A cum laude graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Neal Martin Zeavy has spent more than two decades in leadership positions with real estate, hospitality, and wellness companies throughout the West Coast. A former teacher, Neal Martin Zeavy stays involved with the field of education through his support of the Seattle Waldorf School and his passion for Waldorf education.For nearly 100 years, students around the world have evolved into critical thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and conscientious adults through a Waldorf education. Built around a comprehensive and rigorous academic curriculum, the Waldorf philosophy blends academics with the arts and experiential methods to provide a holistic learning journey.The Waldorf philosophy is rooted in the work of Rudolf Steiner, an early-20th-century Austrian philosopher, who believed that a human being comprises mind, body, and spirit in equal measures. In 1919, he visited the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory in Stuttgart, Germany, where he lectured to the workers on his ideas. Inspired, the owner of the factory invited Steiner to serve as head of pedagogy at a new school for the children of the factory workers. Steiner agreed, though he stipulated that the school be coed, that it be open to all children, and that teachers have total control over the classroom. In September 1919, the first Waldorf school opened, ushering in a new philosophy of education that has since spread to hundreds of schools around the globe.
Operating from Seattle, Neal Martin Zeavy oversees a broad spectrum of commercial real estate investments spanning the country. One of the high-profile companies Neal Martin Zeavy has helped launch and expand is Chicago-based Nic's Organic Fast Food. Featuring Quality Assurance International-certified organic ingredients, Nic’s takes pride in providing options that meet a number of dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free. As part of its commitment to gluten-free offerings, Nic’s allows customers to substitute the organic white hamburger bun with an organic gluten-free waffle bun or lettuce wrap. This meets the needs of people living with celiac disease, for whom gluten triggers a small intestine-damaging immune response. In addition, some people experience non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which features celiac disease-like symptoms, while avoiding intestinal damage.Gluten-free diets steer clear of traditional bread, pasta, and cereal products, as well as specific items such as soy sauce and beer. In order to avoid nutritional deficiencies associated with lack of fiber, those who live gluten free often consume ingredients such as quinoa, brown rice, vegetables, beans, and fruits. They also supplement with B vitamins, including folic acid, which are typically included in fortified bread products.
The president of Zeavy Development in Seattle, Neal Martin Zeavy is pursuing innovative, health-focused commercial investments nationwide. Neal Martin Zeavy counts Nic’s Organic Fast Food, which has three Chicago area locations with further expansion planned, among his current projects.Located in Rolling Meadows, the first Nic’s Organic Fast Food was described in Eater Chicago as offering healthy food alongside a highly recognizable mascot with a function similar to that of other fast food brands.The restaurant also presents prominently “Quality Assurance International Certified Organic” and “USDA Organic” seals of approval for all of the ingredients used on its premises. This represents a serious investment in the future of organic farming, which is vital to environmental sustainability and the planet’s health.The first organic fast food establishment in the United States to offer drive-thru service, Nic’s Organic Fast Food features a menu that is surprisingly affordable. For less than $8, patrons can order a meal that includes a hamburger, a drink, and fries. Additionally, there are wholesome vegetarian menu items available, including garden salads and a veggie burger.
