Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top Women Leaders of Illinois for 2024. As the second largest producer of corn in the US, it’s no surprise that one of the top industries in the state is agribusiness and food processing. But The Prairie State doesn’t stop there. Illinois’ thriving economy is home to businesses across a wide variety of sectors, including information technology, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, business and professional services, education, and more.
Across these industries, women hold many high-ranking positions, including honoree Ami Patel, the Chief Operating Officer for technology powerhouse Elite RF, a leader in RF/microwave power amplification technology.
Recognized for her multi-faceted approach and deep industry knowledge, we also recognize the career of A. Kay Hare, Managing Director of Accenture, a business management consulting firm, where she leads the Stories team to develop client story features and promote brand awareness.
Finally, we extend our honors to Kelly Dotson, the President of Numerator, a data and tech company focused on first-party consumer data insights. Dotson is a data-driven, customer-first marketer who oversees and aligns multiple teams at Numerator.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top Women Leaders of Illinois for 2024.
Cindy Goody
CEO & Founder, Grow a Food Career, LLC
Cynthia Goody is the CEO and Founder of Grow a Food Career, LLC. Grow a Food Career ignites inspiration among individuals and groups employed in the US food industry – from farms to Fortune 500 companies – with accessible, engaging career development content and mentoring moments. As a food business and industry leader with experience in leading the development and execution of food, nutrition, and wellness initiatives in academia, healthcare, and one of the world's largest restaurant chains, Goody brings a unique combination of nutrition science, business acumen, strategic communication skills, and external stakeholder relationship development to create and deliver all-around value. She is a bilingual, strategic food quality marketing regulatory communications professional offering expertise in leading and executing integrated global programs to build brand reputation and grow company topline.
Goody was previously a marketing senior director for McDonald’s Corporation, working her way up from the position of supply chain director. Before joining McDonald’s USA, she served as a registered dietitian for HY-VEE Food Stores, Inc. in Iowa City, Iowa, where she provided nutritional counseling and developed wellness programs. A returned Peace Corps Volunteer-Guatemala, she has also delivered diabetes care and education in both domestic and international settings. Goody has been involved in the Diabetes Care and Education and Food and Culinary Professionals Practice Groups of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is the author and editor of Cultural Food Practices, an over 250-page professional reference published by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Goody has participated as an invited faculty member for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Culinary Institute of America, and the Harvard School of Public Health’s Continuing Medical Education. Goody holds a PhD and MBA from The University of Iowa, an MS double major in food science, human nutrition, and family and consumer sciences, and an undergraduate degree in food, nutrition, and dietetics from Iowa State University.
Christina Meitus
EVP & General Manager for Professional Services Americas, Salesforce
Christina Meitus is a visionary executive, with over 20 years of experience in the technology sector. She is currently EVP and Head of Professional Services - Americas at Salesforce, the fastest-growing enterprise software company, and leads a team of over 4,000 consultants to deliver $1.5 billion in revenue.
Meitus’s exceptional leadership and negotiation skills, strategic mindset, and results-oriented approach allows her to consistently deliver outstanding performance and inspire those around her to reach their full potential. Known for her expertise in customer relationship management, advocacy for diversity and inclusion, and ability to drive human-centered change, Meitus thrives in high-growth environments and delivers results. Her strategic acumen allows her to identify market trends and develop innovative strategies for sustainable growth and organizational success. Meitus has a history of building high-performing teams with diverse perspectives. She fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and equitable working environment, empowering individuals to contribute their best results. As an engaging public speaker, Meitus captivates audiences with her authenticity and passion, particularly in leadership, customer engagement, diversity, and organizational change. Her persuasive articulation has established her as a sought-after thought leader in her field.
Before joining Salesforce, Meitus held multiple sales leader positions at IBM. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management from the University of Arkansas - Sam Walton School of Business. Meitus resides in Chicago and lives with her husband. They are both active supporters of The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Little Heroes League of Chicago.
Tracie Morris
Chief People Officer & EVP of Human Resources, Corewell Health
Tracie Morris is the Chief People Officer and Executive Vice President of Human Resources, at Corewell Health, which is a not-for-profit health system that provides healthcare and coverage, Morris is an accomplished, senior business leader with a progressive track record of success in leading organizations through change and business transformation. She’s recognized as a strong driver and business partner to the CEO, consistently delivering forward-thinking, business-focused solutions that deliver strong, sustainable results.
Morris was previously a senior VP for BMO Financial Group, where she oversaw the strategic and operational governance of the HR organization. She led, sponsored, and executed enterprise HR priorities in the US and had oversight for the execution in other banking/corporate groups, overseeing and coordinating human resources-related matters as they pertain to US regulatory agencies and US mergers and acquisitions. Before that, Morris was a 17-year veteran of Exelon, with experience leading organizational and cultural transformations, driving workforce planning, talent acquisition, leadership development, succession planning, and building strong training programs.
Morris serves on the board of directors for Leadership Greater Chicago, BlackEnsemble Theatre, Junior Achievement of Chicago, and Business Leadership Council. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for North Central College. Morris holds an undergraduate degree in organizational communications from North Central College and a Master’s degree in Management and Organizational Behaviors from Benedictine University, where she was inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society.
Susana Suarez
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Amcor
Susana Suarez is Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Amcor, a leading global packaging company. Leveraging extensive experience in corporate human resources management, she is responsible for leading Amcor's global human resources function, with a strong focus on continuing to invest in talent and organizational development as levers for delivering strategy and growth. In addition to HR, she also leads communications and EHS at Amcor.
A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, she has more than 30 years of human resources experience engaging diverse workforces across global business-to-business organizations. Before joining Amcor, Suarez served as EVP and chief human resources and diversity and inclusion officer at International Flavors and Fragrances, where she helped shape its human capital strategy while completing two of the biggest acquisitions in the history of the flavor and fragrance industry. Before that, she spent more than two decades in various sales, general management, and HR leadership positions at Fluor Corporation. Suarez is based in Amcor’s corporate offices in Deerfield, Illinois.
Suarez has a PhD in Psychology from the Universidad de Oviedo and a Master’s degree in International Relations and Affairs from Harvard University.
Aisha Khurshid
Head of Solution Architecture - US Central Digital Native Business, Amazon Web Services
Aisha Khurshid stands at the forefront of technological innovation and leadership as the Head of Solutions Architecture for the Digital Platforms (East) at Amazon Web Services (AWS). With a passion for launching software products, scaling organizations from grounds up, and tackling enterprise-scale challenges, Aisha embodies the spirit of a transformative leader. Her leadership drives her team's mission to empower innovative organizations to harness AWS Services—including Analytics, AI/ML, and GenAI—to pioneer industry disruptions.
Previously, Aisha excelled as the Global Director of Infrastructure Architecture at GE, where she had direct control over software product development and global infrastructure portfolio strategy, which was delivered in 150 countries. Aisha's strategic vision and leadership were instrumental in reshaping management practices, investment approaches, and product strategies, catalyzing global growth in software-led cloud services. Before joining GE, Aisha's expertise in software development spanned various industries.
Her professional ethos is deeply rooted in integrity, resilience, and respect for the individual—values that guide her commitment to championing DE&I both within the corporate realm and her community. An advocate for uplifting underrepresented talents, Aisha serves on the board of Upwards, a social enterprise dedicated to bridging the gap between talent and the evolving demands of the tech labor market. Additionally, her dedication to women's health and education shines through her trusteeship with the Bradrie Foundation Trust.
Aisha's academic achievements, including an Executive MBA from Michigan State University, a Master's in Computer Science from Grand Valley, and a Bachelor's in Computer Engineering from the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute, lay the foundation for her distinguished career. Her exemplary leadership, innovative spirit, and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the world of technology and beyond make her an outstanding candidate for the Women Leader in Illinois award.
Andrea Danes
Global Human Services Leader, EY US LLC
Andrea Danes is EY’s Global Human Services Leader. In her role, Danes is charged with unifying the firm’s vision and voice for transformation across social programs supporting vulnerable populations. EY recognizes the importance of social support as nations emerge from the pandemic and move into a prolonged recovery phase. Danes leads efforts across 27 countries where EY professionals provide strategic support to government executives and facilitate global coordination to identify emerging trends, build sharable solutions, and enable collaboration in support of human services transformation.
Within the US government and public sector market, Danes is focused on program transformation across healthcare and human services. Her role is part of the EY global initiative to leverage data and analytics to drive resilience and recovery throughout a human services delivery model. Focusing on HHS agency transformation and the US activation of the Power of Prevention platforms, she spends time with federal, state, and county leaders tasked with better supporting vulnerable populations through the pandemic and beyond.
She is widely recognized as an industry expert with more than 30 years of experience in both public and private sectors, with program expertise in Medicaid, child welfare, and other human services programs. Danes’s passion for establishing better service delivery models across HHS is driven by personal experience both as a child growing up in Section 8 housing with free lunches, as well as in adulthood, where their youngest daughter came into the family through kinship placement. This powerful combination uniquely positions her to help government agency leaders understand the power of their programs and the untapped potential of their populations. For more than 20 years Danes has been a nationally recognized and sought-after speaker, sharing perspectives and guidance through industry conferences, thought leadership, and podcast appearances.
Veronica Glickman
Founder & CEO, Autism, Behavioral & Educational Services Inc.
Veronica Glickman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Autism, Behavioral & Educational Services, Inc. (ABES), has dedicated her professional career to working with kids and adults with autism and their families. She began working with the adult population as an undergraduate student at Adelphi University in Long Island, New York while working toward her psychology degree by providing vocational training and placement.
Since that time, Glickman earned a Master’s in Experimental Psychology from the University of Hartford, a Master’s in Organizational Psychology from Alliant International University, and a certification in applied behavior analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is a board-certified behavior analyst.
Glickman’s over 20 years of experience spans across four states – New York, Connecticut, California, and Illinois. Upon diagnosing and recommending behavior analytic services in Illinois, Glickman found that there was a lack of service providers and ABES, Inc. was born. She has been invited to speak on many radio talk shows regarding autism awareness and autism and safety. Recently, she co-authored a chapter named Inclusion is a Matter of Life and Death. More Than We Realize.
Kimberly Evans
EVP & Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion, & Social Impact, Northern Trust Securities
Kimberly Evans is the Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion, and Social Impact for Northern Trust Securities, a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, and investment solutions. Northern Trust guides the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to their enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity.
Evans was appointed to her current position in 2021. Before that, she served Northern Trust by leading a fast-growing segment of the firm within Alternative Fund Services. Before that, she was an SVP and led a growing practice dedicated to providing middle- and back-office solutions for a range of alternative asset-class investment managers, including real estate, private debt, infrastructure, and both traditional and hybrid private equity funds in the region. Leading up to this role, she had three other SVP roles with the company, starting in 2010.
Evans has a BS in psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has served on multiple boards, including for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Deborah's Place, the Chicago Urban League, and the Chicago State Foundation.
Paulina Heinkel
Head of Global Communications, IFF
Paulina Heinkel is Head of Global Communications at IFF, a leading innovator in food, beverage, scent, health, and biosciences. In her role, Heinkel leads the strategy and execution of the communications function at IFF, supporting the company's growth, reputation, and engagement goals. She oversees the company’s internal communications, public relations, corporate brand, and digital and social media verticals.
Before her current role, Heinkel held roles of increasing responsibility in public relations, content strategy, and development, employee communications, and media relations while working at Fortune 500 companies. As a former award-winning investigative broadcast reporter, Heinkel has a passion for storytelling and a knack for creating compelling and impactful content for various audiences and channels. She is a trusted advisor to C-suite executives, nonprofit leaders, and local government officials and has a proven track record of delivering results in high-profile and complex situations.
Before entering the field as a multimedia reporter and bureau chief, Heinkel earned a BS in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University. An interior design enthusiast passionate about shopping secondhand first, Heinkel is also committed to making a difference in her community and has been recognized as the Big Sister of the Year in Illinois for her mentoring role.
Julia Rowe
Managing Director, Kroll
Julia Rowe is a Managing Director in the Intellectual Property Advisory Services Practice at Kroll in Chicago. Rowe has a unique combination of public policy, valuation, and litigation experience relating to intellectual property. Clients come to Rowe for strategic, thoughtful, and timely advice for complex intellectual property issues.
Rowe has served as an expert witness through deposition and trial. Her case experience spans all types of intellectual property and across several venues. She has more than a decade of experience evaluating economic issues in the context of litigation. Rowe has worked across a broad number of industries and sectors, including agriculture, automotive, consumer products, computer software and hardware, gaming, medical devices, telecommunications, and more.
Rowe has authored publications and has been an invited speaker on the subjects of valuation and licensing. Rowe earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a Master of Accountancy from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University. She is a Certified Public Accountant, registered in Illinois.
Jennifer Lagunas
EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary, TerSera Therapeutics
Jennifer Lagunas is the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary at TerSera Holdings LLC. She’s a member of the executive management team and leads the strategy and operations of the legal and compliance departments. She also serves as chief compliance officer and secretary to the board of directors. TerSera is a biopharmaceutical company that provides patients with life-changing therapies in oncology, acute care, and non-opioid pain management with operations in the US and Canada.
As a legal leader in both pharma and tech industries over two decades, Lagunas navigates complexity to advance the company mission and successfully mitigate risk. She previously served as VP and as assistant secretary at AbbVie Inc., leading a multi-disciplinary team and external investor governance relationships. Before joining AbbVie, Lagunas had responsibility for corporate and securities legal matters at Motorola, Inc., including the spin-off of Motorola Mobility and its subsequent acquisition by Google. Lagunas was an attorney at the law firm of Winston & Strawn LLP in the corporate department.
As a people-centric culture leader, Lagunas cultivates high-performing teams. She is passionate that every interaction matters and is most rewarded when team members feel they have the opportunity and tailored coaching to perform at their best, She earned a JD from the University of Chicago Law School and a bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis.
Véronique Thouin
Ecosystem, Partnerships & Sales Managing Director, Accenture
Véronique Thouin is a Global Managing Director in the Ecosystem, Partnerships, and Sales organization at Accenture, a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments, and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services. As a leader of the Alliances organization, Thouin is responsible for the development of robust technology relationships. She oversees their formation and early growth bringing highly differentiated offerings to Accenture’s clients.
Thouin also contributes to Accenture’s thought leadership with the publication of playbooks, opinions, and methodologies in the advancement of alliance development strategies, alliance market positioning, and go-to-market development. She serves as a mentor to Accenture women looking to advance their careers, personal brands, and skills and she also participates in leadership development activities for Accenture’s next generation of leaders.
Thouin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Université de Montréal in Canada, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration from HEC Montréal. As a native of Montréal now living in Chicago since 2005, she gives back to her community by serving as a Trustee for Kids Above All and serving on the Corporate Advisory Council of Cradles to Crayons – two nonprofit organizations dedicated to the well-being of children in the state of Illinois.
Elise Couston
Senior Managing Director, NEWMARK
Elise Couston is a Senior Managing Director at NEWMARK. Couston was named a Chicago Power Woman in Commercial Real Estate by Crains Chicago Business in 2019, and she has earned multiple awards during her over 35 years as an estate specialist. Her projects have included property and vacant land acquisitions, dispositions, sale/leasebacks, build-to-suits, and 1031 exchanges. Praised by her clients for her outstanding work ethic, strong negotiating skills, and attention to detail, Couston is a value-driven advocate who consistently delivers the highest quality of professional service.
Couston has established an extremely successful career by developing the trust and rapport of her clients while focusing on their business objectives. Her extensive experience, knowledge, and consultative approach to structuring deals have consistently created positive outcomes and long-term benefits for her clients. Couston’s commitment to excellence has resulted in thought leadership and an acute ability to sense market trends and adapt accordingly.
A natural troubleshooter and problem solver, Couston meets challenges head-on and thrives in situations where she can leverage her high-level communication and negotiation skills. She is a facilitator who is pro-actively involved from the initial discussions to the successful completion of each transaction, with the ability to interpret and simplify complex information for each project's due diligence, and logistical, financial, and legal issues with her clients and their advisors.
Maggie Mikaitis
Vice President of Mortgage Lending, CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC
With 13 years of mortgage experience, Maggie Mikaitis is currently Vice President of Mortgage Lending with CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC, an FHA-approved lending institution. Her knowledge of the mortgage industry covers processing, underwriting, sales, and management.
A motivated self-starter, she has consistently exceeded her own goals every year and continues to grow her business with superior customer service and a conscious eye on the best borrower experience. Mikaitis focuses on conventional, jumbo, FHA/VA, and condo financing, with expertise in investment property financing. Helping clients build and finance their real estate portfolios is an inspiring experience, her strengths and qualities stretch beyond her commitment to her clients.
Outside of financing, Mikaitis enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is a native of Chicago and recently moved back to the south side neighborhood of Beverly, where she resides with her husband and their daughter.
Rebecca McCullagh
VP of Commerce Strategy, Mosaic North America
Rebecca McCullagh is the Vice President of Commerce Strategy for Mosaic North America, a North American integrated marketing agency that builds brands in dimension. Depending on a client’s needs and based on data-led insights, Mosaic pulls in the right capability experts at the right time to create connected brand experiences across the right touchpoints.
McCullagh has over 15 years of experience bridging data and empathy to craft actionable insights and inspirational creative strategies, overcoming real business challenges for many of the world's top brands and retailers. She started at Mosaic as the senior director of creative strategy for commerce. Before joining the agency, she was a strategy consultant focusing on brand activation and shopper marketing. She previously worked for TrayLocke, Geometry Global, and Saatchi & Saatchi X.
McCullagh graduated cum lade from the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. She studied international economics and retail marketing strategy.
A. Kay Hare
Managing Director, Accenture
As a Managing Director for the Stories team, A. Kay Hare is responsible for managing Accenture's best client and corporate stories, from identification to development and then promotion through multiple channels, all geared for the right audience. Hare joined Accenture in 1990 and has spent the last 32 years in the Chicago office working in multiple industries and service lines, as well as corporate functions. In this role, Hare is responsible for story strategy, identification, and development, as well as overall program processes. The Stories team also identifies and develops client story features that promote the brand and the business across multiple channels including paid media and advertising. More than 400 stories are reviewed each year, connecting the best stories to Accenture's strategic messages and key brand moments.
Before her current responsibilities, Hare worked with Andersen Consulting's software packages, Software Intelligence, as well as multiple industries and businesses. She helped develop and launch the first global client case studies program for Accenture and assisted in the execution of two key, company-first events – Software Spectacular and Global Shared Services Conference. She's worked on digital marketing programs for more than 15 years, including a focus on client-centric marketing, developing key content and promotional programs for clients. She helped design and launch targeted buyer-centric content journeys on the High-Performance Business Network, the first private client content website at Accenture. A passion for content management helped her design and launch a digital asset management system and program, The Marketing Asset Exchange, later patented by Accenture.
Kay has an undergraduate degree in speech communications/music from Blackburn College and an MEd in English as a second language from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Pam Flaherty
Vice President, NFP
Pam Flaherty brings 25 years of insurance and risk management experience to her VP role, where she develops new business for NFP Private Client Group. Through a highly personalized, consultative approach, Flaherty helps high-net-worth individuals and affluent families protect their assets and plan for the future. Her team’s approach to finding the most appropriate solution for each client includes negotiating with carriers, underwriting, claims advocacy, and overall origination.
Before NFP, Flaherty served as an independent agent for the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and as a regional sales manager with AIG. After AIG, she guided Marsh’s Midwest Private Client Services division.
Flaherty holds an undergraduate degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, as well as life, disability, health, and property and casualty licenses in many states. She’s past president of the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago and a member of the advisory board. In 2022, she graduated from the Wharton School of Business with her CAPI designation.
Rosa De Luna-Frede
Managing Director, Andersen
Rosa De Luna-Frede is a Managing Director in the Chicago office at Andersen. She has over 25 years of experience advising publicly held and private companies on tax matters, such as accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, federal and state tax compliance, accounting methods, tax controversies, and transaction advisory.
Luna-Frede manages an office of 250 professionals. She’s involved in Andersen’s Global Management Committee and is part of the ASC 740 Market Leader & Strategy Group. With over 20 years of experience advising public and privately held companies in tax matters, Luna-Frede is an expert in mergers and acquisitions, especially when it comes to tax due diligence, determination of the most tax-advantageous structure of acquisitions and sales, the impact of net operating losses and other tax attributes, and analysis of transactions costs.
Before joining Andersen, Rosa worked at Kraft Foods as a tax reporting manager and was a tax senior manager at Grant Thornton, where she advised her clients on a variety of corporate tax matters. She graduated and received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from DePaul University. She is a native of Chicago, Illinois, where she currently resides with her husband and two daughters. She loves to travel with her family and teach her daughters about diverse cultures.
Kelly Dotson
President, Numerator
Kelly Smith Dotson is President of Numerator, a data and tech company focused on first-party consumer data insights. As President, Dotson oversees the product, data, operations, and marketing teams, working to align them for maximum impact.
Dotson translated her experience as a data-driven, customer-first marketer into understanding customer requirements for products, data, and change management. She is a learn-it-all, able to quickly master new industries and disciplines. She has been a senior leader and officer at VC-backed early-stage companies and over $1 billion NYSE companies.
Before joining Numerator, Dotson was global CMO of a Goldman Sachs portfolio company (SAVO, now acquired), Berkshire Hathaway's The Pampered Chef, and digital map giant NAVTEQ (now Here). Dotson started her career with multiple overseas assignments at major, multinational ad agencies, Leo Burnett (acquired by Publicis) and DMB&B. She earned an undergraduate degree in marketing from the University of Notre Dame.
Liz Hayes
Partner, Heidrick & Struggles
Liz Hayes is a Partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ Chicago office and a member of the Global Technology & Services and Private Equity practices. She works with a variety of business and professional services firms across consulting and advisory, business services, business process outsourcing, and PE-backed entities.
Hayes’ experience includes high-profile assignments placing CEOs, practice leaders, partners, and other senior management positions in all segments within the business and professional services industry. Additionally, she has strong experience working with private equity firms at the fund and portfolio level, placing C-suite executives within their portfolio companies and operating partners. Hayes also has notable experience leveraging the consulting and advisory talent ecosystem across a variety of chief strategy, transformation, and corporate development leadership roles.
Before joining Heidrick & Struggles, Hayes spent several years at another global executive search firm, most recently as a member of the private equity and venture capital practice. Earlier, she was based in Hong Kong, where she led internal recruiting for the firm’s Asia Pacific operations. In this capacity, she was tasked with expanding the firm’s presence across the region and developing and executing the firm's regional growth strategy. Hayes received her undergraduate degree in political science and history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dianna Henrich
Managing Director - Co-Head of Business Development, GCM Grosvenor
Dianna Henrich is the Managing Director and Co-Head of Business Development for GCM Grosvenor. She focuses on sales strategy, client retention, and product development.
Previously, Henrich was a portfolio manager in the firm’s Absolute Return Strategies department. She started her career at the firm on the Research Team, focused on equity strategies. Before joining GCM Grosvenor, Henrich was at Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Private Bank in private wealth management.
Henrich received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Northwestern University and her Master of Business Administration with honors and Beta Gamma Sigma membership from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Henrich holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Jessica Stacy
Vice President, Midwest Sales, Influential
Jessica Stacy brings over a decade of experience in shaping innovative sales strategies, driving revenue growth, and fostering strategic partnerships. Currently, she serves as the VP of Sales at Influential, the world's largest and recently named #1 influencer marketing agency.
Before her tenure at Influential, Jessica led the Midwest Sales division at KERV, an AI startup revolutionizing interactive video technology for advertisers. Prior to KERV, Jessica served as the Director of Sales at OpenSlate (now DoubleVerify), where she drove brand safety and contextual alignment for leading advertisers across various social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), and TikTok.
With a passion for learning, following innovation, and a keen eye for emerging trends, Jessica has navigated the ever-changing advertising landscape through news-media, ad-tech, AI/ML, and influencer marketing. She is deeply committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within the advertising industry. As an active committee member and mentor for organizations such as SheRunsIt, the Chicago Advertising Federation, and CHIEF, she strives to empower the next generation of leaders. Jessica also leads the Women in Advertising giving circle through Grapevine, to advance gender equity and support initiatives that drive positive change. With her industry expertise and commitment to social impact, Jessica continues to leave her mark on the advertising landscape.
Carolyn Dolezal
Chief Operating Officer, ASUG
Carolyn Dolezal is the Chief Operating Officer of ASUG. Founded in 1991 by four pioneers who understood the potential of SAP software, the Americas’ SAP Users’ Group (ASUG) today is the world’s largest independent SAP user group. Their mission is to help their members maximize the value of their SAP investments. Carolyn joined the organization in August of 2022.
In addition to her role with ASUG, Carolyn serves as an executive coach and organization development consultant with The Dolezal Group. She assists leaders in their leadership roles, serving as a trusted thought partner, and aiding in the careful analysis of complex problems and projects. She offers a pragmatic viewpoint and supports the development and execution of long-term change plans and the creation of a cohesive company culture to facilitate implementation.
Prior to her current role, Carolyn served as the COO of C200, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire, educate, celebrate, and advance women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. Before C200, she served with the Market Strategy Group and PCTEL, Inc. Carolyn graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with an undergraduate degree in administrative management and from Northwestern University with a master's degree in marketing.
Jennifer Penich
Senior Vice President, North America Commercial, Influencer
Jennifer Penich is the Senior Vice President of North America Commercial for Influencer, an agency built at the intersection of creativity, data, and technology with a unique ‘people power & platform power’ approach. From big brand launches to shifting perceptions and from riding fast trends to driving footfall, Influencer builds ideas with impact to deliver outcomes that drive your business forward via an unmatched client experience.
Penich is a revenue and integrated marketing leader who is responsible for leading the full spectrum of sales, marketing, and services including account management, brand strategy, content solutions, client solutions, and brand and agency partnerships. With a successful career in media, spanning almost two decades, Penich has a proven track record for executing short and long-term goals, increasing revenue, and optimizing sales efficiency through strategic, creative, and operational initiatives. She was previously an SVP for VICE Media, where she was responsible for leading the full spectrum of sales, marketing, and services, including account management, brand strategy, content solutions, creative, client solutions, and brand and agency partnerships. Before that, she worked in leadership roles at several well-known companies, including Refinery29, Time Inc., and Modern Luxury.
Penich received her Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications with a focus on advertising communications from Indiana University.
Mollie Sitkowski
Partner, Faegre Drinker
As a Partner, Mollie Sitkowski handles import and export control and compliance work on behalf of clients at Faegre Drinker. She has assisted numerous clients in developing and implementing import and export compliance programs and offers continued training to the business areas that touch on import and export compliance. She assists with export compliance matters, including advising on export screening and classification, and filing license classification requests and voluntary disclosures with the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security and the US Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. She has advised US-headquartered multinationals, as well as foreign-based multinationals, on compliance with US sanctions laws and the extraterritorial reach of US export controls.
Sitkowski also handles import compliance matters, including issues related to import valuation, tariff classification, free trade agreements, country of origin determination and marking, and other import compliance areas. She has particular experience counseling and assisting clients with developing and implementing reconciliation programs, including identifying the required additions to values. In addition, she has advocated for her client’s preferred tariff classification in litigation in the Court of International Trade and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Sitkowski has a JD from the Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She joined Faegre Drinker from existing firm client Omron Management Center of America, where she was import/export counsel. While in law school, she worked for Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP as a paralegal for the customs and trade practice.
Liz Murnin
Vice President of Business Development, PETERMAYER
As Vice President of Business Development at PETERMAYER, an award-winning national advertising agency, Liz Murnin is primarily responsible for securing revenue from new clients consistent with the annual business plan for the agency. Her passion for inspiring and leading teams to drive new business and growth is unparalleled. A visionary who is energized by building an agency's sales and marketing practice and high-performing teams, her experience lies in building strategic client relationships and designing business solutions that bring tangible benefits to the organizations she partners with.
Over her twenty-year career crossing corporate and agency development and growth, management, and C-suite roles, Murnin is a trusted partner, innovative marketer, and business development powerhouse. She has a unique portfolio of experience, including business development, account management, new product and sponsorship launches, and B2B/B2C solutions, resulting in a well-rounded and storied career. Murnin spent the early years of her career at brands, such as Citi, State Farm, and Coca-Cola, as well as advertising agencies, including Momentum, New Honor Society/FCB, Manifest, and Hawkeye/Publicis.
Her commitment to her Midwestern roots and her pride in calling Chicago her home undoubtedly add a personal touch to her professional endeavors, reflecting her dedication to her work and her community. Murnin’s career is a testament to her dedication to driving growth and innovation in the world of business development and advertising.
April Kates-Ellison
Founder & CEO, The Lights On Collective
April Kates-Ellison is the Founder and CEO of The Lights On Collective, where she provides consulting and coaching services with a focus on leadership, organizational, and community development. An accomplished C-suite association executive, Kates-Ellison has over 20 years of broad expertise in cultivating key relationships with cross-functional internal and external stakeholders. She is an analytical problem-solver, driving innovative solutions for impactful nonprofit strategy and operations. She’s an agile, results-oriented servant leader with proven success mobilizing individuals to effective execution by demonstrating strong overarching leadership capabilities that include effective interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
Kates-Ellison was previously the chief client services and tripartite relations officer of member and client services for the American Dental Association, where she was responsible for the strategic account management and engagement of multiple stakeholder groups, including state and local dental societies, dental schools, ASDA, ADSO, large group practices, specialty dental societies, federal dental services, Diversity Summit Presidents Group, select councils and committees, and other key stakeholder groups.
Kates-Ellison holds a Master of Science in Public Service Management from DePaul University and an undergraduate degree in communications from the University of Illinois. In addition, she holds the Certified Association Executive credential through the American Society of Association Executives and is a current nominee for the Certified Diversify Executive Credential through the Institute for Diversity Certification. She is also the recipient of many distinguished industry awards. Kates-Ellison works closely with women and youth organizations. She is the founder of the New Year’s Women’s Conference, Vent & Reinvent Women Group Sessions, and the Next Steps Initiative Leadership Project. She is co-founder, in collaboration with her mother, of the We Care Community Outreach Initiative.
Susan Graff
Partner and Vice President, Resource Recycling Systems
Susan Graff is a Senior Partner and Vice President at Resource Recycling Systems (RRS). She is also a part-time professor at Georgia Tech School of Public Policy.
For over 30 years, Graff has led the development of sustainability strategy and materials management solutions for private and public sector clients. She pioneered the development of the Sustainability Scorecard TM, an assessment process that leadership teams use to adapt business models and engage customers to achieve sustainability goals. Graff has advised on research and development of sustainable products and supply chains for dozens of brand owners and collective action projects, including Materials Recovery for the Future.
Before RRS, Graff founded ERS Global, a sustainability consultancy that supported Fortune 200 clients in developing sustainability strategies, employee engagement programs, reporting, and product claims. She began her career at the US EPA serving in several senior roles, where she was responsible for toxic waste site assessment, corporate performance track partnerships, and policy development. She was a major contributor to national environmental risk assessment methodologies and databases in use today.
Aimée Eubanks Davis
Founder & CEO, Braven
Aimée Eubanks Davis is the Founder and CEO of Braven. This nonprofit organization was established in 2013 to ensure that first-generation and low-income college students have the skills, confidence, networks, and experiences they need to land strong first jobs. Growing up in low-income and underrepresented communities in Chicago and working with young people from similar backgrounds, Davis was inspired to start Braven based on her deep passion and belief that our next generation of leaders will emerge from everywhere. Braven operates in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Chicago, Newark, and New York City and has worked with 5,100 fellows.
Davis spent the majority of her career at Teach For America. In 2002, she joined the TFA staff as VP of new site development, helping to grow the organization’s presence in Miami and Philadelphia, as well as doubling TFA’s presence in New York City. In 2003, Davis moved to the regional operations team, where she managed Teach For America’s executive directors and helped ensure maximum impact in each of the organization’s 22 regions. In 2005, Davis became the chief people officer and oversaw the organization’s staff growth from 200 to over 1800 staff members. Additionally, she worked on the development of a comprehensive competency model for staff recruitment, selection, performance management, and learning and development, and ensured that the human assets team was positioned to fuel the growth and success of Teach For America through being a strategic business partner to organizational leaders and teams. In 2011, Davis took on the expanded role of EVP of people, community, and diversity, leading work to uphold TFA’s commitment to diversity and to build an organization that is a model of fairness and equality. She also previously led TFA’s public affairs and communications teams before departing to devote her full energies to Braven.
Before joining Teach For America’s staff, Davis was a program officer at The Breakthrough Collaborative (formerly Summerbridge National) and, before that position, she led the Summerbridge New Orleans site to become one of the most successful sites in The Breakthrough Collaborative. Davis, a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, was a 1995 Teach For America corps member and taught sixth-grade social studies and language arts in New Orleans.
Emma Rodriguez-Ayala
Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel, Board Secretary, Ariel Investments
Emma Rodriguez-Ayala is the Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel, and Board Secretary for Ariel Investments, where she collaborates with the Co-CEO and President on the firm’s administrative and operational strategy and execution. helps oversee the administrative functions of legal, compliance, governance, investment operations, and technology, as well as risk oversight for all the firm’s entities, including Ariel Distributors, Ariel Investment Trust, and Ariel’s private funds. She is also a member of Ariel’s Operating Committee, among other governance roles.
With almost two decades of experience in investment management, Rodriguez-Ayala is a seasoned legal and operations executive with a passion for impact investing, DEI, risk management, and corporate governance. Before joining Ariel, she was the general counsel, chief compliance officer, and board secretary of LGIM America, a diversified asset manager with $220 billion under management, which included traditional and alternative strategies across managed accounts, mutual funds, private funds, and collective investment trusts. At LGIM America, she oversaw all operational risk, compliance, legal, and governance functions, was a member of the executive committee, and chaired the firm-wide risk committee.
A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez-Ayala graduated summa cum laude with a BA in international business from Saint Louis University and earned her JD from the University of Chicago Law School. She is also qualified as a chief compliance officer by the Canadian Securities Institute and holds Diligent’s climate leadership certification.
Lisa Stafford
President, Stafford Communications
Lisa Stafford is the President of Stafford Communications. She is a leader in devising strategies and creating and implementing results-driven campaigns for corporations, physician groups, hospitals, physical therapy centers, and pharmaceutical and medical device companies. She has specialized in healthcare marketing since she first started her career more than 25 years ago in the medical division of J. Walter Thompson/Hill & Knowlton in NYC.
Stafford has served as a television anchor, reporter, and producer at TV stations throughout the country. She has taken her journalism expertise to a new level using it daily to secure local and national media coverage and oversee content marketing projects. She also works with her clients on video production, helping them to tell a story through a patient’s eyes and using creative cinematography and editing.
Stafford has a strong background in special events and fundraising and was an organizer of the annual Chicago Sports Summit, an October summit bringing the business and sports communities together to raise money for Chicago charities. She orchestrates major campaigns for clients and has created the “For Life” program for the nation’s No. 5 orthopedic group and “Sixty Strong” for hundreds of primary care physician practices in more than 15 markets nationwide. Because of her strong journalism background, Stafford is a consultant in crisis communications and trains clients for media interviews and speaking engagements.
Kristen Fitzpatrick
Managing Principal, Miller, Cooper & Co., Ltd.
Kristen Fitzpatrick is the Managing Principal of Miller, Cooper & Co., Ltd. and has served on the executive committee since 2011. In this role, she guides the growth and direction of the firm, prioritizes new client services, and establishes the highest standards for recruiting and retention, professional development, and continuing education for principals and staff members. Fitzpatrick led the Audit and Accounting Department for more than 12 years, directing its over 100-member team who provide a range of accounting and audit services for clients in a variety of industries. Additionally, she is the principal in charge of Miller Cooper's recruiting efforts both for experienced hires and campus recruiting.
Fitzpatrick continues to service numerous businesses in diverse industries, including transportation companies, manufacturers, distributors, construction contractors and subcontractors, real estate entities, and service businesses. Her current responsibilities on these assignments are to coordinate all services for clients and ensure our team is adding value to client relationships. She also performs a variety of financial consulting projects for clients and serves as a business advisor to clients in several capacities.
Fitzpatrick received an undergraduate degree from Illinois State University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society. In 2008, she was presented with the Early Career Achievement Award from Illinois State University. She is a member of Vistage International, which is the world’s leading executive leadership organization. In 2015, she was recognized by the National Association of Women Business Owners Chicago (NAWBO Chicago) with the annual Corporate Woman of Achievement Award. Additionally, Fitzpatrick served as a director at large for the board of NAWBO Chicago and is a member and serves on the board as chapter chair of the Young Presidents Organization, Chicago-Windy City chapter.
Lauren Izaks
COO & Executive Vice President, All Points Public Relations
Lauren Izaks is the COO and Executive Vice President of All Points Public Relations, an integrated PR agency that specializes in the franchise industry. She co-founded All Points PR in 2011 and has helped fuel the agency’s ascension to the top of the franchise industry’s competitive PR set. Today, All Points PR serves dozens of clients ranging from startups and seasoned entrepreneurial enterprises to international franchise brands.
Izaks’ savvy business sense, combined with stellar organization and planning, keeps All Points PR on track. From conceptualizing and systematizing internal processes to accounting, HR, hiring, technology, and training, Izaks does it all with grace, understanding, and attention to detail. She is the visionary behind the company’s sustained growth, creating pathways for new agency services and departments while also building out strategic recruitment plans to fill newly formed positions with top talent. Izaks has also been the driving force behind some of All Points PR’s most substantive work, including launching the Positive Impact program, which includes quarterly volunteering and service events for agency team members to contribute to the Chicagoland community together. In addition, Izaks co-founded the Northern Illinois Franchise Association, an organization designed to help franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers grow personally and professionally through quarterly events covering a range of timely topics related to franchising, government relations, the economy, and more.
A graduate of Indiana University, Izaks holds an undergraduate degree in education and a postgraduate Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University. Izaks earned a leadership certification through Northwestern University and has since begun an additional Master’s degree in Information Design and Strategy.
Olga Spivak
Vice President of People, YCharts
Born in Minsk, Belarus, Olga Spivak is a seasoned human resources executive, a certified coach, and a strategic leader known for her warmth, empathy, and passion. Spivak moved to the United States at the age of 10, and it was here that she began her journey of self-discovery and found her calling in life. Her early work experiences ignited her passion for people and the importance of aligning individuals with their rightful path in life. With over two decades of experience in the field, Spivak currently works as the VP of People at YCharts, where she is not just leading the people function, but also shaping lives and careers.
Spivak’s strategic approach to HR management is deeply personal and transformative. She believes in the 'whole person' approach, recognizing that employees bring their entire selves to work, not just their professional skills. This belief has led her to develop innovative strategies that help employees align their passions with their professional roles, thereby increasing value for both the individual and the organization. Spivak’s insights and recommendations have been instrumental in shaping global policies and practices within various industries. She is always exploring new technologies and finding ways to integrate them into her HR strategies. She believes in the power of technology to connect people and enhance the employee experience.
Her mission extends to making a difference in the world. She is committed to using her skills to create a more equitable and inclusive society. Her dedication to female empowerment, her commitment to allyship, and her passion for making a difference make her a respected and admired leader. She is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and dedicates her time to donating and volunteering. In her downtime, Spivak enjoys spending quality time with her family, learning about the intricacies of the human brain, and exploring the world of food and wine from various regions.
Sophia Piliouras
Chief Operating Officer & Corporate Secretary, Minority Corporate Counsel Association
Sophia Piliouras is the Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), the preeminent advisor on diversity, equity, and inclusion to C-suites across corporate America. Piliouras’ longstanding commitment to racial and gender equity goes hand in hand with her belief that leaders become changemakers when they strive to always do better. By consistently advocating for sustainable DEI strategies and modeling effective allyship, she empowers today’s leaders to take action beyond the status quo.
As both a seasoned attorney and an expert in managing successful organizational partnerships, Piliouras brings a wealth of insight to MCCA’s leadership team, where she directs programming and events, strategic partnerships, membership, and more. Since joining MCCA in 2016, she has served as senior counsel, director of education and research, and president of MCCA’s Advisory Practice. Before joining MCCA, she served as VP and assistant general counsel at JP Morgan Chase and as a litigator at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. In addition, she provided pro bono legal counsel to refugee and immigrant children through Kids in Need of Defense. She is a frequent presenter and guest lecturer on topics in diversity, law, and strategic planning and a trustee of the Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in Intellectual Property Law.
Piliouras holds an undergraduate degree in international relations from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s from Columbia University. She received her JD from New York Law School, where she served as the United Nations Editor for the New York Law School Journal of Human Rights.
Carolyn Lowstuter
President & CEO, Robertson Lowstuter
Passionate and dedicated to serving as President and CEO of Robertson Lowstuter, Inc., Carolyn Lowstuter and her husband have built a 42-year executive development firm specializing in the transformative work of executive coaching and diagnostic and selection assessment, including their proprietary assessment, Behavioral IQ: The Art of Authentic Interaction, Leadership Development, and High-Performance Team Building. As a trusted advisor, Lowstuter enjoys partnering with executives as they explore career moves, adapt to changing environments, and pursue next-level growth. Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, she leads and collaborates with their talented team of 17 executive coaches, a local team of 24, and 162 global and domestic affiliates. R|L’s blue-chip client companies range from Fortune 50 to mid-cap companies with 46% in healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies.
Throughout her career, Lowstuter has developed with her client companies coaching cultures fostering interdependence. Through their branded R|L Leadership Institute, she has been adept at designing experiential, innovative, and interactive programs, such as Coaching Competencies for Leaders, Cultural Transformation, and DEI Employee Resource Group Mentoring Circles training programs. Since the founding of their firm, she has operated to empower executives and their teams to realize more of their full potential for individual fulfillment, as well as for the accelerated growth and profitability of the organization. Lowstuter’s success has been attributed to her partnership in listening well, adapting nimbly, and benchmarking against cutting-edge best practices. Readily engendering trust with her clients, Lowstuter has a strong competency for “Creating Uncommon Results!” which remains R|L’s slogan.
Lowstuter is a member of the International Coach Federation and the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association. She holds an MBA in international and marketing from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, an MAT in learning and French from the University of Illinois, and an undergraduate degree in French and English from Albion College, where she graduated as a Phi Beta Kappa. When she is not with clients, she enjoys global travel, cultures, and cuisine with her husband and family. She spends time at the theater, gardening, and reading. She is active in philanthropic endeavors.
Heather Becker
Partner, ADDA Infusion
Heather Becker is a Partner at ADDA Infusion, a consulting firm that offers HR, payroll, benefits administration, and talent solutions. In this role, Becker guides consultants as they grow in their careers and provides steady and constant support to her team. She is viewed as a fierce but compassionate leader who has a deep understanding of people and the strengths they bring to the table, and she is always looking for ways to leverage and develop those she works with.
Becker is a human resources professional with 25 years of progressive experience. Her background includes M&A due diligence, compensation and benefits analysis, planning, administration, and benchmarking. She’s also experienced in salary banding, career pathing, metric analysis, training and development, executive partnership and coaching, employee relations, compliance, and project and team management. She has additional expertise in implementing various payroll/HRIS systems, including ADP, Paychex, BambooHR/TRAX, InfiniSource, UlitPro (UKG), and Paylocity, as well as recruiting, office moves, vendor, broker, and carrier negotiation and selection, along with function planning and execution. Additionally, Becker has 17 years of experience in all areas of accounting.
Becker has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources from Northern Illinois University, and she has an MBA in Human Resources from Robert Morris University – Illinois.
Ami Patel
Chief Operating Officer, Elite RF
Ami Patel is a dynamic, transformational leader with over 20 years of operations, sales, and finance experience. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Elite RF. The Elite RF team has a profound understanding and years of experience in RF/microwave power amplification technology. They work diligently toward meeting the needs of clients in industries such as medical devices, aerospace, military, quantum computing, particle accelerator technologies, communication, plasma-based applications (such as lab-grown diamonds, and semiconductor processing), and many more.
Patel’s proven innovative approach to operations and sales leverages her extensive background in manufacturing and finance. Coupled with leadership, start-up, and project management skills, she provides unparalleled benefits to the customer and organization. Patel is a regarded member of the Women in Electronics, Women in Manufacturing, and Women We Admire. Her rich background includes leadership positions at leading manufacturing and financial institutions.
Patel has a double Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and Finance from the University of Illinois Chicago and an Executive MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Susan Reilly
President & Founder, Reilly Connect
Susan Reilly is President and Founder of Reilly Connect, a 100-percent women-owned, public relations, brand, and digital content marketing firm headquartered in Chicago. With deep roots in public relations, Reilly pioneered the shift in PR from traditional media relations to integrated strategic communications across paid, owned, and earned media. She has a long history of working with clients in the health and wellness, bioscience, pharmaceutical, legal, fintech, food and beverage, and hospitality sectors.
Reilly is also the founder of Clever Monarch Studio, a full-service video and content production studio featuring award-winning influencer campaigns, corporate milestone documentaries, sponsored content, and broadcast-quality social media. In addition to running Reilly Connect, Reilly is a highly sought-after communications coach and expert in persuasive communications. She created The Reilly Communications Training Method, a battery-tested, proprietary process to shape messages and prepare messengers for a variety of formats, including live and taped presentations, video content, shareholder presentations, and high-profile media interviews. Her trainees include celebrities, athletes, CEOs, world-renowned medical experts, lawyers, macro- and micro-influencers, and senior leaders at major industry organizations. Before launching her firm, Reilly had a successful run at BCW Chicago, where she served as VP and group manager responsible for a multimillion-dollar portfolio devoted to the health, wellness, pharmaceutical, and nutrition sectors.
Reilly is the recipient of many awards from leading industry organizations, including the Public Relations Society of America, PRWeek’s Top Women in PR, and the Publicity Club of Chicago. She has served as an adjunct professor at DePaul University. Reilly is known for her left and right-brained strengths, humor, and “make no bones about it” counsel. She is an avid photographer and sailor with a love for all things Chicago and Lake Michigan. Her greatest accomplishment, however, is as a mother to her three children who remain her guiding light and inspiration.
Sandra Lee
Division President, Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services
Sandra Lee is the Division President for Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services, a division of Compass Group, a Fortune Global 500 company. Chartwells provides contract food services, including residential and retail dining, and event catering for colleges and universities throughout the United States. She works closely with all campus stakeholders – administrators, faculty, and students on campuses in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. Lee and her team deliver dining excellence and enhance the student experience by providing learning opportunities and paid internships in marketing, sustainability, and community relations.
Before joining Chartwells, Lee was the VP of training and operations excellence for Au Bon Pain and served in various operations leadership, training, and development roles at Denny’s, Ruby Tuesday, The Olive Garden, Red Lobster, The Capital Grille, and Pizzeria Uno. In 2016 and 2017, she worked with Delta Airlines to establish their airline catering hub in Boston.
Lee earned her MBA from the University of Tennessee and her MSEd from Purdue University in online curriculum development and implementation. She has a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the Maryville University of Saint Louis, Her dissertation focused on identifying the effectiveness of food resources utilized by food-insecure undergraduates.
Selvei Rajkumar
Managing Director, KLA Schools of Plainfield
Selvei Rajkumar is the Managing Director, of KLA Schools of Plainfield, where she ardently advocates for children's right to access high-quality education that fosters positive community impact. Her vision encompasses nurturing young minds to become respectful, compassionate citizens, and empathetic leaders, making a lasting difference in their communities. Her father played a significant role in shaping her values, often sharing quotes from inspirational leaders to instill social responsibility and strong ethics. Inspired by her father's principles, Rajkumar pursued a career in engineering, earned an MBA, and became a management consultant, specializing in strategic planning and the implementation of financial and business intelligence systems for top-tier executives. A letter from Mother Teresa she once received reminded her of the profound impact education could have on communities.
With the support of her family and husband, Rajkumar collaborated with KLA Schools, a Reggio Emilia-inspired franchise, and opened campuses in Plainfield, Naperville, and Naperville West. Recognizing the need for an integrated app tailored to the early childhood industry, she developed SchoolCRM and PedagoguePointe to enhance the everyday lives of leadership and pedagogical teams, facilitating informed decision-making. In 2018, Rajkumar and her son, Asuttosh Rajkumar, founded the nonprofit Muthusami Paravel Foundation. This organization aims to empower children by educating parents, teachers, and school leaders globally about the importance of quality education, incorporating emotional intelligence and core values alongside academic achievement.
Rajkumar is currently working towards establishing Orion STEM Schools in Naperville, Illinois. She firmly believes in every child's capability and right to explore their passions within a high-quality educational environment. Orion STEM students are encouraged to engage with their curiosities, develop innovative ideas, and address humanity's needs while upholding the highest levels of integrity, kindness, respect, and gratitude.
Sabrina Lloyd
President and CEO, Lloyd Agencies
Sabrina Lloyd is the President and CEO of Lloyd Agencies, a premier member of the American Income Life family. Lloyd Agencies focuses on a broader client base and markets themselves differently than AIL. The company is more lifestyle-oriented, both in business approach and company culture, and it has surpassed other agencies in their industry that have been in existence for much longer.
Before founding Lloyd Agencies, Lloyd was a manager with American Income Life Insurance Company. She stood out in her first role in New Jersey and was transferred to be a manager in Maryland. She opened her own office in New York, broke records, and then settled in Chicago. Her team was rewarded by the Chicago Tribune as one of the best places to work in Chicago in 2014. Lloyd is committed to helping her clients achieve emotional and financial wellness. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto.