Pope Ping Pong / Robert Blackwell Jr/Obama/ Connections Dig

Robert Blackwell Jr. is CEO of a technology consulting firm and a leading manufacturer of table tennis equipment.

He launched EKI in 1998, helping corporations, governments and healthcare organizations to streamline their business processes through technology. Blackwell also founded Killerspin, a table tennis equipment and lifestyle company, in 2003.

He has been playing Ping-Pong since he was a teenager, when his father bought a set for their basement.

“I thought it was fun to dink around, but I never would have imagined it was such an exciting sport,” he told the Tribune.

He began his career at IBM in 1981 and went on to create several Chicago-based companies, including Urban Fishing Development, Bytewise International and Blackwell Consulting Services, which he founded with his father in 1992.

Blackwell currently serves on the executive committee of Choose Chicago. He is also vice chairman of the Chicago Sports Commission, chairman of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Committee and is on the board of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center.

He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

More on Robert Blackwell

Killerspin launches table tennis ‘Paradise’ on Mediterranean island – July 6, 2015

9 ways to get the best employees, get coverage and get funded – Aug. 19, 2014

Chicago entrepreneurs: Game for business opportunities in Nigeria – Dec. 13, 2013

Search more on Robert Blackwell Jr. in Blue Sky

http:// chicago.blueskyinnovation.com/vault/network/blackwell-jr-robert/

>>1647421

Chicago entrepreneurs: Game for business opportunities in Nigeria

Robert Blackwell soon could find himself ping-ponging between Chicago and western Africa.

Blackwell, founder and CEO of table tennis retailer Killerspin, traveled last month to Nigeria with friend and businessman Wilbur Milhouse, president and CEO of Milhouse Engineering and Construction.

Both said they’d be going back.

“Table tennis is a very popular sport in Nigeria,” said Blackwell, also the founder and CEO of Electronic Knowledge Interchange. “Killerspin has established itself as a brand leader in the United States. Now it’s time for us to think about taking that outside the United States.”

Milhouse also sees opportunities for his company. He said his engineering firm had just wrapped up design work on two new O’Hare runways and that, as always, he was looking for new business. “There’s a lot of competition in the engineering space,” he said. “I’m always looking for what the new hot thing is.”

That led him to Nigeria, a country of more than 160 million.

Milhouse said the country is fertile ground not just for engineering work but for innovative engineering work. The key, he said, is that while Nigeria’s physical needs are great, Nigerians are rushing headlong into mobile technology.

“Most everybody has a high level of sophistication in their thinking about technology,” he said, pointing out that his firm does electrical and environmental engineering as well as civil engineering. “Everything they need, we do.”

Milhouse pointed to energy, in particular building an electrical supply grid. Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos, is a modern metropolis, but many rural villages don’t have electric service, he said.

“We’re thinking about creative ways to address that,” he said. “It costs millions to run wire to these villages. Do you do that? Or do you try to create a (solar) power source right there? Technology is all part of that. How can we use technology to improve peoples’ lives?”

Milhouse said his company has established a relationship with a large Nigerian company and that he will return in January to discuss opportunities for projects.

Blackwell said he sees opportunity for both of his companies. Electronic Knowledge Interchange helps governments and large companies modernize their technology. He said he has no specific business plans or contracts but will return early next year.

“When you go into a new place, you have to understand the environment, the rules, etc.,” he said. “We’re going to crawl before we can walk.”

http:// bluesky.chicagotribune.com/originals/chi-chicago-entrepreneurs-game-for-business-opportunities-in-nigeria-20131213,0,0.story

>>1647421

Killerspin launches table tennis 'Paradise' on Mediterranean island

For golf die-hards, there’s Scotland. For surfers, there’s Waimea Bay. And for table tennis players, one Chicago company hopes they'll think of Sardinia.

Table tennis company Killerspin says it has launched a partnership with Forte Village, a resort on the Mediterranean island, to offer “Killerspin Paradise,” a table tennis package that includes the option of training at Killerspin’s Skill Academy.

Killerspin founder and CEO Robert Blackwell ⇒ said the “Paradise” model is based on the “European delivery” programs offered by luxury automakers, in which automakers offer a discount on new vehicles as well as travel deals, so customers can pick up their new vehicle and drive around during their trip. The carmaker then ships the car to the buyer’s home.

“You can buy a Ferrari, you can go to the Ferrari factory, look at your car and then drive around Italy,” Blackwell said.

Killerspin says it’s offering the same sort of thing, only for table tennis. “Killerspin is the world’s only luxury table tennis experience brand — and this really fits that,” he said.

Visitors can also opt for training at the Skill Academy, which will be open July through September this year and May through September next year, the company said. The academy offers private lessons, group trainings and casual play at several venues.

“European Delivery” packages beginning at $7,999 include lodging and Killerspin’s Revolution Table, which typically retails for $2,199. More expensive packages include a Revolution BlackSteel, which retails for $4,999. Tables and equipment are shipped to customers after the trip.

The company said 30 visitors, including some professional athletes being sent for promotional purposes, are departing for the first Killerspin trip in the next week. Killerspin would not say how many of those guests were paying customers.

Blackwell said that though some individuals will visit the resort to give their table tennis game a leg up, he hopes Paradise also attracts families and friends for a unique bonding experience.

Of the game, Blackwell said: “It’s fast, it’s accessible and it’s a way for you to really make connections with people.”

http:// www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-killerspin-paradise-bsi-20150706-story.html

>>1647421

Here is the Rod Blogojevich connection

The Times notes that former Obama aide Dan Shomon did the heavy lifting when it came to helping Blackwell. Which is all very cozy because Shomon is shown here as the press contact for EKI when Blackwell was named to Rod Blagojevich’s transition team after winning the 2002 gubernatorial race.

https:// www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Obama_s_Third_Arm.html

>>1647667

Entrepreneur Robert Blackwell Jr. Guides Two Global Companies

By

Alan Gray -

Sun January 6, 2008

Though it has operated largely under the radar for more than a decade, Electronic Knowledge Interchange (EKI), a Chicago technology solutions provider, has done anything but go unnoticed by competitors, or major computer giants like Microsoft and IBM. But so has Killerspin, a global advocate and brand committed to driving awareness of the sport of table tennis, also based in the same city.

Both companies are led by visionary entrepreneur Robert Blackwell Jr., who founded both, and remains firmly at each one’s helm as CEO. Acknowledged industry-wide as a leader in just more than a decade since its founding, EKI provides program management, application architecture, development and support services to some of the world’s largest public- and private-sector organizations.

In the public sector, EKI developed the City of Chicago Portal and its Health Alert Network for the Department of Public Health. In the private sector, EKI was awarded Wal-Mart IT Supplier of the Year for its innovative service offerings.

Killerspin is the leading U.S. table tennis manufacturer and the world’s leading private table tennis media company. Killerspin partners with The Arnold Sports Fest in Columbus and The Mayor’s Sports Festival in Chicago to bring table tennis to hundreds of thousands of sports fans annually. Killerspin events have been seen in more than 160 countries around the world.

“I think we’re a good company, but one that needs to get better, and can get better,” he emphasized. “We’ve got two good companies that more people need to know about, and accolades notwithstanding, our biggest challenge has been communicating. The company has not been very good at communicating about the work we’re doing or our successes, but I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve created opportunities for people to have a great life.”

Robert Blackwell Jr. is most passionate about promoting economic sustainability through entrepreneurship as a way of transforming the lives of people living in underserved communities.

He is a technology industry leader with a career over almost 30 years. Electronic Knowledge Interchange is a management and technology consulting firm with more than 100 technology and business consulting experts.

Blackwell says, “We’ve given people a chance – no matter what their background is – to leverage their talents, integrity and passions to come and work with our company. And, if they’re performers, they can create great lives for themselves.”

Blackwell volunteers his time to do motivational speaking, while also making time to serve on the boards of such groups as the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), After School Matters, The Belle Center, the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, The Mayor’s Council of Technology Advisors, The Metropolitan Planning Commission, Perspectives Charter School, The Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE), The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Executives’ and Economic Clubs of Chicago.

https://newsblaze.com/business/latest-business/entrepreneur-robert-blackwell-jr-guides-two-global-companies_78211/

>>1647718

I think it's important to get the Blago connection in there, because I am starting to think this Blackwell guy is a much bigger deal, and may have been the instrument for Blago being in jail.

This is turning out to be a bigger dig than I thought it would be. I think your title works.

>>1647692

Thanks, its getting deep, kek

Obama’s Third Arm

By Steve Rhodes

Published at 1:16 AM CDT on Jul 14, 2009 | Updated at 12:55 PM CDT on Oct 13, 2010

Anyone ever seen a news publication changed or Updated over a year later?

>>1647763

Thank you:)

>>1647709

Robert Blackwell Jr. Biography

A technology industry leader with a career spanning nearly 30 years, Robert Blackwell Jr. has cultivated Electronic Knowledge Interchange (EKI) into a leading management and technology consulting firm well-known for its ability to respond to complex business challenges with efficient, intelligent and innovative solutions. Today he oversees the company, which currently employs more than 100 technology and business consulting experts.

Starting at IBM in 1981, Blackwell began his long career in building innovative systems that improve business operations. With a keen passion for entrepreneurship, he then went on to found several Chicago-based companies, including Urban Fishing Development, Bytewise International and Blackwell Consulting Services. A former professional table tennis player. Blackwell also founded Killerspin, the leading table tennis equipment, apparel and promotion company.

Blackwell is currently an active member of the Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE), Executive’s Club of Chicago and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and in 2010 was selected as Chair of the Business Development Committee of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. He has also been a member of the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Blackwell also services on the board of several civic organizations including After School Matters, The Belle Center in Chicago and Autism Speaks.

http:// robertblackwelljr.com/biography/

>>1647667

Robert Blackwell Speaks - RealPlayer Videos

Transcript of an Interview, w/ Blackwell,

A bit bizarre maybe cryptic even

http:// outpost81.com/Killerspin_Robert_Blackwell_Speaks.htm>0eb32f