Leadership Greater Chicago Announces 2021 Class Of LGC Fellows

Press release from Leadership Greater Chicago:

July 24, 2020

Today, 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 (ADL)
• 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.

This press release was produced by Leadership Greater Chicago. The views expressed here are the author's own.