Mellody Hobson at Milken Institute Global Conference

This week, Mellody Hobson (2000), President, Ariel Investments, attended the annual four-day global conference put on by Michael Milken in Los Angeles. One of the goals of this year's conference was to get more women involved and organizers met their goal of having at least 30 percent of the speakers be women. Mellody used her stage time to discuss women in high-growth investment strategies. Read more... 

Kellogg Competition Winner Announced

The Kellogg Real Estate Venture Competition at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management (Sally Blount (2011) and Jan Eberly (2014)) recently concluded with a winning team from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business (Ellen Rudnick (1984)). The winning pitch was a proposal to convert the area below the CTA station at Block 37 into a data center to serve the growing downtown market for data storage. The winner receives $100,000 in cash and in-kind office space and business services support to implement the idea. If the business plan proves to be viable, Kellogg may also offer up to $10 million in equity funding. Read more... 

Illinois Hospital Association to Merge  

The Illinois Hospital Association (Maryjane A. Wurth (2010)), an influential lobbying group with about 200 members, and the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council, a Chicago-based hospital trade group with about 150 members, are merging effective January 1, 2016. Leaders of the nonprofits estimate that their combined 2015 revenue could be around $60 million. Read more... 

Cushman & Wakefield Buying McKinney Brokerage  

J.F. McKinney & Associates, a Chicago real estate brokerage that handles leasing at office buildings including the John Hancock Center and the Merchandise Mart, is being acquired by industry behemoth Cushman & Wakefield (Marilyn Lissner (2010)). Read more... 

Mayer Brown Picks New Partner to Lead Chicago Office  

Law firm Mayer Brown (Debora de Hoyos (2010)) has named Rebecca Eisner, a partner specializing in privacy issues and business and technology sourcing, as the new head of its 350 lawyers in Chicago. Deb was Managing Partner of the firm from 1991 until mid-2007. Read More... 

Nuria Fernandez Named to 2015 Women of Influence List

Nuria Fernandez (2008), General Manager and CEO, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, was named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal's 100 most influential women in Silicon Valley. Nuria has led the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority since December 2013, and has more than 30 years of experience in the transportation field, in both the public and private sector. Nuria will be honored on Thursday, May 7, at the Fairmont in downtown San Jose. She was also featured in a Business Journal article, where she shared her biggest mistakes, the best advice she's received, who her hero is and more. Read more...  

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Three Generations of One Family to Graduate from Governors State University  

Governors State University (Elaine P. Maimon (2008)) was highlighted in a Chicago Tribune article about three generations of one family graduating from the University this spring, each with the same degree, with high honors. They are also planning to pursue the same graduate degree in communications. Karolyn Grissom, center, will receive her diploma with daughter Pamela Jones and grandson Mathew Brown. Read more...  

STEMpreneur Insights: 'Asking for the True Value' for Women in STEM

Jill served as the General Counsel of the US Army in the Carter administration and has been a long-time passionate advocate for veterans' and women's issues. "The military's handling of sexual assault cases had been scrutinized and criticized for several years and our group hopes to have a significant impact," said Jill Wine-Banks. 

Jill also hopes the public will become aware of the extent of the issue and the fact that almost half the complaining witnesses are men, something that may trigger more action to improve the situation. Other committee members include Generals, the advisor to the NFL on sexual assault, a defense lawyer, a law professor and dean.

Girl Scouts 2015 Luminary Award Winner: Ilene Gordon 

Ilene Gordon (1989), Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ingredion Incorporated, received the Luminary Award at the Girl Scout Leadership and Innovation Awards on Monday, April 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. The Tribute to Achievement Awards is the Girl Scout council's annual signature dinner that celebrates the achievements of civic and corporate leaders and the impact that they have had on girls. The evening showcases the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and provides funding for programs that prepare girls for careers in science, technology, engineering, math, environmental sciences, entrepreneurship, healthy living, arts, culture, and global awareness.  

TCN members who received past Luminary Awards include:

• 2014 Maria Green
• 2013 Patricia Hemingway Hall
• 2012 Anne R. Pramaggiore
• 2011 Doris Christopher
• 2010 Mellody Hobson
• 2008 Ellen Costello
• 2007 Brenda Barnes
• 2006 Cathy Coughlin
• 2005 Andrea Zopp
• 2004 Emily L. Barr
• 2003 Ellen Carnahan
• 2002 Pamela B. Strobel
• 2001 Deborah L. DeHaas
• 2001 Betsy D. Holden
• 1999 Sheila A. Penrose
• 1998 Jane J. Thompson
• 1993 Honorable Lynn Martin
• 1992 Debora de Hoyos

Read more... 

Goldie B. Wolfe Miller to Receive Honorary Doctoral Degree

Goldie B. Wolfe Miller (1984), President of Millbrook Corporate Real Estate Services LLC, will deliver the May 9th Commencement address for Roosevelt University's Walter E. Heller College of Business, Chicago College of Performing Arts, and Evelyn T. Stone College of Professional Studies at 2:00 p.m. in the Auditorium Theater.

Because of her long, distinguished career as a leader in Chicago's Real Estate industry and for her advocacy of the advancement of women in Real Estate, Roosevelt University will confer upon Goldie Wolfe Miller an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa at the Commencement. Read more... 

Susanne Ghez (1986), Adjunct Curator at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Renaissance Society's former Executive Director and Chief Curator, was recognized by the Venice Biennale. She will receive a Special Golden Lion for Services to the Arts on Saturday, May 9 during the awards ceremony and inauguration of the 56th Exhibition.

In awarding Susanne the Special Golden Lion, the Board of Directors cite her as "undeniably one of the most distinguished personalities in international contemporary art. Renowned for her analytical eye, conviction in the importance of experimentation and innovative practices, over the last forty years Susanne has played a pioneering role in the field by introducing and giving young artists such as Jeff Wall, Mike Kelley, Isa Genzken, Thomas Struth, and Kara Walker their first museum exhibitions." Read more...  

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Vermilion Chicago to Feature Four-Course Indian-Latin Feast for Mother's Day   

For Mother's Day, Vermilion Chicago (Rohini Dey (2008)) will feature a four-course Indian-latin feast, previewing its new menu and relaunch, on Sunday May 10th from 12-9pm. The cost is $50 per person. New co-executive chef Aseema Mamaji, winner of the all India chef competition, who now leads Vermilion Chicago, will also be introduced. The menu will serve as a tribute to all women this Mother's Day and will feature several items, including:

• Strength - Puerto Rican Yuca Alcapurria, croquette with chicken kabab
• Intellect, Health, & Care - Indian Kale Bhel, street Indian "chat"
• Peace - Nicaraguan Olive rice chicken steamed tamale
• Beauty & Love - Aseema's Story in a Jar, Saffron Tres Leches layered with Star Anise fruit medley, for the star that is Mom

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Rohini Dey to Serve on "A Gourmet Celebration with the James Beard Foundation" Panel

Rohini Dey, Owner/Founder Vermilion Restaurants (NYC & Chicago), will serve as a panelist at the sold-out Economic Club of Chicago's (Donna F. Zarcone (2000)) "A Gourmet Celebration with the James Beard Foundation" program on Tuesday, May 5th, at the Chicago Illuminating Company.  

Rohini Dey on the Beard Foundation's Annual Awards Gala's Move to Chicago  

• Mayer Brown LLP (Debora de Hoyos (2010)) and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP (Susan Hassan (2013)) were among the firms named in the report as being highly innovative.
• BTI's report was based on nearly 650 confidential interviews with legal decision makers conducted over a two-year period beginning in March 2013 to gauge which law firms stood out in a variety of categories. Represented companies had an average revenue of $17.5 billion and a median revenue of $4.5 billion. Read more... 
• Sidley Austin LLP (Anne Rea (2014)) and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP were among the eight firms' that have most effectively convinced corporations that they can pull things together when a win is a no-questions-asked necessity.
• The report looked at nine factors driving branding success. Of the eight firms that took top laurels in do-or-die litigation, all but one - Wachtell - also took top honors in one of the other eight factors. Read more... 
• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, Baker & McKenzie LLP (Maura Ann McBreen (2010)) and Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Linda Myers (2012)), Sidley Austin LLP, McDermott Will & Emery LLP (Andrea Kramer (2012)) and Mayer Brown LLP were among the twenty-six law firms that best distinguished their brand from the pack over the past year in the minds of discerning corporate counsel.

  • To reach its results, BTI conducted 648 telephone interviews in 2014 with legal decision makers at organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue, probing them on which firms have superior brand equity. Factors included what firms are most recommended as a primary law firm by corporate counsel, how likely a firm is to be an industry leader over the long term, and which firm is the safest choice for bet-the-company matters and other high-risk work, among other criteria. Read more...