Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Bruce Springsteen and The Rising


Based in Burr Ridge, Illinois, Robert “Bob” Juckniess works with his team at Royal Buying Group, Inc., as chair and chief executive officer. Away from work, Robert “Bob” Juckniess enjoys listening to Rock and Roll tunes, particularly those of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. 

In the 70s and 80s, Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band honed their chops and made their name writing and playing songs about what it means to live and love in America. That kind of subject matter found particular resonance in the United States in the destructive wake of the September 11th attacks, when Springsteen’s album The Rising hit store shelves in July of 2002. Still reeling from the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor, listeners found solace in the themes of struggle, uplift, and ultimately redemption among the album’s 15 tracks.

Notable tracks include opener Lonesome Day, whose lyrics touch on both September 11th itself as well as what it means to be a human being, as well as the title track, The Rising, an evocative, triumphant song told from the point of view of a New York City Fire Department rescuer ascending the tower. For these and other songs of hope, the listening public propelled The Rising to the number one spot on the Billboard 200.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

An Introduction to the Golf Scoring System


Robert “Bob” Juckniess is the chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Buying Group, Inc., in Lisle, Illinois. When he is not managing company operations, Bob Juckniess enjoys playing golf.

There are a variety of ways for individuals and teams to compete against one another on the golf course. Skins and stroke play are two of the most popular styles of play. Virtually every iteration of the golf scoring system requires golfers to complete each hole in as few strokes as possible. Holes on a golf course are given a numerical score, known as par. A golfer who completes 9 or 18 holes of golf with a score of -5, for example, is said to have finished 5 under par, short for 5 strokes under the combined par score for all holes played. A final score of +3, on the other hand, would be read as 3 over par.

There are several scoring terms golfers can use on a hole-to-hole basis. Finishing a hole at 1 stroke under par, for example, is known as a birdie, while 2 strokes under par is referred to as an eagle. There are also terms used for shots made over par, such as a bogey or double bogey for finishing a hole 1 or 2 strokes above par, respectively. Other terms include an albatross for 3 under par and an ace, or hole in one, for completing a hole in one shot.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Volunteer Opportunities at Gleaners Community Food Bank


As CEO of the Royal Buying Group, Robert (Bob) Juckniess manages the company's holdings in chain stores, gas stations, and truck stops. The company maintains divisions in three countries and encompasses more than 6,000 participating retailers. In his own community, Bob Juckniess supports the Gleaners Community Food Bank.

Based in Detroit, Gleaners Community Food Bank operates as a food distribution hub, providing food to pantries, shelters, and allied services throughout southeastern Michigan. Thanks to dedicated volunteers and community partners, Gleaners collects and distributes more than 34 million pounds of food annually.

Part of Gleaners' success comes from devoted volunteers known as Gleaners Greeters. Greeters volunteer to staff Gleaner partner facilities during their hours of operation, providing a warm and friendly presence at the locations. They also help load up boxes of supplies and keep the facilities tidy.

If interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with Gleaners Community Food Bank, visit www.gcfb.org.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Toys for Tots Literacy Program



Outside of his role as CEO of Lisle, Illinois-based Royal Buying Group, Bob Juckniess supports the Toys for Tots charity organization. One of the initiatives Toys for Tots is able to organize with the donations and support from people like Bob Juckniess is the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.

Through the Literacy Program, Toys for Tots works with local agencies that identify organizations and children who can benefit from receiving books and educational materials. The program focuses on literacy in order to aid in breaking the cycle of poverty. Research shows that the ratio of age-appropriate books per child in low-income communities is one for every 300 children. The Toys for Tots Literacy Program is working to provide more reading opportunities to children who are economically disadvantaged.

Those wishing to donate to the program can stop by their participating local UPS Store or Mail Boxes Etc. to offer donations of money or books.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Max Weinberg’s Drumming Success


 

Bob Juckniess serves as CEO of Royal Buying Group, Inc., in Lisle, Illinois. Outside of work, Bob Juckniess is a fan of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and had the opportunity to meet Max Weinberg backstage after seeing them perform at the United Center.

Max Weinberg is well known for his work as the bandleader, musical director, and drummer of Late Night with Conan O’Brien. The show’s band, The Max Weinberg 7, is well regarded in the world of late night TV and released its first CD in 2000. Before he took on his current role, Weinberg drummed with the E Street Band, playing on some of the Bruce Springsteen’s best-selling albums. The band broke up in 1989 but began touring again in the 2000s, during which time Max Weinberg would take leaves of absence from the Conan O’Brien show to join the tours.

With a long history of drumming, Max Weinberg has performed or recorded with names such as Paul McCartney, Sting, Barbra Streisand, Ringo Starr, and Pete Townshend of The Who.

Monday, July 18, 2016

The Gleaners Food Bank’s Cooking Matters Program


An experienced business leader, Robert “Bob” Juckniess has served as president and chief executive of the gas station/convenience store management company Royal Buying Group since 1995. Outside of the professional arena, he supports a number of charities, including the Gleaners Food Bank. Bob Juckniess’ financial contributions to Gleaners provide funding for valuable programs such as the Cooking Matters program.

Cooking Matters draws upon the strengths of professional chefs and nutritionists who volunteer to teach low-income adults, teens, and kids how to shop for and prepare healthy and delicious meals on a limited budget. Truly dedicated to sharing their passion for good food and making a difference in the lives of disadvantaged families, 98 percent of Cooking Matters volunteers sign up to teach a second course.

In addition to sharing their expertise in the kitchen, members of the Cooking Matters team lead educational tours at local grocery stores to help clients identify healthy ingredients. Multiple recipes for Cooking Matters meals are available for public view on the organization’s website.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

The National Student Leadership Institute’s 2016 Conference




Bob Juckniess is CEO of Lisle, Illinois’ Royal Buying Group. An alumnus of University of Notre Dame, Bob Juckniess is a board member of the National Student Leadership Institute, an organization that got its start at his alma mater. The National Student Leadership Institute (NSLI) program was created to provide high school students with tools and skills to be better students, citizens, and leaders through conferences and trainings. The 2016 NSLI conference will be held at the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans on October 15th.

The conference accepts sophomores, juniors, and seniors who desire to learn the problem-solving and decision-making skills necessary for effective leadership. The philosophy taught by NSLI, which is centered around group process, communication, motivation, change, and leadership, have assisted thousands of students in developing technical, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

The 2016 NSLI conference registration fee is $25 per person and the deadline to register is October 12th.