Benedictine to host Women's Leadership Summit
The president of Nicor Gas, a leadership coach and consultant, and a special administrator within the Chicago Public School system are the featured speakers at the 2014 Greater Chicago Women's Leadership Summit at Benedictine University.
The summit, sponsored by the school's College of Business and the Office of Community Development, is a regional conference that addresses the issues of working women such as work/life balance, culture, innovative leadership and financial sustainability. The summit will begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 3, on the second floor of the Krasa Student Center on campus, 5700 College Road, Lisle.
Speakers include Beth Reese, Nicor Gas president; Dilara Salim Sayeed, special assistant to the chief administrative officer of the Chicago Public Schools; and Alvenia Rhea Albright, founder, president and CEO of Alvenia Rhea Albright and Associates, a consulting firm specializing in leadership development.
Named one of 2014's "Who's Who in Chicago Business" by Crain's Chicago Business, Reese is the first woman president of Nicor Gas - the largest natural gas distributor in Illinois. Reese has served as vice president of business innovation, customer service and finance, and as controller. Reese is a member of the board of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and the Field Museum of Natural History.
Sayeed has worked as an elementary school teacher, a university instructor, an entrepreneur and school administrator. She co-founded the Global Teacher Project, an education technology initiative that facilitates collaboration and peer mentoring, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in education policy and leadership at Harvard.
Albright earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ohio State University and has served as an adjunct professor at Aurora, Benedictine and Lewis universities. She left American Express in 2001 to found Alvenia Rhea Albright and Associates. She also serves as acting executive director of the A Rhea of Hope Foundation, which helps women ages 10 to 21.
The event will be emceed by Sandra Gill, associate dean for strategy in the College of Business at Benedictine University. The former dean of the College of Business at Benedictine led the college through the largest growth period in the university's history. Gill previously worked in health care consulting and is a certified clinical sociologist.
The summit begins with registration and a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m., and continues with speakers and lunch until 1:30 p.m. Early registration is $30 per person or $240 for a table of eight. After Sept. 26, registration is $40 per person or $320 for a table of eight. Expo tables are $250. Table sponsorship opportunities are available.
For tickets, information or to become a sponsor, contact wls@ben.edu or (630) 829-1934.