Smita Shah is an entrepreneur and civic leader with a commitment to excellence and improving lives. She is the Founder and CEO of SPAAN Tech, Inc., a multidisciplinary firm with 25 years expertise in public...

Anne has worked the the construction industry for over 40 years. She began as an intern and eventually an Estimator for a large Heavy Highway firm in Indiana. She returned to Illinois to work for...

Dee Robinson is a dynamic and entrepreneurial leader renowned for her strategic thinking and analytical prowess, which she leverages to drive innovative solutions that propel businesses to new heights. Throughout her illustrious career, Dee has...

Diane is the retired chief executive officer and president of Hickory Farms, LLC, aleading multi-channel retailer of food gifts and specialty foods. She held this role from March 2016 through January 2022. Under Diane’sleadership, the...

Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Kimberly Moore had always been a fan of tinkering.Lovingly known to her family as “Ms. Fix It” even at a young age, she was able to focuson creative ways...

Elizabeth “Betsy” Ziegler is the first female CEO of 1871, now the Number 1 ranked university affiliated-tech incubator in the world.Previous to 1871, Betsy was the Chief Innovation Officer at the Kellogg School of Management,...

Eileen Chin serves as President of R.M. Chin & Associates, Inc. (R.M. Chin), a M/W/DBE firm providing Owner’s Representation, Project/Program, and Construction Management services in the transportation, aviation, and building sectors. Eileen leads the firm’s...

Katherine C. Doyle was the Chief Executive Officer and Board Director of Swanson Health Products; which is a private equity-backed, health and wellness brand providing a full range of products to help consumers around the...

Ms. Togher is CEO and President of Chicago-based Azteca Foods, Inc., a family-owned, leading manufacturer of tortilla products. Renee currently serves as the Chair of the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association and served previous years as Vice-Chair...

Dr. Caralynn Nowinski Collens is the CEO and Co-Founder of Dimension Inx Corp., a biotechnology company developing regenerative therapeutics that restore lost function due to disease, trauma, or aging. She is passionate about building teams...