Leadership Greater Chicago names 2021 Class of LGC Fellows

Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) announced its 2021 Class of LGC Fellows. This select group of 46 accomplished and diverse individuals represents a cross-section of professionals from the corporate, nonprofit, government, and education sectors. They begin LGC's Signature Fellows Program amidst a renewed national movement around racial justice and an unprecedented global pandemic.

"Developing civic leaders to envision and build a united way forward has never been more critical, and their responsibilities have never been more complex," said Maria Wynne, LGC Chief Executive Officer."We are grateful for the support of the many sponsors who nominated these outstanding individuals and believe in their ability to change the world. In these uncertain times, this investment signifies Chicago's continued commitment to civic engagement. It also illustrates the persistent need to provide leaders with a deep understanding of critical socioeconomic issues and their interconnectedness in order to drive lasting impact and thrive as a diverse society. On behalf of the LGC Board of Directors, I congratulate our new Fellows and look forward to their contributions to ensure an inclusive future for all who call Chicago home."

The 2021 LGC Fellows share the organization's commitment to lead bold, transformative change in the community. They join a legacy of building and strengthening the pipeline of civic leaders who will shape the future of Chicago and the region.

Over the course of the 10-month LGC Signature Fellows Program, starting in September, participants will be immersed in key socioeconomic issues facing our city and the region through experiential learning including full-day seminars, community site visits, discussion groups, conversations with subject matter experts, and cultural events.

The 2021 LGC Fellows are:

• Georgia Alexakis - Deputy Chief of Appeals, Criminal Division, United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois

• Lindsay Anderson - Partner, Turing Strategies

• Allison Angeloni - Director of Policy, Steans Family Foundation

• Richard Asiyanbi - Regional Director, Field Operations, Nicor Gas

• Adnan Assad - Senior Vice President, First Midwest Bank

• Kelly Powers Baria - Vice President, Powers & Sons Construction

• Andrew Beideman - Program Officer, Pritzker Traubert Foundation

• Peter Delneky - First Vice President, CBRE, Inc.

• Matt DeMateo - Executive Director, New Life Centers of Chicagoland

• Colleen Desmond - Partner, Boston Consulting Group

• Mollie Dowling - Executive Director, OAI, Inc.

• Curtis Edwards - Senior Director, Human Resources, Aon

• Tacy F. Flint - Partner, Sidley Austin LLP

• Bethany Florek - Director of Human Resources, Greeley and Hansen

• Melissa Garcia - Head, U.S. Business Relationship Management, BMO Harris Bank

• Eva Giglio - Deputy Chief of Staff, Chicago Public Schools

• David Goldenberg - Midwest Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League

• Jermaine Harris - Sergeant, Chicago Police Department

• Rashidi Hodari - Managing Director, Tequila & Regional Brand House, Beam Suntory

• Ayesha Jaco - Executive Director, West Side United

• Precious S. Jacobs - Partner, Jenner & Block LLP

• Julieta Mundo LaMalfa - Director, Stout

• Anna M. Lee - Director of Community Impact, The Chicago Community Trust

• Keith Lewis - Director of Community Relations, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Camile Lindsay - Chief of Staff, Illinois Department of Corrections

• Jorge Lopez - Associate General Counsel, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

• Lindsay Marciniak - Managing Director, CCS Fundraising

• Beulah McLoyd, M.B.A. - Executive Director of Program Implementation, Midwest Region, New Leaders

• Jeff Michalczyk - Managing Director and Group Head, CIBC

• Ami Novoryta - Chief Strategy Officer, Heartland Alliance

• Nicholas O'Conner - Senior Counsel, Locke Lord LLP

• Rahul Pasarnikar - President, CREDMADE

• Dr. Aaron R. Quarles, MD MPP - Instructor of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine

• Quinn K. Rallins - Director of Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative, Office of Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton

• Trisha Rich - Partner & Co-Chair of Legal Profession Team, Holland & Knight LLP

• Dawveed Scully - Associate Urban Designer, Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill LLP (SOM)

• Evan C. Sharp - Executive Search & Assessment Consultant, Russell Reynolds Associates

• Elisabeth Siciliano - Director, Office of the CEO and Corporate Counsel, The Barack Obama Foundation

• Dr. Shawn Smith, MD - Attending Physician, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

• G. Scott Solomon - Vice President, Charles River Associates

• Grace Song - Director - Data Technology Acceleration and Governance, Allstate

• Chris Steadley - Senior Managing Partner, Gartner, Inc.

• Eric H. Sussman - Partner, Reed Smith LLP

• Dr. Garth Walker, MD MPH - Attending Physician in Emergency Medicine, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

• Owen Washburn - Vice President, Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase

• Victoria R. Watkins, Esq. - Chief of Staff to the Chairman & Co-CEO, Ariel Investments

The highly competitive selection process to become an LGC Fellow - which includes a comprehensive written application and an in-person interview with graduates of the LGC Signature Fellows Program - is based on a record of remarkable professional achievements early in their careers, evidence of leadership skills, the potential to influence positive change, and a commitment to the community.

More than 1,200 leaders have completed this world-class leadership development program, and 85% of those Fellows still reside in Illinois. A new class of LGC Fellows is selected each year, with the approval of the LGC Board of Directors. The application for the 2022 Program will open on October 1, 2020.

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About Leadership Greater Chicago

Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) is the region's premier civic leadership development organization, providing the knowledge and network to lead bold, transformative change. LGC convenes, connects, and mobilizes the area's most promising leaders around key socioeconomic issues through dynamic education and experiential activities. These diverse individuals represent the most prominent corporate, nonprofit, government, and education organizations.

Since its founding in 1983 by The Chicago Community Trust, LGC has developed more than 1,200 leaders through its Signature Fellows Program - an intensive 10-month program that provides the foundation for a lifelong commitment to civic engagement. The Program equips participants with the resources they need to understand how decisions are made, how complex policies are shaped, and how to influence meaningful change. Using the city as a classroom, LGC Fellows learn through interactions with private, public, and nonprofit decision makers, and work as a group to develop critical thinking, analytical, governance, and leadership skills.

LGC creates connectivity among its Fellows to positively impact not only themselves but their employees, their constituents, their clients, their neighbors, and their families. This connectivity is the backbone and strength of the LGC network, enabling leaders to leverage collective resources to make the Greater Chicago Region a more dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative community.

LGC Fellows are a distinguished group that includes former First Lady Michelle Obama, Managing Partner of Emerson Collective and former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, General Partner of Henry Crown & Company Steve Crown, President and Chief Executive Officer of World Business Andy Zopp, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, President of United Airlines Brett Hart, Chairman, Co-CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments John Rogers, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Diversity & Inclusion at Northern Trust Connie Lindsey, former Executive Chairman of Urban Partnership Bank David Vitale, Chief Marketing Officer of KemperSports Lucino Sotelo, Chancellor of Chicago City Colleges and MacArthur Genius Juan Salgado, President and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services Ric Estrada, President and CEO of Cara Chicago Maria Kim, President of Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) MarySue Barrett, and the late Marca Bristo, former President and CEO of Access Living.

Last year, LGC launched The Daniel Burnham Fellowship, an accelerated civic onboarding experience for senior executives new to Chicago or new to their role. The Fellowship is designed to inspire these leaders to mobilize and exert their combined influence and intellect to positively impact Chicago, its future, and the continued economic progress of the region. To date, nearly 50 C-suite executives have participated in this innovative leadership experience.

Leadership Greater Chicago is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

To learn more about LGC, visit lgcchicago.org. To learn more about the LGC Signature Fellows Program, visit lgcchicago.org/signaturefellowsprogram.