2020
2021
Year In Review
Welcome from Denise Cade and Cary Grace
Welcome to our 2020-2021 Year in Review! It has been an enriching year, even in the extraordinary circumstances created by the pandemic. It has been one of learning, growing, and reflecting, as we pivoted effectively to meet our challenges. Throughout it all, our purpose of empowering women to lead was our beacon. We listened and met members where and when they needed us most. Member engagement significantly increased, especially because of virtual programming. This energy and enthusiasm for connecting with and supporting others is reflected in the activities and initiatives captured in this report.
The Chicago Network’s voice in the battle for gender equity and inclusion remains essential and relevant now more than ever. Exponentially increasing the number of women in the C-Suite and on corporate boards remains one of our key priorities. We continue to identify and improve areas and opportunities for women to succeed and lift them professionally and personally.
Sincerely,
Cary Grace
2020 – 2021 Chair
Denise Cade
2021 – 2022 Chair
Equity Principles: Making an Impact Across Industries
Programming
Women in the Forefront and Launch Pad
We successfully hosted three Women in the Forefront Luncheon (WIFL) events in one fiscal year. The WIFL Committee quickly pivoted to a virtual program in October 2020 offering two member led fireside chats with two remarkable women, Cathy Engelbert, first Commissioner of the WNBA and Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress. Although we were new to hosting on a virtual platform for over 1,000 participants, both events were well received by attendees and sponsors.
Images from WIFL and Launch Pad 2021
Launch Pad 2021 Highlights:
Initiatives: Paying it Forward
Future Leaders Program
Our Future Leaders Program supports the Chicago Network’s goal of developing the next generation of women leaders by providing outstanding female college students at partnering schools an opportunity to explore career paths in the business and non-profit sectors.
This year of virtual engagement, we were in the unique position to admit more students to the program. Working with Dominican University, Chicago State University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, our 2020-2021 class was 98% women of color and an overwhelming majority first generation college students. TCN members facilitated 14 virtual educational and inspirational sessions. The students were committed to learning and receiving insights from our members, who were dedicated to fostering and nurturing curiosity.
This program is FANTASTIC. I feel so empowered as a woman and made great connections with other students and professionals. Thank you.
Thank you to our partner schools,
Building Brave
After only the first year of launching our virtual mentoring community through the Building Brave app, we realized significant activity and engagement on the platform. We have 200 active members and nearly 17,000 engagement actions. Our dedicated TCN members offer career advice and guidance. Additionally, Building Brave is a free resource to our members’ employee base.
Meeting Women Where They Are
Leadership
Board of Directors
CHAIR
Cary Grace
VICE-CHAIR; CHAIR ELECT
Denise Cade
SECRETARY-TREASURER; FINANCE and AUDIT CHAIR
Roxanne Martino
COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
Kary McIlwain
PROGRAMS and ENGAGEMENT CO-CHAIRS
Cathy Kenworthy
Jenny Niemann
ENGAGEMENT CHAIR
Cathy Kenworthy
FUTURE LEADERS CHAIR
Maria Pesqueira
GOVERNANCE CHAIR
Angela Williams
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Suzet McKinney
PAST CHAIR
NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHAIR
Diane Offereins
WOMEN ON BOARDS CHAIR
Sara Greenstein
WOMEN IN THE FOREFRONT CO-CHAIRS
Beth Kirk Malecki
Yasmine Winkler
AT LARGE
Teri Arvesu
Deb Boyda
Sidney Dillard
Grace Hou
Michelle Larson
Linda Imonti
Joyce St. Clair
Patricia Holmes
Committees
EXECUTIVE
Cary Grace, Chair
Denise Cade
Roxanne Martino
Diane Offereins
FINANCE AND AUDIT
Roxanne Martino, Chair
Denise Cade
Sidney Dillard
Linda Imonti
FUTURE LEADERS
Maria Pesqueira, Chair
Roseanna Ander
Shan Bhati
Sandra Cordova Micek
Gillian Darlow
Karyn Esken
Brenda Feis
Gail Hasbrouck
Grace Hou
Susan Jacobs
Robin Kelly
Deborah Lahey
Marilyn Lissner
Kate Maehr
Renetta McCann
Jennifer Nijman
Jennifer Rosato Perea
Susan Stelter
Cheryl Whitaker
Maxine Winer
Yasmine Winkler
GOVERNANCE
Angela Williams, Chair
Patricia Brown Holmes
Grace Hou
MEMBERSHIP
Suzet McKinney, Chair
Teri Arvesu
Verneda Bachus
Gina Berndt
Sidney Dillard
Sarah Herda
Terri Mascherin
Jane Mentzinger
Susan Poser
Julie Scott
Z Scott
Yasmine Winkler
PROGRAMS AND ENGAGEMENT
Cathy Kenworthy (Programs) and Jenny Niemann (Engagement), Co-Chairs
Bonnie Allen
Aurora Austriaco
Tracey Benford
Deborah Bowen
Barbra Bukovac
Karen Case
Maria Carrillo
Elizabeth Coolidge
Regine Corrado
Lisa Corrin
Monica Davey
Angelique David
Mitra Dutta
Opella Ernest
Karyn Esken
Pamela Forbes Lieberman
Sarah Guernsey
Sandra Helton
Mary Jo Herseth
Grace Hou
Erin Inman
Katie Lawler
Marilyn Lissner
Dorri McWhorter
Nivine Megahed
Carla Michelotti
Theresa Mintle
Jill Nicholson
Diane Primo
Libbet Richter
Jacqueline Stewart
Joyce St. Clair
Ann Thompson
Anna Valencia
Brooke Wiseman
Amanda Woodward
Kathleen Yosko
WOMEN IN THE FOREFRONT LUNCHEON
Yasmine Winkler and Beth Kirk Malecki, Co-Chairs
Sue Bettman
Regine Corrado
Julie Scott
Kathy Seegebrecht
Jill Smart
Joyce St. Clair
WOMEN ON BOARDS
Sara Greenstein,
Co-Chair
Deb Boyda
Katie Doyle
Mary Josephs
Blythe McGarvie
Tierney Remick
Yasmine Winkler
Ann Ziegler
COMMUNICATIONS
Kary McIlwain, Chair
Gayla Brockman
Kathleen Carroll
Yvonne Franzese
Lindsay Jenkins
Diane Pearse
Aurelie Richard
Michelle Russell
NOMINATING
Diane Offereins, Chair
Denise Cade
Francesca DeBiase
Christine Edwards
Cary Grace
Sheila Talton
EMERITA
Libbet Richter, Chair
Ellen Carnahan
Sandra Helton
Eva Maddox
Barbara Provus
Anna Rappaport
Toni Smith
Staff
Maria Doughty
President and CEO
312 787 1990
mdoughty@thechicagonetwork.org
Ellen S. Feinberg
Executive Coordinator and Office Manager
312 787 1979
efeinberg@thechicagonetwork.org
Lora Joffe
Director of Programs
and Member Experience
312 787 1994
ljoffe@thechicagonetwork.org
Nathan Upchurch
Director of Design and Innovation
312 787 7936
nupchurch@thechicagonetwork.org
Social Media Highlights
In a year where social media channels were roaring, The Chicago Network used its voice to elevate our members, inspire the next generation, and highlight ways to empower women of all colors to lead. In addition to our regular communication outlets, we introduced The Chicago Network’s private LinkedIn group. A majority of our membership are subscribers and regularly share content.