Hello! Please introduce yourself.
Hi! My name is Gina Koertner. I am a business owner and mom to 2 beautiful girls. I have three Golden Retrievers so I have come to love vacuuming as well! 🙂 I have been involved in many women’s charities, drive for Meals On Wheels, and love to compete in triathlons.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in town? What brought you to the area?
I grew up in St. Louis, MO and went to college at Purdue University. Once I graduated, I moved the city and have been in Chicago proper or the suburbs ever since.
Do you have child(ren)? Age(s)?
What are your favorite things to do in the area with and without your kids? Family friendly restaurant? Date night?
In addition to the restaurants you mentioned, can you share your TOP 5 favorite local businesses?
One of my favorite places to shop is at Luxe Wearhouse in Mellody Farm. It is owned by two women, one of whom is local to the area. The clothes are trendy but affordable. I get compliments on everything I wear from there! For yoga and barre, I LOVE Studio Elevate Fit. Sarah, the owner, is amazing. She has cultivated a community of people who help you focus on your health and wellness in a holistic way. Its a great workout and beautiful studio. Bears Fit is an incredible gym. The facility to beautiful and always the clean. The energy in the gym and from the personal trainers is unmatched!
Which podcasts and/or TED Talks inspire you the most?
What are your favorite places to travel near and far and why?
My family loves two places the most…Hawaii and Montana. Two of the most beautiful places on earth. My husband and I also love Rome. We plan to take the girls on spring break next year in the hopes they fall in love with it too!
Tell us about your business/organization.
I opened the first Crisp & Green in Illinois! Crisp & Green is one of the fastest growing healthy eating restaurants in the country. I felt so strong about bringing a healthy but delicious restaurant to the area that you can feel good about eating and feeding to your family. Life is so busy with children and I hated that I found myself sacrificing healthy food because I was in a hurry. Every single item from on the menu from dressing to chicken marinated overnight is made in our restaurant. All of our recipes were created by chefs to ensure the best tasting salads and grain bowl! Its really easy for me to feel very proud of what Crisp & Green is offering.
What do you do in your position?
I own the restaurant and plan to open an additional 6 around the Chicago suburbs.
Why do you love your job?
I have always been so passionate about health. I have completed 7 Ironmans and have run numerous marathons. I love to garden and cook at home. But as my children got bigger and our lives got busier with their activities, I found myself in a drive through line more than I wanted. When my husband and I found out about Crisp & Green, I knew I had to open them in Illinois. Not only do I feel great about all of the ingredients in the food, I feel great about the taste! I never feel that I am sacrificing taste for a quick and healthy bite.