Latest News from The Chicago Network

March 17, 2017

TCN'S 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

TCN Members in the News

ILENE GORDON AND INGREDION IN THE NEWS
Ingredion CEO Ilene Gordon spoke with Fortune's Alan Murray about how rapidly food tastes are changing and how trends, that started in the developed world, are starting to spread to emerging markets as well. Read more...

Of the companies examined in a study that shows the number of female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies has fallen by more than 12%, Ingredion Incorporated, under CEO Ilene Gordon, was singled out as leading the way in gender diversity at the top. Read more...

USG CORPORATION UNVEILS THE WORLD'S MOST SUSTAINABLE WALLBOARD

USG Corporation introduced the next big thing in wallboard: Sheetrock® Brand EcoSmart Panels. Developed to answer the demand for sustainable building products, Sheetrock® Brand EcoSmart Panels represent a revolution in wallboard manufacturing, creating the industry's first and only wallboard that is both lightweight and sustainable. These panels are built upon USG's UltraLight technology that contractors prefer but now manufactured with a significantly reduced carbon footprint and lower water usage.

"We always strive to solve our industry's toughest challenges, and as demand for sustainable products continues to grow, architects and builders are looking to manufacturers to take the next step in lowering our environmental footprint," said

Jennifer Scanlon, President and CEO of USG Corporation. "That's why it was important to develop a way to use less water and energy in the manufacturing process. This provides our industry with an opportunity to address environmental challenges, and gives architects a product that is specifiable for sustainability." Read more...

DEAN SALLY BLOUNT ON SUPPORTING WOMEN THROUGH "PIVOT POINTS" IN THEIR CAREERS

Kellogg School of Management's Dean Sally Blount (one of Fortune's MPW contributors) wrote a piece focused on how to get more women in the C-Suite for Kellogg Insight.

"The challenges that professional women face are different from those faced by professional men. Our hypothesis is that if we can find new and better ways to support women through the three critical career pivot points, where these differences come to the fore, we can increase the number of women filling the pipeline to the c-suite." Read more...

DIANA RAUNER ON OUNCE'S IMPACT

Diane Rauner, President of the Ounce of Prevention Fund, sat for an interview with Crain's Chicago Business and discussed politics, funding and Ounce's impact on its clients. Read more...

BMO HARRIS BANK PARTNERS WITH ALLPOINT® TO EXTEND ATM NETWORK BY 43,000 ATMS NATIONWIDE

BMO Harris Bank (Alexandra Dousmanis-Curtis and Mary Jo Herseth) announced that its consumer and small business deposit customers now have free access to 43,000 ATMs across the country, as part of a new partnership with the Allpoint ATM network ─ the largest surcharge-free ATM network in the United States and worldwide.

"We are thrilled to provide our customers with wider ATM access, which complements several of our recent and upcoming product enhancements and reinforces our commitment to our customers," said Alexandra Dousmanis-Curtis, Group Head, U.S. Retail and Business Banking, BMO Harris Bank. "In addition, our partnership with Allpoint ATM network enables us to help cut ATM fees for customers, saving them money and providing them access to their cash across the nation completely fee free." Read more...

CHICAGO BUSINESS JOURNAL ANNOUNCES WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

Linda Coberly, Managing Partner, Chicago Office, Winston & Strawn LLP, and Deborah Lahey, President and CEO, Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, are named to Chicago Business Journal's 2017 Women of Influence list. The annual list recognizes women who have made an impact both professionally and in the Chicago community. The list also highlights mentoring, nonprofit organizations, and charitable endeavors. To see the full list, click here!

To see Winston & Strawn's coverage on Linda, click here!

DESIGN 50: WHO SHAPES CHICAGO 2017

New City Design released its list of Who Shapes Chicago 2017 and the following Network members were included:

Zoë Ryan, John H. Bryan Chair and Curator of Architecture, The Art Institute of Chicago
Sarah Herda, Director, Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in Fine Arts
Margaret McCurry, President & Principal, Tigerman McCurry Architects
Lynn Osmond, President and CEO, Chicago Architecture Foundation

EVELYN SANGUINETTI HELPS LAUNCH ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti, together with

Polaris and Clear Channel Outdoor Americas, launched a four-week anti-human trafficking awareness campaign to run on over 20 digital billboards across the city of Chicago and throughout Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The campaign alerts victims how to reach out for help through the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Read more...

EVELYN SANGUINETTI AND KATE MAEHR FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD HUNGER

Evelyn Sanguinetti was featured in an article that highlighted a breakfast she co-hosted at the state Capitol to urge legislators to join her in the fight against childhood hunger. "We are asking legislators to join us in the fight against childhood hunger. In our state, one in five children is food insecure and that has to end," Evelyn Sanguinetti said. "I grew up in a family where my parents had to choose between paying the rent and putting food on the table. It can be devastating for children having to go through that. If a federally funded program on child hunger can't bring us together, nothing will."

Kate Maehr, Greater Chicago Food Depository CEO and co-chair of the Illinois Commission to End Hunger, was also quoted in the article. "For children to achieve their full potential, they must have consistent access to nutritious food. Yet hundreds of thousands of children in our state wake up hungry, but expanding Breakfast After the Bell and Summer Meals programs will help ensure more Illinois children have the food they need to grow up healthy and succeed." Read more...

CEO ANN DRAKE NAMED 2017 PROVIDER PRO TO KNOW

DSC Logistics CEO Ann Drake has been named a 2017 Provider Pro to Know in the supply chain industry by Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine.

The Pros to Know Awards recognize supply chain executives at manufacturing and non-manufacturing enterprises who are leading initiatives to help prepare their companies' supply chains for the significant challenges of today's business climate. This is the eighth year in a row Ann has been included in this list.

"We commend the recipients for their achievements," said Ronnie Garrett, editor of Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Their efforts in developing the tools, processes and a knowledge base for supply chain transformation, as well as in promoting new approaches to supply chain enablement, earned these individuals a rightful place in this year's Pros to Know listing." Read more...

PROPOSED BILL LOOKS TO REFORM JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM

Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle commented on a new bill, expected to be introduced in the next couple weeks, that can make it easier to get juvenile arrest records expunged in Illinois. HB 3817/SB 2021 would combat unlawful and overly board sharing of juvenile records in Illinois and bring the state's current law in line with the American Bar Association's model guidelines on such records. "It's time we recognize that the arrest records of young people who have made mistakes can serve as impediments to their future growth and development and even create obstacles to such basics as finding housing and employment as they get older," Toni Preckwinkle said. Read more...

Women on Boards

JILL SMART JOINS ADVISORY BOARD FOR JB TRAINING SOLUTIONS

Jill Smart, President of The National Academy of Human Resources, has joined the Advisory Board for JB Training Solutions, a learning and development company that makes work better for professionals and organizations around the world. JB Training Solutions develops employees throughout their entire life cycle - from entering the workforce all the way to succeeding as an executive, through training programs that build stronger leaders, powerful communicators, and exceptional employees in a multigenerational workforce.

New Roles

PNC NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & REGIONAL EXECUTIVE, CORPORATE BANK

The PNC Financial Services Group has appointed Beth Karlson as Executive Vice President & Regional Executive, Corporate Bank for the U.S. Midwest markets. In her new role, Beth will oversee operations in the nine states that comprise the western states of PNC's footprint, including Minneapolis-St. Paul and Kansas City where PNC is expanding its Middle Market business. She joined PNC in 2013 to manage the Corporate Banking business in Chicago. Read more...

Announcements

REHABILITATION INSTITUTE LAUNCHES SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB

Congratulations to Joanne C. Smith, President & CEO of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, who held a preview of the institute's new Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at 355 E. Erie this week. Guests at the special opening on Tuesday night got to tour the facility and hear how the innovative new center will transform the lives of RIC's patients.

LAURA WASHINGTON AND SHARI RUNNER ON STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS FOR POLICE REFORM

On Wednesday, March 8, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform co-hosted a forum with the Chicago Urban League titled, "Strategic Solutions for Police Reform." Laura Washington, Columnist, Political Analyst, Chicago Sun-Times, ABC 7 Chicago, moderated a discussion of expert panelists, including Shari Runner, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, that focused on recent reports by the Department of Justice and the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force on the state of the Chicago Police Department. Panelists also offered their own recommendations for reducing violence in Chicago neighborhoods. Read more...

MARTHA NUSSBAUM PRESENTS AT KYOTO PRIZE SYMPOSIUM

Martha Nussbaum, Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor, the University of Chicago, gave two presentations at the University of San Diego's 15th annual Kyoto Prize Symposium on Thursday, March 16. Her presentations focused on philosophy in the service of humanity and anger and revolutionary justice. Martha was a recipient of the Kyoto Prize for Arts and Philosophy award in 2016. Read more...

FEI CHICAGO CHAPTER ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR CFO OF THE YEAR AWARDS

The Financial Executives International (FEI) Chicago Chapter is accepting nominations through May 26, 2017 for its annual Chicago CFO of the Year Awards. The ceremony, which is open to the public, is set for Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. To qualify for the award, candidates must be Chief Financial Officers or the equivalent in their organization and have served in their current role for two years minimum as of March 7, 2017. The candidate and his/her organization must be based in the Chicago area (counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake (IL), McHenry, and Will) and all nominations must be validated and endorsed by the nominee and the nominee's CEO. For a complete list of guidelines and to access a nomination form or recommend a candidate, click here!

Winners are selected by a committee of independent judges who represent top leadership in Chicago business.

ANNUAL CATHY COUGHLIN STEM SCHOLARS UPDATE & VIDEO

From Therese Fauerbach:

As St. Patrick's Day arrives, we're remembering past TCN Member Cathy Coughlin. It was one of her favorite holidays-a joyful celebration of her heritage, her family, and her many blessings.

Since Cathy's passing in 2015, we have worked closely with Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development (CTD) to create a STEM scholarship program in her name that includes a calendar of year-round CTD opportunities for 6th-8th-grade Chicago-area girls in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program enables each student to enroll in CTDs academic Summer Program on the Northwestern campus and to continue her STEM education by participating in an enrichment or accelerated, credit-bearing course during the school year. This equates to an investment of approximately $5000 per year for each student.

Thanks to your generosity, the generosity of others, and the devoted coordination by Northwestern CTD's Susan Richert Corwith and Jeff Hammock, we were able to sponsor six Cathy Coughlin STEM Scholars in our second year of the program last summer. But anyone who knew Cathy understands that she would never want to stop at six. In fact, in typical Coughlin style, we are hoping to more than double the size of the program this summer, targeting 15 Coughlin STEM Scholars.

On the occasion of St. Patrick's Day, let's see if we can broaden the reach of the Cathy Coughlin STEM Scholar program in 2017, extending STEM education (and a little luck of the Irish) to even more deserving Chicago-area girls.

To get a better sense of the Cathy Coughlin STEM Scholar program and what it means to our participating students and some of Cathy's closest friends and family, please take a moment to watch this short video.

Details on how to get involved are included below.

Two Ways to Contribute to The Cathy Coughlin STEM Scholar Program

1.) Via Check:

Please make checks payable to Northwestern University. Include in a note that the gift is for "Cathy Coughlin STEM Scholars."

Send to:

Office of Alumni Relations and Development

Attn: Jeff Hammock

Northwestern University

1201 Davis Street

Evanston, IL 60208-4410

2.) Via Credit Card Online:

Click here. Enter your gift amount and under "Gift Designation" select Cathy Coughlin STEM Scholars.