Skepticism…We understand that. It’s hard to make a purchase from a stranger nowadays, right? May we take a moment to tell you about us?

Hi, I’m Patty Rutkowski and I love to write. Born and raised in Chicago, I wrote my first book at age twelve, was a journalism major in high school and college, worked as a newspaper reporter, graduated from Broadcasting Trade School, and worked in radio for seven years.

I have edited corporate newsletters for twenty-five years, created and edited award-winning monthly newsletters for fans of the Chicago Blackhawks (5 years) and the Chicago Wolves (5 years). I am married to Wayne, (hockey guy), and we have enjoyed hockey together for many years. Officers in the Blackhawk fan club, we founded the Chicago Wolves fan club, the Wolf Pack, the largest minor league hockey fan club in the country in 1994. We were honored by the Chicago Wolves and won the prestigious IHL Circle of Excellence award for our dedication to the IHL (International Hockey League) and the Wolves.

A voracious reader, I’ve always been fascinated with the written word. When I worked as a bookstore manager, I had the opportunity to network with romance authors to generate book sales. My goal for the millennium was to become a web “wench” and so I learned HTML and began updating websites at my job. I have worked as an executive assistant for more than twenty years.

Wayne and I have been happily married for 17 years, and are passionate about sports and Chicago. We have no kids, we have four nieces and two nephews that we love to spend time with. Steve, Jenna, Michelle and Jessica are here in Chicagoland and Joey and Chrissy live in Florida. We are blessed to have season tickets to the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago Wolves.

Determined to succeed as an internet entrepreneur, my husband and I incorporated ourselves as “chicagofootprints, inc” last year and set out to learn all we could about small business. We’ve traveled the country attending seminars on real estate, cash flow, options trading, grant writing, public speaking and my favorite, internet marketing. With a creative entrepreneurial streak, great writing skills, and penchant for internet research, I am proud to be part of the internet marketing business.

I took an internet marketing course and my first project was to write an eBook on something I was passionate about, the results are “Walking Off Calories”. I will continue studying this business, and would like to become good enough to someday teach others, especially women how to use their skills on the internet. I’m currently learning podcasts and video how-tos.

What else should you know about us? In addition to having volunteered our time for the Blackhawk Standbys and The Wolf Pack, Wayne has been condo president at Jackson Terrace for several years. We loved our volunteer work with the cocaine babies at Columbus Maryville Hospital every Saturday for more than five years. We've also been volunteers for Easter Seals, Laubach Literacy, The National Lung Association and the Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

I hope you enjoy the book and the newsletter. Thanks for listening.