DAVID LACINE

Dave has been involved in the life-changing mission of C12 Group for more than a decade. After 34 years in the insurance industry, Dave sensed the call to develop C12 Groups in the Chicago area. Dave brings to C12 experience in agency expansion and growth, mergers and acquisitions, along with business development and planning. He has held positions as president of two companies and is also a past president of the largest insurance state association for independent agents in Illinois. Along with his business background, Dave has been involved in leadership with small groups, couples’ groups, marriage ministry, and spiritual direction, also leading retreats for leaders with a focus on spiritual disciplines and development. Dave has mentored high school students and has served as president of the board for Emmaus Ministries in Chicago, which ministers to broken lives of men in the inner city. Dave’s passions also include short-term missions which have taken him to China and the Dominican Republic. Dave’s desire is to see leaders in business develop to their true capacity not only in the business world, but personally and spiritually, to be all that God has called them to be. Dave and Robin, his wife of 43 years, reside in Downers Grove and have two grown children, along with six grandchildren. They are members and active in leadership at Christ Church of Oak Brook.

MARK LAROCCA

One of Mark’s key strength’s is being able to bring order to difficult situations. He thrives in turning chaos into order. Mark spent 20 plus years as an entrepreneur and insurance agency owner, using insurance and financial solutions to serve clients in some of the most challenging environments in the world. As a result of this international exposure, Mark has worked with Fortune 100 companies all the way to smaller start-ups. These experiences have shaped Mark to be an intent listener. Mark is able to draw out the right questions enabling an owner or their team towards a solution they’ve developed together. A key component is to communicate what a CEO or owner needs to hear but may not necessarily want to hear. Mark does not avoid those crucial and essential conversations. Starting as most agents, Mark was able to work through the ranks doubling the size of the agency he worked at in two years. He was rewarded with ownership by growing the agency footprint from four states to fourteen. During this time, he dealt with global and local recessions and helping clients survive the tech bubble as well as the mortgage melt down. Most recently, he has worked with teams that have had to deal with the COVID surprise and was fortunate enough to have remote offices thereby lacking the need for brick-and-mortar locations. Understanding this helped Mark bridge the gap for a number of local business owners during this time of unforeseen crisis. God has prepared Mark well for this season in life. In Mark’s words, “God has made me for as time such as this, to use my gifts and talents to help others excel and face their own challenges.” After selling his book of business, Mark spent time consulting and found it lacking. Staying in contact with his C12 cadre, Mark was encouraged to look at the calling of a C12 Chair. And he responded to that call. It is Mark’s final goal in life to help other business owners Build Great Businesses for a Greater Purpose.. Mark will be the first to say he has not figured it all out, but that he has learned that preparing for a loss is often more important than dealing with a loss. Therefore, by God’s grace Mark is committed to fulfill this final mission and calling with courage and valor hearing the words, “Well done faithful servant.” The most cherished part of Mark’s life is family; He has been blessed with the gift of raising two children who have both been homeschooled along with his wife Kristin of over 25 years. In Mark’s words, “There is nothing more important than God, Family, and Country.” When Mark is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, reading, mountain biking, and helping other business owners with challenges they face. Welcome to the C12 Chair Core!

TIM NEFF

Tim has 14 years’ experience running the nation’s largest sales focused recruiting and career fair company. His experience as a Christian business owner and entrepreneur has not only taken dedication, grit, and hard work but it has given him a unique perspective into leadership. As a business owner of 3 different companies, many hats are worn day to day. From managing the bottom line to developing training and implementing growth strategies are just scratching the surface. One of Tim’s core strengths and personal values is to love and care for the people entrusted to him. Whether this is with his employees, his church family, travel baseball team, or most importantly his family, Tim cares deeply for the people that he interacts with. He has served in many capacities at their local church from small group leader for 10+ years, small group coaches and teaching new members classes. Tim and his wife Lauren have two children, Lincoln (13) and Rhegan (11). You can usually find him at the ballfield, his daughter’s volleyball games or playing pickleball with his wife. Tim is excited to utilize the Lord’s equipping in his life to fulfill the mission of C12 and equip Christian CEO”S and Business leaders in the Chicagoland Area.

WALTER NOBLES

Walter serves as a Chair in Chicago Northwest with C12 Business Forums. C12 is the world’s largest peer-learning organization for Christian CEOs, business owners, and executives, serving 4,000 members throughout the United States and internationally. Walter has been serving as a C12 Chair since August 2024. Prior to joining C12, Walter had a culturally rich and diverse career as a senior supply chain executive. He has lived and worked on three continents, travelled through more than forty countries, and achieved sustained success in a variety of industries. Walter worked within the C-Suite to create competitive advantage through strategic sourcing, innovation, and supplier integration. He was responsible for achieving best in class performance in the acquisition of over eight billion dollars in raw materials and services.   Walter is a sought-after coach and mentor. He is a well-recognized expert in supplier development and driving innovation to create competitive advantage and deliver improvement in productivity, cash, and quality. Walter is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served in the United States Marine Corps. He is married to Patricia and they currently reside in Winfield, Illinois. Walter and Patricia have five adult children—Destiny, Walter Eythan, Anais, Matthias, and Semeion.

PHIL STRZALKA

Phil Strzalka serves as a Chair with C12 Business Forums in the NW Chicagoland territory. C12 is the world’s largest peer-learning organization for Christian CEOs, business owners, and executives, serving 4,000 members throughout the United States and internationally. Prior to joining C12, Phil was the Executive Director of the Wheaton Academy Institute, a not-for-profit whose mission is to advance Christian schooling for the glory of God. Phil was a Managing Director of Huron Consulting Group where he led the Organizational Transformation capability. He was a Partner in a large AmLaw 200 law firm. He has more than two decades of demonstrated expertise working with mid- and large-size complex organizations in a wide variety of industries to transform their internal operations and culture. He specialized in leading clients through complex operating model redesign, business process improvement, talent management strategies, and technology enablement initiatives. Phil has been a trusted advisor to hundreds of clients and internal teams when they have managed through transformational change. He is skilled in Board governance, leadership development, management, operational performance improvement, organizational design, business process redesign, human resources, compensation, employee benefits, and mergers & acquisitions. Phil lives in Wayne, Illinois with his wife Sally. They have three amazing children, Alyssa, Kayla, and Josh, and an English Lab named Millie. Phil’s life verse is “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4: 12-13