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.
  • Convening a Council that is invested in topics, trends, and policies related to workforce and talent development, retainment, and growth, including workforce-related legislation and workforce development, and labor regulation issues.
  • 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

Chairman

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

Dr. Derek Robinson, Chief Medical Officer and Chief, CTCA Division of Gynecologic Oncology

Staff Liaison

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Emily Cooper, Vice President, Programs

Member

+Intention

Terry Lawrence, Principal, Brand Partner

Member

2nd Watch

Jim Anfield, Principal

Member

Advanced Resources

Pam Schieber, Managing Director

Member

Aerogen

Brian Groskopf, Director Corporate Accounts

Member

Alzheimers Association

Delia Jervier, Regional Leader and Executive Director

Member

Aon

Julie Ruddy, Vice President, Health Solutions

Member

Apple Dental Care

Flavia Lamberghini, Pediatric Dentist

Member

Barnes & Thornburg, LLP

Jason Wallace, Partner

MEMBER

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

Derek Robinson, Chief Medical Officer and Chief, CTCA Division of Gynecologic Oncology

Member

Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Julian Schink, MD, Chief Medical Officer

Member

DMRI, Inc.

Rick Latella, Co-Founder, President

Member

Employco USA

Paul Michaels, Strategic Business Development

Member

Fifth Third Bank

Ryan Vilnius, Senior Vice President, Team Leader Healthcare

Member

Flight Centre Travel Group

Ilse Mehus, Regional Director of Sales – Midwest

Member

Gallagher

Manny Franco, Area Vice President

Member

Gateway Foundation

Teresa Garate, PhD, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Engagement

Member

Gilda’s Club Chicago

LauraJane Hyde, CEO

MEMBER

Greater Chicago Food Depository

Matthew Chicola, Director of Human Resources

MEMBER

Hyatt Regency Chicago

David French, Director of Human Resources

MEMBER

Loyola Medicine

Maureen Pike, Regional Executive Director, Community Health & Well-Being

MEMBER

Loyola University

Pamela McCoy, Associate Dean, Executive Degree Programs

MEMBER

Microsoft

Fareed Muhammad Khan, US Digital & Azure App Innovation Leader

MEMBER

Montrose Behavioral Health Hospital

Kaylaa McGinnis, Director of Business Development

Kristopher McDonald, Assistant Director of Business Development

MEMBER

Novartis

Kurt Anderson, Associate Director, State Government Affairs

Veeral Vyas, Associate Director, Regional Population Health Account Manager

MEMBER

Novo Nordisk, Inc.

Parin Chikani, Senior Account Executive

Todd Hughes, Executive Regional Account Manager

MEMBER

Resilience Home Health Corporation

Chris Gomez, President/CEO

MEMBER

TBI

Mark McNeil, Business Development Manager

MEMBER

TBI

Mark McNeil, Business Development Manager

MEMBER

UnitedHealthcare of Illinois

Tom Kunst, Chief Executive Officer

MEMBER

Versiti

Amy Smith, Area Vice President

MEMBER

West Monroe

Dan Howell, Senior Partner

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