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Brian Taylor
Save the “corny” jokes— as President and Founder at Kernel Season’s Popcorn Seasoning, Brian has heard them all. But more than being the man responsible for sprinkling all kinds of flavored goodness onto your popcorn, Brian has shown first-rate dedication of both time and money to Jewish organizations and causes.
Although he is a leader in business, Brian considers himself a “follower” of the great leaders in the Jewish community, though he does plenty of leading by example. He can often be found “popping” over (okay, we couldn’t resist) to Chabad at UIC, where he chairs the board, or the Jewish Federation, where he is currently serving his third year in the National Young Leadership Cabinet. He is also a strong supporter of AIPAC and the Alzheimer’s Association, and participates in the Jewish Leadership Institute where he “adds insightful comments that help create an intellectually stimulating, yet nurturing, environment,” according to his nominator, Amy Berger. He also brings in money as a collector of ancient Jewish coins.
Fatherhood is also one of Brian’s most important ventures, a role he will be expanding later this summer when he and his wife welcome their third child.
Age:
35
Primary gig:
President and Founder at Kernel Season’s Popcorn Seasoning
On the side:
Dad, Entrepreneurial Spelunker
Relationship status:
Married
How do you give back?
Participate in space tourism.
Describe yourself in 10 words or less:
I applied to drive the Oscar Meyer Weiner-Mobile.
Celebrity doppelganger/who would play you in a movie:
Ken Jeong
How do you Jew in Chicago?
I collect ancient Jewish coins, send my kids to Jewish pre-schools and light candles with the family on Friday night
Passions:
Family, skiing, paddle tennis, thinking, not thinking, movies, travel
Chicago's Jewish community in 10 years:
Dynamic and strong. Adapting to change and leading other Jewish communities across the country by example.
Me in 10 years:
Spending time with family, developing a new business, traveling, writing
