He's one of the most successful entrepreneurs to ever emerge from the suburbs, but Mario Tricoci says his passion for his business was born not of a desire for money but to make people happy. The Italian-born hairdresser told members of the Schaumburg Business Association Tuesday morning how a life-changing visit to relatives in Chicago in 1958 led to him starting his own beauty salon business that by 1999 operated 26 locations throughout the Midwest, making $73 million in annual revenue.

Tricoci merged the company with Elizabeth Arden in May 2000, but he and his family bought it back a year ago to right its legacy.