2019
2020
Year In Review
Welcome from Cary Grace and Diane Offereins
Welcome to our 2019-2020 Year in Review!
While this year was one of disruption and innovation
for our organization, we continued to live into our
purpose, empowering women to lead, mission, vision, and values in all that we do.
We launched several new digital initiatives, elected our
most diverse slate of new members, and found new paths for
strategic improvements. Also of great significance to our
operations, we selected and smoothly executed leadership
succession, announcing Maria Doughty as our new President
and CEO in March 2020. Maria is no stranger to crisis
management and in short, she is the right leader at
the right time for us.
Our hope is that within 10 years we will be at the next
frontier of women’s equity and inclusion because The
Chicago Network will have helped meaningfully move the
ball forward from where we are today. Because of
engagement/support in all the activities and
initiatives you see reflected inside, we know
there will continue to be an abundance of stories
about how The Network has made a difference in
empowering women of all colors to lead.
Sincerely,
Diane Offereins
2019 – 2020 Chair
Cary Grace
2020 – 2021 Chair
Leadership Succession: Recognizing Our CEOs
Kate Bensen
During her decade of service to The Network, Kate’s innovative vision, commitment to our mission, and tireless work have elevated our external position, amplified our voice, and professionalized our operations. In leadership, it is always our goal to grow and evolve, leaving an organization even better than we found it. Kate has done that magnificently. On behalf of our membership, we are incredibly grateful to and for her.
Chicago Network President and CEO
2010-2020
Maria Salterio Doughty
"I have always approached my life, both personally and professionally, from a place of gratitude and service. This is how I was raised and how I lead. I am honored to carry forth The Network’s mission of empowering women to lead."
Chicago Network President and CEO
Our Members
Initiatives: Inspiring The Next Generation
Future Leaders Program
Our Future Leaders Program supports the Chicago Network’s goal of
developing the next generation of women leaders by providing outstanding
sophomore and junior female college students at partnering schools an
opportunity to explore career paths in the business and nonprofit sectors.
We contribute to closing the “achievement gap” by offering programs for
Young Women Leaders that offer insight and guidance from our Members and
our broader community.
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 2020 partner schools,
and thank you to our 2020 hosts:
I consider my participation in The Future Leaders Program the beginning of my personal professional career. It opened up my vision for me to land an internship at TCN, and to understand the importance of empowered women empowering younger generations.
Ana Vianeth Cabral Gamboa
Communications intern
The Chicago Network
Paying it Forward
Opening Doors to STEM Careers
Using Data/Analytics, Design Thinking, and Technology to Gain a Competitive Edge in Your Organization
November 4, 2019
This interactive panel discussion featured women leaders who are
successfully leveraging 21st Century tools to gain a competitive
edge in the marketplace and improve their internal functions.
Panelists discussed what types of disruption their industries and
companies are facing, and how they are using these tools to innovate
and transform their organizations. This dynamic session took place at
KPMG’s newest, largest, and most technologically advanced Ignition Center.
Speakers
- Linda Imonti, Office Managing Principal Chicago, KPMG
- Deb Boyda, CEO of Isobar U.S.
- Sara Breyfogle, Chief Credit Officer - Discover Card, SVP Analytics & Credit Strategy at Discover Financial Services
- Brindha Dyer, Director of Digital Strategy, UL
- Shannon Gilmore, Managing Director, Strategic Growth Initiatives KPMG
- Sheila Talton, President and CEO, Gray Matter Analytics
Programming
ANNUAL EVENTS
Fall Dinner
September 4, 2019
Taking Over the Family Business: Blood, Sweat, Tears – And Success
At the annual kick off to our programming season, we enjoyed a rich discussion among women leaders who have taken over their family businesses and built them into powerhouse enterprises. Each of these women had to make the decision to step into the top role and now they have all strategically grown their businesses.
Moderator:
Gloria Castillo
Former President
Chicago United
Alison Gutterman
CEO
Jelmar, LLC
Stephanie Hickman
President & CEO
Trice Construction Company
Laura Neiman
CEO
Neiman Bros.
New Year Reception
January 12, 2020
To welcome the New Year, reconnect with fellow members, and make new connections following the busy holiday season, the Network hosted a member cocktail reception at the Radisson Blu Aqua. The evening also brought in several professional clothing donations from members, which were distributed to our Future Leaders partner schools so that their women students have access to professional clothes for interviews and other such opportunities.
Annual Meeting
June 22, 2020
Featuring a Special Program with Margo Georgiadis, President and CEO, Ancestry and Cathy Ball, Chief Scientific Officer, Ancestry
At our Annual Meeting we elected the new slate of Board of Directors followed by a very special program by Ancestry. As the leader of a 30-year-old company that has innovated through multiple technological evolutions, Ancestry President and CEO Margo Georgiadis shared how she’s transforming the company to serve its customers in entirely new ways. Margo was joined in conversation by Ancestry Chief Scientific Officer Cathy Ball, who is leading the company’s efforts to rethink how it leverages its unique scientific assets and Ancestry’s powerful community to make new discoveries to help in the fight against COVID-19.
Margo Georgiadis
President and CEO
Ancestry
Cathy Ball
Chief Scientific Officer
Ancestry
Innovation
Membership App
In April 2020, we launched The Chicago Network app, which members can download in the App Store or on Google Play. The app allows members to look up other members and directly call or email them, register for events, and update their own profile.
Leadership
Board of Directors
CHAIR
Diane Offereins
VICE-CHAIR; CHAIR ELECT
Cary Grace
TREASURER
Denise Cade
COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
Kary McIlwain
PROGRAM CHAIR
Jenny Niemann
ENGAGEMENT CHAIR
Cathy Kenworthy
FUTURE LEADERS CHAIR
Maria Pesqueira
GOVERNANCE CHAIR
Linda Myers
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Tierney Remick
PAST CHAIR
NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHAIR
Susan Gallagher
WOMEN ON BOARDS CHAIR
Ann Ziegler
WOMEN IN THE FOREFRONT CO-CHAIRS
Joyce St. Clair
Yasmine Winkler
AT LARGE
Teri Arvesu
Deb Boyda
Sidney Dillard
Grace Hou
Michelle Larson
Roxanne Martino
Suzet McKinney
Angela Williams
Committees
EXECUTIVE
Diane Offereins, Chair
Denise Cade
Susan Gallagher
Cary Grace
Roxanne Martino
Kary McIlwain
Maria Pesqueira
ENGAGEMENT
Cathy Kenworthy, Chair
Teri Arvesu
Laurel Bellows
Tracey Benford
Sue Bettman
Patricia Bobb
Deborah Bowen
Karen Case
Linda Coberly
Caralynn Nowinski Collens
Marsha Cruzan
Vicki Escarra
Pamela Forbes Lieberman
Jean Franczyk
Janet Froetscher
Sara Greenstein
Sarah Guernsey
Trish Halper
Gail Hasbrouck
Sandra Helton
Erin Inman
Lisa Johnson
Angela Korompilas
Sherren Leigh
Trish Lukasik
Elaine Maimon
Terri McNally
Dorri McWhorter
Theresa Mintle
Cathy Odelbo
Diane Primo
Carol Ross Barney
Alison Scholly
Julie Vander Weele
Brooke Wiseman
FINANCE AND AUDIT
Denise Cade, Chair
Roxanne Martino
Ann Ziegler
GOVERNANCE
Linda Myers, Chair
Michelle Larson
Angela Williams
MEMBERSHIP
Tierney Remick, Chair
Teri Arvesu
Gina Berndt
Donna Carroll
Sidney Dillard
Anne Edwards-Cotter
Kate Lipuma
Terri Mascherin
Suzet McKinney
Jane Mentzinger
Z. Scott
Yasmine Winkler
PROGRAM
Jenny Niemann, Chair
Dianne Blanco
Patricia Bobb
Christine Castellano
Regine Corrado
Monica Davey
Mitra Dutta
Karyn Esken
Sandra Helton
Mary Jo Herseth
Eileen Kamerick
Margaret McCurry
Nivine Megahed
Carla Michelotti
Libbet Ritcher
Mary Lee Schneider
Toni Smith
Pallavi Verma
Kathleen Yosko
WOMEN IN THE FOREFRONT
Joyce St. Clair, Co-Chair
Yasmine Winkler, Co-Chair
Sue Bettman
Regine Corrado
Lisa Emerick
Julie Scott
Kathy Seegebrecht
Jill Smart
Maryann Waryjas
WOMEN ON BOARDS
Ann Ziegler, Chair
Kapila Anand
Sheila O'Grady
FUTURE LEADERS
Maria Pesqueira, Chair
Rosanna Ander
Shan Bhati
Gillian Darlow
Karyn Esken
Brenda Feis
Gail Hasbrouck
Grace Hou
Susan Jacobs
Robin Kelly
Deb Lahey
Marilyn Lissner
Kate Maehr
Renetta McCann
Sandra Cordova Micek
Jennifer Nijman
Jennifer Rosato Perea
Susan Stelter
Cheryl Whitaker
Maxine Winer
Yasmine Winkler
COMMUNICATIONS
Kary McIlwain, Chair
Maryam Banikarim
Emily Barr
Deb Boyda
Laura Desmond
Jennifer Graves
Julie Loeger
Kathy Seegebrecht
NOMINATING
Susan Gallagher, Chair
Cynthia Barginere
Cary Grace
Beth Kirk Malecki
Diane Offereins
Kathy Seegebrecht
Z. Scott
Yasmine Winkler
EMERITA
Libbet Richter, Chair
Ellen Carnahan
Sandra Helton
Eva Maddox
Barbara Provus
Anna Rappaport
Toni Smith
Staff
Maria Doughty
President & CEO
312 787 1990
mdoughty@thechicagonetwork.org
Nathan Brauner
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
and Engagement Director
312 787 1979
nbrauner@thechicagonetwork.org
Elizabeth Stigler
Managing Director
of External Relations
312 787 1994
estigler@thechicagonetwork.org
Nathan Upchurch
Communications Specialist
312 787 7936
nupchurch@thechicagonetwork.org
Social Media Highlights
We continue to bolster our channels in order to tell the incredible stories of trailblazing women, inspire the next generation, and highlight the ways in which we empower all women in our community to lead.