"The Story" By Eamon Springall
In August 2008, I was working in the war room of one of Las Vegas' most successful nightlife groups. My job was to coordinate all the moving parts and logistics for a 1,000-person networking event I was producing for Vegas Young Professionals. While brainstorming the invitations, I was asked if I knew Jimmy Foster, the founder of Business Professionals, Up and Comers, Socialites and Entrepreneurs.

I knew the name, of course, but I hadn't met Jimmy. And I was, in some ways, reluctant to, because Vegas Young Professionals and BUSE were the two most successful young executive organizations in the city and competitors.

But in the spirit of Sun Tzu, I decided to keep my friends close and my competitors closer.

Jimmy and I met for coffee on a Sunday afternoon and the meeting, scheduled for 15 minutes, started as you might expect. Our body language was closed. The chess match was intense neither one of us wanting to give away our next move, neither one of us wanting to give away information about what made our organizations successful.

BUSE had ended its run on top and was taking a year off, while VYP was in its prime. Jimmy asked a lot of questions about how we ran our group and I found it difficult to be evasive, because I wasn't entirely satisfied with my group.

During the meeting, Jimmy expressed his desire to create something new that would blow away anything he did at BUSE or I was doing at VYP. A mega-merger, if you will. I was intrigued. The body language opened up, the chess match ended and ideas flowed along with the coffee. Finally, Jimmy and I decided we wanted to combine the honor, respect, order and etiquette of a secret society with a cutting-edge, 21st-century event and lifestyle company. We agreed the company should spare no expense and cater to business professionals, socialites, entrepreneurs and other like-minded people. By the end of the meeting, which lasted four hours, a revolutionary idea was born: The Executive Lounge.

Who is Eamon Springall?
Eamon Springall is co-founder and president of The Executive Lounge. After working summers at Orgill/Singer & Associates in high school and college, Eamon joined the insurance company as a licensed commercial insurance broker in 2000. Since then, he has distinguished himself as one of the top brokers in Las Vegas. A second-generation shareholder and chief operating officer since 2008, he also has executive responsibilities with Orgill/Singer, which was founded in 1986 and is one of the largest privately owned insurance brokerage firms in Nevada.

Springall who in 2007 was selected as one of Greenspun Media's "Top 40 Executives Under 40" and SpyOnVegas and Light Group's "Top 30 Under 30 Who's Got Juice" - is active in the community. He was founding chairman of Vegas Young Professionals, the fastest growing development and networking organization in Nevada for executives between the ages of 21 and 39. He serves on the Nevada Development Authority's board of trustees, chairs the Authority's retention and recognition committees and serves on its resource panel as the insurance and risk management expert. He also serves on the board of directors of the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit that provides services and programs to families of children who are diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.

A native Las Vegan, Eamon Springall earned a bachelor's degree in management with a minor in finance from UNLV. He continues to live in the city with his wife Jessie, daughter Shelby and son Colten.

Who is Jimmy Foster?
Jimmy Foster is co-founder and CEO of The Executive Lounge. An experienced promoter and businessman, he focuses on events, sponsorships, marketing, and media development and management.

A longtime Las Vegan, Jimmy got his start in the hospitality industry working with celebrity chefs, including Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Palmer and Joseph Keller. This led to a partnership with the Aladdin Hotel & Casino, where he helped conceptualize and launch Curve Nightclub.

In 2003, using his hospitality and nightlife experience, Foster created "The BUSE" a weekly networking event held at the Stirling Club in Turnberry Place. A precursor to "The Tomb," it became one of the most influential networking events in Las Vegas.

In 2007, he founded Whispering Giants "A Brilliant Story Whispered Is More Effective Than an Average Story Shouted" a lifestyle and event marketing company. The nontraditional firm, which offers budgeting, data registration, communications management, and scheduling services, caters to clients who give back to the community.

A native of Chicago, who also has experience in real estate and philanthropy, Jimmy Foster has lived in Las Vegas since 1989 and attended UNLV. His interests include art, music, yoga, reading, writing, running and traveling.