DeVry names new CEO

DOWNERS GROVE — The DeVry Education Group board of directors has named Lisa Wardell chief executive officer of DeVry Group, replacing Daniel Hamburger, who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Wardell was most recently executive vice president and chief operating officer of the RLJ Companies and is a director on the DeVry Group board., where she’s been a member since 2008. She has also chaired the board’s audit and finance committee. “The board of directors believes that Lisa Wardell provides a strategic vision and road map for the rapid acceleration of DeVry Group’s diversification initiatives,” said Chris Begley, DeVry Group board chair. “Lisa is the right person to lead DeVry Group through this transformational period in higher education while remaining true to our mission of successful student outcomes.”

Hotel Arista nets award

NAPERVILLE — The Hotel Arista in Naperville was recently named “Best Hotel with Meeting/Event Space (less than 350 guest rooms)” by readers of Illinois Meetings + Events Magazine. The honor was announced at an awards ceremony at Rockit Bar Chicago. Hotel Arista bested Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago and Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago to earn the award in one of the most competitive categories of the night. “It is a huge honor,” said Barb Hocker, director of sales and marketing at Hotel Arista. “We were up against some really amazing hotels. It was great to see the hard work and talent of our team get recognized.” Hotel Arista, an independent, locally owned boutique hotel, has received a number of recognitions over the years. The hotel was the first LEED certified hotel in Illinois and is a repeat Forbes Four-Star and AAA/CAA Four-Diamond award winner.

CDK reworks organization

HOFFMAN ESTATES — CDK Global announced a comprehensive streamlining of its organization that will enable it to improve customers’ experience, create significant efficiencies and better align the company to implement its transformation plan. The new structure, effective July 1, will reorganize the company into two main operating groups: CDK North America and CDK International. The organizational changes also include integrating product management, combining digital marketing and automotive retail North America operations into a single organization, creating a single North America Sales organization, and forming a single global R&D organization. The company also announced a number of leadership changes as a result. “These fundamental changes to our global structure and leadership team will create a flatter, faster, and more efficient organization that puts the customer first and increases our ability to offer interconnected products and solutions,” said Brian MacDonald, chief executive officer at CDK Global.

Contract boosts SFHI’s 1Q

WARRENVILLE — Sports Field Holdings said revenues for the first quarter of 2016 grew 57 percent largely from money received on a major contract. Revenues for the quarter were reported at $811,075, compared to $517,860 a year ago. The company said the contract with IMG Academy resulted in the bulk of the increase. Gross profit margin for the quarter decreased to 5.8 percent, due to projects having experienced predicted losses, but nearing completion. SFHI has been awarded more than $15.75 million in sales contracts so far this year, and expects to achieve profitability targets for the 2016 fiscal year.