NAWBO Chicago Hosts Annual Celebration of Achievement Luncheon Gala

The Chicago
Area Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
announced that Carla Harris will give the keynote address at its Annual Celebration
of Achievement Luncheon Gala. Harris is Vice Chairman of Global Wealth
Management, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley
Investment Management. She was appointed by
President Obama as chair of the National Women’s Business Council, and recently
named one of Fortune Magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Black Executives in
Corporate America.” The event—the largest gathering of women business owners
and entrepreneurs in Chicago—is open to the public. It will happen on Monday,
April 28, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Fairmont Chicago, Millennium
Park.

Harris
Combines Executive Experience with Inspiration

“Carla
Harris joins the ranks of many notable women who have spoken at our gala—from
Oprah Winfrey, to NASA astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, to Karen Finerman, CNBC host
and author,” said Lori Hilson Cioromski, NAWBO Chicago Chapter president and
president of TH Hilson. “The inspiring story of how she persevered and rose to
the top of a traditionally male-dominated field, continues to give back to the
community, and still has time to write books and record best-selling music CDs
will make this another memorable event.” 

As managing director,
Harris provides investment advice to corporations, public pension plans,
foundations and endowments. She also leads Morgan Stanley Investment
Management’s Emerging Managers Platform. For more than a decade, Harris was a
senior member of the Equity Syndicate desk and executed transactions including
initial public offerings for UPS, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and the $3.2
billion common stock transaction for Immunex Corporation, one of the largest
biotechnology follow-on offerings in U.S. history.

Harris also has been
recognized on Fortune’s
“Most Influential
List,” Black
Enterprise Magazine’s
“Top 50 African Americans on Wall Street,” Essence Magazine’s list of “The 50 Women Who are Shaping
the World,” and Ebony’s
list of “15
Corporate Women at The Top.” She received her master’s in business
administration from Harvard Business School with second-year honors, and her
bachelor’s degree in economics, graduating magna cum laude from Harvard University. Her first music CD, “Carla’s First Christmas,” was a bestseller on Amazon.com
and was featured on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. She is also the author of the
newly released book, Expect
to Win.

Achievement Luncheon Offers Business Networking, Prizes and
Chocolate

The NAWBO Chicago Chapter develops educational and growth programs
to promote its members’ personal and professional success. The luncheon will
recognize business women in categories including Woman Business Owner of the
Year, Member of the Year, and Corporate Women of Achievement. Winners in every
category will be selected based upon their success in demonstrating a strong
work ethic and passion to thrive regardless of the circumstances.

The Annual
Celebration of Achievement Gala is NAWBO’s largest annual fundraiser. It
features raffle prizes, a room with exhibitors offering business services, a
Chocolate Hour post-luncheon reception, and networking opportunities. Raffle
prizes include great items such as Southwest Airlines tickets and are $10 each
or three for $25.

Early-bird
ticket pricing, available until March 31, 2014, is $125 for members, $150 for
non-members and $1,250 for tables of 10. After that date, ticket prices
increase to $150 for members, $175 for non-members. Tickets are available at www.NAWBOChicago.org or by calling NAWBO
Chicago at 847-677-8273.

About the National Association of Women Business Owners:

Founded in 1975, the National Association of Women Business Owners
prides itself on being a global beacon for influence, ingenuity and action, and
works to strengthen the wealth creating capacity of its members and promote
economic development within the entrepreneurial community. With 400 members, the Chicago Area Chapter is one of the largest
NAWBO groups in the country.