"As we continue to reimagine the Pier for its centennial and beyond, we are thrilled with the prospect of a hotel to further enhance the Navy Pier experience."

- Marilynn Gardner,
President & CEO, Navy Pier, Inc

CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR ALVIN BORENSTINE

It is with profound sadness that we inform you of the passing of Alvin Borenstine , beloved husband of TCN member Roula Alakiotou on Friday, April 29, 2016.

 

To view the invitation, click here.

CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN ON VISTA TOWERS

Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently announced that construction will soon begin on a 95-story skyscraper that will become the city's third-tallest building. The Vista Tower, along the Chicago River, will house a 5-star hotel with approximately 200 hotel rooms, more than 400 condominiums and approximately 9,000-square feet of retail space. Vista Tower is designed by award-winning architect and Chicago native Jeanne Gang at Studio Gang Architects. The building could also reportedly become the world's tallest building designed by a woman-owned firm. Read more...

SUSAN LICHTENSTEIN ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT

GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY RECEIVES $100,000 DONATION 

The Edison Park Community Church was sold and torn down. The proceeds of the sale belonged to the 30-member congregation, and together they decided what to do with the proceeds of $740,000. The group made its first big donation on Sunday, giving the Greater Chicago Food Depository $100,000 to help feed the one in six residents of Cook County who struggle with hunger every day. "We don't get many phone calls like that," said Kate Maehr, Executive Director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. "I can't even express how grateful we are." The congregation's donation will fund 338,000 nutritious, high-quality meals with fresh fruits and vegetables. Read more... 

Mary Josephs, CEO of middle market investing firm Verit Advisors, was quoted in an article about employee share ownership plans. When the employees who share ownership are active participants as opposed to passive recipients, they far exceed their competitors' performance because laborers "adopt the habits of business owners," said Mary Josephs. Read more...

NEW HOTEL FOR NAVY PIER 

Illinois' most-visited tourist destination, Navy Pier, is moving forward with a plan to build a 200-room hotel with Rosemont-based developer First Hospitality Group. "As we continue to reimagine the Pier for its centennial and beyond, we are thrilled with the prospect of a hotel to further enhance the Navy Pier experience," Navy Pier President and CEO Marilynn Gardner said in a statement.

Architect Jackie Koo, President of KOO LLC, who designed the Wit hotel at State and Lake streets, has been tapped to do preliminary design work on the hotel. The conceptual design includes steel and glass bay windows for each room. "The hotel will provide a unique place to stay in Chicago year round - not to mention breathtaking and unparalleled views of the Pier, lake and city," commented Marilynn Gardiner. Read more...

Chicago law firm Kirkland & Ellis has offered yoga, meditation and wellness training to some lawyers, a program it is expanding now to all U.S. Offices. Partner Linda Myers, who sits on Kirkland's 15-member management committee, steered the program. The business case for the program dictates that healthier employees are more productive, making "them better for your army, if you will," Linda Myers said. Read more...

ROHINI DEY MENTIONED 

Rohini Dey, James Beard Foundation Trustee and founder/owner of Indian-Latin Vermilion Restaurants in New York and Chicago, was mentioned in an article about the top female chefs in the James Beard competition. The article also noted that the Women in Culinary Leadership Grant is spearheaded by Rohini. The James Beard Foundation has had a Women in Culinary Leadership program since 2012 to address the gender imbalance in the food industry. Read more...

LIFEPOINT HEALTH APPOINTS JANA SCHREUDER TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER GALA HONORS COMED

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's gala 2016 celebrated 400 years of the global impact of Shakespeare on April 23. Following dinner, CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines presented the Civic Honoree award to ComEd, represented by ComEd President and CEO Anne Pramaggiore. The company was recgonized for its reputation as both a reliable energy provider and a socially responsible business - striving to preserve the environment, support education, contribute to local arts and culture and aid in neighborhood development. In her remarks, Anne discussed Shakespeare's relevance today and her own experiences with the playwright as a student of theater. Sheli Z. Rosenberg, who served on the gala's host committee, also attended the event.

MARY ANNE HYNES TO GIVE COMMENCEMENT SPEECH AT LOYOLA