Conversation and Cheesecake with Marc Schulman, President of Eli's Cheesecake (This is a NULaw Alumni Family Business)

Marc Schulman

President

Eli's Cheesecake

Marc S. Schulman is President of the Eli’s Cheesecake Company, one of the country’s largest specialty cheesecake and dessert bakeries located on the northwest side of Chicago. The Cheesecake was the dream of Marc’s father, famous Chicago restaurateur, Eli Schulman, who created the signature dessert for his legendary restaurant, Eli’s the Place for Steak, and which made its public debut at the first Taste of Chicago in 1980. Eli’s Cheesecake was named a top ten Chicago food icon by the Chicago Tribune in its 150th Commemorative issue.

Schulman and Eli’s are committed to promoting educational opportunities and careers in the food industry through its partnership with the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. Schulman serves as a co-chair of the Business Advisory Board for CHSAS and served this year on the Leadership Council and co-chair of the Education & Innovation Committee for FARM Illinois.

Eli’s is also very involved in supporting programs for people with disabilities such as Jacqueline Vaughn High School, a public high school for students with mild cognitive disabilities, New Horizons Center for the Developmentally Disabled, located directly west of the Eli’s bakery and the Sunshine Center Activity Center.

Schulman is a past President of the Magnificent Mile Association and was the founding Chairman of the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. He currently serves on the Board of the Illinois Council on Economic Education, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Lincoln Academy and The Happiness Club. He was also co-chair of the Seneca Park/Eli M. Schulman Playground Committee which rebuilt the Park and created a Playground in Eli’s memory across the street from Eli’s the Place for Steak which is now the home of Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Schulman received the Hall of Fame Award from the Chicago Foodservice Marketing Club, particularly significant as Schulman’s father was the recipient of the Award seventeen years before. He was also Scholar in Residence at the University of Denver and received the Distinguished Entrepreneur Award from Northwestern University Law School. He was also named to the Chicago Area Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame in 2009.

Schulman is a graduate of Northwestern University Law School and the University of Denver. He and his wife, Maureen, have three children and live on the near north side of Chicago.