CHICAGO FINANCE EXCHANGE (the top 200 Chicago women in finance by-invitation-only organization):

DINNER PROGRAM WITH GUEST SPEAKER U.S. AIR FORCE MAJOR GENERAL (Ret.) JEANNIE M. LEAVITT

October 26. 2023

Created, produced, and co-moderated by CFE member Kathy Graham. Location: Saddle and Cycle Club of Chicago.

Chicago Finance Exchange is thrilled to announce as our guest speaker U.S. Air Force Major General Jeannie Leavitt (Ret.).

Jeannie Leavitt was the first female fighter pilot for the US Air Force. She also was the first female pilot to attend and later instruct at the USAF Weapons School. When she was a Colonel, Jeannie was the first woman to command a combat fighter wing. She rose to the rank of 2-Star General and follow-on commands included the 57th Wing, Air Force Recruiting Service and the Air Force Safety Center.

      •      She is a Women in Aviation (WIA) International Hall of Fame inductee.
      •      She is a command pilot with more than 3,000 hours, including more than 300 hours in combat.
      •      She was engaged by the movie production company to be the real-world person who’s the basis of Marvel’s Captain Marvel movie character.
      •      She has been featured in many print interviews and media appearances, including with Wall Street Journal, People, Stanford Magazine, ABC News Nightline, TED Talks, Goldman Sachs Talks, and on the Women In Aviation’s YouTube channel video: Major General Leavitt Discusses Grit.
      •      Her motto is: Go Beyond: See the Invisible. Do the Impossible.

Read Major General Leavitt's full bio.

CHICAGO FINANCE EXCHANGE (the top 200 Chicago women in finance by-invitation-only organization):

DINNER PROGRAM FEATURING ILENE GORDON AND BRAM BLUESTEIN

March 28, 2023

Created, produced, and co-moderated by CFE member Kathy Graham. Location: East Bank Club, Chicago.

Chicago Finance Exchange was honored to feature dinner and a conversation with Ilene Gordon and Bram Bluestein, co-authors of Doubling Down: The Secret Sauce for Dual-Career Families.

As the former CEO, President, and Chairman of Ingredion Incorporated, Ilene Gordon considers herself "rewired" (versus "retired"). She currently serves as an independent director of the board of Lockheed Martin, International Paper and International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF). Bram Bluestein held senior leadership positions at several of the most respected consulting firms in the world, including Boston Consulting Group, Kearney, and Booz Allen Hamilton.

They know first hand the challenges of maintaining life-work balance, especially when both spouses are corporate leaders. Ilene and Bram will share the game plan that enabled them to navigate two high-powered corporate careers, what worked, what didn't, and what the industry needs to do to reshape corporate culture to accommodate today's families and the workplace of the future.

CHICAGO FINANCE EXCHANGE (the top 200 Chicago women in finance by-invitation-only organization):
CFE QUARTERLY CORPORATE BOARD CHAT: BOARD PANEL & Director-Led Table Discussions

December 6, 2022

TOPIC: CORPORATE BOARD ONBOARDING AND CONTINUAL LEARNING
Created, produced, and co-moderated by CFE member Kathy Graham. Location: Willis Towers Watson, 233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago

      •      What are best practices for effective corporate board onboarding…and why are these practices so effective?
      •      What are other ways new board members can gain onboarding advantages if onboarding isn’t offered?
      •      What are the goals of corporate board onboarding? Do they differ—and how—by industry, longevity of existing board, etc.?
      •      With the amount of change seeming to always be occurring anymore, what are ways a board director can stay current?
      •      What are the most important subjects that board directors should educate themselves about now…and why?

CORPORATE BOARD DIRECTOR SPEAKERS: Note that all speakers are Independent Board Directors for their corporate boards.

KATE BENSEN
Director, MICROMETL CORPORATION (family-owned manufacturer). Corporate: past President & CEO, The Chicago Network and Partner, Schiff Hardin LLP. Kate is also an avid and dedicated supporter of education, music, and civic growth organizations: currently serving as a Board Director for The Admiral at the Lake; Trustee for New Music USA; Member of the Graham Council for The University of Chicago Graham School; Advisory Board Member for Chicago Innovation; and Board Director for The Chicago Club and The Arts Club of Chicago.

COLLETE ENGLISH DIXON
Director & Nominating Committee for: MARCUS & MILLICHAP (NYSE); BDRX (REIT mutual fund); USREM (privately held corporation); Advisory Board for WATERTON ASSOCIATES, LLC. Corporate: Executive Director for Roosevelt University’s Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate and former Executive Director for PGIM Real Estate, one of the largest real estate managers globally and the $1.5T global asset management business unit of Prudential Financial (NYSE). Nonprofit: Board Director, Community Investment Corporation Chicago, Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation, and many more.

SARA HAYS
Board Director for: DRAPER & KRAMER (private real estate), ECI US REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS (family-owned real estate); & LAS AGUILAS ENTERPRISES (family-owned investments). Boards: Board Chair, ECI US Real Estate Holdings (family-owned real estate); Director & Nom/Gov Chair, Draper & Kramer (private real estate); Incoming Director, Las Aguilas Enterprises (family-owned investments); Former Director, Apogee Enterprises (NASDAQ:APOG)(manufacturing). Corporate: COO/GC for Wrightwood Capital (acquired by Ares); SVP/GC for Hyatt Hotels; Co-Leader of North American Board Practice, Allegis Partners.

TASHA HENDERSON
Director for HEARKEN INC. (privately-held high tech audience engagement platform). Corporate: CFO, COO, and Corporate Secretary for JLC Infrastructure, an affiliate and majority joint venture of Magic Johnson Enterprises & Loop Capital; former CFO, CAO & Corporate Secretary, Loop Capital Markets, LLC. Nonprofit: Chair, Executive Committee Member, and Trustee for St. Xavier University, founded in 1846 as First Mercy institution of higher learning in the world and CFE Co-Chair, Membership Committee.

CO-MODERATOR: Kathy Graham
CFE Board Director. CEO & Founder, The HQ Companies, Inc.

CHICAGO FINANCE EXCHANGE (the top 200 Chicago women in finance by-invitation-only organization):
CFE QUARTERLY CORPORATE BOARD CHAT ON NONPROFIT BOARD EXPERIENCE

September 29, 2022

TOPIC: NONPROFIT BOARD EXPERIENCE
Created, produced, and co-moderated by CFE member Kathy Graham. Location: Plante Moran, Chicago.

Speakers discussed:
NONPROFIT BOARD EXPERIENCE AS A VALUE-ADD TO CORPORATE BOARDS
      •      What are the most notable differences between nonprofit board experience and corporate board experience? What are the most effective ways to overcome those differences?
      •      What are the similarities between nonprofit board experience and corporate boards? What are the best ways/practices to highlight those value-adds from nonprofit boards to corporate board directors?
      •      What information would have been helpful to have known before making the transition to corporate boards?
      •      What nonprofit boards are still active in your board portfolio and how does having nonprofit and corporate boards add value?

CORPORATE BOARD DIRECTOR SPEAKERS:

MARSHA A. CRUZAN
Independent Board Director for MEDICARE WIZARD, LLC, a health tech firm providing insurance agents in 22 states Medicare client options via a vertically integrated, online marketplace. Corporate experience includes: current Regional President, IL/IN/MI, for U.S. BANK, the 5th largest U.S. commercial bank. Former long-time executive for JP MORGAN & its predecessor banks in Chicago. Nonprofit board experience: FIELD MUSEUM (Board, Exec Committee, Gov Chair); GOODMAN THEATRE (Board, Exec Committee, Nom Chair); LINCOLN PARK ZOO (Board, Exec & Diversity Committees, Nom Chair); LYRIC OPERA (Board, Exec Committee); RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (Board).

DORRI C. McWHORTER
Independent Board Director for LIFEWAY FOODS (NASDAQ), GREEN THUMB INDUSTRIES (OTC), WILLIAM BLAIR FUNDS (mutual funds/ESOP firm), SKYWAY CONCESSION COMPANY (CHICAGO SKYWAY/private company/government privatization). Corporate experience includes: current President & CEO, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago; former CEO, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago; Partner, Crowe Horwath; Snap-On, & Booz Allen Hamilton. Nonprofit board experience: Common Impact, 1871 (Technology Business Accelerator), Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Civic Consulting Alliance, Civic Federation, Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, and Forefront.

JOANN LILEK
Independent Board Director for AMALGAMATED BANK (NASDAQ) & DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST, a trademark of Northern Trust Corporation/mutual fund. Corporate experience includes: former CFO & COO, Accretive Solutions, private equity owned sold in 2017; EVP/CFO & Corporate Secretary, Midwest Banc Holdings, Inc; CFO, DSC Logistics, Inc. EVP, ABN AMRO. Nonprofit board experience: YWCA, Illinois CPA Society.

CO-MODERATOR: Toni Diprizio
CFE Board Director. Partner, Plante Moran, Inc.

CO-MODERATOR: Kathy Graham
CFE Board Director. CEO & Founder, The HQ Companies, Inc.

CHICAGO FINANCE EXCHANGE (the top 200 Chicago women in finance by-invitation-only organization):
CFE QUARTERLY CORPORATE BOARD CHAT ON ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT

July 19, 2022

TOPIC: ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT (ERM)
Created, produced, and co-moderated by CFE member Kathy Graham. Location: The Metropolitan Club, Chicago. Speakers discussed:
What are the current and traditional ERM concerns at the Board level for a:
      •      Global credit rating agency where the risks are compliance, operational, cybersecurity, regulatory, & reputational?
      •      Fund board where the risks to the corporation are regulation and compliance of the external fund management?
      •      Public and other private companies with a range of different stakeholder interests, where the risks include reputational, supply chain, cybersecurity, and lack of clarity regarding definitions and measurement.

Speakers:

LISA WILHELM HAAG, CFA
Independent Board Director for FITCH RATINGS, a globally regulated, major credit rating agency & a Fitch Group subsidiary of Hearst Communications, Inc.; Board Director for Heartland Alliance, an anti-poverty nonprofit serving 85 programs globally with a $190M budget, 1,000+ employees, & 800 volunteers; prior Independent Board Trustee & Audit Chair for Merrill Lynch Insurance Group Variable Insurance Trust, a 25 mutual funds/variable annuities platform. Corporate experience includes: Director of Investment Strategy leading strategic/tactical investment approach and asset allocation for $50B+ in defined benefit assets and Director of Fixed Income & Currency overseeing external management of $20B+ fixed income assets and $5B in active currency overlays for THE BOEING COMPANY.

MEREDITH MENDES
Independent Board Director for Kronos (NYSE) / NL Industries (NYSE), a $1.94B global TiO2 pigment producer/marketer; Quanex Building Products (NYSE), a $1.7B window, door, and cabinets manufacturer; and Board Advisor to other public and private companies—including as Audit Committee Advisor to CHS (NASDAQ: CHDCL – CHDSCP Preferred Stock)—and past Director of Inland Residential Properties Trust and Inland Real Estate Corporation. Corporate experience includes: Chief Operating Officer (COO) & Partner at GRESHAM PARTNERS, LLC, a multifamily office and RIA with $8.5B AUM; COO & Executive Director for JENNER & BLOCK, a $450M global law firm; and Worldwide CFO for EDELMAN and MEDLINE INDUSTRIES.

ALLISON GRANT WILLIAMS
Independent Board Director for SELECT SECTOR SPDRs, the 11 sectors of the S&P 500 ETFs; Advisory Board Member for Cresset, a privately-held multifamily office & private wealth management firm with $23B AUM for clients nationally; Leadership Advisory Committee Member for The Art Institute of Chicago; Board of Trustees, Columbia College of Chicago; and President, Harvard Business School Club of Chicago Social Enterprise Initiative Fund. Corporate experience includes: COO, Global Funds Services; CMO/CAO, ETF Group; CAO, Institutional Investor Group, & Practice Executive; Global Strategic Relationship Management – Asset Management of Corporate & Institutional Services for NORTHERN TRUST and Partner, UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT (Americas), fka UBS Brinson, Brinson Partners, Inc., First Chicago Investment Advisors.

CO-MODERATOR: Kathy Graham
CFE Board Director. CEO & Founder, The HQ Companies, Inc.

CO-MODERATOR: Kathy Hosty
CFE Board Director. Head of Family Office Services, Mueller Financial Services, Inc.

CHICAGO FINANCE EXCHANGE (the top 200 Chicago women in finance by-invitation-only organization):
CFE QUARTERLY CORPORATE BOARD CHAT ON GOVERNANCE

March 24, 2022

Created, produced, and moderated by CFE member Kathy Graham. Panelists discussed:
•  What does "corporate governance" actually mean?
•  What are the standard topics of corporate governance and how they vary/are similar between industries/sectors/companies?
•  What are the most important corporate governance issues today...and why are they so important?
•  What are the best-in-class board responses currently being employed/considered to address these issues strategically?

Panelists:

VENITA FIELDS: CFE Member, Past President & Board Director, Superior Group of Companies (NASDAQ), and 4 private company boards: Derry Enterprises, inc; Lifespace Communities, Inc., David’s Bridal, Inc., and IMA Financial Group.
View Venita's bio here.

EILEEN KAMERICK: CFE Member & Corporate Governance Expert who is Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee for Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE), Chair of the Audit Committee/Member of Nominating & Governance for Legg Mason Closed-End Mutual Funds (NYSE), Chair of the Audit Committee for Hochschild Mining plc (LSE/FTSE250), and Chair of the Audit Committee/Member of Nominating Committee/Prior Member of IPO Committee for ACV Auctions (NASDAQ).
View Eileen's bio here.

MEENAL SETHNA: CFE Member, Past President & Board Director, EVP & CFO, Littelfuse Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS), Board Director, SPX Corporation (NASDAQ), and a member of the audit, nominating and governance committees.
View Meenal's bio here.

UPDATE REPORT: The panel discussion at this unrecorded/unreported event was completely frank and insightful. The event was attended by ~ 200 C-Suite and Board Directors who gave it very high ratings.

BOARDS: THE BRIDGE TO A DIVERSE WORLD

February 24, 2021 | 4PM-6PM CT

4PM - 5PM CT: PANELISTS DISCUSSION

SAMUEL C. SCOTT III

Retired Chair and CEO: Ingredion (fka Corn Products). Board Director (past/present): Abbott, BONY, Motorola…

ADELA CEPEDA

Board Director: Angeles Investors, UBS Funds, Mercer Mutual Funds, BMO Financial Corp.

DAVID CHUN

CEO / Founder: Equilar. NASDAQ Board Partner.

MARIA GREEN

Board Director: Tennant, Wisconsin Energy Group, Littlefuse. (Note: Maria replaces Paula Gold-Williams due to Texas storm.)

MARY ANN HYNES

C-Suite and Board Advisor, Dentons.

In this highly interactive unrecorded session, panelists will address questions such as:
•  How will the Board & CEO define/grow diversity at your companies and boards?
•  Success in corporate diversity: What will it look like at 12/31/21? 12/31/25?
•  When your companies and boards are diverse/more diverse—what will be different?

5PM – 6PM CT: CHAT LEADERS: 10 SESSIONS OF UNRECORDED PRIVATE CHATS—with 12 expert Chat Leaders in the session rooms.
See the FLYER for photos and information about Chat sessions topics and Chat Leaders.
Click on names below for bios of the Chat Leaders.

TOPIC 1: GOVERNANCE

Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane

Executive Director & Co-Founder, Thirty Percent Coalition.

TOPIC 2: CLIMATE—RISKS/OPPORTUNITIES

Stacy Swann

Former IFC/World Bank Group. CEO, Climate Finance Advisors, LLC. Board, Global Water Partnership.

TOPIC 3: GROWTH—M&A, Turnaround, Organic

Mike Froy

Partner; Global Co-Chair, Corporate Practice; Co-Head, Chicago, Dentons.

TOPIC 4: ERM—FINANCIAL

Pooja Rahman

Head of Financial Risk, New York Life.

TOPIC 4: ERM—OPERATIONAL

Alfreda Bradley-Coar

Medical Center Board Director, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Former C-Suite Executive, GE—Healthcare, Insurance, Transportation.

TOPIC 5: CULTURE CHANGE

Carol Ward

Former Corporate Secretary, Cigna & Mondelez. Senior Advisor, Corporate Governance Partners.

TOPIC 6: EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Mike Melbinger

Newly Retired Partner, Winston & Strawn, LLP. Author: Executive Compensation, 3rd Edition.

TOPIC 7: REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Kim Yapchai

Chief Counsel, Environmental, Social, & Governance; Chief Sustainability Officer; and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Tenneco.

TOPIC 8: CYBERSECURITY—STRATEGIC & DIRECTIONAL

Luis Aguilar

Former Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

TOPIC 8: CYBERSECURITY—OPERATIONAL

Timothy O’Brien

Managing Director, Information Security and Information Technology, Envestnet.

TOPIC 9: REAL ESTATE—RISKS/OPPORTUNITIES

Douglas Simon

Principal, Tactix Real Estate Advisors. Former Co-Chair, Exis Global.

TOPIC 10: ESG & EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENTS

Philippa Scarlett

Principal Counsel, Apple, Inc.

INNOVATION: QUIET GAME CHANGERS FOR YOU™

10/21/20 HIGHLY INTERACTIVE ZOOM EVENT 4PM-6PM CT

Innovation is in high corporate demand today, both for cost cutting and pivots.
Learn from the best.

JOHN NOTTINGHAM — HOW CEOs GROW INNOVATION

+1,300 PATENTS CREATING +$50B SALES. Including: Dirt Devil, Little Tikes, AXE, Dutch Boy, Swiffer Sweeper + Vac, Club Car Tempo Walk Golf Caddie, ThermoScan Ear Thermometer, SmartMouth, Medtronic CardioInsight Electrocardiographic mapping & many more.
John is Winner of EY Entrepreneur of the Year and Edison & DuPont Gold Awards.

ANNA CHENG CATALANO — HOW BOARDS GROW INNOVATION

BOARD DIRECTOR FOR: Appvion (applied innovation); Frontdoor NASDAQ); HollyFrontier (NYSE); Kraton (NYSE); Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ); & Co-Founder, World Innovation Network. She's a Women, Inc. “Most Influential Board Directors” and a NACD certified Board Leadership Fellow.

ANA DUTRA — CO-MODERATOR

Ana is CEO, Mandala Global Advisors: C-level business consulting in business growth in 30+ countries; NYSE, NASDAQ & private company Board Director; best-selling author & global Keynote Speaker.

ANDREA ZOPP — CO-MODERATOR

Andrea is CEO, World Business Chicago, driving inclusive economic growth in N.A.’s global business center; an experienced Board Director; Keynote Speaker; & a noted Subject Matter Expert (SME).