Chicago United Announces its 2015 Business Leaders of Color

CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its ongoing mission to promote multiracial leadership in business, Chicago United will profile 50 exceptional minority professionals who demonstrate superior business acumen and drive global competitiveness in its 2015 Business Leaders of Color (BLC) publication. Released every two years since 2003, the BLC publication aims to introduce its featured executives to Fortune 1,000 corporations seeking to increase diversity on their boards of directors.

"Chicago United is proud to have showcased nearly 320 board-ready candidates biennially over the last 12 years," said Gloria Castillo, president and CEO of Chicago United. "These men and women have rendered service in over 215 corporate directorships. It is a remarkable record."

The 2015 Business Leaders of Color were selected from a nomination pool of more than 125 qualified candidates representing a wide variety of product and service industries. Chicago United conducted a survey of CEOs from local corporations to determine the criteria used to select its top 50 featured leaders. When asked to list the qualities and characteristics used to identify "rising stars" within their corporation or candidates to fill board of director positions, the CEO responses were consistent:

• A proven track record of balanced decision-making and appreciation for multiple perspectives
• A range of experiences that reflect flexibility and the ability to transcend narrow experiences and issues
• An ability to respect diverse points of view and varied ways to approach issues and topics

With this candid feedback, Chicago United urged the local business community to review the diverse talent within organizations, professional networks, as well as corporate/civic boards and identify candidates.

The selected Business Leaders of Color will be honored during Chicago United's 47^th Anniversary Gala and Bridge Awards presentation on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Hilton Chicago. To reserve tickets or request a copy of the 2015 Business Leaders of Color publication, please contact Teresa Sarna ([email protected]).  

2015 Business Leaders of Color

D'Andrea M. Anderson Executive Director, J.P.Morgan Securities

Jose Armario Corporate Executive Vice President – Global Supply Chain, Development, and Franchising, McDonald's Corporation

Patricia Arredondo Senior Advisor for Institutional Initiatives, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Cynthia Barginere Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President, Rush University Medical Center

Brenda A. Battle Vice President, Care Delivery Innovation Urban Health Initiative and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, University of Chicago Medicine

Kenneth M. Battle Partner, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A.

Alex Bell Managing Director, KPMG LLP

M. Michelle Blaise Senior Vice President of Technical Services, ComEd, An Exelon Company

Lawyer L. Burks III Vice President and General Manager Commercial Construction North America, Illinois Tool Works

Denise R. Cade SVP, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, SunCoke Energy

Yang Chao VP, Financial Planning and Analysis, Gogo

Posh M. Charles Vice President, Community Affairs, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare

Eileen Chin President, R.M. Chin & Associates

Michael Chu Partner, McDermott Will & Emery

Virginia Clarke Senior Partner, Executive Search, Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions

Roger O. Crockett President, R.O. Crockett Leadership Advisory

Yolanda Daniel Chief Operating Officer & Principal, 8Oak Development, LLC

Angelique Athiena David Senior Managing Director, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Ziegler

Jeffrey Dorsey Senior Vice President Technology, Tribune Publishing Company

Willard S. Evans, Jr. President, Evans Advisory Group, LLC

Thomas L. Fisher Clinical Associate of Medicine, The University of Chicago

Sharon T. Grant Vice President-Customer Contact Centers, United Airlines

Symeria T. Hudson Global Home Therapies Franchise Leader – Renal, Baxter Healthcare

Mahrukh Hussain Corporate Vice President/U.S. General Counsel, McDonald's Corporation

Carl A. Jenkins Managing Director, BMO Financial Group

Oscar D. Johnson, Jr. Senior Vice President, Regional Head of Business Banking, BMO Harris Bank

Steve Kim Managing Partner, RKJ Legal

S. Raja Krishnamoorthi President, Sivananthan Laboratories, Inc.

Ash Luthra President, LSL Healthcare, Inc.

Leonard McLaughlin President, Aon Cornerstone Innovative Solutions, Aon

Michael J. McMurray President, Globetrotters Engineering Corporation

Edgardo A. Navarro President, McDonald's Latin America, McDonald's Corporation

David Nichols Americas Inorganic Growth Leader, Ernst & Young LLP

Ronald V. Redd Director, BMO Capital Markets

Max W. Reed Vice President Program Sales, CDW

Al B. Reid Divisional Vice President – Corporate Development, Abbott

Jose R. Sanchez President and Chief Executive Officer, Norwegian American Hospital

Rodrigo Alfonso Sierra Chief Communications & Marketing Officer and SVP, American Medical Association

Gurpreet Singh Partner, U.S. Health Services Advisory Leader, PwC

Eric S. Smith CFO – Middle Market Banking, JPMorgan Chase

Lucino Sotelo Chief Marketing Officer, BMO Harris Bank

Farah Bulsara Speer Executive Director, North American Healthcare Practice Leader, Golin

Gilda Livingston Spencer SVP and Deputy General Counsel, Allstate Insurance Company

Jason Spigner Vice President, Human Resources – Advocate Condell Medical Center & Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Advocate Health Care

Russell Stokes President & CEO, GE Transportation

Eric Strickland Senior Vice President, Managing Director – Corporate Group, Northern Trust

David S. Tan Director, Performance Agency Development, Google

Eduardo Tobon President, Diners Club International

Everett S. Ward Partner, Quarles & Brady, LLP

Adrienne White-Faines CEO, American Osteopathic Association (AOA)

About Chicago United
Chicago United is an advocacy organization that promotes multiracial leadership in business to advance parity in economic opportunity.  Chicago United supports the business community's need to maximize the use of corporate and entrepreneurial talent and brings together diverse senior business leaders to break through barriers to realize the benefits of diversity and inclusion.  Chicago United is the premiere business membership organization creating an environment where racially diverse CEOs and executive level managers can share common experiences to promote multi-racial leadership in governance, management, and business partnerships. It delivers best practices for diversity practitioners and fosters relationships among leaders who share common values. For more information please visit www.chicago-united.org.

SOURCE Chicago United

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