Get to know…business consultant Ellen Huxtable Nancy Munson/Triblocal.com staff reporter Batavia resident Ellen Huxtable is an active member of the community, serving on advisory boards and volunteering her time at the local public broadcasting station. With a conscientious and outgoing personality, Huxtable exudes a high-level of enthusiasm for helping people in business cope with trying times. Q. Tell us a bit about yourself -- where you grew up, where you went to school, your family. I grew up in Chicago, just north of downtown, in a neighborhood of storefronts and four story walk-ups, when high-rise buildings were still confined to the lakefront. I attended Northwestern University and graduated from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. My husband, Bob, is the accountant for Christ Church in Oakbrook and our son, Nathan, is in the 6th grade at Rotolo Middle School. Baseball is a big part of our lives; Nathan loves to play third base, and our last two summer vacations have been long bus tours to see major league games in other cities. We are all fascinated by particle physics and thoroughly enjoy the Fermilab community lectures. Q. When did you become interested your career? I am a business profitability consultant. I help small business owners overcome challenges such as company growth or the slowing economy, and help them position their companies for the future. I also coordinate the Congregational Church of Batavia Small Business Networking Group. This is a fun, free, low stress group open to all small business owners and those interested in this community. I teach business classes for Waubonsee Community College's Small Business Development Center, and serve on the advisory boards for the Small Business Development Centers of Elgin Community College and the College of DuPage. Q. What is the best part about your job? The best part of my job is the variety of activities and opportunities. Things are never boring! I'm always pleased when I save time and money for a client, or connect people who can help each other. Q. What is the toughest part of your job? The toughest part of my job is the stigma attached to the word "consultant." For many, "consultant" is synonymous with an expensive, impractical, big business talk-but-no-action waste of money. In contrast, simple, practical and affordable solutions and implementation are my stock in trade. Small businesses can't afford anything less. I love what I do, and can't think of any job I would enjoy more! Q. How do deal with the stress of your job? I'm blessed in that I don't usually find work too stressful. When things get a little crazy, a nice dinner or two out (no shopping, no cooking, and especially no cleanup!) is definitely the way to go. Q. What other hobbies/interests do you have? When not officially at work, I might be found running a camera as a BATV volunteer, helping out Batavia MainStreet, or catching my son's baseball, basketball or soccer game. | 
