Year In Review | 2025
Welcome to our 2024-2025 Year in Review! The Chicago Network is
unlike any other organization in the country. We are a powerful
community of senior women leaders, all dedicated to one purpose:
empowering women to lead.
One of our greatest strengths –
and a hallmark of our impact – is our powerful diversity. Our
network brings together women from a wide array of industries,
backgrounds, and perspectives. This vibrant mix makes us stronger,
drives our innovation, and sets us apart as a catalyst for
change.
This year, we have elevated our members and their
communities in so many ways. We have increased the number of women
on boards, expanded the pool of qualified candidates, built new
partnerships, and strengthened our visibility locally and
globally.
The Chicago Network also continues to serve as
a thought leader on women in leadership – sparking conversation,
shaping best practices, and influencing progress well beyond our
membership. Our voice carries weight, and we work intentionally to
move the needle not only in Chicago, but nationally.
One
highlight is our Launchpad Women’s Leadership Summit, which offers a
truly unique opportunity for emerging women leaders. It is a space
for targeted professional development and building a network of
peers at similar leadership levels. It embodies our belief in
lifting others as you climb – paying it forward so that the next
generation of women can thrive.
What makes us truly
unique is that everything we do is driven by the passion and
strength of our members. We are excited about the future, and we
can’t wait to share more with you.
Deb Boyda
Chair
Francesca DeBiase
Vice Chair
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Purpose: |
To empower women to lead |
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Mission: |
Connect with each other for personal and
professional growth |
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Vision: |
Gender Equity for Women of All Colors. At All Levels. Everywhere. |
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Values: |
Empathy: We meet women where they are |
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37Fortune 500 C-Suite Executives
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2.8TPublicly held member companies represent more than $2.8 Trillion in Market Cap
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4.8MMember companies employ more than 4.8 million people
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6Current and Former Fortune 500 CEOs
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47%Crain's Women of Note
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16%Crain's Power 25 Chicagoans
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11University Presidents
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24Arts and Culture Trailblazers
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55Corporate C-Suite Executives
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56CEOs and Entrepreneurs of Mid-Size Companies
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100+Corporate Directors
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6Government Leaders
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21Healthcare Industry Executives
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28Higher Education Institution Leaders
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42Non-Profit Trailblazers
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22Media and Communications Executives
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44Law Industry Leaders
Patricia L. Turner
Executive Director & CEO,
American College of
Surgeons
Amy Doehring
Deputy Co-Chair, Litigation Practice Group and Member of
Board of Directors (former Office Managing Partner),
Akerman LLP
Joanna K. Horsnail
Office Managing Partner,
Mayer Brown LLP
Jennifer Kenedy
General Counsel, Executive Committee Member, Partner,
Locke Lord LLP
Nancy Wright
CEO,
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana
Janet Malzone
National Managing Partner, Audit and Assurance Services,
Grant Thornton, LLP
Mary Ann Travers
Partner (Crowe LLP) – Office Managing Partner (OMP) -
Chicago/Oak Brook,
Crowe LLP
Dhuanne Dodrill
President & CEO,
PAXXUS, Inc.
Jennifer Fritzsche
Managing Director; Co-Head Digital Infrastructure &
Communication Services Practice,
Greenhill & Co.
Jessica Ashley Garmon
Chief Operating Officer and Chief General Counsel,
The
Will Group
Eleanor Gorski
CEO & President,
Chicago Architecture Center
Jeanne Jones
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
Exelon Corporation
Jenny Just
Co-Founder and Managing Partner,
PEAK6
Investments
Jill Koski
President and CEO,
The Morton Arboretum
Lanesha Minnix
Executive Vice President and Global Chief Legal Officer,
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Tara Montgomery
Executive Vice President, Executive Producer,
Harpo
Productions
Kimberly Motes
Executive Director,
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Dara Munson
President and CEO,
Family Focus
Jayne Rosefield
Senior Partner, Global Consumer Industries Lead and Chicago
Office Head,
Brunswick Group
Kate Van Zeyl
Vice President, General Manager,
Turner Construction
Company
Gina Weldy
Senior Vice President, Administration,
Northwestern
Memorial HealthCare
Wendy Berger
CEO and Founder,
WBS Equities, LLC
Kathleen St. Louis Caliento
President & CEO,
Cara Collective
Emily Chase
Chief Operating Officer,
UChicago Medicine
Rebecca Fyffe
Director of Research, President,
Landmark Pest Management
Virxhini Gjonzeneli
Chief Financial Officer,
Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
Maggie O'Brien
Co-Head of Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska – J.P. Morgan Private
Bank,
JPMorgan Chase
Laura Stein
EVP, Corporate & Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary,
Mondelez International
Sarah Stephens
Managing Director, Central Zone Leader,
Marsh
Jacqueline Barlow
President, US Commercial Real Estate,
CIBC Bank
USA
Liz Buchanan
President, North America,
NielsenIQ (NIQ)
Jennifer Deason
Former CEO,
Home Partners of America
Sharon Hwang
Shareholder & Executive Committee Member,
McAndrews,
Held & Malloy, Ltd.
Lisa Key
Executive Director,
Driehaus Museum
Nadya Mason
Robert J. Zimmer Professor and Dean of the Pritzker School of
Molecular Engineering,
University of Chicago
Patricia O'Neil
Senior Vice President & System CFO,
Rush University
System for Health
Dinee Simpson
Chief Health Equity Executive, Associate Professor of Surgery
(Transplant),
Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern
University Feinberg School of Medicine
Gretchen Crosby Sims
Director,
Hakluyt & Co
Rolla Sweis
President & CEO,
La Rabida Children’s Hospital
Chair
Deb Boyda
Former CEO/Dentsu International Network. Corporate Board
Director
Immediate Past Chair/Nominating Committee Chair
Suzet McKinney
Founder, Benson Consulting
Secretary -Treasurer/Finance & Audit Chair
Tracey Benford
Retired Partner, Goldman Sachs
Cathy Birkeland
Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP, Former Chicago Office Managing
Partner and Global Co- Chair Capital Markets Practice Group
Barbra Bukovac
PwC, Vice Chair
Christina Corley
President, International & Vice Chair
Marsha Cruzan
Former Regional President, U.S. Bank
Vice Chair/Chair-Elect
Francesca DeBiase
Board Director - Sysco Corp and Norfolk Southern Corp.
Sidney Dillard
Partner and Head of Corporate Investment Banking, Loop Capital
Markets
Janet Foutty
Former Executive Chair of The Board, Deloitte U.S.
Natasha Galavotti
Strategic Advisor, Food Manufacturing and Former President, Bimbo
QSR
Yonhee Choi Gordon
Former Principal, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Marketing
Officer, JMG Financial Group
Sara Greenstein
CEO, Axel Johnson Inc.
Susan Jacobs
Senior Director, Global Partnerships, Bombora
Beth Kirk Malecki
Senior Partner, US Central Zone Leader, Mercer
Jennifer Lyons
President and General Manager, CBS Chicago
Aurelie Richard
Chief Finance and Strategy Officer, S&C Electric Company
Celena Sarillo
Executive Director, Start Early
Julie Scott
President, CEO and Founder, CTS Impact
Zaldwaynaka (""Z"") Scott Scott
President, Chicago State University
Dana Thompson
Division Head, Otolaryngology, Vice Chair of Ambulatory Practice,
Pediatric Surgery, Lurie Children's Hospital
Sona Wang
Managing Director, Cimweek Partners, LLC
At The Chicago Network, we take immense pride in curating a diverse
array of exclusive, high-quality programming that delivers unique
value to our members. Our best-in-class programs are intentionally
designed to tap into the intellectual curiosity of our community –
sparking meaningful conversations, fostering lifelong learning, and
encouraging bold ideas. We capitalize on the extraordinary
opportunities that Chicago uniquely offers, drawing on the city’s
world-class cultural, educational, and research institutions to
provide experiences and insights available nowhere else. These
programs not only offer members an insider’s perspective on some of
Chicago’s most respected organizations but also create powerful
forums for connection with other accomplished women.
This
past year alone, we proudly hosted over 55 engaging programs, each
meticulously designed to inspire, educate, and elevate our members.
We are thrilled to share that our members consistently rate The
Chicago Network’s programs an impressive 4.9 out of 5, reflecting
their exceptional quality and the meaningful impact they have on our
community.
Executive Committee
Deb Boyda, Chair
Francesca DeBiase, Vice Chair
Suzet McKinney, Immediate Past Chair/Nominating Committee Chair
Tracey Benford, Treasurer
Linda Imonti
Dana Thompson
Anna May Trala
Finance and Audit Committee
Tracey Benford, Chair
Deb Boyda
Francesca DeBiase
Sidney Dillard
Geraldine Keefe
Roxanne Martino
Governance Committee
Marsha Cruzan, Chair
Christina Corley
Z Scott
Membership Committee
Janet Foutty, Chair
Cathy Birkeland, Chair, Law Membership Subcommittee
Jean Franczyk, Chair, Arts and Culture Membership Subcommittee
Natasha Galavotti, Chair, Corporate Membership Subcommittee
Erin Inman, Chair, Mid-Size Private Companies Membership
Subcommittee
Janice Jackson, Chair, Government Membership Subcommittee
Janet Mentzinger, Chair, Nonprofit Membership Subcommittee
Susan Poser, Chair, Higher Education Membership Subcommittee
Kathy Scherer, Chair, Professional Services and Associations
Membership Subcommittee
Alison Scholly, Chair, Media and Communications Membership
Subcommittee
Dana Thompson, Chair, Health, Science, and Medicine Membership
Subcommittee
Julie Vander Weele, Chair, Financial Services Membership
Subcommittee
Communications Committee
Susan Jacobs, Chair
Gayla Brockman
Yvonne Franzese
Lindsay Jenkins
Kary McILwain
Diane Pearse
Michelle Russell
Jill Smart
Maxine Winer
Emerita Committee
Anna Rappaport, Chair
Regine Corrado
Marilyn Kelly
Barbara Provus
Libbett Richter
Toni Smith
Launchpad Committee
Yonhee Gordon, Chair
Karyn Esken
Susan Gallagher
Teresa Harmon
Beka Kohmescher
Tracie Morris
Anna Paglia
Maria Pesqueira
Aurelie Richard
Heather Russell
Kathy Scherer
Programs & Engagement Committee
Barbra Bukovac, Chair
Susan Abrams
Caroline Becker Joss
Kathy Bolhous
Elizabeth Coolidge
Angelique David
Karyn Esken
Brooke Flanagan
Pamela Forbes Lieberman
Maricela Garcia
Sarah Guernsey
Erin Inman
Cathy Kenworthy
Katie Lawler
Jill Nicholson
Jill Smart
Susan Stelter
Anna Valencia
Sona Wang
Carole Wood
Kathleen Yosko
Women in the Forefront Luncheon Committee
Sidney Dillard, Co-Chair
Julie Scott, Co-Chair
Kathy Bolhous
Katie Doyle
Francee Harrington
Joyce St. Clair
Jill Smart
Terri Weaver
Yasmine Winkler
Nancy Wright
Maria Wynne
Kathleen Yosko
Women on Boards Committee
Sara Greenstein, Chair
Anne Alonzo
Deb Boyda
Suzanne Burns
Ellen Carnahan
Margo Cook
Sandya Dandamudi
Katie Doyle
Vicki Dudley
Christine Edwards
Sandra Helton
Mary Josephs
Virginia Kendall
Blythe McGarvie
Suzet McKinney
Terri McNally
Nivine Megahed
Diane Offereins
Lauren Patnaude
Alison Ranney
Tierney Remick
Lois Scott
Denise Singleton
Laura Thonn
Anna May Trala
Yasmine Winkler
Maria Zec
Ann Ziegler
Arts & Culture Membership Subcommittee
Jean Franczyk, Chair
Jennifer Farrington
Sarah Guernsey
Perri Irmer
Megan Ross
Corporate Membership Subcommittee
Natasha Galavotti, Chair
Sue Bettman
Lucy Brady
Vicki Dudley
Therese Fauerbach
Laura Gurski
Beth Kirk Malecki
Marilyn Lissner
Terri McNally
Laurie O'Shea
Katie Rooney
Kathy Seegebrecht
Sheryl Van Anne
Wanji Walcott
Maryann Waryjas
Financial Services Membership Subcommittee
Julie Vander Weele, Chair
Elizabeth Browne
Patrice DeCorrevont
Sidney Dillard
Mary Josephs
Beth Karlson
Beka Kohmescher
Roxanne Martino
Joyce St. Clair
Lois Scott
Anna May Trala
Government Membership Subcommittee
Janice Jackson, Chair
Melissa Bean
Kim Foxx
Janice Jackson
Robin Kelly
Jamie Rhee
Z Scott
Lois Scott
Juliana Stratton
Anna Valencia
Health, Science & Medicine Subcommittee
Dana Thompson, Chair
Verneda Bachus
Jan Berger
Deborah Bowen
Michelle Stephenson
Brenda Wolf
Kathleen Yosko
Higher Education Membership Subcommittee
Susan Poser, Chair
Aarti Dhupelia
Lisa Freeman
Beth Harris
Elaine Maimon
Stephanie Marshall
Marilyn McCoy
Susan Poser
Jennifer Rosato Perea
Rebecca Rugg
Law Membership Subcommittee
Cathy Birkeland, Chair
Aurora Austriaco
Mary Clare Bonaccorsi
Linda Coberly
Christine Edwards
Jeanne Gills
Mary Ann Hynes
Devi Koya
Joan Lefkow
Terri Mascherin
Maura Ann McBreen
Mary Meg McCarthy
Britt Miller
Jennifer Nijman
Cathy O'Kelly
Kristen Prinz
Tina Tabacchi
Rebecca Weinstein Bacon
Mary Wilson
Media & Communications Membership Subcommittee
Alison Scholly, Chair
Tracy Baim
Tracy Brown
Cari Bucci-Hulings
Karyn Esken
E.T. Franklin
Susan Jacobs
Renetta McCann
Sandra Micek
Maxine Winer
Mid-Size Private Companies Membership Subcommittee
Erin Iman, Chair
Caroline Becker Joss
Rona Borre
Eileen Chin
Sandya Dandamudi
Alison Gutterman
Stephanie Hickman
Mary Josephs
Cheryl Lulias
Linda Maclachlan
Laura Niemann
Ellen Rudnick
Julie Scott
Donna Williamson
Nonprofit Membership Subcommittee
Jane Mentzinger, Chair
Heather Anichini
MarySue Barrett
Felicia Blakely
Gillian Darlow
Aarti Dhupelia
Sol Flores
Alison Ranney
Celena Sarillo
Rebekah Scheinfeld
Karen Tamley
Brooke Wiseman
Carole Wood
Professional Services & Associations Membership
Subcommittee
Kathy Scherer, Chair
Gina Berndt
Gila Bronner
Lisa Johnson
Jackie Koo
Christine Laurens
Sharon Lindstrom
Marilyn Lissner
Clare Metcalf
Sheila O'Grady
Julie Scott
Jill Smart
Laura Thonn
Maria Doughty
President and CEO
312 787 1990
Ellen S. Feinberg
Executive Coordinator/Director of Operations
312 787 1979
Lora Joffe
Director of Programs and Member Experience
312 787 1994
Nathan Upchurch
Director of Design and Innovation
312 787 7936