The Dad Project

“I’m calling it the Dad Project,” that’s what she said over a bottle of wine at an Italian Restaurant in Cherry Creek.  ”Yeah, at least for now anyway.”

We met Bija Bennett through one of our contacts at Pura Vida Health Club.  My colleagues were introduced to her a couple weeks prior, while she cracked numerous bottles of wine and talked endlessly about the ideas she had for a feature length documentary about her father.  Of course it still wasn’t clear exactly what The Dad Project was going to be about.  There was no clear message or focal point.  All we really did know was the stories leading role.

Marshall Bennett is famed in Chicago for his role in real estate development.  He is the founder of Marshall Bennett Enterprises and a long time friend and colleague of famed hotel tycoon Jay Pritzker. Pritzker is the founder of the Hyatt Hotel, among other lucrative ventures that left him with a 26 billion dollar estate at the time of his death ten years prior.  26 Billion dollars … that’s billion with a B.

I had the privilege to meet Marshall this past weekend in Chicago for Zerosun’s first out of state business trip.  It was a trip that Bija insisted on because her father was to receive an honorary doctorate from Roosevelt University.  ”We got to start somewhere,” Bija said, and so she and her younger sister Alice financed production for the project.

We arrived at Midway on a cool Thursday morning of what would become a very long day.  Phil and I gathered our things and took a cab to Chicago’s west side, better known as Wicker Park.  It was there that we dropped off our belongings and prepared for a lunch meeting downtown.  The meeting was to be our first exposure to the family, and it would be the introduction to our cast of characters.  From a production stand point, our goal for the trip was to discover a compelling story line.  In my mind the weekend was titled, Scene 1:  Meet the Bennett’s.

Phil and I entered Ralph Lauren Restaurant on Chicago Avenue not knowing what to expect.  We sat with Bija and her mother and began to watch the inner workings of the family.  Arlene was a very sweet woman, and a talker.  She told story after story as I sat there not sure what to say, if anything.

Marshall was to arrive later, wearing a fitted navy blue suit and pink tie.  He was a very well dressed man, and sharp.  He had his hair combed back and his tie fit perfectly flush along the collar.  The first thing I noticed about this 89 year old billionaire was his attention to the people around him.  He has a curiosity about him.  He prefers to ask questions when in the company of others, rather than talk about himself.  Our meeting was brief, merely an introduction, filming was to begin the following day.

“Isn’t he great,” Bija said, smiling.  I agreed, but we still needed to know more if were going to create the fabric for a feature length documentary.
In the days to follow I would learn a great deal about Marshall Bennett.  He has a lightness about him, a clear sense of humor, and always pays for everything.  When hanging out with him, you get the feeling that you’re with him, and so everything will be taken care of.  He has an interest about people that is rarely seen.  He is old fashioned, very humble and from an era nearly forgotten.

From a business stand point you get the impression that he has earned his living through careful decision making, hard work, and honesty.  Among the many things that I remember him saying over the weekend … the following lines resonated greatly.

“I love making a deal.”

“You got to do it, and you got to do it straight.  Don’t take bribes, and don’t offer them either.”

“I love Chicago.”

I felt very privileged to have the opportunity to spend time with Marshall Bennett.  It was like spending time with someone who’s time you know is sought after and respected.  He has a way about him that feels legendary, and a presence that is fierce and loving at the same time.

Our trip to the windy city was very exciting, productive, and full of life.  I am now looking forward to the next move with this project.  On our last day I was asking Marshall about his up coming week.  He was telling me about a trip to New York and Boston.  I asked him, what he was planning to do in New York and he said, “I got to go raise 20 Billion for a real estate deal.”

Wow, I thought … that’s some project.

- Tim Leonard