Chicago United Announces its 2015 Business Leaders of Color
Business advocacy group recognizes outstanding local executives
CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its ongoing mission to promote multiracial leadership in business, Chicago United will profile 50 exceptional minority professionals who demonstrate superior business acumen and drive global competitiveness in its 2015 Business Leaders of Color (BLC) publication. Released every two years since 2003, the BLC publication aims to introduce its featured executives to Fortune 1,000 corporations seeking to increase diversity on their boards of directors.
"Chicago United is proud to have showcased nearly 320 board-ready candidates biennially over the last 12 years," said Gloria Castillo, president and CEO of Chicago United. "These men and women have rendered service in over 215 corporate directorships. It is a remarkable record."
The 2015 Business Leaders of Color were selected from a nomination pool of more than 125 qualified candidates representing a wide variety of product and service industries. Chicago United conducted a survey of CEOs from local corporations to determine the criteria used to select its top 50 featured leaders. When asked to list the qualities and characteristics used to identify "rising stars" within their corporation or candidates to fill board of director positions, the CEO responses were consistent:
- A proven track record of balanced decision-making and appreciation for multiple perspectives
- A range of experiences that reflect flexibility and the ability to transcend narrow experiences and issues
- An ability to respect diverse points of view and varied ways to approach issues and topics
With this candid feedback, Chicago United urged the local business community to review the diverse talent within organizations, professional networks, as well as corporate/civic boards and identify candidates.
The selected Business Leaders of Color will be honored during Chicago United's 47th Anniversary Gala and Bridge Awards presentation on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Hilton Chicago. To reserve tickets or request a copy of the 2015 Business Leaders of Color publication, please contact Teresa Sarna ([email protected]).
2015 Business Leaders of Color
D'Andrea M. Anderson Executive Director, J.P.Morgan Securities
Jose Armario Corporate Executive Vice President – Global Supply Chain, Development, and Franchising, McDonald's Corporation
Patricia Arredondo Senior Advisor for Institutional Initiatives, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Cynthia Barginere Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President, Rush University Medical Center
Brenda A. Battle Vice President, Care Delivery Innovation Urban Health Initiative and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, University of Chicago Medicine
Kenneth M. Battle Partner, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A.
Alex Bell Managing Director, KPMG LLP
M. Michelle Blaise Senior Vice President of Technical Services, ComEd, An Exelon Company
Lawyer L. Burks III Vice President and General Manager Commercial Construction North America, Illinois Tool Works
Denise R. Cade SVP, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, SunCoke Energy
Yang Chao VP, Financial Planning and Analysis, Gogo
Posh M. Charles Vice President, Community Affairs, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
Eileen Chin President, R.M. Chin & Associates
Michael Chu Partner, McDermott Will & Emery
Virginia Clarke Senior Partner, Executive Search, Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions
Roger O. Crockett President, R.O. Crockett Leadership Advisory
Yolanda Daniel Chief Operating Officer & Principal, 8Oak Development, LLC
Angelique Athiena David Senior Managing Director, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Ziegler
Jeffrey Dorsey Senior Vice President Technology, Tribune Publishing Company
Willard S. Evans, Jr. President, Evans Advisory Group, LLC
Thomas L. Fisher Clinical Associate of Medicine, The University of Chicago
Sharon T. Grant Vice President-Customer Contact Centers, United Airlines
Symeria T. Hudson Global Home Therapies Franchise Leader – Renal, Baxter Healthcare
Mahrukh Hussain Corporate Vice President/U.S. General Counsel, McDonald's Corporation
Carl A. Jenkins Managing Director, BMO Financial Group
Oscar D. Johnson, Jr. Senior Vice President, Regional Head of Business Banking, BMO Harris Bank
Steve Kim Managing Partner, RKJ Legal
S. Raja Krishnamoorthi President, Sivananthan Laboratories, Inc.
Ash Luthra President, LSL Healthcare, Inc.
Leonard McLaughlin President, Aon Cornerstone Innovative Solutions, Aon
Michael J. McMurray President, Globetrotters Engineering Corporation
Edgardo A. Navarro President, McDonald's Latin America, McDonald's Corporation
David Nichols Americas Inorganic Growth Leader, Ernst & Young LLP
Ronald V. Redd Director, BMO Capital Markets
Max W. Reed Vice President Program Sales, CDW
Al B. Reid Divisional Vice President – Corporate Development, Abbott
Jose R. Sanchez President and Chief Executive Officer, Norwegian American Hospital
Rodrigo Alfonso Sierra Chief Communications & Marketing Officer and SVP, American Medical Association
Gurpreet Singh Partner, U.S. Health Services Advisory Leader, PwC
Eric S. Smith CFO – Middle Market Banking, JPMorgan Chase
Lucino Sotelo Chief Marketing Officer, BMO Harris Bank
Farah Bulsara Speer Executive Director, North American Healthcare Practice Leader, Golin
Gilda Livingston Spencer SVP and Deputy General Counsel, Allstate Insurance Company
Jason Spigner Vice President, Human Resources – Advocate Condell Medical Center & Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Advocate Health Care
Russell Stokes President & CEO, GE Transportation
Eric Strickland Senior Vice President, Managing Director – Corporate Group, Northern Trust
David S. Tan Director, Performance Agency Development, Google
Eduardo Tobon President, Diners Club International
Everett S. Ward Partner, Quarles & Brady, LLP
Adrienne White-Faines CEO, American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
About Chicago United
Chicago United is an advocacy organization that promotes multiracial leadership in business to advance parity in economic opportunity. Chicago United supports the business community's need to maximize the use of corporate and entrepreneurial talent and brings together diverse senior business leaders to break through barriers to realize the benefits of diversity and inclusion. Chicago United is the premiere business membership organization creating an environment where racially diverse CEOs and executive level managers can share common experiences to promote multi-racial leadership in governance, management, and business partnerships. It delivers best practices for diversity practitioners and fosters relationships among leaders who share common values. For more information please visit www.chicago-united.org.
SOURCE Chicago United
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