PEOPLES GAS CONTRIBUTES $5 MILLION TO NAVY PIER FOR SUSTAINABLE WELCOME PAVILION

Navy Pier (Michelle Boone and Marilynn Gardner) will receive a gift of $5 million from Peoples Gas. The donation will fund the future Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion in Polk Bros (Gillian Darlow) Park. Sporting a signature landscaped roof with panoramic views, the 4,000-square foot Welcome Pavilion will greet guests with a café, amenities, and information about all the Pier offers. It will be the focal point for the more than 9 million annual guests from Chicago, and around the world.

"On behalf of Navy Pier, the People's Pier, we are grateful for this generous contribution and the ongoing support from Peoples Gas as we work together to build the Welcome Pavilion as a gateway to new, exciting experiences for our guests," said Marilynn Gardner, President and CEO of Navy Pier. Read more...

ADLER CEO ERASES $5 MILLION DEFICIT, BOOSTS ATTENDANCE

Michelle Larson, President and CEO, Adler Planetarium, was featured in a Crain's article about Adler's new leadership team and goals they have set for the planetarium, such as boosting technology, retaining more members and perking up fundraising. "Rather than my vision, we're building a vision together," said Michelle Larson. Read more...

KOO'S LATEST ONE-OF-A-KIND DESIGN

KOO's latest architectural design, EMC2 is the newest member of the Marriott portfolio, a 21-story, 195-room hotel located at 228 E. Ontario Street in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood, and one that is deeply rooted in Architecture at its core, a field that represents the convergence of art and science.

"We collaborate with owners to fulfill their unique vision for the boutique urban lifestyle property.  We work hard at creating a custom building identity and getting extraordinary spaces out of what are often extremely small or difficult sites," said Jackie Koo, Founding Principal of KOO. Read more...

TONI PRECKWINKLE AND COUNTY BOARD HONOR MILITARY VETERANS

On Tuesday, June 6, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and County Commissioners recognized 40 military veterans for their sacrifice and service to nation under the annual Silver Star Service Banner program. Toni created the County's first-ever Department of Veterans Affairs in 2013. Among its tasks is to continue the tradition begun in 2008 of honoring Silver Star veterans at a Cook County Board meeting.

"I am grateful these veterans have come here today. We must acknowledge and show appreciation for the service of these veterans who have sacrificed so much for our nation and our freedoms," President Toni Preckwinkle said. "Thank you to the Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs and to the many commissioners that work to honor veterans in the Silver Star Banner Service program." Read more...

FEDERAL SIGNAL COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF TRUCK BODIES AND EQUIPMENT INTERNATIONAL

Federal Signal Corporation, a leader in environmental and safety solutions, recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of Truck Bodies and Equipment International ("TBEI"), a leading U.S. manufacturer of dump truck bodies and trailers subject to customary closing adjustments. Signing of the purchase agreement was previously announced on May 8, 2017.

"We are excited to welcome the TBEI businesses to our Federal Signal portfolio of brands," said Jennifer L. Sherman, Federal Signal's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Their product offerings will allow us to further diversify into higher growth, maintenance and infrastructure markets, while balancing the mix of revenue streams between municipal and industrial, and reduce our exposure to oil and gas." Read more... 

ROBIN KELLY JOINS U.S. SENATORS IN INTRODUCING "NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY"

U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined together to introduce a resolution in the House and Senate establishing June 2nd as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and designating June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month."

"Each June 2nd, we wear orange in honor of the thousands of Americans needlessly lost every year to gun violence because of Washington's inaction," said Robin Kelly, Vice-Chair of the Democratic Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. "The resolution is a renewal of our commitment to do something and save lives. As a nation and community, we are committed to passing life-saving, common sense gun reform laws, ending illegal interstate gun trafficking and creating opportunities. Our young people deserve an America where communities challenge them to pick up pencils and books instead of weapons." Read more... 

WOMEN EXECUTIVES INTERVIEWS MONICA WALKER 

In the latest installment of the Women Executives Interview series, Monica Walker, the President, CEO & Chief Investment Officer of Holland Capital Management, LLC, sat down with Ellen Kinlin to discuss her journey to the CEO's office and the skills she has honed along the way.

	Ali Malekzadeh, president of Roosevelt University, Gloria Castillo, president and CEO of Chicago United, and Pat Harris, Chairwoman of Board of Trustees, Roosevelt University and Retired Global Chief Diversity Officer of McDonald's Corporation.

Gloria Castillo, President and CEO, Chicago United, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Social Justice Honoris Causa for promoting multiracial leadership in business to advance parity in economic opportunity and also gave the 2017 commencement speech.

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT SIDES WITH ADVOCATE IN CASE CONCERNING ADVOCATE'S PENSION PLAN

On June 5, 2017, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion siding with Advocate in a case concerning Advocate's pension plan. At issue was whether the pension plans of faith-based organizations, like Advocate, may qualify as church plans exempt from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). In a unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court held that ERISA does not impose such a requirement.

The Supreme Court's decision recognized that Advocate and other religiously affiliated hospitals have been operating their pension plans as church plans for decades with the approval of the federal government. Advocate's pension plan is well-funded and stable.

 

Gail D. Hasbrouck, Former SVP & General Counsel, Advocate Health Care, has been admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar related to this matter and attended the argument before the Justices.

 

Click here for the summary of the issues and decision.

ANN DRAKE ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AT TOMPKINS SUPPLY CHAIN LEADERSHIP FORUM

Ann Drake, CEO of DSC Logistics and founder of the women's leadership network AWESOME, participated as a panelist at the Tompkins Supply Chain 2017 Leadership Forum. As part of the discussion on "3PLs: Stepping up to the Talent Challenge," Ann spoke about leadership development.      

The panel topic was introduced with statistics from Tompkins' studies showing that 60 million employees will exit the supply chain field over the next decade while only 40 million will enter it. Shippers and 3PLs view people as the most important resource when assessing the importance of 3PL capabilities.

Ann suggested developing the leadership potential of women as an effective solution for the talent shortage. Businesses that advance women can gain broader perspectives, better understanding and representation of their customers, and improved business results.

Ann also explained the Five-Point Roadmap developed by Paradigm for Parity, a coalition of business executives working for gender parity in their companies by 2030. She is a charter member and has pledged to implement the five points at DSC Logistics.

Ann was joined on the panel by Tim Brown, Managing Director of the Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute, Brian Devine, Senior Vice President of ProLogistix, and moderator Valerie Bonebrake, Senior Vice President, Tompkins International.

The Tompkins Forum covered the newest supply chain technology, transportation methods, material handling options, supply chain execution, fulfillment strategies, and network optimization. Presenters represented many industries, including Retail, Automotive, Consumer Products, 3PLs, Pharma & Health Care, and Food & Beverage. Read more... 

MARY S. JOSEPHS JOINS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S FORUM (IWF)

Mary S. Josephs, Founder and CEO of Verit Advisors®, has been selected to become a member of the prestigious International Women's Forum (IWF). The IWF was founded in 1982 in the United States and has grown across 6 continents into 74 local forums representing 33 nations. There are more than 6,000 members who are women leaders including CEOs, government officials, athletes and astronauts. Read more...

TCN MEMBERS AND TCN CEO ON SOLUTIONS FOR WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE

In March, Renetta McCann, Chief Talent Officer at Leo Burnett, and Andrea Zopp, Chicago Deputy Mayor, served on the "From Challenges to Change: Solutions for Women in the Workplace" panel, moderated by The Chicago Network President and CEO Kate Bensen. The event, hosted by The Mom Project, the Wharton, Penn and Harvard Alumni Clubs of Chicago, focused on the biggest hurdles that are still holding women back in the workplace.

Check out the video reel for highlights of the evening's most memorable insights: