Timm spent thirteen years as General Counsel & Vice President for DoALL Company, one of the largest distributors of industrial supplies in the United States and a world-class manufacturer of machinery. Mr. Timm was a key member of the management team and was responsible for all legal issues involved in the organization. Prior to his work for DoALL Company, Mr. Timm was an associate responsible for commercial and corporate transactional work at the Chicago law firm of Levin & Ginsburg. Mr. Timm’s entrepreneurial spirit is evidenced by his interests in and involvement in numerous start-up businesses, including a business utilizing new patented technology. Mr. Timm received his undergraduate degree from DePaul University, where he graduated with high honor with a B.S.C. in Management and Marketing. He received his Juris Doctor with honor from DePaul University, where he won awards in Contracts and Business Organizations. He is admitted to practice law in the States of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Anthony Zagone
Tony earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Electronic and Electromagnetic Engineering from the University of Illinois, Chicago. Out of college Tony began a very successful 22 year career at Underwriters Laboratories. His career included over 20 years of professional management experience, included significant overseas travel, personnel and performance management for a staff of over 200 and a revenue budget over $16 Million US. Tony also served as chairperson for over 100 Standards Writing Technical panels. Tony achieved the executive position of Director of Primary Designated Engineers and held responsibility for the Principal Engineers in over 60 fields of expertise around the world and the consistency and quality of engineering projects at 28 affiliates globally.
In 2005, Tony and his brothers founded Zagone Studios, LLC a design studio and leading manufacturer of high quality Halloween masks, costumes and accessories. Tony currently co-owns and manages the business with his brother which manufactures in the US with a tremendous focus on detail and quality, Zagone Studios has rapidly become the preferred supplier of Halloween products for those retailers and specialty stores that want something unique, great fitting and fun, and who need to differentiate themselves from the mass merchandisers.
Tony's affiliation with the pastry industry resulted from Tony's engineering background, artistic flare and mold making expertise and the Industry's needs for mold making experience.