The Chicago Network The Chicago Network
737 N. Michigan Ave
Suite 1900—Chicago, IL 60611
2017
2018
YEAR IN
REVIEW
WELCOME
LIZ
CONNELLY
SUSAN
GALLAGHER

New brand identity

The TCN logo is symbolic of the connection members make with each other and the pathways leading to gender equity.

Each ‘prong’ of the mark represents one of TCN’s organizational goals.

GROW
INSPIRE
ADVANCE
PERSONAL GROWTH
SUPPORT + INSPIRE NEXT GENERATION
ADVANCE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY
ADVANCE CIVIC COMMUNITY
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
ADVANCE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

As the Chicago Network approaches its fifth decade, 2017–2018 was a year of both anticipation and reflection. We challenged ourselves to look ahead while evolving our true purpose: We Empower Women to Lead.

During the course of the program year, we were intentional about bringing our purpose to life, not only for our Network members but also for the next generation of women leaders. In that spirit, we invited early-career Millennial women to no-holds-barred sessions called Ask Me Anything, allowing these aspiring leaders to gain insights and lessons learned from Chicago Network members. We continued our Women in STEM series featuring female scientists from the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Chicago Botanic Garden, and Adler Planetarium who shared professional expertise and life experiences with young women from across the city. And our Executive Women’s Mentorship Initiative entered its third year in partnership with the Executives’ Club of Chicago, pairing 25 mentees with Chicago Network mentors.

Our 40th year in service to Chicago’s current and future women leaders occurs in 2019. In celebration of this anniversary, we’re introducing a new brand identity, an updated website, a revamped leadership conference, greater social media presence and story-telling featuring our incredible and inspiring members. If you’d like to learn more about our new look and the inspiration behind the branding, it’s all right here.

To every member of the women’s leadership community here in Chicago—past, present and future—we salute your leadership accomplishments and invite you to work together with us as we empower women to lead.

Liz Connelly

Liz Connelly
Chair 2017–2018

Susan Gallagher

Susan Gallagher
Chair 2018–2019

Who we are

PURPOSE
We empower women to lead.
VISION
Gender equity. At all levels. Everywhere.
VALUES
EMPATHY
We meet women where they are.
GENEROSITY
We unconditionally pay it forward.
EQUITY
We are relentless in righting the balance.
COLLECTIVITY
We are stronger together.
MISSION
Inspire and support the next generation.
Connect with each other for personal and professional growth.
Advance our civic, business & philanthropic communities.

Chicago network members represent senior leadership across all sectors

9
Nine CEOs of public companies with a total market cap of $130B
35
35 Fortune 500 C-Suite executives
CEOs of Chicago’s leading foundations, cultural institutions, and nonprofit organizations
4.7M
Member companies employ more than 4.7 million people
6
Presidents of six universities
80%
80% of Crain’s Most Powerful Women in Chicago Business
2.8T
Member companies represent more than 2.8 Trillion in Market Cap

INITIATIVES:
INSPIRING THE
NEXT GENERATION

EXPLORING
CAREERS WITH
COLLEGE STUDENTS

The Chicago Network Future Leaders Program

The Future Leaders Program supports the Network’s goal of inspiring the next generation of women leaders by providing outstanding sophomore and junior female college students, at TCN’s partnering schools, the opportunity to explore career paths in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. In 2018, the Program served a total of 36 students from our partner schools:

Dominican University
Saint Xavier
University of Illinois at Chicago
NEXT GENERATION WOMEN
LEADERS
36
STUDENTS

“This program is FANTASTIC. I feel so empowered as a woman and made great connections with other students and professionals. Thank you.”

Thank you to our generous 2018 hosts!

Chase
Chicago Botanic Garden
Discover
Illinois Holocaust Museum
The Northridge Group
UI Labs

Since the TCN Future Leaders program launch in 2014

400+
400+ students applicants
200
200 students have completed the TCN Future Leaders program
36
36 companies and nonprofits have hosted TCN Future Leaders student visits
5
5 universities have participated in TCN Future Leaders

SHARING
LESSONS
LEARNED

Ask Me Anything

Throughout the year, the Chicago Network convened groups of millennial women from across the city to have candid career conversations with Network members and to exchange insights from both sides of the table. We’re grateful to the members below who shared their time and dug deep to give their most authentic advice and personal perspectives for these meaningful conversations.

MILLENNIAL
WOMEN
CAREER
CONVERSATIONS

Thank you to our participating members

ELAINE LEAVENWORTH
Former SVP, CMO & External Affairs Officer, Abbott
MARIA WYNNE
CEO, Leadership Greater Chicago
JENNY NIEMANN
CEO, Forward Space
RONA BORRE
CEO, Instant Alliance
KATH CARTER
Global TAS Accounts and Business Development Leader, Ernst & Young LLP

OPENING
DOORS TO
SCIENCE CAREERS

STEM Series

The Chicago Network continued its STEM series for young women with a program featuring top women working in science and actively studying phenomena found anywhere from outer space, under water, and almost everything in between. More than 50 girls in attendance heard fascinating stories from researchers at the Adler Planetarium, Chicago Botanic Garden, Field Museum, and the John G. Shedd Aquarium. Moderated by Chicago Network member Dr. Michelle Larson, President & CEO, Adler Planetarium. Special thanks to Edelman for generously hosting the event.

DR. MICHELLE LARSON MODERATOR
50+
HIGH
SCHOOL
WOMEN

“Great program! I got so much more inspiration from this program than I had anticipated. If I can do it again, I absolutely would.”

PAYING IT
FORWARD

Maria Pesqueira
Chair, Launch Pad 2018

Inspiring Established Leaders

One of the Chicago Network’s cornerstone initiatives in paying it forward to the next generation is our Launch Pad conference. Created in 2014, Launch Pad provides emerging women leaders with robust content and actionable leadership tools to help them achieve their career objectives. Nearly 350 women attended in 2018.

LAUNCH PAD
350
ATTENDEES

 

Sessions

Equipping Your Organization to Thrive in Times of Transformational Change
  • Rob Wolcott, Clinical Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Kellogg School of Management and Managing Partner, Clareo
Navigating Disruption and Building Resiliency and Leading Others Through It
  • Denise Young Smith, Executive in Residence, Cornell Tech University
  • Angela Williams, President & CEO, Easterseals

GATHERING
CHICAGO’S BUSINESS
+ CIVIC COMMUNITIES

Women in the
Forefront Luncheon

The Women in the Forefront Luncheon funds our initiatives to pay it forward. We featured Jane Pauley as the keynote speaker at the 29th Annual Women in the Forefront Luncheon on April 20, 2018. Jane was in conversation with her former colleague Carol Marin, Political Editor, NBC5 Chicago and Director, DePaul University Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence, College of Communication. CBS2 Chicago Co-Anchor Irika Sargent served as our inaugural emcee. The event raised a record $1M+ to support the Network’s outreach initiatives.

JANE PAULEY KEYNOTE
RAISED
A RECORD
$1M+

Video Highlights

Video Highlights

“I continue to be amazed at the membership of women leaders.
No other organization connects us.”

IN THE MEDIA

Crain’s Chicago Business, Why workplace flexibility should be the new normal, Kate Bensen, OpEd, April 6, 2018

Chicago Tribune, More women are landing seats on Illinois’ corporate boards, but pace of change is ‘glacial’, Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz, May 14, 2018

Chicago Tribune, In true Chicago fashion, program trains young women to make no small plans, Heidi Stevens, September 11, 2017

Crain’s Chicago Business, Which Chicagoans are best at mentoring women?, Lisa Bertagnoli, October 27, 2017

CBS2 News, Jane Pauley in Chicago for “Women in the Forefront” Luncheon, Erika Sargent, April 20, 2018

St. Xavier University social media example

Illinois Holocaust Museum

OUR MEMBERSHIP

New Members by Subcommittee

3
Arts & Culture
3
Mid-Size Company
5
Financial Services
2
Government
6
Corporate
3
Health, Science & Medicine
4
Law
3
Media & Communications
4
Nonprofit
3
Professional Services & Assoc.
3
Higher Education

Members by Subcommittee

26
Arts & Culture
51
Mid-Size Company
53
Financial Services
25
Health, Science & Medicine
3
At Large
13
Government
67
Corporate
18
Higher Education
33
Media & Communications
70
Professional Services & Assoc.
46
Media & Communications
44
Law
68
Retired

Members by Type

517
Total
32
Life
30
Non-Resident
409
Full
45
Emerita
1
Honorary

NEW MEMBERS

Roseanna Ander
Executive Director
University of Chicago Crime Lab

Heather Anichini
President & CEO
Chicago Public Education Fund

Katherine Baicker
Dean
University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

Jana Cohen Barbe
Partner & Former Global VP Chair
Dentons

Patricia Besser
Managing Director, U.S. Trust,
Bank of America Private Wealth Management

Cathy Birkeland
Chicago Office Managing Partner;
Global Co-Chair
Latham & Watkins

Christine Marie Castellano
SVP, General Counsel,
Corporate Secretary, and CCO Ingredion

Regine Corrado
Managing Partner, Chicago Office
Baker McKenzie

Julie Creamer
President, NMH and SVP, NMHCare
Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Monica Davey
Chicago Bureau Chief
New York Times

Francesca DeBiase
EVP, Chief Supply Chain & Sustainability Officer
McDonald’s

Patrice P. DeCorrevont
Lead Region President
Wells Fargo

Kimberly Foxx
State’s Attorney
Cook County
Illinois

Jean M. Franczyk
President and CEO
Chicago Botanic Garden

Bridget Gainer
Cook County Commissioner
10th District/VP Aon

Helene Gayle
President & CEO
The Chicago Community Trust

Sarah Guernsey
Deputy Director for
Curatorial Affairs
Art Institute

Patricia Halper
Partner & Co Chief
Investment Officer
Chicago Equity Partners

Jennifer Holmgren
CEO
LanzaTech

Linda Imonti
National Partner in Charge
KPMG

Erin Inman
President & CEO
Primera Engineers

Angela Korompilas
President and CEO
American Hotel Register

Devi Koya
Owner
Koya Law LLC and
Documentation Traker LLC

Lori Lightfoot
Partner
Mayer Brown

Julie Loeger
EVP, Chief Marketing Officer
Discover

Jennifer Lyons
Director of News and Content
WGN

Mary Lou Mastro
System CEO
Edward-Elmhurst Health

Nivine Megahed
President
National Louis University

Solveig Øvstebø
Executive Director and Chief Supervisor
Renaissance Society

Angelique Power
President
The Field Foundation

Brooke Skinner Ricketts
Chief Marketing Officer
Cars.com

Jennifer Rosato Perea
Dean & Professor, College of Law
DePaul University

Kristi Ross
Co-CEO & President
tastytrade

Kristen Rossi
Global Head of Consumer Retail Investment Banking
Morgan Stanley

Kristi Rowsell
President
Harris Associates

Katie Shannon
Global Practice Managing Partner
Heidrick & Struggles

Heather Steans
State Senator
State of Illinois

Dana Suskind
Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, Director of the Cochlear Implantation Program, University of Chicago

Pallavi Verma
Senior Managing Director
US Midwest
Accenture

Yasmine Winkler
CEO, Central Region
UnitedHealthcare

Janet Zelenka
SVP & CFO
Essendant

ANNUAL MEMBER
PROGRAMS

HerStories

These luncheons feature a member sharing her personal and professional life story in a small group setting among fellow members.

Special thanks to sponsors BMO Private Bank and CIBC

TERI ARVESU
VP & Director of Content
Univision Chicago
GOLI SHEIKHOLESLAMI
President & CEO
Chicago Public Media
SUZET MCKINNEY
CEO and Executive Director Illinois
Medical District
RONNE HARTFIELD
Consultant in Arts Education & Planning

Fall Dinner

Global Migration Fireside Chat

Featuring Jane DiRenzo Pigott, Managing Director of R3 Group LLC and Betsy Stelle Morgan, Head of Baker & McKenzie’s Global Immigration and Mobility Practice

SEPTEMBER
25,
2017

Private Dinners in
Members’ Homes

Special thanks to the following host members

Sue Bettman, Debora de Hoyos, Sidney Dillard, Anne Edwards-Cotter, Therese Fauerbach, Leslie Hindman, Ellen Jordan, Diane Offereins, Terry Savage, Julie Scott, Salme Steinberg, Julie Vander Weele, Donna Van Eekeren, Susan Whiting

MAY
14,
2018

Annual Meeting

Featuring Feyi Olopade Ayodele, CEO, Cancer I.Q.; Dr. Funmi Olopade, Associate Dean for Global Health, University of Chicago; Dr. Cheryl R. Whitaker, CEO, NextLevel Health Partners, Inc.

JUNE
6,
2018

LEADERSHIP

Board of Directors

CHAIR

Elizabeth H. Connelly

VICE CHAIR

Susan G. Gallagher

SECRETARY/TREASURER FINANCE & AUDIT CHAIR

Carol R. Bibb

COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR

Kary McIlwain

ENGAGEMENT CHAIR

Catherine Kenworthy

FUTURE LEADERS CHAIR

Michelle Larson

GOVERNANCE CHAIR

Cherryl Thomas

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR

Tierney Remick

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR/ NOMINATING CHAIR

Kathryn Sullivan

PROGRAM CHAIR

Jane D. Pigott

WOMEN ON BOARDS CHAIR

Ann Ziegler

LAUNCH PAD CHAIR

Maria S. Pesqueira

WOMEN IN THE FOREFRONT
CO-CHAIRS

Mary Jo Herseth
Diane Offereins

AT LARGE

Emily Barr

Denise Cade

Grace Hou

Ellen Jordan

Phyllis Lockett

Linda Myers

Sheila G. Talton

Committees

COMMUNICATIONS

Kary McIlwain, Chair

Maryam Banikarim

Emily Barr

Deb Boyda

Laura Desmond

Jennifer Graves

EXECUTIVE

Liz Connelly, Chair

Carol Bibb

Susan Gallagher

Cathy Kenworthy

Maria Pesqueira

Tierney Remick

Kathryn Sullivan

Ann Ziegler

ENGAGEMENT

Cathy Kenworthy, Chair

Kapila Anand

Patti Bobb

Gila Bronner

Laura Brown

Gail Hasbrouck

Sandra Helton

Carrie Hightman

Sherren Leigh

Pamela Forbes Lieberman

Terri McNally

Diane Primo

Anna Rappaport

Toni Smith

Julie Vander Weele

Donna Williamson

Brooke Wiseman

FINANCE AND AUDIT

Carol Bibb, Chair

Susan Gallagher

Ellen Jordan

FUTURE LEADERS

Michelle Larson, Chair

Cathy Anderson

Patricia Cassidy

Kathleen Cronin

Karyn Esken

Gail Hasbrouck

Deborah Lahey

Marilyn Lissner

Renetta McCann

Jennifer Nijman

Toni Smith

Cheryl Whitaker

Susan Whiting

GOVERNANCE

Cherryl Thomas, Chair

Grace Hou

Linda Myers

Sheila Talton

LAUNCH PAD

Maria Pesqueira, Chair

Denise Cade

Karen Case

Kathleen Cronin

Vicki Escarra

Kathleen Savio

Susan Whiting

Angela Williams

MEMBERSHIP

Tierney Remick, Chair

Anne Edwards-Cotter

Beth Harris

Terri Mascherin

Jane Mentzinger

Diane Offereins

Sheila O’Grady

Nancy Ruscheinski

Z. Scott

Joyce St. Clair

Sheridan Turner

Brenda Wolf

PROGRAM

Jane Pigott, Chair

Jana Cohen Barbe

Patti Bobb

Madeleine Condit

Gillian Darlow

Lyn Corbett Fitzgerald

Sylvia Puente

Isabelle Goossen

Lucy Salenger

Unmi Song

Karen Teitelbaum

Joycelyn Winnecke

Kathleen Yosko

NOMINATING

Kathryn Sullivan, Chair

Liz Connelly

Cary Grace

Susan Hassan

Jackie Koo

Joyce St. Clair

Cherryl Thomas

WOMEN IN THE FOREFRONT

Mary Jo Herseth, Co-Chair

Diane Offereins, Co-Chair

Sue Bettman

Anne Edwards-Cotter

Lisa Emerick

Therese Fauerbach

Jill Nicholson

Julie Scott

Maryann Waryjas

WOMEN ON BOARDS

Ann Ziegler, Chair

Membership Subcommittees

ARTS AND CULTURE

Sheridan Turner, Chair

Michelle Boone

Isabelle Goossen

Sarah Herda

Kate Lipuma

Lynn Osmond

Libbet Richter

Laura Sadler

Sophia Shaw

Joyce Simon

CORPORATE

Diane Offereins, Chair

Cathy Anderson

Cary Grace

Sara Greenstein

Sally Grimes

Laura Gurski

Cheryle Jackson

Linda Jojo

Kathy Mabe

Laurie O’Shea

Mary Lee Schneider

Ann Ziegler

ENTREPRENEUR

Anne Edwards-Cotter, Chair

Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias

Rona Borre

Marion Cameron

Michele Honomichl

Carol McCarthy

Jenny Niemann

Dee Robinson

Ellen Rudnick

Julie Scott

Cheryl Whitaker

Donna Williamson

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Joyce St. Clair, Chair

Tracey Benford

Gwen Butler

Sidney Dillard

Lisa Johnson

Mary Josephs

Roxanne Martino

Amelie Negrier

Marita Sullivan

Julie Vander Weele

GOVERNMENT

Z. Scott, Chair

Melissa Bean

Lynn Cutler

Lori Healey

Patricia Holmes

Robin Kelly

Corinne Wood

HEALTH, SCIENCE, & MEDICINE

Brenda Wolf, Chair

Jan Berger

Deborah Bowen

Suzet McKinney

Michelle Stephenson

Karen Teitelbaum

HIGHER EDUCATION

Beth Harris, Chair

Donna Carroll

Elaine Maimon

Stephanie Pace Marshall

Marilyn McCoy

Elissa Tenny

LAW

Terri Mascherin, Chair

Rebecca Bacon

Debora de Hoyos

Chris Edwards

Mary Ann Hynes

Joan Lefkow

Susan Levy

MauraAnn McBreen

Mary Meg McCarthy

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

Nancy Ruscheinski, Chair

Teri Arvesu

Lisa Emerick

Karyn Esken

Jennifer Graves

Karen Sauder

Alison Scholly

Goli Sheikholeslami

Maxine Winer

Joyce Winnecke

NONPROFIT

Jane Mentzinger, Chair

MarySue Barrett

Jean Butzen

Gillian Darlow

Maria Kim

Alison Ranney

Angela Williams

Brooke Wiseman

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND ASSOCIATIONS

Sheila O’Grady, Chair

Gina Berndt

Donni Case

Stacy Janiak

Beth Kirk-Malecki

Jackie Koo

Brittney Saks

Jill Smart

Staff

Kate Bensen
President & CEO
312 787 1990
kbensen@thechicagonetwork.org

Nathan Brauner
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
and Engagement Director
312 787 1979
nbrauner@thechicagonetwork.org

Elizabeth Stigler
Managing Director
of External Relations
312 787 1994
estigler@thechicagonetwork.org

Nathan Upchurch
Communications Specialist
312 787 7936
nupchurch@thechicagonetwork.org