Workforce and Talent

The Chicagoland Chamber’s Workforce and Talent Council brings together representatives from various sectors of the workforce, including businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations. These groups will collaborate on strategies to develop and maintain a skilled and diverse workforce. The Workforce and Talent Council serves as a convener and catalyst for collaboration among stakeholders to build a strong and adaptable workforce that can support economic growth and prosperity for Chicagoland’s industries, businesses, and employees.

The Council’s main objective is to identify and address the workforce challenges facing the Chicagoland region, including skill shortages, talent retention, and the need for upskilling and reskilling workers. Workforce trends will be used to also address employee benefits, wellness, DEI initiatives, workplace culture and return to work. The Council will create initiatives and programs that support the development of a talented, adaptable, and competitive Chicagoland workforce that can meet the changing demands of the labor market and future workforce.

Some of the key functions of the Chamber’s Workforce and Talent Council include:

  • Developing programs on current and future workforce trends, data, and needs, including employee benefits and wellness, workplace culture, DEI, job training, and talent needs.
  • Building partnerships with employers, educators, and community organizations to align training and education programs with industry needs from talent needs to DEI initiatives, to workplace culture and a multi-generational workforce.
  • Bringing organizations into the group to create programming and share opportunities on upskilling and reskilling workers, including apprenticeships, internships, and on-the-job training.
  • Developing programs that promote workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Council Members

Chair

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

Shannon Fuller | Vice President Talent

Vice Chair

Microsoft

Nisaini Rexach | Community Engagement Lead

Staff Liaison

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Emily Cooper | Vice President, Programs

Partner

City of Chicago

Chadra Lang | Deputy Commissiner, Youth Services Division

Eshawn Spencer | Director of Youth Employment

Jonathan Brown | Project Manager

Member

Advocate Health

Trishya Brown | Vice President, Human Resources

Crystal Olsen | Director of State Government Relations

Member

Amazon

Sarah Glavin | Community Affairs

Member

Armanino

Nicola McGarry | Senior Director, Talent Acquisition

Member

Avision Young

Damla Gerhart | Managing Director & Principal

Member

Bally’s Chicago

Gloria Batey | Director, Community Engagement

Member

Bank of America

Frank Baumann | Human Resource Manager

Julie Chavez | Illinois Market Manager

Priya Sadarangani | Managing Director, Chicago Market Executive

Member

Barnes & Thornburg, LLP

Jason Wallace | Attorney

Charity Seaborn | Associate

Member

Coding Temple

Evan Shy | CEO

Member

CompTIA

Mike Barnes | Director, Technology Workforce Solutions

Tristan Sumpter | Specialist, Enterprise Business Development

Brittany Osazuwa | Director, Workforce Partnerships

Member

Cooley

Ryan Vann | Partner

Member

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

Morgan Collier | Chief Impact Officer

Member

DRRA Consultin

Rashid Mosley | President

Member

Employco USA

Paul Michaels | Strategic Business Development

Member

Fifth Third Bank

Seth Heape | Vice President & Senior HR Business Partner

Member

FOCUS Training

Betsy Barnich | Director, Marketing and Business Development

Member

Fragomen

Nancy Nemeth | Attorney

Member

Geneca

Mike Woolsoncroft | CEO

Member

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana

Denise Samulis | Director of Partnerships

Member

Global Leadership Resources Incorporated – A Crestcom Company

Raquel Chole | President/CEO

Member

Greater Chicago Food Depository

Maggie Baran | Director of Talent Management

 

Member

Illinois Science & Technology Coalition

Kate Calabra | Director of Innovation

Member

Kaplan International – Chicago

Anthony Osborne | School Director

Member

Launchways

Brian Beyerbach | Director of Client Partnerships

James Taylor | CEO

Member

LinkedIn Chicago

Jay Carlile | General Manager, State & Local Government

Member

Lopp Mathias Law

Megan Lopp Mathias | Founding Partner

Member

Microsoft

Paige Michals | Customer Success Account Manager

Tiffany Rojas | HR Manager

Jasmine Macklin | Delivery Pursuit Lead

Melissa Lynn | Senior Industry Director, Financial Services

Member

Montrose Behavioral Health Hospitals

Kristopher McDonald | Assistant Director of Business Development

Kayla McGinnis | Director of Business Development

Member

Morreale Communications

Alejo Torres | Vice President

Member

National Kidney Foundation of Illinois

Jackie Burgess-Bishop | CEO

Member

Novartis

Veeral Vyas | Associate Director, Value Evidence Lead

Member

Novo Nordisk, Inc.

Todd Hughes | Executive Regional Account Manager

Member

People’s Gas

Torrence Hinton | President, People’s Gas and North Shore Gas

Member

PINKTUM

Annie Reising | Marketing Manager

Member

Populouz

Kevin Taylor | Lead Consultant

Member

Tata Consultancy Services

Ashish Bag | Regional Sales Leader

Member

Tech Elevator

Claribel Quintana | Program Director

Member

The Chicago Lighthouse

Jimm Cobb | Vice President of New Business Development

 

Member

University of Chicago

Kelli Chavez | Associate Director, Community Development Initiatives – Office of Civic Engagement

Sarah Tinsman | Program Director for Inclusion Innovation

Nika Levando-Birman | Executive Director, Innovation and Strategic Initiatives

Member

Versiti

Kevin Ha | Associate Medical Director

Amy Smith | Area Vice President and Director of Donor Services Operations

Member

West Monroe

Dan Howell | Senior Partner

Colleen Campbell | Senior Partner

Member

West Monroe

Diane Chopp | Organization & People

Member

Zeno Group

Courtney Thompson | Executive Vice President

Join the Workforce and Talent Council

Council Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Supporting Sponsor

Upcoming Events

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