Owners

Todd Ricketts

I have strong roots in the North Shore as a Loyola University alum and resident of Wilmette. I’m a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and an accomplished entrepreneur, who has managed a wide array of start-ups and other successful investments. I enjoyed a rewarding career in the securities industry, working at the New York City–based NASDAQ start-up, Knight Securities, and later with family businesses, TD Ameritrade, Incapital, and Ecotravel, LLC.

Brendan Sullivan

I also attended Loyola University, where Todd and I met, and live with my wife and three kids in Evanston. I spent 13 years in sales and marketing leadership with CDW and served as CMO for one of the largest global retailers of camera products, Calumet Photographic. Currently, I am the head of global marketing for FleetMatics, a provider of GPS tracking solutions.

The thing that impresses me about Higher Gear is the quality of the staff. Todd and I realize that we are lucky to have some of the best coworkers in cycling. It’s easy to understand why Higher Gear is where the pros go. Whether you are new to the sport or need to prepare for your next race, Higher Gear is here to serve you and shares a passion for cycling with all our customers.

Sylvie Légère

With a degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Ottawa and a Masters in Computer Science from Northwestern University, I spent almost two decades working as a technology program manager and consultant in the financial services industry. But when my husband, Todd, and his friend, Brendan, became owners of Higher Gear, I couldn’t stay on the sidelines, I had to get involved. And in a way, my life has come full circle…I’m becoming my dad. My parents are avid cyclists, who have traveled throughout France and Austria on their bikes. In addition, my dad, as former mayor of our hometown, Gatineau, Québec, garnered political support from all the towns around Quebec for 10 years to develop a 4000-km bike route called La Route Verte.

Now I’m applying my professional experience and passion for sports to biking. With the support of our great team at Higher Gear, Francine Haas and I spearhead the Women’s Cycling Program, and I also manage Communications and Events for Higher Gear. It’s a perfect fit for what drives me: I love to see people get out of their comfort zones, be active, and have fun. Join me on my journey from runner to cyclist by biking with me on our weekly rides or on the Wrigley Field Road Tour.