TCN Quote of the Week
"My very first pro bono case was a death penalty case. It changed my life because it taught me how powerful being a lawyer is."
 
- Terri Mascherin at the TCN Future Leaders Program Orientation
Partner, Jenner & Block
TCN Members in the News
Forbes logo
THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN 2016
Debra Cafaro, Chairman & CEO at Ventas, Inc., is among Forbes' most powerful women in 2016. The list includes women who are business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, philanthropists and CEOs making their mark in the world today. For the full list, click here !
Chicago Tribune Logo
Nancy Johnstone
1932 - 2016
ALMARIE WAGNER QUOTED IN REMEMBRANCE OF NANCY JOHNSTONE
Almarie Wagner shared memories with the Chicago Tribune about late TCN member Nancy Johnstone, 83, who passed away on May 25. Nancy worked at Youth Guidance, first part time and later as assistant director before becoming director in 1973. Almarie met Nancy at Youth Guidance in 1969 and worked with her there for 12 years.

"She was very committed in years before it was popular to a leadership style that was very team-based, very flat and (she) believed in soliciting input from her staff," Almarie Wagner said. "That led to an organization where people were committed to the organization for many years."
 
Nancy and Almarie also worked together as co-founders of Women In Charge, an organization aimed at supporting women leading Chicago-area not-for-profits.
"It was to meet a need, because a lot of us had become executives without management training," said Almarie Wagner. The organization, which had a 10-year lifespan, held conferences to support and educate women leaders.

Click here to read more about Nancy Johnstone and her social service contributions in Chicago.
ADELA CEPEDA AND MELLODY HOBSON GRACE COVER OF THE CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY
Adela Cepeda, President of A.C. Advisory, Inc., and Mellody Hobson, President of Ariel Investments, LLC, were featured on the cover of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The related article focused on why nonprofits are slow to tap the power of women. Adela was recognized as an activist donor and the financial advisory firm she co-founded, Nuestro Futuro, was also highlighted. Read more...
Chicago Tribune Logo
MAKE-A-WISH ILLINOIS BOARD CHAIR LAURA BROWN AT WISH BALL
Laura Brown, Senior VP, Communications & Investor Relations at W.W. Grainger, Inc., was featured in a Chicago Tribune spread on the Make-A-Wish Illinois' Wish Ball held on May 21. More than 1,000 guests attended the annual gala, the largest fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Illinois, for which Laura serves as Board Chair. The black-tie gala celebrated 30 years of granting wishes to children from 2 1/2 to 18 years old who have been diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions. Read more... 
Laura Brown (left) with Make-A-Wish Illinois CEO Stephanie Springs
Crain's
Julia Stasch
MACARTHUR CHIEF: WE HAVE AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CHICAGO
"With $60 million in funding from MacArthur, LISC Chicago's New Communities Program worked to increase the quality of life in 16 low-income historically African-American and Latino Chicago neighborhoods, providing grants to almost 300 organizations working directly in those neighborhoods. Through intermediaries, more than 225 small and midsize arts organizations, most located in Chicago neighborhoods or working with public school students, also received MacArthur funds, many year after year. In addition to grants like these, in the past five years, three of the largest local financial intermediaries that we support with impact investments combined our funds with other resources and made 800 loans totaling $443 million in financing for community projects and local organizations, and mortgages for mostly African-American and Latino families, in 54 of the city's 77 neighborhoods and numerous low-income suburban communities." Read more...
Crain's
CONTEXTMEDIA AMONG CHICAGO'S 50 FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES
ContextMedia ( Shradha Agarwal) is ranked 6th on Crain's list of Chicago's 50 fastest-growing companies. ContextMedia grew thirtyfold from 2010 to 2015, becoming one of Chicago's hottest tech companies by delivering ads to TV screens in doctors' offices. When it moved into the realm of larger touch screens, the company found itself in the hardware business.
 
To read more about ContextMedia, click here!

To view the full list of Chicago's fastest-growing companies, click here! 
CHRISTIE HEFNER INTERVIEWED
Christie Hefner, Chairman of Hatch Beauty, shared her thoughts with Kelly Leonard of The Second City on gender generalizations, the importance of empathy in business, being your authentic self, and more. Read more...
JILL SMART ON KEY PRIORITIES FOR FIRST 100 DAYS IN NEW ORGANIZATION
Jill Smart, President of the National Academy of Human Resources, was quoted in an article in the Human Resources Executive magazine, which laid out the key priorities for a Chief Human Resources Officer's first 100 days in a new organization. 

Jill is also proud to announce that two of the other CHROs who were quoted, Mary Finch of AECOM and Jacqui Canney of WalMart, were her direct reports at Accenture where they have since left to take on their new C-Suite roles! Read more...
 
Crain's
BMO TO BUY GREENE HOLCOMB FISHER
Bank of Montreal (Alex Dousmanis-Curtis and Mary Jo Herseth) agreed to buy advisory firm Greene Holcomb Fisher to expand its mergers-and-acquisitions business in the U.S. The boutique advisory will be renamed BMO Capital Markets after the deal is completed, which is expected to be in the fiscal quarter ending October 31. Read more...
FUTURE OF OFFICE SPACES
Blue Sky Innovation spoke with five design firms including Perkins+Will ( Gina Berndt and  Eva L. Maddox) and Gensler ( Nila Leiserowitz) about the future of office spaces, as designers say companies like Perkins+Will are looking at ways to use data to keep employees comfortable, while companies like Gensler are also investing in ways to keep employees healthy and entertained.

"Dealing with both physical and mental well-being: That's becoming something that is really embraced," she said. "In the past, companies would say, 'Hmm, sounds good.' Now, it's, 'Yes, we need it,'" said Gensler Managing Principal Nila Leiserowitz. Read more...
Crain's
UNITED AIRLINES TO IMPLEMENT NEW INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS-CLASS SERVICE
United Airlines (Linda Jojo) is rolling out a new international business-class service called Polaris in December at O'Hare International Airport. Polaris will replace BusinessFirst, currently the Chicago company's upper-echelon service for business fliers. The seat folds out into a 6-foot-6-inch bed in an individual pod. There will be mood lighting, a "Do not disturb" sign, multiple storage areas and places to work and eat simultaneously. 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.

Check out the news coverage by
Crain's Chicago Business, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Business Journal.
Women on Boards
NATIONAL NONPROFIT BOARD OPPORTUNITY
CureSearch for Children's Cancer ( Laura Thrall, Christine Bork), a national nonprofit headquartered in Bethesda, MD, has openings for two board directors. In conjunction with its esteemed Scientific Advisory Council, Scientific Review Committee, and Industry Advisory Council, CureSearch drives the highest potential pediatric cancer research from academia to clinical trials and eventual commercialization. Established 28 years ago, CureSearch is dedicated to developing new treatments and cures for the 16,000 children diagnosed with cancer each year in the US.

Director Positions:
  • Audit Chair: a CPA, CFO, or audit professional is sought to oversee CureSearch's audit function.
  • Director: senior executive with national pharmaceutical, consumer products or national service firm sought for open director position. 

This national board meets twice annually in person (Bethesda) and twice via teleconference. A passion to improve children's health, childhood cancer/cancer treatments strongly desired but not required.


Learn more about CureSearch here ( www.curesearch.org); respond directly to Laura.thrall@curesearch.org for more information.
Awards
MAUREEN BEAL HONORED WITH MSI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Maureen Beal, CEO of National Van Lines, has been awarded the MSI Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Service from the Moving & Storage Institute during the 97th annual AMSA (American Moving & Storage Association) Education Conference & Expo in New Orleans.
Announcements
ANN DRAKE TO SPEAK AT 3PL SUMMIT IN CHICAGO
Ann Drake, CEO of DSC Logistics and founder of AWESOME (Achieving Women's Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management, and Education), will be a panelist at Eye for Transport's 14th Annual North American 3PL Summit & Chief Supply Chain Officer Forum, June 20-22, in Chicago.

The Keynote Panel on June 21, "The Next Generation of Logistics and Supply Chain Talent," will include Ann, Sougata Dasgupta, Global Supply Chain Operations, Bloomberg; Charles Blevins, VP Supply Chain, Dart Container Corporation; and Maike Sievers, Director of Logistics Planning Sales and Marketing, BLG Logistics. Michele Carrol, President, Carrollco Marketing Services, will moderate the session.

The panel will address topics such as the key competencies to look for in supply chain talent, why tech savvy millennials are fundamental to supply chain talent development and how to attract them, promoting diversity in the supply chain and logistics workforce, and encouraging leadership potential in the women of a workforce.

Eye for Transport provides business intelligence and C-level networking for the transport, logistics and supply chain industry. The organization's goal is to connect industry executives with their industry peers, and with the crucial information they need to excel in their work. For more information, click here !
14TH ANNUAL GRADUATES' LUNCHEON
Every year, the Leader Council of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls gathers with noted community and business leaders at a luncheon to honor the accomplishments of Mercy Home's student graduates. On June 7, Lori T. Healey, CEO of Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, delivered the keynote address during the 14th Annual Graduates' Luncheon. The leader Council is chaired by Mary Dempsey and is made up of women who have made it their mission to "Empower Youth Through Education" by donating time, talent, financial support and professional resources to open doors to learning and achievement for our youth. The following members also serve on the Leader Council of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls:
  • Sue S. Bettman
  • Donna M. Carroll
  • Mary Lee Schneider
  • Salme H. Steinberg Ph.D.
ANNA RAPPAPORT ON EMPLOYER SUPPORT FOR RETIREMENT ADVICE
An article authored by Anna Rappaport was published in The Conference Board's Human Capital Exchange April 2016 issue. "Thinking about Employer Support for Retirement Advice" brings together Society of Actuaries research and issues raised by the Department of Labors' new rules on fiduciary matters. Read more...
SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY'S GRAHAM PECK CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN SELECTIVE "SLAVE NARRATIVES" SEMINAR
Saint Xavier University (Christine Wiseman) announced that Graham Peck, professor of history for the Department of History and Political Science, is one of a select group of faculty members nationwide chosen by the Council of Independent Colleges and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History to participate in a special American history seminar on "Slave Narratives." The seminar will be held at Yale University June 19 - 24, 2016. Read more...
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VISION STATEMENT
As the preeminent organization for Chicago's leading professional women, we are compelled to:
  • Connect with each other for professional & personal growth
  • Advance our civic, business & philanthropic communities
  • Inspire & support the next generation of leaders
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