Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) announced the 2023 Class of its Signature Fellows Program, the area’s premier civic leadership development program. These 53 accomplished and diverse individuals represent a cross-section of professionals from the corporate, nonprofit, government and education sectors. During the 10-month program, with the city as a classroom, they will be immersed in major socioeconomic issues facing the region through full-day seminars, neighborhood site visits, conversations with subject matter experts and cultural events.
“The landscape of civic leadership is shifting, and it demands a shared responsibility across sectors to advance meaningful, sustainable change,” said LGC Chief Executive Officer Maria Wynne. “We applaud the sponsors of the LGC Class of 2023 for embracing this approach to civic engagement and for investing in the ability of these leaders to change the world. On behalf of the LGC Board of Directors, I congratulate our newest Class and look forward to their contributions to ensure an inclusive future for all who call Chicago home.”
Selection into the LGC Signature Fellows Program is based on a record of professional accomplishment, evidence of leadership skills, the potential to influence positive change and a commitment to the region. This year’s Class advanced through a highly competitive process that included a written application, an online assessment and, in some cases, an interview with graduates of the LGC Signature Fellows Program. Those selected for the 2023 Signature Fellows Program share the organization’s commitment to lead bold, transformative change in the community. Presenting the LGC Class of 2023:
- Maria K. Alexakis – Managing Director, CIBC Bank USA
- Jessica Andujar-Redman – Senior Vice President, Commercial Team Lead, Fifth Third Bank, National Association
- Jeannice W. Appenteng – Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois
- Jeffery Beckham Jr. – Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Scholars
- Nicole Bell – First Deputy, Economic and Neighborhood Development, City of Chicago
- Alison Bodor – Executive Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, The Options Clearing Corporation
- Timnetra Burruss – First Assistant Commissioner, Cook County Board of Review
- Liz Butler – Partner, Elrod Friedman LLP
- Rosa I. Carrillo – Controller, The Chicago Community Trust
- Tameeka Christian, Ph.D. – Program Officer, J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation
- Kyle Clauss – Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future
- Timothy Daly – Program Director, The Joyce Foundation
- Cassandra N. Di Prizio – Social Impact & Marketing Manager, Boston Consulting Group
- Ahmadou “Mo” Dramé – Program Director, Illinois Justice Project
- Christopher Egger – Senior Vice President – Strategy, Engagement & Growth, Quatrro Business Support Services
- Brandon Fair – Managing Director – Corporate Real Estate, United Airlines
- Juatise Gathings – Director of Operations & Community Outreach, Discover Financial Services
- Bria L. Gillum – Senior Program Officer, Criminal Justice, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Nicolas Guzman – Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
- Kelly Hallberg – Scientific Director, University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab
- Mark Harris – Director of Community Education, Pritzker Tech Talent Labs, Discovery Partners Institute – University of Illinois System
- Ivan Hidalgo – Vice President of North America Marketing, Beam Suntory
- Adrienne Irmer – AVP for External Affairs, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Jaclyn Jackson – SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, National Equity Fund
- Eric B. Johnson – Executive Director, Open Books
- Uzma A. Kazmi – Senior Vice President, Market Manager, PNC Bank
- Amy Laboy – Vice President of Programs and Community Partnerships, Greater Chicago Food Depository
- Haven Leeming – Program Officer, Builders Initiative
- Shannon Lightner-Gometz – Chief Operating Officer, Illinois Department of Public Health
- Angie Lobo – Executive Director, Indo-American Center
- Mike Menzer – Director of Technology Strategy, Allstate Insurance Company
- Jason T. Mercer – Principal, CAST US Due Diligence, Cleveland Avenue
- Michael Miranda – National Head of Research and Investments, BMO Wealth Management
- Jose M. Muñoz – Executive Director, La Casa Norte
- Carla Vara Murphy – Chief Operating Officer, Non-Financial Risk, Northern Trust Corporation
- Elin Park – Partner, Jenner & Block LLP
- Raju Prasad – Partner, William Blair
- Ana Prokic-Kostic – Regional Director, Business and Financial Operations, CBRE, Inc.
- Eréndira Rendón – Vice President, Immigrant Justice, The Resurrection Project
- Sarah Garza Resnick – Chief Deputy Assessor, Cook County Assessor’s Office
- Quincy E. Roseborough – Workforce Development Director, Metropolitan Family Services
- Clarita Santos – Executive Director, Corporate and Civic Partnerships, Health Care Service Corporation
- Adrian Segura – Chief Officer, Family and Community Engagement, Chicago Public Schools
- Alvia Siddiqi, MD, FAAFP – Interim Chief Medical Officer, Enterprise Population Health, Advocate Aurora Health
- Kimberley Smith – Director of Programs, University of Chicago Crime & Education Labs
- Swathi Staley – Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
- Erin Steva – Vice President of External Affairs, Chicago State University
- Sahr Sweiss – Director of Business Development, Greeley and Hansen LLC
- Noemie D. Tilghman – Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP
- Nilofer Umar – Partner, Sidley Austin LLP
- Renee E. Walker – Senior Director, Community Health Initiatives & Program Development, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
- Sara Wasserteil – Managing Director of Expansion and Integration, Cara Collective
- Lizzy Whitehorn – First Assistant Deputy Governor, Office of the Governor – Illinois
More than 1,300 leaders have successfully completed this world-class civic leadership development program, and 83% of those individuals still reside in Illinois. A new class of leaders is selected each year, with the approval of the LGC Board of Directors. The application for the 2024 LGC Signature Fellows Program will open on October 1, 2022