Super Bowl QB joins company

WARRENVILLE — Former Pro Bowl NFL quarterback and Super Bowl Champion Jay Schroeder has joined Sports Field Holdings and will represent the company’s FirstForm brand and products. Schroeder played quarterback in the NFL for 11 years and retired in 1994. His football career began at UCLA in 1980 before he was chosen in the 3rd round of the NFL draft in 1984 by the Washington Redskins. In 1987, he was on the Redskins team that won a Super Bowl Championship. Sports Field’s CEO Jeromy Olson said Schroeder’s addition “demonstrates our commitment to leadership and excellence in the industry. Sports Field Holdings’ FirstForm division designs, develops and manufactures sports surfacing products and associated pre-engineered construction systems.

Acura nets marketing deal

PALATINE — Acura Pharmaceuticals and MainPointe Pharmaceuticals have entered into a license agreement to have MainPointe exclusively market Nexafed and Nexafed Sinus in the U.S. and Canada. The pseudoephedrine-containing Nexafed brand products utilize Acura’s Impede Technology, which disrupts the extraction and conversion of the pseudoephedrine into the illicit drug methamphetamine. MainPointe will assume all manufacturing and commercialization activities from Acura. The agreement provided for an upfront cash payment of $2.5 million to Acura. Acura is eligible to receive a royalty of 7.5 percent based on commercial sales by MainPointe.

Rubicon names new executives

BENSENVILLE — Rubicon Technology has appointed Timothy E. Brog as the company’s chief executive officer. Brog, who has been a director of Rubicon since May 2016, replaces Bill Weissman, who resigned as CEO and from the company’s board of directors. Weissman will serve as a consultant to Rubicon Technology under terms to be agreed upon. In addition, Susan M. Westphal has been appointed as an independent director of the company. Westphal is the chief counsel of Melissa and Doug, LLC, a designer and manufacturer of educational toys and children’s products, where is responsible for a range of legal, strategic, and organizational matters. From January 2012 to January 2016, Westphal was an attorney with Brody and Associates, LLC. Prior to 2012, She has been an attorney at several law firms, including Epstein, Becker, & Green, p.c. Her legal practice has included representing corporate clients in litigations and negotiations in commercial, real estate, and employment matters.

Tenneco receives Deere honors

LAKE FOREST — Tenneco Inc. has earned recognition as a partner-level supplier for 2016 and was also named John Deere Construction and Forestry Division Supplier of the Year in the John Deere Achieving Excellence Program. The Partner-level status is Deere & Company’s highest supplier rating. Tenneco’s Clean Air facilities in Seward, Nebraska, Elkhart, Indiana and Zwickau, Germany, were selected for the honor in recognition of their dedication to providing products and service of outstanding quality as well as their commitment to continuous improvement. Tenneco supplies John Deere with diesel oxidation catalyst/diesel particulate filter systems, as well as selective catalytic reduction and decomposition tubes for various John Deere engines. Suppliers who participate in the Achieving Excellence program are evaluated annually in several key performance categories.