Brian Peterman and his wife took advantage of a pilot program in Chicago that allows for the creation of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in designated zones within the city. After nearly two years of planning, working through regulatory hurdles, and construction, they completed a coach house in their backyard. In 2023, Brian's mother-in-law moved into the coach house, allowing her to spend time with her young granddaughter on a daily basis.

Popularly known as Gridlock Sam, thanks to his coining of the term, Sam founded Sam Schwartz Consulting in 1995. Previously, he was New York City's Traffic Commissioner and Chief Engineer of the Department of Transportation. Sam started his transportation career in the late 1960’s as a New York cabbie and joined the Traffic Department as a junior engineer in 1971.

Kathleen Rooney is an author and a self-described flaneuse who loves to explore Chicago and other cities on foot. She is a founding editor of Rose Metal Press, a nonprofit publisher, as well as a founding member of Poems While You Wait, a team of poets and their typewriters who compose commissioned poetry on demand. Kathleen teaches in the English Department at DePaul University, and her recent books include the national best-seller Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and the novel Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey