Larry Kohls' Biography
Mr. Kohls, a lifelong entrepreneur, is the originator and developer of the “Brokerless Futures Exchange” concept, which is by far the leading method used in Prediction Markets. Since his invention, Prediction Markets, have become a ten billion Dollar Market and are growing at over 20% per year. He invented WorldEx™, “A Trading System for Fixed Value Contracts,” which has been awarded Patents in the United States and Australia, U.S. Patent # 7,020,632.
As a part of the Software development of The Sports Exchange ... Mr. Kohls and Mr. e-Mike Durbin lead the team that invented the first automatic broadcast system that, "broadcasted ... up to the second trading information" to clients on an individualized basis, so commonly in use in the World today.
Mr. Kohls started work early as a bus boy and caddy. His first entrepreneurial venture was as a numismatist finding rare coins by trading in coins a bank. His first real job was as door-to-door salesman for Encyclopedia Britannica where he quickly became one of the top salesmen in the Chicago land area. He then spent the next two years studying in Europe while searching for the "cause" of the Golden Age of Greece, until being interrupted by the drafted during the Vietnam War. Mr. Kohls served with distinction including graduating from his army training with
honors with the highest score in his battalion. In order to accomplish his work he was granted the two highest Top Secret security clearances possible COMSAT for both the Army and NATO. After the army he worked for American Airlines as a customer service representative. He quickly realized that he may not be cut out for regular work.
While still working for the airlines ... Mr. Kohls created The Chicago Roommate Bureau, the first roommate matching service in Chicago. Later a real estate broker, he started Creative Realty, a full service real estate and management company that specialized in turnaround management of distressed or poorly performing multifamily apartment building ranging from 3 flats to large apartment complexes. Later, he co-founded Kohlog Realty, a real estate business specializing in the acquisition, financing and renovation of problem or under performing apartment buildings. As a broker Mr. Kohls has brokered well over 100 million dollars of Real Estate. Kohlog Realty was one of the earliest developers of condominium conversions in Chicago. Shelter Management, a subsidiary of Kohlog Realty, became general partner and developer for more than 20 real estate limited partnerships. Kohlog Realty along with its affiliates and partners renovated and developed thousands of apartment and condominium units. During this time Kohlog Realty acted as a mortgage broker for several of its larger clients. At its height another subsidiary of Kohlog Realty, EBCO Realty Management Inc. managed over 22,000 units, which, at that time, was the third largest residential management portfolio in the Chicago Metropolitan area.
In addition to his real estate background, Mr. Kohls has business experience in many other situations including:
■ Developed: The largest and most successful private flight training school in the Midwest.
■ Assisted in the final negotiations of the $22,000,000 acquisition of Quote.com by Intuit.
■ Founded: Palwaukee-Flyers Maintenance, a full service maintenance and aircraft rehabilitation company. Developed: Several cell-phone stores for a National cell phone network.
■ Created: The original Coffee Around the World, an Internet-based coffee retailer.
■ Originated and Developed: Success Anonymous Inc., a self-help
organization for successful entrepreneurs.
■ Assisted the early success and development of, The Chicago Opera Theater. ■ Created: Nöstromo™, a production company specializing in classical “space” music.
■ became a Futures trader who brought several new innovations into trading future contracts including; inventing “FASTCASH”.
■ Invented: Megatote™, a patent-pending revolutionary new way to use and manipulate tote-information from any racetrack.
■ Lead a successful team of British Solicitors, Banisters, and Queen’s Counsels to create entirely new betting laws in Great Britain and Gibraltar.
■ Founder: The original Convergence, Inc., the predecessor to Convergence II ™.
Consultancy work includes:
■ Developed from scratch several successful sales divisions for clients, including “cold calling” / “boil-room” sales operations.
■ Developed the first condominium conversion plan for one of the nation’s largest and most successful condominium developers.
■ Developed the original concept of the Connelly Warehouse Project, the first of its type in Chicago.
■ Mr. Kohls assisted in the production of the book, “The New Area of Wealth”, by the author who was, at the time, the Chief Economist for the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, and who is currently recognized as one our nation’s top economist.
■ Assisted in the development, financing and renovation of a prestigious 500 + room hotel, on Michigan Avenue - Chicago’s magnificent mile.
■ Developed sales campaign for one of Chicago’s most advanced high-speed Internet access/broadband service providers that delivers advanced IP applications such as VOIP, VPN, DAP etc over its own proprietary next-generation fixed wireless network.
■ Assisted in the early stage marketing of a very successful Midwest chain of Gourmet Hot Dog stores.
■ Developed the early stage launching & marketing of a successful full service IT Company.
■ Mr. Kohls created the idea and is co-producing a live Television series called “On Trial ™”, in which specific issues and/or political ideas are put on trail “live” in a life-like courtroom with a real judge and jury.
■Mr. Kohls invented a revolutionary new type of Bookmark // Highlighter Pen which is currently being developed for marketing World-wide. Mr. Kohls has from time to time been consulted and has assisted in the writing of Economic policy articles for national publications including the Wall Street Journal and the Investors Business Daily.
■ Is a “guest entrepreneurial speaker” for the MBA department at the University of Illinois.
■He has been featured several times in the Chicago Tribune, Forbes and Success Magazine regarding his entrepreneurial activities.
■ Mr. Kohls works as a personal mentor to a few eminent individuals who seek his consul on a regular basis for assistance with issues both personal and professional.
Mr. Kohls is a highly patriot person who believes that the United States of America along with its constitution and free market principles is the greatest hope mankind has ever had. To that end he has been extensively involved in many different laissez-faire / free market “think tanks” and limited-government related organizations. He was an early and active supporter of the Heartland Institute, the CATO Institute, Advocates for Self-Government, The Free Market Society and served on the Board of Governors of the United Republican Fund to name a few. He was a major player in the effort to defeat the Governor of Illinois and the “liberal” wing of the Illinois Republican Party during two gubernatorial campaigns. Mr. Kohls is considered an expert in both the Austrian Economics and Objectivism. He co-founded “COPO” the Chicago Objectivist Principles Organization, as well as being instrumental in the creation of the Objectivist organizations at both the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.
Mr. Kohls’ Dance II, a 70-foot custom designed yacht, was one of the fastest racing sailboats in the World. Dance II when racing required a crew of 24. During the re-designing Dance II, Mr. Kohls invented the bulb-keel three years beforethe Australians won the America’s Cup with a similar super-secret bulb-keel concept. She raced extensively for years. Dance II campaigned mostly in Great Lakes spent winters in the West Indies and was charted out of Antigua as a luxury charter racing yacht Dance II has won many awards and still holds at least one speed record. Dance II has one more rare distinction among this class of custom yachts – it was sold for a profit! In addition, Mr. Kohls, as a 20 year member of the Chicago Yacht Club, strongly supported the Chicago Yacht Club's ... Heart of America ... America’s Cup challenge by sailing Dance II as a “tune-up” and training partner with three-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Buddy Melges and the World famous and venerable 12 meter racing yacht, Intrepid.
Mr. Kohls has mentored many “apprentices” under various circumstances through the years. A few of these individuals have become “famous,” while several others have become millionaires many times over.
Volunteer Work: For the past 30 years Mr. Kohls has spent a considerable amount of his efforts volunteering his energies in several different ways, including working in cooperation with hospitals, communities, and self-help groups to work with unstable, mentally ill and/or destitute people, some of them, convicted murders, thieves, skid-roe alcoholics and drug addicts. Through dedication hard work and his God given talent for being able to "turn things around" have improved the lives of hundreds for the better. His efforts have, over the years, directly and indirectly saved many lives.
Mr. Kohls is an avid reader loves poetry, classical music, especially opera, has recently competed in several triathlons, is divorced, has one wonderful daughter Carrie, who is married to a great husband, they have five beautiful children.